The upcoming political implosion...

[kentuck]

This cannot continue. The politics in this country is building up the political Parties for a great fall - with great disappointment and outward animosities.

The issues are no longer relevant. The only thing that matters is which side are you on? I am sure this very Internet, on which we communicate, shares a big part of the blame. The media does little to educate or inform their followers.

What happens when the next election is over? If Romney wins, do the Democrats take it in stride, as they did when George W Bush took power in 2001? Or do they internalize the results by attacking each other?

If Obama wins, how do the Republicans handle it? It's difficult to see how they can get much more reactionary but I'm sure we will all be surprised by their threats and actions. They plan on winning or else? They will not accept 4 more years of Barack Obama.

Little will be resolved by the next election. Our hope is that the voters of this country try to resolve their differences at the ballot box and not at the bullet box. Neither Party is willing to surrender their fortified positions. We can only hope that the voters send many of them home this next election, so they can study on the havoc they have created...

[spin]

1. Some fringe groups might decide to resort to bullets. ...

However they will fail as they lack the support of most citizens in our nation. They will be squashed like bugs.

Unfortunately this might lead to further efforts to implement draconian gun laws. If successful that may create support for a movement to overthrow our government. It is faintly possible that we might see another civil war.

The biggest problem in our nation is that both political parties refuse to compromise and instead prefer to simply throw insults at each other. Consequently we make no headway on the problems we face.

I feel that it is quite possible that eventually the citizens will show up at the polls to kick all or many of our current politicians out of office. This might result in a short term disaster and we will lose many competent leaders. Over the long run it might work but it would take several election cycles.

Our elected representatives have to realize that time is running out and that they need to discover the art of compromise. We face many tough decisions in the near future. It's time for those we elect to grow up and stop fighting like unsupervised children in a playgoer.

[Bandit]

14. The biggest problem in our nation is that both political parties refuse to compromise

Where have you been for the last four years? The Obama wars have been epic, mainly because of all the compromise the Democrats (Obama) have made..Republicans have not compromised on anything PERIOD while the Democrats have Compromised on EVERYTHING..Our health care bill better known as Obamacare was written by the Republicans, The Stimulus bill was only a third of it's original concept because of Republican objections..What haven't the Democrats compromised on?

[Jackpine Radical]

21. Thanks for saving me the effort of writing exactly the same thing.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

28. I agree with both of you

[spin]

37. I will agree that the main obstacle to making progress in our nation ...

is the Republican party especially after the Tea Party pushed Republicans far to the right.

[randome]

2. What you're bascially saying is that you can't see the future.

[kentuck]

6. I can't see a future without a lot of political turmoil..

no political resolution.

[KharmaTrain]

3. Democrats Are In Better Position To Lose...BUT...

While it virtually unthinkable around here that President Obama can lose to these robber barons, I am not in that camp. I recall all too clearly past elections where something has seen things go from penthouse to outhouse on election night. I NEVER take an election for granted and no one else should either.

That said, the Democratic party is broad-based and diverse with a large base of ideas and possible leaders. A loss wouldn't be a repudiation of what Democrats stand for as much as the power of money and corruption in the body politic. Who would emerge? I wouldn't venture to predict at this point but there are many good young leader in the party that will not splinter should there be a loss in November.

I can't say the same with the rushpublicans. We're already seeing a big split with the "establishment" and the fundies with this Akin fiasco. Then you have the Paulbots who we WILL be hearing from next week and it may just piss in Willard's cornflakes. Imagine if the Democrats had a revolt from the NAACP or Emily's List in the run-up to an election...that's what's happening right now with the rushpublicans.

Should Mittens lose look for all blame to be thrown at him...being the awful candidate that he is. The real fun will be if they lose the House and don't take the Senate. That's where the knives will come out at the fundies are sure to blame the teabaggers who will blame the "GOP-e" who will blame the Paulbots who will blame everyone but themselves (that's who they are).

