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Dave said: “Hal, if you think the bottoming of the market 2 months after Obama got in had anything to do with him you really don’t understand much about what went on….I’m sorry but the financial situatoon of the banks was out of his hands.”
Why did the market go up?
“Ok so now that most of us Lefties have stated what we don’t like about the Tea Party”
Yes, you have. And the force of your responses stands as powerful commentary on why the movement continues to grow.
– Promotion of judeo-christian culture in the United States to the exclusion of other cultures, in particular muslim culture.
*** Not only is it unconstitutional, but it’s a dangerous concept. If history hasn’t taught us anything about the dangers of theocracy, a look at the Middle East ought to. And the excesses of the evangelical right in this country. Our strength is in our diversity- at least it was when we were more open-minded and forward thinking.
– Lower government spending and lower taxes.
***Great idea. But let’s be realistic about how and why. More facts, not more fictions.
– Cutbacks / elimination of welfare and other entitlement programs.
*** Again- how realistic? How willing are we as a country to cut the vulnerable loose and let them suffer? Shall we be like 3rd world countries with the homeless and sick dead and dying on the streets? Cut the waste in government (like all the perks for Congress)and keep compassionate and social programs in place.
– Anti-immigration (ties in to the first point I guess)
*** How about a real assessment of the effects of immigration on this country- bearing in mind that immigrants also add to the economy, as well as cost it. Instead of blanket, across the board xenophobic policies, how about a real , well educated and thought out policy that actually benefits all of us.
– English language only (same – ties to first point
*** English as our primary language. I see no reason for people to come to a country and not learn the language. Not learning English puts immigrants at a severe disadvantage.
– Economic protectionism (not really sure about this one but is seems to go with the general vibe)
*** I agree we could do a lot more to boost this country’s economy and I buy American whenever I can. But let’s be real- economy is global and unless we make it more palatable to do business here, protectionism is short-sighted and ultimately damaging. But de-regulation and other financial benefits don’t work- corporations don’t care. And trickle-down economics is a farce.
– Repeal of health care legislation.
*** No. The health care industry needs reform and the free market principle has been a field of dreams for greed. I had to go to the hospital 2 weeks ago- they are charging me almost 800$ just for the ambulance ride- from FDNY. Which my taxes go to pay for. Not to mention the cost of being sick and without care impacts the whole country- not just the uninsured sick. Health care in this country is broken- healthcare legislation is a first step toward fixing it- although it will take years to do that.
People work all their lives, and pay into the system. what’s the sense of supporting this country if the country doesn nothing to help you? And when I see signs at a TP rally that says “Gov’t Hands off my Medicare!” I have to wonder, just how much these people actually comprehend.
“The document calls for the elimination of the Department of Education and the Federal Reserve, demands an investigation of “collusion between government and industry in the global warming myth,” suggests the adoption of “Austrian Economics,” declares that “‘Freedom of Religion’ does not mean ‘freedom from religion'” [blogger’s editorial comment omitted], insists that “healthcare is not a right,” calls for the abrogation of the “UN Treaty on Rights of the Child” and the “Law Of The Sea Treaty” and declares that we must resist “efforts to create a one world government.”
Ooookayyyyy. And how is this not fringe, and downright nuts?
“In the survey, 71% of Republicans described themselves as tea-party supporters, saying they had a favorable image of the movement or hoped tea- party candidates would do well in the Nov. 2 elections.”
Now that’s really scary.
Here is one of Lech’s proposed Tea Part tenets that I disagree with:
– English language only.
We are really ignorant in the US when it comes to other languages. Everybody should learn to speak a couple of languages besides English.
“By cobblehiller on September 29, 2010 11:59 AM
WAH wah wah, Lech. You’re very good at standing on the sidelines and directing traffic. Perhaps you missed your calling?!”
Pick an issue and refute it, cobblehiller. If you can.
What DCB said. If anyone actually thinks that the majority of the electorate even understands the Tea Party, they are mistaken. Bit that’s a good thing. The y (the majority) understand that something’s up and everyone wants change so they’ll vote for it, which is good.
Everyone should go; except for my blonde cousin a few times removed, Kirsten Gillibrand. Afterall, she’s a member of the NRA and what guy doesn’t want to bed a blonde, MILF, NRA member?????
“I really don’t see why this is all so hard for people. I can think of about 10 ways to refute every element of the tea party platform that I identified. It’s astonishing to me that you all really can’t move past calling them racist nutjobs.”
It’s not hard, just not worth the time and effort to do so on a real estate blog as a debating exercise. What’s astonishing to me is that you can’t understand how profoundly troubling and dangerous the movement’s underlying racist rhetoric and demagoguery is.