Too careless w/ this magnificent thing we created

[Airstrip One]

My bad, it was a modern usage..... You can call them britches or bitches if it makes you happy.....

Who doesn't like to pull the bitches down?

 

[Airstrip One]

Holy Jesus! Your god is concerned with greed and profit? I thought his boy, Jesus, preached against that.

Typical leftist associates capitalism with greed. History has shown Marxists and socialists to be far more greedy.

 

[Phantasmal]

PPL in Kentucky are not for losing there ObamaCare.... The blind guy in the senate is walking on egg shells as he knows those hillbillies will toss his ass to the DC curb/lower end of the swamp if he cuts off their freeBee's...

Cruz just introduced an addendum to exclude Congress from this new, awful bill, that should tell you how much it sucks.

 

[Owl'd You're Up!]

America has been such a huge force of good in the world, despite our flaws. Really, since WWII, we set the tone, and simply made a lot of lives better. Millions of lives.

And at home, we've enjoyed a pretty prolonged period of prosperity - a level of success and well-being that most here now take for granted. But it's incomprehensibly unique in world history. I doubt a lot of people here realize how good we have had it compared to the generations that preceded us and certainly our more distant ancestors.

Really, what an achievement. And yet we had an election that pitted 2 truly awful candidates against each other, with some daring to characterize one of them - amid all of this unprecedented prosperity - as some sort of "last hope." It bothers me that people celebrated the idea of tearing everything down & seeing our institutions discredited and dismantled. I don't think they understand what could be waiting beyond that.

And now here we are - shrinking from our leadership role in the world in favor of a narrow "America First" mentality. Leaving a vacuum that could be filled by a Russia or a China, or maybe no one. Who knows where that leads - what kind of world will result. It won't be the one we've all become used to, and which was pretty damned good.

I hope I'm wrong, but I don't have a good feeling right now. Definitely seems like one of those "don't know what you've got 'til it's gone" situations in the making.

Yeah, there's something about to be lost these days, as the very concept of "Enlightened Self-Government" itself is under assault, and the Trumpy sure is not yet done bringing the job down to his level.

Other than that, I find mostly soothing myths.

The median white, male American worker hasn't had a pay rise in forty years, and the minimum wage, adjusted for inflation, is way below what it was in the 19 eff'n 60s. Yeah, "prosperity". You'd think the white (mostly male), red-hot anger, taken advantage of to tear down the very fabric of U.S. society, comes out of nowhere. Blacks, while narrowing the gap up until the Minor Great Depression, are still way worse off. Your concept of "We" - in "how good we have had it" - seems fairly limited to a small segment of upper middle class and above. And now, after a short respite, we're facing the prospect of getting back to times when falling ill was a surefire way into bankruptcy for tens of millions of Americans.

The most ludicrous tale is the one about the U.S. as a force for good in the world. China alone lifted hundreds of millions out of the direst poverty into the middle class, and you're seriously talking about "a lot of lives" made better? Even if "Millions of lives" were true on balance, it still sounds ludicrous. Wherever the U.S. has shown up in the (mostly) Third World, with the "Washington Consensus" as their toxic gift, they left blight in their wake for hundreds of millions from Russia to Indonesia to Southern America.

"Prosperity" is, of course, important, but there's a reason why the U.S. is saddled (saddled itself) with the highest poverty rate in the developed world, shameful as that is. More importantly, the rising contempt for universities and education itself, along with the war on science, facts, and reason, seem to point to another kind of poverty that will sure have a lasting impact of a worse kind than "mere" material poverty, and the twittering, ignorant Vulgar Talking Yam reinforces the trend.

 

[Althea]

Thing:

Do not despair. America is not dependent on transitory politicians or ideological trends. Our leadership on the world stage is assured by our stability and unwavering commitment to Liberty and Free Expression. Your worry of an "America First mentality" is understandable given the long-standing scorn for same by the Liberal "thinking" that dominates the national Media but accepting the by now almost universal Media assumption that joining every other nation by putting our own interests first and foremost equals "...a narrow 'America First' mentality" would be a great mistake. Remember, no one yearning for an opportunity for a better life is flooding into China or Russia or Cuba (despite Obamas final failed "outreach")...

Our leadership on the world stage was assured by bribing oil rich nations to allow us to build military bases. Since the end of WW2, our main policy objective was to spread the use/consumption/production of oil.

Unfortunately, our flawed policies have created ultra wealthy nations with horribly unstable societies. We used to be able to keep them in check by installing puppets. That began to fail in the 70's, when the Shah of Iran was ousted.


If by 'yearning for an opportunity' you mean 'have at least 3 meals/day', then yes. Many flock here. But for those born in this 'prosperous' nation, we've seen profiteering alter the fabric of society, and very few have that which they yearn for.


But you keep posting nonsensical, outdated, corporate backed rhetoric.

 

[Althea]

America is never going to stop being a world superpower just because liberals or europeans says so. Just look at how the USSR went down after 89 and look how now the darling press says how powerful Putin is.

