USA Elections Whole New Ballgame

[koolking1]

with

Ralph Nader deciding to run. He can only help McCain and hurt the Dem nominee. Ron Paul won't run outside the

Republican party so he chances now are about zero. Looks like more of the same for the next 4-8 years, what a

shame.

[idesign]

Yes it is KK, and a lot has

developed other than Nader.

I fully expected to have a clear Dem nominee by now. For the first time in decades

their race is actually exciting. They're essentially the same candidate, but with opposite

approaches/personalities. Of course if either were elected the result would be the same. I think Mar.4 will be the

day of reckoning (Tex/OH). They are very different but equally important States.

Agree that Nader would pull

from any Dem candidate, but I'm not sure that he'll be on the ballot. The Dems are fighting him with all they

have.

I've been thinking about Bel's comments about our choices, and your theory of a "dynasty". I don't know

what we can realistically expect from our current electoral system. The rules almost automatically disqualify third

parties, and even if someone like Nader or Perot or even Paul were to become viable, the established majority within

the system just will not allow their entrenched position to be compromised. Its almost more bureaucratic than

political. I don't see it as a conspiracy so much as a creeping decline in America's spirit of individualism, in

the largest sense of the word.

Today's individualism is self centered and narcissistic. Instead of demanding

opportunity, and freedom from intervention, we demand entitlements. "I want to be free" has been replaced with "I

want" because "I deserve".

To the extent that any gov't is involved in your life the less free you are. The

whole purpose of our form of Gov't is to deny or restrict restraints on freedom. The creeping socialism resulting

from an uninformed and selfish electorate is the conspiracy not of tyrants, but of a deteriorating ideal.

[tounge]

The whole damned reason the USA was

founded on, was freedom of Religious worship, as one's choice, and freedom from an oppressive government. A

government for the people, of the people, and by the people. Anyone who thinks that is still the case, is

crazy.

[belgareth]

Tounge and Idesign, you both

have it right. We lose another freedom every day and nobody seems to care about it any more, so long as they have

their toys and their rights to do whatever they want without consequences. What they don't get is that over time we

are becoming more and more what we claim to hate, an oppressive and overbearing government raping the working people

of the fruits of their labor to give it to others. Eventually, our lifestyle will suffer because we will become less

productive and less able to care for ourselves. We already are moving that direction and instead of trying to

improve matters we lower the bar on expectations so it looks like we are improving.

[koolking1]

you'll never

hear the President of the United States say:

"We're going to war with the evil country of xxxxxx and we'll

split the loot with all you good people who are so supportive of us"


what they do say is:

"We're

going to war and sacrifices will have to be made by you people who voted for me in the first place on my platform of

limited government, lower taxes, and no nation building", while secretly gloating about all the money they will make

for themselves and close associates.

I agree with all 3 of you. There's some hope I think as the WWII,

"greatest generation" folks are dying off or getting too old to go out and vote.

[idesign]

instead

of trying to improve matters we lower the bar on expectations so it looks like we are improving.

How can

I possibly express my agreement with this remark?

[belgareth]

If you were in public schools

recently you will probably use small words.

[DrSmellThis]

How can

I possibly express my agreement with this remark?

Having taught countless supposed high school graduates

who couldn't read and write adequately, I can only say Amen.