America confronts Trump's destructive legacy

My impression is that Merkel (CDU/CSU) has done a pretty good job. I suppose, trade surpluses and value added taxes pay for the social programs.

 

All that text and not one mention of a Biden policy that benefits the country more than trumps policy

sad

 

Not necessarily. It would create room for third parties in addition. There are pockets of places where I would expect to see independents and 3rd parties do well in much smaller congressional districts like that area along California and Oregon that doesn't really consider itself spiritually a part of either state. I would expect you to see more native americans coming into congress as third parties from areas near their reservations, etc.

 

https://tenor.com/view/donald-trump...-no-responsibility-usa-president-gif-16623875

 

Perhaps, but in the last analysis it comes down to whoever organizes a majority of the vote on specific bills. Making that task more difficult wouldn't, IMO, increase the power of Congress vis a vie the other branches. It would probably make them stronger. What I think we need is a stronger Congress with less Party influence.

 

If you want less party influence in the congress then you should support more parties and there is no better way to do that than packing the House with members. Each member today represents about 3 times as many people as they did a century ago. We are becoming less democratic over time precisely because our ability to be represented by the people that best represents us is being diluted.

 

Yes...and there is a much larger electorate today via both the increase in population size and the expansion of the voting franchise. Expanding the size of Congress would lead to an increase in the need for some form of centralization to get anything done. That was one reason for the growth of the party system. Not sure you grasp that thought?

 

You support the democrats having total control over the government. Got it.

 

No...I believe in a strong, but reformed, two+ party system, with a stronger Congress and States' Rights. What do you believe in? A weaker Congress and a stronger Executive branch, with fewer States' Rights?

 

Oh that's easy!

Individualism > Collectivism

 

Liberalism is not about collectivism. Below is the definition of liberalism from the dictionary.


Liberalism 1: the quality or state of being liberal
2aoften capitalized : a movement in modern Protestantism emphasizing intellectual liberty and the spiritual and ethical content of Christianity
b: a theory in economics emphasizing individual freedom from restraint and usually based on free competition, the self-regulating market, and the gold standard (see GOLD STANDARD sense 1)
c: a political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy (see AUTONOMY sense 2) of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liberalism

As you can see, liberalism is actually in conflict with collectivism. I am no expert but I think collectivism could more accurately be attributed to communism or religion.

 

Universal Healthcare over Individual Private Insurance

Wealth Equality over Unlimited Individual Wealth

Welfare Programs over Reduced Taxes

Free College over Individual Loans

Really?

Nearly all liberal policies align with prioritizing the collective interests over individuals.