[snakeoil]

I'm reading a new book. Pretty good so far.

"How Democracies Die" by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt.

Excerpt from Intro.

American politicians now treat their rivals as enemies, intimidate the free press, and threaten to reject the results of elections. they try to weakenthe institutional buffers of our democracy, including the courts, intelligence services, and ethics offices. American states, which were once praised by the great jurist Louis Brandeis as "laboratories of democracy are in danger of becoming laboratories of authoritarianism as those in power rewrite electoral rules,redraw constituencies, and even rescind voting rights to ensure they do not lose.

This is not a partisan book (Maryland Dems are in court right now for Gerymandering flaws. Maryland is heavily Dems.)

This is available on Amazon Kindle @ $12.99.

[johnforbes]

In just the past several years, top officials in some of the most powerful federal agencies protected Hillary (who simply contravened the statute with classified email on a private server).

Then they used the fake dossier Hillary paid 12 million for, got partisan agents Strzok and Page, and perhaps even got together with a judge, to wiretap Trump at the Tower.

Admiral Rogers told Trump on Nov 17, 2016 he was being bugged, and the next day he moved the transition to NJ while bugs were swept out.

Essentially a soft coup attempt.

So, looking back, the IRS apologized for targeting its political enemies (conservatives), then Lois Lerner's hard drive got "scratched" and voila the tape backup went "mising" in West Virginia.

Hillary deleted 33,000 emails under subpoena, then BleachBit-ed the server, and had State Dept employees go to a hardware store and buy hammers and beat to bits mobile devices on the floor.

What Banana Republic could be more sleazy?

[namngulfvet]

Snake were not a democracy were a Republic..

27072582_10208607346179886_2636955781633237558_n.jpg (85.86 KiB) Viewed 2797 times

[Intrepid]

A democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.

The Clinton Outfit must have some cards they aren't playing. When Bubba was president they illegally held on to the FBI files on everyone of note in DC. That's how J. Edgar Hoover survived for as long as he did, he had the goods on everybody.
No other explanation of why she isn't being prosecuted makes any sense.

[RealJustme]

laboratories of democracy are in danger of becoming laboratories of authoritarianism as those in power rewrite electoral rules,redraw constituencies, and even rescind voting rights to ensure they do not lose.

All the things Democrats have and are doing. They're making up rules and ignoring laws, redrawing constituencies by importing illegals to pad the population and using those same illegals to counter (rescind) the votes of citizens.


As Benjamin Franklin was exiting after writing the U.S. constitution, a woman asked him, “Well, Doctor, what have we got—a republic or a monarchy?” He replied, “A republic—if you can keep it.

[snakeoil]

Look at the responses to my post and you will understand why this book was written. We have become super partisan and instantly reject any ideas that the other party might have. Believe me...there is enough blame for each party to take a healthy share of the blame.

I have been a life-long Republican as was my family. Recently I changed my affiliation to Independent because I couldn't abide the illegal actions, obstructionism, the ruthless attempts to remain in power and the totally unqualified candidates with dubious morals. The recent budget shows what is happening. This budget fosters inequality and does little to solve our pressing problems. Our military budget is more than the next 12 countries combined and we often get less for our money than we should. Take the F-35. Israel is buying the F-35 without the armaments, radar and electronics because thier's is so much better and they are installing their equipment after delivery. Most of the rockets we shoot up in the air are sent up with Russian rocket engines.

I worked in the D.C. area for about 12 years working on government projects. I saw millions of dollars thrown away on frivolous projects. Money is no issue to the government...just raise taxes if you need more.

I used to be heavily involved in my county politics. It used to be standard for committees to start meetings at 4:00 pm. That way, if the meeting ran into the dinner hour the county would have to spring for dinner. Believe me, they never went to McDonalds. A large percentage of the elected officials had a woman on the side or some willing campaign worker. Again, money talks. Maryland has a history of sending elected officials to jail for playing footsie with contractors. Remember, Maryland is heavily Democratic so I am not attacking the GOP alone. I remember reading a few years ago that the Pentagon couldn't account for $16 billion dollars. If you ran your finances like that you would be in jail.

