It is a sad commentary on the state of political life in the United States that our political conventions have become more like rock music festivals than competitions of ideas. There has been a great deal of bombast, of insults, of name-calling, and of chest-beating at both party conventions, but what is disturbingly absent is any mention of how we got to this crisis and how we can get out. From the current foreign policy mess to the looming economic collapse, all we hear is both party candidates saying they will fix it, no problem.
In her convention speech Hillary Clinton promised that she would “fight terrorism” and defeat ISIS by doing more of what we have been doing all along: bombing. In fact we have dropped more than 50,000 bombs on ISIS in Iraq and Syria over the past two years and all she can say is that she will drop more. How many more bombs will defeat ISIS? How many more years will she keep us in our longest war, Afghanistan? She doesn’t say.
In fact, the New York Times – certainly not hostile to the Clintons – wrote that it was almost impossible to fact-check Hillary’s speech because, “she delivered a speech that was remarkably without hard facts.”
Clinton’s top foreign policy advisor said just a day after her convention speech that her big plan for Syria was to go back to square one and concentrate on overthrowing its secular president. How many more thousands more will die if she gets her way? And won’t she eventually be forced to launch a massive US ground invasion that will also kill more Americans?
Clinton does not understand that a policy of endless interventionism has brought us to our knees and made us far weaker. Does she really expect us to be the policemen of the world with $20 trillion in debt?
Likewise, Republican candidate Donald Trump misses the point. He promises to bring back jobs to America without any understanding of the policies that led to their departure in the first place. Yes, he is correct that the middle class is in worse shape than when Obama took office, but not once did he mention how it happened: the destructive policies of the Federal Reserve. The financing of our warfare/welfare state through the printing of phony money. Distorted interest rates that encourage consumption and discourage saving and investment.
Trump tweeted this week that home ownership is at its lowest rate in 51 years. He promised that if elected he will bring back “the American dream.” He seems to have no idea that home ownership is so low because the Fed-created housing bubble exploded in 2007-2008, forcing millions of Americans who did not have the means to actually purchase a home to lose their homes. Not a word about the Fed from Trump.
How are these candidates going to fix the problems we face in America if they have absolutely no idea what caused the problems? No matter who is elected, Americans are going to be very disappointed in the outcome. The warfare/welfare state is going to proceed until we are bankrupt. There is hope, however. It is up to us to focus on the issues, to focus on educating ourselves and others, and to demand that politicians listen.
Poster Comment:
Trump understands looting and pillaging, so he admires the FED and the D&R Crime Syndicate.
#1: Gatlin To: hondo68 (#0)
ROTFL! BHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Gatlin posted on 2016-08-03 21:38:04 Reply Private Reply
#2: buckeroo To: Gatlin, Yukon's ass licker! (#1)
ROTFL! BHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
buckeroo posted on 2016-08-03 21:40:35 Reply Private Reply
#3: redleghunter To: hondo68 (#0)
redleghunter posted on 2016-08-03 21:54:28 Reply Private Reply
#4: Deckard To: Gatlin (#1)
Once again, the self aggrandizing faux "truthseeker" displays his inability to post coherently.
Deckard posted on 2016-08-03 21:57:19 Reply Private Reply
#5: Deckard To: buckeroo (#2)
Always has been.
Rumor has it that Gatlin took a trip up north to visit the queer at his casa del gayo during his latest absence from here.
Deckard posted on 2016-08-03 21:59:15 Reply Private Reply
#6: GrandIsland To: buckeroo (#2)
silly faggot, dicks are for chicks.
GrandIsland posted on 2016-08-03 22:02:04 Reply Private Reply
#7: Hondo68 To: Hillump (#0)
Nor Hillary, either. They're SO much alike that it's the least important election, in history!
