Arkansas City will not be the focus now, but we can still talk about the town. For now the blog is a blog in search of an identity. Considering what the new niche will be.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
political quote
"The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of the Conservatives is to prevent the mistakes from being corrected.
Here is a excerpt from the trans script of Fareed Zakaria's program GPS on Sunday!
But, over the last few decades, what has changed are the rules organizing American politics, and they now encourage small interest groups, including ideologically charged ones, to capture major political parties as well as Congress itself. Call it political narrow casting.
Here are some examples. Redistricting has created safe seats so that for most House members, their only concern is a challenge from the right for Republicans and the left for Democrats. The incentive is to pander to the base, not the center.
Party primaries have been taken over by small groups of activists who push even popular senators to extreme positions. In Utah, for example, 3,500 conservative activists managed to take the well- regarded Senator Robert Bennett off the ballot. GOP senators like Orrin Hatch and John McCain have moved farther to the right, hoping to stave off similar assaults.
Changes in Congressional rules have also made it far more difficult to enact large, compromised legislation. In the wake of the Watergate Scandal, sunshine rules were put into place that required open committee meetings and recorded votes. The purpose was to make Congress more open, more responsive, and so it has become to lobbyists, money and special interests, because they're the people who watch every committee vote and mobilize our position to any withdrawal of subsidies or tax breaks.
Political polarization has been fueled by a new media, which is also narrow cast. Representative Darrell Issa, Republican of California, gave an interview to the "Wall Street Journal" in which he suggested that he might further the conservative agenda through an occasional compromise. That provoked a tirade from Rush Limbaugh, which then produced a torrent of angry e-mails and phone calls to Issa's office. Issa quickly and publicly apologized to Limbaugh and promised only opposition to Obama. Multiply that example a thousand fold, and you have the daily dynamic of Congress.
It's depressing, but the fact that our politics are the result of these structural shifts means they can be changed. Mickey Edwards, a Republican and former House member from Oklahoma, has a highly intelligent essay in "Atlantic" magazine suggesting a series of reforms that could make a difference. Some of them are large scale, others are seemingly small but crucial changes in Congressional procedure. The essay is on or website. Read it.
Some political scientists long hoped that American parties would become more ideologically pure and coherent, like European parties. They seem to have gotten their wish, and the result is abysmal.
-------- I think he explains the changes in Government and Media that have allowed for the present and continued stand-off between the Conservative and Progressives!
If every citizen woud just write a check today for $46,684. (One for for themselves and every dependent member of their family!)
Would we be out of Debt as Nation?
But that won't be the last check you'll write (even if you and everyone else could) because the mechanics have not changed and the debt will continue to accumulate! Because of its structural design! (Although the amount of interest on the new accumulating amount would be much lower and more manageable!)
Taxing all the Rich and Wealthy won't change our ability to pay off that debt. It won't hardly scratch the surface!
The real answers are probably found in changing the mechanics of that Debt Machine and the habits/spending of the Society/Country!
Proverbs 12: 3
ReplyDeleteA man cannot be established through wickedness,
but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
Cue unrelated CNN/money cut/paste.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.businessinsider.com/live-coverage-the-debt-ceiling-negotiations-2011-7
ReplyDeleteHere is a excerpt from the trans script of Fareed Zakaria's program GPS on Sunday!
ReplyDeleteBut, over the last few decades, what has changed are the rules organizing American politics, and they now encourage small interest groups, including ideologically charged ones, to capture major political parties as well as Congress itself. Call it political narrow casting.
Here are some examples. Redistricting has created safe seats so that for most House members, their only concern is a challenge from the right for Republicans and the left for Democrats. The incentive is to pander to the base, not the center.
Party primaries have been taken over by small groups of activists who push even popular senators to extreme positions. In Utah, for example, 3,500 conservative activists managed to take the well- regarded Senator Robert Bennett off the ballot. GOP senators like Orrin Hatch and John McCain have moved farther to the right, hoping to stave off similar assaults.
Changes in Congressional rules have also made it far more difficult to enact large, compromised legislation. In the wake of the Watergate Scandal, sunshine rules were put into place that required open committee meetings and recorded votes. The purpose was to make Congress more open, more responsive, and so it has become to lobbyists, money and special interests, because they're the people who watch every committee vote and mobilize our position to any withdrawal of subsidies or tax breaks.
Political polarization has been fueled by a new media, which is also narrow cast. Representative Darrell Issa, Republican of California, gave an interview to the "Wall Street Journal" in which he suggested that he might further the conservative agenda through an occasional compromise. That provoked a tirade from Rush Limbaugh, which then produced a torrent of angry e-mails and phone calls to Issa's office. Issa quickly and publicly apologized to Limbaugh and promised only opposition to Obama. Multiply that example a thousand fold, and you have the daily dynamic of Congress.
It's depressing, but the fact that our politics are the result of these structural shifts means they can be changed. Mickey Edwards, a Republican and former House member from Oklahoma, has a highly intelligent essay in "Atlantic" magazine suggesting a series of reforms that could make a difference. Some of them are large scale, others are seemingly small but crucial changes in Congressional procedure. The essay is on or website. Read it.
Some political scientists long hoped that American parties would become more ideologically pure and coherent, like European parties. They seem to have gotten their wish, and the result is abysmal.
--------
I think he explains the changes in Government and Media that have allowed for the present and continued stand-off between the Conservative and Progressives!
If every citizen woud just write a check today for $46,684. (One for for themselves and every dependent member of their family!)
ReplyDeleteWould we be out of Debt as Nation?
But that won't be the last check you'll write (even if you and everyone else could) because the mechanics have not changed and the debt will continue to accumulate! Because of its structural design! (Although the amount of interest on the new accumulating amount would be much lower and more manageable!)
Taxing all the Rich and Wealthy won't change our ability to pay off that debt. It won't hardly scratch the surface!
The real answers are probably found in changing the mechanics of that Debt Machine and the habits/spending of the Society/Country!
http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/08/02/honore.debt.politicians/index.html?hpt=hp_c1
ReplyDeleteNow there is a General!
http://www.businessinsider.com/central-falls-rhode-island-a-bankrupt-crystal-ball-for-future-america-2011-8
ReplyDelete@ 8:32...interesting read.
ReplyDeleteIt appears that missionary, who is Kenya Africa with his family may become fugitives!
ReplyDelete(After nine years.)
If that country adopts a new constitution and elects a Muslim President! (Sharia Law)
Being a Christian will become punishable by death!
Tell me again theirs is a tolerant religion!