State of the Union, swirling down the tubes?

[Entropist]

There definitely needs to be a big overhaul in America. People these days are so afraid to change anything, especially something as big as the government. But it can be done, and it needs to be done. We need more trust in this country, more compassion and understanding. We need to stop letting the government feed us bullshit issues, drugs, and lies. The important things like public health, economic stability, and US foreign relations need to be put back on track, and equal rights movements need to step up their game.

And that's where the revolution will come in.

I wish I were as optimistic about that, really. First US Americans need to want to stop being lied to. We don't want it enough. For all the talk of many discontent US Americans, I don't think they are discontent enough. The government is not the only culprit here, the people are. I think the problem here is largely cultural as well as political-- and I'm not referring simply to these superficial "culture wars" but something that runs a lot deeper than that, and a lot further back than that-- especially the overt anti-intellectual streak that has always run strong here; the "social darwinist" / lassez faire / libertarian mirage; US American exceptionalism; a gun-obsessed culture-- just to name a few cultural issues that most ordinary US Americans buy into to some extent or other. And then when those cultural ideas are tapped into by political parties, the nightmare only gets worse: the Southern Strategy, which is basically one huge sideshow to make sure the conservatives are always in power-- even when they aren't in power. Nixon and Reagan are "liberals" now, compared to many Republicans (and even some democrats) today. Most of the other somewhat liberal Dems are too busy trying to not give a bad impression ("oh, I like bombing the shit out of people too!" etc) that they are ineffectual-- at best. There is no Left left here except in a handful of third parties which of course, the vast majority has already written off as pointless (and the electoral college pretty much guarantees they'll get no traction).

[lrh9]

If you are a Democrat and you aren't a proponent of responsible gun ownership and use as a civic responsibility or a civic duty then you are screwed.

According to a gallup poll:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/21496/gun-own...crats.aspx

Over half of Republicans have firearms in their household. Only a third of so called independents and only a third of Democrats have firearms in their homes. Not only do Republicans have firearms in their household, but 40 percent of Republicans personally own a firearm. There are multiple firearms and multiple people that own and use them in some Republican households. Only a quarter of so called independents and only a quarter of Democrats personally own a firearm. 70 percent of Republicans who own a gun actively use it. (I'm defining active use as target shooting or hunting.) Only 50 percent of Democrats who own a gun actively use it.

40% of Republicans personally own a firearm.
70% of those people actively use their firearm.
25% of Democrats personally own a firearm.
50% of those people actively use their firearm.

Let's say there are about 230 million adults in the United States. (We're just using this number as a reference. I have no doubt that those dirty Republican bastards would arm their preteen children.)

I can't find any detailed information about the political affiliation of the American people. Let's just put half on the conservative side of the 'political spectrum' and half on the liberal side of the 'political spectrum'.

Rough numbers:

Democrats: 115 million adults.
Republicans: 115 million adults.
Democrats: 29 million personally own a gun.
Republicans: 46 million personally own a gun.
Democrats: 14 million actively use a gun.
Republicans: 32 million actively use a gun.

Republicans essentially have a 2 to 1 advantage in a shooting war.

Couple this with a military which is primarily funded, operated, and staffed by Republicans and we are vastly out manned, out equipped, and out experienced.

Democrats not owning and knowing how to use a firearm are cutting their dicks off and shoving them up their asses and then begging Republicans to fuck them over.

Democratic campus organizations and political organizations should make continued involvement with the National Guard or ROTC, gun ownership, gun registration, and regular target practice a requisite for membership.

It's the only way we'd stand a chance to defend ourselves if Republicans attacked us. If worse came to worse it is the only way we could stand a chance to stage a successful revolution.

[Watson]

@lrh9- Revolution doesn't have to mean bloody war, you know. And in this case, it isn't what I am talking about. I'm not a Democrat, I'm not a Republican, I'm not affiliated with any sort of political party. I'm fed up with the party system and find it to be detrimental to the health of this country. I don't care how many guns or how much experience with weaponry they have- this revolution is not a bloody one, and it will not result in civil war. There will be violence, there will be pain, there will be death, sure. That is guarunteed, as in any revolution. But there will not be war. That would be counter-intuitive to the revolution itself.

