Posted on 10/09/2002 8:58:50 AM PDT by B. A. Conservative
You don't know me from Adam so I'm curious where you've gleaned so much knowledge. You have no earthly idea WHAT party I stand for or WHAT candidate I endorse. If having some kind of name somehow authenticates you as a "real" party, the Democrats can lay claim to the same pedigree. I don't think you'll be suggesting that makes them somehow superior.
I so tire of you condescending types who think because someone disagrees with you, that automatically makes them suspect. Anyone that dares to say anything is immediately shouted down as "griping". Sounds like the tactics of those on the Left side of the aisle. If you can't beat them, you can always bad mouth them and attack them personally.
As for me, I've put my money where my mouth is and worn the uniform for 13 years as a military officer. I've voted Republican again and again and receive for my contributions (including money), Trent Lott and a "New Tone" in Washington.
Though my own father was denied his rights as a black American despite decorated service as a soldier in two wars, I still believe in the concept of this country as codified in the Constitution. It's because I believe in the form of government that the Founders gave to us, that I even bother to put the uniform on.
I have made a point of educating myself on what this country stands for, and the animating principles that conceived it. I stand for those.
If that means hateful types like you have to come back at me because of what I believe in, so be it. You are the epitome of the self-conceited, condescending, hateful and bitter conservative that give me NO CONFIDENCE in the Republican party. In attacking people that, for one, weren't even speaking to you, and two, were not leveling personal attacks against you, you show exactly WHY the Republican party is going down the toilet--lack of character AND principle.
And why would you inject the totally meaningless..."My Dad was a black soldier blah, blah, blah"? What does your color have to do with anything?
Political slap fights are part of the deal or do you prefer being patronized? Slap back, no problem, but leave the victimology in the car.
Still upset about not getting that part as a troll, aren't you?
(Insulting our business manager makes you look pretty stupid-retard)
How in the WORLD am I the one shouting anyone down, Deb? Show me in the thread where I addressed one single word to YOU in initiating this "conversation"? YOU decided to interject your voice in this thread making personal attacks on people for no apparent reason. Why the innocent act all of a sudden and claiming I'm the instigator?
As for "victimology", you've again, gone off half-cocked with no idea who you're talking about. YOU DON'T KNOW ME, so play the psychoanalyst with your friends, not me.
I injected that phrase meaningfully (whether it means nothing to you doesn't make it so) to show the level of commitment I have to a form of government that in it's playing out has not always been what I've hoped for, in other words to show that I can deal with compromise and the slow pace of a promise long in coming to fruition.
You tried to portray me as someone coming from no other position than that of griping. I gave you some personal history, which you desperately lack, to counter your erroneous and vicious personal attack. My family and myself have had PLENTY of reason to whine and we have a demonstrated history of NOT doing so. That was the point of my "meaningless" comment.
Again, I stand by what I said: for someone so apparently concerned for the benefit of us all, why the resorting to sudden and personal attacks on someone who wasn't even speaking to you? Psychoanalize that.
Ouch! I won't touch that one.
The Heritage Foundation is one such group that does this. They take on the national view and attempt to shape it with the truth. They pushed the Welfare Reform package through and work around the clock to further Conserative ideas, and they have done quite a bit. Compare the 1970s to waht we have now.
I agree with your ideals 100%, it is just that I think your tactics and strategy are offbase. I may be wrong but what you are proposing is letting the Dems take control of the government(AT THIS TIME!?!?!) so the GOP will be punished by the Conservative voters. Call me silly, but I STILL think that most of the country is not pure Conservative and my agenda would be definately halted and probably destroyed by such an action, all to punish a GOP that is the ONLY tent that Conservatives can act in with power. Now you may see why people might think you a disruptor.
I am obviously a fan of Realpolitik, so I will ask you this... if the dems gain total control and flood our shores with ilegal immigrants and give them the right to legally vote by default(Moter-Voter law.), what makes you think the GOP will even be able to HOLD power again even after they have been chastised by the Conservatives.
It makes me think that you are either an True Conservative that is worried about the turn of events and wants to take a morally just course or a disruptor. Since Conservatives are realists, and realism dictates that this path is suicide, I must conclude you are a disruptor. Of course, I think you speak well and I agree with much of what you say but I have looked at all of your previous posts and with the exception of a few(INvestment types.) your primary message has been vote out the GOP because they are not Conservative. There is NO other message. Look up my name, you will find plenty of variety, yet you are just asking us to drop the GOP.
As I said, the GOP is generally Conservative but not wholly Conservative. You tell me I am wrong, yet what I speak is FACT. I know the whole GOP is not Right WIng, so I try to change it. Yet you tell me to abandon them.
