BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically

Subject: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 12:01 PM

In his latest article, columnist Charles Babington lays out clearly the dilemma that America finds itself hooked on- with no real hope of changing anything any time soon. Facts don't seem to matter.

Republicans Losing Battles, Winning the War

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 02:25 PM

Yeah, sure the USA has been drifting to the Right politically...and for a long time now. Obviously. And so has the western world generally. The political "left" is virtually dead in the USA in terms of influencing policy, and has been ever since Ronald Reagan. This doesn't mean that there isn't a significant part of the American public who still support the Left...there is...but that part of the public does not get represented in any real way by their elected governments, regardless of whether they are Republican or Democratic....though they always hope that the Democrats will represent them once elected.

It doesn't turn out that way.

Why? Well, the political system is being driven by huge centralized financial and military-imperial interests with common purposes, that's why. It's a financial system built on massive amounts of ever-increasing debt, and an imperial-military system bent on establishing a world-dominating control of strategic resources and trade through a single superpower and its allies (and slaves).

This guarantees an extreme rightwing policy on the part of governments, regardless of who gets elected.

Obama seemed like the great "liberal" hope when he was running for office....and I had high hopes that he was at the time...but he is not. As for the Republicans, they'd be even worse. But either way, you get pretty much the same thing at the end of the day. They both increase the debt. They both increase the police state and decrease civil rights. They both assault the Constitution and betray it in various ways. They both engage in foreign military adventures and occupations. They both serve the bankers and the military-industrial complex.

This is also true in Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, etc.

It's a closed shop.

What do I do about it? I try to live a good life and be a good person, that's what. I know I'm living under a very corrupt and venal social order, and that the parties have all been bought by the bosses of that order....but that doesn't change the fact that my own life is still my own effective place of power to be a good person, and that's what I believe in.

I do NOT believe in the corrupt political systems I live under...not any more than I'd have believed in Imperial Rome, if I'd been living then and there....or Nazi Germany...if I'd been living then and there.

I do NOT place my hopes upon the political systems I live under. I do NOT serve them...neither do I openly fight them...I just absolutely refuse to worship them and believe in them, that's all. I am aware of them and what they are doing. It has little to do with my own personal destiny, because my own destiny is entirely up to me...and it's invisible to them anyway, because it has nothing to do with their money or their ability to kill people.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 03:30 PM

Interesting observations, Little Hawk. But you obviously did not read the link.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 04:03 PM

The point that resonated with me was that the right has been deliver simple (but inaccurate) messages to voters who are only sporadically, or marginally involve with politics. And they have pushed, no, strong-armed a movement toward some very ridiculous policies.

I think there is a very strong feeling that the Republican unwillingness to compromise on "tax cut only" responses to problems is the reason the economy is in the mess it is in now. Grover Norquist has a lot of political clout, but has no idea how the economy works.

One thing that wasn't mentioned, though, is that the Republicans have gone so far to the right that a lot of the candidates are becoming unelectable. That means that, over time, they'll have less and less power, Cold comfort right now, though...

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Greg F.
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 04:15 PM

simple (but inaccurate) messages

Otherwise known as lies and bullshit.

But the problem lies (pun intended) not with the liars and bullshitters.

The problem lies with the moronic fuckwits who actually believe the lies and bullshit, can't be bothered to verify that it IS lies and bullshit, and vote on the basis of the lies and bullshit.

The boobocracy is in the saddle, and rides mankind.

(With apologies to Emerson)

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 04:21 PM

Surely a fool is less blameworthy than a rogue.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Greg F.
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 05:04 PM

Not if the fool is responsible for the rogue getting one over on us.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Stringsinger
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 06:05 PM

The article didn't mention the essential issue. Republicans are made up of the corporate lobbies and wealthy 1% of the population. Corporate interests including Hedge Fund Managers are basically in the Republican camp. Billionaires today are voting Republican so they can further cheat the American taxpayer out of goods and services and jobs. Monied greed is what's driving the Rightward Drift.

No one ought to be a billionaire in America today. It's a disgrace when Americans are not doing well. They shouldn't be allowed to buy our government. Many in the financial Wall Street wheelers and dealers should be in jail.

The reason the battle is being won by Republicans is that they can afford to buy
victory which is self-serving interest.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 07:10 PM

As Guest/Stim suggested, Republicans may find themselves running out of power and party- they're already out of popularity :). What do you suppose will take its place? I've read of when the Republican party was formed, but I don't recall what it took the place of.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 07:12 PM

I meant to add that I've formulated what a plank would look like under a 'Common Grounds Party'. But I don't see anything that sensible happening any time soon.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Greg F.
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 07:18 PM

Republicans may find themselves running out of power and party- they're already out of popularity

Not for long - history shows conclusively that stupidity will out.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Bobert
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 07:34 PM

I have a different take...