IMO, this is largely a perception issue. The leftist press, the vast majority of press, slams Trump and in turn the US any chance they get. Not that Trump is doing many favors for himself, but the press hounds Republican presidents. Look at Bush, then Obama and now Trump. With Obama, he could basically do no wrong. That drives common world opinion, however, it does not drive the reality.

The US is still the number one superpower. Trump can't ruin that, he isn't that powerful. In fact, he is quite a weak President for a variety of reasons, one being he doesn't even have the support of his party. I'm not sure that half the Senators or Congressman support him. He has alienated himself by being an insulting blowhard.

America will continue to be great.

It's been only 6 months, and look at the damage the orange buffoon has done. He's got an 'armada' floating off the coast of N.Korea, while his twin thumbs his nose at trump.

Other nations have already signed trade agreements without the slightest interest in including the U.S.. If the impotent tangerine makes it another year before his nervous breakdown, get back to us about the strength of our standing in the world.

 

[Althea]

I appreciate the thoughtful response. I think "America First" is one of those things that just naturally sounds good, and on its surface, is a hard thing to question or dispute as a priority. It's just the execution of it that can basically end up having the reverse effect; if we abandon our leadership position in the world, wholly or partially, it leaves the world open to other powers & influences - which can end up hurting us in ways that we'd need a few think tanks to even begin to calculate.

"Globalism" has become a sort of dirty word, but we need the world, and they need us. I think the way Trump is approaching "America First" is misguided and driven more by emotions like xenophobia than by logic and long-term planning.

But we'll see. As I said, I hope I'm just overreacting.

trump's record as a businessman illustrates that he never employs logic or long term planning. He simply relies on the fact that he has no intention of honoring his agreements, and if all else fails, declare bankruptcy and lie about his successes.

 

[Althea]

The USA has good sides and bad, and they're not always what the Americans think they are. I think they are, on the whole, far too conformist and lacking in intellectual freedom, but they do have a wonderful confidence and, on the whole, surprisingly decent manners. The crazy notion that the rich should rule is insane, however, and so is the lack of proper health care and gun control, which they could easily afford. As an historically-minded person I quite like the extreme traditionalism they go in for however.

America was founded on 'the rich should rule' principle.

White, male, rich people.

Not much has changed.

 

[Althea]

A safety net on its own isn't a problem - but I'd agree that abuse of it is.

Yes...bailing out the 'too big to fail' banks was probably a bad thing. That money should have gone to setting up a Fed program to re write bogus mortgages.

But that's 'Socialism' to some

 

[cancel2 2022]

It's been only 6 months, and look at the damage the orange buffoon has done. He's got an 'armada' floating off the coast of N.Korea, while his twin thumbs his nose at trump.

Other nations have already signed trade agreements without the slightest interest in including the U.S.. If the impotent tangerine makes it another year before his nervous breakdown, get back to us about the strength of our standing in the world.

So what would you do about Fat Kim III? Have noticed that he seems to be the only fat person in North Korea, maybe he eats his enemies?

 

[Althea]

So what would you do about Fat Kim III? Have noticed that he seems to be the only fat person in North Korea, maybe he eats his enemies?

'Lil Kim', and 'Daddy Kim' before him have been a conundrum for many a POTUS. Sending an 'armada' to the region, and subsequently being made to look like an ass, did no good. What the hell is trump going to do if Kim performs another nuke test?

He has no moves. Kim has all the moves here. Kim is delusional, which seems to run in his family. He's not so stupid though, to think that when he eventually gets a long range nuke, he will be able to use it without the total destruction of not only his country, but the region.

He does make a valid point.....Libya gave up its nukes. Look how well that turned out.

 

[cancel2 2022]

'Lil Kim', and 'Daddy Kim' before him have been a conundrum for many a POTUS. Sending an 'armada' to the region, and subsequently being made to look like an ass, did no good. What the hell is trump going to do if Kim performs another nuke test?

He has no moves. Kim has all the moves here. Kim is delusional, which seems to run in his family. He's not so stupid though, to think that when he eventually gets a long range nuke, he will be able to use it without the total destruction of not only his country, but the region.

He does make a valid point.....Libya gave up its nukes. Look how well that turned out.

Well that's not strictly true there are the options to put the squeeze on Chinese banks, sanction any Chinese company that sells dual use technology to North Korea and make sure that China honours its commitments. There are only a handful of companies in Dandong that supply NK with the materials necessary to make those missiles. That armada is also able to monitor missile testing and potentially take them out with an anti-ballistic missile.

 

[MAGA MAN]

"Run, run, run?"

Man, do you have an overinflated sense of your hackish musings.

Seriously - anytime someone writes one-sided drivel like that, they're too immersed in partisanship to take seriously. "The left is responsible for all that is bad, and the right for all that is noble." Like I said, it's desh-level logic.

Wanna try something w/ a little more substance?

lol That's a complete misrepresentation of what I stated. I am addressing one issue: economics, and specifically, how Democrats and Republicans view wealth differently. Care to address that, or are you going to continue to demonize your debate opponent, obviously a deflection because you are afraid to respond to my valid argument lol?

