Moderate Leftists Must Rise Up And Oppose Their Radical Marxist Counterparts

a reply to: TrueBrit

The thoughts and opinions of Americans are of no concern to you.

Got it.

I see a lot of selfish motives behind your political rhetoric. Maybe elect better representation? You are no longer bound by EU law, make it count.

a reply to: GodEmperor

The opinions of the people are important to me, only in so far as those opinions are based on an informed population. Opinion based on lies, misinformation and a general lack of proper understanding of the material is not equal to, nor does it hold equal value to, opinion which is informed, correctly informed. Simply put, an understanding of politics based entirely on how America does it is not an understanding of politics. It is a symptom of a disease with which your population is infected, not a legitimate political position.

a reply to: GodEmperor

I don't see where that law helps promote jobs. Idaho has really laxed gun laws and Idahoans are still angry about the economy in the rural areas. And Idaho did not take the medicaid expansion for the uninsured and they are still mad. But, continue to vote for the same republican representatives. It is kind of scary what will happen when there is no one else to point blame to.

Thank you for the answer about your state.

a reply to: TrueBrit

You don't demand rights. You demand government protection for where you cannot protect yourself, which apparently is in the one area you should be able to: self-sufficiency. Your no true Scotsman failed when you started to conflate socialism with left-wing.

originally posted by: LesMisanthrope
a reply to: GodEmperor

I like the OP. But remember, the left has owned the last 8 years, have dominated academe, the media, most governments, that to convince them the evils of socialism and the absurdity of their policies will take a sheer act of will on their part, as education and information are in their hands, and self-criticism is unlikely.

Socialism in this country dates back to the early 1900's (probably even a case to be made that aspects of it even predate that time frame too). It's existed within the country (and has been working) for WAAAAY longer than just the last 8 years.

a reply to: Krazysh0t

Let me guess, paved roads, firemen, police force, the military? Those have existed long before socialism.

Hmmm. For the most part, I agree. The extremists and far right have certainly alienated me from their ranks because of their views, positions, and rhetoric. But the left has done the very same thing, and loses my support as well.

Here is a list of reasons I consider the left as alien to my own beliefs and stances, things they just refuse to reconsider or let go:

1. The issue of guns, weapons, and self defense. I don't have time nor space to explain the idiocy of many leftist's views on the right to arm and defend oneself. Only that their arguments on this topic show they are completely disconnected from reality and human nature.

2. Excessive ambiguous lines in the sex and gender issue. Understand, I have firmly believe trans people have every right to live in safety like the rest of us, free to pursue the same things the rest of us are. I believe their right to be who they are is fundemental and shall not be infringed, and they certainly should be legally protected from unfair discrimination like every other human being should. However, a number of factions on the left want to go crazy, and set no boundaries as to what qualifies. Self-identification as anything, alone, should not be enough, because we can self identify as anything. We need some form of social/legal definition that is more solid and empirical.

3. Excessive regulation, micromanagement, and taxation as policy solutions. I totally believe in sensible, realistic regulations that have logical justification and are necessary. But not everything needs to be regulated, taxed, or micromanaged. In fact, most things in society don't. Many things in business and labor don't need the levels and kinds of regulation slapped on by the far left. It hurts workers as well as employers. Environmental protection is critical, but if you don't make policies based on broader scientific understanding and what can be practically implemented, you are doing more harm than good.

4. Poor financial accountability demands. Many hard leftists like the idea of throwing money at a problem, no real questions on how that money is spent, and if the money spent is actually doing anything.

5. Their idiotic anti-defense attitudes. Our military spending is way too high, but that doesn't mean you just chop everything in half. One of the biggest problems with defense spending is all the government contractors and lobbyists getting their hands in the pie, and we end up with 40,000 dollar toilet seats, and paying 5 bucks for a screw or bolt you can buy at A.C.E. hardware for 25 cents. Fix that, and much of the budget fixes itself.

6. Useless activism.

7. Politically correct double standards. Example: The issue of Christians vs Muslims. That Muslim beliefs, customs, and culture gets a free protection pass, but Christians get no room to move. Understand, I think Christianity is a ridiculous crock of BS based on the primitive fairy tales of mentally stunted stone age goat herders. But guess what. So is Islam. Islam itself sprang from Christianity, as re-told through the words of a clearly psychotic and bi-polar Bedouin merchant. It is religion, the antithesis of free thought, reason, and basic human decency, and thus, should be treated with the same contempt as any other religion. Same applies to any religion. I find it actually pretty racist and patronizing NOT to criticize non Christian religions simply because they are practiced by "brown people". Those "brown people" deserve to be free of the scourge of religion and theocracy like every other human being.

Crap, I could go on and on, but damn.

a reply to: LesMisanthrope

Socialism has always existed.

