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This is why we voted in the liberal Democrats

Started by troybunch, 06/15/2009 01:16PM
Posted 06/15/2009 01:16PM Opening Post
As of 2005, according to the “Economist Intelligence Unit”, the US ranked 13th in the quality of life index. Many of those countries that ranked higher are social democracies.

The homicide rate in the United States is nearly three times as high as in Canada and slightly more than five times as high as in Germany. Most industrialized countries have homicide rates below ours. Overall the homicide rate in the US is similar to that of some lesser developed Eastern European countries.

The studies by the Commonwealth Fund found that the US health care system ranks last among other major rich countries for quality, access and efficiency, even though he US spends twice what the average industrialized country spends on health care.

US – number one in prisoner rate.

Nearly 46 million Americans, or 18 percent of the population under the age of 65, were without health insurance in 2007.

In 2006, the poverty rate for minors in the United States was the highest in the industrialized world, with 21.9% of all living below the poverty threshold.

The number of uninsured children in 2007 was 8.1 million – or 10.7 percent of all children in the U.S.

The number of uninsured rose 2.2 million between 2005 and 2006 and has increased by almost 8 million people since 2000.

Over 8 in 10 uninsured people come from working families.

The graduation rate of US students is well below Australia, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, New Zealand and Norway.

American capitalism give the powerful a way to plunder existing wealth through takeovers, corporate restructuring, privatization and other financial maneuvers – rich getting richer, poor and middle class getting poorer; and we need less regulation.???

The Republicans shifted increasing amounts of risk to the average American. Of course they called it “choice,” “freedom” and “flexibility,” but as we can all see, it has created a reliance on risky defined-contribution pension plans—like 401(k)s, which Congress still hasn’t protected and regulated. Take a look at the growing number of people who have no pension plan at all.

We need change… that’s why we voted in a liberal Democrat. Love it, change it, or leave.
Posted 06/15/2009 01:27PM #1
Last year all those anti Bush people who voted in the liberal democrat where outraged at Bush's $450 billion deficit. Where's the outrage at the Obama $1.8 trillion deficit this year alone? How about the up to $10 trillion in deficits in the upcoming years? How do you feel about that? Don't you realize the long-term damage to the country this will do?

Sooner or later all of you caught up in the Obama hype will wake up and realize this irresponsible government is not what you voted for.

Andreas

DSOs observed:
NGCs 2005, ICs 103, Other 70, Palomar GCs 6, Abell PNs 12, Herschel 400: 316.
Equipment
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Posted 06/15/2009 01:35PM #2
I find it hard to believe that most of the people that voted for Obama did so because they want the US to be more like Europe and Canada.
Posted 06/15/2009 04:41PM | Edited 06/15/2009 05:05PM #3
Troy Bunch said:

As of 2005, according to the “Economist Intelligence Unit”, the US ranked 13th in the quality of life index. Many of those countries that ranked higher are social democracies.

We need change… that’s why we voted in a liberal Democrat. Love it, change it, or leave.

Hi Troy:

You're relying on old numbers. In the most recent ranking (2008 ranking based upon 2006 data) we have moved up. The "quality of life index" is a second name for what is more formally known as the HDI; the human development index. Here is the top part of the most current ranking:

2006 HDI Ranking:

1. Norway
2. Iceland
3. Australia
4. Ireland
5. Sweden
6. Canada
7. Japan
8. United States
9. Switzerland
10. Netherlands
11. Finland
12. Luxembourg
13. Belgium
14. Austria
15. Denmark
16. France
17. Italy
18. United Kingdom
19. Spain
20. New Zealand
21. Germany

On the merits, I would say that the US is doing spectacularly. We are the only super-large-population and super-diversely-populated nation in the top 10. The five most populous countries on earth, in order, are China, India, the USA, Indonesia and Brazil. Where are China, India, Indonesia and Brazil on these lists?