I see the US on the cusp of moving toward the left... I mean, seems every time we see poll results on various issues... Most people tend to lean center or center left...

The problem here isn't personal views of issues... The problem is that those on the right have corralled almost all the money and they own the media and they can control the message...

The American people aren't stupid... They are just ignorant because the right keeps them that way...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 07:39 PM

I think it is the article's contention that each time as the 'left' moves toward what the 'right' is demanding, the right moves even farther right, so that there is no way to win. I can't imagine how it will end- unless the right moves itself completely off the map.

Incidentally - in a segue from the article - watch out for Ted Cruz. He is unbelievable.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Bobert
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 07:54 PM

There is an element of truth to that, Eb, but I, like I said, I think that is slowly changing because the US has pretty much been under conservative "rule" (not govern) for the past 30 years and it ain't working for us...

It's kinda like leech therapy... If the first half a dozen is killing the patient then another half a dozen will finish the job... I can't see the US moving forward with so much income disparity and 1/2 of all Americans living at or below 125% of poverty...

In the words of Dr. Phil??? "How's it workin' for you?"...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 09:07 PM

I looked at the article... and it seems to me that the author defeats his own contention by 'proving' something different than the title suggests.

He does a decent job of showing how the Republicans are getting a lot of 'wins' by various means... but that merely shows that the right is getting sneakier and louder, not that the country in general is moving right. A number of analyses lately have shown that the right is getting righter, but the center and left are staying pretty much as they were.

When there is a system in place^** that keeps the majority party from legislating according to their implied mandate, they try to get something done by accepting partial concessions and trying to negotiate partial solutions.

Bobert may be right that 'some' swing to the left, at least in voting patterns, if not in beliefs, may be developing, because of the lousy choices for moderate Republicans recently.
(One of the best lines I've heard recently was by Steve Schmidt, McCains campaign manager, who said that the recent Republican CPAC meetings "were beginning to look like the Star Wars bar party" as they didn't invite Christie, but did invite Bachmann, Hermann Cain, Alan West and other wing-nuts.)




**Senate super-majority rule and Repubs filibustering almost every serious bill, Gerrymandered house districts, Supreme Court unbalanced- with several justices clearly political, and lots of $$$$ being thrown by Koch & Co. at every race that matters

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Bobert
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 09:19 PM

The majority in the Senate today voted 51-49 in favor of the Dems plan to avoid the sequester...

Like Bill pointed out, had there not been an archaic rule in place that prevent majority rule that bill would have made it out of the Senate...

Still would have been clobbered in the House but this evening's news cycle would have been far more optimistic...

I do blame the Senate Democrats for this... They had an opportunity to change the rules on the 1st day... Harry Reid has set us back a couple of years but the progressive wing of the Democratic Party will have its day...

I guarantee it...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Greg F.
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 08:36 AM

the progressive wing of the Democratic Party will have its day...
I guarantee it...

Ya wanna put $20 on that, Bobster? I guarantee you'll lose your money..........

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 07:14 PM

how will it end? with default on the debt.then collapse of the financial system. they could stagger on for a decade even, two, but the american debt is so large it can never be repaid . unless of course they abandon the world wide military operations--which no one dares to do.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 03:13 AM

Drift right?..drift left??..it's all the same thing....it's a concerted drift away from liberty and freedom....then the big surprise is..it's all the same thing!!

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 03:26 AM

Sometimes you make precious little or no sense a'tall, a'tall.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 03:53 AM

Well, what would you rather be controlled by?..the right or the left?

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ron Davies
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 08:45 AM

As others have noted, the thesis is not proven--despite some supportive bloviating from the usual Mudcat suspects.

Obama's re-election and the passage of the healthcare reform law are powerful arguments on the other side. And wait til the illegal immigration reform law passes--which will happen soon since intelligent GOP thinkers realize the alternative is political oblivion. This may well result in an intraparty civil war in the GOP.

But the article sounds suspiciously like a the response of a columnist faced with a deadline.

Only kernel of useful truth appears to be the observation that parts of the GOP--probably the majority-- are drifting to the Right--which is not news.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: akenaton
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 09:41 AM

The problem is that the "left" have been wedded to the benefit and rights culture which is idiotic and nowadays, financially unsustainable.
By the "left", I mean the soft woolly "liberal" centre, not the radical organisation which I have supported all my life.

