But, do you want to read something really scary?
... from the linked article ...
"an idea about our country which dates back to 1835. Alexis De Tocqueville, author of Democracy in America, which was published that year, seemed to warn of this day when he wrote: 'The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.'"
But, do you want to read something really scary?
... from the linked article ...
"an idea about our country which dates back to 1835. Alexis De Tocqueville, author of Democracy in America, which was published that year, seemed to warn of this day when he wrote: 'The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.'"
I think Congress discovered that day 1.... People are asshats and if they can see a way of taking advantage they will.
Most post colonial nations (Australia, Canada, Mexico, NewZeland, South Africa, US) are founded on pillage, land theft, dispossession of the original inhabitants and murder. If that's the origins of your society and you don't recognise it it will rot your country from the core.
I have no respect for people that talk about the good old days - there were none.
Its the same crap just now the outhouse has better plumbing.
Most post colonial nations (Australia, Canada, Mexico, NewZeland, South Africa, US) are founded on pillage, land theft, dispossession of the original inhabitants and murder.
Surely even pre-colonial nations are much the same? In my country (the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) there were the guys with the swords and the big horse and the armour who basically enslaved everyone else. The descendants of the last group of bullies to win the scrap, in 1066 with the Norman conquest, still own most of the land in this country (although a lot of them couldn't afford the upkeep without cheap labour after the 1st world war and ended up losing it, perhaps to the National Trust). This got worse with the enclosures of previously common land and the wholesale evictions of people from the land, often to the workhouses where they would be split from their families amongst other bad things. We might moan about things today, but we don't know we are born- imagine even 100 years ago, let alone 200 to see how much better things are now.
You will also note that it is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" only because some of these descendants did some forcible "uniting" of their own!
Actually, I figured some of the big political comentators would be all over this. :(
Actually, I figured some of the big political comentators would be all over this. :(
Patience grasshopper.
Sounds like your Nomex suit is done in the dryer... just in time. :)
Edit: P.S. Hamilton sparkled in the sun.
I have no respect for people that talk about the good old days - there were none.
Tradition!
Sounds like your Nomex suit is done in the dryer... just in time. :)
I prefer Gnomex. :)
But, do you want to read something really scary?
... from the linked article ...
"an idea about our country which dates back to 1835. Alexis De Tocqueville, author of Democracy in America, which was published that year, seemed to warn of this day when he wrote: 'The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.'"I think Congress discovered that day 1.... People are asshats and if they can see a way of taking advantage they will.
Most post colonial nations (Australia, Canada, Mexico, NewZeland, South Africa, US) are founded on pillage, land theft, dispossession of the original inhabitants and murder. If that's the origins of your society and you don't recognise it it will rot your country from the core.
I don't get that statement? pillaging,land theft and so forth have ALWAYS been the nature of humans as a species, you think the indians in america didn't have wars or that everyone was all nice to one another. The strong will always survive over the weak. Therefore they need more resources to continue to thrive. Everyone gets so upset over the loss of diffrent animal species but this planets resources are very finite and so the weak will be crowded out.
I have no respect for people that talk about the good old days - there were none.
Sure there were. We no longer have slavery as an instituion, we allow women and other minorities the right to vote and you don't have to own property in order to be able to take part in your own government, I'd say things are steadily getting better all the time. NOT economicly but socially we as a society are advancing. Again IMO
Its the same crap just now the outhouse has better plumbing.
True but hey the nice thing about the upgrade is we can ingnore the crap because it's flushed somewhere else.
Actually, I figured some of the big political comentators would be all over this. :(
I'm not sure I qualify as a "big political commentator," but (1) I'm trying to spend less time in political threads in general, and (2) this one seems destined for conflagration.
I will, however, add this: I have always said, and will continue to say, that unless we make hard choices soon, the debt will destroy us. Look around -- do we seem poised to made any hard choices? We need everyone to tighten their belts and live within their means. Is that happening? We need everyone to sacrifice for the good of our society. Instead, we each cling greedily to every scrap because we don't trust each other.
