Asturian-American Migration Forum

Well, the Republicans have had full control over Congress and the presidency for five and a half years now (well, slightly less in the case of Congress). For years, they've been chomping at the bit to "let the market run things" and "lower taxes to stimulate the economy." How are we doing?

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Pues, los Republicanos ya han tenido el control completo del Congreso y la presidencia durante cinco años y medio (pues, poco menos en el caso de Congreso). Durante años, les ha estado devorando la impaciencia para " dejar al mercado controlar todas cosas" y "bajar los impuestos para estimular la economía". ¿Cómo hacemos?

How are we doing? Well if you are old, poor, or drive to a minimum wage job, not too good.The news showed Bush in New Orleans riding in the back of a truck looking for a bull horn moment. Give me a break.

That's a good question.

For years now our leaders have tried to convince us that we can cut taxes and government programs while preserving basic social services. Katrina uncovered the ugly reality of "compassionate conservatism": we have ignored the elderly, children, sick, poor, and low-wage workers. The resulting suffering and death is a catastrophic moral and political failure.

It's not just a Republican problem. I'm not sure it's even a true "conservative" problem. A real conservative would be angry about many of the things done in their name. And I'm sure we all know many former Democrats who have embraced this failed philosophy. Assigning blame isn't going to fix the problem. Besides, the history books will do that for us.

Instead, we must return to traditional American values, which include caring deeply about others and acting on that empathy. Katrina made it shockingly obvious that "everyone for themselves" doesn't work. Of course, Katrina hasn't blown greed off the map, so we've still got a huge struggle before us.

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Esto es una pregunta muy buena.

Hace años que nuestros líderes han tratado de convencernos que podemos bajar los impuestos y eliminar muchos programas de gobierno mientras conservamos servicios sociales básicos. Katrina destapó la realidad fea del "conservatismo compasivo": no hemos hecho caso a los ancianos, niños, trabajadores enfermos, pobres, y mal pagados. El sufrimiento y la muerte que resultaron son un fracaso catastrófico moral y político.

No es solamente un problema Republicano. Además no estoy seguro que sea un problema de los verdaderos "conservadores". Un verdadero conservador estaría enfadado sobre muchas de las medidas hechas en su nombre. Y estoy seguro que todos conocemos a muchos Demócratas recientes quienes ahora votan para los Republicanos y quienes han abrazado esta filosofía fracasada. La asignación de la culpa no va a arreglar el problema. Además, los libros de historia harán la asignación para nosotros.

En cambio, debemos volver a valores tradicionales americanos, que incluyen preocuparnos profundamente sobre otros y actuar sobre aquella empatía. Katrina lo hizo obvio de una manera espantosa que "cada uno para sí mismo" no funciona bien. Desde luego, Katrina no ha hecho que la avaricia vuele del mapa, entonces todavía nos queda una lucha enorme.

Now that things have quieted down, I just want to say that what happened in N.O. was nothing short of genocide. The total absence of assistance from the country's Government left people only the Law of the Jungle - everyone for himself. Those who couldn't fend for themselves, simply died.
Katrina has exposed the true face of savage capitalism, what they call neoliberalism, and if that's the model of society that Bush & Co. are trying to establish in the world, I'd much rather prefer shabby Russian Socialism.
Having said this, I'm very much afraid that GWB and his buddies are leading the USA into a labyrith without knowing the way out.

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Ahora que las cosas están más calmadas, quisiera decir que lo que pasó en Nueva Orleans fue ni más ni menos que un genocidio. La ausencia total y absoluta del Estado sólo dejo a la gente con la ley de la selva - sálvese quien pueda. Los que no pudieron salvarse por sí mismos, murieron.
Katrina ha mostrado la verdadera cara del capitalismo salvaje, lo que ahora se llama neoliberalismo, y ese es el tipo de sociedad que Bush & Cia. quieren establecer en el mundo, prefiero la vuelta del socialismo casposo de Rusia.
Dicho esto, creo que GWB y sus colegas están llevando a los EE.UU. a un laberinto, cuya salida desconocen.

Xose, I have been thinking a lot about your question, "How are we doing?" I have come up with this. You are working for less today than eight years ago. Health care has been cut for the poor, dependent children, older people. The new presciption drug coverage is a joke, this country is in debt up to it neck. Our young people are dying in Iraq every day. I have said it once, and I will say it again: To me it appears to be the beginning of the end of the middle class. Whatever you think of Bill Clinton, wages were up, gas was down, this country was not in debt, but most of all, I'll say it again, most of all, our young people were home.

I'd still like to hear from our Republican hermanos if they think the policies espoused by their elected leaders have made life better for Americans and the world....

Since we're not grinning about this topic or laughing at anyone, it's a little odd to see our smiling faces next to this discussion.

Bob send a link to an article that describes some very rich Republicans as very angry about Bush's policies on stem cell research, population control, the Iraq war, Hurricane Katrina, etc.:
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robe ... 0922.shtml

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Ya que no estamos sonriendo sobre este tema y no nos reímos de
nadie, me estraña ver nuestras caras sonriendo al lado de esta discusión.

Bob me envió un enlace a un artículo que dice que algunos Republicanos muy ricos son muy enfadados con la política de Bush sobre la investigación de la célula tallo, el control demográfico, la guerra contra Iraq, huracán Katrina, etc.:
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robe ... 0922.shtml

Actually I have been laughing my culu off at Tom Delay's current fall from grace....

It's about time that some fat cat feet were held to the proverbial fire.

Now if we can just get Frist on those insider trading charges.....