Comments on: National Democrats Embarass Me http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/ Pragmatic Libertarianism Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:45:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Jeremy Manning http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5238 Jeremy Manning Thu, 24 May 2007 19:54:51 +0000 http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5238 As a small "L" libertarian of course I'd love a multi-party system. I'm not well represented by local Republicans or National Democrats I'm not currently a big "L" libertarian because governing coalitions just aren't realistic in a winner take all political system like that which our constitution set up. Mr. Urquhart is right that people who really care about what is going on need to speak out publicly and get in closer contact with their political representatives. Our ability to do that is greater now than it has ever been thanks to the internet and I really think we should only support politicians who are open to supporting more transparency in our government and more opportunities for the people to have a say in policies being made. Actions like those of Rep. Obey and Democrats on the approps committee make this less likely and we should all speak out against them when we can. As a small “L” libertarian of course I’d love a multi-party system. I’m not well represented by local Republicans or National Democrats I’m not currently a big “L” libertarian because governing coalitions just aren’t realistic in a winner take all political system like that which our constitution set up.

Mr. Urquhart is right that people who really care about what is going on need to speak out publicly and get in closer contact with their political representatives. Our ability to do that is greater now than it has ever been thanks to the internet and I really think we should only support politicians who are open to supporting more transparency in our government and more opportunities for the people to have a say in policies being made. Actions like those of Rep. Obey and Democrats on the approps committee make this less likely and we should all speak out against them when we can.

]]> By: capitalcarnage http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5236 capitalcarnage Thu, 24 May 2007 19:35:00 +0000 http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5236 I see. I assumed you were talking about the war and earmarks etc. I agree they have dropped the ball on many issues. Such as the ones you listed above. There doesn’t seem to be anywhere one can turn for an honest representation of fiscal rationality. What do you think about the viability of a several party system? I see. I assumed you were talking about the war and earmarks etc. I agree they have dropped the ball on many issues. Such as the ones you listed above.
There doesn’t seem to be anywhere one can turn for an honest representation of fiscal rationality.
What do you think about the viability of a several party system?

]]> By: Jeremy Manning http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5235 Jeremy Manning Thu, 24 May 2007 19:17:59 +0000 http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5235 Sorry CC but Democrats have earned my anger not because they haven't fixed problems in DC but because they are clearly trying to make it easier for politicians to spend taxpayer money without any actual accountability for the projects they are buying. I wouldn't be complaining if things were staying the same...at least then I'd be able to argue that they are probably trying to make things better but being stymied by the system. The fact that Democrats are actively making our government less responsive is pathetic and should be embarrassing to all Democratic voters. Rep. Obey and Democratic members of the appropriations committee should be ashamed of themselves. Sorry CC but Democrats have earned my anger not because they haven’t fixed problems in DC but because they are clearly trying to make it easier for politicians to spend taxpayer money without any actual accountability for the projects they are buying. I wouldn’t be complaining if things were staying the same…at least then I’d be able to argue that they are probably trying to make things better but being stymied by the system. The fact that Democrats are actively making our government less responsive is pathetic and should be embarrassing to all Democratic voters. Rep. Obey and Democratic members of the appropriations committee should be ashamed of themselves.

]]> By: capitalcarnage http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5230 capitalcarnage Thu, 24 May 2007 16:57:36 +0000 http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5230 Well, if Congressional Democrats did promise to fix things by 2008 then I agree. Well, if Congressional Democrats did promise to fix things by 2008 then I agree.

]]> By: Jesse Harris http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5229 Jesse Harris Thu, 24 May 2007 16:26:24 +0000 http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5229 I think it's perfectly fair to hold Congressional Democrats to that high standard... because that's what they promised. Don't write checks you can't cash. I think it’s perfectly fair to hold Congressional Democrats to that high standard… because that’s what they promised. Don’t write checks you can’t cash.

]]> By: capitalcarnage http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5228 capitalcarnage Thu, 24 May 2007 16:21:49 +0000 http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5228 Democrats have dropped the ball on several major issues that helped sweep them into office last year, but they have the impossible task of fixing nearly a decade worth of problems in two short years. If they don’t they run the risk of receiving the blame for these problems in the ‘08 election. I don’t think that’s fair since it usually takes a much longer time to find a solution than it does to create a problem. I do agree with your notion that corruption is cyclical, and I think that a multiple-party, coalition building, system might prove advantageous. Democrats have dropped the ball on several major issues that helped sweep them into office last year, but they have the impossible task of fixing nearly a decade worth of problems in two short years. If they don’t they run the risk of receiving the blame for these problems in the ‘08 election. I don’t think that’s fair since it usually takes a much longer time to find a solution than it does to create a problem.
I do agree with your notion that corruption is cyclical, and I think that a multiple-party, coalition building, system might prove advantageous.

]]> By: Steve Urquhart http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5205 Steve Urquhart Thu, 24 May 2007 03:18:59 +0000 http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5205 Mark Tapscott wrote an excellent piece about this issue (new boss same as old boss) today at examiner.com. You're disgusted with Democrats at the national level. I'm disgusted with Republicans at the national level. Judging by low voter turnout and other signs of apathy, it seems that most of America is disgusted with politics at the national level. I really do believe that it will be people like you, who take the time to thoughtfully lay out their thinking and insights, who will eventually change things. Mark Tapscott wrote an excellent piece about this issue (new boss same as old boss) today at examiner.com. You’re disgusted with Democrats at the national level. I’m disgusted with Republicans at the national level. Judging by low voter turnout and other signs of apathy, it seems that most of America is disgusted with politics at the national level. I really do believe that it will be people like you, who take the time to thoughtfully lay out their thinking and insights, who will eventually change things.

]]> By: Jesse Harris http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5188 Jesse Harris Wed, 23 May 2007 20:07:19 +0000 http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5188 I was rather hopeful that a Congress filled with Democrats would actually make good on their promises to cut back on lobbyist payoffs, kill earmarks and more clearly define where the war in Iraq will be going. By failing three for three, I think America as a whole is going to deliver a vote of "no confidence" to Democrats in the 2008 election. That leaves me wondering if we're endlessly consigned to more of the same over-spending, wheel-greasing, lip-servicing Congress we've come to know and hate. That's why I avoid national politics as much as possible: it makes me angry to know what's happening and more angry to know there's not a thing I can do about it. I was rather hopeful that a Congress filled with Democrats would actually make good on their promises to cut back on lobbyist payoffs, kill earmarks and more clearly define where the war in Iraq will be going. By failing three for three, I think America as a whole is going to deliver a vote of “no confidence” to Democrats in the 2008 election. That leaves me wondering if we’re endlessly consigned to more of the same over-spending, wheel-greasing, lip-servicing Congress we’ve come to know and hate.

That’s why I avoid national politics as much as possible: it makes me angry to know what’s happening and more angry to know there’s not a thing I can do about it.

]]> By: JM Bell http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5186 JM Bell Wed, 23 May 2007 18:47:38 +0000 http://www.themannings.org/soapbox/2007/05/23/national-democrats-embarass-me/#comment-5186 I'm with you, brother. I think I'm painfully disappointed because I had expectations. I didn't have them with the group before, so, I could just point and say "see? see?" Now, though, it's through gritted teeth that I mutter "you bastards." I’m with you, brother. I think I’m painfully disappointed because I had expectations. I didn’t have them with the group before, so, I could just point and say “see? see?” Now, though, it’s through gritted teeth that I mutter “you bastards.”

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