Comments for Southern white Dems an endangered species at http://www.theind.com , comment 1 to 12 out of 12 comments http://www.theind.com Wed, 22 May 2013 02:15:29 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/7249-southern-white-dems-an-endangered-species#comment-12271 If you want my opinion, an open and libertarian inspired society is not based on money (or the accumulation of wealth) at all. Nor do I think there is one specific definition of capitalism. I don't know what to call the system we have in the U.S., except corrupt. The evolution of economic and societal systems is such that no moment in time will represent a "perfect" state. All the parts are moving, changing, and hopefully progressing. Central banking (fiat currency and fractional reserve lending) seems to be destroying itself, as people are realizing the folly of unlimited borrowing and spending, and that it fosters unwise consumption. Of course private enterprise is a fundamental of libertarian society and most things should be private. Competition ideally inspires efficiency and improvement, although when corporations virtually own the government this free market principle is tainted. However, I believe that necessities of life such as water and utilities should be publicly owned and not subject to the whims of short-term profit margins. Public parks are good, too, and wilderness areas should be preserved for both biodiversity and human enjoyment. Clean air and clean water are public assets and have to be protected through regulation. So an open society depends on both private enterprise and public stewardship. - Resident Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:08:58 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/7249-southern-white-dems-an-endangered-species#comment-12256 "I think U.O. had some great points about the corporatocracy" As did Shotgun. But my question still stands--if Capitalism is not the "highest measure of an open and libertarian inspired society", then what is? Surely someone as loquacious as UO must have an opinion on the subject. - ragin_cajun Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:57:36 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/7249-southern-white-dems-an-endangered-species#comment-12216 I think U.O. had some great points about the corporatocracy. Anyone who thinks the Republicans want a true free market is seriously deluded. The first test will be ethanol subsidies which are up for renewal early next year. The Republicans (and Democrats) have a long history of corporate welfare. The ethanol subsidies are welfare for the monolithic corn industry and do nothing to help environmental quality or reduce oil consumption. Will the supposed "reduce spending" Republicans allow the subsidies to expire? I seriously doubt it. Will they touch the $40 billion a year in farm subsidies that does nothing but make unhealthy food cheap and wreck third-world agriculture? Doubtful. It's the same reason they won't repeal the health care mandate - because it's a windfall for the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. I've already seen WSJ propaganda defending the mandate while incessantly repeating the "Obamacare" cliche. - Resident Tue, 09 Nov 2010 13:20:43 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/7249-southern-white-dems-an-endangered-species#comment-12209 "Capitalism as preached, "GREAT. Capitalism as we watch it work, is one step below slavery" We either have Capitalism or we don't. We either have free markets or we don't. It's exactly like saying a woman is either pregnant or she's not. So when you guys desribe things like "veil by which government office holders cover their underhand violations", that is not what Capitalism is. That is something else--oligarchy, perhaps fascism, or just plain old corruption, or the end result of government interference in free markets--any of those words fit the described situation. Capitalism does not fit. "plutocratic social engineering" is most certainly not Capitalism. I want to be clear on this because I OFTEN hear people attack Capitalism, and when I pursue it with them, they start describing all kinds of social ills that are the direct result of government control of the economy. - ragin_cajun Tue, 09 Nov 2010 10:53:14 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/7249-southern-white-dems-an-endangered-species#comment-12195 Capitalism as it has come to be in America and Great Britian, is the veil by which government office holders cover their underhand violations, of every law on the book of Free Enterprise. Capitalism reached its peak during the prohibition period, when the crooked money barons, the Mellon's, Rockerfeller's, Carneige's etc, broke the backs of the working stiffs and stuffed their coffers with the fruits of their blood and sweat. Capitalism as preached, "GREAT. Capitalism as we watch it work, is one step below slavery. - NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:46:30 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/7249-southern-white-dems-an-endangered-species#comment-12170 "capitalism is not free enterprise" -- uhhh, that's exactly what it is. you gonna admit you goofed, or split hairs and play semantic games in defense of the indefensible? "nor is it the highest measure of an open and libertarian inspired society" -- Well, then, what is? What WOULD you call the "highest measure of an open and libertarian inspired society"--standard of living, wealth distribution, education level, "happiness", "fairness"? I'm curious to hear what benchmark YOU use to measure societies. "capitalism has been distorted into..." then it's not capitalism. "an increasingly One Party environment " we have the government we deserve. It reflects what our society has become--uncertain, unreasonable, unprincipled, and uneducated. How can you wish for philosophical differences between the political parties when the electorate has no clue what philosophy even