straightUp Loc: California

So that explains the wide differences between the socialists like Sanders and AOC and the free-market capitalists like Biden, Clinton? It probably "seems" like they are in lock-step but only because they were willing to compromise for the greater good of the American people. And because Nancy was really good at managing the disputes.

Look, I've already seen the the exact same statement you just made, but in reverse. I'm seeing this all the time now where Republicans just take what Democrats are saying about them and turning it around. Otherwise, they would just be stuck with simple name calling.

I'm generalizing here, but a large portion of Republicans come from conservative cultures where free-thinking is actually discouraged, especially the religious ones. This is far less the case with liberals, who tend to come from more open-minded cultures where free-thinking is MORE encouraged.

Then, there is the fact that liberals encourage liberal arts in school... If you're a conservative, I'll probably have to explain to you that liberals arts isn't about finger painting, liberal arts is about free-thinking. Conservatives on the other hand discourage liberal arts, pushing instead for limiting education to reading writing and arithmetic, so they're children can grow into simple minded cogs in the machine.

BTW, most liberals arts today is limited to college level education, where free-thinking thrives and according to Pew Research 59% of those with post-graduate degrees vote Democrat and only 35% of them vote Republican.

I dunno dude... I have arguments... all you have is "because I say so."

Strycker Loc: The middle of somewhere else.

For you to think either Biden or Clinton are free market capitalists is astounding. They, as well as many politicians on both sides, are the poster children for kleptocrats.

"In a kleptocracy, corrupt politicians enrich themselves secretly outside the rule of law, through kickbacks, bribes, and special favors from lobbyists and corporations, or they simply direct state funds to themselves and their associates."

Sounds a lot like the state of our current governance.

Ronald Hatt Loc: Lansing, Mich

Yeah! Here goes: Faux republicans, that are really Demoncrats: Lizzard Cheney, Mitt Romney, Murkowski, & about 10 more = republican treachery in the ranks!

The reason Pelosi did not suffer this abomination: The Congressional *Demoncrats, are scared "shitless" of her, & her flying monkeys!

Just about the only one that was not "scared", was "Ocrazio Cortez"...& she finally shut her mouth, & disappeared! [ She didn't want to end up like "Jeffrey Epstein"...[ another firmly seated Demoncrat}..

Answer that question?

straightUp Loc: California

Kleptocracy and free-market capitalism (neoliberalism) are not mutually exclusive. Kleptocracy can operate on ANY economic system.


Since, you're reading wikipedia... scroll down a little more where it says... "Kleptocracies are generally associated with dictatorships, oligarchies, military juntas, or other forms of autocratic and nepotist governments in which external oversight is impossible or does not exist. They can also be found in liberal democracies with crony capitalism."


Much more so a few years ago when nepotism was blatant and the president refused to disclose his taxes. ;)

straightUp Loc: California

You can call moderate Republicans, "Demoncrats" if you want but it really emphasizes how your perception is guided by your emotions.


LOL - They respected her and more significantly, she was already organizing and negotiating long before the first day. The Republicans had almost two months to sort all this crap out. They either started too late or they are unable to resolve anything within that time.


I saw her on the floor yesterday, so I don't know what you're talking about.


Jeffrey Epstein wasn't in politics but he was close friends with Trump.


You didn't ask a question.

straightUp Loc: California

So... I'm reading the demands as presented by the Freedom Caucus. I won't have the time today to dive in as deep as I usually go, but I gotta say, on the surface they're not all bad ideas. I especially like the idea that they want to change the rule for how long a bill should be made available for review before putting it to a vote.

They want to extend the period from 72 hours to 120 hours, giving representatives 5 days to review. That actually makes a lot sense to me. I understand the concept of an emergency, which is what Pelosi was claiming with her "same day authority" but I think any emergency bill should be limited to one specific thing... no pork and they should have an automatic expiration.

I've been opposed to forcing bills like that every since the Republicans pushed the 700 page PATRIOT Act through the floor, "as an emergency" without giving Democrats a chance to really know what they were voting for.

I do however think, this is a rule change that they could negotiate with the mainstream Republicans if they only had someone smart enough to do that.

