I was VERY concerned with the Patriot Act
1 Like
I was concerned enough to vote for Democrats for the rest of that decade, with the Patriot Act being my biggest gripe.
Spoiler alert, it didnāt work.
2 Likes
The problem is they claim theyāre only doing so for one reason. But they gain access to information, store it and can potentially use it against you under the clauses of some other act that we donāt know about. Iāve seen it happen time and again over here. Why do you all think Iām so careful about what I write online?
3 Likes
Obviously, itās a money grab.
1 Like
Thatās because there is no difference between the two parties
The only people Iāve heard make that argument are true-believer hardcore socialists who are upset that the Democrats arenāt socialist enough. Iām guessing that there are some hard-core libertarians who think the Republicans are socialists with no discernable difference from the Democrats, but Iāve yet to meet one of those.
Otherwise the differences seem rather self-evident in the policy, rhetoric and outcomes.
1 Like
The reason I make the statement is because each party believes in growing the governmentā¦each in itās own way
1 Like
Sort of, but there are significant differences.
Trillions of them, in fact.
Itās not the money or the amount of money but who the money goes to thatās the difference.
1 Like
I get that, especially if you examine things across multi-decade time spans.
The amount of money spent still matters. Youāre basically arguing as if America is a couple who is up to their eyeballs in debt, despite inheriting a modest nest egg from the preceding generations. Oh yeah, they also have a bunch of kids.
The husband wants a new boat, in spite of this debt. The wife, who previously sank the family further into debt to get her failed multi-level-marketing scheme off of the ground, is objecting to the boat.
Who is more reasonable in this situation?
1 Like
Not when both are driving the country into shit
What do you believe should be done about it?
I am actually expecting there to be a sort of Soviet-style, exhaustive list of offenses that people make because theyāre unaware of what offenses theyāre making along with an increase of snitching and doxxing by people who like such a system.
2 Likes
I know the question wasnāt directed at me. However considering itās a public discussion and I think youāre a likable guy, I think itās OK if I chime in.
I think the US is unfixable and the entire system as it is, and as it will degenerate, will not last, although American arrogance has believing this empire will last into eternity. I predict collapse and civil war with subsequent Balkanization/territorial fragmentation or that we become a third world country. When this will happen, I donāt know. But I do think it will happen in under or around 50 years or so.
I can see already that some posters or lurkers might take this post as a negative cope typical of a so-called āloserā that āhas no lifeā and wants to spread misery around when this is not the case considering my life is fine (kids, home, job, wife, great friends and family members I love, fitness). Itās just that I have no positive prediction for this country or the Anglosphere as a whole and I have much concern about raising children in a hellscape. Iāve had more than one senior citizen say regarding current child raising to me, āI donāt envy youā.
Btw, I keep my posts vague as necessary. Iād like to read @Beyond_Beyond ās predictions if he has any and if he would like to chime in.
4 Likes
You know, this is why Iām so confused about your political stances. This is EXACTLY what happens in countries youāve brought up previously that clamp down hard on vices and stuff like that. Itās usually about āprotecting valuesā blah blah blahā¦
2 Likes
Of course it is.
I really appreciate the compliment, by the way. It is hard to come across that way when discussing topics that guarantee disagreement, especially if you speak your mind freely. I try, some days harder than others.
I donāt think your prediction is out of the realm of the possibility, but I donāt think it will pan out that way. I think youāre being overly grim. Why, you ask?
The sleeping giant hasnāt woken up yet. Iām not talking about left vs right here, although Iām sure it will line up more with modern conservative thought and policy. Those of us who quietly go about the business of doing all of the important things in society have more or less been doing that without a whole lot of hoopla over who is in charge. Up to and including where we are at right now. We all value the status quo and shared values too much to light the country on fire.
Hereās the thing though. Weāre the capable ones. Republican and Democrat together, all Americans with core shared values. Weāve not yet been roused from our slumber.
4 Likes
Iām a history buff and from what Iāve read, that seems to be what tends to happen to countries/empires who think this:
The first history lesson dad taught me was that all empires fail. Although Iām American, I have no reason to believe that America is different/exceptional enough to buck historical trend. Maybe not ādevolve into chaosā , but I just donāt see how the US can āstay on topā forever, especially since it hasnāt figured out how to solve the significant social issues that brought down other empires historically
2 Likes
Spot on post.
1 Like
Ah, come on. Thatās Ayn Rand stuff.
I have a similar viewpoint. I donāt see it as pessimistic, I think its a realistic viewpoint. Technically I think it is fixable, but at the moment I canāt see it happening. I think many people realise what is going on deep down, but they are in denial, and hope things will magically return to normal of their own accord.
I believe America is the only country that has the potential to accomplish a return to its former stability and prosperity, and it would set the example for the rest of the western world.
You have the constitutional security of the 1st and 2nd Amendments. I canāt see the problem being resolved by voting, even with fair elections.
1 Like