What do republicans want?

[KillerDog]

Instead I am 'pro socialism' because I was born to a middle-class family in a blue-collar town in a poor state and went on to live in a poverty-ridden barrio where I can see how these programs would help the malnourished and illiterate kids that populate my neighborhood. Thank goodness I wasn't born into wealth like the Kennedy's or else my opinion on these issues wouldn't matter!

The core assumption that you are making is that certain policies would help the nourishment and literacy in your hood. I have had the wonderful chance to see many very poor neighborhoods first hand. My experience has taught me two things.

(1) There are very few families in very poor neighborhoods where some children in that family don't find a way out. What is the difference between the ones that find their way out and the ones that don't.

(2) Government programs are in abundance but are not the solution. Government programs are rarely predicated on productive behavior. Usually they are predicated on counter-productive behavior.

[byu71]

The core assumption that you are making is that certain policies would help the nourishment and literacy in your hood. I have had the wonderful chance to see many very poor neighborhoods first hand. My experience has taught me two things.

(1) There are very few families in very poor neighborhoods where some children in that family don't find a way out. What is the difference between the ones that find their way out and the ones that don't.

(2) Government programs are in abundance but are not the solution. Government programs are rarely predicated on productive behavior. Usually they are predicated on counter-productive behavior.

I know a fellow in Utah County who has as big a soft spot for undocumenteds as anyone on this board. He provides shelter for them, work for them. I have seen him with these folks and they truly have affection for he and he for them.

One thing he told me. The older generation works their tails off. They tell him they worry about their children. It seems their children are into the American way of life. Someone owes them something. They get into the victim thing. They are having trouble controlling their kids and the kids don't want to work like they do.

If you expect something, you aren't as motivated. It is human nature.

[KillerDog]

I know a fellow in Utah County who has as big a soft spot for undocumenteds as anyone on this board. He provides shelter for them, work for them. I have seen him with these folks and they truly have affection for he and he for them.

One thing he told me. The older generation works their tails off. They tell him they worry about their children. It seems their children are into the American way of life. Someone owes them something. They get into the victim thing. They are having trouble controlling their kids and the kids don't want to work like they do.

If you expect something, you aren't as motivated. It is human nature.

True.

I'll tell you, as someone who has been a recipient of government welfare programs, we don't need to expand them. We need to provide incentives for people to get off the plans and in many cases make access more difficult.

[RobinFinderson]

True.

I'll tell you, as someone who has been a recipient of government welfare programs, we don't need to expand them. We need to provide incentives for people to get off the plans and in many cases make access more difficult.

The success you have enjoyed after receiving government help is proof that the programs should be limited? I don't get it.

[RobinFinderson]

You said "ones", that is plural. You then went on to cherry pick a whole list of things that are better in the "ones" (countries) than the USA. It was a broad sweeping generalization and you know it. There might be many countries better as far as stats go in some of those area's. Even some better in most of those stats.

However, that doesn't prove their form of government is better or for sure that socialism is better.

Which of those countries have more people flocking to get in? Which of those countries are more innovative and entrpreneurial. Which country provides most of the worlds discoveries in technology or medical cures.

America, in my opinion is the greatest country on earth. Argue it could become better, but don't argue some other country is better overall. Why do libs. have to belittle America in order to argue it can become better.

Spain and the UK meet all of my critera. Take out the suicide rate and all of the countries are better than the US in all of the ways listed except for the pollution issue, for which I couldn't find statistics. There is also the issue of drug/alcohol addiction, for which I was also unable to find statistics for comparing.

As far as socialized stuff goes, I don't think liberal are asking for much: Healthy food, healthy bodies, excellent education, clean water and air and affordable housing and clothing. Keep our national parks and wilderness, and the rest I would be happy to turn over to the private sector.

[UtahDan]

I appreciate a smart opposition party, and I also appreciate fiscal conservativism, but what the heck do Republicans want?

They don't want to raise taxes in good times or bad, but they had the better part of eight years to demonstrate that they aren't serious about cutting spending.

They hate socialism, but their favorite spending area also happens to be the most socialistic and expensive program we have -- the military.

They don't want to get out of Iraq but they can't tell us what conditions would need to be met before we can get out.

They can't decide if we should continue saving the banks (socialism) or let them collapse along with our economic system (destitute capitalism).

Hell, they can't even figure out if they are for or against gay marriage (which is a sign of progress).

So what do republicans want? Besides everything and nothing?

When it comes to hypocrisy, inconsistency, corruption, rudderlessness and a blank check approach to the tax payers money, Republicans have no equal. Aside from Democrats that is.

Get back to us in another seven years when Democrats efforts to recreate Johnson's great society have petered out once and for all and are looking for a direction. There is no new thing under the sun, sadly, for either party.

[MindfulCoug]

I would like a phase-out of Iraq forces over the next 18 months, but would like to see permanent bases established in Iraq and Afghanistan that have quick response capabilities. Sorry mindful.

That's it for now.

No problem.But i am afraid you will be bankrupted by then.

[snowcat]

Spain and the UK meet all of my critera. Take out the suicide rate and all of the countries are better than the US in all of the ways listed except for the pollution issue, for which I couldn't find statistics. There is also the issue of drug/alcohol addiction, for which I was also unable to find statistics for comparing.

As far as socialized stuff goes, I don't think liberal are asking for much: Healthy food, healthy bodies, excellent education, clean water and air and affordable housing and clothing. Keep our national parks and wilderness, and the rest I would be happy to turn over to the private sector.

Unemployment in Spain hit 13.4% in November and is climbing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7817824.stm