federally indicted mattoid

Most on this site - cro magas, if you will (borrowed from a new poster) - don't seem capable of independently verifying anything.

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

You couldn't independently think your way out of a wet paper bag.

straightUp Loc: California

OK, well... first, I'm gonna compliment you on your poetic approach to insulting me. I'm being serious btw "laugh, giggle and blow snot bubbles"... Awesome.

Now let me just respond to your thing about "my sort". I'm assuming that's a reference to a nebulous category of philosophers and ministers that you don't agree with, probably associated with the "left", progressive policies, socialist economics, secularism, stuff like that.

I'm wondering why you think these systems have failed.

First of all the largest socialist system in world history is currently thriving as an integral part of the US. We are a hybrid economy (heavy on the free-market). And yet, our socialist components are massive.

Secondly, every other developed nation in the G7 is also a hybrid economy. Socialism is what turned the iron of 19th century capitalism into the steel of a hybrid economy, which is what we mostly see today.

Socialism didn't fail... Some of it's implementations did; Russia being one such example. But even Marx would have told Lenin, "dude, you guys aren't ready" (but in a German Accent). Marx was very clear about allowing capitalism to thrive and develop first, THEN socialism, THEN communism. Russia went from agrarian to communist in one revolution... oops. Same for China. Not that it mattered because dudes like Stalin were just assholes anyway; They were just using the revolution to push their own agenda and that's what makes it such a bad example. Which is why the free-market fanatics keep using it.

One final thing on that... The prevailing conclusion across many recent studies show that Americans are not as happy as the Northern Europeans are. Standards of living are actually quite lower in the US and stress is elevated. Hence the running joke about Trump saying he wants people from "nice" countries like Denmark... As if they would want to come here.

But here's my point... All of those Scandinavian countries which btw, TOP the lists are like us... they run on hybrid economies but... (heavier on the socialism). Not National Socialism, Democratic Socialism... Massive difference... think - Evangelist vs Roman Catholic. Democratic socialists were the ones that Hitler had executed.

To me this is what matters... Happiness is the bottom line and migration patterns tell us where the happy places are. We have migrants knocking at our door, or maybe jumping our fences BECAUSE we are a happier place, BECAUSE we have socialist parts in our engine AND because we are on the way to Canada, which is even a happier place with more socialist parts in their engine. In Europe... it's the same thing - different continent.

As for progressive politics, that will always be resisted by cultures that feel threatened by social change, but it will also be the most reliable ally for the worker well into the future. BTW, those northern countries are very progressive as well. I don't see a failure here either. Some setbacks perhaps with encroachments from a more aggressive alt-right in recent years, but certainly not a failure.

Of course, the American Left, is intermeshed with socialism and progressive policy because they give workers a greater share of the value they create and because they try to break social barriers between workers and jobs.

But the left by virtue of it's principle of inclusion, also invites the immigrants. So it's critical that they be assimilated into the hybrid economy quickly so that they can produce value (work) as soon as they take value (receive handouts). The problem is that the right, by virtue of their principal of exclusion, tries to obstruct this process and it's when immigrants get stuck in the middle of this tug-of-war that they become a drain.

In any case, the left can't fail anymore than the right can. These are not systems, these are human biases.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

So I scrolled down to the bottom of your comments without reading them because I know, as we all know, you're full of more Bull Shit that a 3000 lb Brahma bull. I tell you this for one reason only, to let you know you're held in disgust and disdain.

federally indicted mattoid

We know why you didn't read them

Your fear of information shows clearly in doing that.

Lily

Why do we have to put up with one of your diatribes here? Rhetorical question.

Can’t you go create your own boring garbage as a thread?

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

With one single exception, I have ignored this piece of pond scum since he first arrived.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

More to the point why does anyone, outside his family, have to put up with him…diatribes or not?

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

As he is a well known piece of pond scum, and has been since his entry to OPP, we would rather pursue information from someone not scum.

Lily

Many don’t understand why we have that position on him.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

Those who would most remember are not as active now. Very fortunately, he seldom posts!

federally indicted mattoid

And another shows their fear.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

No fear. In fact, if you copy and paste it, I will read it. Straightup is pond scum! Unless it is a thread that he has fallen ill, nothing he says will be read by me nor a number of long term site members, especially Veterans.

Lily

Nothing he posts causes fear. Just revulsion he is still here!

federally indicted mattoid

Lol, it's apparent.