What was so crazy about McGovern?

[opebo]

Nothing, BRTD.  You know how the right-wing extremists like to label moderate liberals as 'crazy', when really they are the crazy ones.

[opebo]

I don't really see him from most of his views as much different than traditional center-leftists.

You are a fool. McGovern supported a minimum income for all Americans, and sharp cuts in defense spending during the Cold War.

Prefectly reasonable and moderate positions, Philip. 

In the first place, a minimum income is a compromise between laissez-faire, which your side supports, and elimination of the privileged status of the rich, which actual leftists support.

In the second, the cold war was mostly manufactured by the right for domestic political purposes.  We would have been perfectly find with a defense budget half as large as we had.

[opebo]

Prefectly reasonable and moderate positions, Philip. 

Shut up.

Your retort is feeble, Filip.

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So?  Nixon did too.

[opebo]

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So?  Nixon did too.

And? We're talking about moderate leftism today.

Yes, today is the day we are talking about it, but it hasn't changed since 1972, Philip.

[opebo]

I can't think of many prominent liberals who support price controls today, other than the minimum wage.

The political spectrum doesn't change just because certain people move up and down on it.

[opebo]

The political spectrum doesn't change just because certain people move up and down on it.

The "political spectrum" is not absolute; political views cannot be measured on an eternal and universal scale. Rather, they can be measured only relative to the views of others.

Exactly.  For example, support for gay civil unions is a pretty moderate view these days.  But back in 1972, even the idea probably would have got you exiled from society.

The political spectrum is moving all the time.

No, Emsworth and Joe, the spectrum does not move, people move upon it. 

[opebo]

On the one hand, the effect of such economic leftism is plain to see, just take a look at Germany's massive unemployment,

Keep in mind, angus, that to be unemployed in Germany is preferrable than the lifestyle of a whole enormous class of low-wage workers in the US - you'll see some of them when you go to WalMart next time.

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Not coincidentally, also the best.

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Ugh!  Please don't use those repulsive corporate terms!   Perhaps McGovern would have been a statesman rather than the 'CEO' which unfortunately most presidence since his day have been.