MCCAIN BORROWS ANOTHER PAGE FROM NEWT.
Wherever McCain is getting this stuff from doesn’t matter, it’s gaining traction. It is keeping the momentum going, it is building upon the momentum of the Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less ideas fostered by Newt and Congress as I’ve been posting about and the Republican leadership is getting behind it too. Newt crystallized the concept, but the idea has been a Republican one for a long time. The Democrats had been able to cast the Republicans as being on the side of big oil against the little guy. McCain is becoming the leader was nominated to be. A straight shooter a maverick coming up with real concrete solutions for the short term and longer term ways to obtain future goals. He is pissing off my best conservative friends. Everyone thought Kenedy was nuts to put a man on the moon in less than 10 years. He probably was but we did it. Making a better battery has to be easier than that.
-----link-----
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91FU4PG0&show_article=1
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This is great as it forces the opposition to in effect say we can’t do it, or it won’t help us in the short term, or let’s conserve more so we’ll use less, or we should be taxing oil more. You’ve heard it before over and over. If McCain can keep this up the American people will be pretty sick and tired of hearing it too.
With this kind of positive concrete solution, he is reversing that trend and putting the Democrats in an illogical position. A position where their arguments are counter intuitive and not user friendly. For people who don’t understand liberalese, it’s common sense baby. These drilling petitions in and out of Congress and being pushed by the Republican leaders finally are finally turning into a real bottom up movement. The public has finally gotten enough of the we can’t do it attitude from the constant drumbeat of the far left. We know we can, we’ve done it before. I pray John McCain will keep this up. There is plenty by way of constructive ideas out there. Newt has a bunch. Look also at the young Turks in the party like Tim Walberg. There is vitality out there I pray McCain can tap into it. If the leaders don’t want to go along ignore them. He is surprising me. I’m learning to like surprises.
I live in Michigan and on the 21st the following was announced after a long hard battle.
-----link-----
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080621/NEWS06/806210341/1008/NEWS06
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Too little too late? Won’t effect the price of a gallon of gas in Texas. Ask the pile driver who is immediately starting work. I’ll bet he and his family are happy. The people who will fill the 135 new permanent jobs won’t be saying what the liberal far left guy was quoted as saying.
-----quote from article------
"That's really disappointing," said Donele Wilkins, director of Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice.
----------------------------------
He probably sees this uproar about gas prices as bitter people clinging to such old fashioned ideas as working for a living. Don’t they know that the government will look after them?
-----link to the quote above-----
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080621/NEWS06/806210341/1008/NEWS06
---------------------------------------
Below another link that shows Michigan will get an additional 400,000 barrels a day in 2010
135 people will be making a living and be able to afford a Prius.
-----link-----
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/06/marathon-oil-be.html
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from that single addition to one small refinery. Not much maybe in the great scheme of things but a trickle that could turn into a gusher if other refineries did the same and some new ones were brought on line to handle our new drilling efforts off shore and on land. Couple that with a lot of nuclear plants starting up. With new prizes and red tape cutting as incentives for innovative technologies that work to come to the front (See McCain battery prize and the tax credit for auto makers of carbon free emission cars)----all of that put together and you have a huge change not only in price of gas, but a sea change in the general attitude of Americans from a Carter like malaise to a robust positive can do anything attitude.
For this to work, John McCain is going to have to use all the support and new ideas out there bubbling up from the grass roots. He seems to opening up. We are going to have to help him do this. This is new territory for Republicans, to trust somebody that doesn’t adhere to the orthodox conservative dogma and is willing to try new ideas. Reagan Republican ideas. Maybe FDR Democrat ideas. Ideas that help the government work better. In a conservative way. There are ideas galore out there not just on the Republican or the Democrat side but on the American side. Imagine being able to vote for a good American and leave it at that. I’d be out of a job.lol but then again I don’t get paid so I would be ahead of the game.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Showing posts with label McCain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label McCain. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Back To The Wilderness ????
Back To The Wilderness ??
Are Republicans facing another time when we find ourselves wandering around the halls of power with out any of our own other than what the Democrats gave us. I believe we probably are. There was once such a time for us. During that time the public would tire and allow a Republican president usually to help get the country out of the mess the previous president and congress had put us in. But the party had no real direction that resonated with the public. We tried tweaking the message, more conservative then more liberal, and usually the liberal factions would come out ahead because they could get the message to resonate enough to at least get people not to vote for the Democrat because they could point to something like “ They believe in the same liberal things and I want a change. With Reagan we found a voice that not only resonated with the people but resonated for the Republican ideas, with conservative ideas. People voted for Republican ideas because they were put forth in a way that they could understand and see how they would make a difference in their lives. Plus they were put forward by someone they could trust. On the other hand, in an election on such a scale that the presidential elections are, it is nearly impossible to have a message out resonate a charismatic leader. As we are trying now, the Democrats from Reagan on tried valiantly to get their message across, but they had no one who could “resonate it”. They blamed it on different parts of the message not the messenger. Is this right? Absolutely not. So? So what? Bill Clinton finally came around and out resonated his opponents in any way he could. Some say he out “conservatived” the conservatives. He didn’t, he simply resonated with the people far better. People knew what he was but put up with him because they liked him. They also finally got tired of him because he had no real message.