This IS the Alamo and we have the chance to be the FIRST at electing an all GOP government, and I will not be dissuaded from this.
Why dont you try to persuade us once we have won EVERYTHING... until then I am not turning back. Once we have it all, then you can threaten the GOP with defection. You are either a clever disruptor or an Idealogue that is discontent.
Lee Atwater would have jumped through hoops to win what I am proposing, regardless of left-right schisms and I am inclined to agree with him. Also, except for North East RINO's, the GOP is in sync with the right wing.
I could go on but I think I have made my point. Adios!
Where would you go, B.A.? I can't think of another country anywhere on the planet that I'd rather live in than the U.S. Perhaps some of the small, relatively isolated island nations might do, but every government is going to have its flaws.
As regards the question about where American expatriates settle, the answer is varied. Because of the marked increase in the number of US expats looking for places to settle and invest, in recent years, the number of countries that are considered favorable to expats has increased dramatically. Some countries try to attract the expats themselves. Others only try to attract their investments. Yet others, try to attract both. The following is only a partial list of some of the most favored countries for residency and/or investment. I have provided links to country info pages, where available.
Those are just a few. But, it demonstrates the type of mostly stable countries where most American expats are investing and/or living. Also, most of those countries, with one notable exception (Cuba), rate higher on the various freedom scales than the good ole US of A.
You will note that most (though not all) of those countries have quite stable governments. Several are major countries. Others are part of the British Commonwealth. Yet others are long-standing island paradises. When did you ever hear of a coup in Tahiti, the Caymans or Bermuda?
Trinidad and Tobago is very stable and English speaking. Even though they have a coup every 20 years or so, their coups have never resulted in a single death or significant change in policy. In fact, the people even have coup parties for a few days. The last time there was a coup, they didn't even stop the soccer playoff that was going on just across the Green from Red House (their congress), where the coup was taking place. I felt much safer walking alone on the streets of Port of Spain than on the streets of Los Angeles, Kansas City or Chicago. The economy is based on oil. Oh yes. It's out of the hurricane path, too.
Belize is a very stable, English speaking member of the Commonwealth, that has been independent from Britain since 1981. Property is still reasonably low priced, both on the mainland and beachfront island properties. You can buy your own island for only about a million dollars. The cost of living in Belize is about 20% to 25% of what it costs to live in the US. Their laws are based, as ours, on English common law, but unlike ours, they are very privacy oriented. For those who want to go back and forth to the US, there are several flights every day to the US and it's only 2 hours from Houston or Miami. It also offers the longest coral reef and the greatest variety of dive sites in this hemisphere. The natural beauty of Belize is unmatched anywhere. The people are wonderful and again, I felt safer there than in US cities.
I included Panama, because many wealthy Americans, who are still here, put a portion of their money in Panama, because of the extreme secrecy and security of Panamanian Private Interest Foundations and the fact that it will be very difficult for the US government to make such vehicles illegal, without adversely affecting other foundations that they want to protect. Panama also has a very large and wealthy expat community that helps fund the nation, so regardless of who is running the country, it behooves them to protect those expats.
I included Cuba, because there is tons of money being made there by Europeans, while US citizens are prohibited from such investments. It may be considered risky, but most investors in Cuba only invest a small portion of their wealth there. Most investors do believe, however, that whoever is invested there when Castro dies, will soon find themselves extremely wealthy. But, that will certainly not include any American citizens.
Nevis is primarily a banking center. It the smaller of the two islands that form the single nation of Nevis and St. Kitts. Nevis has very little commerce, other than banking. St. Kitts, on the other hand, has a small banking sector and more exports. Neither seems to offer enough to attract Americans to live there, although they do offer a very good economic citizenship program. Until recently, Nevis was one of the very best banking centers for privacy. But, last year, they did make some concessions to the totalitarian OECD. Even so, they still rank quite high as a banking center, especially for those who are not citizens of a major (G7) nation.
Notice also, that to US citizens, even high-tax jurisdictions like Canada and the United Kingdom are considered havens. That's because they don't tax the offshore income of their citizens, like the US does. But, the Inland Revenue of the UK is taking lessons from the IRS, so the UK may not last long as a haven for Americans. But, whether or not a country's taxes are punitive usually has little to do with where American expats land, since most wealthy expats are more concerned about privacy than taxes.
The best general advice seems to be to get a non-US passport and spread your wealth around, thus eliminating the possibility of losing everything due to a single event. But remember, that only works if you are not a US citizen. As a US citizen, your money isn't safe anywhere in the world, if the your government wants it.
