I think most people will generally agree that providing a strong social safety net while allowing for economic growth and controlling costs (as in social market economies) is the best model.
And while many countries have liberalized their economies (some of which such as privatizing industries in Britain were necessary) there have plenty of costs such as reduced services and growing inequality and poverty.
Riiiiggghhhhtttt.
Then why are so many Republican states net-dependents in regards to federal taxes and benefits?:rolleyes:
The key word here is “not at the federal level”. There are plenty of Republicans on the local level I’d be willing to vote for and I’d definitely prefer Republicans for mayor over Democrats who are tools of machine politics.
Also Bloomberg is an Independent and would never have a chance in the Republican primaries.
Yeah, it’s not the usual opinion, but I stick by it. I’ve written on these boards before about the experience of moving from the US immediately after a national election to the UK immediately before one. The difference was stark. The US election was maddening and divisive, but also invigorating and interesting. The UK one barely had a pulse. It was all placid, disinterested acceptance. I’ve traveled and lived abroad more since then, and the impression holds for many other countries. The US political culture seldom gets the results I - or anyone - wants, but I also think there’s something to be said for it.
“Terrorist organization” is a strong term, but I’ll believe you mean what you say. So if it’s not too much of a hijack, I’m really curious: what solution would you advocate? The ordered disbanding and outlawing of the Republican Party? The arrest, trial, and imprisonment of its leaders? The use of physical force if there is resistance?
Those are the kinds of measures most people would advocate to combat terrorist groups…is that the kind of thing you’re envisioning, or something else?
We’re (well at least I) am not talking about a single or even a cluster events, I’m specifically referring to the inevitable outcome based our current trajectory. When, for the first time in American history, you have American cities going into bankruptcy, something is terribly, terribly, terribly fucked up with our country. When you overlay this with our debt, low taxes, open antipathy toward government by U.S Senators and Representatives, we’ve essentially don’t have a government “of the People, by the People, and of the People,” but rather something that quite unlike it.
[QUOTE=Conservian]
The hardest thing about knowing what America once was, is now, and will soon become is accepting the reality that it was “the people” who ultimately failed to preserve and fortify their priceless inheritance of individual liberty <snip>.
[/QUOTE]
I can’t speak for BobLibDem, but I would say simply calling them on their tactics and refusing to be terrorized. I don’t agree that the tactics you suggest are good ways to deal with terrorists. Domestic terrorism requires quiet courage, not hysterical shows of force. Bring back real investigative journalism from the corners where it lurks, and elevate the discourse among ordinary citizens so that they can actually follow a story for more than fifteen seconds and really think about it. Get everyone asking difficult questions of our politicians and voting against those who cannot or will not give satisfactory answers. Like everything else, the solution involves the gradual and sustained output of hard work.
“Lefties” are the ones who think there’s nothing to learn by other countries’ experence? You really can’t be serious about that. Right wingers are the ones telling everyone ANY form of socialized medicine means they pull the plug on grandma and Obama Care is going to kill untold millions of people.
No, you are wrong. Right wingers are the foremost ones who say we cannot learn from other countries, because America is “different” than all other first world countries and what works for every other first world country can’t work here because, something something.
Well, that’s where the terminology comes into play, because the kinds of things you’re recommending sound to me not like how you’d deal with a true terrorist organization, but with a particularly annoying opposition political party. Elevating discourse, voting out unsatisfactory politicians…that, for most people, falls under normal politics, not counter-terrorism. BobLibDem and some others seem to think that Republicans are far, far more dangerous and sinister than that, which makes me wonder how they would want to act.
I mean, there was a reference upthread about the Republicans doing the modern equivalent of burning the Reichstag as a pretext for seizing power. We’ve all probably daydreamed about what we would do if we lived in Nazi Germany in the '30s, knowing what we know now. Would we be the hero, could we take down Hitler, would we flee, or prepare a hiding place? For people who really believe we are living through a similar such moment, it must present a really interesting/scary dilemma. What would you do in that kind of situation? What would you fervently want your government to do?
Rodgers01, I agree with them that it’s terrorism. I don’t understand why you think counter-terrorism cannot be non-violent or slow and sustained. By definition, terrorism relies on terror, and therefore by definition the way to knock out terrorists’ teeth is to stop being terrified.
Then I will change my argument to “relatively accountable”. For the privates, non-coms and lower officers, there sure as hell is instant accountability when you screw up.
These aren’t terrorists who fight with bombs, they fight with words. You fight them with words. You call them out for what they are. Suppose the Democratic Party started running ads that (gasp) defended Obamacare? Suppose Obama started doing fireside chats to explain what the hell he’s up against? McConnell and Boehner are like schoolyard bullies who demand your lunch money. First thing to do is stop giving them your lunch money.
Second thing is to get on the media to start calling out the lies. Journalism isn’t just tacking on the suffix “gate” to a word every time someone farts. Get some people to argue with the talking heads. When they bring up Benghazi, ask them what the fuck the thing a fighter jet would have done to dispel a riot. Demand why they weren’t up in arms when embassies and consulates were attacked with American deaths during the Chimpy Administration. Every time the IRS “scandal” is brought up, demand to know why they aren’t calling out the IRS for not enforcing the statute that these groups must be exclusively dealing with social welfare. Jesus Christ, we can’t continually having Obama play George McFly to the right wing Biffs of the world.
