Hierarchies always eventually turn tyrannical & draconian- even within benign religions.
Two-party deadlocks often have one benefit- they hedge against extreme excesses.
Even popular benign leaders often wear out their welcome towards the end of second term.
The Bushes did such bad jobs they triggered follow-up Fascism & Communism.
Therefore- term limits, no investing while in office, & minimal but controlled immigration are policies that help preserve each nation.
What initially made US great was not the immigrant tapestry itself- but the fact that like a successful sports draft, we were drawing only the best & ablest from abroad; prior to this Century middle classes just didn't exist + the learned were often persecuted. But today most countries have thriving middle classes that don't need to risk life or start over- so now we're getting Bush League rejects, schemers, welfare wannabes, and invaders that are looking to change societies- rule the world.
Such a great point. This has led me to many thoughts. The concept of groupthink is very true. It is the problem with “democracy.” When the most popular opinion is established, they will do anything to secure it and to silence the other side. They cannot, will not lose that power. We are suffering that now.
Interesting comments, albeit several extreme Trumpers. There are definitely socialist benefits that need removal, but when we look at the whole of what government does, not everything is bad. My preference is for a multi-party system with coalitions, as is the case in many countries. I'd rather support a centrist party, not the whacko wingnuts that are Trumpers and AOCers. I'm sure there are other ideas for parties.
For example, I worked in emergency management in Florida for two decades. Considering this recent Texas disaster, the finger-pointing is beginning. How should people have been notified? Well, in MAGA world, cut staff and budget for the Weather Service (done) and FEMA (done), and now it's every man for themselves. Whoops, occasionally there's a bad outcome, even in red states. It's incredible to me how many people there are to help with recovery, but so few dedicated to prevention. That's because prevention requires thoughtfulness, funding, and cooperation, something Texas conservatives don't care for.
In Florida, one of our most significant accomplishments was developing a well-designed and coordinated early warning system for hurricanes and other disasters. Jeb Bush initiated it, and it required a lot of people recognizing the value and agreeing to work together. Trump and Musk want to eliminate FEMA. Friends, FEMA is, and always has been, nothing more than a bank to help states and local communities before and during disasters. Disasters will always happen. The fact that MAGAworld disses FEMA is evidence they don't care about real people unless they're billionaires. Get down on your luck once in a while, and you're thrown to the wolves. Tough love, but sadly, true. I'm not saying people should be on welfare forever or game the system. But life throws curveballs, and we need to thoughtfully help people when they truly need it.
Jennifer, thanks for a thoughtful column. Our process in the US is messy, but I'd rather have it than risk being thrown in jail in Singapore for chewing gum. Nevertheless, I wish our society were moving toward engagement to solve problems; instead, we're moving away from each other and throwing rocks, revelling in our ability to put each other down rather than find real solutions.
Recognizing the Uni party as one party would lead to those who oppose the Party (almost all republican) to be silenced; it would also lead to more fraudulent elections, following Stalin’s dictum (I paraphrase it) it matters not who gets the votes, but who counts the votes.
We already have a two tiered system in which most of us have to live under the laws Congress passes, but where Congress itself is not subject to those same laws.
One simple example is how members of Congress are exempt from having to obey insider trading laws, whereas if you or I were to engage in insider trading, we would wind up in jail – like Martha Stewart.
And without term limits, which such a system would never allow, we would have a true ruling class far more odious and oppressive than we had prior to the American Revolution.
We fought our war of independence over a minuscule tax and an attempted gun grab
Today, more than half our income goes to taxes, both known and hidden, and too many politicians (mainly on the left) are trying hard to disarm us.
The English allowed themselves to be disarmed, as did the Australians; we see now, 2 decades later, the results, as their governments are unfettered in their tyranny over the people who trusted them.
Ditto for Canada.
Any deviance from the dictates of the Party would be punished, silenced, perhaps eventually “disappeared”.
No, our problem is not because there are two parties: it is because Globalist Communists have captured and corrupted one of them, and unprincipled RINOs for too long have controlled the other…Trump’s election is the wrench we, the People, have thrown into the machine.
We already have a uniparty in the USA and it sucks.
