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View Full Version : Federalism is Dead

anEinherjer
July 30th, 2007, 10:58:35 AM
http://www.1010wins.com/pages/728079.php?contentType=4&contentId=728070

SBA giving out federal money to NYC for their pipe explosion.

Jefferson lets out a wistful sigh from his grave....


Given that federalism is truly dead (see: farm bill), what is the point of fighting for it? What is the point of fighting leviathan? What is the point of trying to get people to understand shades of gray or alternative solutions?

What is the point of having States at all? I'm honestly surprised this idea hasn't come up yet. Dump the silly notion of "states" and just call us "America".

A lot of people around here goof on me and Pete for "gently pushing" (LOL) our beliefs in smaller government and personal liberty. It's obvious we're just about the only ones making the argument in America today.

Is there any reason for hope? It seems like there's very little in the way of knowledge and understanding about our past and why the system of sovereign states was even designed.

At this point, my guess is we're SO wealthy, so well off as a nation, that it doesn't even matter to the vast majority any longer. Until there are truly horrific abuses by government the smaller/leaner crowd won't get any traction. Gov't wastes untold hundreds of billions and really, for the vast majority of people in America, it just doesn't matter!

On one hand it's incredibly discouraging to people like me who see the waste and failure and want to see a better way. On the other it's incredibly heartening to realize that we live in what is, for all historical comparisons, a utopia of unparalleled success.

I'm just sayin', is all.
JLB
July 30th, 2007, 11:01:42 AM
do we have to take the good with the bad bitter with the sweet?
Lucidvizion
July 30th, 2007, 11:50:37 AM
On one hand it's incredibly discouraging to people like me who see the waste and failure and want to see a better way. On the other it's incredibly heartening to realize that we live in what is, for all historical comparisons, a utopia of unparalleled success.

I bet I'd have a pretty sweet life if I had an infinite line of credit.

This whole house of cards crashes down when the debt collectors call.
anEinherjer
July 30th, 2007, 11:58:58 AM
Sure Lucid, you know that and I believe it - but since it's not here now, since there's no crisis, noone gives a crap. Is there any hope of changing that BEFORE a financial distaster happens? I just don't think so, otherwise we'd see some clamor for change in our long-term entitlement programs (just look up "unfunded liability" with regards to social security and medicare/aid and it'll give you nightmares).
JLB
July 30th, 2007, 12:02:18 PM
(just look up "unfunded liability" with regards to social security and medicare/aid and it'll give you nightmares).

suggestions?
anEinherjer
July 30th, 2007, 2:45:05 PM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20010728/site/newsweek/?from=rss

Timely op-ed.

The only thing is he says local think tanks are avoiding the issue. Not true: Cato has a TON of material on social security and medicare/aid reform. It must be done.

75% of the current budget sucked up by entitlements? I blanche. :yikes: :)
35Pete
July 30th, 2007, 3:00:08 PM
I bet I'd have a pretty sweet life if I had an infinite line of credit.

This whole house of cards crashes down when the debt collectors call.

And the debt collectors set it up that way. Since inflation will rise and real wages will fall there will be less fiat money for the serfs to pay the landlords with. Guess who controls inflation? Yep, you guessed it. The debt collectors.

That being the case, the lords will forclose and take anything and everything. They'll grab real assets. And in effect they stole them from you buy issuing you a piece of paper as money, then manipulating it to make it worthless and holding down your wages to make sure that your real earning power decreased. Remember the pet bankruptcy bill slammed through congress by their stooges on the Hill.

What would facilitate that? Why how about a trillion dollar national health care plan where the tax man takes an even bigger bite out of what you have left, leaving your situation even less desirable.
JLB
July 30th, 2007, 5:00:11 PM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20010728/site/newsweek/?from=rss

Timely op-ed.

The only thing is he says local think tanks are avoiding the issue. Not true: Cato has a TON of material on social security and medicare/aid reform. It must be done.

75% of the current budget sucked up by entitlements? I blanche. :yikes: :)

what are taxes for?
what are we spending the other 25% on?
Green Lantern
July 30th, 2007, 5:55:41 PM
Did anyone tell the state governments that Federalism is dead?
K-Gun
July 30th, 2007, 9:19:51 PM
slash 75% of the Defense Budget.
anEinherjer
July 30th, 2007, 9:42:34 PM
Once we're at 75% of the budget, there won't be any money for defense, don't worry JKiG. :)
sukie
July 30th, 2007, 9:51:41 PM
Librarian, You know full well that a defense budget slash of 75% would hit all the major news outlets including Al Jazeera and Newsmax (Al least A J doesn't require a subscription).

Would this kind of info being sprayed globally like me on a two case bender taking a beer whizz be good or bad for us?
Green Lantern
July 30th, 2007, 9:52:49 PM
It'd be good. He wouldn't have to wait as long to be right.
sukie
July 30th, 2007, 9:54:33 PM
So jlb would have the first thread on the topic
Green Lantern
July 30th, 2007, 9:55:52 PM
Eschatology runs rampant among American atheists.
sukie
July 30th, 2007, 9:57:24 PM
That makes little sense. there is no soul or afterlife.
Green Lantern
July 30th, 2007, 9:59:24 PM
That makes little sense. there is no soul or afterlife.

It is a mystery to me as well.
sukie
July 30th, 2007, 10:00:13 PM
I claim no mystery
Green Lantern
July 30th, 2007, 10:02:03 PM
I claim no mystery

You are not the atheist about whom I was referring.

It is a mystery, I meant, why atheists would run around predicting the end is nigh.
sukie
July 30th, 2007, 10:04:04 PM
Maybe they are gay... flipping the moon to others of that persuasion and giving mere directions.
Green Lantern
July 30th, 2007, 10:05:33 PM
Maybe they are gay... flipping the moon to others of that persuasion and giving mere directions.

Tell the truth:

Does Pete have one of those "support the arts" Florida license plates on that big, honkin' truck of his?
sukie
July 30th, 2007, 10:07:17 PM
No. I wouda expected at the LEAST a NRA bumper sticker
K-Gun
July 30th, 2007, 10:41:06 PM
That makes little sense.

sure it does, even Marxism is a form of secularized Christian eschatology.
anEinherjer
July 31st, 2007, 8:40:46 AM
Oh lookie, aqua's acting all smart again. :rolleyes:


Sukie - it's not going to be a 75% slash all at once. This is creeping up on us over time, which is why noone gives a shit.
Green Lantern
July 31st, 2007, 5:34:20 PM
If I were truly smart, I would type my sighs of exasperation into my posts.
35Pete
July 31st, 2007, 7:06:04 PM
Librarian, You know full well that a defense budget slash of 75% would hit all the major news outlets including Al Jazeera and Newsmax (Al least A J doesn't require a subscription).

Would this kind of info being sprayed globally like me on a two case bender taking a beer whizz be good or bad for us?

If we cut the Roman War Machine they'll follow us home!

Cue obligatory shitting of the pants.