Let me explain the current political situation

[palo5]

Originally Posted by TCO95

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

You don't understand, Comrade. It isn't Communism or any other system that matters - it is that The Party controls things. Is this not clear?

So join it!

[gtos4ever]

Originally Posted by MisterMacky

I am sure one of these fine people will rise up to save the middle and poor working class from their problems.

None of those people can save us from our problems. Most don't want to. Here's the only Mortal pictured who understands part of what the problem is though.

Government can't save us from our problems. Government IS the problem.

[palo5]

Originally Posted by gtos4ever

None of those people can save us from our problems. Most don't want to. Here's the only Mortal pictured who understands part of what the problem is though

Seriously, I think libertarians have a mental age of about 4-6, because they think like small children in a little bubble that only contains themselves

I find it shocking that libertarians can make it to high office

[gtos4ever]

Originally Posted by palo5

You don't understand, Comrade. It isn't Communism or any other system that matters - it is that The Party controls things. Is this not clear?

So join it!

If this is the kind of Party you mean Comrade, I'd consider joining.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxnt4eWv9tk

[MisterMacky]

Originally Posted by gtos4ever

None of those people can save us from our problems. Most don't want to. Here's the only Mortal pictured who understands part of what the problem is though.

Government can't save us from our problems. Government IS the problem.

Originally Posted by palo5

Seriously, I think libertarians have a mental age of about 4-6, because they think like small children in a little bubble that only contains themselves

I find it shocking that libertarians can make it to high office

As a private citizen and individual, it is against my moral and ethical code to lie to someone. I have lied, but I knew it was wrong.

Conversely, if I were an elected/appointed public official in the United States Federal Government or a member of a State Government, I feel it is both morally and ethically acceptable to lie to the American citizenry as a whole. That includes but not exclusive to accepting bribes, not disclosing full knowledge, and so forth.

Reasoning:
1. American public discourse is extremely simple, with most people divided into groups shouting slogans at one another.
2. By and large, American citizens will never find out what I and others have been up to. If and when any discovery is made, that person or group of persons can be marginalized by a readily available free press(see: pat robertson, cnn, foxnews, msnbc, bill o'reily, and many others.)
3. I am fully aware racism, culture differences, etc. are pointless, meaningless bullshit talking points. Religion does a fine job as it is. However, I would have to declare myself a Christian in order to be elected. Imagine if Obama or Perry or Paul were to change their public stance on religion - there would be a foul smell coming from three hastily dug graves in this country. My fate would be the same.
4. Television.
5. Votes are of little consequence in comparison to the millions of dollars I will be earning on kick backs and political favors. It works(see: Iraq/Afghan wars with Dick Cheney repaying political debts through his company Halliburton in "rebuilding" Iraq. How many billions were siphoned from the tax payers? I do not know, but I do not think the government or military cares.)

[MisterMacky]

...arhm..

This is how Americans see themselves:



And this is what America actually is

[Warren G]

Originally Posted by gtos4ever

None of those people can save us from our problems. Most don't want to. Here's the only Mortal pictured who understands part of what the problem is though.

Government can't save us from our problems. Government IS the problem.

I notice you capitalize the m in mortal when you refer to Ron Paul. A little Freudian slip there, perhaps...

Hey, Paul's got some good ideas, and his allegiance to the constitution is admirable. I like him. He has a no nonsense approach, and good logic. But his ideals are a bit too simplistic for today's world. A major power such as ours can't just withdraw from the rest of the world and curl itself into the fetal position, kiss our own balls, and still remain relevant. With great power comes great responsibility.

No, I don't think we need to be poking our nose into everyone else's business, and we're not trying to be an empire..(like somebody else we know......only kiddin'). We definitely should pull out of many countries we no longer have a need to be in. But as the current big boy on the block, we, (along with our allies), did have a reputation for the ethical treatment of people all over the world. That reputation has been tarnished by our overly invasive policies, true, but it still must be maintained. Less fortunate countries, such as those currently in political turmoil, still depend on us. We don't have to help anyone, but to ignore them would be moral turpritude. Our nation was actually founded on such principles.

As far as government goes..that isn't the problem. It may need revamping from time to time, granted, but it isn't our problem. It's a necessity. Try living without it. There is an alternative to it. It's called anarchy.

[palo5]

Originally Posted by Warren G

...we're not trying to be an empire...

Are you sure about that, Warren - you've had military bases on all six continents for decades

That's quite an achievement for someone who's "not trying"

[MisterMacky]

We have to accept the fact America is a nation with boundaries extending into the middle east. Afghanistan and Iraq are now territories.

[theequestrian]

As I noted in another post "Operation Iraqi Freedom sounds much better than Operation Imperialist Expansionism"
I am an American and apparently, one of the few that actually realize that, as a whole we are viewed as 'ignorant, wealthy, self-absorbed spoiled brats with guns that we enjoy using'. This is - unfortunately for Americans - basically true. Our only defense is this: The original 13 English Colonies were populated almost exclusively by; 1 - Heavily armed religious fanatics, whose views were so beyond the pale that even the other religious fanatics wouldn't play with them. 2 - Heavily armed minor criminals and other 'undesireables' 3 - Heavily armed Merchants.
Come on guys, you've had over 350 years to see this coming.

Now on a much more serious note.
We are voracious.
We are a hunger that cannot be satisfied.
And we will suck the Earth dry of all it contains if you don't stop us.