OUR unemployment rate

[Frank]

I will always find it humorous when fellow skeptics fall into economic pipe dreams of days long past and honestly believe it could work in an ideal manner.

Why do we have to suffer to make an ideal, a pure system? I reject the notion of any form of pure this-that whatever, especially on matters dealing with large scale economies. A hybrid capitalistic/socialist system, as is currently attempted all over the world, has shown far more long term stability than any short term purity binge could do.

Well said. The arguments by purists (whether Marxists or libertarians) always say something like our ideal system was never tried, and earlier attempts didn't get it right, weren't pure enough, bla bla bla. I say they were close enough for comfort. As you say a hybrid system e.g. capitalism with government intervention when necessary or more efficient than market alternatives is the best way to go.

Everyone talks about change; and while we need some moderate change (more like a little tweaking), let's not ignore all the good we've accomplished in this country (or else we'll miss the opportunity to build on some of those successes). When I hear people whining about the good old days, I wonder what they're talking about exactly? Is it Jim Crow they miss so much, or perhaps segregation, or maybe back alley abortions? Ahh wouldn't the world be better if women couldn't vote, blacks couldn't come in our restaurants, and heck with it - while we're at it, why not just reinstitute burning heretics at the stake?