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The Democratic Majority Is Doomed: The entitlement mentality can't survive a weak economy.
Wall Street Journal ^ | 03/01/2013 | Pete Du Pont

Posted on 03/01/2013 6:00:05 PM PST by SeekAndFind

Many argue the coalition that elected and re-elected Barack Obama represents a long-term shift in the electorate that will determine elections and public policies for generations. Some of commentators think conservatives have lost their relevance, and the Republicans are about to go the way of the Whigs.

It's an interesting theory, but of course it's wrong. Politics, like much in life, tends to move like a pendulum, shifting back and forth around equilibrium. While the liberal Democratic coalition is ascendant now, a few decades ago people were speaking about the decline of the Democrats. More recently, leftists took to calling themselves "progressives" to avoid what was seen as the pejorative term "liberal." And just over two years ago, the Democrats took a drubbing in the midterm elections. Today, with the real-time flow of unfiltered information via blogs, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc., and more Americans self-identifying as independents and able to shift their support rapidly to either party, lasting coalitions will be difficult to maintain.

But the primary reason today's liberal Democratic coalition will fade is because the very policies it pushes sow the seeds of its own destruction. The coalition can survive over time only by allocating slices of our nation's economic pie in a way that favors and placates its constituent members. But people, being human, will continually want larger slices of our economic resources, so continued success in placating those members, while at the same time adding the necessary new members, requires a continuing and ever-growing economy. A flat or shrinking economy will never generate the resources needed to feed the coalition.

Yet the White House and congressional Democrats are working to stifle economic growth.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: democrats; entitlements; majority; welfare
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To: SeekAndFind

The mentality will always survive. The money won’t. How can a wsj correspondent be so out to lunch?


21 posted on 03/01/2013 6:56:30 PM PST by deadrock
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To: ROCKLOBSTER

You could be our next Treasury Secretary.


22 posted on 03/01/2013 6:56:46 PM PST by Tea Party Terrorist (Those who work for a living are now outnumbered by those who vote for a living.)
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To: billorites

Look, McCain’s loss to the assclown was genuine. McIgnorant didn’t fight and the ONLY reason he got as many electoral votes as he did was because of Sarah Palin.

Romney’s loss may have been real—because it happened, but I am increasingly doubtful it was a genuine loss. We have Obama jackasses claiming they voted for the clown MULTIPLE times.

Of course, if this were a Bush presidency and the same thing was stated, the media would be interested as HELL about it. But when an Obama voter says it, the Obama buttlicking media yawn.

Yes, I think there was enough fraud to put certain precincts and thus states into the assclown’s column.


23 posted on 03/01/2013 6:56:52 PM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: SeekAndFind

Wait until the weak economy hits.


24 posted on 03/01/2013 7:00:13 PM PST by gotribe (Limit The Government's Right To Bear Arms)
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To: SeekAndFind

The money will run out. Then the takers will riot and burn down their own communities.


25 posted on 03/01/2013 7:01:09 PM PST by lurk
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To: billorites

“I’ve been listening to the same argument from both Presidents McCain and Romney.”

Me, too. I’ve heard the same arguments from presidents Gore, Kerry and Dukakis.


26 posted on 03/01/2013 7:03:11 PM PST by sergeantdave
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To: billorites

Yeah, after killing the cow there’s no milk but one can srill live quite a while off the meat...


27 posted on 03/01/2013 7:06:04 PM PST by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat Party!)
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To: GladesGuru
What may well not survive an economic crisis will be the Constitution and the Republic.

I've been saying for years that the USA will not survive the entitlement class in its' present form....the math don't lie.
28 posted on 03/01/2013 7:13:07 PM PST by rottndog ('Live Free Or Die' Ain't just words on a bumber sticker...or a tagline.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Economic collapse will create widespread violence and chaos. It will be the excuse 0bama needs to declare martial law, suspend the Constitution and become el-Presidente-for-life.


29 posted on 03/01/2013 7:16:06 PM PST by SVTCobra03 (You can never have enough friends, horsepower or ammunition.)
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To: Proud2BeRight

“Decades of socialist indoctrination and dumbing down children in gov’ment skools, expansion of the parasite base, and the destruction of morals, ethics, motivation, self-responsibility, family, and manhood has created a permanent DemocRat majority.”
_________________________________________________

You are right and it bears repeating.
You did, however, leave out one other important institution
that is now almost fully run by Marxist...The media, print and broadcast.
Even FOX seems to be going over the cliff. It may soon be little more then PMSNBC lite.


30 posted on 03/01/2013 7:18:02 PM PST by AlexW
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

One of the few here who seems to understand the problem. It is not just the Democrats but also the Republicans who cater to the electorate. Yes, that means voting whichever the wind blows. We do seemed to be doomed these days.

We have very (very, very few) actual folks elected in Washington who actually believe in Democratic Governance and push hard for this belief. Mostly, they do their thing to get elected and cave when the time come for giving out money to their constituents.

