The Republican Party's Final Humiliation

Much of what the Democrats would like to do will be held back by budget-constraints, especially after the explosion of the debt under Republican rule these last four years.

We still need more health-care reform; that is an area where spending = investment. In other words, not spending the money now will only lead to spending more later. Extending at least basic health services to all (including the undocumented) is not only simply in line with our humanitarian ideals, but it is also better for overall public health - which again comes down to a question of prudent investment (if like most R's you don't care about the humanitarian considerations). .

There are probably lots of things on the Dem wish-list that COVID has put out of budgetary reach: Medicare For All, public community college, student loan forgiveness, etc. We'll see - each of those has to be looked at in terms of a total cost-benefit analysis.

But before we rule any new possible policy out, we need to 1) raise taxes 2) cut spending, primarily on the military. After that, we'll have a better idea of what our true budgetary picture looks like.

One thing we definitely should commit to, is a huge, ambitious infrastructure bill. We have needed that legislation for at least a decade now, and it is a no-brainer since it will serve as a form of investment, and will likely pay for itself before too long. The reason why we haven't done that is all the Republicans' fault. One thing that the Democrats definitely need to build into the legislation, is a raft of provisions that will promote clean energy and other forms of energy-efficiency. Republicans will try to filibuster any such bill - which is why Democrats need to kill the filibuster.

 

If people were serious about "draining the Swamp," they would have voted for Sanders, not Trump!!

Obviously there are exceptions. Naturally Independents who self-select to participate in political opinion forums we can take to be more informed.

What I won't tolerate is Independents calling out Democrats to be "moderate" and not to be "divisive" - not after it was Independents who gave us Trump in 2016 - when he was already plainly unfit and extremely divisive!!

In any event: the simple fact of the evenly divided Senate will prevent most of the Progressive agenda from being enacted. Even if we nuke the filibuster (as we should), we cannot expect the most conservative Dems to go along. But whatever we can get done, we should - and we should not shy away from making the arguments for the Progressive agenda.

Being credentialed is no indication of good judgment when it comes to politics. That should be plain to anyone who has been on this Earth for a little while.

 

Far right: No abortions in rape or incest cases.
Far left: If a woman decides to abort her baby at full term, 9 months, that’s her right because it’s her body.

Far left: Cut the Defense budget by half to pay for something else.
Far right: Abolish the ATF

Far left: Defunding the police because of racism.
Far right: Black people are inherently less intelligent and more violent than other races.

Far left: Israel is an outlaw nation and the U.S. should not support Israel.
Far right: No support for the evil Jews.
(At least they agree on something.)

Far left: Remove any reference to Christmas from schools, while celebrating Ramadan in the name of “diversity”.
Far right: Mandatory school prayer

Far left: Conspiracy theories and paranoia
Far right: Conspiracy theories and paranoia
(Another area of agreement)

Far left: Abolish the 2nd Amendment and outlaw private gun ownership.
Far right: Abolish background checks at point of purchase. They’re spying on us. Abolish the ATF.

Far right: Homosexuality is a sin and an abomination.
Far left: Biological males in girls sports and bathrooms.

How’s that?

 

You're right! I should accept what you say rather than what I see with my eyes and hear with my ears. Then I guess I'd fit in with the liberals and we can all run along with the herd together.

Come on guys let's go!​

We never question what we're told
and run along so proud and bold
without a turn so we can't see
the lies of what they're telling me.

For should we dare to doubt their word
we'd lose the comfort of our herd - Jeannette

 

I guess I'm far right on some of these things, but not all. Okay, okay, I believe homosexuality is a sin although I think it stems from a sick society. I also think this country would be a lot better off if we brought back school prayers.

 

Content-free opinion

 

who pays people to post this stuff?

 

That’s interesting. I wouldn’t have expected that from you, given that there is no school prayer in Russia, and homosexuality isn’t tolerated there.

I see homosexuality as an abnormality that is probably inborn. Perhaps not in all but probably in most, it is not a choice.

I believe prayer belongs in homes and churches, and I don’t mind it as ceremonial - like at a school graduation or political event like at the opening of a new congressional session. It’s also fine in private schools or at the beginning of a sporting event. I draw the line at imposing it on school children in their classrooms. They are there to get an education, not to feel pressure to participate in religious training.

 

I'm overwhelmed.

 

Your typical empty claim.

 

Putin.

 

Trump lost with 74 million vs 81 million. Says a lot what you think about democracy.

 

No!

Says a lot about paperless electronic voting.

 

That does sound like a step too far. But how about universal single payer health care for all US citizens? Do you consider that fringe far left? Biden has said he wont get behind it (preferring to line the pockets of for profit insurance companies).

 

As a physician, my take on this is too complex to detail in one short post in the end of my lunch break. In principle I support universal health care but not necessarily single payer. Look up France's hybrid system. I think it is pretty ideal. This said, I think that moving in this direction in America is infinitely more complex and full of unintended consequences, and if done, should only be done very slowly and very progressively. In most of Europe, their system evolved naturally from their political and socioeconomic setup, over some 40 years. Over here we'd be departing from a much more multi-headed system, and conciliating all of it, would shake it up so strongly the current system that people would literally die by the several thousands in the middle of the chaos and the turmoil. Bernie's plan to overhaul everything here by just increasing yearly Medicare eligibility over 4 years, and eliminating private health insurance plans, can only be described by one word: INSANE. If I had more time I'd tell you in detail why this would be doomed to failure. Much worse was Elizabeth Warren who said at one point she'd do it in 90 days. Unbelievable.

 

I wish this kind of childishness was the final humiliation, but I am afraid there is more to come

Trump's letter for Biden (unverified)

 

the cleanest election in history has changed the entire system for the better. have a glass of champagne for the win!

 

I agree. That’s too fast. It should be phased in.

But you definitely should move towards getting yourselves off the for profit health insurance system. Ours in Canada isn’t ideal but I would never want to lose it and have to deal with the USA’s.

I used to work as a personal injury lawyer and it was like pulling teeth getting insurance companies to pay for anything. I can’t imagine having to do the same for every health issue.

 

If you believe same day voter registration
and voting is a wonderful thing.
No ID or verification required.


#1, secure, trustworthy elections.
That includes paper back up of electronic voting

​

 

I believe in honest America and a fair accounting of the public will on Nov.5th
you may want to enjoy this time in our lives cos boy is it a party!​

 

^^^^
Irony so thick a continental engineer can't cut it.

 

did that engineer study at trump University?

 

Thing people don't understand is that if Medicare gets overloaded all our benefits will be cut. Equality doesn't mean the bottom rises, the top shrinks.

 

YOU believe in having both ways.
Your belief
and the truth.

Habla Orwell?

 

it's working really well currently and for the foreseeable future. how's your political future looking?