Unlike a few years ago, there are now many places for disenchanted or disenfranchised Americans to escape (note that "escape" is the word most often used by expats to refer to leaving the USA). The number of haven nations grows even larger, when you consider that most expats are decidedly in the upper income groups and can easily afford whatever amenities their new country may not offer.
Almost 100,000 Americans "escaped" last year and as a result of the many anti-privacy, anti-4th Amendment laws that have been passed by both Democrats and Republicans since September 11, 2001, that number is expected to grow to well over 100,000 by the end of this year. In fact, anyone who thinks that there are no good places for disenchanted or disenfranchised Americans to flee, are about 20 years behind the times.
For more information on where disenchanted or disenfranchised Americans are going, check out Escape Artist and Sovereign Society as good starting places. Sovereign Society offers a great report on Second Passports. I just got the latest updated version a few months ago. It was $99 and well worth it, for anyone considering going offshore or just getting a second passport for safety reasons. To learn more about why they are leaving, check out the Tax and Economy section of Action America (also The Courts section).
I am not very good at explaining things, my mind gets ahead of my communication skills which, if not extinct are at least dormant. I am proposing that conservatives tell Republican candidates, "I very much want to vote for Republicans, but I will not vote for candidates supporting a socialistic agenda. In addition, I have made a decision that I won't vote for candidates unless they are willing to publically acknowledge their acceptance of the Contract with Congress. If you as a candidate are not willing to embrace these proposed changes to our government, then I am not going to vote for you."
Now I happen to believe that any Republican worth voting for, should be willing to not only vote for the Contract with Congress themselves, but also to work enthusiastically to persuade others to vote for it. Don't you? But I have this nagging suspicion that many Republicans want to dance on both sides of the aisle and to court socialistic programs and voters. I think we might find that thanks to the false propaganda of the Media, that Republican candidates believe they must cater to the left to win. This is the myth that keeps Republican candidates shooting themselves in the foot and losing elections. The Democrats and the Media know most Americans are basically conservative and would not support most of the socialists' programs if given a choice. Why do you think participation in Social Security is and always has been mandatory? Why do you think members of Congress exempted themselves from participation in this criminal enterprise. If you or I offered Social Security as a private voluntary investment program, the US Attorney General would prosecute us under the mail fraud laws as a Ponzi Scheme. Social Security is the oldest and longest continuously running chain letter in world history. Democrats have used Social Security and the Media to convince Republican candidates and office holders that Americans would revolt if we did away with Social Security. But watch the panic in their eyes if you ask a Democratic Congressman, that if Social Security is such a great deal and we all love it so much, why won't he support a law to make participation in Social Security voluntary? Choice is the magic bullet for exposing the socialists lies. And it is choice that will expose where Republican candidates stand. Offer your candidate a choice. Make Your Vote For Sale, see if your Republican prefers your vote to seeking votes from socialists. I don't think the problem exists with the American people; I think the problem lies in the lies of the Media and the Democrats and the fact that Republicans swallowed the hook and believed the myths.
I am not proposing that conservatives boycott the election. On the contrary, I am doing everything I can to sell my votes to Republicans in every race in which I am elgibile to vote. The problem I fear is that Republicans will not be willing to buy my vote. If they or third party candidates are not willing to buy my vote, it simply won't be cast. My vote is theirs for the asking. The price is something that I believe they should be overjoyed to pay. The real question is do Republicans believe me or the Media and the Democrats. History says the Republicans are likely to be chumps again. I could probably get rich if I offered bullet proof shoes for sale to Republicans.
"..all to punish a GOP that is the ONLY tent that Conservatives can act in with power. Now you may see why people might think you a disruptor."
Punish??!! I am doing my best to seduce them into doing the correct thing, the only thing that has resulted in their winning elections in the past.
