On March 15, 2001, I quit the GOP after 30 years and became a democrat when Bush signed off on the Bankruptcy Reform Bill. I posted it here on FR. I thought the bad lenders were being unfairly protected at the cost of real human beings. I even channeled up Ayn Rand from the dead to do post about how lousy the bill was.
Now, 8 1/2 years later we have people like Karl Denninger saying the same thing. Someone asked me why I became a Republican in the first place and my answer was “ because George Wallace got shot.” So I am not some little screaming liberal. I could have been happy with Wallace and a Curtis LeMay type running mate.
Where I see the GOP, which I think has been devolved back to Neanderthalism by its economic Libertarian parasites, is where the liberals were back in the 60s and 70s. They had this little theory that if you just gave money to poor people, because we were a rich nation, that everything would work out just peachy. It was a warm and fuzzy thought and we shouldn’t get mad at them for having it.
What we should get mad at them about is when the illegitimate birth rate among blacks started increasing from the 20%s to the 30%s to the 40%s and still climbing (what about 70% today), the liberals should have woken up. They should have said, “Uh oh, maybe we miscalculated here. Let us revisit our original premise because this is clearly turning into a massive clusterf*ck. We are having children of welfare mothers getting on welfare with illegitimate children of their own.” But no. They could not confront their own flawed theory.
Same with the GOP. They had this little theory that if you just left the markets alone, they would properly regulate themselves, because we were a nation who believes in limited gov’t, and that everything would work out just peachy. It was also a warm and fuzzy thought and we shouldn’t get mad at them for having it. (Heck, I was a Republican then and I had it too)
What we should get mad at them about is when the bubbles started bursting and real wages didn’t keep up with the trickle down theory, and jobs started moving overseas, and the wealthiest Americans doubled or tripled their wealth while most average Americans were having to live on credit cards. The GOP should have woken up. They should have said, “Uh oh, maybe we miscalculated here. Let us revisit our original premise because this is clearly turning into a massive clusterf*ck. We have had an S&L bust, a LTCG bust which nearly took out the economy, a dot.com bust, etc. and clearly the markets can not regulate themselves properly. But no. They could not confront their own flawed theory.
So back to your question. Am I a moderate Republican? No. Technically I am a Democrat now out of disgust at my former party’s stupidity and “liberal-like” thinking, i.e. “let’s never confront our theory, it could never be wrong”. I am a conservative who believes the country is more important than pointy-headed libertarian twits. I am a conservative who is more progressive on the economic issues.
parsy, who hopes that answered your question
Well about all I can say is WOW!... You are so...wrong in your ideals that it is hard to counter...
Yes, the Republicans are a mess and did not even try to uphold their beliefs. Yes the Democrats are MUCH worse and why would you even think about going that route...geez...
Now since you seem to be old (30 years) I can understand a bit why you want the Democrats in charge - support you in your old age, etc... (and they do tend to help out there).. I am also old and needing support - but I would gladly give it all up for some kind of future for my kids!
But really...do you actually believe what you were saying?
Of course markets should be minimally controlled to prevent dishonesty from taking over - seems to be a common problem with mankind, don’t ya think?
But, government takeover or control only makes the government the evil - and they are really good at it! Just look at today’s Congress and Senate to see the results of letting government control our lives and the money system...
You sir, are living in a dream world - not unlike a lot of Democrats that I know...unfortunately. Would be really nice if the world behaved as we would like - not going to happen - so the question is what do you do?
You can take all the money from those that earn it and distribute to all those that “WANT”... good luck with that (the Democratic theory).
Just what makes you think that those that earn won’t give up and do something else? Are you really so stupid to think that these earners will just continue to work so that they can give their earnings to those watching...?
Yes, you are in a world of “let’s just all get along” without any idea about how the world really works! Thank goodness you’re not a Republican - NOW! Don’t think the party could afford you...
You sir, are a TRUE Democrat... Looking for money from those that earn it so that you can live the life that you expect!
If you really want to know why the financial system crashed - look to the government that decided that poverty was no excuse not to own a home. Take that ideal and put into the financial system (Fanny Mae, etc.) and help it along with groups like ACORN and their affiliates - well, a wonderful thing happened...
The so-called astute business groups took a long look at this situation and decided that they could make some money since the government was essentially backing these loans. Well, who wouldn’t! They even decided to sell these “government backed” assets to others to make more money...
Well, you can see yourself where this leads...
Sell now and often... geez... You are one dense fellow actually if you think that the Democrats offer a solution...but that is why I can’t get along with my Democratic girlfriend...so I can somewhat understand your confusion...