NationStates

Jamzmania wrote:

Brickistan wrote:
Maybe because the rest of the world isn't nearly as scared of the word "socialist" as Americans seems to be?

And we're not the rest of the world. We tend to recognize the dangers of socialism.

And refuse to recognize the dangers of greed.

Galloism wrote:

Alvecia wrote:As a liberal British fella sometimes I think the American Democrats can be entirely too right wing.

Many people in Europe tell me that. From their view, Republicans are far right, and democrats are center right.

How sad that believing is small government, free enterprise, and individual freedom has become far right.

Jamzmania wrote:

Galloism wrote:Many people in Europe tell me that. From their view, Republicans are far right, and democrats are center right.

How sad that believing is small government, free enterprise, and individual freedom has become far right.

When Republicans shrink the military by 80%, I'll consider them small government. Until now, all I've seen is "money focused on violence government".

Jamzmania wrote:

Galloism wrote:Many people in Europe tell me that. From their view, Republicans are far right, and democrats are center right.

How sad that believing is small government, free enterprise, and individual freedom has become far right.

It's adorable that you think the Republicans represent small government. Don't think that adorable won't quickly graduate to grating however.

Jamzmania wrote:

Brickistan wrote:
Maybe because the rest of the world isn't nearly as scared of the word "socialist" as Americans seems to be?

And we're not the rest of the world. We tend to recognize the dangers of socialism.

Yes, because of those dangers, Europe is now a hive of scum and villainy.
We seem to be doing just fine, perhaps it is you that is overstating the "dangers" and are yourselves blinded to the dangers of far-right policies.

Galloism wrote:

Jamzmania wrote:How sad that believing is small government, free enterprise, and individual freedom has become far right.

When Republicans shrink the military by 80%, I'll consider them small government. Until now, all I've seen is "money focused on violence government".

The military is not what the government is all about, you know.

And you would not like the world that would emerge from a retreated US military.

Jamzmania wrote:

Brickistan wrote:
Maybe because the rest of the world isn't nearly as scared of the word "socialist" as Americans seems to be?

And we're not the rest of the world. We tend to recognize the dangers of socialism.

Oh yes... Good ol' American exceptionalism...

Thing is, the rest of the western world is doing quite well with socialism. Of course, we've mixed a bit of capitalism and free marked into it and called ourselves social democrats. But it still got that naughty word in it.

Strange thing is, when actual socialism is tried - i.e. workers having a stake in their own company and receiving the fruits of their own labour - things actually don't go to hell in a hand-basket. Mondragon, for example, is doing quite well.

Socialism, at it's core, is no more dangerous than capitalism. Indeed, they're simply two opposing viewpoints. And as with many opposing viewpoints, you're probably best off finding a middle ground between the opposing extremes.

The big red bogyman - Communism - really didn't have much to do with socialism. Rather, it was a dictatorship with planned economy and a ruthless purging of dissenters.

Alvecia wrote:

Jamzmania wrote:And we're not the rest of the world. We tend to recognize the dangers of socialism.

Yes, because of those dangers, Europe is now a hive of scum and villainy.
We seem to be doing just fine, perhaps it is you that is overstating the "dangers" and are yourselves blinded to the dangers of far-right policies.

As I understand it, Europe looks like this now:

Jamzmania wrote:

Galloism wrote:Many people in Europe tell me that. From their view, Republicans are far right, and democrats are center right.

How sad that believing is small government, free enterprise, and individual freedom has become far right.

The far right believe in individual freedoms? Is this the same party that wants to outlaw homosexuality and ban abortions?

Alvecia wrote:

Jamzmania wrote:And we're not the rest of the world. We tend to recognize the dangers of socialism.

Yes, because of those dangers, Europe is now a hive of scum and villainy.
We seem to be doing just fine, perhaps it is you that is overstating the "dangers" and are yourselves blinded to the dangers of far-right policies.

Yeah I hear Southern Europe is doing just peachy.

Jamzmania wrote:

Galloism wrote:When Republicans shrink the military by 80%, I'll consider them small government. Until now, all I've seen is "money focused on violence government".

The military is not what the government is all about, you know.

And you would not like the world that would emerge from a retreated US military.

I don't like the fact that Republicans scream "small government" while continuously increasing the size of the government in such a way that benefits the richest Americans at the expense of the poorest. It's hypocritical at best.

Alvecia wrote:

Jamzmania wrote:How sad that believing is small government, free enterprise, and individual freedom has become far right.