I really do believe that we are lost in this because of money...it does seem to buy everything including votes. I do not have a opportunistic outlook for the future.

Yes, the Republicans are becoming just as bad as Democrats. Just look at the current party favorites - trying to figure out how to buy minority votes - laws have little say in their campaigns.

Sorry to say that if a third party does not arise, our democracy is lost! Was a grand glorious couple hundred years though - too bad we could not listen to our forefathers as they intended.

They did their best to instill their ideals in the Constitution and today - they look for ways to circumvent it.


31 posted on 03/01/2013 7:18:26 PM PST by Deagle (quo)
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To: Deagle

Well about 20 years ago I was firmly on China’s side.

It took me a while, but we have screwed up a historic opportunity to work this out, for both coutries.

Now I just want to work it out for the USA.


32 posted on 03/01/2013 7:23:22 PM PST by Cringing Negativism Network
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To: lurk; SeekAndFind
The money will run out. Then the takers will riot and burn down their own communities.

Beware if you appear to be a "have" (regardless of your personal circumstances) among the "have nots" (who may in fact live in subsidized housing and have wide-screen TVs) when the crisis hits.

33 posted on 03/01/2013 7:23:22 PM PST by thecodont
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To: SeekAndFind

The author of the article: Pete Du Pont must be living under a rock.....

The liberal parasitic base will never cede power because of economic reasons....

They will suck this country dry as bone....no matter how much pain they inflict on us.....

As long as they can keep their political position which is not likely to change anytime soon, since they are now over 50 % of the vote....they will grind this country down u til their is nothing left....

Then the fun begins....


34 posted on 03/01/2013 7:24:04 PM PST by JZoback
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To: Deagle; Cringing Negativism Network

Just as the Democrats can print an infinite number of dollars, they can manufacture an infinite number of votes. And they are supported in this by at least 4 of the Supremes. There is nothing to be optimistic about. We’re cooked.


35 posted on 03/01/2013 7:26:25 PM PST by Enterprise ("Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire)
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To: Enterprise

Nonsense.

However we need to stop always being in the middle about everything. Everything.

Everything.

Be for America GOP. Say it. Shout it. Do whatever and never let up.

But get out of the darned middle. It is where the GOP goes to lose.


36 posted on 03/01/2013 7:31:08 PM PST by Cringing Negativism Network
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

Well, trade policy is certainly a part of the problem but much less than our own internal problems.

I have no problem with other countries with cheaper labor getting contracts from America and importing their goods. My problem is with the politicians making this lucrative to them and their colleges even if it hurts the economy of our country. It becomes a matter of tax breaks, laws, etc. that our own lawmakers pass. I have no problem with countries making goods at a cheaper price or companies moving manufacturing overseas - they after all do want to stay in business. It will eventually be best for those buying those products!

My problem is when Congress passes laws to penalize those that do so thus making higher prices here and making is even more inviting for companies to move to other low wage places. That is just another problem of our Congress folks trying to manipulate business for their benefit - not the benefit of the populace. Just look at Walmart - they do a major business with those overseas companies and provide the consumer with lower prices - the result of that is demonetization of them by Congress.

I have to say though, that your exception is just a minor part of the overall problem.


37 posted on 03/01/2013 7:40:29 PM PST by Deagle (quo)
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To: Enterprise

Well, that is the Fed producing all of that money but they do seem to be very happy to do it with the Democrats. I do wonder that they wouldn’t do the same for the Republicans though - after all, Washington seems to be the same regardless of who is in charge!

That is the basic problem I’m talking about... it does not matter party wise. By the way, inflation by big jumps is our future...hold on, just a matter of when.


38 posted on 03/01/2013 7:45:15 PM PST by Deagle (quo)
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To: SeekAndFind
From A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

The village had its one poor street, with its poor brewery, poor tannery, poor tavern, poor stable-yard for relays of post-horses, poor fountain, all usual poor appointments. It had its poor people too. All its people were poor, and many of them were sitting at their doors, shredding spare onions and the like for supper, while many were at the fountain, washing leaves, and grasses, and any such small yieldings of the earth that could be eaten. Expressive signs of what made them poor, were not wanting; the tax for the state, the tax for the church, the tax for the lord, tax local and tax general, were to be paid here and to be paid there, according to solemn inscription in the little village, until the wonder was, that there was any village left unswallowed.

it was the worst of times,

it was the age of foolishness

it was the epoch of incredulity

etc.

And on the day of the end of Detroit. They taxed their way to prosperity.

39 posted on 03/01/2013 7:47:04 PM PST by ALPAPilot
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To: SeekAndFind

UI’ll believe it when I see it.

Obama had a solid win last November even after 4 years of dismal leadership.

As long as democrats can suck wealth from others and use it to pay off their constituencies I don’t expect to see any big changes.


40 posted on 03/01/2013 7:48:45 PM PST by Iron Munro (I miss America, don't you?)
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