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Occupy Wall Street Turns 2

Started by Savonarola, September 20, 2013, 05:51:06 PM

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Jacob

Quote from: garbon on September 24, 2013, 07:15:00 PMI guess that is one narrative.

That's the narrative the article describes as being on the ascendant.

If you want to counter it with a more Conservative alternative you can trade on the distrust of government, but you will likely - if the article is correct - have to provide a more concrete plan for improving people's lives than cutting government services and privatizing the delivery of public goods in a way that leaves the average person worse off (as per our student debt discussions).

There may be a Conservative alternative for improving peoples' lives, but I don't see even the potential outline of one being offered. I don't even see a clear analysis of the problems being put forth, to be honest.

garbon

Except that I'm not taking the position that you need to push for more cuts in gov't services. What I am skeptical of, is the notion that if we just increase the amount of gov't oversight, spending, etc, that we'll see long-term improvements.  I see no evidence that the Warrens and de Blasios will lead us to a happier, sustainable future.
"I've never been quite sure what the point of a eunuch is, if truth be told. It seems to me they're only men with the useful bits cut off."
I drank because I wanted to drown my sorrows, but now the damned things have learned to swim.

CountDeMoney

Quote from: Jacob on September 24, 2013, 06:47:18 PM
Interesting article, Sheilbh. If turns out to be correct, it'll be interesting to see if the American left can hold it together or whether the transition leftwards will be as strained as the current tea-party driven strife in the GOP.

Nah.  Middle, mainstream America, as a whole, has always had a substantial degree of loathing for left-wing activism in any form, going back two centuries. 
Right-wing activism? Gawd bless Amurrica, love it or leave it, yew Commie.  But left-wing activism never gains any traction.  Never has, never will.

Ideologue

Kinemalogue
Current reviews: The 'Burbs (9/10); Gremlins 2: The New Batch (9/10); John Wick: Chapter 2 (9/10); A Cure For Wellness (4/10)

Ideologue

Wait a minute, the core of the Populists and Progressives was middle America.  So too the Socialists.
Kinemalogue
Current reviews: The 'Burbs (9/10); Gremlins 2: The New Batch (9/10); John Wick: Chapter 2 (9/10); A Cure For Wellness (4/10)

derspiess

I had fun yelling at the Occupy Cincinnati shitheads each time I drove by.
"If you can play a guitar and harmonica at the same time, like Bob Dylan or Neil Young, you're a genius. But make that extra bit of effort and strap some cymbals to your knees, suddenly people want to get the hell away from you."  --Rich Hall

Ed Anger

Quote from: derspiess on September 24, 2013, 08:22:21 PM
I had fun yelling at the Occupy Cincinnati shitheads each time I drove by.

All 6 of them
Stay Alive...Let the Man Drive

CountDeMoney

Quote from: Ideologue on September 24, 2013, 08:20:25 PM
Wait a minute, the core of the Populists and Progressives was middle America.  So too the Socialists.

Yah for Prohibition.


grumbler

Quote from: garbon on September 24, 2013, 07:04:55 PM
That said, I wonder why people lean more towards the government managing things. It isn't like it has shown a great capacity for change.

I think it is because they believe that it is the only power capable of holding back the depradations of "them," and they feel that they have some control over government, while they have none over "them."

Whoever "they" are.
The future is all around us, waiting, in moments of transition, to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shape of that future or where it will take us. We know only that it is always born in pain.   -G'Kar

Bayraktar!

Jacob

Quote from: garbon on September 24, 2013, 07:35:08 PM
Except that I'm not taking the position that you need to push for more cuts in gov't services. What I am skeptical of, is the notion that if we just increase the amount of gov't oversight, spending, etc, that we'll see long-term improvements.  I see no evidence that the Warrens and de Blasios will lead us to a happier, sustainable future.

I don't think the notion is that if "we just increase the amount of gov't oversight, spending, etc, that we'll see long-term improvements." I'm pretty sure the notion is that if we provide well targeted programs we'll see long term improvements.

CountDeMoney

Quote from: Jacob on September 24, 2013, 08:44:55 PM
I don't think the notion is that if "we just increase the amount of gov't oversight, spending, etc, that we'll see long-term improvements."

I'm confident we will. :smarty:

garbon

Quote from: Jacob on September 24, 2013, 08:44:55 PM
I'm pretty sure the notion is that if we provide well targeted programs we'll see long term improvements.


:lol:
"I've never been quite sure what the point of a eunuch is, if truth be told. It seems to me they're only men with the useful bits cut off."
I drank because I wanted to drown my sorrows, but now the damned things have learned to swim.

crazy canuck

Quote from: garbon on September 24, 2013, 08:48:40 PM
Quote from: Jacob on September 24, 2013, 08:44:55 PM
I'm pretty sure the notion is that if we provide well targeted programs we'll see long term improvements.


:lol:

Exactly the attitude that got you a piss poor medical system.

CountDeMoney

Quote from: crazy canuck on September 24, 2013, 08:55:51 PM
Exactly the attitude that got you a piss poor medical system.

America: fuck 'em or leave it!

garbon

Quote from: crazy canuck on September 24, 2013, 08:55:51 PM
Quote from: garbon on September 24, 2013, 08:48:40 PM
Quote from: Jacob on September 24, 2013, 08:44:55 PM
I'm pretty sure the notion is that if we provide well targeted programs we'll see long term improvements.


:lol:

Exactly the attitude that got you a piss poor medical system.

Maybe but then I don't think any of our politicians is really putting together these great "well targeted programs we'll see long term improvements."
"I've never been quite sure what the point of a eunuch is, if truth be told. It seems to me they're only men with the useful bits cut off."
I drank because I wanted to drown my sorrows, but now the damned things have learned to swim.