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[Ponca Dan]

I’ve been thinking a bit about the recently passed budget bill. It seems most right wingers are upset with the Republicans for caving into the domestic spending desires of the Democrats. The Democrats got everything they wanted! And Republicans control all three branches! The Republicans are lying, weak willed, hypocritical pussies who wilt at the mere mention of their hatred of the poor!

At the same time I haven’t seen any condemnation from the left toward the Democrats for caving to the Republicans as regards defense spending. Maybe there has been some grumbling, but I have not heard a peep. Why do you suppose that is?

Could it be that the Republicans have won the “defense debate” just as readily as the Democrats have won the “welfare debate?”

Thinking back on it, it doesn’t seem I hear the Democrats jawboning against defense spending the way I used to. Have Democrats conceded the point?

It is well understood that Republicans publicly call for smaller government and lower spending - at least on domestic spending - while running for office, but then spend like addicts when they get the chance. Democrats, at least it seems to me, have phased out their criticism of defense spending.

It appears the two sides have come to a compromise: you get to spend on what you want as long as I get to spend on what I want. Basically they’ve become one party.

Which makes it a curiosity to me why so many people on this board think they have chosen a side, and argue with fervor in its behalf. There is only one side. Ultimately you are arguing with yourself!

 

[Ponca Dan]

Wow, this thread turned out to be a dud! I thought it would provoke quite a discussion. Show you how little I know.

 

[HighStickHarry]

You are wanting the liberals on this board to give some rational objective answers to straight forward questions and you thought that would drive a conversation? That does show how little you know!

Plus I think I would have to be stoned to lasso that last paragraph.

 

[TPOKE]

Just another post by dan, throwing a topic out there and not giving his opinion on it.

 

[Ponca Dan]

Just another post by dan, throwing a topic out there and not giving his opinion on it.

That may be the first time I’ve been accused of not giving my opinion! Please, dear fellow, allow me to clarify.

If you are an advocate for either the left or the right you are a dupe. In the beginning maybe the left and the right considered each other as mortal enemies. That changed long ago when the powers behind the welfare state and the powers behind the military establishment discovered they could each have everything they wanted, they didn’t have to fight over the spoils. They could join forces, and in a united front they could have it all. The Democrats could rally their pawns behind social justice rhetoric, and the Republicans could do the same with their pawns by finding foreign enemies behind every rock. As long as they could keep their followers concentrating on the “dangers” of their political opponents they could do whatever they want in the cloud of confusion they create. They came to an understanding: we’ll “cave” and give in to your demands and you “cave” and give in to ours.

Think about it. Obama was a far left wing politician, wouldn’t you agree? Did you notice any actual cessation, or even lessening of our military exploits during his tenure? Military spending continued unabated while he was in charge. Republicans rubbed their hands together in lamantation over Obama’s socialized medicine proposal. Entitlements increased right alongside the military budget.

The same held true with Bush. We entered wars that have no end, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of our fellow human beings, no end in sight. And at the same time Republicans passed medical prescription entitlements, and “killed capitalism in order to save it” (Bush’s very words.)

And what do most of you people do? Nothing! You’ve quite stupidly picked a side without understanding you’re being played for fools. You keep voting for and electing the same people who produce the same results, and they are able to convince you that it’s all the other side’s fault. That’s what I find so curious.

There. Have I sufficiently given my opinion?

 

[davidallen]

Crappy budget bill was crappy. Especially right after slashing receipts. Makes no sense. Not much else to say.

 

[HanAholeSolo2.0]

dan will it piss you off even worse when some of that military funding goes to the corps of engineers to build the wall?

because that’ll make me a little less pissed, but it’s still an insane bill that the republicans failed on yer again.

 

[CowboyJD]

dan will it piss you off even worse when some of that military funding goes to the corps of engineers to build the wall?

because that’ll make me a little less pissed, but it’s still an insane bill that the republicans failed on yer again.

And Trump...don’t forget him.

He failed miserably as well....right?

 

[HanAholeSolo2.0]

And Trump...don’t forget him.

He failed miserably as well....right?

from a spending standpoint certainly.

 

[Ponca Dan]

dan will it piss you off even worse when some of that military funding goes to the corps of engineers to build the wall?

because that’ll make me a little less pissed, but it’s still an insane bill that the republicans failed on yer again.

No, I learned a long time ago that it does no good to get pissed off. People are going to think what they think, say what they say and do what they do. I have no control over anyone's action but my own. Nor do I want such control. The funding will go where it goes. No one will ask me for my advice. There is no reason to get pissed off. Will I be mournful? Yes.

 

[Ponca Dan]

Crappy budget bill was crappy. Especially right after slashing receipts. Makes no sense. Not much else to say.

"Receipts." Clever word. A better word would be "spoils."

 

[CowboyJD]

from a spending standpoint certainly.

Why the distinction?

If Republicans and Dem rats failed miserably by passing it, how did Trump fail differently than them by signing it/passing it as well?

I would think that a Trump fan would believe that it failed from a policy perspective as well since it didn’t have wall funding or resolve the DACA issue.

 

[07pilt]

Dan, to answer your original question, the average lib only hates defense spending insofar as it competes with domestic spending.