Try to understand what I’m saying. I’m not comparing Reagan to Clinton, only in their charisma.
We as conservatives have to come to grips with that reality. What can we do? We still have to get other voters to trust the message we‘re trying to sell. To do that we need a messenger that people can trust. People trust McCain. Only when he acts like a politician do they not. We also need a candidate that people want to listen to. We are in a quandary because John McCain has great ideas as evidenced by the text of his speech, but nearly a total lack of “resonance” as evidenced by his oration of that same text. All politics is personal. When we fail to put a personal face on our ideas on our platform, It becomes just a wooden structure, the paint and landscaping gives the public what it needs to envision themselves at home within it, within the Republican Home. We need to make the Republican House a Home.
I’ve come up with a solution. Lol. John McCain needs to give few speeches and when he does just make them short and business like. Let Obama ramble on about all those fuzzy things he rambles about. John needs to give Highlights only. Then the key will be to have a staff or shadow government set up around him with charismatic cabinet members that can sell his different ideas. To put the paint on his structure. Kennedy surrounded himself with top notch people, he had the other problem, he needed a message he was a good messenger. Actually this way if McCain chooses it would highlight the successful business model where the executive is actually not expected to know each and every nut and bolt of a business. He is there to pick the direction they are headed and is judged by the people he chooses to be around him who actually turn his ideas into progress. He is not considered a bad leader if he lets someone he’s picked explain the intricacies of an individual program. Hold themselves more aloof. Obama holds himself aloof, he is tainted with elitism not because he is aloof but because he lacks the message other than change, but won’t admit it. John McCain is more down to earth and ordinary than any other national politician I could think of. Obama is not, again the elitism charge.
McCain needs the straight talk express to step up and admit that even about his strong point national security, he would not make any decisions without finding out all facts first. Admit that he doesn’t know everything about everything. “But he would damn well find out” before making a decision. Then in the simplest terms he could sketch out the parameters framing his decision. Then let his subordinate give the details.
Keep the “parameters” firmly in place. Keep the message resonating through his actions, not so much his talk. Earn the voters trust with actions. Newt’s Drill Here, Drill Now comes to mind. Get out in front of the issues bring on board some one specific to detail the programs. Someone different for each, let the public see you delegate power to exceptional people with programs that will resonate with them. Let them give you the credit for doing that. Let them see that you are running the ship, that you are the captain firmly in charge of all the other people you choose to help run the ship.
Will this happen, will John McCain find a way to win?? I don’t know. The opportunities are there. Can he get the people to believe in his message and trust him as the messenger? I hope so. I haven’t seen the change come across yet. With charisma Obama says change without anything to back it up and people can see it. Without charisma McCain has to let the message resonate. He has to have a great and simple message and keep hammering it home. Force Obama to fight it by trying to explain what his alternatives are. People will then see. But I’m not seeing that yet.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Are Republicans facing another time when we find ourselves wandering around the halls of power with out any of our own other than what the Democrats gave us. I believe we probably are. There was once such a time for us. During that time the public would tire and allow a Republican president usually to help get the country out of the mess the previous president and congress had put us in. But the party had no real direction that resonated with the public. We tried tweaking the message, more conservative then more liberal, and usually the liberal factions would come out ahead because they could get the message to resonate enough to at least get people not to vote for the Democrat because they could point to something like “ They believe in the same liberal things and I want a change. With Reagan we found a voice that not only resonated with the people but resonated for the Republican ideas, with conservative ideas. People voted for Republican ideas because they were put forth in a way that they could understand and see how they would make a difference in their lives. Plus they were put forward by someone they could trust. On the other hand, in an election on such a scale that the presidential elections are, it is nearly impossible to have a message out resonate a charismatic leader. As we are trying now, the Democrats from Reagan on tried valiantly to get their message across, but they had no one who could “resonate it”. They blamed it on different parts of the message not the messenger. Is this right? Absolutely not. So? So what? Bill Clinton finally came around and out resonated his opponents in any way he could. Some say he out “conservatived” the conservatives. He didn’t, he simply resonated with the people far better. People knew what he was but put up with him because they liked him. They also finally got tired of him because he had no real message.
Try to understand what I’m saying. I’m not comparing Reagan to Clinton, only in their charisma.
We as conservatives have to come to grips with that reality. What can we do? We still have to get other voters to trust the message we‘re trying to sell. To do that we need a messenger that people can trust. People trust McCain. Only when he acts like a politician do they not. We also need a candidate that people want to listen to. We are in a quandary because John McCain has great ideas as evidenced by the text of his speech, but nearly a total lack of “resonance” as evidenced by his oration of that same text. All politics is personal. When we fail to put a personal face on our ideas on our platform, It becomes just a wooden structure, the paint and landscaping gives the public what it needs to envision themselves at home within it, within the Republican Home. We need to make the Republican House a Home.