 

[MAGA MAN]

My bad, it was a modern usage..... You can call them britches or bitches if it makes you happy.....

Instead of deflection, why not debate against my point? Is it because you know it to be true lol?

 

[blackascoal]

'Lil Kim', and 'Daddy Kim' before him have been a conundrum for many a POTUS. Sending an 'armada' to the region, and subsequently being made to look like an ass, did no good. What the hell is trump going to do if Kim performs another nuke test?

He has no moves. Kim has all the moves here. Kim is delusional, which seems to run in his family. He's not so stupid though, to think that when he eventually gets a long range nuke, he will be able to use it without the total destruction of not only his country, but the region.

He does make a valid point.....Libya gave up its nukes. Look how well that turned out.

You are on fire today. :0)

Instead of posting myself, I think I'll just sit back and read what you post. :0)

 

[anatta]

Well that's not strictly true there are the options to put the squeeze on Chinese banks, sanction any Chinese company that sells dual use technology to North Korea and make sure that China honours its commitments. There are only a handful of companies in Dandong that supply NK with the materials necessary to make those missiles. That armada is also able to monitor missile testing and potentially take them out with an anti-ballistic missile.

trying to get China to move...They like having lil Kim around to piss off Japan/ and the USA..
ABM's are looking better.
I thought they had Pakistani tech?

 

[Cancel 2020.1]

lol That's a complete misrepresentation of what I stated. I am addressing one issue: economics, and specifically, how Democrats and Republicans view wealth differently. Care to address that, or are you going to continue to demonize your debate opponent, obviously a deflection because you are afraid to respond to my valid argument lol?

Believe it or not, I agree w/ you on the CONCEPT of infinite wealth. But it's not liberals holding the poor down. It's the nature of inequity.

Money begets money. It's much easier for people who are rich to stay rich than it is for people who are poor to become rich. And we see that in the growing disparity between the haves & have nots - something that has steadily increased regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican has been in office. More & more, we see wealth getting accumulated by a smaller % of the population. And because they control politics and the financial system, they're able to gin the system so that they can accumulate even more, to the detriment of the masses.

Sorry, but that's how it works out in practice. If you can show me a society in history that bucked that trend, I'm all ears.

 

[cancel2 2022]

trying to get China to move...They like having lil Kim around to piss off Japan/ and the USA..
ABM's are looking better.
I thought they had Pakistani tech?

The US recently took out sanctions on the Bank of Dandong, they need to do a lot more of that. Of course the Chinese could bring NK to its knees within weeks, if not days, if they stopped oil exports.

 

[MAGA MAN]

Believe it or not, I agree w/ you on the CONCEPT of infinite wealth. But it's not liberals holding the poor down. It's the nature of inequity.

Money begets money. It's much easier for people who are rich to stay rich than it is for people who are poor to become rich. And we see that in the growing disparity between the haves & have nots - something that has steadily increased regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican has been in office. More & more, we see wealth getting accumulated by a smaller % of the population. And because they control politics and the financial system, they're able to gin the system so that they can accumulate even more, to the detriment of the masses.

Sorry, but that's how it works out in practice. If you can show me a society in history that bucked that trend, I'm all ears.

You say you agree with the principle of infinite wealth, but you demonstrate in your words that you really don't. True, it is far easier to make money when you have money, but that has nothing to do with a person with little money not able to work himself out of poverty. The rich person does not take from the poor; in fact he presents an opportunity for the poor to work for him. History is full of examples where a person came out of poverty and became tremendously wealthy. That happens most frequently in the US, where capitalism and the opportunity to rise from poverty are relatively high in comparison to, say, Europe, where the economy is more regulated.

What is very telling is that in countries where the economy is the most regulated, Venezuela being a pertinent example, your claims are actually true. That is because the socialist system is terrible at generating wealth, since it stifles the poor individual's opportunities.

 

[Cancel 2020.1]

You say you agree with the principle of infinite wealth, but you demonstrate in your words that you really don't. True, it is far easier to make money when you have money, but that has nothing to do with a person with little money not able to work himself out of poverty. The rich person does not take from the poor; in fact he presents an opportunity for the poor to work for him. History is full of examples where a person came out of poverty and became tremendously wealthy. That happens most frequently in the US, where capitalism and the opportunity to rise from poverty are relatively high in comparison to, say, Europe, where the economy is more regulated.

What is very telling is that in countries where the economy is the most regulated, Venezuela being a pertinent example, your claims are actually true. That is because the socialist system is terrible at generating wealth, since it stifles the poor individual's opportunities.

I don't think anyone has found the secret yet. I certainly wouldn't look to a socialist society for the answer.

But nor is relatively unfettered capitalism working to solve this problem. You can speak in platitudes about how the poor have a chance to work themselves out of that condition, and many do, but in practice, the gap continues to grow - no matter how many theoretical platitudes you can muster.

I don't rue the wealthy for their money. My main concern is w/ their control of our political system, because of that wealth. You can't deny the reality.