Amen. There are two real problems that must be addressed. #1 is the reality that the USA spends almost what the rest of the world combined spends on its military, and #2 medical costs in the US are 100% greater than the next closest industrialized nation. These are the two problems for the USA. Solve these and you have solved the U.S. debt crisis.
no problem, when they elect me president, first thing is to put a freeze on the military, next is to eliminate medicare for anyone 55 years old or less. now what other problem do you want me to solve?
Mr. Hershey, an honor. I've enjoyed your work. Everything I said wasn't meant in a intrusive or mandatory way. As a town, a county, a state, a country, we have to make financial, moral decisions that reflect what government means and what it represents for each and every one of us.
You are erudite. I like your reading list, by the way. How old are you? I'm guessing quite young, maybe twenties. Probably your arrogance will mellow with age. Let's hope so. I thoroughly agree with your philosophy, would that its application could lead to a happy result. As a young man I was arrogant too. Sadly I learned through life experiences that not everyone is as self-sufficient and as bright and motivated as you. I learned we are not in a perfect world filled with perfect people. I've had to accept that, even though we could do better than we do. Sadly, we probably won't do much better, though that shouldn't stop us from trying. I hope I've gotten a little less arrogant with time. I'll also add that I think Social Security could be improved upon, especially in regard to isolating it from dangers associated with deficit spending in the discretionary budget. If you can somehow learn to accept it as a necessary evil, then perhaps you can live with it. It seems you will need to. Here are some books, from modern times, that if perhaps you haven't read them yet, you might find they augment your perspective on life. They augmented mine. "Harlot's Ghost," Norman Mailer "Secrecy," Daniel Patrick Moynihan "Papers on the War," Daniel Ellsberg
Has western style socialism broken people's spirits? ----------------- Gees Morgan I was pondering this very issue recently. I (me - only, no one else) had an issue with a particular "western style socialism" situation at work ( work- I use that term loosley because I have a reputatiion and don't want to give people the impression I work). I dragged out the rule book (which no one follows, that outdated pos) and said, ethically and moraley this is a no go. My peers (same values, age group, etc all stuck together over the years) asked me "Why do you care?" wtf? It would be one thing if they were asking me "why do I care?" if they were looking for a leader to latch on to but they were truly wondering why I give a shit and they don't anymore. Their spirit is broken, no doubt, I could tell by the apathy. I won my case, made my point, no one gave a shit except me. Ya know what? I'm not doing it again.
Has western style socialism broken people's spirits? ------------------------------------------- Imo, what is difficult to accept is the gov't campaign that "handouts, freebies" are a good thing with no strings attached and no stigma from society. That life long entitlments might not be a bad thing. Of no consequence, never pay anything back, no civic responsibility - you owe no one. You don't have to thank anyone.
Too true. I honestly wouldn't be surprised seeing a rise in the Libertarian Party in the next 20 years. Fiscally Conservative and Socially Liberal. Libertarians are more open minded than Democrats and Republicans. It seems like there has been a resurgence in the desire for Free Market Economics rushing through the ranks of the Republican Party. Although they normally claimed to be for free markets, these Libertarians who are working through the Republican Party are reshaping it. There's pros and cons of everything, of course a Free Market isn't the answer to all questions. But I believe it is ALOT better than us becoming dependent on government. The government needs to support the general welfare of the people, but it is twisting, turning, regulating, changing, and rewriting the constitution. "Just because it's in the bill of rights does not mean we can't regulate it."-Quote from some Liberal, I forget who.
Republicans seem to be monetarists whereas as libertarians seem to be austrians. I don't know what the hell Obama is.