United Liberty
What a Choice- Imperialism or Socialism
Sat, 10/11/2008 - 12:26pm | posted by Austin Wilkes
Gone are the days of the old Republican Party- a party that supported the principles of less government, low spending, low taxes, the rule of law, and the United States Constitution. Nowadays, Republicans spend as much as Democrats, burdening future generations with inevitable tax hikes, and making our federal government larger and more powerful than one could have imagined possible just a few years ago.
Both parties waste billions, but the main difference is the Republicans are now wasting it overseas nation-building and being the world’s policeman. Sad to say, if it is going to be wasted, I would rather it be wasted right here at home- but then we face socialism.
The neoconservatives who have taken over the post-Reagan Republican party have turned us into the world’s policeman, but only where we decide it is important to our corporate and ideological interests. Our motives thus seem superficial and selfish, which has given us the reputation of being the world’s bully. Our actions, even when good and true, are seen as oppressive to many and thus are fueling the fire of global terrorism throughout the world. Then using the fear of terrorism, our government continues to further dismantle the US Constitution, paving the way for a centralized police state.
This Gestapo like approach has created a cash cow within the judicial system that must continue to be fed at the expense of the life and liberty of many non-violent Americans. Non-violent drug offenders need to be separated from the violent prison population and invoke alternative sentencing programs whenever possible. The system- a system that dwarfs even that of China, a nation 5 times larger than our own- is filled with non-violent drug offenders who leave prison more violent and worse than they were when they began their sentencing. It is almost as if we’re training a new generation of violent criminals to enter society. It’s time to put a little common sense and compassion back into the system.
Another major issue is that of federal spending. The Republican party has no problem spending billions intervening in foreign affairs that honestly are none of our business, but if a Democrat proposes taking that money we are spending patrolling and attempting to control every inch of the global and spending it on schools, infrastructure, alternative energy, or healthcare, the Republicans call it socialism. That may be true, but what is our choice as Americans- imperialism or socialism?
So according to the new Republican Party, big business and big government rule the world and if the masses have rights and freedoms, they’re seen as a threat and must be controlled. How ironic is it that our government says our troops are fighting on offense in foreign lands to preserve the rights and freedoms of all Americans- the very rights the government is stripping away from the American people. So, now the American people get a choice between big government imperialism and big government socialism.
Unfortunately we will probably end up with both.
God Bless America.
The right is surely imperialistic, but they are practicing fascism, and recent weeks have only been an acceleration of fascist policies. The roots were planted long ago. Pure socialism is doomed to fail, but I must admit that I believe a slight leaning in that direction would be a good mediator to the firm, unholy hold that fascism has on our governmental and personal lives. History is made up of ungraceful lurches from extreme to extreme in search of balance. If you believe that raising taxes on the richest Americans to keep China from owning us is socialist wealth redistribution, as many capitalists do, then so be it. I think that it IS patriotic for those most blessed by wealth to pay a little more. And if we, as a nation, must lean toward socialism - without losing our democratic underpinnings - I’d say it’s past time for that “lurch,” and the only fix available to head toward a balanced democracy once again. Ideology must subordinate itself to practicality when democracy is at stake.
Not much of a choice is it? I believe this credit bubble was planned as to give us another war to fight - a monetary war. With every war there comes less freedom. Now we head into the abyss of Imperialism/socialism/communism/corporatism/ fascism/capitalism - a sickeningly unhealthy mixture of all.
Let Barack Obama hand out money to citizens who don’t even pay taxes and they will love him. McCain is such a weak conservative it makes me sick. I’m with you on everything you’ve said.
Paying more money in taxes is only “patriotic” if you are doing so willingly. But taxes are not voluntary. You don’t have a say in the matter. The government *takes* the money without asking.
The problem is not taxes. The government needs to spend less. Much less. Given that government spending is, IIRC, around 10-20 times what it was just 100 years ago, at what point does it become enough?
We need to go back to every individual paying a set amount of tax based on population of their area. Whatever the government can’t fund with that money plus various tarriffs and user fees, the government will have to do without. Maybe they can hold a bake sale, or oh, I don’t know….stop developing nuclear weapons that can destroy the entire planet in one punch. Prioritize. That’s what you and I have to do, and it’s long past time for the government to do the same. That’s the only fair way.
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