tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532459317899671580.post8300494663126150850..comments2024-03-18T12:48:54.155-04:00Comments on My Planet, My Rules: You All Suck (#54b - Electile Dysfunction...)Matthew Notohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08881509233809999186noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532459317899671580.post-47889542670423146162022-11-22T09:10:44.405-05:002022-11-22T09:10:44.405-05:00That's all well and true, Unknown, but that wa...That's all well and true, Unknown, but that wasn't my point: my assertion is that taking an opportunity -- when you're not standing for re-election (as neither Scott nor Graham were) -- to grandstand was a dick move that signaled to some nervous voters that the GOP was prepared to do it's worst (as the left would have you believe).<br /><br />One wonders how many voters went into the booth believing their (potential) abortion or social security check was threatened, hence, don't give R's the Senate.<br /><br />One wonders if, in anticipation of a GOP Senate victory, if Graham and Scott weren't making their own move against McConnell by throwing some risk-free (to them) red meat to the 'real conservatives' to whom such issues are the only reason to continue living. It, at the very least, maybe, was an attempt to set an agenda ahead of an expected majority?<br /><br />But a really poor one and certainly ill-timed.Matthew Notohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08881509233809999186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532459317899671580.post-78452005418307591102022-11-22T05:43:06.123-05:002022-11-22T05:43:06.123-05:00The point was simply that the rise of a rational p...The point was simply that the rise of a rational politician requires a rationale electorate. The two topics illustrate the impossibility of our situation. Abortion is nuanced, but only just. You should be able to argue things like an outright ban, a time limit based on viability standards that adjust as medicine does or exceptions for this and that - but you can't because the absolutists are now locked in lunatic mode. Entitlements are classic "not my ox that's gored" discussions. The problem of course is that the public perception of things like social security is that it is different from the government intent. The public sees social security as a retirement scheme (forced or otherwise) or safety net or something, while the government sees a control mechanism for all people instituted as a good idea to protect the neediest and then expanded largely on the backs of people who took no responsibility for anything in the future. Even the simplest solution like means testing which would require changing the rules for todays enrollees as a start, similar to companies changing pension systems from defined benefit to define contribution, is impossible because the lie that social security is in reality a social tax is exposed. People think it's free and that illusion is control for the government. Your going in proposition is generally right, we all suck.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532459317899671580.post-60589807309150237652022-11-21T22:04:56.738-05:002022-11-21T22:04:56.738-05:00You fail to make the distinction between "sol...You fail to make the distinction between "solution" and "political stunt".<br /><br />What Lindsey offered was no solution. A solution would be a permanent ban or a permanent allowance. <br /><br />He offered neither.<br /><br />Scott didn't offer a "solution", either, which might be described as "no Social Security, ever" or some plan that gradually brings the program to an end.<br /><br />He offered neither, just some tinkering around the edges.<br /><br />And both of them had really shitty timing.Matthew Notohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08881509233809999186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532459317899671580.post-32831051968802304592022-11-21T20:32:22.840-05:002022-11-21T20:32:22.840-05:00I'm confused. Politicians need to offer soluti...I'm confused. Politicians need to offer solutions but when they do, even if their motives were actually sabotage, it's bad? Graham and Scott were trying to scuttle the ironclad GOP. Lindsay it can be argued offered a reasonable balm to the soul of America. Abortion is, pardon the pun the death of us. - who else offered a solution? Scott can be accused of stupidity or cleverness, but fixing entitlements is required to solve then nation's economic woes. Are we past offering solutions?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com