The Angry States of America (solution, dollars, school, politician)

[GregW]

Anger in the US

"Fear is the mind killer...." Frank Herbert in DUNE.

Frightened people stop thinking and grab at anything to quell their fear. This is the basis of all advertizing. All media survives on fear. It is the core of the conservative propaganda. Limbaugh keeps the crowd frightened and the crowd becomes addicted to the rush (no pun intended) of endorphins created when they are frightened. This fear is morphed into unthinking anger and anger becomes rage and all thought is eliminated so the cycle continues.

Liberals, by and large, try to comfort not frighten. This sells far less time and advertizing because people have been trained not to believe anyone that tries to tell them that their problems have solutions. No fear, no following.

If you can get past the fear you can think about what is really happening and what the real threats to our polity are. Then you can work at developing solutions. The right wing does not want solutions because they are emotionally, monetarily and chemically hooked on the fear.

[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by HighPlainsDrifter73

I would be careful about linking high IQ or intelligence as an endorsement of Obama. This is sometimes viewed as elitism frequently associated with liberalism as in 'they know better than poor uneducated conservatives'. I would also never assume that educated or high IQ people can solve the mess that we're in - after all it's probably so-called intelligent people who got us into this mess. A lot of them may have had advanced degrees (ie MBAs, etc) and/or high IQs. Greed and personal agendas trump intelligence every time.

BTW, I truly do hope that Obama is successful in putting our country on the right track, but I'm not very optimistic. The problems that need to be addressed are much deeper and complex and have been building for decades. The time for quick fixes and just throwing more money at the problem is over with.

I obviously agree with you. I was just countering Repubocrat's baseless accusation about below average intelligence. Since IQ remains the only objective measure we have for intelligence, I had to use it:

Popularity does not mean anything. In fact, the vast majority of people in this country have below average intelligence, otherwise they would have never elected Obama.

[WillysB]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

Most people are fine with him.


Obama's budget: 44% positive, 26% negative.

Initial Reaction to Obama Budget Tilts Positive


Still at 67% approval
Obama Approval Rating Increases to 67%


I'm sorry you're so angry. It is difficult to have a president with a different philosophy. That is how many felt these past 8 years watching a government turn our country into something we could hardly recognize, so I know how you feel.

I hope you find peace with our new direction. Best to you.

As I post, the Dow is again below 6800, Citi is approaching one dollar and GM is advised bankruptcy may (after all) be necessary. I suspect those who voted for 'BamaBoozle approve and are satisfied, thus his high numbers in their polls.

[tb4000]

I knew the repubs wanted to throw this election so everything could be blamed on Obama. Nothing he does will sit right with them, so he may as well just cut their asses out of the equation and focus on the rest of us.

[GregW]

I think this market collapse is the aggregate result of a massive number of margin calls resulting from the collapsed speculative bubble. House and stock prices are now closer to the 'real' non speculative value. This happens after every speculative binge in history.

[Captain Worley]

Originally Posted by tb4000

I knew the repubs wanted to throw this election so everything could be blamed on Obama.

That would have been smart, but I doubt that's what they did. It was the most poorly run campaign since Dole's in 96.

[SeekTruth]

I think you're right. John McCain didn't really seem to want it. While I respect McCain a thousand time more than obama, I think McCain is part of the whole NWO trend too. The only difference is, he'd trot along at 35 mph to get there whereas Obama moves at 200 mph to reach a socialist/commie state.

Obama is no different than the other politicians and the Obama worshippers are deluding themselves. Obama's admin is full of tax cheaters, questionable people, and a porno lawyer. o is just another lying politician who knows how to play on people's emotions.

The reality is, most all of the people in DC don't give a rat's a$$ about the average American. They want to rule over us like we're a bunch of stupid peasants.

[SeekTruth]

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to fix the education system. But for 40 years both Democrats and Republicans have done nothing to fix it.

Fixing the income tax system is no brainer too. But both parties won't fix it because they need to be able to offer various credits or breaks to different groups to appeal to their core constituencies.

