Let me explain the current political situation

[Mal Hombre]

If there's a US President Who resembles the popular opinion of Nero,It would have to be George W.Bush in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.Nero actually helped fight the Great Fire and gave aid to the survivors.

[deepsepia]

Originally Posted by MisterMacky

The original U.S. Constitution with its checks and balances has been corrupted... where exactly does idea come from that a new set of checks and balances will be any more secure than the originals?

And due to that fact, the powers that be do not consider American citizens to have any say in functioning of government.

The original US Constitution is roughly four pages long, the amendments a similar amount. Such a brief document cannot begin to delineate all the details of the operation of Government.

It is simply a sketch of institutional arrangements, not a blueprint. Nowhere in the Constitution is there a description of the filibuster, or the various rules of the Senate and House, they're simply rules that those bodies have made . . . they could make other ones, if they so chose.

There's a kind of "Constitutional idolatry" out there that's misguided. Take "checks and balances" -- well we have that now, and no one can do anything. President can't get laws passed, can't get Judges or officials confirmed. We've got major treaties, negotiated by Administrations of both parties, which we've never been able to get ratified.

"Checks and balances" taken to the extreme is inaction, and inaction is the preferred policy of those who've "got it good" under current arrangements, but not the preferred policy for those who don't.

[DFFECHSWU]

Originally Posted by TCO95

The current prosperity of China will lead only to the collapse of communism.

When you have nothing and the system wants to take from those who have and give it to you, then you are all for that system. Now that more people are haves as opposed to have nots redistribution doesn't seem so wonderful. As the hard line communists die off they will be replaced by soft socialists then democrats.

As the western world loses more jobs and prosperity the call for redistribution will become louder. As the hard line capitalists die off they will be replaced with soft socialists then communists.

In none of the scenarios do we need or have the will for dictatorships or royalty. Although during transition phases they may rear their ugly heads.

Well done ... This is a simple explanation of what should happen to the economies of the world as they progress through their inevitable cycles.

[BLUEDINGO]

Originally Posted by scoundrel

Michelle Bachman = Caligula


Actually, I see Mr Obama as Claudius, endeavouring to repair the damage caused by his predecessor; but Claudius was no angel either, merely a rational and businesslike mafioso rather than a loose cannon.

Don't you mean Silvio Berlusconi for the part of Caligula?

I mean, he is Italian, corrupt as hell, liked to do it with prostitutes, took drugs, had 'something' to do with politics and he looked very much like a goat.

Erm, sorry, that last one could be a typo; he could have also liked to do it with goats, providing he bothered to remember. Such perversions of those in power always does tend to make them rather forgetful; just look at what Reagan did under medication while in power -he may have given out orders to bomb the cr@p out of a country!

And these are the people we want leading us to a brighter future? Hmm, okay; at least it's nice to know that I'll be glowing by Christmas...without any help...

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by BLUEDINGO

Such perversions of those in power always does tend to make them rather forgetful; just look at what Reagan did under medication while in power -he may have given out orders to bomb the cr@p out of a country!

And these are the people we want leading us to a brighter future? Hmm, okay; at least it's nice to know that I'll be glowing by Christmas...without any help...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upg2eqNbF3w

[papabear3333]

A lot of insight in this thread, but these two important issues showed up Wednesday:



And



Mod Edit: Just for the record, this story is a hoax.

[BLUEDINGO]

Originally Posted by scoundrel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upg2eqNbF3w

Thank you scounsey; Banjo Paterson would be proud. I've never heard 'Waltzing Matilda' played with such herioc fanfare as in this movie. A rather charming epithet when facing either total disaster or absolute annihilation.

And now that Obama has been voted back in for another term, I must remember to get my health insurance paid up; it should be good for another month...

[deepsepia]

Originally Posted by BLUEDINGO

Don't you mean Silvio Berlusconi for the part of Caligula?
:

yes, that's got to be the winner. No anglo politician can really pull off the full portfolio of Caligulan pre-requisites. Berlusconi has vices of Roman quality. Compare his "boom boom parties" to Tiberius on Capri, Juventus and the ultras and their links to rightist politics, very reminiscent of Rome and the collisseum

[theequestrian]

The Undertaxed can remain in power only so long as they can defend themselves from the Overtaxed.
1.There are a total of 535 members of Congress (Senate+House)
2.In 2010 there were an estimated 3.1 million Millionaires in the US
3.There are roughly 1/4 BILLION guns in the hands of a pissed off, disenfranchized citizenry.
Maybe not in my lifetime.
But soon.

I now propose a new law specific to elected officials:
Violation of the Public Trust. (This would cover - among other charges - Graft, Nepotism, Malfeasance, Vote Selling, Perjury, etc.) The conviction cannot be appealed and carries with it both the death sentence and confiscation of all private property and moveables.
You want to get these smarmy little motherfuckers back in line? This would do it.

[movieman88]

Originally Posted by deepsepia

I'm more of an optimist.

This feels like the "late Vietnam funk" to me. Lets not forget, the US has embarked on a vast overseas war which has basically failed, and which never made sense in the first place.

Vietnam wrecked the nation for a decade. GWoT seems pretty similar.

Healing starts the day we bug out . . . and that day can't be far off.

It made plenty of fucking sense when you consider that saddam was a madman who has committed genocide over the course of the last few decades.

if we are to live in a better world there must be justice, his victims demanded justice. It matters fucking not that there might have been alterior motives for going to Iraq.
Saddam is dead the world is better safer place with out him, SO FUCKING WHAT IF WE TOOK SOME OIL WHILE WE WHERE OVER THERE.