Originally Posted by Happy Monkey (Post 1046162)

If everyone is "in name only" then it doesn't really say anything when you apply it to a particular person.

Originally Posted by henry quirk (Post 1046160)

Exactly.

Trump is a non-idealogical state-capitalist usin' Repub machinery.

Rand Paul is a consequentialist libertarian usin' Repub machinery.

buhbuhBernie is a communist, er, democratic socislist (state socialist) usin' Dem machinery.

Mitt is a evangelical sumthin' or other usin' Repub mschinery.

Bill & Hill: a hedonist and an opportunist usin' Dem machinery.

Really, as I think on it, conventional Repub/Dem ideology really doesn't mean much for any of the elected folks. It's just labels to them.

Originally Posted by Luce (Post 1046187)

The machinery exists to be used.

Originally Posted by henry quirk (Post 1046234)

By whom, for whom?

(or is it: By who, for who? meh)

Originally Posted by Luce (Post 1046256)

By politicians, for lobbyists.

And there is not a single federal level politician or appointee that doesn't understand this.

Originally Posted by henry quirk (Post 1046344)

Strange: I thought it was supposed to be by the people, for the people.

Originally Posted by Luce (Post 1046352)

I suppose that works, if you also believe in the tooth fairy and the immaculate conception of Ayn Rand.

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce (Post 1046346)

That can only happen if the people give a rats ass and participate, but they've delegated that power to the political hacks.

Originally Posted by henry quirk (Post 1046397)

gotta give 'em a reason to give a shit

if everything is provided, folks get fat and stupid

look out your window...or, mebbe, in your mirror... :shock:

Originally Posted by henry quirk (Post 1046165)

Tell that to all the voters who take R/D ideology seriously, who work overtime to shoehorn themselves and candidates into those boxes.

Those who rule: play the polar game to get, and stay, elected.

Those who are ruled: actually take the poles seriously.