Ha, I love that. I don't completely agree, but it's a great quote!Hoblit wrote: I think that maybe our toilet needs to be flushed so another set of ideas can use the bathroom. Hopefully the next guest doesn't shit all over us.
JB
Ha, I love that. I don't completely agree, but it's a great quote!Hoblit wrote: I think that maybe our toilet needs to be flushed so another set of ideas can use the bathroom. Hopefully the next guest doesn't shit all over us.
I have faith in our younger generation. I know it doesn't look promising when we watch the things the media feeds us. But I really believe there is a lot more substance in the millennials than just their intrigue with the Kardashians. (I'm bad at examples when I'm thinking about the point I'm trying to make)fluffy wrote:Yep, that's the biggest thing that needs to happen, and also probably the hardest - which congressperson is going to want to just walk away from those millions of sweet reelection campaign dollars and SuperPAC funds that can be "reallocated" without oversight?Billy's Little Trip wrote:The first order of business is to get money out of politics. This country is now under the control of billionaires, not the people. To overturn Citizens United, we need 3/4 of the states to all agree to change the law. It's happening now with numerous groups. As mentioned, I'm a member of Wolf-Pac. (no spam) and it takes numbers to make things happen.
secondedjb wrote:Ha, I love that. I don't completely agree, but it's a great quote!Hoblit wrote: I think that maybe our toilet needs to be flushed so another set of ideas can use the bathroom. Hopefully the next guest doesn't shit all over us.
JB
Yeah, I think all in all my feelings are like yours, except I don't have faith so much as guarded optimism. Which is why I don't call for anarchy or a sudden overthrow/upheaval/revolution - I don't think our government is broken, it's just sick and needs some time to heal.Billy's Little Trip wrote:I have faith in our younger generation. [...]fluffy wrote:Yep, that's the biggest thing that needs to happen, and also probably the hardest - which congressperson is going to want to just walk away from those millions of sweet reelection campaign dollars and SuperPAC funds that can be "reallocated" without oversight?Billy's Little Trip wrote:The first order of business is to get money out of politics. This country is now under the control of billionaires, not the people. To overturn Citizens United, we need 3/4 of the states to all agree to change the law. It's happening now with numerous groups. As mentioned, I'm a member of Wolf-Pac. (no spam) and it takes numbers to make things happen.
Do you deep down honestly think that's even possible in the US? I get it, it's fun to watch Alex Jones on Infowars. I do too when he has someone interesting on. It's more because I LOVE conspiracy theories. They help me write because I love creative thinking. I also like to watch Trews with Russel Brand, he's very excitable about wrong wing douche bags and revolutions. But come on, dude. How many time was the earth supposed to end now according to christians? Oh no, Obama wants healthcare reform...END OF DAYS...END OF DAYS!!!!!Märk wrote:So when is a good time to stop being optimistic, when they decide to just get rid of the facade of freedom and go full-on slave nation police state?
Well, maybe not overthrow the gov. But there are ways to remove the bad elements to make our gov non tyrannical.Märk wrote:"Slave Nation Police State" is the name of my next album. Face it though, y'all couldn't overthrow your corrupt, tyrannical government if your lives depended on it.
Except that isn't going to happen. As it is, recent history shows that those introducing law are trying to seal this up further by making it non-required to divulge the identity of those sources.Billy's Little Trip wrote:Well, maybe not overthrow the gov. But there are ways to remove the bad elements to make our gov non tyrannical.Märk wrote:"Slave Nation Police State" is the name of my next album. Face it though, y'all couldn't overthrow your corrupt, tyrannical government if your lives depended on it.
When it becomes illegal for a politician to except a donation from the original money source for more than a new donation limit is set at...
You are forgetting the other option. They can be asked to resign, step down or just get removed if the evidence is too much to deny.Hoblit wrote:You can vote those guys out but the next guys aren't going to be any better or are more of the same.
Not forgetting, I just have no confidence in that option. Despite your example.Billy's Little Trip wrote:You are forgetting the other option. They can be asked to resign, step down or just get removed if the evidence is too much to deny.Hoblit wrote:You can vote those guys out but the next guys aren't going to be any better or are more of the same.
...The question is, how much damage will occur before these laws are overturned? And how long will it take to undo the damage?
I guess I'm a bit more optimistic than you.Hoblit wrote:Not forgetting, I just have no confidence in that option. Despite your example.
....Because there is very little evidence that there will be any stop to it and no guarantee that it will ever be undone. Our government rarely gives up any power it obtains.
I don't think I need to remind you that a Democrat won the last two presidential elections, in (large) part due to campaign contribution money.Billy's Little Trip wrote:I guess I'm a bit more optimistic than you.Hoblit wrote:Not forgetting, I just have no confidence in that option. Despite your example.
....Because there is very little evidence that there will be any stop to it and no guarantee that it will ever be undone. Our government rarely gives up any power it obtains.
Here's another example of how things can change. Right now it seems to me that it's the GOP and far right that's really benefiting from unlimited donation and dark money. Don't get me wrong, dems are too, just not at the same level. If all of a sudden corporations that could benefit from left wing support and billionaire money started pouring in to dem campaigns, guess who will start petitioning to get money out of politics? When the shoe is on the other foot, heads will explode.
Let me extend my understanding of that. Even though I am not as optimistic, I can appreciate that point of view.Billy's Little Trip wrote:Like I said, dems get their fair share. My point was, when campaign money starts pouring into progressives pushing for green energy, it will level the field opposing those that refuse to believe that mankind has any impact on climate change.
Dirty energy lobbyists (right wing) vs Clean energy lobbyists (left wing)
Thank you, and I completely skipped the blue-ray phase and went directly to streaming. (But mainly because my in-laws gave me a effing great TV and I bought my wife a Google Chrome book with HDMI output and my internet is basically free.)Billy's Little Trip wrote:@ Hobz.
...
@Mark. It's better than the regressive alternative.
Two points here.Hoblit wrote:But I want to point out that you don't have to rely on the government in order to move forward with technology. It definitely helps, but it is not necessary.....
....I think the answer lies somewhere in between, and I don't pretend to know what that answer is.
So, there's no common ground? Then you're selfish. You'll never be satisfied, even after bloodshed. So why would I engage with you? Without me engaging with you, all you have is a one sided protest. I can just go about my day enjoying my life and let you have your tantrum until you fizzle out. Life will go on, bud.Märk wrote:And it's not going to change without bloodshed.