en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/689214 Comments by brittwaller http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/alabama/thomas_trial_judge_neilson_speaks_out#IDComment42266118 the judge neilson interview video will not play all the way through. i can't make a comment until see the interview, because "there are to sides to a story." please fix that problem immediately so i can e-mail u my thoughts. thanks Fri, 6 Nov 2009 21:22:46 +0000 http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/alabama/thomas_trial_judge_neilson_speaks_out#IDComment42266118 http://ddofans.com/?page_id=590#IDComment41274284 Wall Street takes the money of American investors and basically loses all of it, and that's the *clean* policy; the government wants your money to DO SOMETHING BESIDES MAKE MORE MONEY (that is, provide services that mean something - are tangible - to millions) and *that* is "adding mud" to the floor? I think not. Well-written rant, however:0 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:20:43 +0000 http://ddofans.com/?page_id=590#IDComment41274284 http://ddofans.com/?page_id=590#IDComment41274272 You really cleared that analogy up... "No, if we wielded mops, the most productive thing we could probably do is use them as weapons, and knock them unconscious so that they can’t create a bigger mess than they already have." Assuming that your interpretation that healthcare and regulation and taxes are "mud," while mops are power or money, is correct, the above statement is the most productive thing you could do...? When conservatives had the mops, as it were, they were too busy creating unjustified wars and wiretapping citizens to regulate Wall Street correctly (not that they would have wanted to anyway, of course), so now we have the "mess" of years of playing around with (that is, risking) the money of the American people in derivatives and other dubious financial practices. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:20:32 +0000 http://ddofans.com/?page_id=590#IDComment41274272 http://ddofans.com/new-president-and-vice-president/#IDComment41109734 OIC? Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:36:44 +0000 http://ddofans.com/new-president-and-vice-president/#IDComment41109734 http://ddofans.com/co-admin/#IDComment41069048 Grats:) Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:57:12 +0000 http://ddofans.com/co-admin/#IDComment41069048 http://ddofans.com/level-of-class/#IDComment40245570 I fail to see how the admiration of the female form and being able to speak without censorship are signs of "immaturity." Too bad, though. I like KRFournier and think he would have added an interesting dimension to the opinion perspective. Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:42:09 +0000 http://ddofans.com/level-of-class/#IDComment40245570 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39923264 Negative. True, politicians should not cave to special interests. However, that doesn't mean that it's "OK" for corporations to exploit anyone or anything. Exploitation is, by definition, wrong. Two wrongs do not make a right. Also, by this logic, you should have no problems with individuals that take advantage (that is, "abuse") of the welfare institutions in our nation. After all, they are only "exploiting a flaw in the system." Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:29:49 +0000 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39923264 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39920713 "See, Liberalism operates on a rather poorly constructed theory that hinges on a few inaccurate maxims. 1. Most people that are rich were born wealthy 2. Most wealthy people got wealthy by scamming others 3. Those that inherited money began with an unfair advantage 4. Most people that have fallen on hard times were merely unlucky or were born poor and at a disadvantage. 5. Having a one class system is superior to a 3 class system." lulz. Praytell, what maxims do conservatism operate by? 1. All changes to the status quo must be resisted. 2. Money is not a means, it is an end in-itself. If it happens to be my own personal money, it is *the end* of ends. 3. Government NEVER works. If it did, it was a fluke. 4. If you don't have money, it is obviously your fault; actual circumstances - including but not limited to education, race, health, and socio-economic situation - are secondary to a theoretically pre-achieved "equality of opportunity." In view of your characterization of liberalism, is this very far from the truth? Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:07:39 +0000 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39920713 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39917294 I would say that I have "slipped through the cracks," although my circumstances are nearly the complete opposite of what you have posited here. Besides, do you really think that the CEO and the welfare-recipient "receive equally"? Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:39:02 +0000 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39917294 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39916452 And finally we arrive back at the root: the profit motive, or, as anyone with a moral compass would agree - greed. There is more to life than money - like integrity, self-respect, and a clean conscience. Wall Street bankers and CEOs across the board make 400 times what an average employee makes. Is there any rationale for this? Some things are worth doing based on the moral merit of the action, and not what it "costs" in dollars and cents. In my opinion universal healthcare is one of these things. Seeing how the US is the only industrialized nation in the world that doesn't have UH, and we are the wealthiest nation, doesn't speak very highly for the moral character of the US. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:31:25 +0000 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39916452 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39914599 We are not the USSR. We are a democracy, not a totalitarian state. There is no ground for a comparison of this sort. A comparison with a modern Democrat-Socialist nation (say, a European country) would be much better. Seriously, the government has its necessary and contingent uses; just because the government is pro-active regarding social issues does not imply socialism, and no one is even talking about communism. "Corporations are entitled to legal rights as individual persons because essentially they are owned by many individual persons." *Every* group of people is a collection of many individual persons; on the face of it, many persons =/= a person, in any way, shape, or form. The idea that a corporation should have the same rights as an individual is simply preposterous. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:15:05 +0000 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39914599 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39911323 Returning to my own condition: So where does the mighty and good "market" leave me? From your answer, up shit creek without a paddle seems correct. You say that "Insurance couldn't exist if they were forced to treat pre-existing conditions." I think it's safe to say insurance will still exist after the new laws about pre-existing conditions go into effect. Will they make as much money? No. But they shouldn't have been making that much in the first place - if they used their money to actually cover policies, and not pay lobbyists or exorbitant salaries to CEOs, etc, then perhaps they could pay for, at the very least, what they already said they would pay for. In any case, I'm not worried about the bottom-line of insurance companies: what concerns me is the ability to receive treatment in a way that will not bankrupt me in the process. