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SOTU Address:[W: 378; 1310; 1451]

Re: SOTU Address:


The Great One Mark Levin said.. "Liberalism is the Philosophy of the Stupid"


I don't want to come down too hard on Mr. Levin because I know that he and his wife had the same kind of experience with their spaniel mix dog that my wife and I had with our Cockapoo. It took us a year to adopt another dog after that loss.

That being said, Mr. Levin is not the only person on this planet who has ever had an opinion.

To wit: On May 31, 1866, John Stuart Mill, in a parliamentary debate with the Conservative MP, John Pakington, said, "I never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid. I meant to say that stupid people are generally conservative. I believe that is so obviously and universally admitted a principle that I hardly think any gentleman will deny it."

Mark Levin is a fairly intelligent dude, I wonder if he knows that 27 percent of Solid Liberals have postgraduate degrees vs. 12 percent of Staunch Conservatives. That's not just my opinion, the Pew Research Center did a study which you can look at:Section 3: Demographics and News Sources | Pew Research Center for the People and the Press

Not really trying to be a smarty-pants here, just trying to set the record straight. Neither side has all of the smart or dumb people.

There are smart and dumb people on both sides of the aisle.

Me, at 70-years-old and retired, I'm happy that I'm barely able to post this comment. If I live long enough, maybe I'll finally get the hang of this.

Have a good day.
 
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LOL !!! There are over 30 jobs bills in the Senate right now. They were sent there from the House.

The problem are the things Obama really wanted were passed in the first two years of his Presidency.

ObamaCare, his stimulus and they have caused massive damage to an already weak economy.

What exactly should the Senate pass to help Obama out ?

ObamaCare, his stimulus and they have caused massive damage to an already weak economy.

Wrong.

What exactly should the Senate pass to help Obama out

Maybe they should start thinking about what they can do to help the country out. Obama won the election. The country spoke. He won by almost 5 million votes and a landslide electoral vote. Try doing what the country wants for a change, instead of thinking about your own party interests.
 
Maybe they should start thinking about what they can do to help the country out

Anything specific?


Obama won the election. The country spoke. He won by almost 5 million votes and a landslide electoral vote. Try doing what the country wants for a change, instead of thinking about your own party interests.

People in the Congress and the Senate were elected as well. The American people, despite what many may have hoped, didn't elect a dictator.
 
Re: SOTU Address:

The Great One Mark Levin said.. "Liberalism is the Philosophy of the Stupid"


I don't want to come down too hard on Mr. Levin because I know that he and his wife had the same kind of experience with their spaniel mix dog that my wife and I had with our Cockapoo. It took us a year to adopt another dog after that loss.

That being said, Mr. Levin is not the only person on this planet who has ever had an opinion.

To wit: On May 31, 1866, John Stuart Mill, in a parliamentary debate with the Conservative MP, John Pakington, said, "I never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid. I meant to say that stupid people are generally conservative. I believe that is so obviously and universally admitted a principle that I hardly think any gentleman will deny it."

Mark Levin is a fairly intelligent dude, I wonder if he knows that 27 percent of Solid Liberals have postgraduate degrees vs. 12 percent of Staunch Conservatives. That's not just my opinion, the Pew Research Center did a study which you can look at:Section 3: Demographics and News Sources | Pew Research Center for the People and the Press

Not really trying to be a smarty-pants here, just trying to set the record straight. Neither side has all of the smart or dumb people.

There are smart and dumb people on both sides of the aisle.

Me, at 70-years-old and retired, I'm happy that I'm barely able to post this comment. If I live long enough, maybe I'll finally get the hang of this.

Have a good day.

I have a take on the "great one".
Mark Levin is fundamentally a fire-breathing moron, and an ideologue of the first order. Aside from that he’s an advocate of aristocracy. In an interview with Sean Hannity, he stated that conservatives are the beneficiaries of thousands of years of human experience. He then refers to Obama and others as relying on philosophies a couple of hundred years old. That’s interesting
considering that aside from the Ancient Greeks, Democracy as we know it is only as old as this country itself…approximately 218 years old. Those philosophies that preceded it were aristocratic, authoritarian, or theocratic. They were not democratic. They were exactly the philosophies that our founders rejected.

Essentially, Conservatism is the domination of society by a group devoted to aristocracy. Conservatism, as we will see, is incompatible with democracy, prosperity, and civilization in general. It is a destructive system of inequality and prejudice that is founded on complete deception, lies and a commitment to the Machiavellian, concept of the ends justify the means,
and has no place in the modern world, which is exactly why it’s floundering today and why modern conservatives seek refuge under the rubric of Libertarian, or Classical Liberal. Today’s conservatives identify themselves in terms of liberalism, because conservatism has left a bad taste in peoples mouths.

