“When asked what the biggest story of 2013 was, besides Obamacare, Charles Krauthammer said it is how American social attitudes are becoming more libertarian.
“ ‘The swiftness with which attitudes have changed on gay marriage is simply astonishing,’ Krauthammer said.”
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The new rise in libertarianism is certainly creating a divide among conservatives. We’ll see if it somehow can be bridged come nomination/election time.
” A full 44% of libertarians say that religion is not important in their lives or that religion is not as important as other things in their lives. …… Additionally, libertarians are among the most likely to agree that religion causes more problems in society than it solves (37% total: 17% completely agreeing, 20% mostly agreeing) …
“These stark differences in attitudes toward religion help explain the large difference in view between libertarians and other conservatives on social issues such as abortion, physician-assisted suicide, and marijuana legalization. Given their positions on these contentious social matters, it is very difficult to envision Libertarians gaining the support of socially conservative voters in the Republican Party. …”
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That may not be the most important event, however.
With minor media attention:
For the long term, the fact that the IRS has entered politics by denying tax exemption to conservative 501(c)3 organizations may be the most significant. This brings a major government agency under the control of a political party.
That, along with the fact that Obama has ignored the Constitution numerous times with no repercussions has put us on the verge of one party – one man rule.
That’s what dictators do.
That, and the attempted prosecution of a Foxnews reporter, puts us on the verge of oppressive authoritarianism.
It can happen here.
In no particular order
– the coup in Egypt, mess in Syria
– the resignation of Benedict and the election of Francis
– the continued turn to renewable energy — wind in Denmark, electrical recharger for cars in Estonia, free solar panels for the poor in Peru. Despite the focus on fossil fuels in Canada and elsewhere, I do see the corner being turned.
In the US beyond the ACA, the right may have noticed the libertarian. turn but the activist left focus on bread and butter issues — inequality, student loans and minimum wages — has increased.
Sounds like Moore is using the typical leftist argument of “our plans didn’t work because we weren’t allowed to go farther” and “we weren’t given enough money/time/power.”
I think that the most significant worldwide story is that Third World countries are beginning to resist the promotion of perversion by the US and Western Europe. Both Russia and India have recently taken stands on this issue. Expect many developing nations to continue turning away from the perverted West. Watch what China does.
Wandering Views 
Here’s Krauthammer’s take, in part:
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/367348/krauthammers-take-other-obamacare-biggest-2013-story-rising-libertarianism-nro-staff
_______________________________________
“When asked what the biggest story of 2013 was, besides Obamacare, Charles Krauthammer said it is how American social attitudes are becoming more libertarian.
“ ‘The swiftness with which attitudes have changed on gay marriage is simply astonishing,’ Krauthammer said.”
________________________________________
The new rise in libertarianism is certainly creating a divide among conservatives. We’ll see if it somehow can be bridged come nomination/election time.
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And sort of on that topic:
http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/30/can-the-libertarian-republican-and-the-n
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” A full 44% of libertarians say that religion is not important in their lives or that religion is not as important as other things in their lives. …… Additionally, libertarians are among the most likely to agree that religion causes more problems in society than it solves (37% total: 17% completely agreeing, 20% mostly agreeing) …
“These stark differences in attitudes toward religion help explain the large difference in view between libertarians and other conservatives on social issues such as abortion, physician-assisted suicide, and marijuana legalization. Given their positions on these contentious social matters, it is very difficult to envision Libertarians gaining the support of socially conservative voters in the Republican Party. …”
____________________________________
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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/12/31/obamacare-birth-control-mandate-halted-for-catholic-group/
Prepare for liberal groups to start yelling that people are being “denied” birth control They refused to acknowledge the difference between denying something and not wanting to provide it. Tolerance is not longer enough. Affirmation is not longer enough. They now insist on participation.
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The top news story is Obamacare, obviously.
That may not be the most important event, however.
With minor media attention:
For the long term, the fact that the IRS has entered politics by denying tax exemption to conservative 501(c)3 organizations may be the most significant. This brings a major government agency under the control of a political party.
That, along with the fact that Obama has ignored the Constitution numerous times with no repercussions has put us on the verge of one party – one man rule.
That’s what dictators do.
That, and the attempted prosecution of a Foxnews reporter, puts us on the verge of oppressive authoritarianism.
It can happen here.
LikeLike
In no particular order
– the coup in Egypt, mess in Syria
– the resignation of Benedict and the election of Francis
– the continued turn to renewable energy — wind in Denmark, electrical recharger for cars in Estonia, free solar panels for the poor in Peru. Despite the focus on fossil fuels in Canada and elsewhere, I do see the corner being turned.
In the US beyond the ACA, the right may have noticed the libertarian. turn but the activist left focus on bread and butter issues — inequality, student loans and minimum wages — has increased.
LikeLike
Michael Moore in the NYT today
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Sounds like Moore is using the typical leftist argument of “our plans didn’t work because we weren’t allowed to go farther” and “we weren’t given enough money/time/power.”
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I think its more than that; basically he’s saying its not our plan, we support it only because it was better than the status quo.
An other important event in 2013 — Edward Snowden and the NSA revelations.
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Whose plan was it? Not a single Republican voted for it. Sorry, they are just going to have to own this.
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I think that the most significant worldwide story is that Third World countries are beginning to resist the promotion of perversion by the US and Western Europe. Both Russia and India have recently taken stands on this issue. Expect many developing nations to continue turning away from the perverted West. Watch what China does.
http://www.westerncounties.org/fwi/newsletter/0608.cfm
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kbells –I think you are confusing the Democratic party elite and Congressman with the left. They’re not the same.
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HRW, Who elected them?
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