Jen the Michigander wrote:

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Even worse, the Republicans who are now running the show are inexperienced ideologues. They yell at people. They talk about restoring America back to its Christian roots. They worship Ronald Reagan. They'll call you a communist or a socialist if you disagree with them. They really don't have a clue as to how to get us out of this economic mess.

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Precisely!  The Republicans focus appears to be on turning the anxiety of the nation into social crusade.

Hm. we have heard that a lot - "restoring America back to it Christian roots" - what does that mean?  We are not a Christian nation - it is not written into our Constitution.

 

What Percentage of America is Christian?
Today in America, approximately 77% of Americans are said to be of Christian religion. This number has dropped from 1948, where 91% of Americans were Christians.

The country is increasingly diverse by the day.  Are the Repub saying that non-Christians are welcome to leave the country? How insulting!

I don't think we as a nation --- that presumably still wants to continue to be the LAND OF OPPORTUNITY and LEADING ECONOMY (questionable now) -- has the corner on intellectual capital all nicely tied into followers of ANY one faith.  Thank the Almighty for giving all of us humans relatively equal brains.

The beauty of America is that it is based on secular principles.  Statements such as "back to Christian..." simply negate our secular principles and potentially incite anger in people who have viewed themselves as harmed by the US in recent wars, or worse people like me who really do not care much about religion until any one is being thrust upon me as the holy grail.

Frankly, all that religiosity from the Repub and (conservative right end) Tea partiers is codeword for social movement about women's right to choose.

 

And, no, there really is no economic solution emerging at all.  They do not want to even discuss their economic approach.

The root of what is America is Liberty and Opportunity. It is not religion.  So, we as voters have some questions to ask ourselves about the policy approaches of each candidate/party:

Under their leadership/proposed policies and approaches -

• Do we see a poor person and a student (without a silver spoon in his/her mouth) having the opportunity necessary to launch their own small business?

• Are the small businesses better positioned to fight for opportunities on equal ground or are they competing against special interests?

• Are the small businesses growing into mid size or mid size into larger while their employees -- men and women - enjoy equal pay and market equity in compensation.

• Are the large businesses growing so large that they are jeopardising security of their employees

• Are the large businesses growing so large that they are jeopardising the interests of consumers - especially product safety and reasonable alternative products in the marketplace

These are fundamental questions we have to ask.

When I ask those questions about Repub policies of the past -- and I say past, because there is no new policy that is on the table -- be crystal clear that the rich will become richer, the poor poorer in their approach.

I think there has been tremendous increase in riches in fewer hands as more middle class has slid into povery in the US.  We only need examine this thread to understand the dire impact on ordinary law-abiding citizens to know this.

Living on Nothing but Food Stamps

and see this map to understand the terrible impact of imbalances.

 

It is in THIS context that the current and coming administrations have to create NEW and MORE opportunities for entrepreneurism by the people - by individuals who may not have much means, including students and poorer people in the above group.  No small challenge.

-- Edited by Sanders on Friday 10th of September 2010 09:01:34 AM