"Partisan politics, so wrapped up in creating an antagonism between capitalism and government, misses the point. If we are to maintain ourselves as a republic, certain foundational principles of a republic must be upheld regardless of our economic structures.
They are: popular sovereignty (power to the people, not Wall Street or Washington); resistance to corruption (placing special interests ahead of the common good); a sense of the common good (all those things that we own and hold in common); and most of all
civic duty, citizen responsibility, and citizen participation."
Welcome to the American Republic, Mr. Eastwood
Partisan politics, so wrapped up in creating an antagonism between
capitalism and government, misses the point. If we are to maintain ourselves as a republic, certain foundational principles of a republic must be upheld regardless of our economic structures. They are: popular sovereignty (power to the people, not Wall Street
or Washington); resistance to corruption (placing special interests ahead of the common good); a sense of the common good (all those things that we own and hold in common); and most of all civic duty, citizen responsibility, and citizen participation. Mr.
Eastwood, being a dramatist, could have made quite a discussion with that chair concerning these qualities and whether we all, not just the president, live up to them. The convention arena would have been even more dumbfounded, doubtless to the point of silence.
Planet of the Blind 
John Stewart’s monologue about Eastwood and the Repubs was priceless — less sobering than the quote you’ve posted, but certainly good for a deep and sustaining belly laugh.
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OK, I read the following article about Romney’s planned actions when he’s elected president. From this, I’ve decided that it’s better to lean in the right direction with Obama, then hurtle from any semblance of protections for the common man along with Romney.
“The strength and power and goodness of America has always been based on the strength and power and goodness of our communities, our families, our faiths,” Romney said in his speech at the Republican National Convention this week.
It sounds so noble, but then I think about the decisions that some communities, families and faiths have made in the past without sufficient government oversight regarding civil rights, fair employment practices, etc. Remembering gives me the heebie jeebies.
Read more here:
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/01/4778583/romney-lays-out-ambitious-agenda.html
So what can I do? I can at least vote responsibly to put Obama back in office. Will the rest of the country? Now that the Republican convention is over, SuperPacs bent on electing Romney can let loose its war chest that is filled with anonymous contributions. It even makes the Republicans nervous!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/30/campaign-finance-disclosure_n_1837841.html
We need campaign finance reform that provides both full disclosure and meaningful spending limits that level the playing field or we are lost.
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I agree with Gary Hart’s comments on Huffington Post. The evidence is all around us that, in the United States of America, the interests and the very minds of the common man increasingly are being marginalized and manipulated to benefit the interests of people who can afford to buy influence. But what, in God or Whoever’s name, is the way out? Our “free” and all-too-easily deceived republic is exacting a very heavy price on our futures
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