Let's Talk Politics

Amen Brother!!

 

Agreed. There is a middle of the road somewhere. Scandinavians have gotten close, but, as you point out, those countries are homogenous in their populations with strict immigration policies. The USA is trying to be everything for everybody, resulting in being nothing for nobody.
The term "socialism" is really a euphemism for "communism"; little difference between the two. Sanders is a communist. All governments on this planet are socialistic/communistic to some degree or other, including ours.

 

Pumpmaster 2016 Because Everybody Sucks

 

MIS states "He's not independent, he toes one party line or the other"

Hahahahahaha

 

MIS states "He's not independent, he toes one party line or the other"

Hahahahahaha

 

I think what you're trying to say is that you have to leave the capitalist machine alone in order for it work properly, right? By talking about the mechanics of capitalism you're insinuating that you understand how the machine works. And I think you're dead wrong.

There's this book called Capital in the 21st Century by Thomas Piketty that does an excellent job explaining the link between growth rates, savings rates and the split between income from capital vs. labor. The thrust of the book is that the growing inequality gap isn't an accident. As the rate of economic growth increases, the portion of income derived from labor increases. This decreases inequality and explains why income inequality was at an all-time low in the 50s following WW2. Capital had been decimated by the two wars and manufacturing was kicking into high gear. As the growth rate decreases, as it has been over the past couple decades, then income derived from capital increases, which then feeds on itself. The rich derive their income from capital and the rest of us from labor. Essentially what this means is that the rich get richer in times of slow growth. All available data point to declining rates of growth going forward.

And as the rich get richer, they tilt the playing field in their favor. (See Citizens United).

The antidote to this increasing inequality is not to step back and let the free market do its thing. I don’t see anything to idealize in the notion that the masses are supposed to be cogs in the machine. The idea that we can just bring back all manufacturing jobs to the US is beyond naïve. In my opinion, the answer to all our problems is education. We can’t change the economic landscape in order to provide jobs that are easy to do, although that would be an easy solution. We need to provide training so people have the skills to keep up with a workplace environment that is changing at an accelerated pace. However, this means instituting programs that could be characterized as socialist, which the free-dumb lovers would never buy.

So ya I’m for Bernie Sanders because he’s the only one refusing to accept campaign donations from the rich and powerful. He’s the only one taking a strong stance against Citizens United. He was also the only one advocating for free higher education, until Hill-dawg jumped on that bandwagon too.

The guy is the real deal. He’s been beating the same drum for the past 30 years, something that’s exceedingly rare in politics these days. And I think if you’re looking for an anti-establishment candidate, and you choose Trump over Sanders, then you sir are an idiot.

 

one book does not make it fact. there are plenty of counters to argue the exact opposite.

ps--there is no such thing as 'free'

 

I think you've missed the point and are taking the extra efforts by individuals to succeed for granted. back in the 50's the united states was still a manufacturing beast and no idle hands were sitting around waiting for liberal democrat handouts.

You need to examine the enthusiasm for success element further. Bernie Sanders will try to bankrupts that commodity further than what his democratic partners have already done.

 

B*LLsh*t typical repub crap response. NAFTA, Citizens united, both parties have sold US jobs to foreign countries for cheap labor to benefit large corporate interest.

 

+--

ho bra, whys this funny? point is he doesn't break the 2 party mold, he just goes along with the program, doing what one party or another does is not independent

I do like his grassroots campaign, but thats something RP did in 08 and 12

I dont like his stance on uber, saying they need to be regulated like a taxi, why not let a passenger and driver make that decision?

LazE you think Bernie sanders has integrity? do you really think there enough people dumb enough to believe someone who has been part of the political machine since 1981 will be their hope and change? wait...nevermind


and lets not kid ourselves, if Bernie DOES end being a champion of the people, there always the Kennedy/McKinley route for the oligarchs.

 

yeah but only one party leads in handouts to the downtrodden robbing them of any and all motivation to better oneself. that is the democrats way to secure votes. they couldnt give two craps if people are living in **** holes with no way out... as long as they are alive enough to vote behind the illusion of the handouts, that's good enough for a democrat.

 

Bernie has no PAC. Getting funded by citizens. All networks are not giving him coverage except to tell us that he's a socialist with no chance of winning.

 

pinkstink you are right, science is right after it has been peer reviewed a few dozen times

somethings you may have missed in school:

central planning (aka socialism and its schemes) always fails...ALWAYS.

its not dumb to be against the misappropriation of resources (tax dollars) when they go to programs that fail...and they all fail, by design.

your education programs wont work as they will try and make them 'for everybody'

when 'everybody' isnt smart enough. let me say that again. some people are dumb....50% of the population has below average IQ. by definition of words, that is true. why are going to dumb ourselves down to coddle them?

(lets look at common core for example...they took calculus out of physics...WTF?!?! that does not boost STEM education in America!! it is homogenizing the pack based on lowest common denominator. this is terrrrrible)

its funny yall think there is a political solution to this

im going to do the same thing again and again and again, but I expect a different outcome

on that note, it behooves me to stop posting to this echo chamber of right/left nonsense

 

Also people beating up on welfare recipients gotta chill the eff out. Welfare and related programs make up a really small portion of government spending. If you're b!tching b/c $100 out of your $50,000 a year salary is going to welfare then you're an a$$hole (I made those numbers up but I remember seeing an infograph close to that recently - if you think it's way more than that then go look it up).

Also, most people on welfare really need it. It's just easier to pretend they're all grub-sucking leaches. When you grow up in a dysfunctional household, in a dysfunctional neighborhood and drop out of a broken school system, it's no surprise you're going to wind up being a dysfunctional member of society. To turn around and blame the victim for not succeeding in the land of opportunity is just kind of ludicrous. If you can't feel empathy for human beings in those situations then you're an asshole.

And to return to your point Pitted, it's not about motivation, it's about opportunity. No on wants to live on welfare and food stamps, they just don't have any other choice. It's a real pain in the ass to go through all the paperwork and jump through the hoops in order to get federal assistance. I think anyone you'd ask would say they'd prefer to have a job than be receiving federal assistance.

 

pinkstink, everyone is responsible for their own actions

the system sucks, but to give up and revel in the handouts, is weak

you are right, the bigger moochers are the oligarchs, but the welfare recipients are higher profile and by design take a brunt of the peoples anger

 

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cauddle