Life Cycle of a Country

[PureX]

Exactly why Trump works and most politicians for that matter. They don't have to tell the truth. They only have to promise happiness and security. Secure borders, secure jobs.

Our idea of happiness, more like the happiness we've been programmed to accept. If you buy enough, you'll be happy.

No one sane is buying any politician's promises. The system is so broken that they couldn't honor them even if they wanted to. Obama had a super-majority of democrats in both the house and the senate when he took office, but when he tried to do the one thing he promised the American people he'd do (reform health care), his democratic super-majority suddenly fell into a blind stupor and couldn't come up with anything more than an old republican plan to force everyone to buy health insurance. Why do you think that happened? I'll tell you why. It's because the healthcare conglomerates owned all those democrats in the house and the senate. Which is why people are so frightened, and so frustrated. They know they can't vote their way out of this problem, because the oligarchs already own or will buy anyone they vote for.

 

[Nakosis]

No one sane is buying any politician's promises. The system is so broken that they couldn't honor them even if they wanted to. Obama had a super-majority of democrats in both the house and the senate when he took office, but when he tried to do the one thing he promised the American people he;d do (reform health care), his democratic super-majority suddenly fell into a blind stupor and could not come up with anything more than an old republican plan to force everyone to buy health insurance. Why do you think that happened? I'll ell you why. It;s because the healthcare conglomerate owned all those democrats in the house and the senate. Which is why people are so frightened, and so frustrated. They know they can't vote their way out of this problem, because the oligarchs already own or will buy anyone they vote for.

Exactly, not saying you are wrong, just maybe your focus is a bit narrow, IMO.

 

[PureX]

There is only one peaceful way out of this for the people of the United States (and some other nations as well, at this point), and that is to begin voting every incumbent candidate out of office, regardless of their party affiliation, in every election. And to keep doing this until they get someone (regardless of party affiliation) in there that is willing to ACT to stop the legalized bribery of our government officials by wealthy, organized, business conglomerates. No significant reforms will ever be possible until we do this, and we can't do this while we are all still blaming and fighting amongst other.

 

[Nakosis]

No but it is incrementally turning into a dystopian society.

I think the name will remain but the 'soul' will get ripped out of the great experiment.

Then another civil war will erupt.

Which will require the government to invoke extreme measures, to ensure the peace.

 

[PureX]

Which will require the government to invoke extreme measures, to ensure the peace.

Unless the military 'schisms' as well. Then it ALL goes down the crapper!

 

[Revoltingest]

I suspect of it has more to do with basic human nature than political ideology.

Of course, the former leads to the latter.

A majority of folks just need to be doing well enough to keep the status quo wrt politicians.
Abundance is not necessarily extreme wealth. Abundance is being able to go to the supermarket and choose between a large variety of foods. Abundance is access to an variety of new gadgets.

I don't think one can deny the majority of American enjoy an abundance. Even a large number of the homeless seem to have access to smartphones.

And as you address, the majority must be doing well
enuf to avoid their wanting to upset the apple cart.

 

[Revoltingest]

The welfare state has expanded only a very tiny fraction in relation to the military industrial estate. Why? Because all the tax money we pour into the military goes to the wealthy political cronies that own and run the military industrial estate. Whereas all the money that goes into public welfare just goes back into the general economy. The whole "nanny state" delusion is nothing the corporate sponsored BS.

Of course, our military policies are a major problem...but an independent one.
We need a cultural shift to favor defense over military adventurism.

 

[Nakosis]

Of course, our military policies are a major problem...but an independent one.
We need a cultural shift to favor defense over military adventurism.

I don't see our adventurism as having been that beneficial to the world. So I'd like to think sentiment is changing, but maybe it's been beneficial to business which might have a little more influence.

 

[Revoltingest]

I don't see our adventurism as having been that beneficial to the world. So I'd like to think sentiment is changing, but maybe it's been beneficial to business which might have a little more influence.

There are no protests to current action or expenditures beyond defense.
I see no change. And it hasn't benefited my business.

 

[PureX]

Of course, our military policies are a major problem...but an independent one.
We need a cultural shift to favor defense over military adventurism.

