Reply #32: Yes I notice the bullying here... [View All]

[ljm2002]

...it tends to take the form of ridicule.

I have never understood why the left is subject to ridicule from so many quarters, while the right is always given a hearing, however ridiculously "out there" they may get. Yet just let someone espouse universal health care -- no matter how many facts and figures we may provide, it is "socialism" and "socialism is bad, so there!"

Well hopefully the worm is turning. It's about friggin' time. There have been serious leftist movements in this country in the past, they've been pretty much dormant since WWII. We defeated the fascists over there but unfortunately the fascists over here have been a very strong force.

And yes, I am more than willing to go beyond political labels of left vs. right vs. liberal vs. conservative vs. fascist vs. communist. I think these times demand a fresh view of how things are set up and how they should be set up. I think we have learned that centralized, state control of everything is a bad idea. We've also learned purely private, unfettered markets are also a bad idea. Some things make sense to be run by government -- but not always by the big central bureaucracy. Energy comes to mind -- decentralization is a good idea. But it is also the case that private entities can provide innovation, and for trade of consumer goods they are IMO demonstrably the way to go.

So there's lots of room for improvement without getting bogged down in old labels. If Obama succeeds at this, good for him. I just don't see how extending his hand to so-called conservatives while brushing away anyone with a truly progressive outlook, will accomplish this. And it makes me angry, for which I make no apology.