Sequestration: How is it, the world might ask, that the US with its brainpower and creativity can be so stupid? soc.li/0gHEnuQ.
— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) March 1, 2013
How is it, the world might fairly ask, that the United States with all its brainpower and creativity can be so, well, stupid?
Not stupid in everything, of course; indeed, perhaps not in much at all. But when it comes to governing themselves, Americans are making matters harder by a resolute determination not to face real facts. And those of us who live nearby will feel the effects of this unfortunate determination.
Those who are not Twitter literate can read the article here.
The answer is that the U.S. cannot get anything done. Why can’t it get anything done? Answer: Because the founding fathers did not anticipate the formation of two private clubs (the Democrats and Republicans) that would monopolize the political process for their private purposes. George Washington hated the concept of political parties and foresaw the result if they came to be.
Now that the Republican Party has ceased to exist as a political force (they couldn’t even beat the Obama Democrats) the Democrats have no reason to be. Prediction: 2016 will be the first year of a strong and credible independent candidate for president. It’s the only way to bring the American people back into their political process.
Well, I think this piece of wisdom might explain things a bit:
(Reuters) – Secretary of State John Kerry offered a defense of freedom of speech, religion and thought in the United States on Tuesday telling German students that in America “you have a right to be stupid if you want to be.”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/26/us-usa-kerry-liberties-idUSBRE91P0HJ20130226
Facing the real facts. Is that like receiving a free gift? Arrrrgh, with cutbacks, waiting for a response from the IRS on our OVDI submission may take the rest of our lives…so far 15 months and counting…
I don’t know about the independent candidate. The situation was ripe for that this past election but apparently live as they know it still wasn’t bad enough to push the electorate in that direction.
Trouble is that they have no free media down there. An independent would need a way to get his/her message out and I can’t see that happening as things are. The Internet is even becoming more and more a controlled space. It is a lot less free than I remember it when I was first on back in 1998.
Kerry and the right to be stupid. Classic.
Speaking of stupidity, I fully expect the US administration, as a response to the “sequester”, to cut back on US/Canada border agents, thus slowing commerce and travel with their biggest trading partner. That’s another reason not to plan travel to the US.
AnonAnon, I read an article in the Globe last week that spoke to that subject and Canada fully expects major snarls at the busy crossings for sure. The smaller ones, I think, will probably cut hours, so one would have to plan ahead to make sure a crossing was opening. It will be a mess in places where the border cuts through communities and towns. As luck would have it, we are supposed to be visiting family down there at the end of the month when the worst of it should be in full bloom (because it will take a bit for the furloughs, lay-offs and such to be put in place). Just so long as we don’t get stuck down there.
85 billion is a drop in a bucket. Each year is 1 trillion USD deficit… The discussion about such terrible effects of the sequester is a joke.
The Campaign never ends
http://wh.gov/JediMindMeld
Good morning America!! Welcome to the 2nd day of the sequester apocalype