Displaying 691 To 720 Of 732 Comments They have no problem with staying home: apathy and willed ignorance keeps them home. Or, some sort of unfocused fear, anger and cynicism kept them home. 40 to 60% of eligible voters do not vote. » Posted By agrippa On March 31, 2011 @ 2:40 pm Adonai, the headlines remind me of that as well. The GOP talking points are essentially the same as they were then. Those people have not changed. We may be headed for that trip, and as you say, many are already there. I hope that we do not go there, but the GOP may send us there. FDR came in with no clear idea on how to proceed; he did not really have an economic philosophy. In a sense, he was ‘made to do’ his reforms. Washington, today, is basically immune that sort of pressure. » Posted By agrippa On March 31, 2011 @ 2:37 pm I agree. » Posted By agrippa On March 31, 2011 @ 11:31 am It may be the right time for a shutdown. The GOP and the narcissistic fire eaters known as the tea party, may have a flat learning curve. This may draw their attention. It may draw the attention of the willfully ignorant general population. Thissue is in doubt on that one, though. » Posted By agrippa On March 31, 2011 @ 9:47 am Philosophically, they are nihilists. mad, bad and dangerous to know. With the high ignorance level endemic in the USA, they may just succeed. » Posted By agrippa On March 30, 2011 @ 11:57 am I doubt if people like Cantor or those in the TP care about very much of anything. They look like nihilists, who are destuctive for the sake of being destructive. » Posted By agrippa On March 30, 2011 @ 10:46 am Those GOP people in washington remiand me of the old fable about the Scorpion and the frog. They would destroy the country just for spite’s sake. If I can’t have it, I will blow it up. And, it looks like half the country does not care what happens. » Posted By agrippa On March 30, 2011 @ 10:44 am How Many US Jobs Can You Fit Inside This Cargo Container? It looks like the argument goes like this: if you cannot compete on the price of touch labor, you compete on having higher skilled labor. That appears to be the argument for free trade/globalization. That will, at the end of the day, where the adjustment will have to come. I think that we all aware that places such as China and India could not stay where they were; poor and underdeveloped. Those people are, potentially, just as telented as Americans. Those countries are under great internal pressure to devlop economically. And, labor cost is not the only cost in the mix. There are transportation and fuel costs as well. » Posted By agrippa On April 1, 2011 @ 10:14 am The loss of jobs comes not from just outsourcing – free trade – it also comes from automation. The computer has automated the office, just has transfer machines have automated the factory. Service/retail cannot make up for that. Free trade is fine with countries that are basically equal; it does tend to balance out over time between equals. But, the USA cannot compete on labor cost with countries like China or India. That drives down USA wages. China and India can do those high skill jobs as well as the USA can. We do need an industrial policy. But, we will not have one. People are locked into the doctrine of free trade – they will stick to their guns, come what may – and the opposition to ‘government interference in the free market’. » Posted By agrippa On April 1, 2011 @ 7:57 am I think that people need to read this: http://www.stonekettle.com/2011/03/america-you-keeping-using-that-word.html » Posted By agrippa On March 28, 2011 @ 6:44 am KQuark, I agree with your post. At times, it looks like Congress has 535 blind kittens, instead of 535 adults. » Posted By agrippa On March 24, 2011 @ 5:03 am adonai, I cannot fault him either. The Libya involvment is debatable. I think that part of the owrld is in for big changes — a “revolutionary situation” – I think that we need to keep that in mind. » Posted By agrippa On March 24, 2011 @ 4:10 am adonai, I agree about the twp parties. The GOP is always in campaign mode and will say/do just about anything for the sake of office. I think that you are on target with your post. Libya is a real problem, all things considered. It would have been very difficult for the US to avoid getting involved. I hope that our involvement is small. It may not work out all that well. » Posted By agrippa On March 23, 2011 @ 2:44 pm Well said, Marion. US participation in this campaign is legal. There is a Security Council ruling which legalizes the campaign. The President has the authority under the war Powers Act. As for Congress: their behavior speaks for itself. The issue turns upon results. Is the campaign worth it to the Libyans? How will it work out for them? At the end of the day, that is what matters. » Posted By agrippa On March 23, 2011 @ 10:47 am Some Not Very Strong Arguments Against Action in Libya Another argument against it: political/social consequences. At the end of the day, the cost may outweigh the benefit, as Libya will be little better off. Libya may well end up with another dictator; better than the previous one, perhaps – but a dictator nonetheless. I consider that outcome – another dictator – to be a real possibility. » Posted By agrippa On March 22, 2011 @ 1:10 pm We Are Aiding and Abetting the Republicans We do need to reinstate the fairness doctrine. Urgent is the right word. A NY Senator – Schumer, I think – said that Mudrdoch is the most important man in the country. He has gotten, arguably, as big as Hearst was in his day. Finding good and honest reporting is too hard for 95% of the people. Only about 5% are willing and able to do that amount of research. » Posted By agrippa On March 22, 2011 @ 9:58 am I find it difficult to find sources of true and accurate facts and analysis. The loss of the fairness doctrine has made the problem worse. And, it has led to a loss of commons. I, too, use the internet, and most