I think both parties are rotten. I do however believe the Democrat party is infested with commies. And I believe the Repub party is all for NAU and global government too but maybe slightly more benign.

What should happen is that there should be no political parties and that each politician runs according to his experience, beliefs, and qualifications.

And that each politician, in particular running for President should get multiple security checks to make sure they're a decent human being and that they should on LIVE TV on all channels debate their opponents 7 times so the American people can pick the right person.

And I think the public school systems should just teach reading, writing, science and arithmatic and that's it.

[jetgraphics]

Originally Posted by SeekTruth

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to fix the education system. But for 40 years both Democrats and Republicans have done nothing to fix it.

Simple fix: End all public funding of education. All government should do is offer examination oversight and a unified credential bank.

Originally Posted by SeekTruth

Fixing the income tax system is no brainer too. But both parties won't fix it because they need to be able to offer various credits or breaks to different groups to appeal to their core constituencies.

The only fix for the income tax is eradication. It is anathema to the American system of law.
You can't tax producers for the benefit of consumers, and expect progress.
In fact, you will drive away your productive industries and reward drones and parasites.

Originally Posted by SeekTruth

I think both parties are rotten. I do however believe the Democrat party is infested with commies. And I believe the Repub party is all for NAU and global government too but maybe slightly more benign.

All partisan political parties are socialists, including the Libertarians - who merely want a "kinder and gentler" socialism.

Not one partisan politician will stand up and support the dissolution of national socialism (Socialist InSecurity) and the end of all entitlement programs.

Originally Posted by SeekTruth

What should happen is that there should be no political parties and that each politician runs according to his experience, beliefs, and qualifications.

You might be pleased to learn that the original Electoral College was a solution to partisan political parties.

Consider that as originally configured, the president would be the most popular candidate, with his vice president representing the next most popular - and rival - segment. That's why the vice president was not delegated specific duties. His original job was to oversee the president and act as a "fly on the wall" objecting to any partisan execution of the laws enacted by Congress. His job was adversarial - but it wasn't spelled out, unfortunately.
It worked so well, that George Washington HATED his VP, and urged that the Electoral College be amended. Thus we have been "blessed" with political parties in control over the executive ever since.

Originally Posted by SeekTruth

And that each politician, in particular running for President should get multiple security checks to make sure they're a decent human being and that they should on LIVE TV on all channels debate their opponents 7 times so the American people can pick the right person.

The office of the president should NOT be chosen by a popularity contest. The president is NOT our leader. He is the highest ranking SERVANT of the people. The best president is a humble servant, not an egotistical narcissist who craves adulation.

That's why we should return to the original Electoral College. In fact, let's expand the EC to spend 1 or more years, examining each candidate for high office.
The Electoral College, composed of folks from each district that the majority of voters have chosen for their good judgment, would convene somewhere, and any candidates could proffer their credentials, petitions, and sit for examination by the College.
How indepth? It's up to the College.
I would hope that the College could also hear character witnesses, and rebuttal witnesses and so forth. Might be set up like "American Idol" with callers voting their faves. Once the crowd is thinned down, the College would vote for two candidates. The candidate with the most votes is the new president. The next most popular would be his "vice" in the full sense of the word.

Originally Posted by SeekTruth

And I think the public school systems should just teach reading, writing, science and arithmatic and that's it.

No. Just eliminate public funding. Set up semi-annual examinations for credentials. It won't matter how or where one learned his lessons. As long as he can pass the exam, he gains the credential. If he fails, he cannot take the next level of examination. And a re-test would be scheduled 6 months later. This method could be applied to any and all disciplines and skills.
That would "free" education from the chains of "free education" paid for by compulsory taxation.
It would also eradicate the elitism and "old boy network" that certain educational institutions inculcate in their graduates.
And one's test scores, in the public record, will be open to all to see - an incentive to be a good scholar.

[ParkTwain]

It's mostly the angry 'pubs of America.