tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970904845405131296.post6407335008182112632..comments2023-11-02T04:23:06.132-07:00Comments on 46 Degrees North: We the PeopleCitizen Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11903609649749774947noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970904845405131296.post-24276484157629836372009-12-21T16:32:52.504-08:002009-12-21T16:32:52.504-08:00Don't mistake being a skeptic of those who cho...Don't mistake being a skeptic of those who choose a life of political power (not service) as being 'anti-government'. I personally don't want government running anything because I don't think the guy down the street should be telling me how to run my business or live my life. Government should only exist to provide the very most basic functions. Beyond that it is just riddled with corruption and controlled by those with the deepest pockets serving their own interest.Sixnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970904845405131296.post-68646097491401172952009-12-18T13:08:03.789-08:002009-12-18T13:08:03.789-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970904845405131296.post-20473801249901156522009-12-17T20:30:04.884-08:002009-12-17T20:30:04.884-08:00These "tea-baggers" do drive me crazy. P...These "tea-baggers" do drive me crazy. Perhaps they should be able to opt out of such socialist tyrannies such as Medicare, FDIC, Social Security.<br /><br />And as to adding to the deficit, where were these people when Bush/Cheney were completely destroying the surplus the Clintons built up? <br /><br />I'm not a fan of rescuing the banks and car makers, but you only have to look back at history and see what happened when ho action was taken. Another reason we need social safety nets (like the so-called socialist Europeans) is historical: Hitler, Mussolini, Franco were able to take control because there were too many people that had no hope during the Depression.<br /><br />We need universal health care. We are the only country in the civilized world that doesn't believe its citizens have a right to guaranteed medical care. The American Way? Then give me Europe.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00755902390192704157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970904845405131296.post-57898699000882178072009-12-17T20:29:55.964-08:002009-12-17T20:29:55.964-08:00These "tea-baggers" do drive me crazy. P...These "tea-baggers" do drive me crazy. Perhaps they should be able to opt out of such socialist tyrannies such as Medicare, FDIC, Social Security.<br /><br />And as to adding to the deficit, where were these people when Bush/Cheney were completely destroying the surplus the Clintons built up? <br /><br />I'm not a fan of rescuing the banks and car makers, but you only have to look back at history and see what happened when ho action was taken. Another reason we need social safety nets (like the so-called socialist Europeans) is historical: Hitler, Mussolini, Franco were able to take control because there were too many people that had no hope during the Depression.<br /><br />We need universal health care. We are the only country in the civilized world that doesn't believe its citizens have a right to guaranteed medical care. The American Way? Then give me Europe.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00755902390192704157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970904845405131296.post-20292075993759543942009-12-17T08:53:10.060-08:002009-12-17T08:53:10.060-08:00Jane, when you say:"Regarding the economy, it...Jane, when you say:<i>"Regarding the economy, it's amazing to me how the people who nearly drove us into another world-wide depression still have any credibility with anyone."</i> I'm really interested to see who YOU think these people are?Idnanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970904845405131296.post-33830466436928699142009-12-17T08:16:18.764-08:002009-12-17T08:16:18.764-08:00Citizen Jane, your blog promises thoughts "fr...Citizen Jane, your blog promises thoughts "from a rational perspective" but it seems to me that when you consistently bash those groups you disagree with you are providing anything but a rational perspective. Going back to your venn diagram example: there is a lot of variation in the possible amount of overlap between the circles. It can vary from being almost nonexistent to being almost complete. Using it as an example for government, there is a lot of room for variation in how much government we think is proper. I'm a die-hard Independent (one of those "others") that you're putting down. As such, I believe in government -- not necessarily as much as the Democrats do, and not necessarily in the same way the Republicans do. I'm not a Libertarian because I think government programs and regulation are both necessary and desirable -- but in moderation. Like Idna, I'm horrified by the massive debt that is resulting from all the "bailout" options, especially since those options are benefitting not the ordinary taxpayers but those who know how to manipulate the system. On the other hand, I do believe it's part of the role and duty of government to moderate the economy so that we don't have massive inflation or recession. Balance, please.<br /><br />I also happen to believe strongly that speaking against government programs and activities with which I disagree is being patriotic. That's a term that's been interpreted too often as meaning "I support everything the government does just because it's the government." I don't see it that way. Those who call for change are sometimes more patriotic than those who accept bad policy.<br /><br />If everyone would learn the various sides of issues and think for themselves, we would be a much stronger nation.Suenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970904845405131296.post-67090467082694487232009-12-17T07:55:56.982-08:002009-12-17T07:55:56.982-08:00Hi, Idna,
As a matter of fact, depressing as it w...Hi, Idna,<br /><br />As a matter of fact, depressing as it was, I did support the president and my government "to the greatest extent possible" during the Bush era.<br /><br />I did, however, speak out about torture in secret prisons (for all the good it did any of us to speak out). Also, it now seems there were other secret programs that I could not have supported in good conscience. (For example, activities of the "black army" of contractors operating without the oversight in Iraq and Afghanastan.)<br /><br />Regardless of what you might hear on FOX News, there is no comparable campaign of hate and disinformation in the mainstream media. Then as now, much of what you heard said from the extremists on the right was taken out of context and distorted beyond recognition.<br /><br />Regarding the economy, it's amazing to me how the people who nearly drove us into another world-wide depression still have any credibility with anyone.Citizen Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11903609649749774947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970904845405131296.post-39947054698618393292009-12-16T20:16:08.426-08:002009-12-16T20:16:08.426-08:00Jane you say: You can’t support your country witho...Jane you say: <i>You can’t support your country without supporting its leaders to the greatest extent possible.</i> Did you support Bush and Cheney to your greatest extent possible? I think I've read numerous derogatory things about them from you. So then when you wrote those things did you <i>not support your country?</i> <br /><br />Just following your logic.<br /><br />And once again you mock the Tea-party participants. <i>“tea-party conservatives” whose goals, if any, seem to be 1) to bring back the “Golden Years” of Bush-Cheney and 2) pay no taxes, no how, for nothin’, if possible.</i> I'm not sure if you are just toying with us or if you really believe these things you say. Where did you get the idea that the Tea-Parties were about not paying ANY taxes? I think you should seriously try to find out why the Tea-Parties actually came about. Could it have anything to do with the $14 trillion debt that we and our descendants will have to pay off? And Obama just signed ANOTHER $1.2 trillion bill today!<br /><br />When will we get some grownups running things in D.C.?!! There's NO WAY I can support what the so called "leaders" of the country are doing. I fear for my country.Idnanoreply@blogger.com