dagblog - Comments for "Broken promises in a broken country"

Barth, I am way too tired to

CVille Dem — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 01:28:30 +0000

In reply to Broken promises in a broken country

Barth, I am way too tired to make an intelligent comment, but I want to thank you for this blog. I will re-read it tomorrow, because I learned much even with my sleepy mind. Thanks!

I hope our government can

Barth — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 15:51:06 +0000

In reply to Human nature is universal yet

I hope our government can become more compassionate. It is, in some ways, in trying to help in the ways envisioned by the New Deal, but often overwhelmed by what you well describe as a national character.

But I agree with your presecriptions.

Human nature is universal yet

Flavius — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 13:03:47 +0000

In reply to Talking Points:1. Socialism -

Human nature is universal yet there is a "national character" in our case probably heavily influenced by our wealth.

We were a different people in 1940 (take it from me, I was there) perhaps because attaining great individual wealth was so unlikely that "rugged individualism " seemed illogical and steeply progressive marginal tax rates ,normal.

What's to be done? ( Isn't that what Lenin said?)Nothing major I suspect .Support charities because we're never going to have a compassionate government,.Support Obama who's doing as much as can be done.And make your garden grow.

Infotainment on teh crazy

artappraiser — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 05:01:18 +0000

In reply to I certqainly take your points

Infotainment on teh crazy sells--both fun and profitable--

while covering issues is like making kids eat their spinach.

I admit where this drives me the most nuts is not when I see a supposed "new media" leading light argue it, but rather when I see a political horse race blog junkie complain about how "the MSM" doesn't cover issues, how they are all evil corporate whores or whatevah, when every day you see the same person clicking on and commenting on and blogging on teh latest political smackdown or the latest pundit outrage or the latest crazy. They expect "the MSM" to force feed them spinach and to reject the advertising dollars that pandering to their own addictions would mean, I figure.

Talking Points:1. Socialism -

Beetlejuice — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 04:08:12 +0000

In reply to Broken promises in a broken country

Talking Points:

1. Socialism - a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.

2. Democracy - a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them

3. Republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them

The United States is a republic. No, it's not a Democracy even though Bu$h kept insisting it was. And second, it's not socialism simple because by definition, socialism is a concept better suited to be employed in a business situation; not governing.

Now the Preamble to the Constitution begins with ...

We the People of the United States

Which begs the question...does it imply a socialist, democratic or republican agenda?

My take is because it is inclusive of all people within the territory labeled the United States, it is a social covenant advocating common ownership of the territories that make it up by all its' citizens and vests the control to those individuals duly elected by their peers to represent regional concerns at a national level. It's a combination of both socialism as a common thread that sews together the individual communities into the larger fabric of a republic to create the legal entity upon which all abide.

And to differentiate the individual from the State, citizens are given specific unalienable rights that the governing mechanism is not allowed to breech. So there are individual freedoms, specified as rights, that allow citizen to enjoy their freedom while under the protection of the legal umbrella constructed by the governing body elected by the citizens.

The problem is tea-baggers and the rest of that republican riff-raff have no idea the Constitution is a social contract juxtaposed within the confines of a republic( not republican) form of governing. And the founding fathers breeched the idea of socialism...We the People...way before Karl Marx ventured into defining Capitalism, from which the concept of socialism has been accredited to him.

My views are simplistic, but using Occam's razor...with all things being equal, the simplest solution is most likely the best...I think the intent of the framers was a social covenant wrapped within a republic governing body to make sure no one individual or group was either left out or over compensated at the expense of others.

And just to add a little salt to the wound, I think if one looks at the concept of local community government, the social covenant is most apparent. How many communities don't tax their citizens to support police, fire, schools, libraries, parks, water and sewer services? I know there are some communities that have user or privilege taxes for services like fire protection, but in most cases, these services are supported by the community through local taxes simply because they are for the common good of the community.

It that common good for the community that's under attack by tea-baggers and republicans...the social covenant. If it weren't for the covenant, everyone would pay for each service they needed or could afford. If you can't pay the fee then don't expect the service. Just think what your heatl insurance would cost if you didn't pool with other individuals. And I don't think individualism is what the framers had in mind when they wrote the Constitution.

Good reference. Normally I

Oxy Mora — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 00:04:36 +0000

In reply to I certqainly take your points

Good reference.

Normally I don't watch cable, esp. Olberman and Maddow, which is like eating too many pieces of mud pie. But during this election season I'm happy for any crumbs. Actually I like the new MSNBC format. Oberman has a good pitch, "emancipating us from the fear of losing our culture". In any case, since CNN is fair and balanced to the point of uselessness, MSNBC is the only defense Dems have against Fox.

You remind me of some good

Richard Day — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 22:21:36 +0000

In reply to Broken promises in a broken country

You remind me of some good things about America, about Americans, about American leaders.

I forget sometimes, seeing only the bad.

We sure have had some great thinkers and doers.

But you have a point, just because it seems we have to keep fighting the same battles.

It never ends because there is a part of America that just plain stinks.

I know you're a big fan; I

we are stardust — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 22:11:35 +0000

In reply to Her show is not a court of

I know you're a big fan; I used to be, too, when she was on Air America. Now: not so much. Just thought you might want to read a counter opinion, Barth.

Her show is not a court of

Barth — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 21:51:25 +0000

In reply to I certqainly take your points

Her show is not a court of law. Her point about tv and other Beltwayers just repeating garbage every day is well taken, as far as I am concerned, as from what I see and hear every day.

I certqainly take your points

we are stardust — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 21:25:35 +0000

In reply to Broken promises in a broken country

I certqainly take your points on race in America still being a major issue; King was about solving poverty, though, and economic justice for all. I know you love Maddow as a hero; here is some counterpoint to that.

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/77592