If the rushpublicans maintain control of the House, yes...we're in for 2 or 4 more years of gridlock and obstructionism. My hopes are the rushpublicans have screwed their "brand" so thoroughly with so many groups this year that retaking the House is possible. It will take a lot of elbow grease...phone banking, door knocking and then getting people to the polls on election day.

Cheers...

[kentuck]

7. Good points.

[Shankapotomus]

4. I would like to see a peaceful

dissolution of the union. There's really no reason to fight about it. We are just not compatible. I think both sides should just agree to go their separate ways. Red states go to conservatives. Blue states go to liberals. Any liberals or conservatives living in the wrong state can have a much time as they want to move out or until they can't bare it anymore. We retire the name "United States" so there is no bickering over who gets the title and each side comes up with their own new designation.

I suggest "Concordia" for the liberal states.

[plethoro]

19. I think there actually may be something to

what you are saying. I can see it conceptually but not graphically. What would be the new alignment of States (if they remain States)? Whatever, we can't go on living like this in a state of perpetual worry and fear, briefly interrupted by Dancing With the Stars. My wife and I are now talking about moving out of the country when she retires next year. And if Romney is elected, that is what we will do. Romney is bad enough himself, but Ryan is a virtual monster. I work daily making bumper stickers and signs on Zazzle which I then distribute through a network I have developed over the years. I am on a personal mission to see that Romney and Ryan do not get elected. But, regardless, are the differences between the two parties too deep now for any kind of resolve? I think so...

[Brigid]

23. Read this:

"Better Off Without 'Em: A Northern Manifesto for Southern Secession" by Chuck Thompson. Just published this summer. It's a great read.

[Shankapotomus]

25. Will check it out

Thanks!

[HiPointDem]

5. No, elites are pitting people against each other to take the heat off their own crimes. Using fake

issues, while they complete their robbery of people's property, livelihoods, civil rights, health & lives.

[CabCurious]

10. Yes and no

It's definitely not just about the elites.

Take the simple fact that the white majority will become a minority in the coming 20-30 years. The great American sense of entitlement and "we're #1" identity is at stake, as well. Many Americans just do not accept the change that's coming.

[HiPointDem]

13. obama got more of the white vote than clinton. it's not about being a minority, it's about losing

economic power -- and that includes black, white, hispanic -- almost everybody.

under those conditions, racial or other divisions loom much larger. and those issues are deliberately being ginned up.

[CabCurious]

15. This isn't about Obama... and it doesn't matter what "proportion" he got in 2008

There is a LARGE number of white americans who really, genuinely can't handle that this country appears to be falling from grace and becoming non-white. Whether they even realize they feel that way is another matter altogether.

I'm not even talking about explicit bigotry.

[HiPointDem]

24. there's a large number of americans generally who can't handle that the country appears to be

falling apart, that they themselves are losing their livelihoods, savings, etc.

maybe some of the blame it on a black guy in the white house.

BUT MOST DON'T. That's just spin because we aren't supposed to talk about the real reasons things are falling apart, which is that the ruling class WANTS THEM TO FALL APART.

[CabCurious]

33. I agree.

We're not going to see the vast majority of even working class conservative whites rising up in violence or something.

I do think we're going to see hate crime rates continue to increase through the century. I do think we're going to see increasing tensions and nativist arguments. I think we could even see blatant, traditional fascist nationalism rise in some areas (and I mean the real kind, like in Europe, not just obnoxious insinuation).

Our bigger problem, here, is with our commercial media and whether we can raise ourselves above the sensationalist sophistry.

[CabCurious]

8. Many of us have been saying this for 20 years already...

And this wasn't the "big one" in terms of this century's fiscal crises.

[kentuck]

9. What do you mean?

Is the storm over? We have survived it?

[CabCurious]

11. Oil

We may be in a very long chain of global recession. However, I'm imagining a deeper crisis involving oil instability.

