Not only is Barack not a socialist, he may not even be a liberal. I finally came to terms with it yesterday, and am forced to announce that I was dead wrong about him. I am embarrassed.This all came to light when he decided that we still need military tribunals. I was so shocked. Here I was assuming he'd go the socialist route in war, and bring home all the troops the minute he got into office. Didn't happen. And send professors, scholars, and engineers to places like Afghanistan instead of troops. A very socialist thing to do. Nope.
We're not itching to be like Europe, after all.
Instead, Obama sees the merit in extending the military tribunals, and their inevitable use of torture. A majority of American still favor his plan. We don't like torture, but recognize this post-9/11 period as an exception to that rule.
Even as Pelosi is trying her darndest to pretend that she "never knew" about waterboarding. Uh huh.
Another clear indication that we're not becoming Europe, is the Obama team's lack of desire to make structural changes to the financial system. Timothy Geithner does not desire nationalization like I thought he would, a key ingredient in the Socialist recipe. He instead favors costly, short-term measures that would appear to be socialistic, but aren't. Simply because they can be easily scrapped once they finish serving our purposes. A socialist would have overhauled the entire banking system by now, making it more of a public utility that's completely nationalized. We wouldn't have allowed Chrysler to go under, or GM to start laying-off dealership employees.Thank goodness that we won't have to live in Stalingrad housing anytime soon, after all. I was fearful.
On healthcare, Barack seems to be doing a pretty good job of not being socialistic as well. Instead of nationalizing it, he wants to allow private insurance companies free reign to underinsure it's policyholders, but cash in on "universal coverage." The ObamaCare Plan. Less socialistic than Hill's plan.
It must be said that socialism is certainly not all bad.
There is something to be said for the fact that capitalism makes the rich, richer and the poor, poorer.
But, the fact is that socialism can never work. Anywhere. The very best countries believe in a free market economy and capitalism.
We are better than socialism gives us credit.
We have a right to dream bigger. I want to believe that at the end of the day, I can be anyone and do anything. And not have to worry that the government will take it all away. For the "greater good."
If you were left behind by capitalism, I can understand how you veered towards socialism. I've been "left behind" too.
But, we should want to dream bigger. I plan too. And I'll give Globama a chance in the process.
I have to say, I'm very impressed.
The Republicans have a real problem on their hands. And changing words like pro-choice aren't going to really make a difference.
Barack, I think Ronald would be proud of you tonight.
Keep supporting your military tribunals and torture the rest of the world is going to eat the United States alive. The United States refuses to see the truth.
ReplyDeleteI will not be visiting this blog anymore because I will be too busy moving to a socialist country.
Okay for the longest time I assumed that Revolutionary Spirit was....Gregoire. He was the only socialist I could think of, but as far as I knew, he wasn't so against torture.
ReplyDeleteToday I have figured out just who you are sweetie and I LOVE YOU!!!! Knowing that it's you is so wonderful, and this was the give-away:
"I will be too busy moving to a socialist country."
Sweetie, I think I would have chosen certain words differently if I knew it was you!!!
So I think part of this post stems from an anger that Europe may end up being better than the U.S. And a jealousy that I have this really awful sore throat and ear infection right now, but unfortunately, being that I'm uninsured in Texas....I'm screwed. I am so jealous of those moving to Europe, would love to be British about now!!!!
We do refuse to see the truth, that's for sure. It is a bitter pill to swallow that our leaders could be wrong about torture, the war, and our disappearing into the abyss like Rome did.
We are getting eaten alive, we're not even producing any products here anymore. China pays our rent only because in turn we keep their sweatshops going. Eventually, they will grow tired of us, and we'll lose the battle of survival of the fittest. The one perk of capitalism at the moment is that we are only staying alive because of the free market trade we have with China.
Sad.
We'll have to wait to see about the miltary tribunals. It seems like globama is spinning it so that we just hear tribunal and not the word torture that goes along with it!
I love you endlessly sweetie. I'll not reveal your identity but love you so much, awe one of my favorite favorite bloggers. Big sigh of relief your not Gregoire!
Decided to see if you responded. No, I am not Gregoire. I am very much a twenty-three old student and woman. I don't operate a blog either. Maybe I should. The Europe bit was more a fiqure of speech but I intend to live there someday.
