The Obama Nation

Buz, there was good reason for the Russian revolution of 1917. The resulting government/economic system had a lot to be said for it. Alas, for various reasons (World Wars I and II included?), things didn't live up to the idealism and things turned for the worse of Stalinism. But things need not have gone that route.There is a middle ground between extreme capitalism and extreme socialism. Capitalism tends to work because it appeals to one of man's baser instincts - greed and self interest. Communism and socialism, on the other hand, has a greater concern for the common well being of community and society.So, why are you such a knee-jerk supporter of an economy based on greed? Might there not also be proper room for policy more aimed at taking care of community and society?Yes, there will always be some lazy leaches on society. That is now the case, with examples both of the poor and of the wealthy. But it is the wealthy that have the resources to contribute to the betterment of community and society. The system has been good to the wealthy - Why shouldn't they pay back to help maintain the overall health of the community and society that made them wealthy? Some of them are, some are not.Or do we now need a new American revolution, where those that have material wealth far beyond any practical need get killed? I would dispute #3. Care to substantiate that assertion? Some leaders are more charismatic public speakers than others. It can be used either to sell good policy or to sell a snow job bad pollicy.In all, I would think that Ronald "the great communicator" Reagan would perhaps match up far better in those qualities of 1, 2, 4, and 5.BUT PERHAPS ALL THIS BELONGS IN A TOPIC OF ITS OWN.MooseAdded by edit:Forgot to include Russian Revolution - Wikipedia(1917)Is there a strong parallel between Tzar Nicholas II and George W. Bush?Edited by Minnemooseus, : See above.

Jaderis largely took the load off me, but I'll make a few comments. I think there is no shortage of wealthy individuals who are paid far in excess of what they earned. Perhaps the most prominent and extreme example is a corporate CEO who blotches the management of the company, gets canned, and gets a parting gift of multiple millions of dollars. Now there is a leach of society.How much can an individual actually EARN in a year? And what is the real point of an income that grossly exceeds your needs? What the government and people of other countries are doing or not doing to help the less fortunate is irrelevant. Should one be a stingy jerk just because others are? I don't think so. I think this is what they call a non-sequitur. Certainly giving people in poverty resources (money or other) is not going to make them poorer. And something like a new Works Progress Administration can give the disadvantaged employment and also do something to help maintain the countries infrastructure. Damn - Sounds like communism to me.Mooseps. See the John Kenneth Galbraith quote in the "signature" below.Edited by Minnemooseus, : Changed "WPE" to "WPA".Edited by Minnemooseus, : Add link and delete a partial sentence containing the previous edit.

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Professor, geology, Whatsamatta U
Evolution - Changes in the environment, caused by the interactions of the components of the environment. "Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and will piss on your computer." - Bruce Graham

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"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." - John Kenneth Galbraith

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"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron." - H.L. Mencken (1880-1956)

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"Nixon was a professional politician, and I despised everything he stood for ” but if he were running for president this year against the evil Bush-Cheney gang, I would happily vote for him." - Hunter S. Thompson

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"I know a little about a lot of things, and a lot about a few things, but I'm highly ignorant about everything." - Moose