Read the full article for the details of how right has run out of gas. Not that the left is any better. If the fiscal cliff crap is any indication, we, the people are, for want of a better word, fucked.
Nature abhors a vacuum, and as utopianism died out on the left, it found a new home to the right of center. The last generation in the U.S. has seen three forms of demented right-wing utopianism: religious, military and economic.
The religious utopianism was that of the Protestant religious right, which grew in influence in the 1980s and peaked in the 1990s. [...] But the project of remaking a modern, diverse, continental nation on the basis of a book was equally insane, whether the holy book was Marx’s Kapital or the Bible. The religious right faded as a force by the early 21st century, largely because of the growing secularization of younger Americans.
The next wave of utopianism was military. [..] When democratic revolutions ultimately did come to the Arab world, they were brought about by citizen revolts, not by American invaders and occupiers.
As the neoconservative utopia faded, it was followed in turn by the libertarian utopia. [...] To judge by the elections of 2012, in which more Americans cast votes for Democrats for the gerrymandered House as well as in Senate and presidential elections, the public has turned against free market utopians like Paul Ryan, who want to replace social insurance with vouchers and cut taxes further on the rich.
What will succeed the failed utopias of the religious right, the neoconservative right and the libertarian right?
If you want to see what a left wing failed utopia looks like, take a drive thru the city of Detroit.
bob I would like to know your example of a right wing utopia?
I am not sure, but it is probably between the border of Texas and the Austin city limits.
How is Texas an example of failure?
Actually the blue dots of Texas (Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston) are pretty darn nice.
I agree the yahoo zones like Waco (Wacko) and similar Teapublican roosts are pretty fucked up.
When I look at the big maps of blue states (which is weird, in Canada blue=conservative) I see a lot of states I would actually want to live in and a few that I wouldn’t and it reverses when I talk about red (and I am a right winger).
I don’t want to live in a state where many counties/towns think that public libraries or comprehensive public education are socialist horrors yet having a high school football stadium bigger than a hockey arena is perfectly acceptable.
There isn’t a US state that meets your criteria.
dallas, you’re clueless and have now idea of what you are talking about!
I’ve lived in Austin, Dallas, North Eastern and North Western states. There are plenty of urban areas and states where life is fuller and doesn’t rotate around football mania!
He’s talking about states, not urban areas. Why do Teapublicans keep changing the subject?
dallas (today it’s with a capital D), your Alzheimer is flaring up again, reading comprehension is low!
I did mention states, the less backwards and more urban ones, the ones in the north!
What you are talking about is the result of both Democrat and Republican policies and laws. It’s not caused by one or the other. It’s caused by bribery, graft, and corruption. Our government officials are “for sale” to the highest bidder. Until “We” figure out how to stop that “We” as a country will continue our trek to the bottom of the third world governments. It may soon be too late.
Right, left. Its all the same.
If you’re thinking in such bipolar terms, you’re part of the problems.
Why not try to run the military for profit for a decade or two?
It’s coming!
http://revision3.com/stufftheydontwantyoutoknow/private-armies-part-1
Hookers and blow?
Santa’s New Year’s day celebration in Costa Rica.
Uncle Dave, you are a fucking embarrassment to my species.
Seriously, SALON?
Clearly neither of you understand the word Utopia or have read the book or even vaguely understand its context or meaning.
More appropriate reading might be the lead story on the SALON website:
“SEXY DRESSES THAT BARELY FIT
I’ve struggled with extra weight for years. But I’ve learned the power of sparkly makeup, Diet Coke and acceptance”
At least it wasn’t PEOPLE MAGAZINE!
Well we have just had a Senate originated fiscal cliff bill sent to the President even though the Constituion clearly states that all tax measures must originate in the House of Representatives. Obviously we live in a country that cares about nothing except “what can I get out of it.”
Hey SL==you aren’t THAT anal retentive are you?—Rules?===”We don’t need no stinkin’ rules round here…”
Yes–the Senate starts with a bill that they would accept. The House has a benchmark to start their own bill which is the “official” bill.
You sound like you never used basket leave?
Bobbo, ignorant as usual. Sea Lawyer is right on the Constitutional process and you are just guessing.
However, Sea Lawyer, the Senate amended a House bill to pass their bill.
….. wha?? You mean our congress critters follow the constitution to the letter without exceptions without any twists or practices built up over time?
Good to know.
NFS: ah, I should pay closer attention since I didn’t notice that this was H.R. 8 that was voted on. The way that it had been described in the media was that it was a Senate resolution, and I hadn’t remembered anything actually being passed by the House with all the politicking nonsense going on.
You’re fretting instead of celebrating something has been done. Quit fretting.