Ronald Hatt Loc: Lansing, Mich

You have just described "Today's", Republican party! [ 12, or 13, faux republicans ]...& a Senate leader, that is

married to the grand daughter of the Chinese Communist Party...America, where an ultimate Chinese worshipper, is

President..[ Biden the "Terrible", that did the spawn of Satan: "Hunter the Horrible"....All belonging to a political

party of the new Sodom & Gomorrah, led by the likes of Schumer, Nadler, Schif-face, "side tracked" Pelosi..[ side line

witch}...& Hillary, Chief "executioner", of unwanted opposition, & threatening people...Grand Wizard: George Soros...Soros "Quarterback": Barak Hussein Obamuslim...

I guess that covers it for now...more on the way!

straightUp Loc: California

LOL - yer funny.

straightUp Loc: California

Here we go again... The seventh ballot is underway... No changes so far, the nominees are the same.

...Oh, only 77 votes in and the Republicans already screwed up. Donalds already has 6 votes and McCarthy has 37, so the votes are already too split up for the Republicans to get 218.

McCarthy can still get 218 votes if the Democrats give it to them. I kinda wish they would, just to end the insanity. Chip Ahoy and his rag-tag holdouts think they have this giant bargaining chip but the Democrats could easily render them irrelevant. I would LOVE to see that happen.

As I mentioned earlier I don't find all their demands to be that unreasonable, but... I don't trust them. I don't think the rule changes will be the end of it. The Freedom Caucus has always been a disease in American politics, ever since their idiot "Tea Party" days. They are the most bigoted and stupid group of people in this country and we all need to figure out a way to exterminate this disease. THAT is step 1 in saving America.

Strycker Loc: The middle of somewhere else.

Yes it can. My point was that Biden nor Clinton are "free market capitalist". They are crony capitalists and Kleptocrats.

The USA is no longer a free market capitalist society nor is it the Constitutional Republic that it was originally designed to be. It is a central government highly regulated liberal socialist society with the illusion of a democracy (ie: socialism where the means of production is controlled through regulation) and we are ruled by crony capitalist kleptocratic politicians.

straightUp Loc: California

Well, a lot of free-market advocates are... I don't know if Biden or Clinton are... crony capitalism and kleptocracy are usually hidden from public view. Do you have any evidence?


OK, just alone is a LOT to unpack.

First of all, the USA isn't ANY kind of market, the USA is a republic, so let's start with that. Yes, it *is* a constitutional republic; it HAS been since 1789 and remains so today. But is it specifically the constitutional republic that it was originally designed to be? Again, yes it is. The founders designed the republic, specifically to adapt to the times, which is exactly what it did. That's why we have a legislative body and a constitution that we can amend. Sorry, you don't like all the changes... Get over it.

Second of all, the free market is a global entity which our republic, the USA, allows us to participate in. That's how THAT works. Granted it's not entirely "free" because every government in the world that allows it's people to participate is also applying restrictions, including our own. Probably the most blatant restrictions in recent history are Trump's trade tariffs, which are taxes that Trump raised on imports in an effort to manipulate the free market.

You can't get all binary on this stuff... The markets are far too complicated to say, it's one type or another. The fact is, the "free market" is more of an advocacy to push back on regulations like Trump's tariffs. Even the political alliances that support the free-market, such as the G20, consist of world leaders telling others to limit regulations while they impose regulations of their own.


Well, there's some small traces of truth in there... yes, we are a liberal society in the sense that we don't have as many restrictions as a more authoritarian society like Iran. Yes, there is a fair amount of socialism in our system as there is most modern developed nations today. BTW, socialism is a means of production controlled by the PEOPLE, sometimes referred to as the PUBLIC. If you prefer to call it a system controlled by regulation, that's fine because ultimately, the regulations are imposed by politicians that are elected by the PEOPLE.

The democracy is real. Yes, it has issues with many citizens being cut off by voter suppression laws and there is always a small measure of fraud. We also have weird distortions like the Electoral College but ultimately, our representatives are still being elected by American citizens. Many citizens hate losing and tend to get immature about it, swearing that democracy is an illusion everytime they lose. But our democracy is not an illusion we just have sore losers that say it is.