So if Obama loses - its all because or racism....

[Sailor Steve]

That's the left shoe. And the right shoe? You wrote this because you're an unbaised observer of the system with no opinion either way? I see no purpose in this if it's not to play politics.

[Rockin Robbins]

I would argue that the states lost any real power when Woodrow Wilson, not understanding that the appointed Senators were appointed by the state legislatures as representatives of their state government decided to play the democracy card and go for popular election of senators.

Simply not understanding or not caring about their true function, Woodrow Wilson's initiative became a constitutional amendment that rendered state government impotent. Can you imagine the crippling burden of unfunded mandates if the states had any power within the federal legislature. Wouldn't have happened! But now, since the senators have no connection with their state governments at all, and in fact feel superior in every way, they have no hesitation to passing a requirement to that state without funding it, leaving that state to carry somebody else's burden.

We are not and should not be a democracy. A democracy is two cats and a mouse voting over what's for dinner. Democracy is the mob rule and murder of the French Revolution. That is why our founding fathers hated democracy. They wanted the best qualified people among the populace to be elected to govern for a definite length of time between new elections. The way the people would participate in government is to select those who operate that government.

So we want to paint the Oval Office. Now we need a national referendum at the cost of billions of dollars so everyone can vote on it? Don't make me laugh. Democracy is a cheap joke, not worthy of anything but contempt. What we have and need to fight to preserve is representative government with representatives subject to the people, enforced by the power of the vote. We are not, have never been and better not ever be a democracy. If we do become one our life expectancy is about ten years before tyranny.

So, since the institution of popular election of Senators totally removed any voice of the states in the legislature, how does anyone propose we can turn the clock back and give any power at all back to the states? I think the door opened, the cow left and we can close the door but the cow's gone.

[CaptainHaplo]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

That's the left shoe. And the right shoe? You wrote this because you're an unbaised observer of the system with no opinion either way? I see no purpose in this if it's not to play politics.

I don't believe I ever claimed I was "unbiased" or an observer of the system. I could never claim to be an uninterested or objective observer - because I participate in the system as a voter. The mere act of casting a vote negates any objectivity, for it requires a choice of one over another.

My political views are well historied here - I am not a fan of Obama or his extremely (for US politics) left wing policies and agenda. I prefer less government intervention and more personal responsibility. Call that what you will.

If I - or anyone else looks at government with a skeptical eye, that is a good thing. Given the history of this current administration and the constant attempts to demonize anyone who dares to differ with its policies or goals, such skepticism regarding a report on such a sensative and divisive issue as racism is hardly uncalled for.

So you look at the study, find its flawed on a number of levels - and the question becomes "Why is this even getting the front page attention it is?". Quoted by many left leaning pundits - one must wonder why now? The most apparent answer is the President crumbling poll numbers. Even so, that doesn't make the study itself political -unless you consider the flawed assumptions it makes. Why make such over-reaching generalizations when they are obviously problematic? Again, a very logical answer suddenly appears when the connection between the researcher and the administration appears.

To quote the "Professor" of C.S. Lewis - "Logic! I say, what do they teach in schools these days?"

If somehow following a logical, reasonable line of skepticism somehow makes me a "right shoe poltical hack" in your view, then ok. I can live with that.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

I don't believe I ever claimed I was "unbiased" or an observer of the system...If somehow following a logical, reasonable line of skepticism somehow makes me a "right shoe poltical hack" in your view, then ok. I can live with that.

My main objection is that you, along with some others, seem ever to only take on one side of the spectrum. You may not think it's always the left's fault, but sometimes it seems that way.

Sometimes I'm afraid to even express an opinion on a subject, for fear that one side or the other will agree with me. It's not even the side, it's the individuals who blame everything on "them".