ReplyDeleteI might come back to this political blog but at the moment I am beyond furious at what this nation is doing. I am against torture all the way! That is what gets me. What gets me is how you cannot see the other side. I hope you checked out some of the documentary. My last point to you: what if your son, half Arab, decided to visit Syria someday and while there was accused of being a foreign spy and shipped off by the U.S. to be tortured? You get no phone call about it, he gets no lawyers, and it is possible your son dies. I cannot imagine how as a mother would not react to the pain of others mothers and families around the globe.
Revolutionary Spirit,
ReplyDeleteYou don't have a blog? You are keeping me guessing sweetie, I totally thought you were one of my favorite bloggers from Bosnia!
I don't blame you one bit for wanting to live in Europe someday. It took me 4 hours to see the doctor today, the actual doctor, not just a clinic. Our healthcare is so disgusting, the fact that it's employee based is plain wrong. The only good thing is that Britain is 18 out of 18 countries as far as seeing a breast cancer patient in the first 3 weeks after she discovers her lump. Well at least that's what Hannity would have you believe....
I don't blame you for being furious. I know this is wrong, but knowing that your NOT in fact Gregoire, makes me want to listen to you much more.
I will check out the documentary sweetie, because I would be very frustrated if Youssef was shipped here. Heck, I'm worried about myself too! I had no clue that a country like Syria would ship me here sweetie, to be tortured, this is very enlightening. We assume easily that big, bad Syria would do all the work. That the U.S. is my protector and would never do that.
You have given me lots of food for thought, and I'm definitely going to start considering other mothers and families in the world. It's easy to pretend that bad things don't happen, even Indian people are pretending that Slumdog Millionaire is way out there, that their own people aren't eating garbage.
It is a shame what has become of this country. And all to easy to keep looking back to the "glory days," which is what my Reaganism is about. The fact is though that we can't look at the present, it's simply too ugly.
I love you endlessly sweetie, you are always welcome here!
rev spirit,
ReplyDeletehow would you like to be the mother of Nick Berg, Danny Pearl or any one of those contractors we all saw hanging from the bridge in iraq?
get a clue or leave this country, traitor!
waterbaording in not torture, having your headless body strung up from a bridge, dragged through the streets or starring in an islamic snuff film, yeah thats torture!
ReplyDeleteleave this great country already!
Lurker in Columbus,
ReplyDeleteIt is precisely because of people like you that I am making the points I have made on several occasions. I am not a traitor but you fail to realize in your narrow mind is that I HAVE NEVER AND WILL NEVER advocate for violence. Secondly, Nick Berg, Danny Pearl, or those contractors were tortured--maybe not physically but surely mentally and emotionally. To state that "waterboarding" is not torture is absurd because it is. Lastly, do you know why those contractors and others have died? Because WE have invaded Afghanistan and Iraq. WE DID. No one else did. We have destroyed two nations and innocent lives. We have advocated terror and then YOU are surprised actually apalled at the return of that violence?
Again, I DO NOT condone any form of violence, no matter who is fighting or the cause. But you should ask yourself: what if YOU were in your home in your city and suddenly one day the bombs began to drop? What if they, the "enemy" began to kill and torture the men in your family? To rape you and your daughters? Over and over? What if you survived what would you do? Your telling me you wouldn't go to the ends of the earth for revenge? You would. But you in your safe home with your perfect American life cannot imagine that.
Why is it? Because you have dehumanized those in Afghanistan and Iraq, those that fight. You have not tried to understand the historical and geo-political consequences of our foreign policy. You have no one to blame but yourself for your igorance.
Here is a list of countries in which the United States has intervened causing destruction, economic hardship, and creating dictatorships:
Greece, Philippines, Iran, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Syria, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Haiti, Educador, the Congo, Brazil, Peru, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Ghana, Uruguay, Bolivia, Iraq (a favorite), Angola, Libya, Panama, Afghanistan (another favorite), and Puerto Rico.
Did you know that the American government sterlized Puerto Rican women during the 1950s and that they used a small island off of Puerto Rico to test bombs not caring for the radiation. We are merely a strategic point in the Caribbean. All the others on the list were strategic points and policies.
But of course you do not think about this. You just think of your "American dignity." You keep doing that because that American dignity will do nothing but destroy your future.
rev spirit, your inability to recognise the fact that those men were physically tortured invalidates your comment.
ReplyDeleteYou've shown your ignorance on the topic. Need help packing?????
I clearly stated that they were tortured--maybe not physically or the exact knowledge of their capture and what was done to them will be unknown. Terrorist organizations and groups do not release minute by minute accounts of what they do.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, if you do not want Americans to be tortured then do not torture others even if they have done it to US nationals.
