Racketboy Political Discussion Thread

[Ack]

Congrats, America.

Four more years of political gridlock as this narcissist continues to take credit for all the good and blame the Bush administration for everything bad that happens on his watch. Four more years of federal funds given to alternate energy companies often run by Democratic bundlers which then up and fail, losing us millions of dollars, while our energy bills continue to rise as the EPA wages a war on the coal industry and we refuse to seek out new methods of producing oil or natural gas locally (and yet we help nations like Brazil set up their oil drilling operations and buy from enemies like Venezuela). Four more years of the Department of Justice not pursuing Wall Street executives because Eric Holder happens to be friends with them from his work before becoming attorney general. Four more years of not knowing what happened with Operation Fast and Furious, continued intelligence leaks, poor relations with an obstinate Israel, deepening divides between Israel and the Palestinians. Four more years of Iranian progress to a nuclear bomb and Iraq helping Iran avoid international economic sanctions.

Earlier this year, Russian bombers violated Alaskan airspace. Less than a week ago, a Russian nuclear sub moved within 200 miles of our cost. Putin is jailing his opposition and setting in place laws to hinder and silence all who oppose him by banning such things as "gay propaganda," and we elected the guy who will seek to placate them by removing missile defense systems. North Korea has cut off all talks regarding its nuclear program, China is stepping up aggression to Japan over islands claimed by both sides, our arms that are flowing into Syria are going directly to fundamentalist organizations that we have been trying to dismantle for more than a decade, and we exhibit so little capability to work with nations changed by the Arab Spring that they are actively courting our enemies.

Meanwhile, those of us with private or corporate-provided insurance will watch our premiums rise while companies move to lay off or underemploy individuals to avoid fines related to not providing healthcare so they can attempt to bring in some sort of profit. Taxes will increase n the higher income levels, making them even les likely t, want to invest or expand businesses. But it seems taxes will be increasing for most of us anyway, as our deficit continues to spiral out of control.

So what will happen now? Will I lose the right and ability to defend myself and my home if someone breaks in or attacks me? Will I lose due process and the right to a fair trial if I criticize the expanding TSA? Will I lose the right to uphold certain religious viewpoints or values if they do not adhere to the administration's desires, such as how Catholic employers are being forced to insure for birth control methods and procedures despite opposing them? Will this president convene bipartisan councils to try and reason ways out of this mess and then again refuse their advice?

Maybe I should just say fuck it and begin applying for whatever federal subsidies I can get. After all, who pays for it anyway? I held off through all of college and the unemployed years afterward, doing whatever i could to not have to face the shame of applying for food stamps or any other government subsidy to help me beyond education loans (which I am paying back with interest, as opposed to other government handouts that I would never be charged for). But I see now that it's useless to try and succeed, because ultimately I'll just be taxed back down. There's no point in working hard for a larger income in this nation anymore. It only gets you higher taxes while others reap benefits and then blame the rich for their problems.

But hey, we got gay marriage and marijuana usage legal in a couple of states...which, if I read the views of the younger members of both major parties right, we're pretty much going to get as a matter of time anyway. How about that? We're willing to shoot ourselves in the foot so we can pat ourselves on the back for making the "progressive" choice. Good job, America.

[StuntDouble]

Ack, you're welcome in my bunker any time.

[eskil]

Wait what? I honestly haven't paid attention to any of this but have grown since I was 15 and have gotten very good at it. Can I just move my operation out there legally now? California has way to much red tape and insane property tax for me to consider going there to grow.

Yup. Do it. Your tax dollars will contribute to BEST.

[dsheinem]

*carefully thought out post*

There's a lot of paranoia and dread in here, Ack. It's sad to see that you (and plenty of others) feel this way this morning, though I suppose it is inevitable.

