That is not reassuring.


We are taxed more, get almost no to nominal benefits and then i'm called a republican that doesn't want to be one. Humph.

If you are not active in the process then you really shouldn't be complaining. Spaulding you don't have to agree with everything. Your economic and social views align with the current party. You agree with enough of their policy solutions. My views on a few issues are far right but no one would say that I am a conservative. Also if you don't believe your tax dollars are being spent on things that you like you are mistaken. In fact only a small percentage goes towards the things that you don't like.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

It's a good thing you're working hard to change the system.

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he differences between our 43rd and 44th presidents are astounding.

One man loved his country with a passion, the other still fakes it.

George W. Bush was a patriotic leader who was in no way perfect, but his fearlessness in keeping America safe in the face of radical Islamic terror was second to none.

Check out this viral letter by a former service member comparing Dubya and Barack Obama…

From IJR:

14 years ago, I had a President who was certainly neither the brightest crayon in the box nor the most eloquent. He didn…

Posted by Athrun Zala on Friday, September 11, 2015


Here’s the post in its entirety…

“14 years ago, I had a President who was certainly neither the brightest crayon in the box nor the most eloquent.

He didn’t fill everyone’s ears with shi* they wanted to hear. He made mistakes, as all leaders do, but he owned up to them.

14 years ago, I had a President who made me proud to take the Oath of Enlistment.

14 years ago, I had a President who shared the sorrow of the nation instead of blaming the nation for the heinous deeds of others.

14 years ago, I had a President who never let the people forget he was one of them, instead of setting himself aside and higher than the people he swore to serve.

14 years ago, I had a President who was proud to be an American and who shared that pride with the people.

Today, I have an eloquent but petulant schoolchild pretending to be a leader.

On the worst day in American history since Pearl Harbor, I had a President who told the world that America will not bow down.

Today, I have a charlatan snake oil salesman who bows to my enemies.

But 14 years ago, I had a President.”
Spot on, and hard to disagree with.

After 9/11 it felt like the majority of citizens were proud to be Americans. Today, you really can’t say the same – and that’s not even controversial.

History will look favorably upon W. no matter how the left tries to spin, whereas Obama will go down as one of (if not the) worst president we’ve ever seen.

I see it everyday on Facebook. There are so many far right propaganda sites that it becomes hard to tell people to Google things when they're wrong. It seems like they're coordinating with one another at times.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

I think this is one of the sites that was feeding PittMike a bunch of garbage regarding Benghazi.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Bullshit. I am active in the process. I actively choose to withhold my vote based on the fact that I don't agree with any of the candidates they put in front of me. My economic and social views don't align with either party. The whole system is broken and wasteful. I think anybody that identified with either party is wrong. You have little idea as to what the things I don't like are.

Wrong is kind of strong, but you raise an excellent point. Especially in the present political climate which actively promotes finger pointing at each other, rather than constructive solutions.

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Oh no, I think they are wrong. They are part of the problem. They don't give a shit about people, or our country. They think of their own special interests and give power to the politicians that don't give shit about them or the country either.

I was referring to the different reasons why people identify with political parties. Specifically those who vote. There are complex reasons why they do so.

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It isn't bullshit. I read your posts and even though you act like you are on the fence on just about everything you occasionally share how you feel before retreating by claiming you "don't know how you feel".

Your views align with the Republican party on economic issues. You think you're taxed too much. You believe everyone should pay taxes. You don't trust the government and believe that they should be involved in very little. You are against a minimum wage increase. You believe the private market should decide everything.

You're probably a southern republican on some social issues. I recall you basically coming out in support of segregation a few years ago. Your belief was whites shouldn't have to live next to blacks because they were culturally different and everyone should be comfortable where they live. You're clearly not sympathetic to women issues. I've called you out about that on several occasions. You wouldn't even defend women who claimed they were raped.

Most members of this board are fairly conservative. That's not a terrible thing. Some of the republican rhetoric may be over the top now but the policy ideas are in line with things you've posted.

Your statement about voting is just ridiculous. You aren't an active member of the process if you are always sitting on your ass. No one ever agrees 100% with any politician but they agree enough to cast a vote. Especially on the local level.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

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I am on the fence about almost everything as I don't believe either party offers good or fair solutions to most problems.