Our entire modern civilization is run on oil. Gasoline and plastics.

There is going to be an energy panic at some point that will cripple the world in a way we've never imagined. I don't think it will be apocalyptic, but I think it will be crippling. And I think many economies will simultaneously lose faith in financial institutions which the USA has unfortunately allowed to become the dominant sector.

[kentuck]

12. Peak oil

But now they have found a 100 years worth of natural gas to further continue the destruction of our planet. But, industry cannot run without energy. Good point.

[CabCurious]

16. Natural gas can help the US adapt, but...

It certainly won't keep diesel engines running or help us make plastic.

We have no alternative but to invest in renewable energy. I suspect we'll adapt a lot faster than many other nations can, when it is forced upon us.

[Bluenorthwest]

29. Rudolf Diesel's engine ran on peanut oil...

Not all diesel fuel is petro diesel. To make diesel fuel, you do not need petroleum.

[CabCurious]

35. I just learned something... and it scares me

see my comment below.

[hunter]

31. Converting natural gas to gasoline, diesel fuel, and plastic is a well established technology.

For example, this in the Wall Street Journal:

Shell Weighs Natural Gas-to-Diesel Processing Facility for Louisiana

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304072004577323770856080102.html

This is a bad thing because it will make the economic crash much worse if fuel production is competing directly with electric power generation and plastic manufacturing.

Worse, estimates of our natural gas reserves are probably fraudulent. There's too much money going into fracking up front, and the people profiting now are not the same people who will suffer the consequences if the environmental costs prove to be overwhelming and production does not reach these "enough for 100 years" expectations.

[CabCurious]

34. That lowered my blood pressure... and then raised it even higher.

I wasn't aware of how natural gas could be processed into diesel!! Wow.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/09/news/economy/natural-gas-diesel/index.htm

On the one hand, it means we can better survive against oil scarcity and the inevitable panic.

On the other hand, it means we're going to see the energy powers continue to push aside renewable energy for deregulated gas development (fracking, etc). The fact that they can BANK on this cheap gas for future diesel production is incredibly eye-opening and disturbing!!!!

[kctim]

17. The important thing to remember

"Little will be resolved by the next election" for far-right conservatives and far-left liberals/progressives. No matter who wins, the losing side will spend the next 4 years whining and predicting the end of our country.

Republicans and Democrats however, will continue to work together for the betterment of our nation, which can only come if ALL Americans are represented.

[ewagner]

18. Applies more to the Republicans than Democrats...

the Republicans have gone "all in"...and there is no turning back as far as they are concerned...I don't know what they'll do if they lose...I've seen facebook pages urging people to arm themselves against the eventuality that Obama will win....

If Obama wins things will be rough for him and for us for the next four years.

[vlyons]

20. Troll alert

Both parties have not been obstructionist, and Dems have NOT been unwilling to make reasonable compromises on positions.

[randome]

22. You're right in your post but not necessarily in your subject line.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

26. Whatever happens, happens. It's out of our hands if it's that bad.

I just hope that I can live out the next 50 to 60 years (if I die of natural causes) comfortably through whatever may come.

[kenny blankenship]

27. "Neither Party is willing to surrender their fortified positions"

I don't know what Democratic Party you've been watching...

[Bluenorthwest]

30. I can not agree with you that 'both parties refuse to compromise'

If I didn't know your posts, I'd call that a Republican patter line....

[kentuck]

36. Who said that??

'both parties refuse to compromise' ?

[just1voice]

32. It's most people's own brainwashed faults for believing the media

I posted a recent article about it:

http://www.alternet.org/election-2012/media-hacks-why-our-national-press-corps-failing-public-abysmally?page=0%2C0

---You want a serious debate about the issues? Good luck!

...we appear to have entered a new environment, one that Dave Roberts of Grist described as an era of “post-truth politics” – “a political culture in which politics (public opinion and media narratives) have become almost entirely disconnected from policy (the substance of legislation).” ---