The Right is Right, Revolution is Coming

Good Morning Papamoka Readers! There's a new Rasmussen national poll out that suggests only 53% of American adults believe capitalism is better than socialism. That result is extraordinary! No wonder John McCain lost the election trying to paint Barack Obama as a socialist.

It also clear now why the idiots of FOX "News" and other conservative media are beginning to look like smoke-filled echo chambers these days. The term "socialism" is finally losing some of its political punch, and they're just too stupid to realize it. I think it's a positive sign for those of us concerned about the future. Hopefully, it shows that America is evolving.

Rasmussen found that 20% of Americans say socialism is better, while 27% are not sure which is better. That sounds predictable. What is shocking are the trends. It's all about the next generation people!

Adults under 30 are essentially evenly divided: 37% prefer capitalism, 33% socialism, and 30% are undecided. That is NEW! That is NEWS! The slightly older thirty-somethings are a bit more supportive of the free-enterprise approach with 49% for capitalism and 26% for socialism. That still represents a trend away from Republicanism.

Adults over 40 strongly favor capitalism, and just 13% of older Americans believe socialism is better. Of course, they represent the heart of modern, unregulated capitalism, or Republicanism.

Personally, I consider myself a responsible capitalist. What is that? By and large it means I believe in sustainable economics, or an economy that can sustain society and all of mankind, while contributing to individual freedom and happiness. I also believe in trying to protect health, the environment, the vulnerable, and the future. Wow, what a radical I am!

Most of those protections are already in place. The missing link involves health care, and I think President Obama will handle that issue. The only "socialism" left to worry about involves the large holes in regulations left by modern Republicans. You know what I mean? The Republican deregulation that destroyed the modern economy. It's clear that we need to re-regulate the market so that it doesn't destroy itself or us. We also have to ensure a healthy, sustainable future.

As the poll suggests, most YOUNG Americans today are supportive of the idea. It also suggests most OLDER Americans, mainly Republicans (led by idiots like Bush, McCain, Palin and Romney), are way behind the learning curve. It makes you wonder if they'll ever catch-up. I wouldn't hold my breath.

I think the poll also suggests that people are changing their minds about the nature of free enterprise and what we call individual rights. The Republican free market ideal has always meant unlimited rights. I think that is less acceptable to people now. National and world resources are now seen as limited. It only makes sense that individual responsibility is more important. Free enterprise and individuals rights will pay a price. The planet and the future are now seen as vulnerable.

Free enterprise must have limits. It must be both responsible and sustainable.

Just to be clear for those on the right, we're talking about a multi-party, socially responsible capitalism. A sustainable, healthy capitalism. We're NOT talking about a single-party socialism. If you jump to that conclusion, you're an idiot! It would save a lot of time [in this debate] if you just accept that fact, and not try to paint me out to be some kind of anti-capitalistic, anti-democratic nut case.

It's now becoming clear that Republican-led, unregulated, free market capitalism is slowly destroying our nation, our planet, our health, and our children's future.

I think people are figuring it out. It seems the only ones denying it now are the far right, and they're beginning to look like a radical fringe group. Interestingly, if you listen to conservative media, they think the revolution is going their way. I think it's going our way - let's hope, our future depends on it. I guess we'll have to wait and see. Viva la Revolution!

Michael Boh
Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor
from Our Rants & Raves Blog

Iraq Celebrates Six Years of American Generosity

Hello Papamoka Readers! I must be brief today so I thought I would share some quick thoughts on the illustrious six year anniversary of the Republican-led Iraq war and our miserably long and expensive occupation.

It was so gratifying this morning to hear that thousands of Iraqis are celebrating by burning American flags across the nation in street demonstrations. It warmed my heart when I heard the interviews with dozens of Iraqis complaining about us as occupiers and murderers. It made you proud to be an American. For my Republican friends, that's called sarcasm, and I do hope they are listening.

Recent Iraqi Polls are depressing in the way they highlight how we aren't even seen as a helpful security force anymore. Both Sunnis and Shiites credit Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki and the IRAQI SECURITY FORCES with the peace and security they enjoy. Isn't that nice? We don't get any credit for risking our lives and spending billions we DESPERATELY NEED HERE AT HOME!

So, they don't give us any credit for the peace and they want us to go home. I say let's give them what they want and get the FREAK out of there. We should stop wasting our billions on those miserable, ungrateful people and haul ass home. WAKE UP President Obama! Stop listening to Secretary Gates and the Republican military machine. Get us out of that thankless country!

Our young men and women should not be risking their lives for such ungrateful people. We've paid our dues. We've made up for the miserable mistakes of George "the screw up" Bush and Dick "the dark lord" Cheney. The billions we've spent over past years to clean up their mistakes is enough. Let's get the HELL OUT NOW! SIX YEARS IS ENOUGH! We've wasted enough money!

I just finished watching another news report, this time on BBC News, featuring more Iraqis cursing America for their six years of misery. We spent over $1 TRILLION - of money that we now desperately need - on that miserable dust bowl of a country and all we get is cursed for trying to help. What a freaking nightmare!

The Republicans are great at spending our money on unappreciative foreigners, but scream bloody murder when we try to spend it on ourselves. Screw the GOP! I wish those Republicans who led us into the worst mess in American history would fly over there and face those Iraqi street demonstrators. They might just learn how INSANE and out-of-touch they've been over the past eight years.

The Iraq War was a Bush, Cheney, Oil Industry, macho, military-industrial-complex, arrogant, STUPID IDEA! We would be better off today if we had just let Hussein run that miserable country into the ground. They didn't deserve American lives, American money, or American help. America has suffered enough losses. I say SCREW THE REPUBLICANS AND THE IRAQIS!

I hope every Republican realizes just what a debacle their elected leaders created for the world. They've killed and wounded countless Iraqis, thousands of Americans, and practically bankrupted the U.S. all for nothing. Let's stop fooling ourselves, let's put an end to the ungrateful misery that is America's - or the Republicans - attempt to help Iraq. It's been six awful years, and all a horrible waste of lives and money.

Michael Boh
Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor
from Our Rants & Raves Blog