Being "Republican" became in vogue when Reagan came along and started pushing lassez faire and tax relief in order to bolster supply side economics. I will not get into my take (at this time) on why supply side economics is probably inferior to demand side economics.

But, there's no denying that the big rave came when everyone climbed aboard the bandwagon in the 1980's. We were cutting taxes, cutting spending and going to thin down government. That philosophy is what made us Republicans become Republicans. The Dems had it all wrong. The private sector deserved all the money - not government. We saw it in the Gramm-Rudman Act, for example, where deficit spending was to be outlawed. Of course, it didn't last.

Here's where the Republicans have woefully failed to deliver: They said they were going to clean house and cut spending, but did they? To the contrary. They spent more and more and more. Now, everything budget-wise is talked about in terms of crisis. Even under the Republicans, the government has continued to grow at an astronomical pace. The more you feed it, the bigger it gets, and the bigger it gets, the more you need to feed it.

These Republicans pitched a big lie - posing themselves as having a superior understanding of the financial aspects of our government than the Democrats. The fact is the Republicans, as a whole, are no better than the average stiff who walks around carrying 6 maxed-out credit cards and wondering why life is so difficult.

Not that the Dems are offering any hope to resolve this problem. But the facts are the facts. You cannot count on Republicans to clean up and "put our financial house in order."

Of course, WE THE PEOPLE, are as much to blame. If Connecticut gets money for "project X," Texans want money for "project Y." So, we are quite happy to see our representatives bring us money - especially when we see our neighbors getting money.

What the people need to do is "just say NO THANKS." But as long as it is Connecticut vs. Texas vs. Colorado vs. Florida in terms of extracting as much federal dollars as they can, that's what your representatives will do. That's why we have huge deficits and a growing debt. It is bad financial sense. The Republicans are guilty as sin and do not deserve to claim any superiority over the Dems at all.

Until we get representatives that practice the Golden Rule of finance, it ain't going to get any better. Golden Rule: Cash is King!

It either gets better through an independent, limited-purpose party, or we need to watch what happens carefully and vote for the man and not the party. Now that we see all the mid-term election ads, it is noteworthy how so many candidates claim they "brought in over $9 billion to improve our public schools," "going to give research for alternative energy sources the funding it deserves," "vow to insure prisons aren't under-funded and criminals are put out on the street," etc., etc.

Whenever you see these, just reduce it to what it is: "got another $9 billion out of you for this," "will suck some more out of you for this," "will suck some more out of you for that."

It's time to start judging candidates and congressmen for how much they spend and not how they spend. Sure, everyone could use a better "this" and a nicer "that," but that does not mean we go out and spend the money on it - especially considering we have to plan for wealth accumulation and hopefully, a decent retirement.

When I went to school, we had a main building, a few T-shacks for overflow, and an open field surrounded by a track and bleachers for sports. Now, we have college-looking campuses with state-of-the art arena sports facilities. What a joke! ... and you can't blame it on the Dems!

This is the mentality of all those credit-card junkies we have in office. All of them. - Rant Over -

Recently I have become more and more amazed with the American "habits". Spending money has become a second nature for so many if all I have been hearing is correct. If one does not have the money? Get a credit card! Has it not always been the case that you want what other have? If your neighbor has it... and the one on the other side as well... you can not possible stay behind.

Trust me, this is not only the case in the American society, but it manifests itself more strongly. From 16 years old and onwards, you are supposed to drive a car. This is only logical if you see the distances people have to bridge every day. In Europe everything is so much more nearby, and not just because we are smaller. I've heard that reasoning for so many times now. It is also a difference in mentality. When I need to go somewhere, I can drive by bicycle as well.... It is less expensive, and healthy!

For everyone who is interested in an economical topic, there are many journals concerning this consumption society. I would recommend the ones that concern US Independence on foreign loans, especially Asian ones. Pay particular attention to what happens if they cut off the flow of money!!! Maybe it will raise the awareness that a change of attitude is not such a bad idea.

Here I think it's valid to say we all still have a wanderlust in us as Americans. Our Conestogas or rafts on the Erie Canal or Mississippi were just a few ways we spread out, to enjoy a huge country.

We travel more in one day than our ancestors did in a week. We live in our cars (metaphorically and sometimes literally). Our car is Gallahad's horse. The fuel---our horse's oats---is a small price to pay for that freedom.

Our reality (unlike Europe's) is our sprawl. With less than 10% of all land actually developed, we enjoy much more than cramped quarters.

__________________
Delivering tasty bite-sized Clues to liberals since 1965.

Except if you're in New York City of course, where no one drives a car, and a little studio apartment costs 1800 a month. (You get a doorman, but you have to tip him at Christmastime).

[/quote]
Here I think it's valid to say we all still have a wanderlust in us as Americans. Our Conestogas or rafts on the Erie Canal or Mississippi were just a few ways we spread out, to enjoy a huge country.

What is this argument even based on? Do you think Europeans spend their days in an office, perhaps only looking out the window? For example, I have driven to Paris by bicycle. Considering I live about 1500 kilometers away, this is not a sprawl.



I think it is safe to state that I'm an extreme on this matter, but the point I am trying to make that a "wanderlust" is not an American phenomenon. We do like our holidays, in our own country, or abroad. We do use cars for this as well, kind of hard to walk all the way with heavy bags isn't it? And enjoying your freedoms at the place of arrival can be done by canooing, cycling, or even hiking.

[/quote]
Our reality (unlike Europe's) is our sprawl. With less than 10% of all land actually developed, we enjoy much more than cramped quarters.

What is your view on Europe anyway? Do you think people in Munich, Germany take the train to Barcelona, Spain and get there a half hour later? We do have countryside, cities, small towns and even small villages you know. And to help another misconception out of the world. We are not a backward continent where ruins and monuments can be found on every street corner. There was even an American guy who asked me in a very serious tone of voice if we even had fridges over here... (BTW... we do)



We do have monuments and ruins, but there is so much more to our society. So if anyone comes to Europe for a 'Euro-trip'. Remember there is so much more than just sightseeing. And for anyone who has seen the movie Hostel. If you're ever walking through Amsterdam, don't think someone will shout in German at you if you're to loud in the middle of the night. It is a well known fact that people in the Netherlands speak Dutch instead of German!