I’ve come up with a solution. Lol. John McCain needs to give few speeches and when he does just make them short and business like. Let Obama ramble on about all those fuzzy things he rambles about. John needs to give Highlights only. Then the key will be to have a staff or shadow government set up around him with charismatic cabinet members that can sell his different ideas. To put the paint on his structure. Kennedy surrounded himself with top notch people, he had the other problem, he needed a message he was a good messenger. Actually this way if McCain chooses it would highlight the successful business model where the executive is actually not expected to know each and every nut and bolt of a business. He is there to pick the direction they are headed and is judged by the people he chooses to be around him who actually turn his ideas into progress. He is not considered a bad leader if he lets someone he’s picked explain the intricacies of an individual program. Hold themselves more aloof. Obama holds himself aloof, he is tainted with elitism not because he is aloof but because he lacks the message other than change, but won’t admit it. John McCain is more down to earth and ordinary than any other national politician I could think of. Obama is not, again the elitism charge.
McCain needs the straight talk express to step up and admit that even about his strong point national security, he would not make any decisions without finding out all facts first. Admit that he doesn’t know everything about everything. “But he would damn well find out” before making a decision. Then in the simplest terms he could sketch out the parameters framing his decision. Then let his subordinate give the details.
Keep the “parameters” firmly in place. Keep the message resonating through his actions, not so much his talk. Earn the voters trust with actions. Newt’s Drill Here, Drill Now comes to mind. Get out in front of the issues bring on board some one specific to detail the programs. Someone different for each, let the public see you delegate power to exceptional people with programs that will resonate with them. Let them give you the credit for doing that. Let them see that you are running the ship, that you are the captain firmly in charge of all the other people you choose to help run the ship.
Will this happen, will John McCain find a way to win?? I don’t know. The opportunities are there. Can he get the people to believe in his message and trust him as the messenger? I hope so. I haven’t seen the change come across yet. With charisma Obama says change without anything to back it up and people can see it. Without charisma McCain has to let the message resonate. He has to have a great and simple message and keep hammering it home. Force Obama to fight it by trying to explain what his alternatives are. People will then see. But I’m not seeing that yet.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
A Real Fistful of Truth, I missed yesterday
I usually don’t post again this quickly, but I missed McCain’s speech in New Orleans, yesterday.
-----link-----
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/mccains_speech_in_new_orleans_1.html
--------------
Looks like John has decided to come out swinging. I can’t help but relate what my previous post was about to this speech. The idea that truth is such a novel idea recently in politics. More to the point John McCain is telling it like it is. While he lacks that certain finesse and nuance the pundits go ga ga over, I get the feeling he is shooting from the hip. The real tenor of his campaign and his soul has been put out there. The gauntlet thrown down. Not just for the other side but for the Republican leadership as well. I believe he is saying this is the campaign, this is what I‘m going after, what I believe in. Join with me, and we can win this thing. He has held his water well and if this speech is a portent of the things to come he has used his time well, while the Dems had their catfight.
John McCain has a chance here to lay out a new conservative agenda, by the sounds of his speech he has kept his ear to the ground and is using the best of the British Conservative and the Newt Gingrich models. The message he has had, but the delivery is where he has learned.
-----quote from speech------
“The right change recognizes that many of the policies and institutions of our government have failed. They have failed to keep up with the challenges of our time because many of these policies were designed for the problems and opportunities of the mid to late 20th Century, before the end of the Cold War; before the revolution in information technology and rise of the global economy. The right kind of change will initiate widespread and innovative reforms in almost every area of government policy -- health care, energy, the environment, the tax code, our public schools, our transportation system, disaster relief, government spending and regulation, diplomacy, the military and intelligence services. Serious and far-reaching reforms are needed in so many areas of government to meet our own challenges in our own time.”
-----------------------------------
Wishful thinking abounds after reading the speech. I realize I’m making connections where none probably exist, but what the hey. Here they come.
The obvious connection to the “new modern conservatism” being created in England, see my side bar (Updates Across the Pond) In the same side bar I recently noted that the marketing guru for Cameron’s conservative message is coming to the US for 6 months, coincidence?
This kick off speech was given in New Orleans La. Is that too a coincidence? Bobby Jindal the young, confident, get things done, “Bottom up Politics” kind of guy from the British model happens to be Governor of Louisiana ! Also happened to be invited to visit John McCain and rumored to be on his short list for VP! Below a link to what I posted about Bobby before.
-----link-----
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/2008/05/bobby-jindal-who-is-that.html
--------------
Newt Gingrich has also been tirelessly preaching in his own way the same kind of change in his book Real Change and a long time before that in many other efforts. If you check out his American Solutions web site and from there his others, you will see he has been doing more than preaching.