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:48:53 +0000 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39911323 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39906657 No, the point of health insurance is to make money. Disregarding my own situation for a moment: like all forms of insurance, health insurance companies always put up the biggest fight they can to avoid payment, even in the case of completely legitimate claims. You cannot call yourself "insurance" if you have a contract with an individual, the individual keeps his side of the bargain (paying the premiums), and then when he gets sick you either drop them completely or cannot cover the condition for whatever reason. You must be familiar with stories of pregnant women being uncovered because pregnancy is a "pre-existing condition." Ridiculous. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:07:22 +0000 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39906657 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39905528 "The only government intervention that is needed is to prevent market failures..." Wasn't the market failing when the government did these actions? The atmosphere a year ago was that the entire world economy was on the brink of collapse, and if the government didn't "save the banks and the car companies" then we were all doomed. "Too big to fail" is a phrase I remember clearly. Should the banks have been bailed out? Absolutely not. Was there a choice? Apprarently not - if these banks were allowed to fail, the economy would have collapsed. How did the companies get that big? Socialism? No... unregulated crony capitalism. Also, monopolies in Alabama include the power company and... health insurance. On oil, you're missing the point. Oil companies should simply not be making record profits when the average consumer (whom the corporation is there to protect the interests of, according to you) is broke from filling up their gas tank. They obviously did not cut their profit margin, although it would have made prices cheaper, which I believe is in the consumer's interest. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:57:02 +0000 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39905528 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39905475 The issue of trust, then, is between corporations (small groups of individuals that control the vast majority of wealth in the U.S., and can buy lobbyists and lawyers by the dozen, as well as contribute endless amounts of money to both major parties, so that no matter who wins, they win) and the representative of not only the consumer but the citizen, which turns out to have to be government. While the government is also part of the problem in many instances, for actual reform and regulation they are needed. You seem to think that the government is controlled by a small collection of individuals whose goal is nothing more than to cheat the citizen;) Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:56:28 +0000 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39905475 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39905407 "You seem to be confused upon the subject of trust. With Socialism vs Capitalism its an issue of trust between Government (small group of people) and Consumers (everyone). You seem to think that a corporation is controlled by a small collection of individuals whose goal is nothing more than to cheat the consumer." I'm not a socialist. Also, just because I said I trust the government more than J.P. Morgan doesn't mean I trust them very much. However, I would say that to me, the situation appears to be more like greed and consumption and a strange kind of reverence for money versus a united sense of civic duty, and progress for the good of all, or at least the many and not the few, not socialism vs. capitalism. I identify to being a citizen, not a consumer. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:55:43 +0000 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39905407 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39277988 2) I tend to support my own interests, and I'm interested in being able to be treated reasonably by insurance companies, like BC/BS here in Alabama (which controls 90% of the market) who will not cover my epilepsy because it's a pre-existing condition. I just want a chance to get insurance period, which again calls for reform. Insurance in any case is generally a legal racket in my opinion, but in the case of health insurance it is the most insidious form because it is completely superfluous to the transaction at-hand. (Obviously, I am in favor of a single-payer system, but I will settle for the "public option" for now.) 3) The car companies should have been allowed to simply die, as an example of what the Rugged, Individualistic, American Conspicous Consumption Complex leads to. I think you are wrong in your analysis of capitalism. Adam Smith antedates Darwin; Marxism was full of Darwinism, and Marx even dedicated a book to Darwin. I doubt if Adam Smith ever intended for corporations to have the legal rights as individual persons. However, I also doubt if Marx intended for his ideas to be "implemented" by madmen. Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:04:20 +0000 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39277988 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39277963 This sounds like an excellent series. Excellent job on this post, you have a keen writing sense. @ askbob: "I'm also against this ridiculous form of government control of the banking, healthcare, and automotive industry. Capitalism is based upon evolution. What is socialism based upon?" Respective Responses: 1) On banking, I frankly trust the government more than J.P. Morgan, etc. Something (but not necessarily what was) had to be done, as the corporations have an easy ride as it is (see the oil industry's windfall profit last year, while concurrently gas prices reached record-highs) and the bankers are just making money from moving money around a lot. Reform or status quo? I vote reform, that takes government intervention. Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:03:53 +0000 http://ddofans.com/opinion/volkov/liberalism/#IDComment39277963 http://ddofans.com/opinion/brandon-clark/why/#IDComment39186385 Agreed. Especially the part about Phil. Long ago Phil participated in debates, although he was never what one might call an "active member." He really screwed things up when he fired Nate - he was a good guy that members could generally rely upon to do simple admin/mod duties. Now there isn't even that much. And just as annoying is Phil's commitment to "keeping the site clean," as he once told me in an email. Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:10:39 +0000 http://ddofans.com/opinion/brandon-clark/why/#IDComment39186385 http://ddofans.com/opinion/brandon-clark/why/#IDComment39183315 Jblake is spot-on about the multi-accounting. Why do you need more than one account, anyway? Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:56:19 +0000 http://ddofans.com/opinion/brandon-clark/why/#IDComment39183315