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renie408

(9,854 posts)
Thu Nov 21, 2013, 08:36 AM Nov 2013

What future does America have?

I have never been one of those people who think the country is going to hell in a handbasket and wails about 'the fall of Rome' blah blah blah.

Until now.

As mentioned in another thread, the ACA is possibly in deep trouble. Republicans are poised to begin picking it apart until nothing worth having is left. If public support remains low, Dems are going to start joining in to save their seats.

That sucks for healthcare reform, but has much, much more dire implications. How does this country govern itself with a system as broken as this? How do we move forward when the opposition party is so damned determined to go BACKWARDS as far as it can and, whether we want to admit it or not, uses the system brilliantly against progress?

I have always told my children that progressiveness would win in the end because social progress is the only way for a civilized society to survive. But I reckoned without an entire political party led by a ruling class that doesn't mind the country failing.

That's the other thing I am starting to believe in: A ruling class.

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
What future does America have? (Original Post) renie408 Nov 2013 OP
Under puke obstruction madokie Nov 2013 #1
It's kinda scary to think about. renie408 Nov 2013 #2
Very scary madokie Nov 2013 #3
Has anybody considered Nuclear Unicorn Nov 2013 #4
What future do we want it to have? nyquil_man Nov 2013 #5
We need progressive representation PowerToThePeople Nov 2013 #6
Well, exactly. What do you do then? That's why so many people are figuring Nay Nov 2013 #7
For starters PowerToThePeople Nov 2013 #8

Nuclear Unicorn

(19,497 posts)
4. Has anybody considered
Thu Nov 21, 2013, 09:15 AM
Nov 2013

passing a law that people actually want and then competently executing that law? It's sounds crazy, I know; this being America and all but it's worth a shot.

I know. I know. Polling shows people like the ACA more than they like ObamaCare.

However, that was before they learned that both programs were going to 1) cancel their insurance despite repeated assurances so as to 2) force them onto wildly expensive plans for 3) services they don't want in order to 4) subsidize other families to the detriment of their own family all the while being 5) insulted that they don't know what's best for them and 6) if they fail to comply they become criminals.

And the other shoes haven't even stopped dropping. What about keeping preferred physicians? What about when the waiver on the employer mandate expires? What about all the jobs being knocked down to part time to skirt compliancy? When was any of this part of the sales pitch?

You cannot treat an electorate so disdainfully and expect their continued support. People keep saying, "As soon as this kicks in the way we promised people will love it!" Well, yeah; but when does the part about "the way we promised" take effect?

"As soon as the GOP decides to not make it a campaign issue!" Really? Did we really design a law that requires universal acceptance and no dissent? If we did we're dumber than the GOP gives us credit for. I don't ever remember the GOP passing laws that required our love and acceptance in order to take effect. Politically, I came of age protesting GOP wars; fat lot of good that did me and my husband.

We don't need laws simply for the sake of passing laws. We need laws that actually make people's lives better. In the only act of candor when this law was being passed we kept saying, "We just need SOMETHING!" and brother that is exactly what we got.

nyquil_man

(1,443 posts)
5. What future do we want it to have?
Thu Nov 21, 2013, 09:25 AM
Nov 2013

The moment we start telling ourselves we're helpless and powerless is the moment we're doomed. It will become true, whether it's true or not.

 

PowerToThePeople

(9,610 posts)
6. We need progressive representation
Thu Nov 21, 2013, 09:35 AM
Nov 2013

When the Democratic party puts out right wing ideas, who is left to do what is best for the citizens?

Nay

(12,051 posts)
7. Well, exactly. What do you do then? That's why so many people are figuring
Thu Nov 21, 2013, 11:21 AM
Nov 2013

that some sort of revolution or societal breakdown is the only thing that will break the back of the people in power, and even that is not a given since they generally have the police and military at their beck and call.

It's why some of us got excited about Obama (oh, well) and are now looking elsewhere for gutsy representation and leadership. It's got to be out there somewhere. God knows nobody listens to me, so we have to have somebody out there with charisma and progressive ideas.

 

PowerToThePeople

(9,610 posts)
8. For starters
Thu Nov 21, 2013, 11:33 AM
Nov 2013

Here are some ideas to try to work on while we still operate in a Capitalist system.

Reign in DoD spending 90% - pull troops from overseas.
Reverse Citizen's United.
Negative income tax.
Universal Health care.
Progressive Taxation of Wealth.
100% inheritance tax over a certain threshold.
Reinstate the Fairness Doctrine.
Nationalization of banking/insurance industries.

There is more we could do as well. These are just a few issues I care about.


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