Our heros are not career politicians like Obama and the Clintons, but leaders who really believe what they say.....from the heart.

Folks in the UK and the US have had enough of the weasels, they want leaders who will tell the truth about the system, and if it is totally fucked as I believe it is, we need to demolish it and build something better.
We need to examine what is important in life.....happiness and fulfillment, not the game being played at the moment with words like equality, benefits, and rights.......these words all become meaningless in a system built on the aquisition of money as a measure of worth....... a system which actively encourages inequality as a core principle.

The left/ right battle is over, we should unity against the common enemy who care for nothing but power and capital.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST, Niggardly Bastard
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 09:55 AM

I approve this message!

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ron Davies
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 10:15 AM

To the barricades!!! ( If we can figure out where they are).    Destroy the village--it's the only way to save it.    Demolish it and build something better.   The sky is falling--again.

Why is shooting fish in a barrel so much fun?

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: number 6
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 10:37 AM

LH ... re: your comment "I do NOT place my hopes upon the political systems I live under. I do NOT serve them...neither do I openly fight them...I just absolutely refuse to worship them and believe in them, that's all. I am aware of them and what they are doing. It has little to do with my own personal destiny, because my own destiny is entirely up to me...and it's invisible to them anyway, because it has nothing to do with their money or their ability to kill people."

spot on ... I have also arrived at the conclusion a while back.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ron Davies
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 10:40 AM

"worship them and believe in them".   A wonderfully meaningless phrase. Well done.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 10:49 AM

They do not bother me beyond the detestation I have for the bastards. I do however worry for my kids. Therefore, I fight them when, where and as I can.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 11:05 AM

Everyone worships and believes in something, Ron. You can determine exactly what that something is by closely observing their behaviour. Number 1 is usually...

1. their own EGO! (the ruling God of their vicious little mad and ugly world just as they see it)


And after that they worship....


2. money
3. sex
4. material possessions
5. good looks
6. youth
7. popularity (and fame)
8. their national identity
9. their familiar traditions and myths of superiority over other traditions
10. the familiar authority structures that preside over them

etc. It's a very long list, but the first few entries can virtually be guaranteed in most cases.

The reason I usually only post ONCE to any political thread now and never even open it again after that is simple: it allows me to avoid talking to a group of very unpleasant people (like yourself) and thereby uselessly poisoning a part of my day. I should've done that this time too. Bye, bye.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ron Davies
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 11:52 AM

It is absurd to say people worship and believe in capitalism. They live under it, try to benefit--since it is based on self-interest--but to say "worship and believe in" is classic boilerplate hyperbole. And by the way, most intelligent people realize the necessity of regulation of capitalism.

Perhaps you'd like to look into a franchise in Hyberbole R Us--though on Mudcat you might have quite a few competing franchisees.   Try to make sure your territories don't overlap.

So far this thread has been long on firebreathing leftist jargon, not quite so good on actually proving the thesis of the thread.

What a surprise.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ron Davies
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 12:00 PM

"Hyperbole R Us"

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 01:16 PM

So Little Hawk, when the Bible says, "Thou shalt have no other God before Me", it really means, "It's not all about what YOU want"...

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 01:32 PM

Ron Davies: "It is absurd to say people worship and believe in capitalism."

Capitalism is just but a rung in the ladder. Everybody higher is a 'more successful capitalist' and those below are the peasant worker bees, whining for more benefits. Call it 'left' or 'right'...but that's just to occupy the spare time of the peasants! Party bosses, 'right' or 'left', do not live in the same strata as any of the worker bee peasants. The debate of 'right' or 'left' is just mental chewing gum.

...and WE, as musicians, should be about our craft!

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Bobert
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 01:34 PM

The bottom line here is that the "aging & angry rich white guys" have circled the wagons and are throwing their wealth at trying to hold off the future...

Unfortunately, in spite of the folks here singing the "Both Sides Boogie" the battle line is clearly being drawn by the Republican Party with the Dems just trying to stave off this assault... I kinda see it as Custer's Last Stand and once the real threat by the "aging & angry rich white guys" to our democracy is stoped then it will be time for regrouping...

This will happen... And the pendulum will swing and...