Your semantics about when it was defined is irrelevant.

a reply to: TrueBrit

You are claiming your opinion is informed and accurate?

This may come as a surprise, but the US has the freedom of speech and press, it is not as restricted and controlled like in the UK.

Let's see, UK arrests man under pseudonym 'Muad'Dib', for making a documentary with narrative implicating political figures.

A 60-year-old man wanted in the UK on a charge of perverting the course of justice during the trial of a number of men in connection with the London bomb attacks has appeared in the High Court this afternoon. Anthony John Hill, orginially from Sheffield, was arrested on Carrig Street in Kells this morning on foot of a warrant issued by the authorities in Britain. It is alleged he sent DVDs entitled "7/7 Ripple Effect" to the jury, the judge and members of the victims' families.

www.indymedia.org.uk...

Well, I pray America never becomes as enlightened and accepting of diverse thoughts as Britain. Any dissension of thought is met with imprisonment. No thanks.

originally posted by: LesMisanthrope
a reply to: Krazysh0t

Let me guess, paved roads, firemen, police force, the military? Those have existed long before socialism.

Medicare. Food Stamps. Social Security.

Oh here's Mises.org agreeing with me:
Bernie Sanders Is Right: The US Is Already a Socialist Country

But hey keep up the narrative that Socialism is just this new beast in American politics and that it didn't share bi-partisan support up until around the Reagan administration.

a reply to: GodEmperor

Really? Julian Assange anyone? The government of the US trumped up bull crap charges against him, prompted another nation to trump up unrelated charges against him to make him a fugitive, and all in an attempt to keep him quiet!

Oh, and your nation treats its only true remaining patriots like criminals.

Snowden. Manning.

Good job America. We can go tit for tat if you would like. What about the entire wings of prisons in America, given over to the detention of political prisoners? Look it up bud. Its precisely as draconian as it sounds!

a reply to: GodEmperor

Do you know what perverting the court of justice is???

It's nothing to do with free speech and media.

a reply to: GodEmperor

The UK actually ranks higher than the US on Reporters Without Borders' Freedom of Press Index. Granted, neither of them are in a stellar position.

a reply to: Hazardous1408

An example to back up your claim would be nice. Until then your assertion is without merit.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t

originally posted by: LesMisanthrope
a reply to: Krazysh0t

Let me guess, paved roads, firemen, police force, the military? Those have existed long before socialism.

Medicare. Food Stamps. Social Security.

Oh here's Mises.org agreeing with me:
Bernie Sanders Is Right: The US Is Already a Socialist Country

But hey keep up the narrative that Socialism is just this new beast in American politics and that it didn't share bi-partisan support up until around the Reagan administration.

Keep spinning your tall tales. The people nor the state have ever owned the means of production.

a reply to: GodEmperor

Moderate Leftists in the Republican Party couldn't even stand up to their fellow Republicans in their own party nor the onslaught of right wing radio. Moderate conservatives were even RINOed out of the GOP, as the party continued to give power to their extremist economic and conspiratorial fringe.

If anything, it's moderate liberals and moderate conservatives joining together to oppose fringe right wing reactionaries who were allowed to take control of this country.

a reply to: LesMisanthrope

This is why the form of Socialism in this country is called Democratic Socialism. And you are lying if you are trying to suggest that the Socialism that the left is pushing isn't the same Democratic Socialism that I'm talking about that has existed in the country for some time now.

The only difference between then and now is that we FINALLY have a politician with the balls to come out with the Socialist label. Before they just hid these Socialist policies behind capitalist rhetoric or down played the fact that it was really Socialism because Socialism ='s Communism to FAR too many brainwashed Americans. But he didn't get elected.

a reply to: Hazardous1408

I don't care what draconian definitions an authoritarian governments wants to use.

They could call it terrorism, doesn't change the fact it is not accepted behavior in America.

Luckily after 157 days in prison, the British legal system actually worked. He was facing 20 years in prison, for sending DVDs, the jury was not having it even though the government tried their very best.

How much was spent on extraditing this man, to face the heinous crime of sending DVDs? 20 years, people spend less time for murder, but I guess murderers aren't disagreeing with the acceptable political opinions.

a reply to: GodEmperor

HE WAS NOT EXTRADITED!

HE WAS ARRESTED IN THE UK FOR TRIAL IN THE UK!

For GODS sake man, facts are not politics, you do not get to make them up as you go!

a reply to: TrueBrit

In otherwords, we are misidentifying the anti-American group/movement? By calling them "liberals, progressives, left wingers, globalists"? Perhaps it would be easier to just call it the Soros/Clinton/Obama agenda, that belittles American ideals and values.

The semantics may be wrong, but when the ideology is presented we know when to stand up to it.