This tirade is meant to consul you to keep you eyes open, get educated in the issues and get involved. Spounting off on social media just does not cut it.

[RealJustme]

The only tirade I see is one bashing our military while ignoring the elephant in the room. Get away from the liberal talking points, of course our military spending is out of control, it's because we've been played as suckers by those 12 countries you mention, we are paying for the majority of their defense. We have more troops in Germany than Germany does, we pay more for Europe's defense than they do. Far to many billions of our defense money is consumed by the UN where we also pay far more than our fare share. Trump is fighting that and he's fighting it hard. As far as the Defense Department not being able to account for billions, dude that's because Obama used military equipment and military funds to sneak in billions in cash to other countries. Under Obama and Hillary over 16 billion couldn't be accounted for by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) an agency that gives hand outs to other countries like it's candy. Their State Department couldn't account for Billions.

Until you give credit to Trump for addressing exactly what you're complaining about and recognize it's not our military to blame but our government out of control trying to spread the wealth, you can't be taken serious.

[johnforbes]

Was stationed a number of places, including Italy and Germany.

Like many others, I asked why more Americans were defending areas than Italians or Germans.

The only answer was strategic importance of the region.

But, as Europe became partly the EU, that explanation made less and less sense.

[namngulfvet]

Unread postby snakeoil » Sun Apr 01, 2018 11:26 am
Look at the responses to my post and you will understand why this book was written. We have become super partisan and instantly reject any ideas that the other party might have. Believe me...there is enough blame for each party to take a healthy share of the blame.

All I did was show you the difference between a Democracy and Republic. You obviously dont know the difference

[Clownkicker]

"All I did was show you the difference between a Democracy and Republic. You obviously dont know the difference"-Moron

No, you didn't. You obviously don't know the difference either.

A Republic IS a democracy, dimwit. It is a representative democracy, as opposed to a pure democracy.
But a pure democracy could have a Constitution also, so that isn't the defining characteristic.
It would just be open to being changed more frequently.

The ability to 'take your bike' has nothing to do with it. Your bike could be taken in a Republic also, or you could be disqualified from using your bike by the majority, just as they can disqualify you from driving your car.
All the other conservatards here didn't know this either, so don't feel too bad.

But that's the problem when you rely on cartoons to educate yourself, the way conservatives do.

[johnforbes]

Don't draw inferences from cartoons.

They are sometimes a bit sketchy.

Sometimes you visualize merely the outlines of a problem, thus painting an erroneous picture.

[snakeoil]

Realjustme

As far as the Defense Department not being able to account for billions, dude that's because Obama used military equipment and military funds to sneak in billions in cash to other countries

Sorry but that figure was from the Bush administration. Maybe you should tone down your hate a bit and think.

As to hating the military...I am a vet having served four years. I often say to others that the military owes me nothing as I got more out of it than they did. Any vet will understand what I mean.

Namgulfvet

Although your quote on democracy vs republic is wrong I didn't challenge you on it. Could you possibly post something without showing you hate for others?

[RealJustme]

Sorry but that figure was from the Bush administration. Maybe you should tone down your hate a bit and think.

Obama abused the military budget for pet projects, social engineering and hands out more than all Presidents combined, but yet you just talked about Bush, just wanted to know you left him out of the military bashing.

[snakeoil]

It might help your arguments a bit if you used facts...oh that's right; you wouldn't have an argument then. Oh that's right...Obama stole all of the fact books.

[RealJustme]

Snake if you were asleep during the Obama years and missed what he did to the military and it's budget, I can't help you dude.

[snakeoil]

it's because we've been played as suckers by those 12 countries you mention, we are paying for the majority of their defense.

Tool...I'll bet China and Russia are shocked to find out this fact.

[RealJustme]

Tool...I'll bet China and Russia are shocked to find out this fact.

Dude, Elk didn't post that I did.