I don't think anything will change in the US until

[Goldensilence]

we see that capitalism is aristocracy dressed in a business suit.

[texastoast]

1. Ya think?

So, what are our options?

[Goldensilence]

6. well a move to the socialist left is a start

porportional seating, much like parliamentary style govt (we're installing that in Iraq so why not here???)

A sort of confidence vote like in the UK.

Nationalize Healthcare. I think access to quality healthcare is in EVERYONE'S best interest.But wait socailized medicine means no large profits for CEOs...darn.

Strong anti-trust legislation. Strong pro-labor legislation.

A fair minimum wage.

End corporate welfare and concentrate on personal welfare.

A multiple party government. Yes some are going to be left out represenational wise but it would force coalitions between parties to get legislation done. Meaning building bridges between parties would be better then building walls(like now).

A true national energy plan. Sorry but tax cuts for oil co's is just not a solid long term plan. We have a wonderful university research system it's time we really put it to use. Again this is problem because renewable resources don't usually equal large profits.

There is also the matter of naming positions for department heads. I think an end to cronyism should be anotehr priority. Either a full time house sub committee on finding who is best suited for departmental head positions not who is x leaders good pal who helped him get in office.

I'm sure a good portion of these ideas are supposedly democratic ideas. But pulling them off has been anotehr issue. When it comes down to it there are more then just idealogical divides in governmental rule. There is financial ones. That is why we're seeing democrats let some of the current tax legislation roll through. A rich person will not shoot themselves in the foot. Republicans are simply more out front with their financial agenda.

[texastoast]

7. Well said

"A rich person will not shoot themselves in the foot. Republicans are simply more out front with their financial agenda."

There is the rub. The lack of integrity among all politicians is astounding.

[Goldensilence]

11. agreed much my friend

When soceity views its total agenda as a goal then...perhaps we will see some progress until then.....we are "victums" of those who control resources now. There again isn't much profit in renewable resources.

[SharonAnn]

2. I think "conservatism" is aristocracy.

[cyberpj]

3. Stop... Now I can't get that joke out of my mind... "THE ARISTOCRATS"

Don't ask me to explain - you'll have to rent the DVD.

[Stevepol]

4. And voting is returned to the public trust and removed from ...

the for-profit private corporations. As long as the vote is counted by highly partisan corporations using secret, proprietarial software, where the source code is off-limits even to the elections officials, where poll after poll indicates blatant fraud, where any auditing that is done is done long after the election and is not a truly random audit, etc. etc. etc., until these things are no longer true, it's impossible for anything to change -- except for the worse.

[onenote]

5. then you've got a long wait

'Cause capitalism is here to stay in this country.

onenote

[rinsd]

8. LOL...the US is capitalism. (nt)

[f-bush]

9. and then take to the streets and burn it down...

it won't be until people realize that those the US has been fucking over these past years (the poor and marginalized) that they too have right and needs etc. When you pin somebody to a wall and make it so they have nothing to lose that is when they are most dangerous. We are getting awfully close to getting a huge portion of society in that situation!

[Goldensilence]

10. agreed totally but

what point hits this wall?

i am wondering?!

[f-bush]

12. IMHO

the only thing that's keeping the lid on things is that most people are just barely comfortable enough to be afraid of losing what little they have.

We have been offered just enough crumbs not to starve, one calamity or downtown for most people would put them over the edge, that's when things get dangerous.