So, what do we do to prevent this from happening again?

[Little-Acorn]

I said in another thread, that the people mostly at fault for Socialized Medicine being imposed on us on 21 Mar 2010, were REPUBLICANS. As Pogo said, we have met the enemy, and it is us. Republicans should have known better than to start acting like Democrats, and legislate in ways that got them kicked out in 2006 and 2008, thus letting the barbarians enter the gates of Constitutional government.

So, what do we do to prevent this from happening in the future?

The airwaves are full of predictions that scores of Democrats will lose their Congressional elections this November after arrogantly ignoring the will of the people with this imposition of Socialized Medicine. Possibly even that Republicans will get majorities in one or both houses after the votes are counted. It happened in 1993/1994, when Democrats tried to impose a similar Socialized Medicine program on the country, and failed. The House and Senate were given Republican majorities in the next election, practically for the first time in 60 years.

And this time, the Democrats have actually SUCCEEDED in imposing socialism, flatly against the Constitution and the will of the people. So Republicans should be a shoe-in this time, shouldn't they?

Well, that's not as likely as it may sound.

Republicans had two advantages in the 1994 election, that they don't have now:

1.) A plan for practical policies they presented to the public, that made large numbers want to vote FOR them, and not just AGAINST Democrats. This plan was also one of the rare times when politicians made promises and actually kept every one of them.

2.) A pretty good legislative record of low taxes, reduced government, low spending, and protecting the rights of the people. The spending binges of the 1980s were caused by House majority Democrats who reneged on their promises to then-President Reagan to balance the budget, and racked up huge debts despite rising government revenues, under threat of killing Reagan's military restoration.

Republicans don't have either of these advantages today. The lack of a good legislative record, is a cross mostly of their own making, as they themselves went on huge spending binges in the 2000's as they tried to out-Democrat the Democrats - the very acts that got the Republicans kicked out in 2006 and 2008. Republicans will have to bear this cross inn the 2010 elections - they can't turn the clock back.

And they don't have any coherent plan they can present to the American people, as good reasons to vote for them. "We aren't as bad as Democrats!" is going to ring a little hollow - people heard that throughout the 2000's, and we saw the result in 2006 and 2008.

The "Contract with America" - a list of bills the majority Democrats had kept bottled up in committees in Congress after Congress, never letting them onto the floor for a vote, that Republicans promised WOULD be voted on if people elected them - wasn't introduced until nearly the middle of 1994. This turned out to be a propitious time, as the idea took hold, gained momentum, and peaked in time to sweep Republicans into majorities in both Houses.

It's not quite the middle of 2010 now. But Republicans had better be working on some kind of unifying plan NOW, if they want to present it with the organization needed to push it through by May or June. And "We will repeal the Socialized Medicine plan" is a dangerous one. It will give the leftists a chance to scream, "See? See? Republicans are trying to take away your Health Care!!!", consonant with their long-cherished conviction that if Government doesn't provide something, nobody will provide it.

A proposal like, "We will improve your Health Care by cutting down on insane lawsuit awards, removing the draconian fines and govt forcing you into plans you don't want, and allowing competition across state lines, etc." might gain more traction... and, for the first time, offer people a plan they actually want.

Are Republicans a shoe-in for Congressional majorities after the Democrat imposition of mandatory Socialized Medicine?

NO.

Not unless they get their **** together in one hell of a hurry, and do it right.

Which I've seen no signs of their doing so far.

 

[AtheismIsReality]

"2.) A pretty good legislative record of low taxes, reduced government, low spending, and protecting the rights of the people. The spending binges of the 1980s were caused by House majority Democrats who reneged on their promises to then-President Reagan to balance the budget, and racked up huge debts despite rising government revenues, under threat of killing Reagan's military restoration."

My ass. Reagan convinced Republicans to dismiss a balance budget because it would be "for just this time."

Reagan set up the policy that Cons still laud for keeping Clinton's domestic spending in check.

Let's face it, Reagan was successful because no one had done the spending he had done in the past, so he could cut taxes. However, the problem was no one figured out what would to do when we reached the inevitable limit in growth that the tax cuts created.

 

[samsara15]

Acorn, that's Bull. The Republican program has never been popular, except among the faithful. How long can you Conservatives deceive yourselves? You have the big money on your side, and little else. You offered no one anything in 2006 and 2008, except the same old status quo. Your whole philosophy is grounded on not offering anyone anything, unless they own a large coroporation. You kiss butt whenever a large corporation wants political favors.

