Mother Jones - Comments for "Brodner's Person of the Day: The Conservative Movement"

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Jeff:
A lot of you say is true. Broad strokes are good for illustration, cartoon because they cut to the chase. I do not mean to be making a black and white argument,however, but rather to spur discussion, which I'm grateful we're having, about these very public decision we make and their consequences. In some cases one can see through the complexity to bright lines that really end up hurting people. The Bush gang gives us quite a few. And these have their roots in anti-government conservative doctrine. Liberals, agreed , must be watched at least as closely. Witness the current Congress. Here's to a life dedicated in eternal vigilance.

Well, Steve, it's not as though poor infrastructure is began with the Bush Administration. Every president and every congress has wasted time and misappropriated the revenue we the taxpayers provide, that includes Liberals. What you imply in your illustration is that Conservatism is the reason the bridge collapsed, and it is a flawed, post hoc argument. It's an insult to the victims, their families, and to all the decent, principled everyday Conservatives in this country (yes, I've met some and can attest that they do exist).
Just as there's a BIG difference between being a Christian and being Christ-like, there is a difference between being GOP and being conservative. These broad-stroke labels don't help the discussion, either.

Er, that's Jeff. As I was saying . . .

Well, this will not be my first foolish or disgusting illustration. Just connecting the dots here, Ted. Sorry if I'm a bit glib. I usually shoot for something at least a little more analytical. But we have to look at what's defunded in this country. And where the tax money is actually going. And, commensurate with, sorry, the conservative regime in power since 2001, the money has gone into the pockets of Donald Trump and friends and the, sorry again, the military industrial complex (Ike's term). I respect libertarians. You all have a very consistent philosophy that sticks to funding the things you believe in. The Bush gang have a philosophy of expanding greed and power. Everything, including the health and safety of the people, and the US Constitution, falls before that.

This is such a foolish, disgusting illustration. Fiscal conservatism did this? Or was it social? I don't know of a single person on either side of the political spectrum that thinks it is OK to neglect infrastructure. As a Libertarian, I find roads to be one of the few things that the Government should be responsible for. Perhaps your ever-righteous Democratic congress should spend more time taking care of structurally deficient bridges and less time on Alberto Gonzales. Which, really, is more important.
As for taxes, you might like to know (and then ignore) that Minnesota ranks 6th in taxes collected per capita (2005 US Census), and yet...well.
Nonetheless, I find it despicable that you've used this tragedy to perpetuate your weak, irrational ideology - an ideology that is no better than Conservatism as you see it.

RON PAUL

Oddly enough, I heard Tim Bedore speak to this very truth just today:

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2007/08/10/PM200708106.html

Excerpt:
>>The constant ridiculing of tax-and-spenders and the "It's your money. You earned it, you should keep it" drum beat of talk radio. The union-busting, outsourcing, we-can-do-America-on-the-cheap philosophy that has infected corporate America, school boards, state legislatures . . . all of us.

Yep, Beverly. I think these are both at play. Tax cuts are conservative doctrine. It's a way of thinking about the world, sans feeling, that I'm getting at. And now, with the Treasury empty major issues like health care, global warming, infrastructure and yes, homeland security, he wants to cut more taxes. We cannot connect those dots fast enough, I think.
Steve

It's not the tax cuts, but the big gaping loop holes that big bus. and corps. easily use to not pay their share of the burden.(The richman dances while the poor man pays the band!)

Mother Jones - Comments for "Brodner&#039;s Person of the Day: The Conservative Movement"

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Mother Jones - Comments for "Brodner's Person of the Day: The Conservative Movement"