American Complacency And Government Corruption

[PoliTalker]

Hello Dutch Uncle,

Agreed 100%

So how do "We, the People" teach our fellow citizens critical thinking skills? To use a phrase Hillary culturally misappropriated "it takes a village".

Good parents know that they can't teach their kids what to look for in each and every crisis of their lives. They know that by teaching their kids good life and thinking skills, then, as adults, the kids will be able to take care of themselves. Local government needs to be the "parent" in educating the local public. The State government the state population and all the way to Washington. It's a necessary skill for our citizens to learn in an increasingly complex world.

People like Trump look backwards and promise to bring back the past. The campaign commercial showing empty factories and slamming Biden for China is an example. The United States can't compete in the modern world by having most of our citizens only having the skills to sew shirts, make jeans and stamp out hammers. Due to the standing IQ spread of human beings, there will always be citizens who can never rise above menial labor, but the vast majority of our citizens can easily operate in the modern world if they have the necessary education and thinking skills.

Oh yeah, heard that. People want to think capitalism is the end-all, be-all of economic systems, but capitalism is not perfect. Some of the problems are just what you describe. The problem is capitalism requires a lot of stupid people to exploit. The last thing capitalism wants is for everyone to be so smart they see right through all the marketing come-ons. That would instantly kill most of the business for really dumb far overpriced stuff. And people would realize what a scam greedy big money has with legalized government corruption. Why, they might get organized and want to pass the American Anti-Corruption Act. That would kill big greedy profits for a lot of very powerful people.

[Blackwater Lunchbreak]

Hello Dutch Uncle,



Oh yeah, heard that. People want to think capitalism is the end-all, be-all of economic systems, but capitalism is not perfect. Some of the problems are just what you describe. The problem is capitalism requires a lot of stupid people to exploit. The last thing capitalism wants is for everyone to be so smart they see right through all the marketing come-ons. That would instantly kill most of the business for really dumb far overpriced stuff. And people would realize what a scam greedy big money has with legalized government corruption. Why, they might get organized and want to pass the American Anti-Corruption Act. That would kill big greedy profits for a lot of very powerful people.

note: destroying all small businesses so only large fascist cartels remain is not "getting rid of capitalism". it's moving to fascism.

[Cinnabar]

Here's another great idea...Get Rid of Pelosi!!!!

To a degree, this is exclusive of Trump and the nightmare he is.

Among other circumstances it is largely due to of fake Democratic so-called representatives like Pelosi that we wound up with a monster like Trump. Dems abandoned their Progressive roots and became Republican-lite, corporate masters and all.

"Two Fridge" Nancy has a very competent brilliant Progressive challenger who I hope wipes the floor with her.

David Dayen: Why Pelosi is TO BLAME for coronavirus ECONOMIC disaster

[Doc Dutch]

Hello Dutch Uncle,



Oh yeah, heard that. People want to think capitalism is the end-all, be-all of economic systems, but capitalism is not perfect. Some of the problems are just what you describe. The problem is capitalism requires a lot of stupid people to exploit. The last thing capitalism wants is for everyone to be so smart they see right through all the marketing come-ons. That would instantly kill most of the business for really dumb far overpriced stuff. And people would realize what a scam greedy big money has with legalized government corruption. Why, they might get organized and want to pass the American Anti-Corruption Act. That would kill big greedy profits for a lot of very powerful people.

Agreed in part but it's incorrect to say "capitalism requires a lot of stupid people to exploit". Greedy assholese exist regardless of economic system. People are still people. The "problem" with capitalism only exists with unregulated or Laissez-faire; it's capitalism with Jungle Rules. Capitalism can be "win-win".

IMO, the best government and economic system with our present level of technology is what we have: Federal Constitutional Republic, regulated capitalism and a socialist safety net for the sick, aged and minors. The problem is that people on both sides of Congress have weakened parts of that system to be dysfunctional.

[PoliTalker]

Hello Dutch Uncle,

Agreed in part but it's incorrect to say "capitalism requires a lot of stupid people to exploit". Greedy assholese exist regardless of economic system. People are still people. The "problem" with capitalism only exists with unregulated or Laissez-faire; it's capitalism with Jungle Rules. Capitalism can be "win-win".

IMO, the best government and economic system with our present level of technology is what we have: Federal Constitutional Republic, regulated capitalism and a socialist safety net for the sick, aged and minors. The problem is that people on both sides of Congress have weakened parts of that system to be dysfunctional.

Good clarification. I should have said 'capitalism as we use it.'

Because of legalized government corruption, we do not have proper regulation of our capitalism. This threatens our very nation because it contributes to a dangerous rise in extreme wealth inequality and a general resentment in those who are disadvantaged by our system. Worse, the greedy and powerful manipulate the media to keep people hating the government. They use the government as the scape-goat for the way they extract our wealth.