Frankly, I think we deserve what is probably coming. :(
Actually, I figured some of the big political comentators would be all over this. :(
It's an interesting situation from a partisan standpoint. Even Democrats who are more fiscally conservative don't want to sound alarmist and "talk down the economy" because it plays against them as an election issue.
Republicans have been conditioned for decades to fear the "third rail" of entitlements, and they share some complicity in the bailouts and their associated corruption.
While there are very real differences in political theory, both parties are such political whores that they prefer trying to score political points to having a serious policy discussion. Unfortunately we the voters have historically rewarded this pattern in general.
I expect a double dip recession, and I think we are in much much greater trouble as a nation than we think we are.
I expect a double dip recession, and I think we are in much much greater trouble as a nation than we think we are.
Exactly. Business cycles will always be there, but we've got a much bigger problem. Our entire economy is in trouble because of the increasing drag of servicing our ever-mounting debt. And yet deficits just keep going up. It's like we'll do anything, even destroy the entire economy, just to avoid pain now.
If it were up to me, deficits would end today, whatever the cost. I'd slash government spending, let the Bush tax cuts expire, and start whittling down the debt. Unfortunately, anyone who tries that will be instantly marginalized and kicked out of office because we don't have the will.
While there are very real differences in political theory, both parties are such political whores that they prefer trying to score political points to having a serious policy discussion.
*gasp* The devil, you say!
You have a large stockpile of weapons, don't you. You'll be fine.Actually, I figured some of the big political comentators would be all over this. :(It's an interesting situation from a partisan standpoint. Even Democrats who are more fiscally conservative don't want to sound alarmist and "talk down the economy" because it plays against them as an election issue.
Republicans have been conditioned for decades to fear the "third rail" of entitlements, and they share some complicity in the bailouts and their associated corruption.
While there are very real differences in political theory, both parties are such political whores that they prefer trying to score political points to having a serious policy discussion. Unfortunately we the voters have historically rewarded this pattern in general.
I expect a double dip recession, and I think we are in much much greater trouble as a nation than we think we are.
One might call me moderately well prepared.
I just haven't been able to build my compound yet. ;)
While there are very real differences in political theory, both parties are such political whores that they prefer trying to score political points to having a serious policy discussion.*gasp* The devil, you say!
I could tolerate the asshattery better if it didn't totally crowd out virtually all substance and analysis.
I could tolerate the asshattery better if it didn't totally crowd out virtually all substance and analysis.While there are very real differences in political theory, both parties are such political whores that they prefer trying to score political points to having a serious policy discussion.*gasp* The devil, you say!
I confess I'm bigoted against asshats. The First Amendment is really tough to live by sometimes.
I confess I'm bigoted against asshats. The First Amendment is really tough to live by sometimes.I could tolerate the asshattery better if it didn't totally crowd out virtually all substance and analysis.While there are very real differences in political theory, both parties are such political whores that they prefer trying to score political points to having a serious policy discussion.*gasp* The devil, you say!
yes but it's a better world and a better country because of it.
We have to put up with the fred phelphes of the world in order to hear the Ghandi's Kings or other peace leaders.
Compounds are meant to be fast-roped into. :D
One might call me moderately well prepared.
I just haven't been able to build my compound yet. ;)
Meh, compounds are overrated. And fallout shelters won't save you from the nukes we have these days :(
Air defense is critical. Would 4 of these provide adequate interlocking fields of fire?
link :)
Compounds are meant to be fast-roped into. :DAir defense is critical. Would 4 of these provide adequate interlocking fields of fire?
link :)
Then this must be Bitter Thorn's SUV. :)
Alkenstar NRA?
Compounds are meant to be fast-roped into. :DAir defense is critical. Would 4 of these provide adequate interlocking fields of fire?
link :)
Then this must be Bitter Thorn's SUV. :)
Alkenstar NRA?
My birthday is coming up if anyone is filthy rich. ;)