of my information comes from the internet and books for perspective. That is how I found this place. For immediate news, I mostly use BBC and Reuters; sometimes the Guardian and Independent. The loss of the Fairness Doctrine has been harmful and people like Murdoch have taken advantage. » Posted By agrippa On March 22, 2011 @ 7:35 am You fire yourself up. There is a lot to do: organize; raise money; recruit candidates and get them nominated and elected to congressional districts and the Senate. These people are there; they are state legislatures, county and city government. Telling Obama that needs to be done is fine; but, I expect that he already knows that. » Posted By agrippa On March 22, 2011 @ 5:30 am The criticism is mis placed. But, that is par for the course; as a president gets the credit and takes the blame. I expect Obama to be hated or loved. It is one of things that Americans do – hate or love a president. Most of the blame lies with the 111th Congress – especially, the Senate – it is that Congress that passed those laws. We have separation of powers and it it the task of Congress to enact legislation; it is not the task of the president. The task for activists who want these progressive laws passed is to get progressives, who will pass those laws, elected to Congress. I have no problem with people criticising Obama; they have the right to do so. I think that it is misplaced. » Posted By agrippa On March 22, 2011 @ 5:18 am An Immodest (Immoral) Proposal Good idea. Go for it. » Posted By agrippa On March 20, 2011 @ 11:46 am What IS leadership and what kind of leader do WE want? Obama does have his own style; and, it starts with ‘play with the cards you have been dealt’. Look at what he has inherited; inlude in that list the woeful state of the two parties. The Democrats are a disorganized and fractious coalition of politicians ( a politician’s first characteristic is ‘does not work well with others) who don’t like each other very much. The GOP is being run, in fact by the RW and politicans from the deep South. The same faction ( who are now GOP) that FDR had to placate to get anything done. It is a wonder anything got done at all considring the woeful state of Congress. And, hardly anyone actually elects them, as 40 to 60% of the eligible voters do not vote. What kind of leader does America need? It does not need one. Americans need to wake up; to pay attention; to learn about government; to learn about politics, current events and history. That would be a good start. » Posted By agrippa On March 19, 2011 @ 5:45 am It’s Official: Huffington Post Is Now Out-Drudging Drudge Huffington is an opportunist. » Posted By agrippa On March 19, 2011 @ 8:59 am Arab Uprisings: Still Writing History Thank you for the updates, Khirad. It helps me to keep up with events. » Posted By agrippa On April 16, 2011 @ 7:41 am It is my understanding is that the USA has a small involvment in Libya. I think that most of the operations are being done by France and the UK. I have no problem with the USA supporting the SC Council resolution; nor, do I have a problem with the USA providing support to NATO/Britain/France. » Posted By agrippa On April 6, 2011 @ 10:26 am Thank you for the updates, khirad! » Posted By agrippa On April 5, 2011 @ 7:20 am Every country is unique in this Arab Spring, to me akin to a revoultionary situation, and I do not know how it will work out either. It appears to me that Obama does not want to get the USA heavily involved. I think that is a smart thing to do. » Posted By agrippa On April 1, 2011 @ 10:32 am true, K quark. It is best to handle it through the UN. » Posted By agrippa On March 30, 2011 @ 10:38 am Who are these rebels? There are, most of the time, very few reasons against a war that will convince a leader not to have one. There is one that can possibly dissuade: you will not achieve your goals by making war. The dynamic of battle tends to expand the initial war aims. War has a life of its’ own. » Posted By agrippa On March 25, 2011 @ 4:55 am Kucinich, in my opinion, is dead wrong on this one. The US participation in this operation is legal. The objection to it comes from it being unwise: causing more harm than good. Kucinich is not making that argument. Kucinich is not being logical. We do need to be careful about what we are getting into. We do not know very much about the opposition; who they are and what they want. And, this area of the world is on the verge of revolution. That is another reason to be careful. » Posted By agrippa On March 21, 2011 @ 2:20 pm I have not formed any firm opinions at this point. I am in reading, re reading and following events mode right now. » Posted By agrippa On March 21, 2011 @ 5:56 amComments Posted By agrippa
The ‘left’ has changed – we have no real left today and no real labor movement either. They were not that strong then; but, both were stronger than now.
I do not have a problem with a shutdown, although I do think that it should be as complete as it possibly can be.
Psychologically, they have narcissitic personality disorder.
The Democrats? They seem like a herd of blind kittens. Obama is struggling against his own party, imo. He knows that the GOP is useless and the Dems in Congress have not helped Obama at all.
I think that activists need to do much more than that.
Build up the organization at the precinct and district level and get competent progressives to run and get elected.
It does not have to be top down.
What kind of leader does America want? Most neither know nor care. Most will tolerate just about anything.
And, HufPo shows that opportunism
Who are the leaders?
What are the groups in this rebellion?
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But, it does to look to me like the region is on the verge of ‘big changes’. It looks pretty close to a revolutionary situation.
I am neither a cynic nor an idealist.
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