I am taxed too much and yes everybody should pay taxes even if they get it all back plus some. That isn't because I think hey it's my money nobody else should have it. It's because I think the gov is wasteful and should figure out better ways to use what they have before they ask for more.

I'm against min wage increase because I don't believe that is a logical solution. I doesn't seem like in the long run it would make a difference but I don't know much a about it. And no I don't believe the private mkt should decide everything but I really don't know much about economics.

If you believe I basically support segregation you either completely missed my point or are being purposefully obtuse and quite frankly shitty. If you truly believe I think whites shouldn't live next to blacks then I don't think you know me at all and I really don't know what to say.

I would hardly call this board conservative.

I have no power and no voice in the system because of the 2 party system we have. The is no candidate I would vote for and hasn't been for sometime.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Jim Webb is a socially/fiscally conservative Democrat(in name only) who is in favor of continued/increased levels of military spending (& use), befitting his experience. He isn't a demagogue, and as a result he doesn't really appeal to the base of any party (incl. the Libertarian), kind of like Kasich. Old line Republican / southern Democrat. Not really progressive, nor open to do much to change any system.

I doubt your look at Webb will be a long one.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

The former Dixiecrat turned Conservative Republican wing of the party is sort of becoming a relic these days. That is the main problem for people that identified with this portion or Republicanism years ago. They are having an increasingly difficult time when it comes to winning national elections. Religious conservatism was also a basic tenet of the "modern Republican" party and it too is kind of going by the boards.

This movement was borne out of its opposition to the 60's counterculture movement of sex drugs and Rock and Roll. Abortion came later and its opposition to it also was key. People are not interested in social issues as much as they were in that era.

In addition is the inherent race baiting that often existed within the movement. The demographics of the country is shifting and those that prefer to adhere to nativist policies and ideologies are going to continue losing national elections.

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That advice was for Spaulding. I'm good.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I have to agree with much of what Spaulding is saying, except I still vote on election day.

I’m a conservative in that I believe in fiscal responsibility. I believe National Defense is the top priority of the Federal Government. I believe citizens have the constitutional right to bear arms. I believe in drastically closing the borders and implementing a strict, comprehensive and consistent
I’m liberal in that I don’t care if gay people are legally married. I believe racism is alive and well and favors the white male. I believe healthcare (NOT INSURANCE) is a fundamental right people are entitled to.I believe history has repeatedly proven small government is great in theory buy not realistic. I believe many people are born into an un-level playing field and assistance programs are needed.

The system is severely broken and there are no signs of repair. My biggest issue is with the fact that people still believe the Democratic Party gives 2 shits about the middle and lower classes. They are equal puppets as the republicans serving the bankroll behind them. It’s a joke. So I vote, but I hate it every time I do it because it’s all meet the new boss same as the old boss.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

You would be considered a Richard Nixon Republican. His name is mud with much of the Neo-con, Milton Friedman wing of the party, thus you never hear much about his beliefs. Its Watergate, a little Vietnam mixed in and that's about it when it comes to Nixon. Ideologically he believed in the sort of things that you are describing here. These beliefs don't play particularly well with the espousers of Free Markets, nor does play well with the Religious Right branch of the Party. This wing of the party has been the dominant portion of the party for the better part of 40 yrs and hence their views have tended to reign also.

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It shouuldn't have to come down to aligning with a particular party. Values and priorities are what they are. Reality is, each elected official gets in and does what is needed to stay in, which is serve the funding source that got them there.

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Party identity ends up trumping values and priorities. If their values and priorities are not aligned to those of the party and more specifically the base, then reelection will become difficult.

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But that has been the argument against political parties back to the days of the founding fathers. Which is kind of why I find this version of political "frustration" amusing.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

I agree.

I used to agree with this. I'm not sure I do anymore. I understand political despondency. Participating is giving legitimacy to the system.

I'm not there but I can see how people get there. I think you (and I) are ultimately believers in the systems and try to change from within (sometimes). I think it's legitimate to want change from without but you do have to work for it.

I saw a really good conversation on Inside the Loop on one of the non WTTW public stations. They empaneled three different protestors: a neighborhood woman who was older and had obviously worked in her community for a long time, a minister and a younger man. The two former talked about ways to change police culture. The later thought the entire idea of policing was inherently evil. I think he called himself a police abolitionist. He was well thought out and I understood his point.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.