It's not an "independent problem". It's endemic of the fact that wealthy conglomerates control our government spending. And the corruption has gotten so bad that even foreign countries have gotten in on the 'big payday'. Particularly Israel. To whom we give billions of our tax dollars to support their military so they'll spend it back into the pockets of the U.S. military industrial estate, and into the coffers of the U.S. politicians who appropriate them the money. So that the American taxpayers, most of whom, now days, are working and middle class, are paying for the Israeli military while Israeli youngsters get to go to college for free. Yet all you and your republican cronies ever want to complain about is how greedy working class Americans want free government handouts like higher education for their children. God forbid the U.S. government should spend the tax money it collects from American citizens ON AMERICAN CITIZENS instead of on schemes to make themselves and their wealthy cronies richer! Which it seems to me to be all the republican party is ever interested in doing. Even if it means invading foreign countries for no particular reason other then profiteering.

 

[Revoltingest]

It's not an "independent problem". It's endemic of the fact that wealthy conglomerates control our government spending.

I cannot counter a conspiracy theory.
You know....nicht einmal falsch, & all that.
But my explanation, ie, voter support for continual war has more explanatory power.

 

[PureX]

I cannot counter a conspiracy theory.
You know....nicht einmal falsch.
But my explanation for voter support for continual war has more explanatory power.

It's not a theory. We do give them billions, they do use it to buy military supplies and equipment from our military industrial conglomerates, and they do give huge contributions to the politicians that appropriate them that money.

What part of this do you think I'm making up?

 

[Nakosis]

There are no protests to current action or expenditures beyond defense.
I see no change. And it hasn't benefited my business.

You have oversea interests? I suspect international business may have something to gain through our government's involvement in foreign powers. That's not really wrong in itself but could be abused.

There had been protests, somehow they managed to get that under control.

 

[Revoltingest]

It's not a theory. We do give them billions, they do use it to buy military supplies and equipment from our military industrial conglomerates, and they do give huge contributions to the politicians that appropriate them that money.

That government buys military hardware & services isn't in dispute.

What part of this do you think I'm making up?

That the companies direct government spending.

 

[Revoltingest]

You have oversea interests?

Only relatives living there.

I suspect international business may have something to gain through our government's involvement in foreign powers. That's not really wrong in itself but could be abused.

There had been protests, somehow they managed to get that under control.

The protests got under control when Obama took office.
All of a sudden, Bush's wars became Obama's.
The wars became not so objectionable because their
side now had responsibility.

 

[Nakosis]

Only relatives living there.

The protests got under control when Obama took office.
All of a sudden, Bush's wars became Obama's.
The wars became not so objectionable because their
side now had responsibility.

I wonder if party affiliation requires one to be a hypocrite.

 

[Revoltingest]

I wonder if party affiliation requires one to be a hypocrite.

No, but it helps with team unity of spirit.

 

[PureX]

That government buys military hardware & services isn't in dispute.

That the companies direct government spending.

Oh, so you figure that U.S. politicians taking massive campaign donations from foreign nations, and from U.S. arms manufacturers, and then appropriating billions of dollars to those foreign nations to buy U.S. arms from those U.S. manufacturers year after year after year isn't connected??? That the one has nothing to do with the other??? MY, those are some mighty powerful blinders!

 

[Revoltingest]

Oh, so you figure that U.S. politicians taking massive campaign donations from foreign nations, and from U.S. arms manufacturers, and then appropriating billions of dollars to those foreign nations to buy U.S. arms from those U.S. manufacturers year after year after year isn't connected??? That the one has nothing to do with the other??? MY, those are some mighty powerful blinders!

Conspiracy theories attract people who prefer the boogeyman explanation.
Why?
Many things are at play....
- Such theories are simple, ie, easily understood.
- They cannot be disproven, being "not even wrong".
- They create an enemy...an "other" to hate.
- Appearances serve as proof....no need for finding
causation of the correlations.
- It removes responsibility from the people...the masses
who have control, but exercise it with poor results.
- Simple satisfying polarizing perspectives unify the tribe.

You want change?
If you believe that only companies have the power, then
you abdicate your own power.
At least I offer hope....
Vote for candidates with a real anti-military adventurism record.
There are 3rd parties, you know.

 

[PureX]

Conspiracy theories...

There is NOTHING THEORETICAL ABOUT IT. These are simple, basic facts.