dagblog - Comments for "Deliberately Stupid"

When the GOP won't even

NCD — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 20:17:16 +0000

In reply to I did have health care reform

When the GOP won't even consider a tax hike to pay for the $trillion++ war they all (except for Ron Paul) voted for, their 'big idea' of moon bases or men on Mars is in the realm of fantasy. How to pay for it? Cut Medicaid or food stamps a trillion? What was the last actual government backed big idea Republicans put into action that worked? They have had big ideas which you ignored which were flaming fiascoes. That is where the 'puff' comes into the piece. (the last GOP 'big idea' that worked was Gulf War I 20 years ago, when the elder Bush got Saddam out of Kuwait and stopped at the border of Iraq-there are no smart Republicans like him anymore)

Solar energy is a real, proven technology. The company that got the loan was not properly vetted. Solar technology is still alive, manned missions to Mars are not, national health insurance for all, is big, and may still possible, and the GOP is still fighting it, and lying about it every day.

I did have health care reform

Michael Maiello — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 18:43:40 +0000

In reply to Maybe Dubya could have found

I did have health care reform in an earlier draft but I cut it in favor of talking about alternative energy, which seemed to me more current. If I had this to write again, I'd say more explicitly that the Republicans are a big part of the cause of deliberate stupidity. Ultimately, they believe that the government has no answers. Hence Mitt Romney's answer to the college student who asked about expensive tuition being, basically, "shop around." But I thought that came through and that this wasn't a "puff piece about Republicans."

Maybe Dubya could have found

NCD — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 23:51:05 +0000

In reply to Deliberately Stupid

Maybe Dubya could have found the money to go to Mars, if his and the GOP's 'big idea' of invading Iraq hadn't been high up on their agenda. Or maybe Bush could have used the Clinton surplus to fund the Mars program, instead of the GOP 'big idea' of cutting taxes, mostly on the rich. There is a distinction between hot air/BS and what they actually do to the country. For the GOP the track record is not good.

Frankly the Destor article seems another puff piece on Republicans. Why no mention of the 'big idea' of Obama to provide health care insurance to all Americans? It was policy that was far more earthbound, needed and long overdue than trips to Mars or moon bases. The GOP has been 'deliberately stupid' and vile ('death panels') in their continuing assault on it.

I agree as well. I am a big

cmaukonen — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:47:59 +0000

In reply to One of the most succinct and

I agree as well. I am a big proponent of space exploration. I think it's out only chance as a species.

The only reason I could tolerate Gingrich as pres is because he is definitely NOT a businessman.

It's ironic that Gingrich is

Verified Atheist — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:38:31 +0000

In reply to One of the most succinct and

It's ironic that Gingrich is a strong contributor to that divisive system.

Still, I agree with Destor et al. that we're too quick to make fun of big ideas without considering them fully. I liked W's plan to get us to Mars, and I said so at the time.

One of the most succinct and

Aunt Sam — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:13:07 +0000

In reply to Deliberately Stupid

One of the most succinct and on point facts:

'The divisive system that we have now thus neuters government,...'

And I agree with author's stance that so much today of the facts of some processes and programs (i.e. the sciences, tech issues) are beyond most of the masses knowledge base - there's only so much time and energy that any of us have for research and analysis.