Siamese Twins
Hondo68 posted on 2016-08-03 22:03:43 Reply Private Reply
#8: buckeroo To: GrandIsland, sneakypete (#6)
sneakypete told you that same perspective a couple of years back. He leaves adult decisions to adults which include screwing doorknobs; he also told you you that he doesn't want to know about what you do as an adult behind closed doors.
buckeroo posted on 2016-08-03 22:12:03 Reply Private Reply
#9: buckeroo To: Deckard, gatlin, grandisland (#5)
I heard their "get-together" was a FACT.
buckeroo posted on 2016-08-03 22:16:26 Reply Private Reply
#10: BorisY To: buckeroo (#9)
back
to
... work
the
bath
house
opium
dens
are
too
crowded
love
boris
ps
quit
hating
attacking
normal
reality
grown
up
adult
people
BorisY posted on 2016-08-03 22:30:15 Reply Private Reply
#11: buckeroo To: BorisY (#10)
get
some
more
EST
@1Giga-Watts!
Ask
the
psychiatric
technicians
for
more
conductive
paste
across
the
lobes!
Your pal, buckeroo
buckeroo posted on 2016-08-03 22:35:37 Reply Private Reply
#12: rlk To: hondo68 (#0)
That sounds familiar. Does anybody have a problem with it?
rlk posted on 2016-08-03 23:19:00 Reply Private Reply
#13: Hondo68 To: rlk, Democrat Republican terrorism party, *Neo-Lib Chickenhawk Wars* (#12)
It's the same plan that McCain & Kerry had 4 years or so ago. It sucks! "Democratic Rebels", "Freedom Fighters", etc... The Republican Democrat Party are terrorists!
A vote for a Republican Democrat, is a vote for a psycho death merchant.
Terrorists hired by Republican Democrat voters
Hondo68 posted on 2016-08-03 23:43:01 Reply Private Reply
#14: packrat1145 To: hondo68, Gatlin, redleghunter (#0)
Ron Paul is either being disingenuous (some would say dishonest; but, I'm trying hard to be kind here...) or he has not been paying attention (some would say he does not know what the hell he's talking about; but, again...).
Donald Trump just had some pretty interesting things to say about the economy www.washingtonpost.com/ne...to-say-about-the-economy/
Donald Trump In His Own Words: Atlantic City to the White House http://fortune.com/2016/04/21/donald-trump-q-and-a/
Highlights of Donald Trump’s Interview on Taxes, Debt and the Fed http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2...n-taxes-debt-and-the-fed/
Trump's problem with the Fed (Note that Trump also favors a return to the Gold Standard) http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits...umps-problem-with-the-fed
packrat1145 posted on 2016-08-04 00:25:20 Reply Private Reply
#15: Titorite2 To: buckeroo (#2)
Im surprised the legend of yukon still lives... i mean didnt that guy fuck enough fags to get aids and die?
Titorite2 posted on 2016-08-04 00:38:48 Reply Private Reply
#16: BorisY To: Titorite2 (#15)
you
lib
queer
... whack
druggies
hate
normal
people
druggies
libertarians
attract
mimic
them
Make
America
good
great
again
love
boris
BorisY posted on 2016-08-04 01:53:09 Reply Private Reply
#17: misterwhite To: hondo68 (#0)
Actually, that would explain why home ownership is at its lowest rate in 8 years. Now, Mr. Paul, tell me why home ownership is at its lowest rate in 51 years.
I say it's because first-time home buyers can't find a job. Because even if they do find an entry-level job they have a massive student loan to pay off. Also because they haven't saved for a 20% (or even a 10%) down payment forcing them to add private mortgage insurance and pay more points on the loan.
Add homeowner's insurance, utilities and outrageous property taxes (to support our teachers) and renting looks pretty damn good. Possibly renting a home!
misterwhite posted on 2016-08-04 09:45:11 Reply Private Reply
#18: Stoner To: misterwhite (#17)
My youngest son graduated 2 years ago, got a pretty good job about a year ago. He rents. He is pretty frugal, has savings, and growing. He is not interested in buying. Besides the expenses you listed, these is also upkeep/repairs to consider. And, my son is not sure if he wants to stay where he is. Right now, he wants to be able to be mobile. If he finds a better job, he wants to be able to pull up stakes, and move.
Stoner posted on 2016-08-04 09:54:02 Reply Private Reply
#19: misterwhite To: Stoner (#18)
Yep. My son's in Florida (renting) and is considering a great opportunity in Phoenix. He was looking to buy a home in Florida, and now is glad he didn't.
And you're right about the upkeep.
misterwhite posted on 2016-08-04 10:45:54 Reply Private Reply