And call on your experience with human nature and the past behavior of politicians. How many times have conservatives gone to bed with Republicans only to be disappointed and jilted after the election? How many times during the campaign did George Bush talk about Campaign Finance Reform being unconstitutional. And even if it weren't, CFR is against every value of a free society and free people free to make their own choices. It is fundamentally wrong and the people who would make this law do not belong in a government under which I would be willing to live. Has "Death to Tyrannts now become vote for me anyway, after all I am a Republican, surely you would rather vote for me as semi-socialist/tyrannt rather than the real Mccoy. Should Rebublicans be elected because they only want to semi-enslave us by lowering taxes under a ten year delay inlieu of eliminating the tax code and implementing the Fair Tax or the Flat Tax? Americans are maxing-out their charge cards and extracting their home equity at record levels because they are grossly over taxed by politicians using their tax dollars to buy their own re-election. CFR was the largest and most successful shell game of bait and switch ever perpetrated on a dumbed down America. Campaign contributions only matter to unelected candidates. Incumbents have unlimited access to unlimited piles of money in the form of your tax dollars. Two out of every three tax dollars are spent to buy incumbents their re-election. Has it not occurred to you "conservatives" or all Freepers why Republicans remain in the socialist camp and why they take the low road in the fight against socialism? It is because Republicans are using the same honey-pot to re-elect themselves that Democrats are using. YOU and all FREEPERS are incredibly naive and destined for great disillusionment if you think Republicans are going to make significant changes in the absence of a contract, you will still be standing at the altar as the church slides off the cliff. Have you looked at the transportation or farm bills or emergency spending bills passed by Republicans and signed by Bush?
The amount of wishful thinking that takes place on this site is amazing to me. I don't know about your area, but political forums and town hall meetings are occurring almost weekly in our area. Go to one, give the Republican candidates that are there a copy of the Contract with Congress. Ask them if they will endorse and support it. If you disagree with parts of my Contract, delete the portions you don't like and feel free to substitute your own before giving it to the candidates. Use that as your guide if you think I could be a Democratic disruptor. Conservatives want a litmus test for the federal judiciary, why not one for Republican candidates?
Could it be the conservatives are afraid to learn the truth? Make no mistake, I am either right or I am wrong. I am not offering anybody shades of grey. Socialism is sinister and unconstitutional. If I can't defeat it, I intend to leave until it collapses under its own dead weight. I don't have to defeat it, all that is required is too simply get out the way. How long are the rest of you prepared to suffer? Socialsim and big government are not going away until voters kill it or bankruptcy sweeps the US off the financial cliff. Gravity is not going to be repealed by Democrats or Republicans. Delaying the inevitable is merely prolonging the suffering and will do abolutely nothing to end it.
I began this and other threads with the expectation of preaching to the choir. Instead I find mind-numbed robots extolling a single chant, "Dump a Democrat". I would suggest to the "Republicans uber alles" that the main difference between socialistic Republicans and Democrats is that Republicans won't drive the lemmings off the cliff, they will just lead them over the edge in a leisurely stroll.
"..we have the chance to be the FIRST at electing an all GOP government..."
Sorry rewind to 1996, the foot-shooters installed Dole to lead the retreat just as he had done for years in the Senate. Republicans rewarded the man who single-handedly defeated the balanced budget amendment and set the stage to defeat term limits. I will not help you get the first Republican government in your lifetime unless my candidates want my vote. But I am looking forward to seeing what changes your all Republican government makes over the next two years and how they blame you because they can't give you what you want without more Republicans in office. Call me when the Fair Tax or the Flat Tax have been passed or Social Security is voluntarily privatized.
I am not threatening the GOP with defection. If the Republican candidates are not socialists, they should not have any qualms about the Contract with Congress. My only threat, if you would call it that, is that I won't be voting for any socialists, Democrat or Republican.
You are welcome.
But the truth is, you have no one but yourself to blame for putting up candidates who lose. Don't blame your failures on others. Take responsibility for your actions.
I'll set you straight on something even though I don't think you have the capacity to admit you are wrong or learn from your mistakes.
Namely, you don't own anyone's vote. You do not have libertarians votes in any case. It's not like they would vote for your people. You didn't lose my vote. YOU NEVER HAD MY VOTE. It's not yours to lose. Voting Republican is not the default position.
I don't make choices between some people I don't want and other people I don't want. You might fall for that nonsense but not me. You have fallen for lots of nonsense if you vote for Republicans so it's not like you don't have history in that regard.
Now go cry in your beer because YOU elected Clinton by putting up a crappy candidate who stood for nothing. YOU take responsibility. YOU did it.
I vote for my country and freedom and rights. YOU vote to get power in some struggle against other people who have the same fundamental philosophy of governance that you do.
I am not a part of it. I repeat, YOU DIDN"T LOSE MY VOTE, YOU NEVER HAD IT.
Yet another thoughtful response.
If you are able, why don't you point out exactly what is wrong with my logic.
If you're not able to refute my statement, perhaps you could tell us the name of the last candidate from a party other than Republican or democrat who won a statewide election.
(HINT: It was Jesse Ventura, governor of Minnesota, who is not seeking a second term. Seems he doesn't have enough support for another run.)
That was an easy one. Let's try something a little more difficult.
Name someone other than Ventura who won a statewide election as a third party candidate.
(You're on your own here, kid.)
No, his name was not "go play in the traffic."
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