Article

2014-02-12 Home Front: Politix

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Uncle Phester 2014-02-12 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 This is a really good article, well worth reading the whole thing. As to the title question (and the subtitle question), I'm afraid the answer is very likely "yes": we're well on our way toward becoming just another banana republic, complete with arbitrary rule by presidential decree, the widespread use of government agencies to harass the ruler's political opposition, and unequal treatment of people under the law in accordance with their political loyalties.

As far as I can see, the average person no longer has much respect for or knowledge of) the founding principles of our constitutional republic-- he just wants lots of free shit from de gummint.

We're screwed.

Posted by Dave D. 2014-02-12 08:02|| 2014-02-12 08:02|| Front Page Top

#2 Remember it was all done with 'guilt'. The perps have no real sense of guilt. However, they employed it to destroy 70 percent in the name of the 20 percent. All in the pursuit of power, never solving any of the real problems they sold the guilt on to the masses.

Posted by Procopius2k 2014-02-12 08:46|| 2014-02-12 08:46|| Front Page Top

#3 I read this a.m. in our local newspaper that there is a movement within the States to pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. The article stated that the movement is heading towards a convention of states. Once 34 states have passed a resolution calling for a convention, Congress is required to call a convention. 38 states must then ratify any changes to the Constitution for them to take effect. It is a movement to shift the power back to the States and to rein in reckless out-of-control spending in Washington.

Posted by JohnQC 2014-02-12 08:59|| 2014-02-12 08:59|| Front Page Top

#4 All political systems are temporary. The question is: Can you survive as a Nation---in fact, are you a Nation?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2014-02-12 10:54|| 2014-02-12 10:54|| Front Page Top

#5 I don't think the Champ or his followers will permit a constitutional convention.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-02-12 10:59|| 2014-02-12 10:59|| Front Page Top

#6 Could this be part of the problem ?

Top Google searches related to 'How do I qualify for.'

How do I qualify for government assistance
How do I apply for welfare
How do I qualify for food stamps
How do I qualify for head of household
How do I qualify for medicaid
How do I qualify for unemployment
How do I qualify for an fha loan
How do I qualify for earned income credit

Link

Posted by Besoeker 2014-02-12 11:56|| 2014-02-12 11:56|| Front Page Top

#7 To quote the immortal Yogi Berra, it ain't over 'till it's over.

The author noted there was a long slide to the dark ages, and no one agrees on the pivotal moment. Who says the pivotal moment is the point of no return? Who says there is a point of no return?

However, I have no doubt we are on the downward slope. Whether it is steep and slippery is another question.

Posted by Bobby 2014-02-12 13:27|| 2014-02-12 13:27|| Front Page Top

#8 in fact, are you a Nation?

It seems like we went tribal sometime ago.

Posted by JohnQC 2014-02-12 14:11|| 2014-02-12 14:11|| Front Page Top

#9 We started down the slippery slope with Social Security way back in the 1930s. If anybody had any sense back then they would have recognized it for what it was. We took another couple of steps under Lyndon Johnson in the 1960s with Affirmative Action and Medicare. Still nobody saw that government was taking more and more control over our lives. I think one of history's great ironies is that LBJ fought communism in Vietnam while he was helping to institute it here in the US. ObamaCare is yet another step down the slope and it seems to be getting steeper. My own opinion is you'll know it's too late when amnesty turns Texas from red to blue. They already got California. When they get Texas you can kiss your freedom goodbye.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2014-02-12 14:13|| 2014-02-12 14:13|| Front Page Top

#10 I know things look bad but they looked bad in the late 70s (with the Arabs buying everything and our economy heading down) and they looked bad in the early 90s (with Japan taking over and our economy heading down).

Yes we it does seem far worse, and we've got far hotter partisanship these days, but...

During the Cold War the Soviets over-extended themselves durign the era of Carter incompetance and so Reagan was able to outspend them and end them. Currently I believe the far left is overextended due to the Republican incompetance. All we need is the right person to come along.

Posted by rjschwarz 2014-02-12 14:48|| 2014-02-12 14:48|| Front Page Top

#11 All we need is the right person to come along.

That's, IMO, your problem.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2014-02-12 14:53|| 2014-02-12 14:53|| Front Page Top

#12 Back in the 70's, 80's, and 90's we didn't have such an enormous moocher class to support and who will never vote for anyone the media says will take away their freebies.

And now their very health[care]. You can bet that whoever the Republicans nominate the media's theme will be "*Republican-Nominee-name-here* is going to take away your, your parents, and your children's healthcare and they could die.". Last elections 'War on Women' was only a precursor.

They don't have to directly threaten peoples food/shelter/plasmaTv/Drugs/Health - they just have to imply that the other guy is going to steal their 'right' to these items.

Posted by CrazyFool 2014-02-12 15:09|| 2014-02-12 15:09|| Front Page Top

#13 Since FDR and the income tax.

Income taxes make the claim the state owns you, rather than the other way around.

They are also economically harmful and require debt increases to mask the problem, but that's a different argument.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2014-02-12 19:54|| 2014-02-12 19:54|| Front Page Top

#14 Democrats are Maggots and CockRoaches who train others to become Maggots and CockRoaches at the expense of Civilization.

I have no respect for ANY of them. They let their "leaders" run roughshod over the law and respect only narrative and emotion over anything real.

Shit on you all, You must be purged from the civil world - and seriously shunned.

Posted by newc 2014-02-12 21:30|| 2014-02-12 21:30|| Front Page Top

23:21 USN, Ret.
23:20 USN, Ret.
23:12 USN, Ret.
21:31 JosephMendiola
21:30 newc
21:17 JosephMendiola
20:56 Skidmark
20:47 JosephMendiola
20:43 Goober Phavish1317
20:09 Butch Ulitch2766
19:54 Bright Pebbles
19:31 JosephMendiola
19:29 JosephMendiola
19:21 JosephMendiola
19:07 Besoeker
18:46 Zenobia Floger6220
17:59 Sgt. Mom
17:57 dan
17:48 DarthVader
17:43 swksvolFF
17:33 Ebbang Uluque6305
17:23 swksvolFF
17:00 CrazyFool
16:41 JohnQC