I am frankly curious why you say you are to the left of Barack Obama. What makes one ‘to the left’ in your mind?
OK, ... funny thing is I agree with most of what you hope to accomplish. So where might we disagree?
Probably how to accomplish it.
Perhaps the greatest difference lies in who is responsible for ‘owning’ and fixing’ the problems. I am a staunch defender of the private sector being the best source of innovation, and you (inferring) look to the Administration to drive the changes. Governments are rarely effective, efficient, timely or well-focused in realizing transformational changes. Why should we expect government to suddenly be more effective? In other words, is your position realistic?
Fundamental disagreement: affordable healthcare for all ailments is not a ‘right’. Why do you deserve every medicine you need at some very low cost? What if someone, or most everyone needs a lower cost than you? HOW do yo make the economics of affordable healthcare work?
BTW, the manufacturers cannot just change the charge gas in a prescription inhaler — the FDA would shut them down. Even changing the color of a label requires FDA approval. Anyway, I am not ready to ‘blame’ profit-making companies for not making everything I want and need affordable. You and I would disagree there.
I would much prefer that car insurance for teenagers be affordable, and car maintenance, and roofing repairs, and fuel for my transportation. Why can’t THEY make it all affordable?? I think you get my point.
You and I would likely define fiscal conservatism differently, as we would both like less spent, but would like to allocate the monies very differently — because we see the role of government in our lives differently.
WRT multilateral foreign policy — it is a myth that the US does it all alone. We do some things ‘alone’ ... I would call that leadership. Again, you and I would differ in the defined role of our nation around the globe. So be it. I’d look to the Constitution as written for very specific guidance on how the FEDERAL government should act.
Pragmatic approach to problems? Amen. But we’d likely disagree on the mechanics of pragmatism. That would be a fun debate. How do you solve problems, really. Focus on SOLVE, not sAlve.
What is the last problem the government SOLVED?
ahem ... your statement “The current tax rate for the highest earners in the country is less than 35%, when is was over 90% under Eisenhower, just 50 years ago.” is disingenuous and you know it. One needs a broader lens than that to see the real problem, and taxing individual income is NOT the way to reduce the debt. I say STOP SPENDING at the Federal level ... back to fiscal conservatism. We’d disagree on the specifics here, though. What I would say STOP, you’d want to continue, and vice versa. FIRST we’d need to agree/argue the proper role of the Federal Government.
I don’t have the time at the moment to give you a full response, but ... we can’t go back to a Nixon style detente, because that works with peers/superpowers. Our identifiable enemies are neither superpowers nor nation-states of note.
Anyway, to net this out: what, in your mind does if mean to be a LEFTIST (use your own term to describe what you are, not mine)? Presuming I am a RIGHTIST, really more a political Libertarian, what does that make me?
Welcome to FReerepublic. Wear your kevlar until the emotions die down.
Okay I have to jump back in :)
You wrote:”ahem ... your statement “The current tax rate for the highest earners in the country is less than 35%, when is was over 90% under Eisenhower, just 50 years ago.” is disingenuous and you know it. One needs a broader lens than that to see the real problem, and taxing individual income is NOT the way to reduce the debt. I say STOP SPENDING at the Federal level ... back to fiscal conservatism. We’d disagree on the specifics here, though. What I would say STOP, you’d want to continue, and vice versa. FIRST we’d need to agree/argue the proper role of the Federal Government.”
I couldn’t agree more. When I’m running out of money in my household, I find ways to eat less, clip coupons, use fewer diapers, etc. I don’t demand my customers pay me more.
Government has no concept of cutting back.