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""...in practice, those [GOP] ideas have all failed to deliver on the promises the conservatives made, and in many instances, the dogma has actually created new problems. Particularly after Hurricane Katrina, when Americans saw how hapless FEMA was, the public has begun to realize that the right's hostility toward government has produced only ineffective government [not better or more efficient government].
One can see the results in recent headlines: a Justice Department where non-conservatives need not apply; tainted spinach, jalapeño peppers and pet food; dangerous imported toys; poorly enforced environmental laws and a warming planet; the regulatory failures that led to the subprime mortgage fiasco. Meanwhile, large tax cuts (as under Reagan) have weakened the country's fiscal health without significantly improving the lot of the vast majority of citizens. And the right's enthusiasm for Bush's brand of "benevolent hegemony" in foreign policy, which insists on the U.S. right to wage preventive war and dismisses the United Nations as a band of meddlesome bureaucrats, has weakened our security -- most notably through the unnecessary calamity in Iraq -- by diluting our military capabilities and diverting their focus from genuine threats from al-Qaeda.""
The article is good reading.
My biggest pet peeve is the GOP mantra of "de-regulation" which has been a huge failure no matter what industry is involved, such as:
- The S&L scandal of Reagan/Bush,
- The Enron mess and manipulation of energy markets in CA that nearly bankrupted that state;
- The Enron Loophole that removed restrictions on commodity speculation, now, oil prices are $40-60 higher per barrel as a result.
- The mortgage mess and credit meltdown;
- Airline deregulation that has given us a bankrupt industry that has become an awful experience;
Whatever else the GOP has de-regulated, it has always led to runaway financial disaster for the nation, while Wall Street and insiders get fat at our expense.
""...in practice, those [GOP] ideas have all failed to deliver on the promises the conservatives made, and in many instances, the dogma has actually created new problems. Particularly after Hurricane Katrina, when Americans saw how hapless FEMA was, the public has begun to realize that the right's hostility toward government has produced only ineffective government [not better or more efficient government].
One can see the results in recent headlines: a Justice Department where non-conservatives need not apply; tainted spinach, jalapeño peppers and pet food; dangerous imported toys; poorly enforced environmental laws and a warming planet; the regulatory failures that led to the subprime mortgage fiasco. Meanwhile, large tax cuts (as under Reagan) have weakened the country's fiscal health without significantly improving the lot of the vast majority of citizens. And the right's enthusiasm for Bush's brand of "benevolent hegemony" in foreign policy, which insists on the U.S. right to wage preventive war and dismisses the United Nations as a band of meddlesome bureaucrats, has weakened our security -- most notably through the unnecessary calamity in Iraq -- by diluting our military capabilities and diverting their focus from genuine threats from al-Qaeda.""
The article is good reading.
My biggest pet peeve is the GOP mantra of "de-regulation" which has been a huge failure no matter what industry is involved, such as:
- The S&L scandal of Reagan/Bush,
- The Enron mess and manipulation of energy markets in CA that nearly bankrupted that state;
- The Enron Loophole that removed restrictions on commodity speculation, now, oil prices are $40-60 higher per barrel as a result.
- The mortgage mess and credit meltdown;
- Airline deregulation that has given us a bankrupt industry that has become an awful experience;
Whatever else the GOP has de-regulated, it has always led to runaway financial disaster for the nation, while Wall Street and insiders get fat at our expense.
I tried to rep you Mike but they won't let me. I don't understand when they keep telling me I must "spread reps around before I can rep someone again"...who I haven't even repped before...but, anyhow..here's a rep for you.
I tried to rep you Mike but they won't let me. I don't understand when they keep telling me I must "spread reps around before I can rep someone again"...who I haven't even repped before...but, anyhow..here's a rep for you.
Whatever else the GOP has de-regulated, it has always led to runaway financial disaster for the nation, while Wall Street and insiders get fat at our expense.
Interesting article Mike, thanks. I find the discussion to be somewhat tilted due to current circumstances. For example, if the Democrats pick up strength in Congress and the Senate, along with winning the White House, I believe you would find much conflict in proposed "new" ideas, and this would lead to the type of discussions that ended up tanking the efforts of Bill Clinton to establish national healthcare.
Just take a look at Congress, and their approval ratings. I suspect that what many folks support as concepts they would find less attractive as specific legislation.
Oddly, when you take a look at the internal workings of the Democratic Party, the DLC is clearly in retreat today. This is part of the reason that the House and Senate have had difficulty getting sufficient concensus on proposed legislation.
Finding the appropriate balance in oversight and regulation is exceptionally difficult. Typically, I think we have a national ebb and flow, and right now many have concerns about insufficient oversight. But the devil is in the details.
We are watching the demise of the GOP & after November they will be an insignificant force in American politics. Many have left [ie Ron Paul & Bob Barr] while many more will vote Democratic for the first time. Too bad the Republicans are such fools & poor sports [but somebody has to be on the bottom, right?
We are watching the demise of the GOP & after November they will be an insignificant force in American politics. Many have left [ie Ron Paul & Bob Barr] while many more will vote Democratic for the first time. Too bad the Republicans are such fools & poor sports [but somebody has to be on the bottom, right?
lol and I do believe the bottom feeders are in our midst!
"The belief system and finely crafted policy pitches that enabled the right to dominate the war of ideas for the past 30 years have produced a relentless succession of governing failures, from Iraq to Katrina to the economy to the environment."
"The belief system and finely crafted policy pitches that enabled the right to dominate the war of ideas for the past 30 years have produced a relentless succession of governing failures, from Iraq to Katrina to the economy to the environment."
The way I see it, Iraq has met more goals than the current US Senate.
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Republicans: "nasty dog food"
