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[spence]

Originally Posted by detbuch

Ultimately, all problems are systemic. Each system requires its own cure. If your body, a unique system of myriad integral parts suffers a broken tibia, you don't go to a cancer specialist. If it is cold, you put on a coat. So to what system are you referring? If GM has problems, it goes to the government? If Citibank has problems, it goes to the government? Such a system!!

No, but you can go to a hospital and chances are get the care you need.

The system in question is the one that ultimately enables the American way of life. The simple fact is that Government and industry are woven together, and while this relationship is problematic at times, it has led to incredible prosperity and is seen as a beacon for the new global economy.

I'd note that under normal operations, business tends to work its problems out. We are not now operating within normal parameters. Is it possible that government intervention might exacerbate the same issues that led to the problem in the first place? Perhaps, but it's also possible to borrow because of the need to reduce debt...

There is a cultural, generational divide here. If you were to study every American generation from 1776 to now you would, surely find much in common. But, I believe, you would find evolving differences in what each generation expects from government. I would guess you'd find a large shift in expectations post Roosevelt. I believe the founders suscribed to the notion that government governs best when it governs least. I believe that, probably inevitably, generations gradually expected more from government, and we may be at the tipping point, if it hasn't already tipped, where we believe government does best when it governs most. It seems to have pervaded almost every aspect of our lives, with BENEVOLENT INTENTIONS. And we cannot resist the helping hand.

I agree...the current generation is looking for a lot from our Government, honesty, integrity, transparancy etc...

To be honest I don't know anyone, including some very liberal friends, who are hoping the Government will be intruding more into our lives.

The divide here is, in one way, between those who believe the constitution to be a plain spoken, immutable, foundation for freedom from government, a charter of negative liberties if you must, and those who believe it is living, breathing, to be interpreted, changed to suit new times, even discarded when defunct. In another way, the divide is between those who were born into a generation that has evolved way past the 1776ers into one that, a priori, accepts government's hegemony in our lives, and those who still honor the original resistance.

Our system was designed to be flexible. There is a Judicial Branch because they understood that context would require interpretation. They split the Executive and Legislative Branches because they didn't want another King.

I have a bit of a Federalist streak in me because I do believe there's value in testing everything with the wisdom of our founders. They had an understanding of human behavior that is nealy universal, and perhaps not without equal in modern times.

That being said, the Constitution is a work in progress and there are really very few pure followers left anymore. Most Libertarians are given no more than novelty regard in modern politics.

-spence