When was the "left" turned?

[targus]

Those of you who are my age (mid 50's) probably can recall the books and movies from highschool and college that warned about big government.

Animal Farm
1984
Soylent Green
Farenheit 451

In the old days the left didn't trust the government.

In the old days the left believed that the government was the enemy and that the government wanted to keep the people down.

When was the left turned?

 

[saturneptune]

My own belief is that the US Government started its plunge into liberal agendas when Reagan handed the Presidency over to Bush the First. It already had liberal tendencies, but at that point, all restraints were taken off.

 

[targus]

My own belief is that the US Government started its plunge into liberal agendas when Reagan handed the Presidency over to Bush the First. It already had liberal tendencies, but at that point, all restraints were taken off.

That may be true. But when did the average left leaning citizen decide to trust the government?

The government may be implementing what appears to be the agenda of the left but why trust that it is not merely about consolidating power for those in office and their cohorts?

The "public option" appears to be the new opiate of the people.

 

[Palatka51]

The left has always attempted to undermine American Government. It has whittled at it from Lincoln to FDR to BHO. The question I'd like to ask is, When did black Americans begin to trust the Democratic Party?

 

[saturneptune]

That may be true. But when did the average left leaning citizen decide to trust the government?

The government may be implementing what appear to implementing what may appear to be the agenda of the left but why trust that it is not merely about consolidating power for those in office and their cohorts?

The "public option" appears to be the new opiate of the people.

It is hard to put a date on when the left started trusting government, only that it is in proportion to the amount of programs the government creates to take away a citizen's sense of self responsibility. The only reason I gave the point in time on the last post, is Reagan was our last conservative President. The Democrats had already tried to move to the left with Johnson and Carter, both failed Presidencies, but with the exit of Reagan, neither party was going to elect another conservative.

 

[targus]

The left has always attempted to undermine American Government. It has whittled at it from Lincoln to FDR to BHO. The question I'd like to ask is, When did black Americans begin to trust the Democratic Party?

I think that the consolidation of the Black American vote for Democrats was the result of the institution of the welfare state - ie. vote buying.

Unfortunately, the welfare state destroyed the Black American family.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

My own belief is that the US Government started its plunge into liberal agendas when Reagan handed the Presidency over to Bush the First. It already had liberal tendencies, but at that point, all restraints were taken off.

Haven't posted here in months and probably will not again, but this was too succinct to pass up.

I contend that the America we grew up with was doomed the day that Reagan chose Bush I as his running mate. I have thought this since 1980 and it is good to see someone agree .

Reagan was so popular that Americans were lulled into thinking that Washington was okay now and that thought just continued on.

As much as I respect Reagan it was his decision, almost 30 years ago now, that led to where we are today.

Fellow posters who feel like your job is to attack everything I post and succeeded in running me off go right ahead - I will not be responding.

 

[SeekingTruth]

The left began to support the government when they realized that what they really wanted was POWER. What better way to get power than to make the Federal government the source of every need of the individual. An early step was the implementation of Social Security, and the promise that it would help the elderly. From there we have moved down hill rapidly to the point where we now see the government attempting to make life or death decisions for all of us.

 

[saturneptune]

Haven't posted here in months and probably will not again, but this was too succinct to pass up.

I contend that the America we grew up with was doomed the day that Reagan chose Bush I as his running mate. I have thought this since 1980 and it is good to see someone agree .

Reagan was so popular that Americans were lulled into thinking that Washington was okay now and that thought just continued on.

As much as I respect Reagan it was his decision, almost 30 years ago now, that led to where we are today.

Fellow posters who feel like your job is to attack everything I post and succeeded in running me off go right ahead - I will not be responding.

I have to agree. The one thing I fault Reagan for is picking George the First as Vice President, which lead to George the Second as President. That Presidency so angered the American public, they elected the clown we have today.

 

[targus]

The left began to support the government when they realized that what they really wanted was POWER. What better way to get power than to make the Federal government the source of every need of the individual. An early step was the implementation of Social Security, and the promise that it would help the elderly. From there we have moved down hill rapidly to the point where we now see the government attempting to make life or death decisions for all of us.

What doesn't make sense though is guys like LeBuick, alatide, etal. don't share in the power.

So are they in this just for the "freebies"?

And why do they trust that they will personally be ahead if they did get something from the government?

It's not like the government actually has anything to give other than what they take from others.

When did the average non-politician left leaning guy on the street fall under the spell of big government?

 

[SeekingTruth]

What doesn't make sense though is guys like LeBuick, alatide, etal. don't share in the power.

So are they in this just for the "freebies"?

And why do they trust that they will personally be ahead if they did get something from the government?

It's not like the government actually has anything to give other than what they take from others.

When did the average non-politician left leaning guy on the street fall under the spell of big government?

I doubt we can place an exact date on the change. I think that it was a matter of gradual indoctrination of the people who now support the policies of the left. A few items that could be touted as successes, began to sway people to leaning on the government. Those who have a tendency to let others provide for their needs and do their thinking for them, leapt on the bandwagon quickly. Those who were willing to take advantage of this followed as soon as the realized what was occurring. Maybe it is just human nature, I don't know.

 

[just-want-peace]

What doesn't make sense though is guys like LeBuick, alatide, etal. don't share in the power.