The idea of House origination of tax/revenue bills was because the Senate *WAS* not directly elected by the sheeple and hence the House was more ‘representative’.
The 17th amendment fixed that.
Why do Teapublicans dislike amendments to the Constitution?
They remember what a failure prohibition turned out to be.
And this country hasn’t since I couldn’t own a couple of slaves and had to buy a washlet instead of getting my butt hole licked clean.
Whoah. I think I rather use a washlet but a couple slaves sound pretty darn good!
Well….the debt ceiling cliff is approaching in 2 months with Obama saying he won’t play that game (again). I’ll be he does though because he is too far right. In any sense of history, he is but a reasonable moderate Republican of 30 years ago.
So–there will be a large minority Utopian Right nest of vipers who vote the hypocritical Southern Values of cutting their own throats in the name of Individual Darwinian Freedom.
What Obama needs to do is simply stand his ground and LET DEMOCRACY LIVE!!!! Let the Pukes do as they will. The voting public has to come to grips with the consequences of their choices rather than be protected by Obama compromising away Democratic Party Principles.
To restate: the hooman reaction to deeply held religious/political beliefs when challenged is to hold them even more dear… so the rejected Puke Policy believers will just dig in and believe even more strongly. They are “politicians” willing to compromise. They are “true believers” that don’t compromise. They simply need to be weeded out.
Transitions are always hard.
Yeah, because MORE fucked up governments always the answer.
Yes, as a matter of fact, without exception—it is.
Ain’t Reality a Bitch!
No. YOU’RE the bitch. As in, FEMALE DOG! Because all your ignorant barking isn’t going to change a damn thing.
At least the rest of us “silly hoomans” can THINK and REMEMBER things. DOGS CAN’T!!!
It’s as if you never heard the great lie! which starts something like this: “Hi. I’m from the government and I’m here to help you.” But you probably think that’s a knock-knock joke or something. It’s as if you never heard of a back-handed compliment either.
Seriously though BoBo, go take your meds. Isn’t it about time to also treat that hemorrhoid you also call a tongue?!
So idiot, fucked up and corrupt government is always the answer?
Reality? Well you got your wish douchebag..in spades.
What a dumb, piece of shit you really are.
There. RIGHT THERE! There’s PROOF you have NO INTELLIGENT “HOOMAN” BRAIN! That’s because you are a BITCH! A female DOG!
You didn’t even READ IT! DID YOU?!
If you HAD read it and used a “hooman” BRAIN you would have CONNECTED THE DOTS! But you FAILED MISERABLY! SO SHUT THE FUCK UP!
And just to be perfectly clear, NO! More government is NEVER the answer! That’s YOUR dream as well as Obama’s! So FUCK YOU!
And I fail to see what is “utopian” about the free market. The true utopian view is that technocrats can plan a better system by committee. Anybody who takes free markets in any serious light sees its value in the Hayekian sense as being a realization of spontaneous order that is capable of efficiently disseminating highly decentralized information via a simple price mechanism.
Fancy words like “Free Market” and “Free Enterprise” used to mean something until one looks at the result and sees the monopolies and corruption we call “America”. It’s time to fix it or ditch it.
It’s called FASCISM. Get used to it or at least DON’T vote for any more liberals (either side).
We may not be sending undesirable people to the concentration camps just yet. Instead, we just deport them! Need any more clues?
What is failed is your continued idea of a left-right paradigm.
There is a left/right division but what is not given enough recognition is the HUGE area of overlap which allows too many to say there is no difference between the parties. They have lots of overlap ((which is 99.99% overlapping or consuming of Fraud, btw!)) but the little bulges are on the left and right.
The similarities AND the differences.
What a concept.
That is true. Pork overconsumption exists in both parties.
The DIFFERENCE is in what you fail to see. Quite simply it’s a war between the haves and have-nots!
If you’re a jealous “have not” then you probably think all rich people are corrupt and greedy.
If you’re a “have” then you probably think all the little cockroaches are nothing but a bunch of whining lazy malcontents who want your money.
But it’s more than that. It’s also a war between people who DON’T think they should have to EARN anything from people who DO!
I bet you can’t even guess which side is which. And that’s probably because there really AREN’T any sides!
it wont matter what fills in for a supposed failed party… it doesnt matter as the corporations will have still have THEIR WAY, not the way of the people.
We’ve been a corporate oligarchy since day one..
Admfubar,
Did you ever go by BUZZ-zard in a previous life?
