Replies

Funny that you have alluded to French inspired Jacobinism. That Jacobin spirit, which drives reflexive anti Anglic fervor amongst some who consider themselves to be "conservatives" but are really nothing more than Liberals who believe in economic anarchy, has been much mistaken for the real internicine issues between Whigs and Torries which fomented our War for Independence. Somewhere along the way our American Whiggish spirit got intermingled with Continental Jacobin philosophy and we started to confuse this spirit as somehow being our core values. Ironically, it is the reassertion of our roots of English Common Law, the Magna Carta, and other ancient underpinnings of our own Constitution which would serve most mightily in helping us to preserve our Republic from the ongoing erosion of its foundation by enemies foreign and domestic. To me, Jacobins are the most dangerous domestic enemies.

I've been following this thread with great interest over the past few days. Unfortunately many of the libertarian freepers have not addressed certain issues that I believe are critical if Bush is to be re-elected. Although their responses overall seem to hold many truths, they just aren't dealing with the reality many on this thread (and in this country) are facing today.

In a utopian world we all would have seen and prepared for what is occurring. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of Americans have not; that makes it a problem. Outsourcing of jobs is an issue; it will continue to increase dramatically in the years to come. Many more people over the next decade will lose their job or find it very difficult to find jobs in their area of expertise. Although lay-offs are not unique to today's generation of workers; the trend of off-shoring highly skilled, highly paid white collar jobs is.

I hear a lot of debate on what our economic policy should be as we move forward. However, I haven't heard much about what we should do today to address the problem of displaced workers. Actually that's not true. There have been comments such as "start your own business" and "get a job at McDonalds". These answers don't fit with today's reality.

Most of those on this thread who are facing very difficult times are hard working and highly motivated people who don't want the government taking care of them. But unlike a very small minority, they where not prepared for the situations they see themselves in now.

The reality is they want to work, they will bust their asses, they will give it everything they got to make it, and they don't want to be coddled by government. Unfortunately, they can't make it on a McDonalds salary, they can't risk gambling all their assets on starting a new business (that statistics dictate will probably fail, most do) when they have a family to clothe and feed. What do you say to them, "sorry you made a bad decision in life, that's not my responsibility" . If so, that's pathetic. The answer should involve addressing the current problem, as well as, navigating a future course that all Americans should be prepared to face and deal with.

Having Bush lie to the naive electorate to get re-elected to keep the status-quo is not the answer either. Having everyone start a new business is not the answer, learn to be happy and poor is not the answer. We are America, we are better than that. Reality dictates America and its citizenry need a lot good paying corporate jobs be made available on our shores.

I've also noticed a condescending tone when it has been stated: "it's for the children". Well I hate to break it to ya all, it sure is for our children. If this is the future they are to inherit, we better start preparing them to face this reality, because we sure as hell ain't doing it now. The days of having a single career for a lifetime seem to be over for many of us; the ability to move from career to career looks more and more like it will be the norm going forward.

Feel free to flame away, but I'd rather you address how a recently "displaced" tech worker with three kids, a wife, a mortgage, and medical bills is supposed survive when the skills he has are no longer needed in Corporate America. That is the reality of today's displaced American white collar worker (it's actually far better picture than reality). Try to be realistic in your responses, start your own business or work at McDonalds isn't.

Keep in mind these are the people that may be pivotal in re-electing Bush. Adding more to this group only serves increase the lefts chances of unseating him. Afterall, wasn't this the point of the thread to begin with.