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What has Damaged America the Most?

What has Damaged America the Most?

  • Total voters
    85
War, because it spawns and sustains all the other evils.
 
Seriously, each individual's pursuit of their own self-interests and the general unwillingness to sacrifice our own time, money, or energy for the good of others, particularly our own children. :(
 
"Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few. In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force, of the people. The same malignant aspect in republicanism may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war, and in the degeneracy of manners and of morals engendered by both. No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."

~James Madison
 
The Giant Noodle said:
As we all know America isnt doing so well as of late. So Im curous what you folks think has done the most damage.
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First and foremost- the citizens of the country are responsible at all levels for the problems we face.

Second- the greatest downfall has been the collapse of our industrial base and both parties, labor unions, management, and citizens have all been willing participants.
 
Winston Smith said:
War, because it spawns and sustains all the other evils.
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Actually, I think the reverse is closer to the truth - evils and such spawn and sustain war - Without reasons (however bad/wrong) war would not continue.
 
Winston Smith said:
~James Madison
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None of this changes the fact that war in an effect, not a cause.

But, to address a few of the lines:
War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes
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Entitlement is the parent of the welfare state; from this proceeds even greater debts and taxes. The difference is that war is sometimes necessary; the welfare state is always a luxury.

No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."
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See: Israel
 
The Mark said:
Actually, I think the reverse is closer to the truth - evils and such spawn and sustain war - Without reasons (however bad/wrong) war would not continue.
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Unfortunately, the war has no logical reason to continue, only the spectra of servival politics. If Obama pulls our army out of Afghanistan, the Reps will call him a weak appeaser, and he won't get reelected.

Afghanistan defenders should be called patriots, not terrorists or insurgents.

ricksfolly
 
ricksfolly said:
Unfortunately, the war has no logical reason to continue, only the spectra of servival politics. If Obama pulls our army out of Afghanistan, the Reps will call him a weak appeaser, and he won't get reelected.
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Wait ... wasn't Obama elected to end the war? :confused:

ricksfolly said:
Afghanistan defenders should be called patriots, not terrorists or insurgents.

ricksfolly
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You, sir, disgust me.
 
ricksfolly said:
Unfortunately, the war has no logical reason to continue, only the spectra of servival politics. If Obama pulls our army out of Afghanistan, the Reps will call him a weak appeaser, and he won't get reelected.

Afghanistan defenders should be called patriots, not terrorists or insurgents.

ricksfolly
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These are those 'Afghan defenders' that you are so supportive of.

images


taliba-woman-shot.jpg



Taliban execute pregnant woman in Afghanistan
Taliban execute pregnant woman in Afghanistan

HERAT, Afghanistan, Aug 9, 2010 (AFP) - The Taliban publicly flogged and then executed a pregnant Afghan widow by firing three shots into her head for alleged adultery, police said on Monday.

Bibi Sanubar, 35, was kept in captivity for three days before she was shot dead in a public trial on Sunday by a local Taliban commander in the Qadis district of the rural western province Badghis.
 
VanceMack said:
These are those 'Afghan defenders' that you are so supportive of.

images


taliba-woman-shot.jpg



Taliban execute pregnant woman in Afghanistan
Taliban execute pregnant woman in Afghanistan

HERAT, Afghanistan, Aug 9, 2010 (AFP) - The Taliban publicly flogged and then executed a pregnant Afghan widow by firing three shots into her head for alleged adultery, police said on Monday.

Bibi Sanubar, 35, was kept in captivity for three days before she was shot dead in a public trial on Sunday by a local Taliban commander in the Qadis district of the rural western province Badghis.
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Those are patriots, sir! Don't you remember hearing about how George Washington had loose women flogged and executed? [/heavy sarcasm]
 
Goobieman said:
None of this changes the fact that war in an effect, not a cause.
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Uh, yeah, it does.

Goobieman said:
But, to address a few of the lines:

Entitlement is the parent of the welfare state; from this proceeds even greater debts and taxes. The difference is that war is sometimes necessary; the welfare state is always a luxury.
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Luxuries are not intrinsically evil. War is, even on the rare occasions when it's necessary.

Goobieman said:
See: Israel
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No need to look that far. Our own society is already tending to fascism, just as theirs is.
 
