A bit of history for the American readers: Canada used to have essentially 3 parties: NDP (far left), Liberal (slightly left of center) and Conservative (slightly center of the far right). Yes, there were some fringe parties too, but they don’t really count. Most governments were formed by the Liberals with a few by the Conservatives because Canadians like a bit of variety. Anyway, about a decade ago, the Canadian Conservative party self-destructed and were replaced by the Reform party (which was about as close to Republican as you can get). The renamed themselves the Conservatives (after the real Conservative party self destructed) and are the current Canadian government.
The lesson: do NOT think that the American Republican party will necessarily live forever. They could easily be replaced by a party (perhaps in name, perhaps from within) that’s even wackier than the current Republicans. That’s my prediction, actually… Ron Paul (who in many ways I actually admire!)
Now back to our regularly scheduled answer:
The trouble with democrats is that in the extreme, they like to think the absolute best of people. So they want to give everybody a break (regardless of whether or not they deserve it), knowing that “it’s not really their fault that they’re (a) on drugs (b) poor (c) a small and poor country, etc.”.
Naturally, they are prone to throwing good money at problems they shouldn’t even be trying to solve.
The trouble with republicans is that they are narrow-minded in the extreme. Why, just the other day I heard an interview with a woman who strongly believed that any stimulus package was unAmerican and that people should be responsible for themselves only. Funny thing was: her husband was unemployed and was dying (uninsured) of lung cancer. See a “cut off her nose to spite her face” issue here?
Perhaps this is why Republicans seem to be dying out… maybe they really are dying.
Republicans all want to be rich beyond their wildest dreams. Even the poorest of the poor (if they’re Republicans) don’t want to upset “big business” because they feel they’re going to make it there someday. In this way, they are as delusional as Democrats.
Politicians are hypocrites. I read yesterday that over a dozen Repubican governors who voted against the stimulus package have turned around and bragged about the great things the money is going to do for their state — trying to get some of the credit with the voters. To say I have no respect for this kind of behavior is probably needless.
So now that I’ve insulted both ends of the political spectrum, here’s the thing: maybe the new leader of the Republicans will be Ron Paul. He, almost uniquely among politicians, seems to at least understand what money really is and how it really works. I’ve got to say, though, the medicine would be brutal! So he’d have to get it all done in 4 years because there wouldn’t be any second term.
One more thing: tax breaks. The Republicans really like tax breaks as a way to stimulate the economy. In normal circumstances, tax breaks do have that effect. But right now, they wouldn’t. Why? Because people are taking every spare dollar and trying to pay off debt. In other words: tax breaks end up being almost exactly the same as bailing out the financial institutions in that the money goes straight to the financial institution in both cases. That’s why paying people to fix America’s infrastructure is a more sane approach. It puts money in that hands of normal people while at the same time improving the country.
So to reiterate: Ron Paul, if they have any hope at all. At least he’ll have a plan and if there’s one thing people all over the world cherish, it’s a leader with a plan. Say what you will about Obama, he has a plan and is respected for it.
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