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Phil: It is the duty of the minority party to obstruct the majority. That is, if they genuinely think the majority is wrong they must obstruct. Being a minority leaves them little other option in the American system since the majority sets the agenda.

One other important piece of information, the Republicans are the majority in both the House and the Senate. The President is a Democrat. In the 2014 elections the public gave the Republicans this majority presumably to obstruct the programs of President Obama.

Unfortunately it creates a system where nothing ever gets done! I have to say that the will of the people in voting someone in on their policies

sorry, hit enter before I'd finished... the peoples will isn't materialised, just obstructed. What a waste of time and money. We sometimes have a similar situation in Australia but we do have the opportunity to call a double dissolution election whereby the people get to decide again. It's costly and risky. The main problem in the western world id that the democratic system itself needs an overhaul. The politicians have seen fit to work the system to their advantage but are now ignoring the will of the people. Their duty is not to obstruct, its to see legislation is fair and appropriate. They seem to have missed that part.

Hopefully some great minds will get together and come up with a better system and put it to the people. The world of today is very different from 200 years ago. Its time we had a political system for today not 2 centuries ago.

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I'll leave you with this thought. If we have a fair political system, it must surely want a fair society. In the western democracies, for the most part, the richer are getting richer at the expense of the poorer sections of society. It can't be right. In the US in particular it is evident that big business and the rich pay far less tax, avoiding their moral responsibilities to pay their fair share. At least around the world governments have had enough and want to put in place global laws that mean they pay the right amount of tax. The people are owed billions of dollars. It's like the corporate greed of the eighties all over again.

ding - phil yes.

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A few points: I'm sure I'll be branded a traitor for this, Phil & tuco, but there's a reason that the vast majority of democracies formed since the founding of the US went with a parliamentary form of government (Canada, Australia, etc.) There's a reason for that: parliamentary forms of government enjoy all freedoms that the US enjoys (despite what the American Exceptionalists think), but are able to move forward because of unity of leadership.

Second, too many Americans buy the hype, and vote against their own self interests. They don't know it, because they buy into the dark money advertising of the Koch brothers et al. I'm reminded of a diving trip we once took to Honduras. We met another couple of modest circumstances there who were appalled at the notion of national healthcare, DESPITE the fact that they were uninsured because they couldn't afford the $1500+ monthly premiums.

Third, Americans are great at hiding their heads in the sand, whether it be a true comparison with the rest of the world of our education system, our healthcare system, our governmental system, or gun injuries. It's sad, but we just don't add up. The Tea Partiers will say it's all because of government growth - but in fact, our tax rate is the same as it was in the 50s.

Finally, Phil, you're right, tragically right, about the rich getting richer, another point some Americans don't get (they're too busy quoting 250 year old politicians who are rolling in their graves now). It's tragic, the dumbing of American society. All you need do is look at the data of those who deny climate change, and those who believe in creationism.

I did not scroll down to read the entire discourse but suffice to say that Diane's biased (and painfully inaccurate) statements illustrate why America is trending down toward third world status. Diane, do yourself a favor and look outside Huffpo, msnbc and their ilk for news. Seriously, research the Koch brothers. You will find they are more liberal than your kool aid attendants tell you. Koch represents 1 'conservative' billionaire compared to the several dozen 'liberal' billionaires, whose intervention into American politics make the Koch brothers look like disinterested children.

kaosangel: if anything you said is actually true, then why are the bulk of the red states where conservative policies hold sway, in the worst shape in terms of economy, education, need for Government handouts, etc? Seems there is a disconnect between your research and reality.

Also yes, the koch brothers tend towards socially liberal policies, but they also don't care. They are doing all they can to give as much power to the wealthy and to corporations. It's a return to the robber barons of days gone by.

Lord...folks, I am completely uninterested in see long diatribes about politics on my favorite AM coffee web site. I am sure there is an app which can host your round table...I would appreciate not seeing it here. FWIW.

ik911, what would you like to see in the chat log? "ding"? "start"? "done?" If you don't like the chat, simply reduce the size of your screen, pulling it in from the right. Voila! Chat gone!

Diane, et al: I do want to give all of you credit for thinking, which does not happen often in the realm of political discourse. However, any discussion about 'what's wrong' that does not start and end with the finding that the US political system is a modified version of legal prostitution is a worthless waste of energy and time...and is surely NOT about 'fixing' what is broken. Until outcomes of the political process are detached from the influence of money...there will be no change in the manner which govt is administered...and it will not be about what is 'best' or 'needed' from a social POV or 'the responsibility of' government from a fiduciary standpoint. $0.02

What do I want? I am completely uninterested in bipolar discussions which point the finger from one side to the other, when both sides are engaged in the same egregious behaviour of, what I will call (PC) - selling out. Neither are exempt. Both are guilty. If that makes sense.

until the 'real issue' is addressed, which responsible people with the honest intent to 'make a difference' would be sole focused on...the rest...just hot air.

THat of course is my opinion.

an "I am right" conversation is different that "What is the problem" discussion.

Well, I AM RIGHT. Today's puzzle was easy.

Andy is right - Very easy. He has my vote!

Phil: A fair political system and a fair society. Interesting. A French economist pointed out that the state is that great fiction by which everyone tries to live at the expense of everyone else.

I suspect that Phil and Diane would probably agree that a fair government and fair society is one in which the state provides for everyone's needs.

Bastiat (the Fench economist) pointed out that the preamble of the US Constitution lists establishing justice as one of the primary duties of government, not providing for peoples needs.

A government the creates a set of laws that apply equally to all is all that we require. The rest is up to the people.

Phil and Diane both have a disregard for the lessons of the past and as George Santayana observed they are repeating it. They thing they are moving forward but all they are doing is repeating the mistakes of the past.

ng,ng Erdogen attacking Syria this week in order to stem the Kurdish insergency in Syria

Insurgency... prelude to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire triggered World War I.

Here we go again. A few chess pieces have switched sides but most all the same key players - Russia, Germany, France, Turkey, Great Britain + throw in So Asia, US as stalking horse, Middle East, China and voila we have a real World War.

Of course no one had thermos, never mind hydrogen bombs 1 to 2000 times more powerful than Hiroshima. Who will be the first to use them? Ya, vote Hillary, 2016/sarc

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Just glad to still be able to see my last post & your reponses Phil. I am glad to see other comments here, other than ding, go, done. There are brainiacs on this site, I <3 them all.

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My parents, who each fought the entirety of WWII from decision & sheer necessity, both who spent time, respectively, in Nazi POW camp, Lubyanka & Siberian labor camp, fought in Poish underground, Ander's Army (Monte Cassino), would, as far back as I can remember, watch the news on TV, Meet the Press . . . and constantly exclaim, in utter amazement, "How stupid do 'they' think the American people are?" They had to patiently explain to a 5 year old why Kennedy was killed, why there were thousands of black people at the Reflecting Pool. They shared the many atrocities they experienced and witnessed, all with the MOST important lesson: NEVER forget, NEVER let this happen again.

Oh, I should mention, my true name ends in "ski"

People today have a vastly different & individualized understanding of what the word 'Freedom' truly mean.

Dang, wish I could spell as good as them folks.

Helen, surely your true name ends in ends in ska ( as female )

EZPZ. It almost had an unneeded skew unique rectangle. 14.