Let's Think Together
Coincidence or By Design
Published on August 17, 2007 By ThinkAloud In US Domestic
I have been watching from the sidelines for a few weeks now. So many things are happening I can’t help but wonder what is going on. So much nonsense going on I can’t help but wonder where these people are living. In the same universe as the rest of the country?

The more I watch and wonder and go back in time I can’t help but notice a very sad phenomenon. Since early 1980's till now the country, our USA, have suffered several major setbacks and calamities. The list includes: Challenger's disaster, Savings & Loan fiasco, Iran-Contra affair, Successive maintenance -related refinery accidents, First Gulf-War, 9/11 Attacks/war in Afghanistan, Iraq war, Corporate malfeasance epidemic, Katrina-Relief disaster, Columbia disaster, Mine-collapse epidemic, Bridge-collapse/High-way failures epidemic, and now the Sub prime rate/Mortgage problem.

It is really a long list. I may have missed few other calamities. Looking at this list and the presidents in charge at the time the following is very obvious:

From 1981 to 2007 we had 8 years of Democrat's Administration and 19 years of Republican's Administration. All the above calamities occurred during those 19 years of Republican's Administrations. Is that a coincidence or there is an underline cause for that.

Before we can decide which it is, let's examine the root-cause of these problems:

Challenger, Columbia, Katrina-Relief and Bridge-collapse/High-way failures: Gov. Agencies failure in following safety and maintenance rules

Savings & Loan fiasco, Corporate malfeasance epidemic and Sub prime rate/Mortgage problem: Businesses failures in following sound and ethical practices

Successive maintenance -related refinery accidents and Mine-collapse epidemics: Business failure in following safety and maintenance rules

Iran-Contra affair and Iraq war: Foreign policy deceit and lies

First Gulf-War and 9/11 Attacks/war in Afghanistan: Foreign policy and Intelligence failures

Why do Gov. Agencies become incompetent and Bus. follow unsound and unethical practices during GOP administrations?

Is that a coincidence? or is it because GOP Administrations follow their declared and highly admired "Get the Government off our Back" policy?

What is more noticeable is the absence of conservatives’ out-cries about these problems. You would think that those intelligent, thoughtful and patriotic people would care and raise their loud voices and sharpen their biting tongues whenever any of these things happen. But that is not the case. I didn't see anything from the intelligent conservatives regarding the recent problems of mines' collapsing, bridges and high ways failing and lenders reeling.

Are these things normal according to the smart-people's way of thinking?

Does that mean if the simple uneducated fools/idiots come to their senses and let the smart conservative people govern and run the country on a permanent basis this will be the normal mode of operations? i.e. Let things run according to whatever suits the Business Owner and don’t bother Gov. Agencies with responsibilities and competency standards.

If that is not the case, where is the outrage of those intelligent people? Why are they ignoring these major failures on the part of Businesses and Gov. Agencies?

Comments (Page 1)
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on Aug 17, 2007
I'd be more interested to see who proposed the laws that govern all of the stuff you mentioned. Just because a republican sits in the oval office doesn't make existent laws suddenly non-existentent. If people vote a democrat in in 2008, things aren't going to suddenly change because of it.

What congress members voted on what? What was their party affiliation?

I don't know the answer, but the article itself describes someone who is ignorant about how government works. It's not all about the executive.

My opinion is that the vast majority of Americans, at any given time, would have no earthly idea what bills were on the floor nor what they all entailed. If you're going to blame someone, blame them.
on Aug 17, 2007
I don't know the answer, but the article itself describes someone who is ignorant about how government works. It's not all about the executive.


Typical smart/intelligent conservative's answer. when confronted with facts confuse the issue and start spinning things around.

If you are smart enough, as you are supposed to, you would know that it is not the laws, it is the implementation of the laws. Moreover, the Democrat's 8-year administration in the middle of this GOP sweep didnt face the same conditions? how come none of that happened during those 8 years?

The congress appoint the incompetent agencies' heads and supervisors? the congress refuse to allocate funds to maintain infrastructures? the congress tell agaencies to turn a blind eye to obvious violatations?

btw, congress was in GOP hands for 13 of the 19 yrs of gop administrations.

you sure know how Gov. works and not ignorant of the facts.
on Aug 17, 2007
The Republicans and the Democrats just like to blame each other. The Reps have the facts to show the Dems are responsible, and the Dems have the facts to show the Reps are responsible. Why? Because they're both responsible. Because they don't know how to run a country, only how to run for office.
on Aug 17, 2007
Because they're both responsible. Because they don't know how to run a country, only how to run for office.