So are they in this just for the "freebies"?

And why do they trust that they will personally be ahead if they did get something from the government?

It's not like the government actually has anything to give other than what they take from others.

When did the average non-politician left leaning guy on the street fall under the spell of big government?

Agreed!!

What is so sad is that these types will find out AFTER their pet agendas are solidified by the left, and opposition is effectively destroyed, they will no longer be useful to the left and they will be no more "favored" than the average "righty" is presently; IOW they will join the ranks of the NON-ELITE" and be a part of the unwashed masses.

Won't be a surprise to the conservative, cause it's patently obvious - but to the liberal, that doesn't meet the status of "elite", it will be rank betrayal with much weeping and wailing after the devotion so lovingly given.

Sadly discernment and common sense are lost arts.

 

[OldRegular]

Those of you who are my age (mid 50's) probably can recall the books and movies from highschool and college that warned about big government.

Animal Farm
1984
Soylent Green
Farenheit 451

In the old days the left didn't trust the government.

In the old days the left believed that the government was the enemy and that the government wanted to keep the people down.

When was the left turned?

It isn't that the left did not like big government. They are, by nature, advocated of a dictatorial government; they are Marxists/fascists you know. It is just that they did not like any government in which Republicans had a major role.

 

[Aaron]

To echo the above post, the Left began to like government when they were running it.

The turning point was the end of the Cold War. Without a Socialist super-power military threat, the majority foolishly believe the world is now safe.

 

[alatide]

That may be true. But when did the average left leaning citizen decide to trust the government?

The government may be implementing what appears to be the agenda of the left but why trust that it is not merely about consolidating power for those in office and their cohorts?

The "public option" appears to be the new opiate of the people.

Seriously, when they began to realize that they would be collecting Social Security and Medicare in the not too distant future. From my own experience, people change when they start thinking of themselves as the "older generation). BTW, I'm a few years older than you.

 

[targus]

Seriously, when they began to realize that they would be collecting Social Security and Medicare in the not too distant future. From my own experience, people change when they start thinking of themselves as the "older generation). BTW, I'm a few years older than you.

I agree that there seems to be a tendency to look to the government for freebies once retirement approaches.

The problem with that way of thinking though is the demographics.

There are way to many babyboomers to expect the following generations to give us all a middle class life style in our retirement.

I am surprised that those who are looking for the government to provide for them are unable to do the math.

IMO - not trusting the government is a much healthier position to take than dependence on the government for our daily needs.

Still the "me generation" with a different meaning now.

The "me generation" used to mean - "I will do it my way - I don't need the government running my life".

Now it means "where's my free health care"?

 

[saturneptune]

I have been thinking about the statement Aaron made concerning the turn to place after World War 2. In a general sense, he may be right. Social Security started around that time. It may have been the start of a mindset that just gradually grew over the decades since. However, I do not think we had the Presidents that allowed the rampant liberal ideals to explode as have the Presidents starting with Bush the First (followed by Clinton, Bush the Second, and Obama

Truman was the first President of the Cold War, and I really do not think you can call him liberal in the sense of today. He insisted on honesty and was a fierce defender of this nation. President Eisenhower took us through a relatively calm period, but had no real liberal agenda. Kennedy had lots of conservative ideas, like cutting taxes.

The first real liberal was Johnson. He pushed through a lot of social programs, but not of the magnitude of today. As I stated earlier today, I thought the Voting Rights bill was justified. There was an eight year break in the liberalism with the Nixon/Ford years. The next liberal, Carter did such a bad job (ie Bush type) he only lasted four years, followed by the only real conservative in decades, Reagan. It is this point in time, Reagan to Bush, that the line up of consecutive liberal Presidents started. It has been going on twenty years now with no end in sight.

It is worthy to note, that Richard Nixon was the last President to govern before abortion was legalized. IMO, that makes a big difference in how the Lord deals with this nation.

 

[alatide]

I agree that there seems to be a tendency to look to the government for freebies once retirement approaches.

The problem with that way of thinking though is the demographics.

There are way to many babyboomers to expect the following generations to give us all a middle class life style in our retirement.

I am surprised that those who are looking for the government to provide for them are unable to do the math.

IMO - not trusting the government is a much healthier position to take than dependence on the government for our daily needs.

Still the "me generation" with a different meaning now.

The "me generation" used to mean - "I will do it my way - I don't need the government running my life".

Now it means "where's my free health care"?

I don't understand how you count Social Security as a "freebe." I've paid into it for about 35 years. That isn't free.

 

[targus]

I don't understand how you count Social Security as a "freebe." I've paid into it for about 35 years. That isn't free.

You paid in - but the money is gone. All that is there is IOUs. No doubt you were against the option for private accounts.

It's not just social security - it's medicare and Bush's senior prescription program.

Now it's universal health care.

Seniors join AARP because they want senior discounts.

The system isn't going to do be able to deliver though. Like I said there are too many in line to collect and too few to pay into the system.

Cap and tax is going to drag the economy down even more.

Don't be surprised when your social security payments are reduced, or taxed even more or both.

Don't be surprised if the retirement age keeps getting raised just enough to keep you from collecting.

The numbers are against you.

The smart thing to do at this point is to figure out how to do it without counting on the government because they will only disappoint you.