My real wishful thinking concept is that the leadership of the Republicans whole heartedly get behind this message and that John McCain does also. Mainly I’m afraid of the message not getting out. For this to work, look at Britain. It works there because they have a strong leader, who LET the message go to his head.! Also a bunch of young turks willing to work at it.
Sen. Obama and the Dems by trying to link President Bush to John McCain, have given John the opportunity the opening needed to show the obvious to the world. It has been obviously clear to most the differences. In the Media’s hatred for Bush they have praised McCain for all the times he has gone against “his” President and party for that matter.
He has been praised for his fight against earmarks. For his bipartisan efforts from Immigration to global warming. The Media is already hard at it to cover their tracks. It is also as obvious from Obama’s short record that he is the most liberal, pro big government senator in the Senate. John McCain points this out by saying the big government idea doesn’t work and he is the only one who has actually been fighting it. Not just talking about it. It doesn’t much matter where he picked up those ideas, what matters is that the gloves are coming off, what also matters is that the truth is plain to see. Lucky for Obama that he has so much money, he will need to remain lucky, for he will not win on words alone.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
-----link-----
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/mccains_speech_in_new_orleans_1.html
--------------
Looks like John has decided to come out swinging. I can’t help but relate what my previous post was about to this speech. The idea that truth is such a novel idea recently in politics. More to the point John McCain is telling it like it is. While he lacks that certain finesse and nuance the pundits go ga ga over, I get the feeling he is shooting from the hip. The real tenor of his campaign and his soul has been put out there. The gauntlet thrown down. Not just for the other side but for the Republican leadership as well. I believe he is saying this is the campaign, this is what I‘m going after, what I believe in. Join with me, and we can win this thing. He has held his water well and if this speech is a portent of the things to come he has used his time well, while the Dems had their catfight.
John McCain has a chance here to lay out a new conservative agenda, by the sounds of his speech he has kept his ear to the ground and is using the best of the British Conservative and the Newt Gingrich models. The message he has had, but the delivery is where he has learned.
-----quote from speech------
“The right change recognizes that many of the policies and institutions of our government have failed. They have failed to keep up with the challenges of our time because many of these policies were designed for the problems and opportunities of the mid to late 20th Century, before the end of the Cold War; before the revolution in information technology and rise of the global economy. The right kind of change will initiate widespread and innovative reforms in almost every area of government policy -- health care, energy, the environment, the tax code, our public schools, our transportation system, disaster relief, government spending and regulation, diplomacy, the military and intelligence services. Serious and far-reaching reforms are needed in so many areas of government to meet our own challenges in our own time.”
-----------------------------------
Wishful thinking abounds after reading the speech. I realize I’m making connections where none probably exist, but what the hey. Here they come.
The obvious connection to the “new modern conservatism” being created in England, see my side bar (Updates Across the Pond) In the same side bar I recently noted that the marketing guru for Cameron’s conservative message is coming to the US for 6 months, coincidence?
This kick off speech was given in New Orleans La. Is that too a coincidence? Bobby Jindal the young, confident, get things done, “Bottom up Politics” kind of guy from the British model happens to be Governor of Louisiana ! Also happened to be invited to visit John McCain and rumored to be on his short list for VP! Below a link to what I posted about Bobby before.
-----link-----
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/2008/05/bobby-jindal-who-is-that.html
--------------
Newt Gingrich has also been tirelessly preaching in his own way the same kind of change in his book Real Change and a long time before that in many other efforts. If you check out his American Solutions web site and from there his others, you will see he has been doing more than preaching.
My real wishful thinking concept is that the leadership of the Republicans whole heartedly get behind this message and that John McCain does also. Mainly I’m afraid of the message not getting out. For this to work, look at Britain. It works there because they have a strong leader, who LET the message go to his head.! Also a bunch of young turks willing to work at it.
Sen. Obama and the Dems by trying to link President Bush to John McCain, have given John the opportunity the opening needed to show the obvious to the world. It has been obviously clear to most the differences. In the Media’s hatred for Bush they have praised McCain for all the times he has gone against “his” President and party for that matter.
He has been praised for his fight against earmarks. For his bipartisan efforts from Immigration to global warming. The Media is already hard at it to cover their tracks. It is also as obvious from Obama’s short record that he is the most liberal, pro big government senator in the Senate. John McCain points this out by saying the big government idea doesn’t work and he is the only one who has actually been fighting it. Not just talking about it. It doesn’t much matter where he picked up those ideas, what matters is that the gloves are coming off, what also matters is that the truth is plain to see. Lucky for Obama that he has so much money, he will need to remain lucky, for he will not win on words alone.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
The Truth ----- Novel Concept----Never Work
“John McCain’s admitted shortcomings regarding economics”
If I hear that one more time I’ll gag.