I partially agree. However, it is noticeable that major troubles happen when there is a GOP in the white house. may be it is just their bad luck. but it is very strange phenomenon. i can't attribute all that to just bad luck.
on Aug 17, 2007
Who owned Congress during the years the democrat was in office?
on Aug 17, 2007
You also left out the first WTC bombing, USS Cole attack, Kobar towers attacks, the miserable attempts at fighting terrorism in the 90's.  Who was in charge then, I can't seem to remember? 


on Aug 17, 2007
Well, it's not his fault. He didn't know the definition of 'is', so he couldn't ask anyone what 'is' happening!
on Aug 17, 2007
Who owned Congress during the years the democrat was in office?


You still talking about the congress? the laws were there and they didn't change, congress has nothing to do with implementing existing laws. what is the matter with you? you are supposed to be smart, remember that?

You cant blame Congress , Republicans or Democrats, for the incompetence and mismanagement of ANY president.
on Aug 17, 2007
You also left out the first WTC bombing, USS Cole attack, Kobar towers attacks, the miserable attempts at fighting terrorism in the 90's. Who was in charge then, I can't seem to remember?


Also OKC, Ruby Ridge, Waco, Columbine...

The first could have been considered as much a security failure as anything, the next two were directly caused by crappy government policy, the last is an example of improper school security.

But it's mighty nice when we can point out the OTHER party's mistakes, eh? Would be nice if we could catch our OWN!
on Aug 17, 2007
Mine-collapse epidemic,


For the record, TA, mines have collapsed in every administration. 24 hour news networks just over sensationalize it.

And frankly, I have not seen ONE other person on JU besides myself who talks about the mine safety issues who has ANY idea what they are talking about. Underground mining is a different world, and unless you've been there, you have no farking idea what you're talking about.


on Aug 17, 2007
You also left out the first WTC bombing, USS Cole attack, Kobar towers attacks, the miserable attempts at fighting terrorism in the 90's.


First i am talking about misfortunes which happened at home not abroad.
Second, i am talking about all kinds of misfortunes and not necessarily terror-related ones. But you are correct regarding WTC bombing. Yes Clinton gets the blame for that failure. but the trend is still there.
on Aug 17, 2007
Underground mining is a different world, and unless you've been there, you have no farking idea what you're talking about.


you assume a lot. Don't you? i designed and managed major projects inside mines in Wyoming and Overseas Gid. you really dont know whom you talking to. just because i dont talk about what i do doesnt give you the right to assume that i dont know what i am talking about. The same goes for Refinaries btw. What i do and what i know is too important to talk about it here on a blog.

Also, i am not talking about crimes and voilence in general. This is another issue. I am talking about misfortunes due to administrations' policy failures that are not local in nature and have major impact on the country. You didnt see me listing Virginia Tech shooting or other similar incidents.

Oooh, I forgot. I am liberal, accordingly i am ignorant and dont know what i am talking about. yes you are correct. smart/intelligent/know-it-all man.
on Aug 18, 2007
you assume a lot. Don't you? i designed and managed major projects inside mines in Wyoming and Overseas Gid.


Then you've seen mine foremen hand out red tags to maintenance personnel and order all equipment red tagged and all stopes fenced off? Do you really expect George W. Bush to accompany MSHA inspectors personally on Air Force One?

I witnessed deliberate coverups by mine managament; coverups only the most nearsighted investigator could have missed. I attempted to report violations to the union, to MSHA, to OSHA, and in one particular case (illegal Mexican workers handling explosives post-9/11) to Dept. of Homeland Security. The failure does not fall on Bush or upon Congressmen, TA, it falls on the people entrusted to actually DO the job.

YES, Bush's administration has failures. But to imply that such failures were absent during Bill Clinton's tenure is to be completely oblivious to the facts.

Since it is apparent that you don't want to discuss here, but only engage in partisan attacks, I'll leave you to your thread. Too bad, TA, you're too intelligent to let partisanship grab hold of you like this.
on Aug 18, 2007
You didnt see me listing Virginia Tech shooting or other similar incidents.


Fair enough. But Waco and Ruby Ridge were direct failures of federal administrations directly under Clinton's watch. I'll take Columbine off the list if you take the Minn. Bridge (an incident "local in nature") off the list.
on Aug 18, 2007
Let me further clarify, TA. You say the GOP is responsible for gross incompetent and mismanagement. I say you're only HALF right.

How's that?
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