What happened to us ???

If there has been one success in the bush presidency, it has been to divide the country and paralyze it. The masses and divided and ready for another civil war.

This time the war will not be fought with bullets; at least not on american soil. The civil war in america this time will be fought with ideas and politics about things that do not matter to our country as a whole. We will fight about abortion, gay rights, affirmative action, and the death penalty.

If we are going to have a meaningful CRUSADE in this country, we need to fight about corporate corruption, energy management, protection of civil liberties, corporate exploitation, outsourcing of jobs, and the lack of unity that exists in america today

I want a war...one the freaking matters !!!!!!!!!

I think you will find a home here.

America finds itself.

As I have so often said, there has to be REAL change in the way people think. It should be much more than an anti Bush movement; it should also be a movement against that which Bush holds dear. Greed and the me me attitude has to go!

Newbies unfortunately get scapegoated or treated with a prejudiced slant. Unfortunate, but true - regardless of group discussion forum. It happens everywhere.

But he sounds sincere and until he trespasses against us, I see no fault in taking him at face value.

People had with me ~4 years ago and I tend to be "all over the map" with my beliefs and viewpoints.

... it's been this Administration's job one since day one. "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

I hope the country realizes (before it really IS too late) that we should stand together against our TRUE common enemy: George W. Bush.

And BTW, welcome to DU! :hi:

The real enemy is the mainstream idea the if you dont have something (like heath insurance) its you own fault and you should suffer...

Not bush he is not the enemy...its the state of mind...

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see above

No point looking at the smoke, need to ask where all this smoke coming from.
All those issues are just smoke, created for specific purpose. Someone lighting those fires.

I see his point.

While Bush's actions show he is rather unfriendly, the mindset that if we don't have a job we are at fault is correct. Offshoring, et al, are real problems and the media and corporate elite tell us WE are lazy and in the wrong, which is not true. Skyrocketing costs of healthcare keep pushing it past Americans of ALL ages; and those 55+ are being the worst hit by this and it's very sad to see. They worked hard and invested and saved wisely and health costs will drive them to the gutter, making them face their worst fears. You bet I'm not happy.

Even despite my pessimistic ramblings about offshoring, I am again working on IT education, despite my feelings and fears. If the economy crashes, it crashes. At least I've worked against my fears; it's something we should all be doing.

had written. You did a much better job at expressing those thoughts.

... but who fosters that 'state of mind' at every turn? BU$HCO. Right along with concepts like only lazy people don't have jobs, only non-patriots question/criticize Bush's policies, only those who don't care about national security question the motives behind wire-tapping.

Whenever there has been an inkling of people standing together on an issue against WH policy -- such as social security reform -- this Admin starts screaming about abortion and gay marriage, because they know these are issues which will immediately divide the populace again.

They know all too well that it is unlikely that you will stand firm with your neighbour on ANY issue you actually agree on, so long as you are distanced from that same neighbour on other issues.

Divide & Conquer -- and the unfortunate thing for all of us is that this mechanism has worked so damned well.

arguing about things that do not have great relevance, per se, to the future or security of America. But I think you are going to have a hard time selling the idea that a candidate's stance on abortion, gay rights, affirmative action and the death penalty is not an appropriate basis for a decision whether or not to vote for that candidate. I believe these issues provide a valuable barometer for how that candidate would deal with those critical security and economic issues you mention.

Just sayin'.

the American Civil War was preceded by at least 10 years of increasing vitriol, the Russian Civil War was preceded by 35 years of the same... so we are just getting ready for the host stage, and I fear the country will not survive as a country. It will break up

And the left's ability to identify the core issues will help prioritize what it is we need to do. Developing a sense of community, building an understanding of the common interests of all Americans, conservative and liberal, will help identify the very real threats to our country.

If the primary threat is corporate greed and power, as you say, then keeping Americans divided along artificial lines is the primary weapon of the corporate interests. The welfare and prosperity of this country and it's citizens is in direct conflict with the prosperity of the individuals behind the corporate takeover of our government. They think they can insulate themselves from the consequences of creating a nasty world of haves and have nots, where there is very little chance of upward mobility and always the fear of slipping down.

I agree with you. We need to target the underlying causes, not just the symptoms.

And, welcome to DU! :hi:

When we're united and we deal with our differences, we're strong. When we're alienated from each other, we're easier pickings. This has been going on for years. That's why they had to attack Bill Clinton as vociferously as they did/do.