How many times have I heard that? More than my abacus of fingers and toes, will handle.
What did John McCain say that was so shocking that every utterance since about economic matters needs that qualifier by the Media. I guess that if I was running for dog catcher I better not let anyone know that I am not completely up to date on the construction methods, models available and safety aspects of dog cages. I think I would just go ahead and on my campaign literature, under the paid for by Live Dangerously For Dog Catcher Committee thing I would put “Not Completely Versant In Animal Enclosures” I mean I don’t want people getting the wrong idea about me. They might not vote for me if the truth is out. My competitor surely is knowledgeable in cages or he would not be continually reminding the voter about how I admitted I wasn’t. Boy glad I’m not running for the post. Lol
I’ve an excellent idea for the next Presidential Candidate. Admit to not being a “know everything” about every thing. Freely and regularly admit to not being a supernatural genius and admit that is why you need the gaggle of expert advisors that you have around yourself. Admit that you even ask questions of those advisors that you don‘t know the answer to. Pretty shocking for the politicos and election junkies to grasp that concept. The concept of candidates being human. Let them know that you are not a genius (voters if they don’t know now will soon enough find it out). Admit that you have to study an issue then make up your own mind. That would indeed be a shocker.
Admitting the truth, what a shocker, what an ingenious strategy, the media would spend weeks dissecting that one. Way too obvious. For weeks after the candidate won the election. The pundits would still be puzzling out whether that damaging confession helped the candidate win the election or not, or how he could have been so clever as to slip that by us.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
If I hear that one more time I’ll gag.
How many times have I heard that? More than my abacus of fingers and toes, will handle.
What did John McCain say that was so shocking that every utterance since about economic matters needs that qualifier by the Media. I guess that if I was running for dog catcher I better not let anyone know that I am not completely up to date on the construction methods, models available and safety aspects of dog cages. I think I would just go ahead and on my campaign literature, under the paid for by Live Dangerously For Dog Catcher Committee thing I would put “Not Completely Versant In Animal Enclosures” I mean I don’t want people getting the wrong idea about me. They might not vote for me if the truth is out. My competitor surely is knowledgeable in cages or he would not be continually reminding the voter about how I admitted I wasn’t. Boy glad I’m not running for the post. Lol
I’ve an excellent idea for the next Presidential Candidate. Admit to not being a “know everything” about every thing. Freely and regularly admit to not being a supernatural genius and admit that is why you need the gaggle of expert advisors that you have around yourself. Admit that you even ask questions of those advisors that you don‘t know the answer to. Pretty shocking for the politicos and election junkies to grasp that concept. The concept of candidates being human. Let them know that you are not a genius (voters if they don’t know now will soon enough find it out). Admit that you have to study an issue then make up your own mind. That would indeed be a shocker.
Admitting the truth, what a shocker, what an ingenious strategy, the media would spend weeks dissecting that one. Way too obvious. For weeks after the candidate won the election. The pundits would still be puzzling out whether that damaging confession helped the candidate win the election or not, or how he could have been so clever as to slip that by us.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
What I Have In Common With The Left
What I have in common with the Left.
Much as the left, I look for inspiration to people and concepts from foreign and exotic places.
The 1930’s saw the rise of communism as a theoretically pure expression of the hope of mankind. Equality for all, (in American words) the freedom to pursue happiness. In their words to work at what you were best suited to. As is always the case it was sad to see human nature creep in and destroy the theory. Stalin comes to mind, as do relocation and reeducation camps. Purges and mass killings and mass graves. The left at first fell in love with the theory, they tended to dismiss the atrocities committed under the Red Banner. They would not fall into that trap they were different. They could make it work.
As a conservative I too have a theory. It is as lofty in it’s aims and claims as the left‘s theory. In fact we both claim to want the same ultimate goals. The happiness and well being of the individual. My theory when given full power to achieve it’s goals falls far short also. It falls to the iron fist of corruption also. It has resulted in mass killings and all sorts of atrocities also. I too as my left leaning friends do, tend to sweep that thought away as somehow not relevant to the current situation. That’s one thing we have in common, we are sure our paths are right and that we will not make the mistakes of the past.
I would here like to make the case that the one crucial thing our failures have had in common is that when we in our zeal let the power be concentrated in a few hands (to more efficeintly use that power) at the upper level of government that power corrupts whatever system we set up to fulfill our theories. The very concept of concentrated power unchecked looking out for the individual is an oxymoron. I have always struggled back and forth with that issue. In business I always thought that the model of complete control as the most efficient. One decision maker deciding and every body else concentrating on fulfilling that decision. That old philosopher king idea. Business makes that model work, but only with the club of free enterprise. All companies use that model, however only those that produce what the people want to buy succeed. The bottom line is the “bottom up” iron fist of the consumer. Who is after all freely working in the pursuit of their happiness. The business’ that don’t produce what the consumer wants no matter how efficiently they are run, are soon out of business.
