[diemos]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Oakley', '
')There is too much division between red states and blue states for us to reach civil solutions so lets just divorce and go our separate ways.

[ian807]

The fact of the matter is that neither party has much in the way of solutions, or the spine to implement them even if they did. Corporations rule. Congress critters are "useful idiots" whose purpose is to do the bidding of their lobbyist masters.

Moreover, I also don't think democrats really want to win this one, any more than republicans really wanted to win the 2008 elections. Nothing good is coming up to take credit for. Whichever party is in power will get pounded by the continuing economic problems which, in the USA, will continue as long as we keep exporting jobs and industry offshore in the name of the religion known as "globalization."

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('diemos', '
') The red/blue divide is an urban/rural divide.

[Oakley]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Oakley', '
')There is too much division between red states and blue states for us to reach civil solutions so lets just divorce and go our separate ways.

[Timo]

I think it's time to ditch this experiment in government structure and start all over. It is becoming frighteningly clear that the standard M.O. of at least one political party is to divide and conquer. Control of our government has become to sole objective of 100% of the discourse in D.C., and this has replaced the general welfare of we the people. This system we've created is simply not viable over time. Too many personal freedoms will allow the slow destruction of the planet we all live on. Regulations stifle economic activity. Obviously, both of these objectives are unfeasible. My question is: why is this a bad thing? Endless economic growth is not sustainable, is bad for the planet, and by definition is very short lived. Western culture has fooled ourselves into believing that luxuries and conveniences are an entitlement, and we demand that the party in power cater to our every whim. If they fall short, we simply switch parties in control of everything, and complain the same ways when the new party in power fails just as miserably as the previous party. This system doesn't work.

Cut to the chase, just appoint me to be your benevolent dictator, and i'll take care of every living thing. I'll sign a contract (written by me, of course), recite a pledge (also written by me), or say whatever sounds good to you on any given day, as long as you all seceed power to me.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Oakley', '
')
It seems to me that your thinking is that we must have one national government that controls from above and you think that Republican and Democratic Parties are fundamentally different. I see the real political difference as between those who believe in the value of freedom, hence very small government, and those who believe in totalitarian control from the top, big government.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Oakley', 'I') see the real political difference as between those who believe in the value of freedom, hence very small government, and those who believe in totalitarian control from the top, big government.

[dinopello]

They shoulda come right out and pledged freedom of the bathroom for all !

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Oakley', 'I') see the real political difference as between those who believe in the value of freedom, hence very small government, and those who believe in totalitarian control from the top, big government.

[Fiddlerdave]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Outcast_Searcher', 'H')owever, when you talk about "ALL people should have equal rights" while actively conspiring to confiscate as much from successful folks' wallets as possible for (wealth transfer) causes YOUR party sees as justifying such behavior -- you get a zero on the credibility scale outside the hard left zone of political correctness.

If you'll just admit that each party just wants to actively shaft a different set of folks, that's fine. Otherwise, you might as well claim unicorns are real.

[Kristen]

The whole "pledge" is rather ambiguous I you ask me. Democrats are also guilty of spinning you around in circles by stretching the truth. However, as stated, it doesn't matter whom you vote for, they'll end up as lobbyist anyways. It seems absurd that such conflict of interests would be in plain sight, but that's the case if you look closely.

I believe it takes 10,000 dollars and votes to run for congress. How many people can afford that?

[Cid_Yama]

You are all wrong. Democrats are for the most part well educated, intellectual, professionals. Not the type you would find picnicing in strange costumes before the media.

When the election comes, they will go to the polls and vote their conscience.

The Republicans have alienated hispanics, blacks, gays, non-christians, immigrants, and people who actually care about their fellow man.

These people will not vote for the Republicans because they haven't got what they wanted yet.

That's just pure nonsense.

Also the polls are being misinterpreted. Just because someone says they are unhappy with what the Democrats have done so far, doesn't mean they are on the side of the Republicans.

Progressives are very dissapointed that Obama has not supported their agenda. But they wouldn't vote for a Republican in a million years.

Another point on the polls. Most of my life I have chosen to live in rural areas. While living in these areas I never once was called by any of these polls to be asked my opinion.

But, for the 2 years I lived in Walnut Creek, California on a ranch on East Gate Rd on the slopes of Mt Diablo, an extemely prosperous suburb in the Bay Area, I recieved 3 calls from Gallup asking my opinion.

Is this the segment of society they are polling? No wonder the polls seemed skewed.

One other point. They called during the day, when most of the working class would be at work and unable to respond to the polls.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Outcast_Searcher', 'w')hen you talk about "ALL people should have equal rights" while actively conspiring to confiscate as much from successful folks' wallets as possible for (wealth transfer) causes YOUR party sees as justifying such behavior -- you get a zero on the credibility scale outside the hard left zone of political correctness.

[efarmer]

I watched a Republican congressman on a video by a hack who is working on a sex smear angle and hit him while he walked from a speech with a loaded question.
But before that he had finished giving a speech to a friendly crowd.

And he told them that IF they voted them more power in the fall, they WOULD AGREE to listen to what they had to say and what they wanted. This brought applause.

But this guy has been in Congress for decades ALREADY.

The Pledge is a barter that if people hire additional members of a team that has failed to listen to them or act in their best interest for decades, that they will start to listen to them once they get more power.

This not a contract at all, it is extortion from entrenched corporatists.

[Oakley]

There is no question that there are plenty of people who want the force of government to be used to implement their values and desires. This comes from both Republicans and Democrats. Some want to deny women the right to control their own bodies; some what to impose their religious views about sexuality; some want to restrict what you choose as medication; some want to make constant war; some want the economy rigged in their favor; some want handouts from government (both corporate and government welfare); the list goes on and on.

Most of the political battles are for control of government and the direction of its force. Few of the battles are to actually remove government force. And the more government force, the less freedom.

Again, the real political division is freedom (very small government) and subjugation (very large government). Both the Republican and Democratic Parties stand for very large government as evidenced by what they do when in control of lawmaking. Both have on black hats. Those of you who support these thugs on either side have dirty hands that you use to throw your stones at one another.

[efarmer]

One of the most interesting things missing from their pledge was John McCain's patriotic reason for being hated by many in his own party before he melted to become part of the corporatist blob for survival. This is the swearing off of earmarks to pump pork.

The party has a Tea Party figurehead lined up for two prime government welfare areas, unsustainable Nevada that is weaning off of jet aircraft delivered gamblers and is going to have to turn further into a military and defense contractor welfare case, and Alaska, a state that has been a federal military and pork earmark welfare baby since it was a territory.

We may get progress from dysfunction, Democrats should simply line up and demand a vote to cut off all earmarks by law in their lame duck session. This is one case of one party cutting off the other's water that would help the entire nation. If the government is going to remain dysfunctional, and it shows all signs of doing so, at least the people can begin to grapple with where resources exist to support population and begin to migrate into naturally sustainable living conditions.