Lastly, I HAVE EVERY RIGHT AS A US CITIZEN to criticize MY government. I have every right to stop the United States from this road to hell. Clearly, you are just along for the ride so when another September 11th occurs--because it will--it will be YOUR fault. Because you refuse to be a decent human being. You refuse to see the true meaning of freedom and justice and equality. So when people, like me, leave this country and you find yourself in a Big Brother world (thanks to the War on Terror) there will be no one left to speak for you, to protect you.
Welcome to the dictatorship of the inhumane, welcome to the land of you.
"First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
First they came for the Socialist
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
First they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
First they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me." Pastor Martin Niemoller.
I think some of Obama’s recent decisions have shown that he's grounded and mature. There are ideals and then there are realities. The reality of the situation is that we can't just pull all our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s not a realistic or practical long term solution. Along with troops, though, we should be sending doctors, engineers and teachers. Our fatal mistake the first time we were involved in Afghanistan was not helping them to build an infrastructure after the war, and we all know what happened as a result.
ReplyDeleteAs far as military tribunals and torture…I say do what you think is necessary as long as you’re willing to live with the consequences. That means don’t cry about the Geneva Convention or Al-Jazeera showing captured or killed US soldiers on TV or Americans being tortured in foreign countries.
Domestically, I’ll admit, I’m a bit of an opportunist. In a secular society at the end of the day it is all about dollar and cents. There are just some social programs (healthcare and education) that benefit society as a whole no matter what tax bracket you fall under. I don’t think that we should be afraid to reinvent ourselves as a country, or to admit when something doesn’t work or to “cross” party lines.
Mrs. S
Revolutionary Spirit,
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad situation. I really figured this was limited to 9-11 perpetrators, but it sounds like an everyday norm for even a Swedish businessman! I was a little more ok with it being limited to the 9-11 perps, just because this was a heinous crime, but this is too much. Love you lots!
Lurker in Columbus,
ReplyDeleteI had almost forgotten those poor contractors. That was awful, and in this case assuming they had the right perps, torture is justfied. And same with the Danny Pearl attackers. You know I think of his wife a lot, she must re-live his last moments in her head, in every nightmare. I hope so much that his son grows to become what he could not. Because it was ripped away.
I love you sweetie. I emailed you and wanted to know if I could call you on Tuesday. I wonder if tomorrow is good?
Revolutionary Spirit,
ReplyDeleteI know you would never advocate for violence sweetie. I love that you are for peace. And I think I would feel differently about torture if I was actually forced into it, like many in the Middle East. Just like I'd be a vegetarian if I had to see a slaughterhouse up close. It's what I cannot see firsthand, that makes me not as worried as I should be about torture of 9-11 perps.
Secondly, Nick Berg, Danny Pearl, or those contractors were tortured--maybe not physically but surely mentally and emotionally.
The only thing I disagree about is the physical part. It is a torture in itself to have your head cut off. As a biology student, I know that your brain and it's neurons keep firing even after your head is severed. Your body has quit, but you are well-aware that your head is off, at least some people are.
I suppose this is why I've never fully been a fan of the halal and kosher slaughter. I do appreciate the freshness of the meat and the fact that it's a correct way, but think I personally would rather be zapped with a shotgun between the eyeballs instead. No offense to the Islamic rules, I just personally feel the other way would be less painful.
I also loved that you listed all of these countries. You are brillint sweetie! The only other thing I did think as I read the list is that some of these dictators were only too happy to come into power. Hafez Assad comes to mind. It was a collaborative effort, sadly.
One of my Obama campaigner friends is convinced that Africa was purposefully infected with HIV by the U.S. government. He is African-American and feels this pretty deeply.
Personally for me, it could be true. We know how reckless the U.S. was with the Marshall Islands and the Bikini Atoll where they did nuclear testing. Sadly these pristine South Pacific beaches are all but ruined.
So it doesn't seem impossible that the government could have done this to Puerto Rico. The only other thing I kept thinking as I read your wonderful comment sweetie, is that man will always be wasteful, inhuman, and pretty Godless. I probably should stop lest this becomes an argument for evolution. But, I definitely think this kind of evil and lack of humanity pervades every culture and nation. No one has a monopoly. We can look at the British in India, India which has one of the biggest child prostitution rates in the world, Russia with it's huge hitman murder rates, gosh every country has some vice.