In government and it’s people side, politics; the iron fist of the voters in democracies and the “people” in totalitarian regimes through elections or revolution, eventually bubbles from the bottom up to make their wishes known replacing that which is not helping them in their pursuit of happiness.
The point is top down government doesn’t work simply due to human nature. In a democracy when one party concentrates power they start to lose touch with the people that elected them, and become more concerned about keeping that power and the easiest way to do that is to keep enlarging that power.
This is the contradiction inherent in government. Neither side has the ultimate answer because the ultimate answer doesn’t lie in government. It lies in ourselves. Our government is there only to help free us to decide for ourselves what we think we wish to do. They are there to do the mundane things like fix pot holes. Repel invaders. Not to give us happiness. How do they know what will make me happy. I expect them to make it possible for me to do what I think is best for me. Not for them to decide that for me. I forget that for that to happen, I have a responsibility to be a part of that. What that part is, is my struggle. Doing that whatever it is when mixed with all the other peoples decisions simmers and cooks in the cauldren of democracy making the majority better off. Because they are the ones deciding by majority. I may be bitterly dissappointed at times but if I was able to give it my best shot then I can live with it, as I go on to the next battle.
At this point in time when the people are bubbling up their anger at the Republicans for failing prey to the corruption of power, I look to foreign and exotic lands for inspiration. Much as other struggling democracies have looked to us, overlooking our shortcomings to guide their thoughts. The British and their concepts of the Modern Conservative movement is giving me inspiration. The idea of Bottom Up Governing is as old as democracy yet as new young energetic faces behind it in Britain. In the never ending cycle of “power corrupting” that makes “bums” out of our best leaders and ideas, only through democracy do the people have the best chance to throw those “Bums” out.
I thought of changing the title of this blog to “What the Theories of the Left and Right have in common”, I decided not to as I realized that for politics to work it has to be personal. We not only have to realize how our leaders can become corrupted by power, but that we also share their weakness.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
PS. Please see my side bar titled "Update Across the Pond" for links to the Bristish Modern Conservative Movement.
Much as the left, I look for inspiration to people and concepts from foreign and exotic places.
The 1930’s saw the rise of communism as a theoretically pure expression of the hope of mankind. Equality for all, (in American words) the freedom to pursue happiness. In their words to work at what you were best suited to. As is always the case it was sad to see human nature creep in and destroy the theory. Stalin comes to mind, as do relocation and reeducation camps. Purges and mass killings and mass graves. The left at first fell in love with the theory, they tended to dismiss the atrocities committed under the Red Banner. They would not fall into that trap they were different. They could make it work.
As a conservative I too have a theory. It is as lofty in it’s aims and claims as the left‘s theory. In fact we both claim to want the same ultimate goals. The happiness and well being of the individual. My theory when given full power to achieve it’s goals falls far short also. It falls to the iron fist of corruption also. It has resulted in mass killings and all sorts of atrocities also. I too as my left leaning friends do, tend to sweep that thought away as somehow not relevant to the current situation. That’s one thing we have in common, we are sure our paths are right and that we will not make the mistakes of the past.
I would here like to make the case that the one crucial thing our failures have had in common is that when we in our zeal let the power be concentrated in a few hands (to more efficeintly use that power) at the upper level of government that power corrupts whatever system we set up to fulfill our theories. The very concept of concentrated power unchecked looking out for the individual is an oxymoron. I have always struggled back and forth with that issue. In business I always thought that the model of complete control as the most efficient. One decision maker deciding and every body else concentrating on fulfilling that decision. That old philosopher king idea. Business makes that model work, but only with the club of free enterprise. All companies use that model, however only those that produce what the people want to buy succeed. The bottom line is the “bottom up” iron fist of the consumer. Who is after all freely working in the pursuit of their happiness. The business’ that don’t produce what the consumer wants no matter how efficiently they are run, are soon out of business.
In government and it’s people side, politics; the iron fist of the voters in democracies and the “people” in totalitarian regimes through elections or revolution, eventually bubbles from the bottom up to make their wishes known replacing that which is not helping them in their pursuit of happiness.
The point is top down government doesn’t work simply due to human nature. In a democracy when one party concentrates power they start to lose touch with the people that elected them, and become more concerned about keeping that power and the easiest way to do that is to keep enlarging that power.
This is the contradiction inherent in government. Neither side has the ultimate answer because the ultimate answer doesn’t lie in government. It lies in ourselves. Our government is there only to help free us to decide for ourselves what we think we wish to do. They are there to do the mundane things like fix pot holes. Repel invaders. Not to give us happiness. How do they know what will make me happy. I expect them to make it possible for me to do what I think is best for me. Not for them to decide that for me. I forget that for that to happen, I have a responsibility to be a part of that. What that part is, is my struggle. Doing that whatever it is when mixed with all the other peoples decisions simmers and cooks in the cauldren of democracy making the majority better off. Because they are the ones deciding by majority. I may be bitterly dissappointed at times but if I was able to give it my best shot then I can live with it, as I go on to the next battle.
