Devil's Advocate: Greed, Oil, and the Constitution

[DaveJ]

I know this is unusual, but let me play the devil's advocate for a moment.

The Constitution was created when we the U.S. had every natural resource necessary for the nation to thrive. However, at that time, we were not addicted to oil.

Doesn't it now make any sense to make an exception to the ideals established in the Constitution, and invade a few countries that nobody really cares about in order to continue our way of life?

My answer is that we can lessen the importance of oil by using alternative fuels and by competing strongly in the market. But people are greedy by nature, and like any other country we want to have an edge which means complete control of the world oil supply. Any other country would do the same if they could, wouldn't they?

Taking human life for greed is truly satanic, so that's what I mean be "Devil's Advocate."

Elections are won largely based on individual greed so we must confront this issue.

[Trillo]

1. It has been said for years that private money should be taken out of election

campaigns, and public financing substituted, but no matter how much it's talked about, and whatever laws are passed, the relative size of campaign 'war chests' are still an anticipated benchmark.

Among other things, I wonder what kinds of changes to the legislative process we would see if all lawmakers didn't need to pimp themselves out to the nearest or dearest money pit. Since we currently seem to have the best government money can buy, perhaps taking the money out of the equation would reempower the ideal of government advocating for everyone's rights, instead of only advocating for the rights of the special few that we seem to have today.

[flaminbats]

2. this is the theme of Carter's book, "America's Moral Crisis"

we must confront it, but should we accept it as an unchangeable reality?

maybe Democrats can't win without satisfying our national greed. since Reagan has been running, Republicans have promised voters everything. They promised we could spend more on our military than the rest of the world combined, they promised us the more taxes are cut..the more our booming economy will increase revenues, they promised to win by fighting terrorism with terrorism, they promised us less bureaucracy, they promised us less government waste, they promised to be compassionate conservatives, they promised to protect our liberty, they promised to treat liberalism as treason, they promised to be prolife, they promised to stop nation building, they promised to never police the world, they promised us a safer country, they promised to balance the budget, they promised us a better education system, and they promised to strengthen family values.

lowering taxes and increasing spending in the long run means raising taxes and cutting spending now. winning a war on terrorism while reducing government waste requires sacrifice from every citizen. But as Republicans love to say.."when a Democrat talks about sacrifice..LOOK OUT!"

maybe we should promise more than what Republicans do. No taxes, less inflation, universal healthcare, a cure for every disease, a ban on socialism, a democratic global empire, a stronger military, no sacrifice, a free lunch for every citizen, more capitalism, free gas, a cleaner environment, more and safer streets, free speech, revenge for every insult, guns for every citizen, an IRS that gives us printed money but never takes it, a banking system that treats every loan as an opportunity to pay the debtor not the investor, less regulation, more law and order, less responsibility, more accountability, an immigration system that hires all legal citizens and illegal immigrants, a government that treats a copyright as public property not as an opportunity to levy fines, and an education system that gives every child an A without imposing a single test.

VICTORY AT LAST, GOD BLESS AMERICA, UNITED WE STAND, DEATH TO TERRORISM, AND A HELL JUST AS NICE AS HEAVEN!

[KT2000]

3. After watching Who Killed

the Electric Car, I am convinced the oil industry in the US must be nationalized. They are controlling our ability to access alternatives. They will only allow alternatives they can control. It is a done deal. They are running this country, driving wars and other agendas that are for their benefit.

If we do not nationalize the oil industry in this country we will face devastation. The emormous power they have is used only to enhance their profits, without regard for the well-being of this nation.

[Thothmes]

4. Devils Advocate

We already did that, we invaded the country of the Comanches, the Lakota, the Cheynenne, Cherokee, Paiute, Crow, Blackfoot, Huron, Apache, Navajo, Hopi, Pima, and a few hundred others.