The far right believe in individual freedoms? Is this the same party that wants to outlaw homosexuality and ban abortions?

Beat me to it...

Alvecia wrote:

Jamzmania wrote:How sad that believing is small government, free enterprise, and individual freedom has become far right.

The far right believe in individual freedoms? Is this the same party that wants to outlaw homosexuality and ban abortions?

The GOP advocates neither of those things.

Jamzmania wrote:

Alvecia wrote:The far right believe in individual freedoms? Is this the same party that wants to outlaw homosexuality and ban abortions?

The GOP advocates neither of those things.

Correction, the National Republican Convention (or your Grand Ol' Party) doesn't advocate for those things.

States' Republican parties vary by mileage as well as Democratic parties within a given state. Which is precisely who the candidates are trying to pander towards.

Jamzmania wrote:

Alvecia wrote:The far right believe in individual freedoms? Is this the same party that wants to outlaw homosexuality and ban abortions?

The GOP advocates neither of those things.

Really?

I suggest you check out what your candidates are saying.

Jamzmania wrote:

Alvecia wrote:The far right believe in individual freedoms? Is this the same party that wants to outlaw homosexuality and ban abortions?

The GOP advocates neither of those things.

Yes they do! Have you been listening to any GOP candidate talk on those subjects lately?

Galloism wrote:

Jamzmania wrote:The military is not what the government is all about, you know.

And you would not like the world that would emerge from a retreated US military.

I don't like the fact that Republicans scream "small government" while continuously increasing the size of the government in such a way that benefits the richest Americans at the expense of the poorest. It's hypocritical at best.

What do you expect from people who want to win votes and have, for years, pandered to the far-right, bigoted, nigh anarcho-capitalist members of society?

Jamzmania wrote:

Alvecia wrote:
Yes, because of those dangers, Europe is now a hive of scum and villainy.
We seem to be doing just fine, perhaps it is you that is overstating the "dangers" and are yourselves blinded to the dangers of far-right policies.

Yeah I hear Southern Europe is doing just peachy.

Yeah, their politicians aren't mouthpieces for corporations, their police don't shoot people on sight, and their political process isn't 1 party away from being a theocracy. I'd say they're doing swell.

Soldati senza confini wrote:

Galloism wrote:I don't like the fact that Republicans scream "small government" while continuously increasing the size of the government in such a way that benefits the richest Americans at the expense of the poorest. It's hypocritical at best.

What do you expect from people who want to win votes and have, for years, pandered to the far-right, bigoted, nigh anarcho-capitalist members of society?

Nothing really.

I'm just pointing out that the protestation "oh poor us who want small government" is hollow, given they don't ACTUALLY want small government. They just want a fuck the poor government.

Soldati senza confini wrote:

Galloism wrote:I don't like the fact that Republicans scream "small government" while continuously increasing the size of the government in such a way that benefits the richest Americans at the expense of the poorest. It's hypocritical at best.

What do you expect from people who want to win votes and have, for years, pandered to the far-right, bigoted, nigh anarcho-capitalist members of society?

The Repubs are no where near anarcho-capitalism, they are more of an rich oligarch that runs the government.

Alvecia wrote:

Jamzmania wrote:Yeah I hear Southern Europe is doing just peachy.

Yeah, their politicians aren't mouthpieces for corporations, their police don't shoot people on sight, and their political process isn't 1 party away from being a theocracy. I'd say they're doing swell.

I for one would love to live there

Jamzmania wrote:How sad that believing is small government, free enterprise, and individual freedom has become far right.

How cute. You think the GOP is a libertarian party.

Thermodolia wrote:

Alvecia wrote:Yeah, their politicians aren't mouthpieces for corporations, their police don't shoot people on sight, and their political process isn't 1 party away from being a theocracy. I'd say they're doing swell.

I for one would love to live there

Great weather as well

Jamzmania wrote:

Brickistan wrote:
Maybe because the rest of the world isn't nearly as scared of the word "socialist" as Americans seems to be?

And we're not the rest of the world. We tend to recognize the dangers of socialism.

Yeah, if we don't elect a True Conservative to the White House then Josef Stalin will rise from the grave and take over the White House.

5 Year Plan 2: Electric Boogaloo

Liriena wrote:

Jamzmania wrote:How sad that believing is small government, free enterprise, and individual freedom has become far right.

How cute. You think the GOP is a libertarian party.

It's not cute it's fucking awful! As a libertarian myself I don't like anyone equating the libertarians with the batshit insane bigoted Republicans