...progressives will prevail...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,achmelvich
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 01:36 PM

no gods, please - they certainly have no chance of helping ordinary folk out of the mess we are in. may be interesting to see what happens in italy with a leftish/anarchistish party getting 25% of the vote and most seats in their senate, following years of tireless anti-capitalist campaigning by a comedian (grillo)

had bill hicks survived would he be having a greater effect now, when any thinking person has seen through the politicians lies and spin?

surely in the west all the hardship and resentment that is around must result in some expression of mass decency and a return to progressive ideas?

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 03:50 PM

The USA has the highest incarceration rate of all democracies. That's a statement of fact from a guy who holds a center position--half way between the political extremes. I still want someone who uses the term liberal--whether in a disparaging manner or not--to explain it. However, I ain't having much luck with that.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,999
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 10:39 AM

Pretty please with sugar on it?

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Stringsinger
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 01:48 PM

Runaway Capitalism has the seeds of its own destruction built in. It's not sustainable for the majority of people that live under it.

The leaders voted in are turning Rightward but the people who voted them in may begin to see the errors of their ways. The people who are not in power will react in such as way as to see the collapse of what we know now of the Wall Street runaway Capitalist system. We don't know what will replace it but it may contain Socialist elements. At this point, what we know of American government has been bought and sold by financiers, energy companies, food aggregates, Big Pharma, Big Ag and the runaway military. This won't work in the long haul. Evidence? Early Rome.

In the most highly developed countries there is a combination of Capitalist and Socialist forms of government. Maybe the new America will look something like that.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,999
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 03:06 PM

Too true, Stringsinger. However, even when "a combination of Capitalist and Socialist forms of government" do work in countries--I'm thinking of Canada here--greed gets in the way and countries like that find themselves 'being swung' towards a form of consumerism that is antithetical to the general well-being. Greed has got to be the #1 killer of both people and governments. Offer us money at someone else's expance and there we are all lined up. It reminds me of that great stanza from Dylan's song about Medgar Evers:

A South politician preaches to the poor white man
"You got more than the blacks, don't complain.
You're better than them, you been born with white skin," they explain.
And the Negro's name
Is used it is plain
For the politician's gain
As he rises to fame
And the poor white remains
On the caboose of the train
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game

If indeed there is to be a new America, it will have to be one without stock manipulations, without unregulated banks and without the view that somehow God has given it the prima facie right to control the whole enchilada.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Greg F.
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 06:00 PM

'cept I think Dylan is a bit of the mark, Bruce. Pawn or noy, ya can't absolve the "poor white" or the "poor white analogue"- he's complicit.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 10:27 PM

They're not my gods, achmelvitch, but they certain are gods to a lot of people, and Little Hawk left one out (he's usually pretty thorough, too) and that's "Power"...

The thing is, the right and the left have each have their own demons and deities(often one's demons are the other's deities). When Stringsinger points the finger at Big Ag, it reminds me a lot of the folks who scream about Obamacare...

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ron Davies
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 10:35 PM

"peasant worker bees"


"firebreathing Leftist jargon"

QED

Look, people, that wonderful example of a socialist state, Sweden, is funded by------capitalism.

Not that a rational person would expect sense from a thread with this title.   
At least the title should have had a question mark.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,999
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 09:19 AM

I see what you're saying, Greg. But whether it's stocks or people being manipulated, there is manipulation and we're all taking the brunt of it.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Greg F.
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 10:25 AM

Can't argue with that, Bruce.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,achmelvich
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 01:59 PM

the most successful societies - we could take sweden as an example - are the most equal. they need a successful (capitalist) economy but they also need a strong (socialist) state to ensure the health and well being of the citizens and to democratically represent their wishes. success these days means putting up a good fight against american free market global domination (chicago school style) letting the whole world economy become a market to be exploited by a tiny number of (mostly) american billionaires should be a mark of shame for elected politicians the world over.
naomi klein's 'the shock doctrine' is a complete and distressing (though very readable) account of the crimes of neo capitalism over the last 40 years. i've always been on the left but i was literally shocked every couple of pages by the crimes of these psychopaths!

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ron Davies
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 08:00 PM

"successful capitalist economy".   NB, Mudcat firebreathing leftists.

If you're going to milk a cow, it helps if the cow has some milk.

Obviously capitalism needs regulation.   The "invisible hand" is no panacea.

But abolishing capitalism will not bring Utopia.