is? Judging from what I see here, very FEW people can, or will, tell you what they believe, value, or what their philosophy is. Most people here believe that morals are optional, perception is reality, and nothing is sacred. Why should politicians be any different? - ragin_cajun Sat, 06 Nov 2010 22:47:03 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/7249-southern-white-dems-an-endangered-species#comment-12169 La Black Bears may be having population growth, but that doesn't make them unendangered. Hopefully with habitat preservation they will continue to return. As for the vote Tuesday, 29 million voters did not show up from 2008. Granted it was an improvement from 2006, and there were trends going one way, but still, to have gone from 124 million to 95 million voters says something. I'd be curious to see what demographics are discernable about those voters and if they were all truly disaffected Democrats and "No Party" persons, or if they reflected the rest of the electorate accurately, thus, their vote was reflected in the turnout that did happen. I did read that the 18-29 age turnout did go up from 2006....(6% to 11%) but that likely pales to 2008 turnout. Again, I think RC is somewhat on point here... he does not acknowledge any use of all the social conservative wedge issues over the years in this analysis, but what began as a Dixiecrat revolt with Strom Thurmond and Bull Conner in 1948, continued as a George Wallace campaign in '68. Thereafter, Pat Buchanan's advocated to Nixon to use wedge issues beginning in the 70's and the evangelical social conservative movement began to rise, gaining power through Reagan's victories when he tapped in to formerly union-allied blue collar voters across the midwest and libertarian sentiments out west. The schism's between Big Government social conservatism, and Little Government economic libertarianism and all the other angles, were papered over in the 1990's with a common resistance to Bill Clinton and Democratic control of the legislature for much of 40 years along with expected corruption that accompanies all congresses and all parties. Healthcare then was really a big wedge exploited, just as it was this time (though the disaffection goes wider than simply that one piece of policy.) Facts hardly matter compared to stories, and the most compelling and loudest stories were told the most. So at any rate, putting aside all the non-traceable reportable corporate cash flying in, the expert use of framing the issues and making all these issues morality tales, we're left with an increasingly One Party environment in the Deep South and Mid South regions. There are fewer moderate republicans and fewer conservative democrats. There are still plenty of corporate democrats. I just hope the tea parties figure out that capitalism is not free enterprise, nor is it the highest measure of an open and libertarian inspired society, capitalism has been distorted into plutocratic social engineering for a corporate welfare state. This does not advance liberty or "the general welfare." - Unempirical Observer Sat, 06 Nov 2010 18:57:49 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/7249-southern-white-dems-an-endangered-species#comment-12155 "I think that Walter's emphasis.... in his description of the article" I should have said "in his SELECTIVE QUOTE FROM the article". You should use quotation marks or indentation to indicate to the reader where your words end and the other writer's words begin. I know you guys don't take things very seriously at the Independent, but quoting others correctly is important. - ragin_cajun Fri, 05 Nov 2010 17:03:05 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/7249-southern-white-dems-an-endangered-species#comment-12151 Ragin cajun nailed you on this one walter.you did not come across a subtle as you thought.True colors shining thru. - neutral party Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:05:19 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/7249-southern-white-dems-an-endangered-species#comment-12147 yep.....and Ole' Angry Charlie Melancon is one. I don't know where he is going. They don't want him back in Napolanville either. Maybe Wayne Elmore and Charlie can room together like the good old days. Sorry Charlie, you are a loser. - Simply Amazed Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:49:16 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/7249-southern-white-dems-an-endangered-species#comment-12141 The Salon article gave many reasons for Democratic losses in the South, most of which had nothing to do with race. There's serious scholarly research showing that Repbublican ascendancy in the South has more to do with Southern economic trends than Southern racism. And most campaign strategists, Republican and Democratic, have said for 20 years now that the "Southern Strategy" is obsolete and irrelevant. I think that Walter's emphasis on the Southern Strategy and desegration in his description of the article says more about where Walter's head is at than about Southern voters. Also, Louisiana Black Bear population is on the rise according to the more professional news outlets in this state. Houma journalists quote LADWF wildlife managers in a recent article discussing rising black bear populations. WVLA in Baton Rouge also reported on it recently. So the comparison in the title of this article is not apt. I would encourage readers to form their OWN opinion of Republican ascendancy in the South (and Black Bear conservation efforts) by reading something other than polemics and opinion pieces. Opinions are not facts, editorials are not history, and Walter is obviously no biologist....or campaign strategist. - ragin_cajun Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:06:23 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/7249-southern-white-dems-an-endangered-species#comment-12138 More like endangered feces. - Double Expresso Fri, 05 Nov 2010 12:34:49 +0100