We NEED conservatives. No ideology, no political bloc, left to run things entirely as it sees fit, will not screw things up. This isn’t a good vs.evil thing. Liberals and progressives have their hearts in the right place, but sometimes they are too quick to apply ill-considered solutions to complex problems, or to expect instant results. But I see few conservatives in the GOP today, at least few in prominent positions. A conservative strives to conserve, not tear down and destroy. A conservative is not a reactionary, not a regressive, not an anarchist, any more than a true liberal or progressive is a communist or a revolutionary. Liberals are the engine of progress. Conservatives are the brakes. A car without an engine is useless. A car without brakes is dangerous. And we the people are the ones driving.
Sad to see that such a dis-functional political system in a country with a constitution designed to incorporate the best ideas into hybrid solutions to benefit its citizens. The self-centered ideologies of career politicians can do little to deal with the second economy and its effect on capitalism. Too bad we don’t choose to send competent people, drafted for their proven ability to solve problems, to represent us nationally. I guess we do get the government we deserve.http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/strategy/the_second_economy
A significant problem with many conservatives is that they want things to stay the same. Life is nothing but change. And the more things change, the greater the apoplexy from many conservatives.
The best a conservative can hope to do is to manage the change in a way that best suits their core principles. It can be done, but only if one wants to. But if one will spend all of his/her time gnashing teeth and rending clothing about something that just won’t ever be again, there can be no progress.
nance19oped: Over all, more Democrats voted than did Republicans. They just did it mostly in the few designated districts where they had an overwhelming majority, while Republicans voted in districts where they had a slight majority. Gerrymandering played its part..Also Republicans have their own TV network, no one else does. Republicans get five responses to the SOTU, Libertarians, Greens, and Socialist rarely even get mentioned, not just on the corporate media, but even in the semi-official actions of the government. No wonder the two “official” parties sound more and more alike; mustn’t offend the Mammon worshipers who own the country.
“Regressives like the Tea Party Republicans will screw things up. What they want is to destroy at least the Federal govt. That isn’t good for most of us.” They really ought not to be called conservatives. True conservatives don’t want to undermine the country, they do.
Change happens. No stopping it. But change can be easy or hard depending on whether one anticipates and guides it, or just lets it happen. Revolution is sometimes better than the status quo, but evolution is always the best option. To paraphrase JFK (I like the paraphrase better than the original): “Those who make evolution impossible make revolution inevitable.”
This jumps the gun a bit – POTUS hasn’t told his kids not to trust Congress, or that they would put them in jail if they had a chance – or worse. Well, not YET, he hasn’t.
Gerrymandering, voter suppression, Fox News, bad weather…. Blah, blah , blah.How about REAL Americans have seen NO improvement in their lives under Barry and either wanted change or couldn’t stand giving Barry and the Dems another vote so they stayed home.As the great Pres. Reagan said…. “Ask yourself, ’Are you better off now than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago?”America overwhelmingly said NO!
ConserveGov over 9 years ago
There’s a reason all those Republicans were elected……To stop Barry’s destruction.
Richard Howland-Bolton Premium Member over 9 years ago
@ ConservePoopHead:No, it’s called Gerrrymandering
Doughfoot over 9 years ago
We NEED conservatives. No ideology, no political bloc, left to run things entirely as it sees fit, will not screw things up. This isn’t a good vs.evil thing. Liberals and progressives have their hearts in the right place, but sometimes they are too quick to apply ill-considered solutions to complex problems, or to expect instant results. But I see few conservatives in the GOP today, at least few in prominent positions. A conservative strives to conserve, not tear down and destroy. A conservative is not a reactionary, not a regressive, not an anarchist, any more than a true liberal or progressive is a communist or a revolutionary. Liberals are the engine of progress. Conservatives are the brakes. A car without an engine is useless. A car without brakes is dangerous. And we the people are the ones driving.
Doughfoot over 9 years ago
Toles had to have drawn this cartoon before the speech was made. Pity, that it was easy to predict the results.
superposition over 9 years ago
Sad to see that such a dis-functional political system in a country with a constitution designed to incorporate the best ideas into hybrid solutions to benefit its citizens. The self-centered ideologies of career politicians can do little to deal with the second economy and its effect on capitalism. Too bad we don’t choose to send competent people, drafted for their proven ability to solve problems, to represent us nationally. I guess we do get the government we deserve.http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/strategy/the_second_economy
I Play One On TV over 9 years ago
A significant problem with many conservatives is that they want things to stay the same. Life is nothing but change. And the more things change, the greater the apoplexy from many conservatives.
The best a conservative can hope to do is to manage the change in a way that best suits their core principles. It can be done, but only if one wants to. But if one will spend all of his/her time gnashing teeth and rending clothing about something that just won’t ever be again, there can be no progress.
Godfreydaniel over 9 years ago
I think we all know what comes out the backsides of elephants……….
hippogriff over 9 years ago
nance19oped: Over all, more Democrats voted than did Republicans. They just did it mostly in the few designated districts where they had an overwhelming majority, while Republicans voted in districts where they had a slight majority. Gerrymandering played its part..Also Republicans have their own TV network, no one else does. Republicans get five responses to the SOTU, Libertarians, Greens, and Socialist rarely even get mentioned, not just on the corporate media, but even in the semi-official actions of the government. No wonder the two “official” parties sound more and more alike; mustn’t offend the Mammon worshipers who own the country.
Dtroutma over 9 years ago
Leader of the new Republican majority in House and Senate respectively: John Walker Lindh and Alfred E. Neuman.
Doughfoot over 9 years ago
“Regressives like the Tea Party Republicans will screw things up. What they want is to destroy at least the Federal govt. That isn’t good for most of us.” They really ought not to be called conservatives. True conservatives don’t want to undermine the country, they do.
Doughfoot over 9 years ago
Change happens. No stopping it. But change can be easy or hard depending on whether one anticipates and guides it, or just lets it happen. Revolution is sometimes better than the status quo, but evolution is always the best option. To paraphrase JFK (I like the paraphrase better than the original): “Those who make evolution impossible make revolution inevitable.”
SClark55 Premium Member over 9 years ago
This jumps the gun a bit – POTUS hasn’t told his kids not to trust Congress, or that they would put them in jail if they had a chance – or worse. Well, not YET, he hasn’t.
ConserveGov over 9 years ago
Gerrymandering, voter suppression, Fox News, bad weather…. Blah, blah , blah.How about REAL Americans have seen NO improvement in their lives under Barry and either wanted change or couldn’t stand giving Barry and the Dems another vote so they stayed home.As the great Pres. Reagan said…. “Ask yourself, ’Are you better off now than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago?”America overwhelmingly said NO!