Levin re-iterates that “our principles are tried and true. They’ve been tried for centuries”. Yet again, Democracy as we know it only began at the time of the ratification of the constitution. So what philosophy is he talking about that preceded democracy? Certainly it wasn’t something that our founders sought to replicate. Levin hits the main problem with conservatism. He states that
we can’t salute a philosophy that is antithetical to our history (that’s a subjective view and could be debated forever) or to our BELIEF SYSTEM. And that is where the problem lies.

Conservatism is by Levin’s own admission, a belief system. But being so it can never demonstrate itself as being true. It’s an ideology actually formalized by Russell Kirk who provided 6 canons that conservatives follow. Canons? Conservatism today has taken on the mantle of a religious cult. It has a doctrine that must be followed religiously or you risk excommunication. For example: his dismissal of Colin Powell, Tom Ridge and others who he claims aren’t Republicans or for that matter conservatives. Apparently if you aren’t a conservative then you aren’t even a Republican. The problem with ideological thinking like this is that it assumes its own infallibility. That it is flawless. Yet it was created by fallible men. Is it even remotely possible that it could be wrong? Can an idea created by fallible men be infallible?

The question is, can it even demonstrate how it’s true. If it can, then maybe Levin could provide the methodology that he uses to prove it. He writes a book that is the Conservative Manifesto, defining conservatism. By defining it, he is unconsciously limiting the reach of its own effectiveness. Once he defines it then it’s not possible to be something beyond that definition. Its potential for greatness is limited to what he’s described. That is self limiting and completely contrary to free-thought and democracy. If, in a democracy those ideas are rejected as they have been recently, then perhaps he might reevaluate his ideas. But no! That isn’t possible because the ideology can’t be wrong. He can’t demonstrate how it’s true, but it can’t be wrong. But if something cannot possibly be wrong, then how can it be right. In order for something to be right it must contain the possibility of being wrong. For something to be true, it must contain the possibility of being false otherwise you’re merely preaching a belief, rather then something that can be proven right or wrong empirically. You would have nothing to compare that truth to. In the world of Mark Levin, conservatism cannot be wrong.

From the time of the pharaohs of ancient Egypt to the thugs of ancient Rome to the glorified warlords of medieval and absolutist Europe, and in nearly every urbanized society throughout human history, there have been people who have tried to constitute themselves as an aristocracy. These people and their allies are the conservatives.

The tactics of conservatism vary widely by place and time. But the most central feature of conservatism is complete deference: an internalized attitude on the part of the common people that the aristocracy are better people than they are. Mark Levin has no interest in democracy. His only interest is a return to an aristocratic society of Lords and serfs.

This is Mark Levin’s Theory of Rationality
 
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Norway, Sweden, Denmark and The United States of America

By what standards and how do you compare any country the size of those to this one? Amazing how liberal socialists always point to those countries that we protect as a success. Don't worry though, Obama is doing his best to make us like those European utopias. When you get older you will realize what a fool liberals have made of you
 
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From day one of his first term, the day of the inauguration, the Repubs were plotting to destroy his presidency. They even admit it. They only goal was to remove him after one term. As for his being a "community agitator" perhaps you should have taken a few lessons. He managed to organize the entire country and we're better off for it despite the ideologues that hate him for who he is.



Everywhere it's been successful. Including right here. Your conservative ideology is what has failed. Look what you did to this country under 8 years of Bush.

Your opinion noted, now please tell me your experience that would support your contention? It really is a shame that people like you pay so much attention to rhetoric and so little to results. How much the billions in debt service on the 16.5 trillion debt is benefiting people? It does appear that you have no concept of debt, debt service, fiscal responsibility, job creation, economic growth.
 
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By what standards and how do you compare any country the size of those to this one? Amazing how liberal socialists always point to those countries that we protect as a success. Don't worry though, Obama is doing his best to make us like those European utopias. When you get older you will realize what a fool liberals have made of you

Since when did Sweden need help from us? Their Gotland class attack subs are state of the art.

And you said list country's were liberal government worked, you never stated a size requirement.
 
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Some argue that the stimulus was too small and there should have been more spending in areas like schools, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects. And maybe it was the job of the states to enact these programs?

That isn't what OBama said when he proposed it nor do you seem to understand the role of the Federal govt. which funds very little of schools. Do you understand state and federal responsibilities as well as spending? Do you know what your taxes fund? Better do some research.
 
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That isn't what OBama said when he proposed it nor do you seem to understand the role of the Federal govt. which funds very little of schools. Do you understand state and federal responsibilities as well as spending? Do you know what your taxes fund? Better do some research.