[Doc Dutch]

Hello Dutch Uncle,



Good clarification. I should have said 'capitalism as we use it.'

Because of legalized government corruption, we do not have proper regulation of our capitalism. This threatens our very nation because it contributes to a dangerous rise in extreme wealth inequality and a general resentment in those who are disadvantaged by our system. Worse, the greedy and powerful manipulate the media to keep people hating the government. They use the government as the scape-goat for the way they extract our wealth.

All of which takes us back to two previous topics: the importance of both voting and critical thinking to get our nation back on the correct path.

[ThatOwlWoman]

There is no greater unused power than that of the American voting public.

We could have so much if only we could get people to understand the untapped potential.

Agree!

Here is what has happened though, at least in my opinion. People still vote. The younger people and the middle-aged ppl have the most votes of all. How is that possible? Because they vote with their wallets. America is no longer a democratic republic. The people with the most power are the plutocrats, and their base are the people who have the most spending power.

[ThatOwlWoman]

We need public financing of elections with no outside money at all. We need much shorter elections. Three months seems right. Will Rogers says we have the best politicians that money can buy. Money in politics is not a joke. It has to be stopped for the people to have power.

I agree with this 100%.

[Doc Dutch]

We need public financing of elections with no outside money at all. We need much shorter elections. Three months seems right. Will Rogers says we have the best politicians that money can buy. Money in politics is not a joke. It has to be stopped for the people to have power.

Will Rogers also said he didn't belong to an organized political party....he was a Democrat.

[ThatOwlWoman]

Because of legalized government corruption, we do not have proper regulation of our capitalism. This threatens our very nation because it contributes to a dangerous rise in extreme wealth inequality and a general resentment in those who are disadvantaged by our system. Worse, the greedy and powerful manipulate the media to keep people hating the government. They use the government as the scape-goat for the way they extract our wealth.

Well said.

History has shown us that the best economic system in human existence, so far, is well-fettered capitalism. You don't want to stifle it completely (communism), or severely (socialism) -- but you don't want it to run free either (laizze-faire) or -- as you said -- you end up like we are currently, with a huge "underclass" and a tiny 1% holding most of the wealth.

A large segment of our citizenry has been convinced that taxes are bad, our (horribly high) taxes go to support lazy urban slackers, illegals are living off our taxes, taxes stifle business and job creation, and so on.

Why is that, and who would want them to believe that this is true?

[PoliTalker]

Hello ThatOwlWoman,

Well said.

History has shown us that the best economic system in human existence, so far, is well-fettered capitalism. You don't want to stifle it completely (communism), or severely (socialism) -- but you don't want it to run free either (laizze-faire) or -- as you said -- you end up like we are currently, with a huge "underclass" and a tiny 1% holding most of the wealth.

A large segment of our citizenry has been convinced that taxes are bad, our (horribly high) taxes go to support lazy urban slackers, illegals are living off our taxes, taxes stifle business and job creation, and so on.

Why is that, and who would want them to believe that this is true?

If the oligarchy doesn't create scape-goats the populace will focus attention on THEM.

[ThatOwlWoman]

All of which takes us back to two previous topics: the importance of both voting and critical thinking to get our nation back on the correct path.

I love the topic of critical thinking. It's vital to an informed person's daily life, as well as to her public life and all the decisions she will make. I'd like to offer my definition of that cherished concept, and hope to hear yours.

Critical thinking: The ability to discern whether what is on your plate is manure, or manna.

How does one learn critical thinking? Question authority. Always. Doesn't matter whether the authority is your mom and dad, a teacher at school, the info packet you get when you sign up for a new job, your drill sergeant, your spouse. Question it, even if you have to do it internally.

Your one-word mantra should be: WHY?

[ThatOwlWoman]

If the oligarchy doesn't create scape-goats the populace will focus attention on THEM.

Yep.

I'm not going to claim that I'm immune because I am not. I have my own life-long beliefs and values. I'd like to believe, though, that thanks to my "liberal" education, I am still capable of discerning when I'm being played.

[christiefan915]

I hate to sounds so cynical, but being cynical does not make you wrong. But when, I look at the general voting public, I see a bunch of chickens in a chicken coop, and so long as the feed keeps coming the chickens are content, and don't care about anything else, and they don't want to be bothered about anything else. But when the feed stops coming, the chickens all starts to squawk.

The point here, is that the voting public just doesn't understand the serious responsibility to be informed about the candidates, and to vote. Voter apathy, and voter ignorance is the greatest threat to our democracy.

Well said!

[ThatOwlWoman]

If the oligarchy doesn't create scape-goats the populace will focus attention on THEM.

Exactly. That's my whole point about the current internal civil war in the U.S.