That being said, we are not comparing apples to oranges here. A social democracy might work quite well for Norway or Iceland etc. These are small, homogeneous societies. They have virtually no immigration, legal or otherwise. They have cultural traditions that work well for them, but which are vastly different from ours. I am glad that these countries have their act together, but there is absolutely no reason to think that the social democracy model is readily transported to a larger more socially complex nation. You will see that France and Germany are well below us. I think this is telling.

Back to your main point, I respectfully disagree. We voted in a liberal democrat because he had the very good fortune to be running against a republican. Sure the nation wanted change. The majority wanted change from Bush though, not a fundamental change in governance.

Left over public opinion against the war assured that whoever ran for the GOP would lose. The economic collapse in September nailed the coffin lid shut. Many pundits, including myself, predicted a huge democratic sweep a year before the election. the polls were not ambiguous. The pendulum will swing back of course. Whether it swings slowly (8-12 years) or fast (4 years) depends upon how well things work out with the economy.

You will recall that Reagan almost swept the Electoral College only 4 years after Gerald Ford lost because of the Nixon pardon. Public sentiment can change on a dime if the economy stays bad or gets worse. Jim Babcock was right about one thing. We are a fairly conservative society. I would expand this and say that a slim majority is fiscally conservative society and a slim majority is socially liberal. this assures that the pendulum will swing.

More importantly, Americans like political balance. Unless Obama achieves spectacular success with the economy, I predict that the democrats will lose quite a few congressional seats over the next 4 years. Reelection for Obama is not a given if the economy remains in the doldrums for too long.

Jim
Posted 06/17/2009 05:01AM | Edited 06/17/2009 05:03AM #4
Troy Bunch said:

As of 2005, according to the “Economist Intelligence Unit”, the US ranked 13th in the quality of life index. Many of those countries that ranked higher are social democracies.

The homicide rate in the United States is nearly three times as high as in Canada and slightly more than five times as high as in Germany. Most industrialized countries have homicide rates below ours. Overall the homicide rate in the US is similar to that of some lesser developed Eastern European countries.

The studies by the Commonwealth Fund found that the US health care system ranks last among other major rich countries for quality, access and efficiency, even though he US spends twice what the average industrialized country spends on health care.

US – number one in prisoner rate.

Nearly 46 million Americans, or 18 percent of the population under the age of 65, were without health insurance in 2007.

In 2006, the poverty rate for minors in the United States was the highest in the industrialized world, with 21.9% of all living below the poverty threshold.

The number of uninsured children in 2007 was 8.1 million – or 10.7 percent of all children in the U.S.

The number of uninsured rose 2.2 million between 2005 and 2006 and has increased by almost 8 million people since 2000.

Over 8 in 10 uninsured people come from working families.

The graduation rate of US students is well below Australia, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, New Zealand and Norway.

American capitalism give the powerful a way to plunder existing wealth through takeovers, corporate restructuring, privatization and other financial maneuvers – rich getting richer, poor and middle class getting poorer; and we need less regulation.???

The Republicans shifted increasing amounts of risk to the average American. Of course they called it “choice,” “freedom” and “flexibility,” but as we can all see, it has created a reliance on risky defined-contribution pension plans—like 401(k)s, which Congress still hasn’t protected and regulated. Take a look at the growing number of people who have no pension plan at all.

We need change… that’s why we voted in a liberal Democrat. Love it, change it, or leave.

I have to agree with most of what you say, being a moderate. I have to say the Republican party has taken a serious turn for the worse in the past couple of decades. Not saying the Democrats have gotten much better. Seriously, the Republicans have fallen considerably farther by attempting to cater to the extreme right, rather than traditional conservative value holders. By traditional, I mean before the Bible thumpers infected the party, when small government and minding our/your own damn business was the word of the day.

I tend to vote about 50/50, the last time I was in the booth, more like 70/30 trending Democrat. Several local offices (Sheriff, Judges, County Selectmen) saw me voting Republican still as the local Republicans are more like the Barry Goldwaters of old....The Republican party needs to get off the religious fanatic kick before I can look at them seriously on a national level though. I am hoping that by me and others like me pulling Republican support, they will get the message...not likely though :S

It is what it is...