Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: As some of you ducklings know, I've long held that there are no real differences between Republicans and Democrats. Here are some of the reasons why I say this: 1. Both support endless war. It’s been more than a decade since the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and America’s entanglements are far from over. Though Bush is remembered as the consummate hawk, Nobel Peace Prize winner Obama has used his time in office to start or maintain additional wars in Pakistan, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia. Now, he wants to add Syria to the list. My generation can barely remember peace—and there’s no end in sight for a foreign policy with devastating human and financial costs. 2. Both engage in out-of-control spending. Yes, deficit spending has accelerated under Barack Obama. But you know what? There was also a massive acceleration under Bush. The fact is, debt is a bipartisan problem, and neither party is innocent. With $17 trillion of debt (and rapidly counting) as the consequence of decades of bipartisan irresponsibility, the time has passed for pointing fingers and dubbing a slightly slower rate of spending growth a “historic cut.” 3. Both ignore our most basic rights. CNN recently asked “When can a government kill its own people?” but for President Obama and some old guard GOP leaders like Sen. John McCain, that question has already been answered: Pretty much whenever it’s convenient. In fact, the U.S. government has already assassinated a 16-year-old American citizen by drone strike, killing a boy who was neither accused nor suspected of any crime. - See more at: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://rare.us/story/7-ways-republicans-and-democrats-are-exactly-the-same/#sthash.UCuwwCCm.dpuf">http://rare.us/story/7-ways-re...CCm.dpuf</a>
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Here are some more reasons why there is no difference between the two major political parties: 4. Both have no respect for the rule of law. Obama swept into office promising a new attention to the rule of law after years of (correct) complaints that Bush often ignored it. “I take the Constitution very seriously,” he maintained to a nation weary for lawfulness. Bush and his GOP Congress were rightly critiqued for rampantly flouting the Constitution, especially the 4th and 5th Amendments (rights to privacy and a fair trial). But as Gitmo remains open, the NDAA makes indefinite detention a possibility for any American, and the list of NSA abuses reaches absurd proportions, Obama’s campaign promise is overdue for a death certificate. 5. Both are bought and paid for by big business. You know what’s the best original idea in politics today? Making politicians wear suits like NASCAR drivers, which display their biggest corporate sponsors. Democrats and Republicans alike would be plastered with logos. So is it any wonder that many of these same businesses get massive favors from the government at taxpayers’ expense? DC spends upwards of $100 billion on corporate welfare annually, not to mention huge one-off expenditures like the bailouts . 6. Both care most about their own power. President Obama recently joked, “That’s the good thing about being president, I can do whatever I want.” And while he was just kidding around, his humor was in line with the bipartisan presidential mindset. In the recent State of the Union address, the President announced his intention to continue expanding the power of the Executive at Congress’ expense. Republicans were duly upset at this power grab, but historically GOP Presidents have actually averaged slightly more executive orders than Democrats have. 7. Both have a long record of expanding government and shrinking liberty. Finally, take a look at the big picture: Our government is reading our emails and monitoring our calls. It gropes us at the airport, wants to keep track of our cars, and plans to subject us to random security sweeps at concerts and train stations. We can’t decide for ourselves what to consume, whether to buy insurance, or who to marry. All our income until mid-April goes directly to the government. America has the highest incarceration rate in the world, and minorities are subject to unfair, disproportionate punishment. Is this really the land of the free? In 2014, it’s very difficult to answer that question in the affirmative. But it’s easy to see that partisanship isn’t the answer—and neither is bipartisan big government. As America moves toward a new, liberty-friendly policy consensus, let’s toss this outdated left vs. right rivalry and focus on the real fight: Washington vs. us.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORGOCH: So what I wanna know is when is ya all gonna' wake up an' smell the brew?? Ain't ya all gittin' tired a bein' used like guinea pigs between 2 parties that don't give a bat's butt fer none of ya's???
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <Yes, deficit spending has accelerated under Barack Obama.> Actually, it has slowed. This year is on track to have the smallest deficit since 2008, the year of the financial collapse. The first couple of years of Obama's presidency, when the effects of that late-2008 collapse ravaged the entire economy, obviously had sky high deficits. But after that... <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/05/24/who-is-the-smallest-government-spender-since-eisenhower-would-you-believe-its-barack-obama/">http://www.forbes.com/sites/ri...k-obama/</a> (From Forbes magazine fercryinoutloud) That said, I'm totally with you on #5. <We can’t decide for ourselves ...or who to marry.> That's a strange one to include since that one is moving decidedly in the right direction.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<5. Both are bought and paid for by big business. You know what’s the best original idea in politics today? Making politicians wear suits like NASCAR drivers, which display their biggest corporate sponsors. Democrats and Republicans alike would be plastered with logos. So is it any wonder that many of these same businesses get massive favors from the government at taxpayers’ expense? DC spends upwards of $100 billion on corporate welfare annually, not to mention huge one-off expenditures like the bailouts>> THAT is the true conspiracy, the New World Order. One controlled by major corporate interests and Wall Street Bankers, all working in collusion with our politicians. But then it has been that way for a LONG time now. <<Meet the new boss Same as the old boss>>
Originally Posted By Dabob2 It is a major problem, arguably THE major problem, with our democracy. That said, it is not a "New World Order" and the conspiracy-minded would have it, including one world government and one world religion. The latter is a particular dumb notion; the Romneys of the world, the atheists in China, and the sheiks in Dubai and Saudi Arabia are all going to agree on what that one religion should be?
Originally Posted By Tikiduck Whatever the situation, I think greed and the lust for power is as strong today as any time in history. That is the driving force of whatever theories are out there. There is something about the Human condition that seems to reward the traits of strong will, callous ambition and greed with success. When it comes to money, people can be exceedingly unpleasant creatures.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer There are a lot of commonalities between the two parties, but the differences are significant enough to warrant a clear choice at the polls.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip They talk very differently, but the final legislation that gets passed isn't all that different. Bush brought us the Medicare Prescription Benefit, Obama brought us guaranteed insurability (if we can afford it). The Medicare benefit probably helped more Americans than the ACA ever will.
Originally Posted By iamsally I cannot believe I ventured into WE. But I just want to say that I mostly agree. Case in point: I was recently talking to a Republican friend. I am a life-long Democrat. I was complaining about Obama and my friend said he thought Obama was doing a good job. I quipped back, "You should, he is acting like a Republican."
