What do conservatives want, exactly?

The political spectrum in the United States has long varied to some extent from those in the rest of the developed world. While the Democrats are host to a range of ideological stances that range from the traditional left to the center-right, the Republicans and those with associated or similar positions hold many beliefs that are, shall we say, not considered acceptable in the other G-20 countries.

The sanctity of entitlement programs and other forms of direct government assistance, essentially free education through the university level, acceptance of climate change, the necessity of strong government intervention in the economy in times of recession and universal single-payer health care are all accepted as canon in Europe, a place that not coincidentally is weathering this storm, save for the Greeks and their financial shenanigans and the Spanish housing bubble, much better than we are. The fact that these items are still seen as controversial and remain under heated debate in the United States is frankly stunning, and the rest of the world had a bad taste left in their mouth by our dysfunction after our embarrassing showing in Copenhagen, where we promised to show up with legislation passed ready to sign an agreement. Needless to say, we failed on both accounts. (more…)

Unnerved by Responsibility, Democrats Signal a Yearning for the Minority

Our country’s pathetic excuse for an “organized” left, the Democratic Party, has once again begun to disappoint, much to the dismay of those that the party so vigorously claims to represent. Although time and again the Democrats have promised massive change and reform for America, the postwar and post-FDR left in the United States is somehow still reeling from an identity crisis that subverts its platform when viewed in the limelight. Aside from the four years of Carter and the twelve years of Reagan (ok, and Bush), the presidency has pretty much followed the eight-year cycle of alternating stewardship shared by the Democrats and the Republicans since the end of the Second World War. (more…)

The Gift of Fear

In the middle of his show that aired on September 24, 2009, after playing a clip of schoolchildren celebrating Barack Obama’s being the first black President by singing a song (during Black History Month) to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic that lauded the President’s accomplishments, Glenn Beck encouraged Americans to “listen to the gift of fear: it’s there for a reason.” Wow, thanks for the inspiring words Glenn. I can’t think of a less helpful thing to say to an already terrified public mired in the midst of a recession that, while slowly lessening its grip on the American economy, remains a painful reality for many of those who have already or are about to lose their jobs or houses, not to mention the other things they already fear thanks to the 24/7/365 inundation of information that is omnipresent in today’s society. (more…)

The Faith to Persevere

A few days ago, my fellow Daily Nexus political blogger Audrey wrote a piece detailing the “disinformation” that she believed Obama was spreading about health care reform. After reading her post, and feeling entirely unmoved vaguely interested, I knew that my terrible impulse control would, per usual, betray me and before I realized it, my fingers were already flying. While I will not deny that I left a somewhat snarky comment, her response to my comment bewildered me. She wrote, sarcastically of course, that next time she wrote a post she would not, and I quote, “back up [her] statements with so many facts; it might send the left into a tailspin.” While I would not exactly call my five sentence, one paragraph response a “tailspin,” it was her sheer confidence in her beliefs and unquestioning loyalty to her party’s line that really blew me away, not her attempt to hurt my feelings by referring me to the dictionary. (more…)

The Lost Generation

For decades, America has been in a slowly worsening state of stagnation that was initiated by the new neoliberal economics of the postwar era and has been perpetuated by the apathy and disillusionment of those living in the formidable shadow of the achievements of the greatest generation and the failures of its successors.

The United States emerged from the depths of the Great Depression into a chaotic world torn apart by the ceaseless march of progress, long smoldering ethnic and cultural rifts, and deep-seated differences in political ideology. When the bullets stopped flying, America alone stood largely undamaged, a powerhouse of industry with a booming economy, poised to recreate the shattered world in its own image. However, though fascism’s champions had been crushed, there remained another enemy with the potential to hamper America’s ability to exploit the markets recently created by the final collapse of old-style imperialism and the implementation of modern systems of government: the Soviet Union. The greatest generation responded to their newest challenge in much the same manner that it had dealt with their prior hurdles, by rallying around a common cause and working together to ensure success. They fought for democracy in the countries they felt threatened by the “communist hordes,” they accelerated scientific research at a rate never before seen by mankind, they funded development worldwide, and their efforts ultimately resulted in the crowning achievement of the human race, the landing of men on the moon.

(more…)

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