 

[top gun]

Acorn, that's Bull. The Republican program has never been popular, except among the faithful. How long can you Conservatives deceive yourselves? You have the big money on your side, and little else. You offered no one anything in 2006 and 2008, except the same old status quo. Your whole philosophy is grounded on not offering anyone anything, unless they own a large coroporation. You kiss butt whenever a large corporation wants political favors.

Oh but the Lunatic Fringe on the Right love each other lots.

 

[Mr. Shaman]

I said in another thread, that the people mostly at fault for Socialized Medicine being imposed on us on 21 Mar 2010, were REPUBLICANS.

Correction: The Medicare Modernization Act (where Lil' Dumbya awarded the health-in$urance-companie$ welfar...er, "$ub$idie$")...was in 2003.​

So, what do we do to prevent this from happening in the future?

NEVER allow ANOTHER Bush in the Oval Office!!!!!!!!!!!​

"Building a political dynasty has been a priority of George and Barb Bush for decades.

Almost 40 years ago, in the height of the Kennedy era, a competitive George Bush was heard to say: "Just wait 'til I turn these Bush boys out."

 

[Greco]

"I said in another thread, that the people mostly at fault for Socialized Medicine being imposed on us on 21 Mar 2010, were REPUBLICANS. As Pogo said, we have met the enemy, and it is us. Republicans should have known better than to start acting like Democrats, and legislate in ways that got them kicked out in 2006 and 2008, thus letting the barbarians enter the gates of Constitutional government.

So, what do we do to prevent this from happening in the future?"

Here are two quick suggestions. You won't like them much, but there's depth of wisdom contained in them.

1. Try not to lie so much. The bill passed was about health insurance reform. That isn't and has never been, nor ever will be "socialized medicine". It's insurance reform. To claim otherwise is simply a lie.

2. Try to inform yourself with real knowledge, not the propoganda spewed by the radio hate merchants and the puppeteers at Fox News. You'll come across less as a fool, and won't be quite as likely to dribble out lies spoonfed to you by organizations counting our your ignorance to further their agenda.

 

[Mr. Shaman]

"I said in another thread, that the people mostly at fault for Socialized Medicine being imposed on us on 21 Mar 2010, were REPUBLICANS. As Pogo said, we have met the enemy, and it is us. Republicans should have known better than to start acting like Democrats, and legislate in ways that got them kicked out in 2006 and 2008, thus letting the barbarians enter the gates of Constitutional government.

So, what do we do to prevent this from happening in the future?"

Here are two quick suggestions. You won't like them much, but there's depth of wisdom contained in them.

1. Try not to lie so much. The bill passed was about health insurance reform. That isn't and has never been, nor ever will be "socialized medicine". It's insurance reform. To claim otherwise is simply a lie.

2. Try to inform yourself with real knowledge, not the propoganda spewed by the radio hate merchants and the puppeteers at Fox News. You'll come across less as a fool, and won't be quite as likely to dribble out lies spoonfed to you by organizations counting our your ignorance to further their agenda.

*

 

[samsara15]

In consolation, I offer you Cons this thought. The pendulum of public opinion always eventually swings both ways, and sooner or later, it will return your way. No group stays in public favor forever. You have lost a battle, but the war never ends.

 

[Mr. Shaman]

No group stays in public favor forever.​

....Or, Republican-HU$TLER$!!!!!

 

[Alana]

........... Republicans had two advantages in the 1994 election, that they don't have now:.....................

A pretty good legislative record of low taxes, reduced government, low spending, and protecting the rights of the people. The spending binges of the 1980s were caused by House majority Democrats who reneged on their promises to then-President Reagan to balance the budget, and racked up huge debts despite rising government revenues, under threat of killing Reagan's military restoration.

You are totally out of touch with tax and deficit statistics. A review of budget deficits for the past fifty years shows Republican administrations far outspent Democratic ones and ran up higher deficits. The only administration to operate on a balanced budget and not contribute to the deficit in the past 50 years was a Democratic one.

According to a recent Forbes magazine article, taxes by every measure are lower since Obama took office and 40% of his Recovery package was tax cuts. And Forbes is a Republican leaning magazine.

Republicans have NO record of lower taxes, reduced government or lower spending. Except occasional tax breaks for the super-wealthy. And they want to expand government to control what goes on inside a woman's body while they bomb babies and pregnant women all over the world.