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Poll: Which U.S. political party do you most strongly agree with?
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Re: Re: good quote
No. I wouldn't catagorize you as trolling or angry.... Sorry, I'll take Arn's lead on this subject.... You could have written that in a much nicer tone... no?
Beside, responding to you will only bring on more angry retoric from you.
No. I wouldn't catagorize you as trolling or angry.... Sorry, I'll take Arn's lead on this subject.... You could have written that in a much nicer tone... no?
Beside, responding to you will only bring on more angry retoric from you.
I'm a Republican with strong libertarian leanings. I don't want the government to provide healthcare for anybody. I think getting rid of Saddam is a good start, but we shouldn't ignore the regimes in Syria, the Sudan, N. Korea, Cuba, etc. The UN is a joke--we should withdraw. Free trade is good, and we should make use of more bilateral agreements (Australia and New Zealand have been begging us to do this for years). I don't like spending a week every year working on my taxes, and favor drastic simplification of the tax code (preferably a sales tax instead of an income tax). I don't think courts should make laws, no matter how badly they want to. I'd rather not pay Social Security taxes and save for my own retirement. I favor full implementation of school vouchers so parents can have a choice of where to send their kids, and so that teachers will be less able to indoctrinate the youth of America. The way to protect the environment is through pollution taxes that are equal to the amount of damage of the pollution. Pork is a disgrace, and should be cut out of the budget.
I haven't covered everything, but that should give you an idea. By the way, I used to work on Capitol Hill for a Republican Congressman.
I haven't covered everything, but that should give you an idea. By the way, I used to work on Capitol Hill for a Republican Congressman.
Yes, oddly enough, I switched to Mac about the same time. I'm pretty sure it's just a coincidence, but who knows?
I'm not addressing the amount of taxation (which I think should be as low as possible). I am just referring to the structure. Suppose there is an income tax of 15%, and suppose that it was to be switched to a 15% sales tax. The sales tax would be lower, because you would only be paying taxes on the income that you spent. Your savings wouldn't be touched. This is much better, in my view, because people would be encouraged to save more for retirement, emergencies, etc.
I agree with your sentiment that taxes are too high. However, don't forget that you are already paying taxes on every dollar you earn, even before you pay sales tax. I'd favor eliminating that, even if I would be reminded of how greedy the government is every time I made a purchase.
Right now I'm supporting the Democrats, because in reality no 3rd party canidate will ever get into the white house. Wesly Clark seems like a great canidate. He would destroy Bush in the debates. There wouldn't even be a challenge. I couldn't see Bush winning any debate, because unless someone writes something for him, he is bad off the cuff. He is a great speaker though. I don't know it will all be interesting.
If I really want to get into it the whole democricy system is crippled in America. When most people think of two parties as the only way to go you lost it right there. I think we should have around 5 people from various polical views to get on national TV and debate.
Woops I have to work in class now.
If I really want to get into it the whole democricy system is crippled in America. When most people think of two parties as the only way to go you lost it right there. I think we should have around 5 people from various polical views to get on national TV and debate.
Woops I have to work in class now.
You have my vote!Originally posted by gwuMACaddict
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Consumer sovereignty
I haven't read this whole thread yet, but I thought I'd reply to this post anyway...sorry if this has already come up.
When discussing the America democratic system, two things seem to come up frequently. 1) The US government is a de facto world government, but it is elected by American citizens who are generally amazingly ignorant of even their local, let alone global issues. And 2), as miloblithe points out, democracy needs a lot of work.
What increasing numbers of people are recognizing is that their votes are not sufficiently effective in making the changes they'd like to see in society. Sadly, many people respond to this by becoming apathetic, and not voting.
I'm not naive enough to think that 'if only people would vote' that would solve the problem. However, if we recognize that governments, especially the American government, now function primarily to protect the interests of the multinational corporations who pay to keep them in power, we recognize that it is the *corporations* and not the politicians we need to exert our wills upon.
But, since corporate boards are not elected by the citizenry, how can we do this? By recognizing that every purchase we make is a political statement. And, for those of us fortunate enough to have the affluence that allows investing in stocks, by investing in companies that behave responsibly, and refusing to invest in companies that don't (no matter how profitable they may be).
This means going against our cultural programming, and making decisions that may not be the most financially rewarding, but choosing to make less money in order to make the world a better place. It also means that having more money means having more power, but this has always been true. The challenge is to prevent people who pursue power/money for its own sake from achieving those goals.
The age of consumer sovereignty is upon us. But unless we, as consumers, make the effort to become educated regarding the corporations we support, and insist on alternatives (i.e., opposing monopolies), we will remain powerless.
Cheers
I haven't read this whole thread yet, but I thought I'd reply to this post anyway...sorry if this has already come up.
When discussing the America democratic system, two things seem to come up frequently. 1) The US government is a de facto world government, but it is elected by American citizens who are generally amazingly ignorant of even their local, let alone global issues. And 2), as miloblithe points out, democracy needs a lot of work.
What increasing numbers of people are recognizing is that their votes are not sufficiently effective in making the changes they'd like to see in society. Sadly, many people respond to this by becoming apathetic, and not voting.
