2012=1860?

[Tamas]

I was reading a rather good Spectator article from last week. The sentence I liked most was that Obama spending levels financed from Tea Party tax levels will not stand and will ruin the country if left alone.

Based on that (the simple fact that you either have welfare, or low taxes, both is not possible) the article raised the point that it may very well be that next year's US election be akin to the one in 1860: it will be a decision on what road that nation will take.

Discuss.

[Viking]

This all fits in with the moralism as driver of conflict in the USA theory that I sort of have some sympathy for. Add 1932 to that list.

[Slargos]

FUCK YEAH

[alfred russel]

Nonsense, unless one side sweeps the election, ie, wins the white house, the house of reps with a decent majority, and at least 60 seats in the senate, we are going to get gridlock just like we have now. There will not be a chance of major changes, and mostly the two parties fighting out what gets cut from a bloated deficit (including through tax increases).

FWIW, the democrats have almost no chance to pick up seats in the Senate, because in 2006 they dominated and thus have almost all the contestable seats up for election already. The republicans are in the minority and would need to pick up almost 15 seats of the 33 or so up in the senate, which just won't happen. So basically major changes are probably going to have to wait until at least 2014. And even then, the public increasingly does not respect either party platform. If either side gets control of the legislature and white house (as Obama did at the beginning), there is almost certain to be a major backlash in the next election.

[Ed Anger]

And retard map shows up again

[Slargos]

And retard map shows up again

If you just learn to accept the inevitable instead of fear it, things will go a lot more smoothly for you.

[Ed Anger]

And retard map shows up again

If you just learn to accept the inevitable instead of fear it, things will go a lot more smoothly for you.

I accept that notion the map is fucking retarded.

[Slargos]

And retard map shows up again

If you just learn to accept the inevitable instead of fear it, things will go a lot more smoothly for you.

I accept that notion the map is fucking retarded.

I agree that it's a bit silly to think southern california will go anywhere but mexico, yeah. Retarded is a bit strongly worded, though.

[Ed Anger]

And retard map shows up again

If you just learn to accept the inevitable instead of fear it, things will go a lot more smoothly for you.

I accept that notion the map is fucking retarded.

I agree that it's a bit silly to think southern california will go anywhere but mexico, yeah. Retarded is a bit strongly worded, though.

The map has downs syndrome, and everybody that reposts it eats paste.

[The Brain]

FUCK YEAH

[Ed Anger]

Brain likes paste.

[MadImmortalMan]

Brain likes paste.

He thought you said pets.

[Siege]

[Razgovory]

And retard map shows up again

If you just learn to accept the inevitable instead of fear it, things will go a lot more smoothly for you.

We aren't Scandinavians.  Half our country doesn't just walk off.

[Palisadoes]

I was reading a rather good Spectator article from last week. The sentence I liked most was that Obama spending levels financed from Tea Party tax levels will not stand and will ruin the country if left alone.

Based on that (the simple fact that you either have welfare, or low taxes, both is not possible) the article raised the point that it may very well be that next year's US election be akin to the one in 1860: it will be a decision on what road that nation will take.

Discuss.

To some degree I agree with what you say - it will be an important election; does the USA want to go left or right? However, I think the comparison with 1860 is highly superfluous since it implies something as catastrophic as a civil war.