During the fiscal cliff, Obama gets tax increases, less than what would have passed if he had done nothing, an extension of unemployment benefits for a year which he probably gets by itself whenever he wants just as last year, no deal on the debt ceiling, no deal on upcoming spending which is still not paid for. So he gave away his leverage to lower taxes. Now Republicans have the leverage in that Obama can’t spend what Republicans won’t pass. And Obama has gotten his tax increases and it’s not enough, it was never enough. There is no money to enable the liberal vision of big government. Obama’s starting position in negotiations was to get higher tax rates and a reduction in tax deductions, which would give him more money to spend, and make it harder for Republicans to reduce taxes in the future.
All Obama has to show for it is a symbolic victory of he got Republicans to vote for higher taxes, which carries no long term damage as even Grover Norquist doesn’t buy that argument.
Correct. Obama caved in to the wealthy corruption that is Washington.
Did you hear the one about the 3 little pigs?
I bet you thought Goldie Locks was in that one too.
Try paying attention a little more.
Until the feds starting putting banksters in prison and we get actual Rule of Law again, then both parties are corrupt and complicit.
Thousands of bankers went to prison during the S&L debacle of the 19080′s. Today, HBSC admits to laundering hundreds of billions and there aren’t even criminal indictments.
If that happened in Mexico we’d laugh and call it corruption.
It’s Bilderberg in ACTION!
For the last time…paul ryan is not a libertarian. At best he’s a fascist, and not even a very good one of those. There are no libertarians in power. There have not been any in power for a very, very long time. Stop blaming them for the mess your beloved one party system made.
FTW!
Say Loser—why don’t you tell us the difference between Paul Ryan’s Politican Agenda and your own?
We’ll Wait…… but not hold our breath.
What a pair of loons. ((Thats YOU and Ryan—NAA being right on the mark and YOU too stupid not to see yourself in that mirror that Mpod is holding up.))
Ha, ha…………………..
Mouth breathers back under the bridge, please.
How do you differ from Paul Ryan?
No answer to follow….. nothing but bumper stickers to repeat ad naseum.
Poor little liebertardian.
You got that right! BoBo is a BITCH! So “mouth breathers” is definitely correct.
She’s NOT even “hooman”!
Ha HA!
“libertarian”… “utopians like Paul Ryan, who want to replace social insurance with vouchers and cut taxes further on the rich.”
Well make up your mind. Which mythical beast is he? And when millions of out of work Americans, see a guy like this whose only concern seems to be reducing the taxes of those who can well afford to pay ANY taxes, but spend most of their surplus income funding politicians to reduce their taxes, even lower than they’re managing to squeak by with. I’m sure the major of the voting public thinks its time for a some economic equality. The pay scale (or bonuses) for the rich executives, just keeps going up and up. Compared to the labor force’s base pay scale, which has either stagnated or lost ground, when it comes to covering health benefits and retirement funding. Or their jobs get send overseas to China or India, while the executives at the top, retain theirs. So asking for, and apparently expecting to get, from Congress, a tax reduction. Amounts to a slap in the face of all other Americans. Who don’t get a entire political party to champion their economic situation, as much as the “right wing” does for the rich.
If there was a two party political system, based purely on the rich 1% vs. the much poorer 99% of the US population. I’m sure each election would be a landslide victory for the 99% party, every time. But that “pure” two party system doesn’t exist. Instead, we have parties that pretend to stand for other things, not just the economic imbalance they seem to spend so much time defending, to their last breath. And so the average voter still believes on party or the other spends any of its time concerned with those “other issues”, like health care or civil rights. Yeah, dream on.
Good calm dissertation of the problem “but” problematic when talking about purity. If one party did represent purely the 99%–how would they try to govern any differently than what the Dem’s are doing WHEN it comes to the 99-1 divide?
I look forward to your considered thoughts.
That’d be swell if only you had a “hooman” BRAIN that worked!
I would not be surprised to see the GOP vanish altogether and a new liberal/conservative party rise from the democrats. There’s too much implied race-hate surrounding the GOP, true or not. And with whites on a decline in the country, their days are pretty much numbered.
If history is any guide, the GOP will be stronger than ever by 2014.
I preferred Ron Paul, he would have cut a trillion in real spending…
And we could cut our way to prosperity….we can’t spend our way into it, as Obama has proved.
Do you believe in fairies?
Do YOU?!
European austerity measures by themselves have been a disaster. You wish the USA were like Europe and a disaster. Why do you hate America and our troops ?
Don’t mistake hating our troops for hating what they’re ORDERED TO DO!
I don’t think ANYONE (including BoBo the Bitch who isn’t even “hooman”) hates America or even hates Europe either.