Please do not insult my intelligence, I have not insulted yours
 
Re: SOTU Address:

By what standards and how do you compare any country the size of those to this one? Amazing how liberal socialists always point to those countries that we protect as a success. Don't worry though, Obama is doing his best to make us like those European utopias. When you get older you will realize what a fool liberals have made of you

So when conservatives attack Cuba for not being us, we should discount them
 
From day one of his first term, the day of the inauguration, the Repubs were
plotting to destroy his presidency. They even admit it. They only goal was to remove him after one term. As for his being a "community agitator" perhaps you should have taken a few lessons. He managed to organize the entire country and we're better off for it despite the ideologues that hate him for who he is.



Everywhere it's been successful. Including right here. Your conservative ideology is what has failed. Look what you did to this country under 8 years of Bush.

Obama has done plenty of damage all on his own. His first two years were with a Democrat Congress.
He passed the most destructive legislation in US history. ObamaCare.

Blaming Republicans for his foolishness is desperate and lame. When are you guys going to take responsibillity ?

Liberalism ? Succesful ? In what universe?

In Greece, France, Spain ? I mean its exceedingly apparent as the US turns down the moron road that massive structural debt, high unemoyment, a growing dependent class is not exactly "successful".
 
Obama has done plenty of damage all on his own. His first two years were with a Democrat Congress.
He passed the most destructive legislation in US history. ObamaCare.

Blaming Republicans for his foolishness is desperate and lame. When are you guys going to take responsibillity ?

Liberalism ? Succesful ? In what universe?

In Greece, France, Spain ? I mean its exceedingly apparent as the US turns down the moron road that massive structural debt, high unemoyment, a growing dependent class is not exactly "successful".

Sweden, Denmark and Norway prove liberalism works.
 
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Since when did Sweden need help from us? Their Gotland class attack subs are state of the art.

And you said list country's were liberal government worked, you never stated a size requirement.

Size does matter as does the amount spent on the military. Liberals don't seem to understand that
 
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Funny it seems that any proposal at spending on things like infrastructure, or any thing that increases spending is viewed as blasphemy by conservatives?

Obama's failed Stimulus was supposed to provide "shovel ready" jobs on Infrastructure. That turned out to be a lie. That spending has now been added to the baseline of Federal Spending every year, going on 4 years now. That's 4 trillion right there and no bridges or roads have been fixed, yet here you are, claiming we need to spend more on "infrastructure". Obama is recycling the same talking points he's been using for going on 5 years now. 5 years of the same tired, cliche, and played out rhetoric like "investing in education", and "investing in infrastructure". The results? A shrinking economy and massive debt.

Secondly these are bridges and roads that are going to to be fixed anyways, so as far as economic growth is concerned, it's a wash. The Federal Government has to take money out of the private economy on top of that to pay for it, so there is no net gain of wealth to the Economy. It's a shifting of resources. Nothing more. You are falling for an economic fallacy.

That Which is Seen, and That Which is Not Seen; by Frederic Bastiat
 
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40% of that went to tax cuts. We need to spend money on infrastrucure. Not more tax cuts. They don't create jobs. When you put people to work, they spend their money, and when they spend money, companies need to hire more people to meet the demand. The consumer is the job creator. Overhaul the US infrastructure and you create jobs.

Is there some reason that you continue to spout the Obama talking points? let me know when we have a deficit reduction, economic growth of over 4%, less than 22 million unemployed/under employed/discouraged workers, a reduction of people on food stamps and other taxpayer assistance? Learn how our economy works and the four components. Then go to OBama and help him understand it.
 
Re: SOTU Address:

Is there some reason that you continue to spout the Obama talking points? let me know when we have a deficit reduction, economic growth of over 4%, less than 22 million unemployed/under employed/discouraged workers, a reduction of people on food stamps and other taxpayer assistance? Learn how our economy works and the four components. Then go to OBama and help him understand it.

So just because our ideals are liberal they are wrong?
 
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Your opinion noted, now please tell me your experience that would support your contention? It really is a shame that people like you pay so much attention to rhetoric and so little to results. How much the billions in debt service on the 16.5 trillion debt is benefiting people? It does appear that you have no concept of debt, debt service, fiscal responsibility, job creation, economic growth.

You supported the debt creation during the 8 years of Bush and now you're freaking out? Are you aware that a huge part of that debt was never on the books during the Bush Admin. The wars were kept off the books. Obama put them back in when he took office so we would all know what was going on. So don't talk to me about fiscal responsibility. As for job creation, its the consumer that creates the jobs. Not some Romneyesque industrialist. Who exactly are the so called “job creators”? They are none-other than the public itself; the consumer who is willing to spend his money on the product or service being offered. The idea that a wealthy industrialist is a job creator is completely false. Hiring a person must always benefit the wealthy industrialist in filling the demand for his product made by the consumer. The consumer always drives the hiring of personnel. Consumer demand creates the job. A company will only hire people based on the demand for the product or service that it offers. Hiring people in hopes of having people walk through the door to buy something is like demanding that the stove gives you heat before you put in the wood. The thing that creates jobs is the demand for a product made on a company by consumers of that product. The public/consumer is the job creator. A company provides a product or a service. It doesn’t provide jobs. That is not what it’s in business for. To suggest otherwise is false, ludicrous and totally and completely illogical. No business man ever started a business with the idea of creating jobs for people. He started a business to make money from his product.