I'm not naive enough to think that 'if only people would vote' that would solve the problem. However, if we recognize that governments, especially the American government, now function primarily to protect the interests of the multinational corporations who pay to keep them in power, we recognize that it is the *corporations* and not the politicians we need to exert our wills upon.
But, since corporate boards are not elected by the citizenry, how can we do this? By recognizing that every purchase we make is a political statement. And, for those of us fortunate enough to have the affluence that allows investing in stocks, by investing in companies that behave responsibly, and refusing to invest in companies that don't (no matter how profitable they may be).
This means going against our cultural programming, and making decisions that may not be the most financially rewarding, but choosing to make less money in order to make the world a better place. It also means that having more money means having more power, but this has always been true. The challenge is to prevent people who pursue power/money for its own sake from achieving those goals.
The age of consumer sovereignty is upon us. But unless we, as consumers, make the effort to become educated regarding the corporations we support, and insist on alternatives (i.e., opposing monopolies), we will remain powerless.
Cheers
Re: Do you really want to live on a Democracy?
good article btw. I read it as 2 liberal 2 conservative and 1 moderate.
Going from left to right
Green
Democrat
Libertarian
Republican
Constitution.
If they really to skew liberal they would have added the communist party and the peoples workers party.
good article btw. I read it as 2 liberal 2 conservative and 1 moderate.
Going from left to right
Green
Democrat
Libertarian
Republican
Constitution.
If they really to skew liberal they would have added the communist party and the peoples workers party.
Originally posted by tazo
I voted republican, although my views are much more centered. I lean to the right but I am still in the middle a tad
ditto.
unfortunately, i will probably be voting against bush this election. i like the environment too much. i agree with a lot of republican ideals, and some democratic ideals... i hate big government (r), i want to save the environment (d).... like low and fair taxes (r), hate half my hard earned money going to others (d). (and i am not rich, YET)
Re: Re: 2 things the US needs to solve
You won't be able to change the fact that it is a game. You will only manage to change the rules. News shows are always going to be exempt from time and spending limitations. How would you like to see the NBC nightly news changed into a half hour infomercial on Bush. There are all sorts of loopholes and all sorts of people whoring for the money. Its a good idea. My preferred candidate in the 2000 election didn't stand a chance due to funding issues and not being taken seriously by the media because he didn't have the money.
The future is a lot closer than you think. First voting is a month away. There is only one candidate who IMHO has a chance of beating Bush and he is won of the also rans.
You won't be able to change the fact that it is a game. You will only manage to change the rules. News shows are always going to be exempt from time and spending limitations. How would you like to see the NBC nightly news changed into a half hour infomercial on Bush. There are all sorts of loopholes and all sorts of people whoring for the money. Its a good idea. My preferred candidate in the 2000 election didn't stand a chance due to funding issues and not being taken seriously by the media because he didn't have the money.
The future is a lot closer than you think. First voting is a month away. There is only one candidate who IMHO has a chance of beating Bush and he is won of the also rans.
Just remember . . .
If you don't vote . . .
you can't complain, bitch or argue. You need to be a part of the process.
_Stealthy
If you don't vote . . .
you can't complain, bitch or argue. You need to be a part of the process.
_Stealthy
Re: Consumer sovereignty
i totally agree. we are entering in a new political world. the traditional government is losing power to large corporations. we have yet to find a way to consitutionally and successfully control their power.
i totally agree. we are entering in a new political world. the traditional government is losing power to large corporations. we have yet to find a way to consitutionally and successfully control their power.
Originally posted by Centris 650
When I was in college I was a Democrat. Then I graduated and started paying taxes.
WHen I was in college I had a teacher who called Reagan a classic liberal...
That was a fun class.
Isn't this the case with all the Democrat Nominee's? None of them have anything to say. They just like to complain about Bush...just complain, complain, complain. Why not talk about real issues instead of just complaining about Bush?
I don't support Bush 100% of them time, but I can give the guy credit for the good he has done for this country...whats sad is that if people like yourself don't support Bush, you HATE him. Get over it. Talk about the issues instead of hatred, which breeds terrorism.
I try to be in the middle, thinking about both sides. Balance is the key....
I got bronchitis trying to get him on the ballot here in PA. I was astonished at how many democrats I had to turn away from signing the petition so it would be legitimate. When the primary rolled around I was handing out write in stickers and I got a lot of democrats asking for them
I thought they didn't have a stance on abortion. That they tended to be pro-abortion but it wasn't a plank.
They aren't talking to you. The primary is about who has the support of the core. The core of the democratic party hate Bush worse than the Republicans hated Clinton.
They will get over it after the primary is decided.
Man i love it, but you have to admit the Republicans and Democrats are so busy fighting each other that in the end we all are loosing. i dont remember the constitution saying we had to pay taxes in the first place! Didnt they have a little Tea party because of unfair taxes. The American is getting the shaft from both parties all the time. I like a lot of the libertarian philosophy, stay out of my life as much as possible and I will be much happier thank you. Democrats/Republicans are constantly tearing down all the dreams our framers of the constitution had for us. There is 2 things Govt is good for. fighting wars and taxing the piss out of us and it seems they are doing a fantastic job at both.
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