tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9138994904411225576.post4145375103571135354..comments2023-12-29T00:08:21.051-08:00Comments on fear of a red planet: America: From the mountains to ManhattanGilman Grundyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607416440240634159noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9138994904411225576.post-27991734679192060462012-06-01T05:32:10.771-07:002012-06-01T05:32:10.771-07:00"...it was slightly bizarre to hear the fears...<i>"...it was slightly bizarre to hear the fears expressed by some that the United States was becoming a socialist country."</i><br /><br />What accounts for the discrepency is the somewhat subtle disjunction between power and control; the Feds increase their power over U.S. society, but not their control. <br /><br />You can see this in the way the Left whinge about the sovereign debt crisis and the ratings agencies. It's not uncommon, for example, to hear them complain with all apparent earnesty about how little power the State has in a "free-market order" because the Feds got a downgrade after going $15 trillion into the red. <br /><br />Completely fucking <i>dada</i>.Mike Faganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08745281285031316740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9138994904411225576.post-25667465895450453482012-05-27T10:21:39.575-07:002012-05-27T10:21:39.575-07:00Well, Mr Grundy, a heartfelt welcome to our fair s...Well, Mr Grundy, a heartfelt welcome to our fair shores, belated though it comes! I'm glad as it sounds as though you enjoy(ed) your stay here. :D<br /><br />With regard to New York, though, my own experience is that the people there are (despite the stereotypes that many people hold to the contrary) some of the most courteous and most decent in the United States - though 'friendly' is not a word I would normally associate with them (unless you go further west in the state - for example, to Buffalo or to Syracuse).<br /><br />But yes, political opinion here is somewhat... well, 'bimodal' would be a bit of an understatement. My left-wing paleoconservative ('Blue Labour') views land me outside the mainstream of American political opinion, which tends to congregate either toward a mushy moderate social liberalism or toward radical economic rightism with social-conservative window dressing.<br /><br />Anyway, again, welcome back anytime, and please continue to keep abreast of your travels!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com