Goin fishn'
Exactly so. I also do agree with you about despots, but know that there as there are despots in government bureaucracy, there are also despots in corporate bureaucracy. The problem is that America survives when politics is played to improve life not to prove an ideology.
The country was designed to function by coalition with differing points of view starting from its prior state v. federal split at its birth. A civil war was fought over that split. Once that dispute basically ended with the Uncivil War -- at the start of American Corporate growth...The Republican Party slowly became the Party of unrestricted capitalism (with the partial exception of Teddy) while the Democrats under his Nephew became the party of economic expansion by government projects after the collapse in 1929 of unrestricted capital excess. Then the other problem of the uncivil war came roaring back in 1948, The Southern rural wing of the democratic party went Republican (along with Reagan) and the Southern Democrats became the Southern Republican Majority.
Now, another generation and a half or thirty years later -- The system isn't working again
The government project side of doing things for the National Community not well done by the Free Market. Health Care, , Social Security (for all its entitlement issues, the bedrock of middle class prosperity for almost 100 years, TVA, the national highway system (a moderate Eisenhower and a Southern Democrat of the old school Gore Sr.), Winning the space race by Government leading Corporate America.
I am not anti-corporate. I grew up in a family business founded in 1907, but the question is: How do we do the things that the free market, by its very nature, is not designed to do.
On this board, we see how competitive bidding DOES NOT produce better, faster security. We see how Global control of corporations impedes national interests. We see how greed funds lobbiests and corporations naturally seek to act as people and THEY ARE NOT PEOPLE. THEY DO NOT PAY THE TAXES THEY COLLECT!!!
They are not responsive or responsible to the government, but control it. Republicsan, Roosevelt and Eisenhower dealt with corporate greed and the miltary industrial complex. Reagan and the Bushes have espoused conservativism, but not fiscal conservatism. Conservatism requires change. True conservatives know that the world changes and policies and positions need to change with them. Those who do not REMEMBER the past are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.
The country needs to find its balance in the middle once more. Pregress is made through compromise. Its exactly the lack of compromise in Iraq that creates more conflict.
The has been much shouting in crowded theaters of late over issues over which people are willing to kill for God. There has been too much sloganeering without thinking the issues through -- One does not have to be disagreeable with those with whom one disagrees. Its a choice!!! Has nobody ever heard of turning the other cheek, love the sinner, hate the sinful argument.
Let's hope that regardless of moral and philosophical differences on what is the best thing for our country, we can treat each other with respect. The world has become overwhelmed by information infoglut. Some people turn to a stricter religous orthodoxy to guard their children from losing their way, others reject limits thinking it provides more protection.
Some want the Constitution to be kept unchanging. Others see the Constitution as a document allowing change. True democracy allows for both sides to debate and discuss. However, democracy also requires tolerance for both today's minority position which may become tomorrow's majority. The Republicans once oppossed Franklin Roosevelt and Social Security with the passion now spent on abortion and immigration. Their position changed over time. They argued against child labor laws. Their position changed over time. The Republicans did not believe in nation building. The position changed over time. The Democrats have also lost their way -- They have talked about improving education for 100 years, but have funded almost no research to learn how children learn better. Without their Southern base, they have wandered in the desert without a clear program or philosophy of governing since Carter. As a party the developed no plan to meet the threats of global market competition in the face of Republican encouragement of American corporations developing global not American identities, they stood silent.
So People are looking for leadership on problems that go beyond the thinking of 18th century philosophies in a post modern world. NOBODY has solutions.Change means finding ways out of several messes. Slogans won't do it. Uncivil wars won't do it. There is at least a small chance that something fresh, smart, and, different might allow the revolution that won't be televised to move forward, to unfrezze the frozen politics of the past.
I've rambled too long. I'm writing this for mayself. I'll ramble again as 2008 continues. While nothing is being said on the campaign trail, the hunger for clairity among six billion is steadily rising. If we are homo sapien, we might figure out some good answers yet If not........... que sera sera.
AI
