stan3186

I agree, I agree, I agree, Putin is a true patriot to Russia. I really do wish that we had such a patriot representing America. However, that type of leadership is in direct conflict with our freedoms and our way of life. Putin is a dictator. What he says is the way it's going to go no if's, ands, our buts about it.

It is truly a dilemma, we want our freedoms we want our capitalistic way of life, but it will take an iron fist type of leader to do what needs to be done. How do we maintain our freedoms and not give in to a dictatorship style of leadership?

I do not know that it is possible to elect leadership that will protect our values and not allow policies to be dictated by minorities in this country. We are unique in that we have a very large and diverse population. Russia has Russians which are basically Anglo-Saxon heritage. The vast majority of Russians I believe are Anglo-Saxon. The majority of Americans are also Anglo-Saxon but not nearly as large of a majority.

It is fairly easy for Russia to say that all Muslims can just leave and go to where Muslims reside. It is fairly easy for Russia to say in order to stay in Russia, live in Russia, eat in Russia, and work in Russia you must speak Russian.

It is not as easy for that dictate to be effective in America. I wish that were not true but this country is made up of a very diverse and varied population background. At one time, I think this made America great. At this time it is our biggest vulnerability.

It is beyond my intellect of how to fix this problem yet remain a free nation.

stan3186

I just love that, Obama is so far outclassed by Putin is not even funny. How far down have we fallen to where you have Americans looking up to the Russian dictator. It is pathetic to think that the greatest nation on earth is now bowing on our knees and paying homage to the previous "evil empire". What would Ronald Reagan think?

RETW Loc: Washington

In all deference to your personage, as well as your age, I respectfully disagree with you.

Perhaps you have forgotten the words,
( and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God).

These are not words just thrown together on any old piece of paper.

They mean something. So much so, millions of people have given there a very life to preserve this republic, from its very founding.

I can only speak for my self. The two most important reasons this country has been and still is great, (( Freedom and the Republic )).

Freedom to do, say, go, where, and how we want etc.

The republic with all of its many aspects, allows us all to elect representatives to make laws that are needed to have a country like ours, function well.
The base problem in our country, is not because you think it is a republic or not. Its not the freedom we enjoy. Its not unions, big business, small business, banks, wall street, schools, the feds, law enforcement, the military, money, jobs or no jobs, welfare, open boarders, energy, imports or exports.
Our base problem is very simple. And if you want to correct it, v**e out the people that will not do there job.
The Full Congress, senators and representatives,
maneuvered us into this mess, and we, as a people collected together, let them do it. We dropped the ball, we shut our eyes, we all stopped listening. It was not just you, or me, but all of us. So very busy with our own lives.

The worst of it is, these people that we put in charge of us all, to do what is right, failed us in so many ways.
Just look at this forum. We don’t all agree, and on so many points, it makes ones head spin some times. Where not all right or all wrong. But that is a good thing. But the people we have hired to run our country better dam well be right all the time. And if they don’t, we have the right to v**e them out. I find it very strange, the general population knows what’s right or wrong, yet our elected representatives fail so miserable at it. But they are so very good at protecting there own status. There jobs, come before the will of the very people they swore to protect.

Blaming this one, or that one, is an exorcize in futility. It makes us all feel better, but in the end, this is just what our officials want us to do. That way we are all distracted from going after the ones that perpetrate all this, in the first place.

So I will conclude with this. Remember, we have a very important e******n coming up this year. Look very carefully at the representatives and senators that are on your b****t. And v**e with your head. Learn what these people do and have done. Who and what they v**ed for. Party does not matter.

RETW Happy New Year

Ve'hoe

Exactly,,, watch what they do, not what they say. We don't need term limits we need involved people to be able to stop the undue influence of lobbiest, criminals, and other govt's as well as party control.

Those men and women, need to actually answer to us, for what they did.

stan3186

I must respectfully disagree with you. Our nation was set up as a Republic with representatives theoretically representing the good and the will of the people. However, this nation has turned into a plutocracy as herein defined(The term plutocracy is generally used as a pejorative to describe or warn against an undesirable condition.[3][4] Throughout history, political thinkers such as Winston Churchill, 19th-century French sociologist and historian Alexis de Tocqueville, 19th-century Spanish monarchist Juan Donoso Cortés and today Noam Chomsky have condemned plutocrats for ignoring their social responsibilities, using their power to serve their own purposes and thereby increasing poverty and nurturing class conflict, corrupting societies with greed and hedonism) in other words by definition our representatives, represent themselves and their special interest groups not the people they were elected to represent. It is unfortunate that human nature is such that people in power will seek to not only keep that power but to increase it.

Therefore, it's absolutely essential that strict term limits be enacted to remove the people who without question will seek to maintain or increase their power and influence over the common person.

Ve'hoe

Term limits will stop that huh?? How?

mikeinco

That was my point, you stated it better than I did.

RETW Loc: Washington

You can disagree all you want, that is your right. But I have seen no act by our representatives, or the court that our status as a republic has changed from its founding. There may be all kinds of things going on in our country. But a change form our republic founding, has not been one of them.

RETW

Winter Solstice Loc: Salt Lake City

I was particularly taken by the following from Putin's speech:, "Any minority, from anywhere, if it wants to live in Russia , to work and eat in Russia , should speak Russian, and should respect the Russian laws ".
I believe all this could/should pertain to the USA as follows, "Any minority, from anywhere, if it wants to live in the USA, to work and eat in the USA, should speak English, and should respect the laws of the land ".
I guess I'll catch a lot of flack for this but I have a thick skin and this is what I believe.

stan3186

Term limits will not stop corruption, however, it can limit the amount of corruption that can be perpetrated by an individual. If there were limits where an individual can only be in office for say eight years maximum and that person can only hold one office at any level of the government then that would limit the amount of damage that individual inflicts.

Another benefit of limiting the amount of time any individual can stay in office would be that they would not have the influence that they sell to private companies once they leave office. One of the major benefits of holding public office for these greedy people is they are able to sell to corporations their "influence" with Congress. This should help remove some of the incentives of these greedy people during their term of office. If they do not have influence to sell then maybe they would actually represent the people they were elected to represent.

Ve'hoe

I see where you are going, but don't agree,,, thieves will figure a way around that mere limit, or steal faster,,,

Tar and Feathers,,, for the first offense,,, then h*****g sounds more of a deterent

mikeinco

Yup, agree 100%, why should there even be the option of pushing #2 for Spanish or as in Illinois Arabic, WTF?

RETW Loc: Washington

I am so with you on this point. As a matter of fact, I will take this one stept further. Any minority that does not like it, can get the hell out of our country. This is The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. You came here because of what this country has to offer. If you think you are going to change our country into yours. Not going to happen. Go change your own country. You don't need to be here. And most of us don't want you here.

Ve'hoe

I live on a reservation,,, and I like some smartasses threatening to come k**l me, when I don't piss myself about the liberal, black racisim, or obamas agenda. I just give them directions directly to the house,,, and the only warning they get, is this:

"There aren't any police out here to save you."

Funny, not a single taker yet.....

rockhawk95 Loc: Louisiana