Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

guy44 · 01-10-2010, 10:27 AM

(1) Smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama’s “stimulus” bill

Why is smaller government a goal? Better government, whatever form it may take, should be the goal. I've never understood that about conservatives - it isn't like liberals go around demanding bigger government. It's one reason republicans are so bad at governance - they can't even wrap their heads around the ideas that different situations call for different types of responses. Lower deficits are nice, but basic economics tells us not to lower our deficit in a recession. Once again, an obsession with lower taxes is one of those things that make it impossible for conservatives to think intelligently about governing. Sometimes you need more taxes!

(2) Market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run healthcare;

Well, since the only government run health-care in the U.S. is the VA, I'm just gonna assume that the GOP has no idea what it is talking about again. The health care bill about to pass IS market-based health care - it's just based around a government implemented structure and regulatory system.

(3) Market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation;

Gas tax works well, too, but I don't think that's what the GOP meant. 100 years from now, if anybody is still alive, historians are going to marvel at the degree to which GOP policy was aimed at destroying the earth.

(4) Workers’ right to secret ballot by opposing card check

Seriously? Card check? That's what has the GOP's panties all bunched up? What is wrong with these people? And am I supposed to start believing that for the first time in history the GOP is taking a stand to support unions, as opposed to taking this position because they actually want to destroy them?

(5) Legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants;

This is a touchy one, but some sort of earned amnesty program is essential. We really need immigration reform, although I'm not opposed to some conservative goals here (strengthening border defense, etc.)

(6) Victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges;

Where to start? A) Victory? What does that even mean? B) Once again, it seems that "more war" is the GOP answer to everything C) The military shouldn't dictate war policy, and it is disturbing that the GOP thinks the President should abandon policy-making to the military D) What if the military recommends something else besides troop surges? Will the GOP support those recommendations unequivocally?

(7) Containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat

No doubt that these are important issues. Is there anyone who can disagree with the goal of preventing Iran and North Korea from engaging in bad acts or threatening others with nukes? Is this really a conservative-only belief?

(8) Retention of the Defense of Marriage Act;

It's good to see that rank, bilious bigotry and hatred still has a place in the GOP.

(9) Protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion; and

Obviously I disagree on abortion. And of course, I'm not sure that having 30 million uninsured people isn't de facto health care rationing AND denial of health care. How can HCR possibly make this rationing worse?

(10) The right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership

Nope. I'm a huge, huge gun control advocate.

01-10-2010, 10:27 AM	#11 (permalink)
guy44 Somnabulist Location: corner of No and Where	(1) Smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama’s “stimulus” bill Why is smaller government a goal? Better government, whatever form it may take, should be the goal. I've never understood that about conservatives - it isn't like liberals go around demanding bigger government. It's one reason republicans are so bad at governance - they can't even wrap their heads around the ideas that different situations call for different types of responses. Lower deficits are nice, but basic economics tells us not to lower our deficit in a recession. Once again, an obsession with lower taxes is one of those things that make it impossible for conservatives to think intelligently about governing. Sometimes you need more taxes! (2) Market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run healthcare; Well, since the only government run health-care in the U.S. is the VA, I'm just gonna assume that the GOP has no idea what it is talking about again. The health care bill about to pass IS market-based health care - it's just based around a government implemented structure and regulatory system. (3) Market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation; Gas tax works well, too, but I don't think that's what the GOP meant. 100 years from now, if anybody is still alive, historians are going to marvel at the degree to which GOP policy was aimed at destroying the earth. (4) Workers’ right to secret ballot by opposing card check Seriously? Card check? That's what has the GOP's panties all bunched up? What is wrong with these people? And am I supposed to start believing that for the first time in history the GOP is taking a stand to support unions, as opposed to taking this position because they actually want to destroy them? (5) Legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants; This is a touchy one, but some sort of earned amnesty program is essential. We really need immigration reform, although I'm not opposed to some conservative goals here (strengthening border defense, etc.) (6) Victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges; Where to start? A) Victory? What does that even mean? B) Once again, it seems that "more war" is the GOP answer to everything C) The military shouldn't dictate war policy, and it is disturbing that the GOP thinks the President should abandon policy-making to the military D) What if the military recommends something else besides troop surges? Will the GOP support those recommendations unequivocally? (7) Containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat No doubt that these are important issues. Is there anyone who can disagree with the goal of preventing Iran and North Korea from engaging in bad acts or threatening others with nukes? Is this really a conservative-only belief? (8) Retention of the Defense of Marriage Act; It's good to see that rank, bilious bigotry and hatred still has a place in the GOP. (9) Protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion; and Obviously I disagree on abortion. And of course, I'm not sure that having 30 million uninsured people isn't de facto health care rationing AND denial of health care. How can HCR possibly make this rationing worse? (10) The right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership Nope. I'm a huge, huge gun control advocate. __________________ "You have reached Ritual Sacrifice. For goats press one, or say 'goats.'"