reply to post by oasisjack
I suspect you were being rhetorical, but I will stake out my position. Republican voters’ litmus test centered on Dr. Paul’s foreign policy. For
the Democrats who were capable of looking beyond the Left’s sacrosanct race hustling and forced egalitarianism there was common ground in the areas
of civil liberties and, surprisingly enough, Dr. Paul’s foreign policy.
By and large I believe the vast majority of the U.S. electorate takes as given that a strong central government is necessary for the welfare of the
nation. For the Right a strong central government is necessary for national security; for the Left a strong central government is necessary for
social justice. They are, I think, general statements that represent the core justifications for a strong central government.
To address “I would like you the people of ATS to step up with ideas …” I have this to say. One, commentary about politics that doesn’t
include playful caricature is, in my opinion, pointless. (To be clear, I am not commenting about political kabuki.) That is, there ought to be
entertainment value when discussing politics, if only because politics is theatre at its worst. Two, it would behoove the electorate to get a good
chuckle and then look at the institution. Not the institution of political parties, but rather the institution of government—it’s structure, how
it functions, et cetera. If nothing else people may recognize that regardless who reigns over whom the institution itself doesn’t change. And this
is the key point: the institution itself doesn’t change. When someone says “Eh, Left or Right it’s all the same,” it is because the
institution doesn’t change. Third, which follows naturally from two, it would be very sensible for the electorate to thoughtfully answer this
question: Is a strong central government in my best interest?
Why do I believe this line of reasoning & questioning is correct? I believe it is correct for two reasons: 1) it makes sense; 2) the response to such
reasoning & questioning from the vanguards of the Left & Right often demonstrates to me that their greatest fear is decentralization.
Both the Left & Right can lick their wounds at a loss, but nonetheless live to fight another day. If, however, the institution is greatly
decentralized then there’s nothing left to fight over. They’re done. Finished.
"Done" and "finished" may not be such a bad outcome as many among the electorate have automatically assumed.
edit on 31-10-2012 by Kovenov because: (no reason given)