I find myself in agreement with much of what Ronin Developer had to say, yet I draw different conclusions. In point:
But, this philosophy has maligned itself in the recent decades with misguided politics. The people we elected to promote these ideals have, themselves, become corrupt and self-serving.
This is the Green Party reasoning for voting Nader.
Clipper Chip - Designed to allow Law Enforcement to read encrypted transmissions through the Key Escrow Initiative. Failed miserably - thankfully.
Skipjack - Designed by the NSA for Clipper. It never received public review to determine if it was secure or contained any backdoors or trapdoors.
How about failed promises --- HealthCare reform lead by Hillary Clinton. It failed miserably. As a result of this "reform", our Seniors are stuck in HMOs that provide worse benefits than they started off with. That issue has been raised again under the guise of Perscription Plan reform.
You hit the nail on the head. There was no reform passed. HMOs arose as a (non-health care) corporate backlash to the health care industry raising prices (profits) far faster than reason should allow. Rather than corporations and politicians, we should be listening to doctors and patients. Quoting from Nader's website:
We find persuasive a plan based on the "Physicians' Proposal" for a national health program published by Physicians for a National Health Program in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1989, and their proposal for a national long-term care program published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1991."
A viable answer has existed for some time. Neither the Democrats, nor Republicans seem moved to change the status quo. Nadar's plan would increase coverage, not cost.
I'm not saying the Republicans are much better -- but they are are concerned more with building this country (and their wallets) rather than countries that really don't want us there. Tax breaks may help the rich, but lower taxes for everybody has got to be a good thing.
And, if the wealthiest 1% are paying 34% of the taxes, then there is obviously something wrong with our tax structure...Don't you think?
For a perspective on income and fair taxation, take a look at The L-Curve. Check the numbers and draw your own conclusions.
Economic policies generally take 8-12 years to take effect. What boon we are experienced is because of the previous administrations policies. What we are experiencing now (i.e the slump in NASDAQ and DOW) is the result of Clinton/Gore politics. Don't believe me? Read your history.
{Huge grain of salt.} Does that mean the Eisenhower years can be credited to Roosevelt and Truman, the Carter years to Nixon, the latter Reagan years to Carter? I think we can agree there is more to economics than politics, and certainly more than any president can control by himself.
If you don't want to vote Republican, then at least vote for a party leader who knows the difference between right and wrong.
Again, I agree. As a natural cynic, I feel compelled to point out Skeleton Closet. And yes, Nader's there too.
To not vote for your prefered candidate is the truly wasted vote.
Historically, third parties have had profound influences on the two major parties. Changes in the major party platforms may never have come about (or at least as quckly) if voters didn't have the guts to vote their conscious. If a major party doesn't conform to the will of the people, it becomes marginalized. When was the last time you saw a Whig candidate for any office?
The government belongs to the people, not political parties. Let's take it back!
unless I can get a rebate on every byte/time unit spent downloading spam, cookies, and other advertizing I didn't want to transfer in the first place.:)
Hmm... Atanasoff has/had the patent on electronic digital computing. I got dibs on the vacuum-tubeless binary photonic computing patent! If Rambus hasn't already beat me to it.;)
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But, this philosophy has maligned itself in the recent decades with misguided politics. The people we elected to promote these ideals have, themselves, become corrupt and self-serving.
This is the Green Party reasoning for voting Nader.
Clipper Chip - Designed to allow Law Enforcement to read encrypted transmissions through the Key Escrow Initiative. Failed miserably - thankfully.
Skipjack - Designed by the NSA for Clipper. It never received public review to determine if it was secure or contained any backdoors or trapdoors.
"The Greens in the European Parliament are accusing the big political parties in Parliament of obstructing the inquiry on Echelon."
How about failed promises --- HealthCare reform lead by Hillary Clinton. It failed miserably. As a result of this "reform", our Seniors are stuck in HMOs that provide worse benefits than they started off with. That issue has been raised again under the guise of Perscription Plan reform.
You hit the nail on the head. There was no reform passed. HMOs arose as a (non-health care) corporate backlash to the health care industry raising prices (profits) far faster than reason should allow. Rather than corporations and politicians, we should be listening to doctors and patients. Quoting from Nader's website: We find persuasive a plan based on the "Physicians' Proposal" for a national health program published by Physicians for a National Health Program in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1989, and their proposal for a national long-term care program published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1991."
A viable answer has existed for some time. Neither the Democrats, nor Republicans seem moved to change the status quo. Nadar's plan would increase coverage, not cost.
I'm not saying the Republicans are much better -- but they are are concerned more with building this country (and their wallets) rather than countries that really don't want us there. Tax breaks may help the rich, but lower taxes for everybody has got to be a good thing. And, if the wealthiest 1% are paying 34% of the taxes, then there is obviously something wrong with our tax structure...Don't you think?
For a perspective on income and fair taxation, take a look at The L-Curve. Check the numbers and draw your own conclusions.
Economic policies generally take 8-12 years to take effect. What boon we are experienced is because of the previous administrations policies. What we are experiencing now (i.e the slump in NASDAQ and DOW) is the result of Clinton/Gore politics. Don't believe me? Read your history.
{Huge grain of salt.} Does that mean the Eisenhower years can be credited to Roosevelt and Truman, the Carter years to Nixon, the latter Reagan years to Carter? I think we can agree there is more to economics than politics, and certainly more than any president can control by himself.
If you don't want to vote Republican, then at least vote for a party leader who knows the difference between right and wrong.
Again, I agree. As a natural cynic, I feel compelled to point out Skeleton Closet. And yes, Nader's there too.
I trust NecroPuppy can't really believe this. (then again...)
To not vote for your prefered candidate is the truly wasted vote. Historically, third parties have had profound influences on the two major parties. Changes in the major party platforms may never have come about (or at least as quckly) if voters didn't have the guts to vote their conscious. If a major party doesn't conform to the will of the people, it becomes marginalized. When was the last time you saw a Whig candidate for any office? The government belongs to the people, not political parties. Let's take it back!
unless I can get a rebate on every byte/time unit spent downloading spam, cookies, and other advertizing I didn't want to transfer in the first place. :)
Hmm... Atanasoff has/had the patent on electronic digital computing. I got dibs on the vacuum-tubeless binary photonic computing patent! If Rambus hasn't already beat me to it. ;)