I think it’s also safe to say that if we hate anyone that it’s the arrogant Billionaire Boys club members who have bankrupted or outright corrupted the very same system that the rest of us have to live and play fairly in. The really outrageous part is that NONE of those silver spoon arrogant assholes are even fined for their transgressions let alone doing time in a prison.
So if any blows come to pass they will probably first occur on Wall Street and then in Washington! My only question is how much more pissed off do we have to get?
Article which includes patent lies, contrary to the simplest facts available to anyone, like this “…To judge by the elections of 2012, in which more Americans cast votes for Democrats for the gerrymandered House as well as in Senate and presidential elections, the public has turned against free market utopians…” – is a patent lie ignoring what is happening in the society. Wishful thinking.
Facts: Popular majority voted for the Right in last elections. Evidence: Obama won electoral vote. Romney popular vote. More important fact: House, the only branch of the Government elected exactly by popular vote in strong Republican control.
Facts article ignores as well: US political polarization increased, middle is squeezed out. Although there is clear popular vote win on the Right, it is not by much. Country is split approximately at the middle and both sides are pushing extremes.
That is the story. Unfortunately these facts speak of increased entrenchment of the far Left and far Right. Ideologs won. Supporting fact: the most ideological President we ever have had – won. That is the world we live in. That is why there is dis-function in Government. Rational middle is nowhere to be found.
Uh, dusan – give us a link from someplace more reputable than the Aryan Brotherhood that shows Romney winning the popular vote.
Hilarious that there is someone walking in the door, here, who believes this crap.
I’m not sure I like what you said were facts.
When it comes to the House of Representatives, each person in the House is elected every two years according to GEOGRAPHIC population. Very simply, States with more people, NOT necessarily more citizens!, get more Representatives that they can elect to the U.S. House. But that’s also where the gerrymandering accusation comes in (again) because both sides are almost constantly arguing if some “district” has more registered red voters or more registered blue voters and just what’s fair to each party. They then “re-district” once they come to a compromise because it’s each district that ends up electing any particular Representative. (So if we really wanted to correct this or possibly just screw with them then no one would register as either a Democrat or as a Republican. But good luck with that one.)
The other fact you seem to be confused about is just who won the 2012 election. Romney did NOT win either the electoral vote or the popular vote. Romney didn’t quite get 61 million votes whereas Obama got just under 66 million (a mere difference of about 5 million votes which you might also note is a near record turn out of nearly 50-percent). So plain and simple, Romney lost! And you can say he cut his own political throat too. But if you ask me, Romney threw his chances away with that 47-percent comment (probably because he thought he was at another Bilderberg conference).
Don’t get me wrong! I almost voted for Romney. But like an idiot, I threw my vote away on the Libertarian candidate once I actually listened to Obama/Romney talk. The only difference in my case is that a true idiot would have actually thought someone else could have won – not me.
47-percent comment
It was the Republicans, under Reagan, who initially started this trend with the Earned Income Tax Credit. Each year since, it has increased to include more people.
47% is where it is at now.
I am not sure how the Democrats take credit for it or why the Republicans denounce it, but that was the way it worked out.
Reagan felt that it was would be easier to put more money in the hands of the poor with skimming 25% off the top and then giving it back them.
Reagan felt that it was would be easier to put more money in the hands of the poor with skimming 25% off the top and then giving it back them.
Reagan felt that it was would be easier to put more money in the hands of the poor INSTEAD OF skimming 25% off the top and then giving it back them.
And to clarify, Reagan didn’t invent it. He re-invented it.
Did you even WATCH THE VIDEO?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nvqHERTcytI&feature=youtube_gdata
Romney basically said he wasn’t even going to try to appeal to the 47-percent who feel they are ENTITLED to receive government handouts. Things like SOCIAL SECURITY or MEDICARE or even UNEMPLOYMENT benefits. His IMPLICATION was that we are all just a bunch of ungrateful TAX PAYERS who probably shouldn’t even expect something in return!
His comments were like a whole new level of arrogance – on steroids! Cause even if it’s TRUE, it’s a damn good way to loose an election. Even Richard Nixon and George W. Bush weren’t that stupid.
The EITC started out as a helping hand measure. It has morphed into an entitlement. This is what happens with all social programs (note, I include all corporate welfare in the same category).
So, he was right. Note I was not and am not a Romney supporter. I may agree with him on this issue but I don’t like the majority of his politics. I’m not defending his actions, though — if he had truly wanted to be president, he wouldn’t have said that. I honestly don’t think he wanted to be.
This election proves, if nothing else, the tipping point has been reached. There are too many people receiving free stuff from the government for the election to have gone any other way. All future election victories will be based on the same thing — who gives away the most stuff — because if there is one constant in any governmental body, it is you cannot kill an entitlement (social) program.
