Which Side Is the Left On?

New York Times ^ | October 7, 2001 | Michael Kazin

[LibKill]

Hehehehehehehehehe.

The left stinks.

[DugwayDuke]

"streets talk of peace and try to grasp why many in the Islamic world seem to hate the United States."

I think we'll all be surprised at how fast they close ranks around the idea that the reason behind this hate is the failure of the Western World to fully embrace the tenets of the left-wing.

[OldFriend]

Prior to the 11th. the left was a happy conspirator with the anarchists. They still have those same sentiments but realize this is not the time to be public about those america hating ideas. Just recall all the groups marching with the crazies in Canada last year. Union organizers, teacher's unions, anti-globalists (whatever that means) etc. Now their support is underground but do not doubt for a moment that they still fund those haters.

[He Rides A White Horse]

The wrong side, the other side, call it what you want.

[lavaroise]

interesting.

[BunnySlippers]

•

[mafree]

I'm certainly heartbroken that the Left is fissuring. Aren't you?

Yeah, I'm gonna buy a violin today.

Anyway, the article does a good job of pointing out where and why the left is divided since Sept. 11. For my money, I have more respect for the leftys who say punish who did 9/11 and then talk peace.

There is one parallel between the anti-war demonstrators of today and those of Vietnam: they both forget or don't know that there is an enemy in each instance that has to be dealt with.

[M Kehoe]

The suit hasn't been settled, right?

5.56mm

[mafree]

I'm interested in what people think of this idea. In the current state of uncertainty, many people who are normal hardworking Americans are finding themselves faced with unemplyment and subsequently no insurance for their families. Under the circumstances, I'm inclined to think we should consider sound, solvent means of providing reasonably priced access to these individuals, something like a less expensive COBRA (which can break the bank for many of the unemployed.)

Look, I'm not turning left, but I'm wondering what we can do, during circumstances that are pretty much a state of war and directly impacting our economy and the lives of normally hard working Americans, what can we do? Just food for thought.

I'm with you Yakboy- the right shouldn't overlook the real crises that people find themelves in right now. There are conservative/libertarian solutions to these problems- we need not bring back the welfare state to solve them.

For starters, if the government provides unemployment compenstation (right or wrong), then it can also make some kind of health insurance available or affordable for those whose employers can't afford to keep them on. It could have a time limit imposed so that the incentive to look for a job is not sapped. A special tax break for the unemployed is possible too.

There are some more possibilities- let's explore them.

[Rome2000]

Progressives=Socialists

[Rome2000]

If leftists are "Progressive" what does that make Conservatives?

The very term is meant as an insult to the right.

[rebapiper]

Don't be fooled by the left. Cuts backs on our Security and military, high taxes and 8 years of Party time, Drunken fund raisers Killed 7,000 people, open boarder and more air space was an invitation to terrorists. $42,000 dollars and for Air Force #1 could have paid to keep up with our security. Chelsea's private school bus Air Force #1 could paid for food for the military in stead of food stamps. Hitlary's $7,000 dollars shoes and the vaction for the 3 Clintons could have prevented the attack on this country. Today they come before us withno Shame as if they did nothing wrong and why because there are elections to be won. In New York our Senate Seats have been Hijacked by the people that are connected to those that made the attack on this country. They Hijacked our Senate Seats and put Schumer and Hitlary in the Cockpits, the New Senate Seats. Gephardt Hijackted the subcommitte for the fight against terrorists put Gary Condit in the cockpit. The Impeachment trial, how soon we forget. Against the will of the people Trent Lott turned over veto power to Daschle, a deal behind closed doors to keep Clinton in office. An incompetant Judge that sat back and watch a Phony, Fixed Impeachment trial take place. He was rewarded with the BLOODY GOLDEN GAVEL. A Gavel that would not only keep Clinton in office but Kill many innocent Serbs. Today that BLOODY GAVEL should be dripping with the blood of 7,000 people that were killed for Wealthy and Power. The Bloody Golden Gavel along with the cameras were waiting and ready before even a Vote was taken. A NO vote to remove Clinton was and a Vote that is responsible not only for the Slaughter of the Serbs but now 7,000 innocent men woman and children that were in the Trade Towers. Schumer got to vote twice to keep Clinton in office and today he won't miss a chance for a photo op. He gets in our faces with a smirk on his face while they still try and find Bodies of the very people he HELPED KILL.

[redbaiter]

the government... can also make some kind of health insurance available or affordable for those whose employers can't afford to keep them on.

Terrible idea. When the government provides a product and then guarantees to supply the purchase price to the user, there's no incentive for the supplier - such as a private insurer - to keep the price down.

It could have a time limit imposed so that the incentive to look for a job is not sapped.

The government imposed a time limit on Social Security. In 1935.

A special tax break for the unemployed is possible too.

Already in place. No income = no tax.

Recommended reading: Larry Elder's Ten Things You Can't Say In America.

[caddie]

Round up the commies with the ragheads and deport them all.

[caddie]

Already happening.

My local editorial page has article after article about how we deserved this, how Islam is wonderful, we just don't understand it well enough to fully enjoy the events of September 11...

It's enough to make you puke.

Save some of your hate for these journalist and activist America-haters: they deserve death as much as Bin Ladin.

They are the Constitution's "enemies...foreign and domestic."

[aculeus]

Do not forget:

Quote:
the Times's new publisher, Arthur "Pinch" Sulzberger Jr ... was a sixties anti-war activist who famously declared that in a confrontation between an American and a North Vietnamese soldier he'd want to see the American get shot."
Unquote.
Stanley Kurtz (NRO on line, June 5, 2001)

[beckett]

I'm certainly heartbroken that the Left is fissuring. Aren't you?

Yes. It's tragic..simply tragic.

[B. A. Conservative]

Government does not belong in the insurance business or the banking business. COBRA is an unprecedented abomination that is totally anti-American.

Properly educated and enlightened Americans would know that employer provided health insurance is and was a tool of the left for subjugating individuals. Government sponsored unemployment insurance is an identical tool.

COBRA is tool for confiscating and controlling private property in violation of the Fifth Amendment, and is an outgrowth of federal flood insurance, likewise a tool for subjugating individuals.

Yakboy, your education or your intellect is inadequate. Possibly, you aren't a conservative at all.

[sailor4321]

(It took the attack on Pearl Harbor to squelch or convert his opponents.)

Actually, it was the attack by Germany on Russia that made it possible for the left in this country to support the war effort. What they think is important is not the reaity of the regimes they support, but how those regimes portray themselves. If the radical islamists portray themselves as trying to liberate subject societies from foreign domination, they will find support from some segments in the US no matter what the reality.

If our experience with the left of WWII and Vietnam is any guide, that support will include active support. In WWII that was accompished by widespread espionage; perhaps it will extend to violence as it did during the Vietnam war, in which case foreign terrorists would have a fairly talented group here to hide and help them. If the terrorist supporters look back to the anti-Vietnam war terrorists in this country, they could rightly conclude this country would do little to stamp them out and punish them (last I heard, for example, is that Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden are still walking around free).