Contributors

Friday, November 23, 2007

Thank You, America

Well, apparently the rest of the world should bow down in supplication and give thanks, this holiday season, to America. According to Mark Steyn, the rest of the world, particularly Europe, need to follow America's shining example of the last seven years and use us a model for a "functioning nation state."

In addition to throwing up in my mouth a little bit, I wonder in which America Mr. Steyn resides. Because the one I live in currently looks like its completely broken, filled with blind ideologues who refuse to see the forest for the trees and, ironically, think the same of me. I think Our Girl Friday summed it up best recently in comments:

i happen to think (the tiny minority but hugely influential) US ideological extremists (secular and political) are possibly THE most dangerous type on earth (the A-team of heightened alert) and greatest threat to homeland security, not to mention global, in perpetuating policies that actively search out or create new enemies and fault lines of confrontation ('creative chaos') in parts of the world that have already been ravaged by our foreign policies and other extremists, when the key to security at home & beyond is dialogue, powerful pro-active diplomacy and genuine democracy protection or promotion. None of which have been pursued on the international scene or encouraged, beyond hypocritical rhetoric and utterly opposing actions.

The Big Lie (aka appeal to fear) is that these IEs (ideological extremists) have successfully convinced around 30 million people in this country that if we don't handle our foreign affairs EXACTLY the way they tell us we have to, then we are haters of America, naive, weak, and will doom ourselves to years of oppressive totalitarianism.

What it really means is that they will have less control and make less money, which is what this really all about....

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I actually threw up in the toilet after reading Steyn's piece.

Will the right ever learn? We don't hate America. We just hate what THEY are doing to it.

Anonymous said...

I love Mark Steyn (in a manly kind of way..ha ha). I think he is one of the clearest and cleverest thinkers & writers I've ever had the pleasure to read. I have several of his books on my shelf and have loaned them out to many. I've quoted him numerous times here and have posted links to his articles...the article on demographics (from his book, "America Alone")was absolutely brilliant, but alas the thread died...from the discussion being irrefutable, I can only surmise.

Anonymous said...

Correction:

' When Tony Blair wanted to abolish, in effect, the upper house of the national legislature, he just got on and did it '

Tony Blair never abolished the House of Lords legislature which has existed for hundreds of years, as the Upper House or 2nd Chamber of Parliament (once and for centuries, more powerful than the House of Commons.) What he did in '1999 was pass a bill through the House of Commons to reform 'the Lords' so that 'hereditary peers' meaning: those with Titles that had the right to pass them on to their kids indefinitely, could no longer do that (except for around 100 special exceptions who continue to be hereditary peers) The rest of the UK agreed and thought this made sense.
There are still hundreds (5 or 600) 'Lords' & 'Ladies' of varoious peerage titles (awarded by the Queen every year in a ceremony but the list is drafted by the government in power, such as Blair's did for years rewarding loyal Blairites with titles) in the upper house who are 'Life Peers' or elected Peers, their numbers don't diminish because each year the Government (okayed by the Queen) create new Peers.

The House of Lords struck down Blair's proposed extension of terror suspect detainees (without charges) a detention and interrogation period (without charges) which he wanted to extend from 28 days -- 90 days in 2006. They can be a little rebellious and many having legal backgrounds, do often rein in governments.

The House of Lords spends 60% of its time on legislation in the UK. Its other major role is government oversight and scrutiny. It is also the highest court of appeal in the land.

Anonymous said...

what bs and baflegab.

Anonymous said...

...artistic license.