hokiewolf said:
caryking said:
hokiewolf said:
caryking said:
For some reason, people like Civ, and for the matter, Hokie, can't stand the fabric of society, that is the populist. I think when the populist, of America, see a stink bomb, there probably is a stink bomb.
For far too long, deceptions, misinformations, disinformations, have been the norm. It's time to take back our country…. Let's start be electing, for the third time, the former Democrat, Donald Trump!!
Democracy, properly understood, is about disagreement and debate, about making public arguments about unpopular truths. Populism is inherently anti-intellectual, elevating emotions and gut feelings, denying the existence of inconvenient facts.
I do not believe that the "fix" is to destroy every single institution that has been created nor do I believe they are all inherently evil and out to drastically change the US.
Hokie, to a degree, we agree…
The institutions, or really, some of the grundoon's are ok; however, the top tier is where the problem appears to be. Additionally, the amount of people working in these departments are just too much.
I like some of the ideas, coming out by Republican candidates, regarding moving departments, out of DC, is probably a good idea. Remember, three of the wealthiest countries in the US surround DC. Think about that… wealthy counties surrounding an area that doesn't produce one thing. Doesn't make sense!
Populism just sees things that don't make sense, whereas, intellectuals try and rationalize it…
BTW, your comment: "Populism is inherently anti-intellectual", well I will not take that personally, especially from you. You've met me… would you say I'm inherently anti-intellectual?
on political issues at least as you present them on this board yes. By anti-intellectual I mean a person who believes that intellect and reason are less important than actions and emotions in solving practical problems and understanding reality.
That is not to say I don't have respect for you nor do I think your dumb or your opinions are dumb, I just think your stances on the current right weighted populist issues come from an emotional standpoint.
By the way, I seem to have a large percentage of Republican friends, at least in SC
Let me try and pull this all together (BTW, I said this many times)...
The economy is my number 1 issue; however, I see the linking between individual welfare and out of control wealth consolidation as the same. Too many policies, not tax policies exclusively, have consolidated this wealth.
Same story told many times: when I took my daughter to visit High Point University, where she graduated, and saw the beauty of the campus, I was blown away. In addition, the style of educating was outstanding. Once I left the campus and drove around, I saw two main things:
- Factories shut down
- People sitting on front porches doing nothing
If you don't think there is a correlation between those two, then you need to get out more...
So, what happen? That sucking sound Ross Perot warned about, happened. The jobs left, and the people sit. That is the truth along with with some emotion..
I am as about as laissez faire as any body here. I don't want government intervention on anything, typically. That said, we are so perverse, it's almost unrecognizable from my readings, on the founding, of this country.
So, in order to right the ship, we have to take draconian measures, to bring things back to a semblance of normal. Yes, we need a dismantling of the State, as we know it. That may sound like Populism to you; however, I will hook my wagon up to anyone that will take down the administrative state. In other words, reduce the size (Start with people at the top), and go from there...
Also, I would like for congress to take back their power, from these agencies, and legislate appropriately. Now, one could argue that wouldn't be efficient and agencies should be making policies. My response is: the agency is too big and once right-sized, congress can manage it...
In summary, the economy needs fixing (as 51% in SC says); however, most in SC and probably here, have no idea how to fix the economy. I have a start! See above regarding the administrative state. Deficit spending and a federal reserve balance sheet explosion is the main cause of this economy. Reduce the size of government will cut spending that will start the slowing of spending.
After, or concurrently:
- start fixing the energy problem, this administration created.
- Simplify the tax code (eliminate carried interest also)
Culture issue can start to be cleaned up with one change, that Vivak is talking about... Figure out a way to de-couple financial institutions from voting and having influence in corporations. These financial institutions don't own those shares they are voting with; rather, they are using yours, mine, and everyone else's investment dollars to vote, as they are managing that money. Doing this and only paying carried interest, capital gains percentages. It's a sham!!
Call it Populism! I call it a plan! If you don't like my plan, then offer up something else, just please quick complaining about Populism. Personally, I don't think you know what it is and are reading, watching, listening, to the outlets that have created a boogie man, out of the term...
