Comments on: JFK Understood: ‘Free and Independent’

By: Halli

Halli — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:07:31 +0000

The Kennedy's always believed Government played an important role in people's lives. John F. Kennedy himself took special interest in matters that Demcorats of today still care about (including his brother Edward Kennedy). Soundbites don't cut it here. As he said: "someone who cares about the welfare of the people — their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties." He also ended a period of tight fiscal policies and presided over the first government budget to top the $100 billion mark. He clearly wasn't a fiscal-conservative compared to most of his Republican predecessors.

Sounds like a "Liberal" to me. Not to mention Robert Kennedy, before he was killed, sounded a lot like a "Liberal" too.

By: Buffalonickel

Buffalonickel — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:36:50 +0000

That's not what we mean by a "Liberal"

By: Halli

Halli — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:36:38 +0000

…"if by a “Liberal” they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people — their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties — someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a “Liberal,” then I’m proud to say I’m a “Liberal.”- John F. Kennedy, September 14, 1960

He would still belong to the "big-tent" Democratic Party. Not everyone in the Demcoratic Party is a progressive Liberal, there are many conservatives known as the "blue dogs". So no…. JFK wouldn't be a Republicans any more than Lincoln could actually fit in the Democratic Party.

By: Ron

Ron — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:53:38 +0000

To me there are two forms of self interest, personal and community. We're suffering from a severe lack of the second. I would not equate greed with self interest, greed is much more destructive.
I suggest that some politicians, workers, bankers etc.; are greedy. If they're not controlled by a common moral and financial code, then they bring ruin on the rest of us.

I will work for less if I find I cannot get the work if I charge more.

If I were to lend money at any rate of interest, I would take the risk, not the government. The current bailout madness makes no sense. If a company fails because of an avaricious direction, let it. There will be others to pick up the pieces.

I own an American car, and it has given me good service. I hope that its purchase has helped someone stay in a job. I just hope that that someone is a line worker rather than a CEO.

I am paying the exact same amount for garbage collection with a mechanical arm as I was for two guys on the back of the truck. It's not a better situation. They lose the ability to feed their family and contribute to society and the mechanical arm won't pick up anything that's not in the bin

I pay more per dollar in taxes as a Canadian only because services are provided by the state that I would otherwise have to pay for privately. Like most people, I'll only pay what is required.

I try to put Walmart out of business by not shopping there. I think big multinational chains are a blight on our society. There's nothing human about them.

Competition is a mainstay of our human nature. It brings innovation, thrift and a healthy respect for your competitor. Greed, however, seeks to wipe out your competitor at any cost., be it legal or otherwise.

We have all agreed by social contract (even though it was to pay for WW1) to give part of our earnings
to the government for its smooth functioning. Our problem is that the government, no matter who is in power, is no longer smoothly functioning. It is an out of control hydra because of its complexity and lack of transparency

You may think of me as someone with socialist tendencies. You would be wrong. I think we're all far better off without the yoke of a nanny gov't on our backs. But if someone kicks sand in our face with impunity, like the bankers, multicorps and wall street have done, then they have to be brought to account….by the government….because that's all we have to fight with.

By: Heather McFarlane

Heather McFarlane — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:48:37 +0000

Once upon a time I had a Philosophy Prof who was a refugee from Czechoslovakia. He spent untold hours explaining the roots of Marxism to we students. And the basic idea was: Marxism sees humans and our history in Material terms. And Finally, finally, I have seen what he was getting at: the subprime mortgage craze. The theory was that if people own their own homes, then they will be better citizens. That is typical materialist thinking, Marxist right through. IF you are a hardworking person who is frugal and saves your money, THEN you are a good citizen, and you will probably own your own home. Character, something that cannot be re-decorated like Pelosi's office, is the key. Marxists do not think character, or morals, or ethics, are important. Only THINGS matter to them. And they have managed to crawl to the top of almost every Western organization.

By: MikeO

MikeO — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:11:59 +0000

And lets not forget about his successor. LBJ

58,178 Total casualties.

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own.

And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind.

Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam
Listed as KIA February 7, 1978

By: MikeO

MikeO — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:00:55 +0000

Andrew, __I am sure that Mr. Obama wishes that Rush was a figment of someone's imagination.__I feel the same way about Barney Frank, Ms Pelosi and several others.

By: Jettboy

Jettboy — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:14:21 +0000

I do wonder if JFK and Bobby K would have become like their younger brother. Much as I like Bobby, after his brother's death and the assassination of MLK he started sounding a lot like modern liberal Democrats.

By: brucelee

brucelee — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:01:37 +0000

The Democratic party took a HUGE left shift after the VN war and with Jimmy Carter. That guy would have taken over everything if he had the votes and popularity. A micro manager and a moralist. He was one scary guy.

By: Brucelee

Brucelee — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:00:06 +0000

Self interest (greed) drive everything that is human. Are you suggesting that politicians, and workers are not greedy. Will you work for less voluntarily? Will you lend money to folks for less interest and at a greater risk than someone else will? Will you pay more for a truck than it is worth in your eyes? Would you buy an American car if you thought it might help a UAW worker keep his job? WIll you pay more for the garbage to be hauled away? Will you pay more taxes than you are legally required to pay? Will you put Wal Mart out of business so that mom and pop can survive?

Will you replace competition and if so , with what?

And last but not least, will you allow folks to keep their own money or force them to give it to a govt to do with it what it wants? If so, why?