@Entropist- That's basically what I am saying. The people have been intellectually and politically unaware for too long, and it is finally beginning to arouse the annoyance of some of America's citizens. You may nto think peopl ewant it, but I have seen first-hand how passionate peopel can speak out and fight against what they oppose and object to in this country- and those people, consciously or not, will fuel the drive to what will(hopefully) be a new America, done right.

[lrh9]

The Democratic party is - bar none - the most liberal party in the United States in regards to social issues, with many Democrats standing for abortion rights, gay equality, environmental conservation, scientific funding and education, secularism, and other issues that are important to me.

Government can provide those things and it all ready provides other things I value. The conservative bloc is waging a war on what I am describing. They want to do away with them entirely. They will not stop until they succeed or my side establishes our values supreme.

[Watson]

They're both waging a war against each other- if you really think the Democrats stand for the things they say they stand for, you are severely misguided. It's a matter of oppositional defiance for the sake of appeal. The Democrats are appealing to the so-called 'liberals' of America, and the Republicans, the 'conservatives.' It is no longer over the issues, it is over power and who gets to control the country in whatever fashion they choose.

[lrh9]

If I have any power in it then we shall find out.

[Watson]

Then I guess it all depends on what you do and where you go from here.

[Pippy]

I would suggest that you spend less time considering the problem as Repub and Demo lrh9, those are not real distinctions.

I for one, am American, but simply refuse to take part in that silly name game of right wing left wing. We are all on a plane, there are two wings.

To split the country into 100 some million Dem's and 100 some million Repub's is to skip the fact the the great majority of Americans don't even know the difference. Most don't care.

This isn't about a shooting war between R and D. R and D have become false distinctions that hold no water. I was a liberal when bush was in, and I am a conservative now, I keep bing the same person, but the political landscape changes around me.

It is a war between good and bad, not left and right.

I wish I had a gun, I am a good shot, but they won't let me have one in this socialized country.

[parrotpirate]

but a flat rate tax system is fairer for everyone imo.

Bullshit.

Propaganda from the rich fucks who are pushing this. Here's a clue. They are pushing it for THEIR benefit not the working class.

Since 1980 when that senile old fuck Reagan was elected the upper 1% have steadily increased their percentage of the wealth of America while the middle-class has been getting it shoved up their ass.


And please, don't give me this "the rich create jobs" horseshit. These CEO get paid for eliminating jobs and shipping them overseas where some Bangladeshi peon will work for a buck a day.

Meanwhile, they give the middle class a lot of phony issues ( gay rights, abortion, flag-burning, immigration, prayer in schools, "SOCIALISM!!!", etc., etc) to get them fired up. What far too many never seem to realize is that the same politicians who give them lip service on those bullshit issues are owned by the same corporate power structure which has been fucking them over for 30 years.

"Yeah - things will be fine if we just get rid of all the fucking Mexicans! Oh, what? My job is being sent to India. Well....at least there aren't any Mexicans around. Thank goodness for the Republican Party."

Damn, Min, don't hold back. I thought I was the only one who referred to Ronnie that way! Pretty much right on ,though. The Repugs flap about social issues to keep the ignorant Jeebus freaks and gun nuts in the fold. Then they pretty much rob and rape and give in to corporate interests and lobbyists to pump more cash to the top.

---

They're both waging a war against each other- if you really think the Democrats stand for the things they say they stand for, you are severely misguided. It's a matter of oppositional defiance for the sake of appeal. The Democrats are appealing to the so-called 'liberals' of America, and the Republicans, the 'conservatives.' It is no longer over the issues, it is over power and who gets to control the country in whatever fashion they choose.

That's why we need to try to find real progressives to run. They would almost have to run as Dems, though, since there is really not much chance yet of a third party being taken seriously. I'd vote Green, Socialist, or maybe even Communist if I thought they had a snowballs chance in hell, but there's not.

[Minimalist]

Fucking fuck, those numbers are horrific.

For once you're right, son, and I feel sorry for you because you are going to be stuck with the mess.

This doesn't help matters any either:

Entro, the last great Republican president said this.

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence – economic, political, even spiritual – is felt in every city, every Statehouse, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

--Dwight D. Eisenhower

http://uspolitics.about.com/od/speeches/...ower_2.htm


Alas, we did not listen.