believe that the government has a role & responsibility. The debate is how to define that role. One side says you identify what you want the government to do, and you fund accordingly to a point, i.e. as a percentage of GDP, no more no less. The other side wants a more active ubiquitous government that touches a good portion of our daily lives. Now go find a happy middle ground.

Now to your 2nd question - I would venture to say there are 25% of the voters that are on the extreme left and 25% on the extreme right that buy into their respective political ideology lock, stock and barrel. They do not, or will not deviate from that ideology/agenda one iota. In fact, there is one TER poster that won't vote for a candidate that is pro-life, irrespective of that candidates other positions. Think about that for a second. That candidate and poster could agree on all the other gazillion issues out there, but this one issue somehow blocks any rational thought. But thank God, there are probably 50% of the population that are moderates, independents, whatever you want to call them. Unfortunately, in today's media world, the middle is blocked out.




-- Modified on 1/31/2012 9:59:58 PM

Ideally, we would have no government. But I did say "ideally".

Any institution poses a danger on the public. Historically, it's always been institutions that have concentrated power, usurped it from others, and imposed a tyranny upon man.

In times past it was the King. Or the Church. Or the military. Often it is government. Today it's corporations.

A institution is only as dangerous as it is powerful. Yet power alone does not determine how dangerous it is. Rather, it is determined by how un-democratic it is.

For instance, during WW2, one could look at two different governments, the Third Reich and the USA. The Third Reich was able to slaughter millions of Jews because they had no power to determine the policies of that government. In the USA, that didn't happen, because the people had a better (not perfect) check on government power.

It therefore follows, that a representative government is far less dangerous than a dictatorial one. It also follows that a direct democratic government would be far less dangerous than a representative one, so long as there is a process to protect minority rights. Luckily, we have an entire branch of government dedicated to this (the courts). However, in a direct democracy, since all power is equally shared, minority rights would be far less likely to be attacked, since there would be little to gain from it.

Our biggest problem today are corporations, which are run hierarchically. Today some command more wealth (and therefore power) than whole nations. They have the resources to bribe government officials, and use the power of the state to their (sometimes violent) advantage. The only solution to this problem is to replace corporations with democratic institutions, just as we in times past, replaced Kings with democratically elected representatives. This means implimenting radical reforms to our economy. It means replacing capitalism with democracy.

the idea that government is not even necessary?  I notice when I read the posts here, the majority fall into the liberal/conservative false dichotomy.  Given the broad range of human though, do you think that all political beliefs fall neatly into two simple and oppositional categories?

Government not even necessary? Last I checked, it wasn't the good citizens of West Virginia that declared war on Nazi Germany or the good citizens of Hawaii who provided care for the victims of tornadoes in Kansas and Missouri. Government extends well past bipartisanship. Government is about caring for it's nation's citizens.

I'm not the sort who will soar like an eagle. I'm too afraid of heights.

I have evidence that I'm a physcial being. When I put my willy in a provider's mouth, she sucks it. I have yet to discover anything spiritual about the world, much less about myself. If I have a soul, then where the fuck is it? Next to my colon?

government MOST of these people are still looking for ANSWERS to come from..

IT'S INSANITY!

Either we become self governing, or we become extinct!

NOW, is the time we should ALL be working on dissolving ALL connections to the physical world, including this government

If we can let it go, and let this world die, we will get a new one..

Soon as this world dies, we start our next lives in the new age..Either we do this, or we get their "NWO" new world..

The answers to ALL of our problems are so simple!! LET GO of this world, let it fall away, don't hold on to it.. It's only legit because you make it so

I assure you guys, no matter how we get here, this is where we will go..Either most of us can die in ww3, or most of us will make it..

IT'S TOTALLY UP TO US!

and NO it's not correct to look at ALL political ideas for this nation in a right left paradigm - but the actual division from the WHOLE is the magic they use.. So unless these people realize it's ALL a trick, they're gonna play along..



-- Modified on 2/1/2012 2:54:09 AM

If you are the "take the law into your own hand's camp", then who you gonna call when they have bigger guns than you?

-- Modified on 2/1/2012 5:12:30 AM

to protect and serve...

Here's the problem gsee,, the SAME people who give you your right's, have a LONG history of taking them away too..

We're at the point in their game where they are now taking away and no longer protecting

to the hospital when you go in to full cardiac arrest either.

-- Modified on 2/1/2012 3:30:24 AM

if mankind is a mold or a fungus living on a melting planet?

Once we realize this we will soar like eagles..

I do believe in my self.

like the BIG ol BROKEN government

-- Modified on 2/1/2012 3:51:34 AM

How about several cases? Every time the Federal Government declares an area a disaster zone, Federal funds are released to help the affected region.

I fall in the right wing group but don't follow it lock, stock and barrel.  Although I wouldn't lean enough to the left to be considered an independent.

Government certainly has its place and is an absolute necessity.  But it has grown to such an extent that it is really difficult to see just what its main purpose is.  At least at the federal level . . . .

disasters...


WE DISAGREE! and that's ok

but our worlds ONLY cater to the physical, so I understand why you don't see the metaphysical

Well, the government did help with food, water, and shelter, even if it's speed of response was terribly slow and nothing to brag about.

And yes, I agree that it's OK to disagree. I'm glad to see that there is at least one other person on these boards that does not take disagreeing so personally.

terrifying the occupants the fbi used a chainsaw to get in the WRONG apartment http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2012/02/01/fbi-raids-wrong-apartment.html


Police in california begin doing drills WITH the military http://www.copblock.org/12674/lapd-conduct-helicopter-maneuvers-with-military/

as well as a LONNNNGGGG list of other police abuses here http://www.copblock.org/




-- Modified on 2/1/2012 7:01:05 PM