At this point in time when the people are bubbling up their anger at the Republicans for failing prey to the corruption of power, I look to foreign and exotic lands for inspiration. Much as other struggling democracies have looked to us, overlooking our shortcomings to guide their thoughts. The British and their concepts of the Modern Conservative movement is giving me inspiration. The idea of Bottom Up Governing is as old as democracy yet as new young energetic faces behind it in Britain. In the never ending cycle of “power corrupting” that makes “bums” out of our best leaders and ideas, only through democracy do the people have the best chance to throw those “Bums” out.
I thought of changing the title of this blog to “What the Theories of the Left and Right have in common”, I decided not to as I realized that for politics to work it has to be personal. We not only have to realize how our leaders can become corrupted by power, but that we also share their weakness.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
PS. Please see my side bar titled "Update Across the Pond" for links to the Bristish Modern Conservative Movement.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
McCAIN'S ECONOMICS
LINK McCain’s speech in Brooklyn 4/10/08
-----link-----
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/Speeches/Read.aspx?guid=dccd627d-47b6-492c-afbd-6c7100054d7b
--------------
A genuine alternative to tax and spend and making government bigger?
In his speech 4/10/08 John McCain talks about his plan for the economy and stresses free enterprise as playing a big part in the solutions to our economic problems. Through jobs and achievement oriented projects. He stated that, “For Americans, a good job is the best program for housing, education, clothing, health care and transportation ever devised.”
Further he said, “Small business creates the majority of new jobs in America every year.”
McCain offers next short and long term goals. I noticed he didn’t offer these in terms of solutions, but framed them in more success oriented language. A pleasant change IMO. In explaining the way to fix the short term problems in housing, I was pleased to see this. “And it is not the responsibility of the American public to spare them from the consequences of their own bad judgment. The goal should be to help homeowners who are struggling, and only about $5 billion of the bill addresses their concerns in any way. I believe we can do better.” The bill he mentioned was the bipartisan bill just passed by Congress.
His plan for immediate help to the home mortgage owner is to partner with lenders to facilitate restructuring home mortgages based on basic sound economic principles such as ability of home owner to pay and market value of house resulting in as McCain stated --- “ Homeowners would end up with a 30-year mortgage and an equity stake in their home. The new lender would receive a federal guarantee of the mortgage. And the taxpayer gets a benefit if the sale value ever recovers.”
As an example of doing that was beefing up programs like “NeighborWorks America“. From their web site,
-----link-----
http://www.nw.org/network/home.asp
---------------
I found this quote
“ Just Price Solutions delivers Web-based automated underwriting that digitally connects NHSA’s safe, responsible loan products and long-term borrower support system with ground-breaking alternative credit analysis and centralized back office processing. The result is a quick, easy way to provide low-cost mortgages to a wider range of responsible borrowers. What was once a manual and tedious transaction is now handled by a streamlined, cutting-edge solution.” Also from their site was the following which talks about result oriented methodology. “Results: We are accountable for achieving excellence through measurable, impactful outcomes. “ I also liked the next quote. “Integrity: We will foster an environment of transparency and honesty that is built on respect and openness.”
These In my opinion are laudable things. Using the private sector, based on “result orientated” metrics, and streamlining the process. A primary goal should be to set up the mechanisms to keep this from turning into another “bureaucratic orientated” monster. “The result is a restructured financial arrangement for the homeowner. Over the long term, financial institutions must follow suit, writing off losses, restructuring their balance sheets, and raising more capital.”
This to me offers a better option than just giving more tax money to already bloated and inefficient bureaucracies.
Also McCain is calling for legal action. Making companies accept responsibility for wrong doing. “I am also calling for an immediate DOJ task force to aggressively investigate potential criminal wrongdoing in the mortgage lending and securitization industry. If there were individuals or firms that defrauded innocent homeowners or forged loan application documents, then the punishments of the market are not enough, and they must answer for their conduct in a court of law.”
In this speech he talks of remaking the unemployment insurance program into a more streamlined efficient “result orientated” system.
He ends the speech with this.
“Much work remains to be done on addressing the issues and challenges that will ensure we remain the largest and strongest economy in the world in the future. I believe that in order to accomplish this we must do three things. First, we must invest in the greatest resource we have, the American people. Second, we must reignite and drive a spirit of innovation in America. And third, we must foster growth and economic freedom, which really means low and effective taxes, free trade on a level playing field, small government and a smart, enforceable regulatory and legal framework.”
I heartily agree. I answer YES to the question of whether there is a genuine choice in the election of 2008. None of the above is not a solution.. I believe McCain is.
I hope he flushes out his specifics for this economic plan in the near future am looking forward to it. He is definitely not only offering a genuine alternative to the Democrats but to the current Republican leadership as well. I Truly hope my optimism is justified.
