Why isn't Socialism dead?

TCS Daily - Why Isn't Socialism Dead?:

"The Peruvian economist, Hernando de Soto, has argued in his book, The Mystery of Capital, that the failure of the various socialist experiments of the twentieth century has left mankind with only one rational choice about which economic system to go with, namely, capitalism. Socialism, he maintained, has been so discredited that any further attempt to revive it would be sheer irrationality. But if this is the case, which I personally think it is, then why are we witnessing what certainly appears to be a revival of socialist rhetoric and even socialist pseudo-solutions, such as the nationalization of foreign companies? "

Something I believe gets overlooked is, true socialism would not require a "leader". We would all cooperate and do first, that which is in the best interest of all. As a human, and a realist, I understand that humans are not wired to operate that way. Even the strongest advocates for socialism seek or gravitate to a leader, someone who inspires them. Those leaders rarely reciprocate. They tend to demand the adoration and wield harsh consequences on those who don't "participate".

How does "Politics" help US?

WSJ.com - Veto Hallelujah:

"And speaking of toga parties, West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrd took to the Senate floor to deplore Mr. Bush's veto threat as an outrage that would deny money for all sorts of domestic disasters, including farm losses and coal-mine accidents. 'If the President wants to veto a bill that funds the troops, if he wants to veto a bill that funds victims of Hurricane Katrina . . . have at it,' he taunted.

As Mr. Byrd knows from his years in the Roman Senate, this is a time-honored legislative tactic: Load up a vehicle that the President wants with junk that you want, and dare him to veto. We trust Mr. Bush knows his Presidential manhood is being challenged here. The Senate's misbehavior only grew worse in the wake of his veto threat, as if the Members don't believe he can finally be serious. They loaded up with earmarks, such as the $700 million Mississippi railroad to nowhere, and some $4 billion in farm aid at a time when farm income is high thanks to soaring commodity prices."

These "public servants" are out of control. When will we wake up and remind them that they are in the position they hold because WE PUT THEM THERE! Their job is NOT to get everything we want. They are there to negotiate for what we need and accommodate other's needs in the best interest, and within the budget, of the entire country.

What's wrong with this picture?:

JS Online:On a wing and a scare:

"Mequon's mayor urges residents to keep their distance.

Harassing eagles is a federal crime, and harming the birds in any way comes with serious consequences. Eagles are the most protected species in the United States, and even possessing a single feather from one of the majestic birds is unlawful."

DNR employees in a plane Wednesday morning spotted one of the eagles on the nest but could not determine if there were any eggs in the broad shelf of tree branches the birds created in the treetop, said Tom Isaac, a DNR wildlife biologist at Pike Lake in Washington County."

Oh, but a government agency flying planes over the nest site is less disruptive than a father an child looking up from a walking path to see these magnificent birds!

Rumsfeld and Lying

Early Warning by William M. Arkin - washingtonpost.com:

"The best reason for Donald Rumsfeld to step down as Secretary is that he has become the debate, a lightening rod who can no longer continue to perform this
important duty. America needs someone in charge of the military who can give candid answers without fear of having yesterday's candid answers thrown back in their face.

America also needs to give its leaders a chance to be wrong. The implications such intolerance to error is to push human beings up against the wall, a place where there is no good outcome."

So ultimately, who's to blame. How can any person succeed in a controversial role if we, the people who appoint them (including those in the role of the press), continue to look for every possible negative aspect of their performance and never give them the opportunity to be wrong. No one is perfect and mistakes are made - IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. What we must have are people willing to make tough decisions in the best interest of the country. Do we really want people who say "I voted for it, right before I voted against it" in these positions?

We ARE at war. We don't want to be, but unfortunately, the reality is, even if we unilaterally stop, our adversary has shown they won't. We can continue to view terrorists as criminals - like street gang thugs in our inner city - that need to be arrested, prosecuted and "rehabilitated". It's easier for us to see it that way. Nice. Neat. Civil. They, however, don't live with the same set of rules.

Strange Bedfellows and Still No Answers

"Opposition to America's first offshore wind farm seems a peculiar posture for the liberal lion of the Senate. The self-indulgent squires of Cape Cod likewise seem a strange set of friends for Teddy Kennedy. He is also joined in opposition by Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican presidential prospect. Furthermore, Kennedy's key congressional allies against the wind farm are two senior Alaska Republicans who are reigning princes of pork on Capitol Hill, Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young."

RealClearPolitics - Articles - Friends of Teddy Kennedy

Some bigger questions that seem to never get asked include: "If not there, where?"; "If alternatives energy sources like wind were truly the answer today, wouldn't you think the pilings would already be poured?"

The Absurdity of the Gas Debate

"First came the Democrats. For more than a decade their leading lights have extolled higher gas taxes, and hence higher gas prices, to pay for everything from school roofs to the development of alternative energy sources that would usher in the economic Shangri-La of 'energy independence' - whatever that is. 'Look how enlightened Europe is! Gas prices there are two or three times ours,' they'd holler. In 1993, when the Democrats controlled Congress and the White House and the economy was believed to be in much worse shape, Bill Clinton, Al Gore and the rest of the Democratic leadership pushed gas taxes as the solution to our woes. Now even Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) - who voted for gas tax hikes in 1982, 1990 and 1993 - believes that 'high gas prices are going to be the final nail in the GOP's coffin this year.' So the Democrats want to repeal federal gas taxes in order to bring the price down at the pump. They say the repeal would only be temporary. No kidding!"...

...But we should not blame Democrats too much for their opportunism, cynicism and populism. As the party out of power, they are expected to seize on GOP weaknesses like jackals upon a wounded fawn. And their party is dedicated to the proposition that the state should always meddle when it feels it can do "good," regardless of what it did last year or even yesterday.

It is the congressional GOP that should be booed and shamed from the public square for the harlot it has become. Before the pyre of pandering even ended, the Republicans launched their fire sale, offering to sell off their remaindered principles at bargain basement prices. It was almost like they were paying voters to take their intellectual integrity off their hands. ("We're practically giving it away!")

Running on empty on gas prices - Los Angeles Times

Political Prisoner May Face Death Penalty

(New York, May 4, 2006) " Libya's most prominent political prisoner, Fathi al-Jahmi, faces a possible death sentence for slandering Libyan leader Mu`ammar al-Qadhafi and talking with a foreign official, who may be a U.S. diplomat, Human Rights Watch said today. "

(Human Rights Watch, 3-5-2006)

Just think if the US were really "just as bad as the other guys". There'd be a long line on death row filled with many in this country if all it took was slandering President Bush.

UAW Calls for Strike Vote at Delphi

WSJ.com:

"DETROIT -- The United Auto Workers asked its members to authorize a strike against Delphi Corp. in preparation for an expected showdown with the auto-parts maker, a dispute that could hurt loss-plagued General Motors Corp. if it
devolves into a walkout.

Delphi, which filed for bankruptcy protection in October, next week is planning to seek court approval to cancel its contract with the UAW. Yesterday, UAW Vice President Richard Shoemaker told local union leaders to seek a vote by May 14 that would give senior union officials authority to call a strike."

And we wonder why our automakers are losing money and Toyota is gaining market share? While we're busy 'managing' employee demands, they're responding to the market.