Question

[turk]

Is the government creative? Here's what I think. Government is just a tool. Computers are as well. We can't forget that. Some want to put them on a pedestal. That's dangerous. Anyway, enjoy your day. And night. Early to bed, early to rise, makes us healthy, wealthy, and wise.

[deschutestrout]

Answer: No, the government is destructive. Has been for some time. Needs an overhaul...attempt was made in the last presidential election...was stiffled by moronic lobbyists and other self-serving folks who somehow rose to positions of power. That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it. Icon says it all...it's long been a game of cover your ass. Carry on.

[RSorak 71Westy]

There maybe creative people in gov't but creative ideas rock the boat and the gov't is about maintaining the status quo.

[turk]

I don't know how destructive it is. It's good and bad. It works and it doesn't work. But it shouldn't be the solution to problems, only a tool to help solve problems. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it doesn't work. A constitutional moderate is a pretty good position to take considering the problems society faces. This government is pretty good in the long view of that. Countervailing forces, like labor movements (trade unions), etc. can be good agents of change, but there's bad stuff to go along with it. Public service unions and government unions are a huge liability. Pensions etc.. You've heard of some of it I'm sure. Change takes time. And real debate in a democracy. I think Oscar Wilde said "Democracy is the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people".

[ruckman101]

Unfortunately our government serves corporate interests for the most part, with token bones for the sovereign people. Our government has been stolen.


neal

[turk]

The corporate tax rate is second to Japan last I looked. That's just Federal. Stolen by the corporations right? Didn't the people elect Obama?

[deschutestrout]

Didn't the people elect Obama?

Yes, and the corporate lobbyists and self-serving "public servants" (yeah, right) are preventing him from accomplishing what the people elected him to do. You need to remember Turk, he's attempting the nearly impossible in the current government climate...to undo 16 years of the Bush family running this country into the ground. Again, this is my opinion...you're entitled to yours.

[turk]

They control Obama and the democrat congress that was sent home after their agenda of changing the country (through more government control) was rejected by a majority of voters. Specifically : mandatory health insurance; exorbitant spending bills with little progress to show for; end-run on the legislative branch by executive appointed agency (EPA) on regulation of CO2 by fiat, to tax industries with inevitable cost increases to consumers. All of this crammed through in a hurried manner as if there wasn't time to debate it as you will remember.

[Bleyseng]

They control Obama and the democrat congress that was sent home after their agenda of changing the country (through more government control) was rejected by a majority of voters. Specifically : mandatory health insurance; exorbitant spending bills with little progress to show for; end-run on the legislative branch by executive appointed agency (EPA) on regulation of CO2 by fiat, to tax industries with inevitable cost increases to consumers. All of this crammed through in a hurried manner as if there wasn't time to debate it as you will remember.

I think Obama and the Democrat congress had great accomplishments for advancing the country....Wow, finally everyone has Health Insurance, trying to start to tax fairly the rich and corporations plus spending to bring the country back from a GOP financial disaster/near depression. The GOP Congress is licking their lips at cutting spending in programs that actually help the people of the country. "Not one dime of Military cuts!" Now that the real kicker, lets keep financing the two wars the GOP started 10 years ago because they finance THEIR corporate interests...
I think its high time to stop the tax giveaways for shipping jobs overseas....Tax cheap imports that hurt our country....Not everyone has to own a 60" Flat screen tv nor do we need everyone hunting with a 9mm Glock with a 30 shot clip...

There was no hurry but there wasn't any debate as the GOP just voted NO...thus giving up and right to help govern this country. Now we shall see what the crackpot tea party wacko will accomplish. My bet is lots of money for their home districts so they get re elected.......

[deschutestrout]

.... was rejected by a majority of voters.

Which voters you talkin' here? I don't recall getting to vote on the health issue, tax rates for the rich, cuts in valuable government programs, maintaining full funding for wars we have no business being in...

And, Bleyseng =D>

[turk]

I think Obama and the Democrat congress had great accomplishments for advancing the country....Wow, finally everyone has Health Insurance,[...]

Everyone now has health insurance? What did I miss? I'm sitting here without that "free" insurance..

[...] trying to start to tax fairly the rich and corporations plus spending to bring the country back from a GOP financial disaster/near depression. The GOP Congress is licking their lips at cutting spending in programs that actually help the people of the country. "Not one dime of Military cuts!" Now that the real kicker, lets keep financing the two wars the GOP started 10 years ago because they finance THEIR corporate interests...

Um, they were voted on by congress, a democrat controlled congress. Authority to use force was voted in favor of. Obama even scaled up, expanded the Afghan war, remember? How about those Muslim killing "drones"? And you and others want to point your finger at the "G.O.P." and say it is responsible for the Tucson massacre. Are you deranged or just in denial?

[...] I think its high time to stop the tax giveaways for shipping jobs overseas....Tax cheap imports that hurt our country....Not everyone has to own a 60" Flat screen tv nor do we need everyone hunting with a 9mm Glock with a 30 shot clip...

Okay



Oops, forgot this:

There was no hurry but there wasn't any debate as the GOP just voted NO...thus giving up and right to help govern this country. Now we shall see what the crackpot tea party wacko will accomplish. My bet is lots of money for their home districts so they get re elected.......

Yes there was. You have a selective memory. The debate was very truncated by democrats, not republicans. And they passed it didn't they? So, that's what's going on now that the 'pubs regained control of the house. Do you follow that? What "tea-party whacko" (don't you mean "tea-bagger" LOL) are you talking about?

[ruckman101]

The government is only as creative as the folks running it.

The health care package was a gift to health care corporations. No single payer, no public option, nope, gotta buy the corporate packages. And still they whine.


neal

[yondermtn]

I'd describe government as self-serving.

Just look at the slime here in Illinois.

In the final hours of a lame duck session they somehow pass a major tax increase that just hours earlier didn't have enough votes. You cannot believe that those votes weren't bought. Not to mention the fact that less than a week after his elected term began, Gov. Quinn broke his promise to veto any tax increase over 1% point.

The state of Illinois is a complete disaster run by crooks.

[vdubyah73]

mass. is essentially a 1 party state. The last 3 speakers of the state house of representatives are either guilty, on appeal, or recently indicted for corruption, a state senator is going to jail for accepting a bribe, and a boston city councilor is well on his way to jail for the same. guess what party they all belong to?

[Amskeptic]

.... was rejected by a majority of voters.

Which voters you talkin' here? I don't recall getting to vote on the health issue, tax rates for the rich, cuts in valuable government programs, maintaining full funding for wars we have no business being in...

And, Bleyseng =D>

I am swooning . . . Deschutestrout shows up and KICKS ASS.

And you are right, Obama actually had a healthy mandate for the issues he campaigned on. Even when the public option folded (a large plurality of voters wanted it, by the way), and this quasi-private health insurance proposal took shape, the opponents were calling it "government control" and and and socialism and stuff, because they are reflexive parrots of talk radio and rabid cable news screamers.

The deficit has just been hijacked by the tax cut extension for the rich. It will cost the Treasury more than Obama's thwarted efforts to stimulate the economy, yet look at they howled at the stimulus. It is amazing to watch. But sad too. We could be amazing, but we are hostages to fear-mongerers getting fat off our paralysis.
Colin