[lotuseclat79]

Article The Discreet Charm of the Ruling Class by Deepak Chopra

When a governing class develops in a democratic society, it loses contact with the people who elect it. In many ways America is burdened with such a class, which has amassed power over the past fifty years, until it arrived at a place where its right to rule goes almost unchallenged. Let's look at who belongs to the ruling class...

-- Tom

[linskyjack]

The smart aggressive people will always rule---Every ten years or so they need to be slapped down when they get out of control. Then the next smart and aggressive crowd moves on

[iltos]

Originally Posted by lotuseclat79

Article The Discreet Charm of the Ruling Class by Deepak Chopra

When a governing class develops in a democratic society, it loses contact with the people who elect it. In many ways America is burdened with such a class, which has amassed power over the past fifty years, until it arrived at a place where its right to rule goes almost unchallenged. Let's look at who belongs to the ruling class...

-- Tom

this outta stir things up

unfortunately, chopra shot himself in the foot, imo

The betrayal of democracy hasn't escaped notice, and the Democrats have promised, once they gain the White House, to sweep away the distorted policies of the right wing.

i still maintain that democrats have no clear vision of a cohesive, alternative policy (at least none they're willing to speak of), which just means to me that their politics are based on reacting to the right.....

just the flip side of the ruling class, then

[lotuseclat79]

Hi iltos,

I might agree with you, but let's wait until the Dems are once again at the helm of the ship. My take is that the Dems are hedging their bets in order not to blow the 2008 election - but, will they succeed?

-- Tom

[DiSaidSo]

Originally Posted by iltos

i still maintain that democrats have no clear vision of a cohesive, alternative policy (at least none they're willing to speak of), which just means to me that their politics are based on reacting to the right.....

just the flip side of the ruling class, then

I agree with you that the Dems lack vision beyond "Whatever is the opposite of what the Republicans are saying," but you can't say that they don't have their own ruling class. Kennedys? Clintons?

There's really not very many things that you can say about one party that does NOT apply to the other in some way.

[sy2]

Four words - term limits for everyone.

Congress as well as the executive branch. Apply it to state representatives as well. Career politicians should not exist.

End of story.

[BDACBT]

Originally Posted by lotuseclat79

Hi iltos,

I might agree with you, but let's wait until the Dems are once again at the helm of the ship. My take is that the Dems are hedging their bets in order not to blow the 2008 election - but, will they succeed?

-- Tom

I agree with your argument that they are hedging their bets and that is incredibly sad. It would be sad to say of the Republicans, Independents or Democrats. If leaders can only be elected by specifically not saying what they really believe, it doesn't make any difference whose in office. We will be lost as a people and a nation.

I'm old enough to remember when politicians made the argument that their position was the right thing for our country, and I think maybe even believed it. When I hear a pol state something is good for their party without saying a word about how it effects the other 50% of America, I want to puke.

[iltos]

Originally Posted by sy2

Four words - term limits for everyone.

Congress as well as the executive branch. Apply it to state representatives as well. Career politicians should not exist.

End of story.

agreed

[iltos]

Originally Posted by DiSaidSo

I agree with you that the Dems lack vision beyond "Whatever is the opposite of what the Republicans are saying," but you can't say that they don't have their own ruling class. Kennedys? Clintons?

not makin THAT claim, di....

There's really not very many things that you can say about one party that does NOT apply to the other in some way.

abso-root-ly

[pyritechips]

just the flip side of the ruling class, then

Of course. I have been watching politics for decades and democratic flaws are non-partisam. The challenger alwasy promises exactly what the voters want to hear yet when they gain power they rule with impunity, ignoring their own promises and doing what suits them.

[iltos]

Originally Posted by lotuseclat79

Hi iltos,

I might agree with you, but let's wait until the Dems are once again at the helm of the ship. My take is that the Dems are hedging their bets in order not to blow the 2008 election - but, will they succeed?

-- Tom

well....we disagree, tom.....if they've got one, it's time to put it on the table, and let the voters (including we-who-are-disallusioned-and-vote-for-a-third-party-candidate) decide if it can get this government back to a point of integrity, honesty, and leadership that means something to the world, not just america's "ruling class".

[BDACBT]

Originally Posted by iltos

well....we disagree, tom.....if they've got one, it's time to put it on the table, and let the voters (including we-who-are-disallusioned-and-vote-for-a-third-party-candidate) decide if it can get this government back to a point of integrity, honesty, and leadership that means something to the world, not just america's "ruling class".

iltos,
You'd have to agree, there is an incredible divide in this country between the 2 main parties. My grandmother had me campaigning/knocking on doors as early as the 64 Presidential election. With that said, I've never seen anything like the difference and animosity that exists between the parties today. Is this a fight that one can sit out because of disillusionment? As Clinton use to say, "I feel your pain". I really do. But I fear if neither side wins this battle soon, I wonder if our country can survive. Of course I want my side to win, but if the process destroys the US, I guess that's not a very good deal.

[iltos]

Originally Posted by BDACBT

iltos,
You'd have to agree, there is an incredible divide in this country between the 2 main parties. My grandmother had me campaigning/knocking on doors as early as the 64 Presidential election. With that said, I've never seen anything like the difference and animosity that exists between the parties today. Is this a fight that one can sit out because of disillusionment? As Clinton use to say, "I feel your pain". I really do. But I fear if neither side wins this battle soon, I wonder if our country can survive. Of course I want my side to win, but if the process destroys the US, I guess that's not a very good deal.

yeah....i do agree....

and i'm not sittin it out....i don't condone either party for their stances, so the arguement that i'm "wasting my vote" casting it for somebody who'll get 3% if they're luck doesn't hold water for me anymore

in my mind, politicians have stopped listening to the electorate....oh, they take their polls and do their "marketing research".....but it's not about their vision for america anymore....it's about their vision for their career

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by sy2

Four words - term limits for everyone.

Congress as well as the executive branch. Apply it to state representatives as well. Career politicians should not exist.

End of story.

Yeah...make sure if you finally get someone good in office they aren't there too long!

[BDACBT]

Originally Posted by iltos

yeah....i do agree....

and i'm not sittin it out....i don't condone either party for their stances, so the arguement that i'm "wasting my vote" casting it for somebody who'll get 3% if they're luck doesn't hold water for me anymore

in my mind, politicians have stopped listening to the electorate....oh, they take their polls and do their "marketing research".....but it's not about their vision for america anymore....it's about their vision for their career

Exactly!

Where's Howard Beale when we need him?

I voted for Perot in 92. I liked him a lot but I don't think I'll ever do that again.