Federal Government Shutdown

[Captain Colostomy]

Ayn Rand never sounds good.

[Raeven]

CC... I know. I was just trying to be polite.

[Airyaman]

I never pigeonholed you one way or another. I spoke of Republicans in a general sense, never said you identified with them. That said, I consider Libertarians as just immature Republicans who haven't been through enough in life to understand the importance of the role of government in a civilized society. Ayn Rand sounds like a good idea... when you're 14. When you figure out that bad things happen to good people every single day, you begin to appreciate social safety nets and how only government can facilitate them. I say this as a fully self-sufficient business owner who has never taken a government handout in my life.

How has the government shafted you lately? Taxes are at historical lows. How have they invaded you? Is your phone tapped?

Me, I personally know my representative in the House and I like him, think he's doing a fantastic job against all odds. I wouldn't have his shitty job for anything. I watch him and both my State Senators like a hawk. You want a different government? Get involved and make it your own. That's what I do.

ETA: I'm not bagging on you personally. I just get so tired of hearing people complain about government and not getting terribly involved in it. Maybe you do, I don't know.

I agree with you if what you mean that corporate interests are far too involved in our politics. That's been happening -- and not with very much subtlety -- for the past 30 years at least. I'd like to see Citizens United fully done away with. I want to see Glass-Steagall reinstated. I want more oversight and corporate money entirely out of our politics. Hell, I want campaign funds to be funded federally with no ties to any interests at ALL. It'll never happen, but hey -- even liberals can be idealists.

Is my phone tapped? With recent NSA revelations, not sure...I don't talk on phones much anyways, but here on the Internet...well, I do have some paranoia. Not much, but a healthy wariness imo.

As for the libertarian mention, I have to work with the present. I consider myself fiscally conservative and socially "government, fuck off". The fiscal conservatism comes from growing up without much money OR government assistance. IOW, I was taught that the only one who would provide for me was me. We are all products of our upbringing no matter how much we try to deny it.

Finally, as for taxes, if the federal government had remained within constitutional constraints, we'd pay much less.

[Minimalist]

You're an idealist.

You betcha. You can be whatever you want to be, I choose idealist over partisan hack.

Idealists end up bitterly disillusioned.

[Airyaman]

You betcha. You can be whatever you want to be, I choose idealist over partisan hack.

Idealists end up bitterly disillusioned.

I've seen many of your posts in the last few weeks Min. "Bitter" is a word that fits you better than me...so are you speaking from experience?

I have no issue with your posts, mind you. Many of them make me smile and laugh, in a positive manner. But you tend to tell people to fuck off more than you give them valid reasons why they should.

[Minimalist]

Absolutely.

It is impossible to see what rich motherfuckers have done to this country in the last 33 years without developing a sense of bitterness.

But libertarians are nothing but their stooges.

[DeistPaladin]

I would personally like to see this result in people waking up and seeing how our government shafts all of us. The federal government was never meant to be this big and/or invasive, but we have allowed it, in the name of "progression". Politicians are abusive husbands wearing wife beater t-shirts: they abuse us while convincing us that it's our fault.

The big problem is that if you kill the government, that leaves a power vacuum that the corporations fill. That's why the Kochs and other corporate interests advocate libertarian ideology.

[Captain Colostomy]

Screw that. I've no delusions on where I'd fit in in a plutocracy. Mucking stalls in my bare feet, no doubt.

[Minimalist]

D-P said it very well so I'll just throw this in.




If you are a multi-billionaire then I can see why you'd be a libertarian. If not, they have conned you with a lot of shit about "freedom" which will be meaningless when the fuckers own everything.

But you tend to tell people to fuck off more than you give them valid reasons why they should.

They already know. I'm just reminding them to do it.

[DeistPaladin]

For those who still need a remedial education in American civics (which would be the whole Tea Bagger crowd and their both-sides-do-it apologists, here's a modern version of the I'm Just a Bill song by Roy Zimmerman. Enjoy.

"School The House Rock"