>
Regards, Live Dangerously be a Conservative.
-----link-----
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/Speeches/Read.aspx?guid=dccd627d-47b6-492c-afbd-6c7100054d7b
--------------
A genuine alternative to tax and spend and making government bigger?
In his speech 4/10/08 John McCain talks about his plan for the economy and stresses free enterprise as playing a big part in the solutions to our economic problems. Through jobs and achievement oriented projects. He stated that, “For Americans, a good job is the best program for housing, education, clothing, health care and transportation ever devised.”
Further he said, “Small business creates the majority of new jobs in America every year.”
McCain offers next short and long term goals. I noticed he didn’t offer these in terms of solutions, but framed them in more success oriented language. A pleasant change IMO. In explaining the way to fix the short term problems in housing, I was pleased to see this. “And it is not the responsibility of the American public to spare them from the consequences of their own bad judgment. The goal should be to help homeowners who are struggling, and only about $5 billion of the bill addresses their concerns in any way. I believe we can do better.” The bill he mentioned was the bipartisan bill just passed by Congress.
His plan for immediate help to the home mortgage owner is to partner with lenders to facilitate restructuring home mortgages based on basic sound economic principles such as ability of home owner to pay and market value of house resulting in as McCain stated --- “ Homeowners would end up with a 30-year mortgage and an equity stake in their home. The new lender would receive a federal guarantee of the mortgage. And the taxpayer gets a benefit if the sale value ever recovers.”
As an example of doing that was beefing up programs like “NeighborWorks America“. From their web site,
-----link-----
http://www.nw.org/network/home.asp
---------------
I found this quote
“ Just Price Solutions delivers Web-based automated underwriting that digitally connects NHSA’s safe, responsible loan products and long-term borrower support system with ground-breaking alternative credit analysis and centralized back office processing. The result is a quick, easy way to provide low-cost mortgages to a wider range of responsible borrowers. What was once a manual and tedious transaction is now handled by a streamlined, cutting-edge solution.” Also from their site was the following which talks about result oriented methodology. “Results: We are accountable for achieving excellence through measurable, impactful outcomes. “ I also liked the next quote. “Integrity: We will foster an environment of transparency and honesty that is built on respect and openness.”
These In my opinion are laudable things. Using the private sector, based on “result orientated” metrics, and streamlining the process. A primary goal should be to set up the mechanisms to keep this from turning into another “bureaucratic orientated” monster. “The result is a restructured financial arrangement for the homeowner. Over the long term, financial institutions must follow suit, writing off losses, restructuring their balance sheets, and raising more capital.”
This to me offers a better option than just giving more tax money to already bloated and inefficient bureaucracies.
Also McCain is calling for legal action. Making companies accept responsibility for wrong doing. “I am also calling for an immediate DOJ task force to aggressively investigate potential criminal wrongdoing in the mortgage lending and securitization industry. If there were individuals or firms that defrauded innocent homeowners or forged loan application documents, then the punishments of the market are not enough, and they must answer for their conduct in a court of law.”
In this speech he talks of remaking the unemployment insurance program into a more streamlined efficient “result orientated” system.
He ends the speech with this.
“Much work remains to be done on addressing the issues and challenges that will ensure we remain the largest and strongest economy in the world in the future. I believe that in order to accomplish this we must do three things. First, we must invest in the greatest resource we have, the American people. Second, we must reignite and drive a spirit of innovation in America. And third, we must foster growth and economic freedom, which really means low and effective taxes, free trade on a level playing field, small government and a smart, enforceable regulatory and legal framework.”
I heartily agree. I answer YES to the question of whether there is a genuine choice in the election of 2008. None of the above is not a solution.. I believe McCain is.
I hope he flushes out his specifics for this economic plan in the near future am looking forward to it. He is definitely not only offering a genuine alternative to the Democrats but to the current Republican leadership as well. I Truly hope my optimism is justified.
>
Regards, Live Dangerously be a Conservative.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The John McCain I Would Love To See
The John McCain I Would Love To See.
Dick Morris in a Newsmax article below, talked about how John McCain during this time of strife in the Democratic party, needs to step up and start fighting for ideas that would turn his candidacy into a populist based one. This is the best proposed set of ideas I have seen yet that could really help John McCain take back control of the campaign. I hope John listens. I know I would.
-----------------
http://www.newsmax.com/morris/McCain_press_forgotten/2008/04/07/86189.html
-----------------
Regards, Live Dangerously
------------------
Dick Morris in a Newsmax article below, talked about how John McCain during this time of strife in the Democratic party, needs to step up and start fighting for ideas that would turn his candidacy into a populist based one. This is the best proposed set of ideas I have seen yet that could really help John McCain take back control of the campaign. I hope John listens. I know I would.
-----------------
http://www.newsmax.com/morris/McCain_press_forgotten/2008/04/07/86189.html
-----------------
Regards, Live Dangerously
------------------
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