I'll just say that I read a lot of "talking points" in your post that are outright false or extremely misleading. For example, while yes there are cases of White House sponsored government waste with stuff like Solyndra there are far more cases of successful, profit-inducing "gambles" on energy and other industries that more than compensate for the small percentage (about 8%) of failures. That's a hell of a lot better track record than even successful investment-related firms (e.g. Bain), so focusing on outliers like Solyndra is not a fair critique of stimulus spending, energy research, etc. It is just misleading.

Like Iran, I too, am "four years closer" to nuclear production since it has been four years since Obama was elected. All intelligence that we have suggests that they aren't in any position to do anything of significance regarding nuclear armament. It's a red herring.

Speaking of "red" herrings, fearing Russia is equally absurd. Putin may be a meglomaniac, but he isn't discussed as a serious threat by any intelligence agency or respected official associated with our military. Our relationship with Israel is also just fine by any important measure, even if the specific relationship between the PM and Obama is a bit cool at times.

Also worth noting is that a lot of the stuff you mentioned: not pursuing white collar rime, not doing anything about critiquing TSA, etc. - that stuff would have been the case with Romney as well. It sucks but it isn't like America had an option last night...

We disagree on the healthcare bill implications. I'll leave that for another thread or another time.

We disagree on the places where taxes should be leveled and what that means for welfare and for small business. However, the fact remains that neither Obama nor Romney were ever transparent on specific policies on any of this stuff so anything you might be forwarding as factual in your post is, if I am reading it right, based on "worst case scenario" speculation about the impact of new taxes if they are leveled.

You are certainly welcome to believe/fear as you do, but I think that this kind of "politics of paranoia" is itself largely to blame for our ongoing political gridlock and failure to get problems addressed. There's paranoia on both sides, but it would be nice - in the wake of widespread losses - to see conservatives make key moves to reach across the aisle and start moving past it. Two years of digging their heels in being obstinate brought them nothing but losses last night. I am hoping that serves as a wake up call to figure out a way to be more deferential, to start moving away from the Norquist pledge and the Tea Party, and to start to come back to the center. Despite the paranoia, Obama's record is largely as a moderate/center Democratic president - THAT, more than any reason, is why he was re-elected. If Republicans could do the same, it wouldn't be a big stretch to think that they might start making up some lost ground nationally.

[o.pwuaioc]

You are certainly welcome to believe/fear as you do, but I think that this kind of "politics of paranoia" is itself largely to blame for our ongoing political gridlock and failure to get problems addressed.

Bingo.

[Breetai]

So what will happen now?

The realization that you didn't built it, is what happens. That video game collection you have? You did not built that; someone else did.

[Luke]

The die was cast before this election even started if you ask me.

[BoringSupreez]

So I'm already starting to wonder: will the next four years maybe go better, paving the way for Biden or Hillary to run successfully in 2016? Or is this an exact repeat of 2004, meaning by then end of his term Obama will be very unpopular? I really can't say. History repeats itself, but you never know just how it will do so. To be honest, I'm a bit afraid, like Ack, that Obama will get the credit for progressive changes (marijuana, gay rights) that were inevitably coming down the road no matter who won, while escaping the blame for more important things. One thing I'm really hoping to see in his second term: no more blaming Bush. Everything in your second term is your own responsibility now. Whatever part Bush may have played, it's been four years now.

Another thing I'm wondering about is the future of the Republican party. Except for Bush's re-election, we haven't won the popular vote in a presidential race since 1988. Either we're going to be making some changes to our stances (shifting more towards Libertarianism, so as to encompass Ron Paul and Gary Johnson supporters), or we're going to fade away like the wigs and join a new party. Either way, I have no fear that the Democrats are going to become the only relevant party in America. There's always a party of dissent.

[Jrecee]

Certainly changes are coming related to gay marriage and marijuana, but I would question how soon those changes would come under a romney presidency.

[MrPopo]

Four more years of the Department of Justice not pursuing Wall Street executives because Eric Holder happens to be friends with them from his work before becoming attorney general.

Dsh already covered most of your post, but this part I have to call out. If you really think that a Romney administration would be tougher on Wall Street then you've jumped the gun on the marijauana laws.