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Sorry, this small government lark is nonsense and irrelevant in this. The Americans seem to bang on about small government constantly, and I cant imagine that

by alan_cx 13y ago

Sorry, this small government lark is nonsense and irrelevant in this. The Americans seem to bang on about small government constantly, and I cant imagine that in actual reality, the US government can't be proportionally as big as say the German or , I dunno, Japanese government, where they don't particularly bang on about small government in anything like the same way. If it is, as big or bigger, I suspect that is largely down to the insane huge military the same people who bang on about small government totally adore and idolise. Interesting too that for some bizarre reason, you have managed to get in some Obama and health care stuff in too. Sorry, but most of the rest of the civilised planet has some form of universal health care. I dont see what that has to do with anything in this debate. If Americans don't want to look after their poorest, weakest and most vulnerable, then fine. Its not my country. But its got nothing to do with industrial spying. Oh, I note you have not placed any blame on any republicans who were just a responsible for all this. I dont remember GWB being all liberal about freedoms. Sorry, but from what I can see, the subtext in your post is basically a poorly cloaked attempt at a right wing agenda. And frankly I don't see that as any sort of credible answer.

EdSharkey 13y ago
I would prefer a more powerful local city and state government and a far weaker federal government. Having my pols closer means there's a neck to wring if need be. A little nit: Republicans and George W. Bush? They're either irrelevant and/or gone for years. You need to update your hate list; your being outside the states is no excuse for ignorance. The current demons are "tea-baggers" and "Ted Cruz".
- robomartin 13y ago
  > I would prefer a more powerful local city and state government and a far weaker federal government. Exactly right. Some people don't seem to want to understand the genius in that simple idea. Not sure why.
robomartin 13y ago
The Obamacare mess is the most visible example of what is wrong with government at nearly every level. Of course I am going to use it. This is the best example we have and one that nearly every American now understands or most certainly will within the next year. Nobody is saying that a better approach to healthcare isn't necessary. The ACA is NOT a better approach. This has nothing to do with a right wing agenda. Call it a moderate libertarian agenda if you want to be closer to reality. Both major parties have blood on their hands, it's just different for each group. It just so happens that we've wasted five valuable years chasing after a somewhat extreme left-wing agenda...and here we are. We are walking into national debt that will exceed twenty trillion dollars and, if economic damage wasn't enough we are undermining our tech industry in ways that could shift technology out of the US in so many ways it is hard to imagine. OK, call me a moron and a zealot. Please explain a few things to me then: First, if over twenty trillion dollars in national debt isn't a problem, how much would be? Is there a limit or we get to go like this forever with no consequences whatsoever? Once you explain that, please elaborate on what could happen to our tech industry if the world turns against us for such things as the brutal intrusion into everyone's lives by the NSA and other yet-to-be-identified players? Are there consequences to this if we change nothing? Ever? Finally, we are continuing to see the disaster that the ACA/Obamacare is proving to be. The other day an article came out, I believe in Forbes, explaining how MILLIONS of Americans are --without realizing it-- assigning their property --their homes-- to the government when they sign up for the ACA and end-up going for Medicare. It is one thing to want healthcare for everyone. For reason's sake, let's do it right! This is nonsense. Can you please explain how the ACA is a good thing when premiums double --or worst--, deductibles skyrocket, access to doctors, facilities and drugs is limited and, on top of that, you might have signed your estate over to the state without even knowing it? I don't know. I could be a moron. Still, I think the above issues stand on their own, having nothing to do with the messenger or the political alignment of anyone involved. The fact is that the tech industry is under attack by our own government in more ways than one. Never mind me. Mind reality.
- EdSharkey 13y ago
  I think it's cool that you're passionate about this stuff, try boiling it down to the essentials though. With all the self-deprecation and laundry list of questions, you lost me. When I saw alan_cx put criticisms of the huge US military alongside arguments for socialized healthcare, I detected possible weakness. I thought something like, "growing the government makes it grow!" It's like there's this odd static thinking some statists exhibit - like "we can vastly increase the government's power, but only just in this one corner with health care." But that's willful ignorance, that's not how things work. When you get a big expansion, budgets and authority swell for the whole thing including in the nasty bits like military and intelligence and through data mining/sharing between agencies. You won't make headway trying to out-wonk someone on the ACA who is so clearly sold on the idea of socialized medicine. On that issue, the guy is a belieber. :)

by alan_cx 13y ago

EdSharkey 13y ago

I would prefer a more powerful local city and state government and a far weaker federal government. Having my pols closer means there's a neck to wring if need be. A little nit: Republicans and George W. Bush? They're either irrelevant and/or gone for years. You need to update your hate list; your being outside the states is no excuse for ignorance. The current demons are "tea-baggers" and "Ted Cruz".

robomartin 13y ago
> I would prefer a more powerful local city and state government and a far weaker federal government. Exactly right. Some people don't seem to want to understand the genius in that simple idea. Not sure why.

robomartin 13y ago

The Obamacare mess is the most visible example of what is wrong with government at nearly every level. Of course I am going to use it. This is the best example we have and one that nearly every American now understands or most certainly will within the next year. Nobody is saying that a better approach to healthcare isn't necessary. The ACA is NOT a better approach. This has nothing to do with a right wing agenda. Call it a moderate libertarian agenda if you want to be closer to reality. Both major parties have blood on their hands, it's just different for each group. It just so happens that we've wasted five valuable years chasing after a somewhat extreme left-wing agenda...and here we are. We are walking into national debt that will exceed twenty trillion dollars and, if economic damage wasn't enough we are undermining our tech industry in ways that could shift technology out of the US in so many ways it is hard to imagine. OK, call me a moron and a zealot. Please explain a few things to me then: First, if over twenty trillion dollars in national debt isn't a problem, how much would be? Is there a limit or we get to go like this forever with no consequences whatsoever? Once you explain that, please elaborate on what could happen to our tech industry if the world turns against us for such things as the brutal intrusion into everyone's lives by the NSA and other yet-to-be-identified players? Are there consequences to this if we change nothing? Ever? Finally, we are continuing to see the disaster that the ACA/Obamacare is proving to be. The other day an article came out, I believe in Forbes, explaining how MILLIONS of Americans are --without realizing it-- assigning their property --their homes-- to the government when they sign up for the ACA and end-up going for Medicare. It is one thing to want healthcare for everyone. For reason's sake, let's do it right! This is nonsense. Can you please explain how the ACA is a good thing when premiums double --or worst--, deductibles skyrocket, access to doctors, facilities and drugs is limited and, on top of that, you might have signed your estate over to the state without even knowing it? I don't know. I could be a moron. Still, I think the above issues stand on their own, having nothing to do with the messenger or the political alignment of anyone involved. The fact is that the tech industry is under attack by our own government in more ways than one. Never mind me. Mind reality.

EdSharkey 13y ago
I think it's cool that you're passionate about this stuff, try boiling it down to the essentials though. With all the self-deprecation and laundry list of questions, you lost me. When I saw alan_cx put criticisms of the huge US military alongside arguments for socialized healthcare, I detected possible weakness. I thought something like, "growing the government makes it grow!" It's like there's this odd static thinking some statists exhibit - like "we can vastly increase the government's power, but only just in this one corner with health care." But that's willful ignorance, that's not how things work. When you get a big expansion, budgets and authority swell for the whole thing including in the nasty bits like military and intelligence and through data mining/sharing between agencies. You won't make headway trying to out-wonk someone on the ACA who is so clearly sold on the idea of socialized medicine. On that issue, the guy is a belieber. :)