Hierarchies always eventually turn tyrannical & draconian- even within benign religions.
Two-party deadlocks often have one benefit- they hedge against extreme excesses.
Even popular benign leaders often wear out their welcome towards the end of second term.
The Bushes did such bad jobs they triggered follow-up Fascism & Communism.
Therefore- term limits, no investing while in office, & minimal but controlled immigration are policies that help preserve each nation.
What initially made US great was not the immigrant tapestry itself- but the fact that like a successful sports draft, we were drawing only the best & ablest from abroad; prior to this Century middle classes just didn't exist + the learned were often persecuted. But today most countries have thriving middle classes that don't need to risk life or start over- so now we're getting Bush League rejects, schemers, welfare wannabes, and invaders that are looking to change societies- rule the world.
Disaster looming.
Such a great point. This has led me to many thoughts. The concept of groupthink is very true. It is the problem with “democracy.” When the most popular opinion is established, they will do anything to secure it and to silence the other side. They cannot, will not lose that power. We are suffering that now.
Interesting comments, albeit several extreme Trumpers. There are definitely socialist benefits that need removal, but when we look at the whole of what government does, not everything is bad. My preference is for a multi-party system with coalitions, as is the case in many countries. I'd rather support a centrist party, not the whacko wingnuts that are Trumpers and AOCers. I'm sure there are other ideas for parties.
For example, I worked in emergency management in Florida for two decades. Considering this recent Texas disaster, the finger-pointing is beginning. How should people have been notified? Well, in MAGA world, cut staff and budget for the Weather Service (done) and FEMA (done), and now it's every man for themselves. Whoops, occasionally there's a bad outcome, even in red states. It's incredible to me how many people there are to help with recovery, but so few dedicated to prevention. That's because prevention requires thoughtfulness, funding, and cooperation, something Texas conservatives don't care for.
In Florida, one of our most significant accomplishments was developing a well-designed and coordinated early warning system for hurricanes and other disasters. Jeb Bush initiated it, and it required a lot of people recognizing the value and agreeing to work together. Trump and Musk want to eliminate FEMA. Friends, FEMA is, and always has been, nothing more than a bank to help states and local communities before and during disasters. Disasters will always happen. The fact that MAGAworld disses FEMA is evidence they don't care about real people unless they're billionaires. Get down on your luck once in a while, and you're thrown to the wolves. Tough love, but sadly, true. I'm not saying people should be on welfare forever or game the system. But life throws curveballs, and we need to thoughtfully help people when they truly need it.
Jennifer, thanks for a thoughtful column. Our process in the US is messy, but I'd rather have it than risk being thrown in jail in Singapore for chewing gum. Nevertheless, I wish our society were moving toward engagement to solve problems; instead, we're moving away from each other and throwing rocks, revelling in our ability to put each other down rather than find real solutions.
Recognizing the Uni party as one party would lead to those who oppose the Party (almost all republican) to be silenced; it would also lead to more fraudulent elections, following Stalin’s dictum (I paraphrase it) it matters not who gets the votes, but who counts the votes.
We already have a two tiered system in which most of us have to live under the laws Congress passes, but where Congress itself is not subject to those same laws.
One simple example is how members of Congress are exempt from having to obey insider trading laws, whereas if you or I were to engage in insider trading, we would wind up in jail – like Martha Stewart.
And without term limits, which such a system would never allow, we would have a true ruling class far more odious and oppressive than we had prior to the American Revolution.
We fought our war of independence over a minuscule tax and an attempted gun grab
Today, more than half our income goes to taxes, both known and hidden, and too many politicians (mainly on the left) are trying hard to disarm us.
The English allowed themselves to be disarmed, as did the Australians; we see now, 2 decades later, the results, as their governments are unfettered in their tyranny over the people who trusted them.
Ditto for Canada.
Any deviance from the dictates of the Party would be punished, silenced, perhaps eventually “disappeared”.
No, our problem is not because there are two parties: it is because Globalist Communists have captured and corrupted one of them, and unprincipled RINOs for too long have controlled the other…Trump’s election is the wrench we, the People, have thrown into the machine.