Sometimes Libertarians really piss me off. (I know, there’s a big surprise.)
One in particular here is a really smart guy, and he’s a true believer in a good way. But he and his fellow local Libertarians are so damn smug and self righteous, like because they believe in “liberty and freedom” they have the keys to the kingdom.
Well, give me an F’n break. We ALL believe in liberty and freedom. None of us likes to be told how to live by our government. They don’t have a corner on that ideology. It’s just that some of us believe the government, properly run and funded, can do good things and can do some things better than the private sector. Some things and people, both real and corporate, need regulation. Not too much regulation, but enough to protect the commons of our society and to protect minority populations and interests from the tyranny of the majority.
Like fnord, sometimes I get so tired of the “no government” types that I wish we could, like Solomon, divide the baby and send everyone on their merry way. Our liberal way, the compassionate, intelligent, non-authoritarian, democratic government, would soon be seen for its superiority. And our brand of capitalism and our economic policies would also prove superior if they were ever actually tried.
But then, I wake up from that dream and realize I have about as much chance of my America ever looking that way as I do being a size 5…
If Romney wins this election the libertarians and republicans will instantly know austerity measures and a tax burden (as a percentage of GDP) at its lowest point since Harry Truman sat in the White House make no sense during hard economic times. They’ll probably (once again) see extended unemployment benefits as a stimulus to the economy. I bet they’ll see the struggles of the local and state governments and the public sector layoffs as contributing reasons for the high unemployment rate. Debt limit increases will go back to being routine — America has committed to paying her bills and costs have increased! Opposing good economic policies while President Obama is in office is the plan. It’s the path to the goal of making him a one-term president. They know presidents get blamed for a bad economy and they will not want that same blame attached to a republican president.
I saw a scene in a movie recently that went like this: a journalist had some pillar of the community type nailed to the wall for all his past unethical dealings – including being an accomplice to a murder.
When his friend told him to write an expose about this man – his repy was : there used to be a tme when the embarrassment and shame owould be all it took to bring this person down. Nowadays, it just makes him more a ofa heor to people.
I hate to admit it – but I think this is true in our society. How many times have we heard of some so-called pillar of the community type doing something so nasty but yet there is never any consequences to their actions?
This is not just in politics – it is everywhere. For example – Ted Haggard kept demonizing the gays and then gets caught with a gay escort and allegedly was doing drugs with the guy.
So what happens? Haggard’s church gives him a payoff and Ted/family drive off over the hill into the sunset. Only NOW Ted is back trying to once again reclaim his former position as a So-called Evangelical Leader – and he is GETTING away with it.
For example – The Catholic Church and their cover-up of the child molesters. That went on for YEARS….and yet, how many people still support that church?
For example – that Penn State scandal where Jerry (?) Sandusky is being tried for child molesting – AND he still has supporters…
There is NO shame anymore in this country.
But, then, what do we expect when our churches are filled with Gucchi-wearing preachers who rant and demonize the gays but yet will NEVER say anything about the liars, cheats and adulterers sitting in their front pews.
I am SICK and TIRED of people getting away with all this crap and NO one has to pay any consequence.
I am reminded of John Edwards and Anthony Weiner – but even they are trying to get back into the political game (and Edwards just got acquitted).
WHY do we profess to be such a righteous and law-abiding country when we worship people who do wrong and STILL have no shame?
If reality was as simple as Libertarians…
Sometimes Libertarians really piss me off. (I know, there’s a big surprise.)
One in particular here is a really smart guy, and he’s a true believer in a good way. But he and his fellow local Libertarians are so damn smug and self righteous, like because they believe in “liberty and freedom” they have the keys to the kingdom.
Well, give me an F’n break. We ALL believe in liberty and freedom. None of us likes to be told how to live by our government. They don’t have a corner on that ideology. It’s just that some of us believe the government, properly run and funded, can do good things and can do some things better than the private sector. Some things and people, both real and corporate, need regulation. Not too much regulation, but enough to protect the commons of our society and to protect minority populations and interests from the tyranny of the majority.
Like fnord, sometimes I get so tired of the “no government” types that I wish we could, like Solomon, divide the baby and send everyone on their merry way. Our liberal way, the compassionate, intelligent, non-authoritarian, democratic government, would soon be seen for its superiority. And our brand of capitalism and our economic policies would also prove superior if they were ever actually tried.
But then, I wake up from that dream and realize I have about as much chance of my America ever looking that way as I do being a size 5…
If Romney wins this election the libertarians and republicans will instantly know austerity measures and a tax burden (as a percentage of GDP) at its lowest point since Harry Truman sat in the White House make no sense during hard economic times. They’ll probably (once again) see extended unemployment benefits as a stimulus to the economy. I bet they’ll see the struggles of the local and state governments and the public sector layoffs as contributing reasons for the high unemployment rate. Debt limit increases will go back to being routine — America has committed to paying her bills and costs have increased! Opposing good economic policies while President Obama is in office is the plan. It’s the path to the goal of making him a one-term president. They know presidents get blamed for a bad economy and they will not want that same blame attached to a republican president.
Hate to disagree with you – but these folks are the SAME people that really do not care what their last boy George W. Bush did to our economy.
That’s what Romney has promised to double down on GWB’s policies.
Your premiuse gives Republcians too much credit for ‘caring’ about what happens to their country’s future.
I saw a scene in a movie recently that went like this: a journalist had some pillar of the community type nailed to the wall for all his past unethical dealings – including being an accomplice to a murder.
When his friend told him to write an expose about this man – his repy was : there used to be a tme when the embarrassment and shame owould be all it took to bring this person down. Nowadays, it just makes him more a ofa heor to people.
I hate to admit it – but I think this is true in our society. How many times have we heard of some so-called pillar of the community type doing something so nasty but yet there is never any consequences to their actions?
This is not just in politics – it is everywhere. For example – Ted Haggard kept demonizing the gays and then gets caught with a gay escort and allegedly was doing drugs with the guy.
So what happens? Haggard’s church gives him a payoff and Ted/family drive off over the hill into the sunset. Only NOW Ted is back trying to once again reclaim his former position as a So-called Evangelical Leader – and he is GETTING away with it.
For example – The Catholic Church and their cover-up of the child molesters. That went on for YEARS….and yet, how many people still support that church?
For example – that Penn State scandal where Jerry (?) Sandusky is being tried for child molesting – AND he still has supporters…
There is NO shame anymore in this country.
But, then, what do we expect when our churches are filled with Gucchi-wearing preachers who rant and demonize the gays but yet will NEVER say anything about the liars, cheats and adulterers sitting in their front pews.
I am SICK and TIRED of people getting away with all this crap and NO one has to pay any consequence.
I am reminded of John Edwards and Anthony Weiner – but even they are trying to get back into the political game (and Edwards just got acquitted).
WHY do we profess to be such a righteous and law-abiding country when we worship people who do wrong and STILL have no shame?
Sometimes I wonder if Sweet Lady Karma is giving America a big can of overdue whoop-ass?