Love you sweetie.
Lurker in Columbus,
ReplyDeleteThat was the only thing I really disagreed with just because we know what it could be like to have your head severed. I am positive that a death that involves bleeding too death in effect, is the very most painful. And therefore torturous. Because we have seen accounts even in Saudi of men whose brain neurons were still firing and were still "alive" minutes after they were beheaded. Love you dearest one.
I do think we could be attacked again, but I will never believe that it's because of things Bin Laden says like Palestine (which he could clearly care less about, I mean he threw the Taliban under a bus, and all of Afghanistan, after all), or troops in Saudi.
ReplyDeleteIf anything it's at least partly because these individuals have no other choice but guerilla warfare tactics, we simply outnumber them.
At least a little of this is because they want their worldview to dominate. And certainly the U.S. really bungled the vacuum left in Afghanistan after the Northern Alliance gained control. Especially since Pashtuns dominate that country, and none of them want to listen to a Hazari, Tajik, or Uzbek.
I just don't think that not torturing anyone will make this stop. I wish it were that simple. I'd be willing to take the chance, and stop torturing and see what happens though.
I loved this poem sweetie. I really do! Wow, this is amazing, I hae never seen it before. Love you so much.
Mrs. S,
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh that was an AWESOME point about crying about the Geneva Convention. I have to admit that we really aren't allowed to cry about those contractors in the same way, when the people who killed them may well have been tortured by us! I really loved your assessment.
I also liked what you said about not being afraid to change your beliefs based on opportunity. I may prefer a more conservative agenda, but I absolutely prefer the Democrats on healthcare, just because employer based insurance is failing.
I wish we were sending more doctors and engineers. That was what happened after World War II in Japan. And it worked. But, Afghanistan after the Russian War is OUR failure. Sad. And I know it's not realistic to bring them all home. I wish we were a little more grateful to our troops. I love you sweetie, great comments!
Though I am for peace I am not a pacifist. War is the last resort but sometimes it cannot be avoided. But we go to war for the wrong reasons.
ReplyDeleteI know we do not have a monopoly on oppression and violence. All the world empires have been brutal and the ones to rise will be. It is up to the individual to make a decision to stand up for their freedom in a humane way.
Non-violent resistance all the way. As Gandhi stated an eye for an eye makes the [damn] world blind.
Guerilla warfare for terrorist organizations and movements is not the last option it is their first. It allows them to utilize resources in a strategic manner-how else have the Taliban and Al-Qaeda managed to survive in on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is not about how many troops you have but how you fight. The fight of your might. Do not be fooled by appearance.
ReplyDeleteSecond, we could be attacked. Our government and its rabid foreign policy is ensuring that. Terrorist organizations and movements have an easy time recruiting in this age and if politicians think that you can destory Al-Qaeda and be rid of the problem. They are delusional.
Today's Islamic Extremism stems from religious and political ideology that thrives independent of leadership. It is an entity and ideal. How do you kill ideals? You cannot.
Lisa, I'm diggin' the political blog. I hadn't stopped by before, but I'm thinking about becoming a regular. Promise not to judge me, though. I have some "granola" political leanings. Uh, what's going on with the job BTW? Have you heard back yet?
ReplyDeleteRevolutionary Spirit,
ReplyDeleteI think that guerilla warfare was obviously brilliant against the Russians. The Northern Alliance and future Taliban proved this. So I can understand how they are using this to their advantage. It is smart.
So you feel we're more likely to be attacked pre-Obama or post-Obama? Or does it matter? In other words, did Bush keep us safe after 9-11? I like to think we did. The alternative is that we just don't know and that is so scary!
And you are right that you cannot kill ideals. The only way extremism in any religion can be killed is when the people sponsoring it began to believe that another way is inevitable. Perhaps when Islam has a Reformation if it does.
We have rarely gone to war for the right reasons. Technically it seems like we should have the right to fight North Korea right now. That test missile stuff they keep doing wouldn't have made former U.S. presidents too happy. Instead we go to Iraq to settle a Bush family feud. Huh?
I love you so much sweetie.
Mrs. S,
ReplyDeleteI love the granola comment! I laughed so hard. Oh sweetie, don't worry about it at all over here. I just need to think of some really good topics, and I promise I won't come at you fiercely! Love you lots.
The job said no. I finally received a letter, expressing that I should apply for other things at their agency. I sent them a thank you note. Argghhh! Love you sweetie!