Disqus - Latest Comments for Dymero

Re: Is Democracy Always The Best Option ?

Dymero — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:58:18 -0000

I think it depends on both the social and economic situation in the country. You can't have a centrally planned economy without having a high degree of authoritarianism, people to enforce this planning, and maybe even a dictatorship.

Just as much you can't have an extremely socially conservative country like Saudi Arabia without the moral police to enforce the social mores. You're more likely to have also dictatorship or monarchy in this kind of situation.

Patrick: For your question about Iraq and Afghanistan, I think there's a case to be made for a strongman or a democracy. Without knowing more about the exact social situation in both, it's hard to tell. But generally, if the government is expecting an extreme following of a strict social code (such as sharia), only a strongman would be able to effectively enforce this.

I do know that for Afghanistan, anyway, an already rather conservative society was made even more conservative when the Taliban come along. They were good at what they did while in power, even if not necessarily accepted. In a country embracing a more liberal social culture, the Taliban would have no power.

Look at Iran. We know for a fact that the younger generation at the very least is looking for some sort of change. If the Mullahs are not worried now, they should be. When the generation leading this summer's rebellion starts to gain power of their own, the Mullahs will lose power, and perhaps the theocracy will become a democracy of some flavor.

Re: N. Korea Abandons Communism

Dymero — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:40:21 -0000

There is something to be said about that, Leonidas. It seems a lot of the countries that once held straight-arrow communist ideologies are changing. North Korea has been more a totalitarian monarchy than communist for a long time.

Then you look at China, which is increasingly developing into an authoritarian capitalist society.

Even Russia is backtracking in a more authoritarian route than a communist one.

Re: Return of the Franking Sign Monster

Dymero — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 14:32:01 -0000

Okay. The way you worded it made it seem like you thought the Democrats were being hypocritical for not censoring Pelosi but now censoring Republicans.

Re: Return of the Franking Sign Monster

Dymero — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 11:44:11 -0000

While I agree with your point, Jazz, your 2006 example seems to be out of place since Republicans held control of Congress until January 3, 2007...

Did you mean 2007?

Re: Now, Isn’t This Interesting

Dymero — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:47:53 -0000

My experience on Medicaid is that there is LESS, not more, choice in doctors. At least in my state, doctors who don't want to participate do not have to. Many don't, because the state pays far less than private insurance would.

Stories of people having to go halfway across the state to see a certain specialist who accepts the Medicaid plan are not uncommon.

Re: End the Handshake Horror

Dymero — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:01:52 -0000

I'm all for cleanliness, but there is (possibly) a danger in our growing obsession with being germ free every second of the day. One of my medical conditions, Crohn's Disease, is thought to be caused at least in part by our increased attention to hygiene. You tend to see it more in countries that are more hygienic (like the U.S. and Europe) than those that don't.

There's nothing wrong a handshake followed by turning to some other activity. Just don't start sticking your hands in your mouth afterward. And do wash your hands, but don't be obsessive about it.

Re: House Narrowly Passes Nonexistent Bill

Dymero — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:46:15 -0000

Any time a lefty defends the passage of a Dem bill that no one read, I'm going to say two simple words: Patriot Act.

Re: The Millennial Generation

Dymero — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:08:39 -0000

I came of age during the middle of W's presidency. What does that make me? I consider myself a moderate in some cases, but also have fairly wildly ranging views, some conservative and others liberal.

So I'm not sure the "you are who your president was" theory always holds out.

Re: Jack Kemp Dies: Friends And Foes Remember “Big Tent” Republican Conservative

Dymero — Sun, 03 May 2009 17:59:47 -0000

Wow. Quite some vile comments here. Don't conservatives usually pride themselves on showing more respect toward the recently deceased?

Re: Memo To Republicans: A Pure Minority Is Still A Minority

Dymero — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:36:38 -0000

"I don't think the internal split in the GOP is going to be resolved until the moderates find a way to address the concerns of the social conservatives. Personally I think the best compromise would be to support the language of state sanctioned marriage being changed to civil unions, which would then be open to both homosexual and heterosexual couples."

"Regarding abortion too, the platform should support meaningful but Constitutionally sound restrictions on abortion, while also promoting practices that can help reduce the demand for abortions."

Agreed.

Wait, does this mean I'm a Republican under your vision? :)

Re: Memories of Election 2008

Dymero — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:26:38 -0000

High point: The debates. Despite their flaws, I always enjoy them. I thought each candidate had their shining moments during them.

