Next Four Years: no policy is too right-wing

[billvon 3,116]

>The didn't have to fund it.

Not saying anything about what anybody should or should not have done. The fact remains that declaring war on another country, a function once reserved for congress, has been taken over by the executive. Separation of powers only works if you really keep those powers separate.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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The fact that GWB has still not vetoed a SINGLE BILL...the first president in history to be able to claim that he didn't veto anything during an entire term, now going on two, is evidence enough that the checks are lacking these days.

GravMast - Come on, this is a great point, tie that to the horrible decisions on property rights by the supremes, uncontrolled spending by both parties when in control, the completely partisan basis of attack on every single issue, lack of journalistic integrity of nearly all the major news sources, etc is a pretty compelling argument that every aspect of our check and balance system has been degrading for quite awhile........ (my only point different than Jenflys is that I don't lay on just one party, it's been happening for a long time)

It's a good model, but the people aren't making sure we uphold it.

Of course it's a good point. I only see it as a small blip on the political history of this country. One that will be corrected the next election cycle. GWB is already getting a tremendous amount of pressure on his spending from his base.

I'm not saying that extremism hasn't existed throughout our history, just that the pendulum swings both ways. Go back and read the original post and ask yourself if the writer has a balanced view. Some will say he does and others will say he's full of it.

The recent ruling on property rights by the liberal element of the SCOTUS will very likely be either overturned by a new court or diluted by the States in reaction to anger by the voters.

Uncontrolled spending, will also be brought under control by angry voters as is already starting to occur.

Partisan attacks are already being dealt with by voters. The recent election where I live in Virginia is a good example. Kilgore went very negative in his campaign and was dealt a devastating loss by the voters in a very conservative state by electing Kaine.

Lack of journalistic integrity is metered by subscibers and advertsers. The recent problem the MSM is having is a good indication of this. Peole are tired of the MSM getting it wrong and are letting them know by refusing to watch, listen or read their product.

I don't diagree with you that the checks and balances have degraded, but I think it's just a matter of time before they improve. Unfortunately we live in a "Right Now" Society and anything less than immediate action is viewed as not caring.

[rehmwa 2]

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I don't diagree with you that the checks and balances have degraded, but I think it's just a matter of time before they improve. Unfortunately we live in a "Right Now" Society and anything less than immediate action is viewed as not caring.

But I want it all fixed today!!! (nice response though)

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[jenfly00 0]

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Would you agree (regardless of what either you or I believe will or will not happen) that the political climate of today provides more fertile ground for the possibility of a right wing coup?

Your comment is based on the idea that only one party is out of control. I think that's flawed. (though, frankly, I'd have guessed, wrongly apparently, that you would have claimed the coup already occurred).

Actually, with the polarization of the extremes becoming a larger portion of the public, we might consider worrying about a coup from either wing. As stated elsewhere, let's hope that the overall environment pushes people to more centrist positions and results in politicians more aligned with the regular guy rather than just the loud and public special interest groups. That would be better than one extreme or the other gathering too much influence.

I don't think the far left could possibly have time for a coup what with smoking pot, hugging trees, exploring past lives regression and the healing power of pyramids.

The far right, however, has demonstrated they very much like the go ahead for kicking in doors, warrantless searches, detention without formal charges, torture and other small technical violations of our constitution ...and has a lust for much much more (you know, the real patriots). So, no, I'm not too worried about the far left.

Back to my question. Not asking you to express probabilities or make predictions, but if you, hypothetically speaking, were planning to make George Orwell proud of his predictive abilities, would you find the current socio-political climate more conducive to such a move than any other time in the last hundred or so years?

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"O brave new world that has such people in it".

[ReBirth 0]

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would you find the current socio-political climate more conducive to such a move than any other time in the last hundred or so years?

I don't. The depression up to and including the start of WWII was ripe for a fasist takeover. Came pretty damn close, too. We're not nearly that far gone....yet.

[jenfly00 0]

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would you find the current socio-political climate more conducive to such a move than any other time in the last hundred or so years?

I don't. The depression up to and including the start of WWII was ripe for a fasist takeover. Came pretty damn close, too. We're not nearly that far gone....yet.

Really? I wasn't around then, but are you are saying the times were more or less conducive to a classic definition of fascism?

Fascism: A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism. That would explain locking up all the Japanese citizens while letting those of German heritage remain free, I suppose.

So you're saying Herbie Hoover and Frankie D. suppressed American citizens through terror and censorship under the banner of beligerent nationalism??? What was it, the WPA or the CCC?

Certainly wasn't what I was taught in American History, but then all my textbooks had to get through the censors in Texas

Goes to show you how being young (relatively speaking) limits my views.

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"O brave new world that has such people in it".

[billvon 3,116]

>I don't think the far left could possibly have time for a coup what with
>smoking pot, hugging trees, exploring past lives regression and the
>healing power of pyramids.

The far left we're talking about here are the ones that want to put GWB on trial for crimes against humanity and move towards a more communistic sort of government. The people you're talking about above are more the "don't care about government if I can just have my weed" types.

A lot of people have extremist ideas about 'how things should be' and they often like to hide in the fringes of the mainstream parties to give themselves a bit more credibility. A guy running in the Nazi party isn't going to get any votes, but if he convinces people he's really just a very aggressive republican he might get a few. (Same with a communist who runs as a democrat.) When they feel safe (for example, when their chosen facade party is firmly in power) they stick their necks out a bit and start trying to exercise their power a little. That's why you see more abuses of power when one party is solidly in power. Which is also a good argument for a more balanced government; a democratic president, a republican senate and a balanced house is a good moderator of extreme political stances.

[ReBirth 0]

Very long and very detailed...

The Rise of American Fascism

[jenfly00 0]

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Very long and very detailed...

The Rise of American Fascism

pretty short actually "The page cannot be displayed"

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"O brave new world that has such people in it".

[GTAVercetti 0]

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Very long and very detailed...

The Rise of American Fascism

pretty short actually "The page cannot be displayed"

Fixed

[rehmwa 2]

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[if you, hypothetically speaking, were planning to make George Orwell proud of his predictive abilities, ...?

Do you consider George's book to be warnings about going too far right or too far left? hard to tell here, but I think you got his message backwards.

Bill's response fits my thoughts to your direct question. Our Exec and Leg is out of balance and that encourages the fringe groups (which many here seem to have a hard time separating from the typical Rep on the street - much like many confuse fringe lefties from the typ Dem on the street).

I think the before the "coup", we'll see a rebalance of some kind. The real scare is over compensation by a knee jerk partisan populace.



Exec - fiscally conservative, socially sensitive (has input to the bucks, but must represent ALL the people and be the symbol of the nation to other countries - has to have the balls to veto irresponsible spending) (right now have someone not fiscally cons, 'maybe' sensitive to social issues but not really acting on it IYKWIM - so not a good fit, but a watered down libertarian could do it, or either party with the right guy) (either that or the Zaphod-type -> totally powerless, but a good distraction for the real people in power who are innocent as babes)

Leg - big mix, but very fiscally conservative and rather neutral on social issues (they control the $$$$) (right now? not fiscally cons, and NOT socially neutral - neither party fits the bill so we are screwed right now) have to treat the country as a business, not sway by emotion but return on investment

Judicial - Very conservative socially and neutral fiscally (they must hold the line on existing laws and not make it up, we are in a correction right now if Roberts and the new candidate are really who they seem to be)

I don't like either party as they are both spenders and the only differntiation is subjective social positioning which I think is a waste of energy.

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[jenfly00 0]

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Very long and very detailed...

The Rise of American Fascism

pretty short actually "The page cannot be displayed"

Fixed