A response to someone about OWS and the Tea Party
This was just something I wanted to keep, kind of defines some of political philosophy of late:
Actually I think OWS has helped because that have put some of the real problems in our society into the public consciousness like nothing else has in a long time. I didn't protest with them, but I was certainly sympathetic. Wealth disparity has been getting worse and worse, particularly with this latest economic downturn. Bringing the problem to Wall Street was kind of genius because that is where the decisions are ultimately made on our economic livelihoods. You can't say the decisions were necessarily made in DC, unless those decisions were to turn a blind eye and be hands off, and let the fox loose in the hen house. Wall Street is a big corrupting influence on DC, and you could argue the government is largely a puppet of corporate interests (see Lawrence Lessig's "Republic, Lost.") Of course, lately there has been some Occupy Congress movement and I applaud them. The Congress needs to get off their lazy, insider trading, asses and actually do some good for the people.
The Tea Party does touch on some of the problems, but they while they are largely anti-government (where OWS is largely anti-corporate) in their stance, and sure government needs to be cut. I'm all in favor of cutting some military industrial complex and the ridiculous, wasteful of lives and money, drug wars. The only thing the Tea Party seem willing to cut is the social safety net, and anything that provides us any protection, like the FDA and EPA. Which in a more globalized world seems to be getting more important. Or do you like to get some more Chinese melamine in your pet food? Or something worse? Counterfeit prescription medicines anyone? Personally, I think there is a role for government, and while it can be corrupt and inefficient, that doesn't mean it should just be scrapped, rather it should be fixed. And, I tend to think Tea Party movement has largely been co-opted by social conservatives, so it's not much different than what we've seen before. They want to get government out of our lives, but not out of bedroom, and don't even think about getting an abortion, even if you were raped by your dad (it's a gift from G_d), and lordy, don't let Sam and Keith get married, even if they are most loving, cute, and committed couple you've ever seen. Don't let them sprinkle their gay, gay glitter on our kids.
Actually I think OWS has helped because that have put some of the real problems in our society into the public consciousness like nothing else has in a long time. I didn't protest with them, but I was certainly sympathetic. Wealth disparity has been getting worse and worse, particularly with this latest economic downturn. Bringing the problem to Wall Street was kind of genius because that is where the decisions are ultimately made on our economic livelihoods. You can't say the decisions were necessarily made in DC, unless those decisions were to turn a blind eye and be hands off, and let the fox loose in the hen house. Wall Street is a big corrupting influence on DC, and you could argue the government is largely a puppet of corporate interests (see Lawrence Lessig's "Republic, Lost.") Of course, lately there has been some Occupy Congress movement and I applaud them. The Congress needs to get off their lazy, insider trading, asses and actually do some good for the people.
The Tea Party does touch on some of the problems, but they while they are largely anti-government (where OWS is largely anti-corporate) in their stance, and sure government needs to be cut. I'm all in favor of cutting some military industrial complex and the ridiculous, wasteful of lives and money, drug wars. The only thing the Tea Party seem willing to cut is the social safety net, and anything that provides us any protection, like the FDA and EPA. Which in a more globalized world seems to be getting more important. Or do you like to get some more Chinese melamine in your pet food? Or something worse? Counterfeit prescription medicines anyone? Personally, I think there is a role for government, and while it can be corrupt and inefficient, that doesn't mean it should just be scrapped, rather it should be fixed. And, I tend to think Tea Party movement has largely been co-opted by social conservatives, so it's not much different than what we've seen before. They want to get government out of our lives, but not out of bedroom, and don't even think about getting an abortion, even if you were raped by your dad (it's a gift from G_d), and lordy, don't let Sam and Keith get married, even if they are most loving, cute, and committed couple you've ever seen. Don't let them sprinkle their gay, gay glitter on our kids.