What would our fiscal situation look like if history had been different in just one respect: if we’d never implemented President George W. Bush’s eponymous tax policies? The short answer is that the debate over federal debt levels would be entirely different. In that alternate world, total debt as a share of GDP would be under 50 percent this year — instead of pushing 70 percent — and it would be expected to stay under 60 percent for the rest of the decade. That’s well below the levels causing such great consternation in Washington.

The Bush tax cuts ushered in the weakest economic expansion of the post-war period, as “growth in investment, GDP, and employment all posted their worst performance.” For the cost of the Bush tax cuts, the U.S. could have, among other things, given 49.2 million people access to low-income healthcare every year, provided 43.1 million students with Pell Grants every year, or provided 31.5 million children with access to Head Start every year.
 
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You supported the debt creation during the 8 years of Bush and now you're freaking out? Are you aware that a huge part of that debt was never on the books during the Bush Admin. The wars were kept off the books. Obama put them back in when he took office so we would all know what was going on. So don't talk to me about fiscal responsibility. As for job creation, its the consumer that creates the jobs. Not some Romneyesque industrialist. Who exactly are the so called “job creators”? They are none-other than the public itself; the consumer who is willing to spend his money on the product or service being offered. The idea that a wealthy industrialist is a job creator is completely false. Hiring a person must always benefit the wealthy industrialist in filling the demand for his product made by the consumer. The consumer always drives the hiring of personnel. Consumer demand creates the job. A company will only hire people based on the demand for the product or service that it offers. Hiring people in hopes of having people walk through the door to buy something is like demanding that the stove gives you heat before you put in the wood. The thing that creates jobs is the demand for a product made on a company by consumers of that product. The public/consumer is the job creator. A company provides a product or a service. It doesn’t provide jobs. That is not what it’s in business for. To suggest otherwise is false, ludicrous and totally and completely illogical. No business man ever started a business with the idea of creating jobs for people. He started a business to make money from his product.


What would our fiscal situation look like if history had been different in just one respect: if we’d never implemented President George W. Bush’s eponymous tax policies? The short answer is that the debate over federal debt levels would be entirely different. In that alternate world, total debt as a share of GDP would be under 50 percent this year — instead of pushing 70 percent — and it would be expected to stay under 60 percent for the rest of the decade. That’s well below the levels causing such great consternation in Washington.

The Bush tax cuts ushered in the weakest economic expansion of the post-war period, as “growth in investment, GDP, and employment all posted their worst performance.” For the cost of the Bush tax cuts, the U.S. could have, among other things, given 49.2 million people access to low-income healthcare every year, provided 43.1 million students with Pell Grants every year, or provided 31.5 million children with access to Head Start every year.

This is almost too comical to warrant a response. Do you think the government just hid the debt for eight years and then all of the sudden dumped it into the President's lap? :roll:
 
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The Austrians deny the value of government spending, except for 'defence' purposes - always wondered about that, why does spending taxpayer money on military goods create jobs but spending taxpayer money on other projects is simply taking it away from the taxpayers with no jobs created. We hear it everyday, "Government can't create jobs!" but they never have any actual support for that claim, with their various prevarications and attempts at diversion to keep the public from thinking about the matter.

Agreed. I cannot tell you how many times I have people say they have never been hired by a poor person, like all the money flows down from the wealthy. What they fail to understand is that most jobs are paid for by consumption from the poor and middle class. Some folks, like Apple, have done an amazing job of trying to create new markets, and some fantastic innovation has come from this, but these new markets don't exist in a vacuum, they offset others. Some folks have gotten rid of their home PC's and their home phones in favor of Iphones and Ipads, so it really is in part just capturing revenues that would have gone elsewhere. The engine of our economy is domestic consumption and our nationals policies have crushed consumers and the check engine light is on. If Austrian economics worked, the last 30 years would not have seen the middle class crushed, indeed, their boats would have risen with rising tide of massive wealth concentration to the top.
 
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Growth averaging over 2%, job creation now outperforming Bush's average (despite the recesssion Bush gifted to Obama), revenues up, stock market up, gun control finally on the horizon.

Keep dancing.

Your meme continues.
 
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Cuba, the bastian of freedom and prosperity, a true liberal dream country



By what standards and how do you compare any country the size of Cuba to the USA?

Fill us in.
 
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