Low points: All the mudslinging. I was disappointed by Senator McCain's decision to try to pander to the red meat crowd with baseless insinuations of inappropriate relations with terrorists and criminals. However, I was equally disappointed when Obama responded in kind by bringing up the clearly pre-prepared 13 minute movie on the Keating scandal.

Low point 2: Bob Barr not getting on the ballot in Connecticut. It was the above things that pushed me to him, and his non-inclusion essentially made my vote only symbolic.

Re: Jon Stewart Rips Obama on Troop Insurance

Dymero — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:36:42 -0000

Me and Christine don't often agree, but here I agree wholeheartedly. It was a failure of intelligence by both administrations. I suppose where we might disagree is how that intelligence was handled, though I don't know her opinion on that (Google Downing Street Memo).

DQ, I now await your characterization of me as a right-wing neocon.

Re: Jon Stewart Rips Obama on Troop Insurance

Dymero — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:11:55 -0000

Haha, Don. Interestingly, Michelle Malkin and co. routinely do the opposite of what you're doing here. For example, they say that John McCain does the same thing...for Democrats.

Re: Considering the Who and How of Criticizing Israel

Dymero — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:00:20 -0000

That's exactly what Pete said in his article. Not so much the exact wording of "closing of ranks", but the effect to the cause of an outsider's criticism is inferred.

Re: Am I a Genius?

Dymero — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:48:31 -0000

I'll switch back to a dairy rich diet when I don't get gastro problems from it. In the meantime, I'll take the calcium supplement.

The article, of course, doesn't talk about what happens when you don't properly absorb some vitamins. I could eat all day to get those extra vitamins, but that's not practical.

Re: A long time ago, in a blogosphere far, far away...

Dymero — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:42:53 -0000

It was odd humor, then. I didn't see the joke in there. Perhaps he hasn't seen your bio, or if he has, didn't know all the details. And it wouldn't be the first time I've seen someone give entirely different accounts of their life in separate postings. The Internet is horrible at transmitting jokes when they're not either well written satire or the emotion you wish to represent is clearly in context.

Anyway, welcome David. Also, some Republicans really don't get it...at least of the Congressional flavor. Then again, neither do the Congressional Democrats.

Re: Shocking! Roland Burris lied about Blago offers

Dymero — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 01:24:26 -0000

Rell stills retains some fairly high ratings.

Re: Thank you Joe Lieberman

Dymero — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 03:53:05 -0000

And this is why Lieberman would never really have been welcomed into the Republican fold. Just look at the conservative bloggers' fury against the three that did join the Dems.

Re: Bill O'Reilly insults Helen Thomas after just one Obama presser

Dymero — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:10:41 -0000

YouTube going overboard on the audio muting again?

Edit: No, it's just me.

Re: Saturday Night Live Lampoons Reid Pelosi On Stimulus Plan

Dymero — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:24:15 -0000

fred: I suppose you mean after all the segments that made her look like a complete idiot? And with the same kind of caricaturing that they're doing here with Reid and Pelosi.

I'm glad SNL is hitting all sides. It's all too often that comedians only play one side or another. Though I'll give Jon Stewart credit for hitting the media no matter who's being stupid.

Re: Is New Rochelle School Crossing The Line To Politicization With Pro-Obama Project?

Dymero — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:37:57 -0000

Apparently I was failed by the uber fascistic Democrat Muslim Communist scheme because I grew up to hold some liberal and some conservative views, consider myself somewhat of a cynic of government involvement, but love my country nonetheless. And I went to public school and a college filled with liberal professors.

Re: The Curse of the Black Trashman

Dymero — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:00:22 -0000

So are you saying that you're a typical white guy? :)

Re: The Obama Pledge Video

Dymero — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 03:15:16 -0000

To be fair, they could have left Obama out of it entirely and it would have still gotten the message across.

Re: Obama Gets His Mega-Secure BlackBerry

Dymero — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:18:23 -0000

DLS, it doesn't matter what generation he is chronologically. What matters is how he acts. Both my father and his brother seem to cover the period (though some arguments have 1961 as the end date, so Obama would be on the border). Yet, in personality, they are very much Gen X. They grew up mostly in that era. Obama may be BB by birth, but daily life wise, he's very much Gen X.

I have two cousins that are, by birth, Gen Y, Millennials, whatever. But daily life wise, they'll be part of the next generation.

I think a person really exemplifies a generation if they actually grew up with a majority of it.

Re: Obama Dumps Straight Jacket Of Bush Office Jacket Rule

Dymero — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:05:22 -0000

Missing: Anything on his desk. I mean, I know it's his first day and all, but it looks like he's been slacking!