Soon, there will be no more free stuff to give and we’ll have riots in the streets that will make Greece look like Woodstock.
And, after much debate, the first thing they said when they were done was: “We preserved the military budget and must now focus on entitlements. That’s where the real money is.”
Say goodbye to Medicare and Social Security, our chief negotiator is a wimp.
What’s next is continued lost elections, increasing unpopularity with the young, minorities, women and more infighting as they struggle to remain relevant.
While we wish we can just stab in the heart with a wooden stake, the lunatic right will likely die a slow death like the KKK or Communism.
Close….nice try on returning to OP but I think that lunatic right will quickly evolve into a new “Silent Majority” of uninvolved voters as the body politics turns to Social and Environmental Issues. Two nasty sticky difficult issues that won’t go away because they are simply ignored.
We both support Obama. I because of the Alternatives. Not clear about you. That said, I do Hope Obama allows the Pukes to HURT AMERICA in the coming debt ceiling debate. Let the Pukes have their way====let america see them for what they are.
Obama’s unreasonable bi-partisanship is hiding the perfidy and ugliness of the Puke Party.
Lets have up and down votes on what is good/bad for America and let the Parties be seen for what they are.
Yea, Verily!
Marco Rubio on Twitter:
Report that #GOP insisting on changes to social security as part of #fiscalcliff false.BTW those changes are supported by @BarackObama.
I support changes to SS. It’s overdue. I hope Pres Obama also would support changes.
Having said that, SS is, by law, not associated with the deficit.
Having said that, SS is, by law, not associated with the deficit.
Which is scary in and of itself. It’s still a liability, just as real as defense spending.
It guess that money just comes out of nowhere.
The point is that the Republicans have backed themselves into their own corner. The pointless fiscal cliff BS is just one example. Look at Congress, they can’t even do basic legislation anymore.
Are you kidding me?! “Can’t even do basic legislation“?!!!
Have you SEEN the new stack of LAWS that went into effect?!
I think you mean, Congress can’t EFFECTIVELY legislate SENSIBLY any more (as if to assume they ever could)!
What a bunch of ignorant idiots. Social Security and Medicare would be fine if YOU IDIOTS would not support people that want to gut them. Pay for the Bush wars and Military ridiculousness with TAXES, not by throwing Granny under the bus.
Hope you idiots like living with Mom and Dad..
Dat be True. Its called: “Framing the Debate.” Easiest for the most informed people to get sucked into that forest/trees issues.
Once again, the voters are clammering to cut their own throats under one guise or the next: Patriotism, Freedom, Fiscal Responsibility===”Shampolitics.”
If you think SS or MediCare should be cut rather than expanded====you’ve been snookered.
START OVER: What is the basic role of Government? WHY is Europe doing a better job on these issues than the USA? (Yes–I know the knee jerk responses==try not to say “Greece” for unthinking pity’s sake!!!)
Framing the Debate. Powerful when it works.
Rolly Polly says:
1/2/2013 at 10:22 am
No. YOU’RE the bitch. As in, FEMALE DOG! Because all your ignorant barking isn’t going to change a damn thing.
At least the rest of us “silly hoomans” can THINK and REMEMBER things. DOGS CAN’T!!!
It’s as if you never heard the great lie! which starts something like this: “Hi. I’m from the government and I’m here to help you.” But you probably think that’s a knock-knock joke or something. It’s as if you never heard of a back-handed compliment either.
Seriously though BoBo, go take your meds. Isn’t it about time to also treat that hemorrhoid you also call a tongue?!
Reply
Bob says:
1/2/2013 at 12:28 pm
So idiot, fucked up and corrupt government is always the answer?
Reality? Well you got your wish douchebag..in spades.
What a dumb, piece of shit you really are.
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…………The alternative to f*cked up corrupt inefficient government is……………….what?
You are second in line behind Loser’s explanation as to why his Liebertardism is not Fascism in Drag. Jump the line if you can find two brain cells to rub together?
IOW–sorry my feebles====GOVERNMENT is the ocean we fish swim in.
Reality moves to Stage Left.
Silly Hoomans.
You’re not even a good dog. Good dogs KEEP UP!
They also don’t get “twisted” in their leashes. But not YOU!
There are words to describe what a fucked up piece of shit you are. Here’s a hint: it LOOKS like shit and to say it’s fucked up is being POLITE!
Yawn….
What’s Next For The Failed Right Wing? Hopefully extinction!
I suppose you never heard the expression, “Be careful what you wish for.”
You just might GET IT!
Although it’s pretty clear that you don’t “get” anything just yet.
We all can’t be as corpulent and oozing with excess knowledge as you!