VanceMack said:
These are those 'Afghan defenders' that you are so supportive of.

images


taliba-woman-shot.jpg



Taliban execute pregnant woman in Afghanistan
Taliban execute pregnant woman in Afghanistan

HERAT, Afghanistan, Aug 9, 2010 (AFP) - The Taliban publicly flogged and then executed a pregnant Afghan widow by firing three shots into her head for alleged adultery, police said on Monday.

Bibi Sanubar, 35, was kept in captivity for three days before she was shot dead in a public trial on Sunday by a local Taliban commander in the Qadis district of the rural western province Badghis.
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Lots of America haters on the left
 
Coronado said:
You, sir, disgust me.
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All right, what would you do if the US was invaded, rationalize the meaning of it all, call them dirty names, or fight back the best way you know how?

By the way, our skirts aren't all that clean either. We persecuted women the same way and did all the other dirty things we accuse them of doing...

ricksfolly
 
Winston Smith said:
Uh, yeah, it does.
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No, it doesnt. In fact, it doesnt address the issue in any way.

Luxuries are not intrinsically evil. War is, even on the rare occasions when it's necessary.
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Show that "war is always evil".

No need to look that far. Our own society is already tending to fascism, just as theirs is.
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This doesnt do anything to negate what I said.
 
Winston Smith; Our own society is already tending to fascism said:
Fascism has turned out to be more of a political buzzword than a government system.

The dictionary defines it as...a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism...

As you can see, none applies to the US...
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Goobieman said:
None of the above.

What has Damaged America the Most?
The midnset that you are entitled to a certain standard of living, and that if you haven't been able to provide that standard for yourself, it's someone else's fault.
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Nonsense... The people looking for work may feel persecuted, but not the 90+ percent majority who have jobs.

ricksfolly
 
ricksfolly said:
Fascism has turned out to be more of a political buzzword than a government system.

The dictionary defines it as...a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism...

As you can see, none applies to the US...
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Look up economic fascism.
 
Look how well pacifism worked for Neville Chamberlain. >>

Knowing British aristocratic arrogance, Chamberlain's demands probably pissed Hitler off.

ricksfolly
 
phattonez said:
Look up economic fascism.
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The economics of fascism refers to the economic policies implemented by fascist governments. Fascism is an authoritarian, nationalist and corporatist ideology largely influenced by Marxist socialist economic theory,

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Still no connection with the US economics...

ricksfolly
 
ricksfolly said:
The economics of fascism refers to the economic policies implemented by fascist governments. Fascism is an authoritarian, nationalist and corporatist ideology largely influenced by Marxist socialist economic theory,

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Still no connection with the US economics...

ricksfolly
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Corporatism has no connection with US economics?
 
ricksfolly said:
Nonsense... The people looking for work may feel persecuted, but not the 90+ percent majority who have jobs.

ricksfolly
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I'm not at all sure how that is related to what I said.
 
ricksfolly said:
The economics of fascism refers to the economic policies implemented by fascist governments. Fascism is an authoritarian, nationalist and corporatist ideology largely influenced by Marxist socialist economic theory,

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Still no connection with the US economics...

ricksfolly
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Take your first definition of fascism and add : "and involves the merger of government and corporate power".

The bank bailout IS fascism, Obama's handling of the auto industry is fascism, letting insurance companies WRITE the health care bill is fascism, etc

Also, JUST BECAUSE Obama was elected and has the 'velvet glove' doesn't make him ANY less of a dictator... rather then the executor he's supposed to be... and when they kick him out in 2012 or 2016, then a new guy will come in and act as dictator...so, the dictatorship is in the OFFICE of the presidency, rather then the puppet sitting in the presidential chair.

Goobieman said:
I'm not at all sure how that is related to what I said.
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Don't worry you were making sense.
 
BmanMcfly said:
Take your first definition of fascism and add : "and involves the merger of government and corporate power".

The bank bailout IS fascism, Obama's handling of the auto industry is fascism, letting insurance companies WRITE the health care bill is fascism, etc

Also, JUST BECAUSE Obama was elected and has the 'velvet glove' doesn't make him ANY less of a dictator... rather then the executor he's supposed to be... and when they kick him out in 2012 or 2016, then a new guy will come in and act as dictator...so, the dictatorship is in the OFFICE of the presidency, rather then the puppet sitting in the presidential chair.



Don't worry you were making sense.
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Strange conservative-tea party reasoning.
 
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