Despite your wishful thinking.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 05 Mar 13 - 04:24 AM

Ron Davies has a good point: the successful socialist economies of Scandinavia are countries that use a sane and moderate capitalism as the basis for an equal society. The difference between the Scandinavian model and others is that they aim for a level wage structure, where few earn hugely more or less than anyone else, and the money made by all is shared out to buy schooling, medical services, infrastructure, etc that all share equally. It works well. They have kept this going for decades now, partly by a psychology where showing off wealth is frowned on. Unfortunately, this sane way of life is currently under threat because of an influx of people from very poor countries; the pressure put on the Scandinavians' stringent morality by the European/American economic crash and a sudden influx of a large number of people who don't share the accepted Scandinavian norms, and who are very poor, typically, is causing a reactive swing to the right there, with anti-immigrant parties gaining traction and other parties going rightwards as a result. Let's hope they can save their egalitarian model, which has worked so well.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 05 Mar 13 - 04:23 PM

Thanks,achmelvitch, for mentioning Naomi Klein's "The Shock Doctine". A documentary was made, which you can see here The Shock Doctrine on YouTube

It ties it everything together...

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Stringsinger
Date: 05 Mar 13 - 05:52 PM

The abolition of Capitalism is now unrealistic but it must be tempered by Socialism.
Not extremes of either but a blend that checks the rapacious Wall Street crowd and corporate domination of the government. Achmelvitch has it right. Naomi Klein's book is brilliant and should be taught in any political science course.

Greed can be checked.

The "rightward drift" is unsustainable. It puts power in the hands of the wealthy and the few greedy corporate ideologues. There has to be a reaction.

The "sequester" is a Tea Party ruse and that Obama goes along with any of it is beyond me. It may take a Depression 1930's style to bring the US to its senses.

Obama is no Roosevelt, however.

The government is now dysfunctional with a Tea Party Congress and a corporate run Senate. The Supreme Court has activist ideologue judges which have made that institution totally politicized.

The only answer left is for to the US population to wake up and demand better otherwise they get what they deserve.

Working through the government via the political system is almost a lost cause. It will take the mobilization of outside groups to gather together to demand a change.

In this way, every citizen of the US is a leader (philosophically illustrated by the Occupy Movement) and when the initiative is taken, change will occur.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ron Davies
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 11:29 AM

"corporate run Senate".    Wrong.   Otherwise the health reform law would not have made through.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ron Davies
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 11:37 AM

What we have now is a situation where a minority of intransigent GOP House members--not even all Republicans--can bring the government to a standstill.   Boehner can't get anything through since his own party can't agree among themselves.    So everybody treads water and tries not to drown.

It's by no means a rightward drift--just a few who refuse to compromise.   But the legislative system is set up so they have power beyond their numbers.

If there were a rightward drift we'd have President Romney.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 12:07 PM

Quick segue here: If the US did not have so many people in prison on basically minor or illy-thought out drug charges, wouldn't that bring our incarceration numbers more in line with those of other nations?

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,999
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 12:34 PM

You bet. It might also straighten out the seeming colour/ethnicity/race percentages at the same time. Of course if more than one in a thousand white-collar crooks got the time they deserve it could help balance the equation, too.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ron Davies
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 12:46 PM

"made it through."

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Greg F.
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 05:27 PM

Nice idea, Bruce, but don't hold your breath.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: GUEST,999
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 06:30 PM

Greg, I am still shaking my head in wonder that one of the biggest robberies in world history went down in the USA and only maybe a half-dozen people got sent up. Mind blow ing.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Stringsinger
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 07:24 PM

Corporate run senate because the insurance companies have gained and the single payer option was defeated. Insurance lobbies own the senate.

The reason we don't have Romney is because he mishandled his campaign, not that he was liked by the GOP.

The rightward shift is toward economic division where the GOP are the fat cats who are thumbing their nose at working people. Also, the religious right has imprisoned the minds of its followers.

The future is bleak now but don't count out another 1929 crash and subsequent reforms.

Subject: RE: BS: USA Rightward Drift Politically
From: Ron Davies
Date: 07 Mar 13 - 12:34 AM

"single payer option was defeated" as evidence of rightward drift.

Oh, c'mon, use your head.   There was never a majority for the single payer option in either Congress or the nation at large.    The latter is especially telling since Congress is supposed to reflect the nation at large, and usually does--including the large number of 'Neanderthals' who can still vote, even though Mudcat leftists are dismayed by how they do so, and would be only too happy to dictate to them so they would vote correctly.

Sorry, that's not how democracy works.

Even people right of center have a vote, painful as that might be to admit.

Just because there may have been a majority for single payer on Mudcat;   believe it or not, Mudcat is not exactly a true reflection of the US electorate.

Duh.