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RAILhead · Oct 16, 2006, 04:17 PM

This is hilarious to me: more and more Dems are coming out using the phrase "for the common good" to describe their positions and values. Common Good. It fits perfectly with their desire to make everyone an equal lemming, and it's funny to us that have always called Libs and (most) Dems "commies" for fun.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/10/16/D8KPTQSG1.html

I guess I'll have to start giving more of my disproportionally high income to the people who don't have the gumption or motivation I do once Big Brother gets into office in 2008.

itai195 · Oct 16, 2006, 04:21 PM

Yeah I know I've heard a similar phrase used elsewhere before

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

RAILhead · Oct 16, 2006, 04:25 PM

What's that have to do with anything? I'll tell you how I promote the general welfare: I tell lazy-arse hand-out-wanters to get a frakking job.

WELFARE PROMOTED.

Next!

itai195 · 04:34 PM

The point is that you're opposed to what you think Democrats mean when they say it, that's all.

RAILhead · Oct 16, 2006, 04:30 PM

Your post is pointless. I plainly said Dems are starting to use a phrase that hits home to their communist leanings. Nothing meaningless there.

itai195 · Oct 16, 2006, 04:31 PM

NO YOUR POST IS POINTLESS

What does it mean when Republicans use the phrase?

Chuckit · Oct 16, 2006, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

What's that have to do with anything? I'll tell you how I promote the general welfare: I tell lazy-arse hand-out-wanters to get a frakking job.

WELFARE PROMOTED.

Next!

"General welfare" and "common good" are more or less synonymous.

Wiskedjak · 04:47 PM

I guess George W. Bush is also a Commie.

President Signs Energy Policy Act
"I know the people in New Mexico expect people to go up to Washington, D.C. and work together for the common good. And that's exactly what this bill has done."

President Bush and President Musharraf Discuss International Relations, Commerce
"Our relationship is one where we work closely together for the common good of our own people and for the common good of the world."

February 8, 2004 - Meet the Press, online at MSNBC - MSNBC.com
"I'm working hard to unite the country. As a matter of fact, it's the hardest part of being the president. I was successful as the governor of Texas for bringing people together for the common good, and I must tell you it's tough here in Washington, and frankly it's the biggest disappointment that I've had so far of coming to Washington."

President Bush Meets with Indian Prime Minister Singh
"We're going to work hard as nations to address the root cause. Yesterday was an important statement. The reason I tell you that is that you'll find nations willing to work together for the common good here."

President Bush Presents White House Trees to Prime Minister Howard at Australian Embassy
"I really enjoy working with you for the common good."

National Volunteer Week, 2006
"the secret to America's success was our talent for bringing people together for the common good and our willingness to serve a cause greater than self."

BRussell · Oct 16, 2006, 04:45 PM

"Common Good" is a communist phrase?

Is that because they both begin with comm?

lpkmckenna · Oct 16, 2006, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

This is hilarious to me: more and more Dems are coming out using the phrase "for the common good" to describe their positions and values.

This is hilarious to me: a rambling forum post about a common expression used by all political stripes, not just communists.

itai195 · Oct 16, 2006, 04:47 PM

Well, see, the difference is that Republicans aren't commies... duh!

lpkmckenna · Oct 16, 2006, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by BRussell

"Common Good" is a communist phrase?

Is that because they both begin with comm?

Next thing, he'll accuse the Bible of being communist for stealing Karl Marx's phrase "from each according to ability, to each according to need."

lpkmckenna · Oct 16, 2006, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

I'll tell you how I promote the general welfare: I tell lazy-arse hand-out-wanters to get a frakking job.

Will you do that before or after kicking puppies?

Wiskedjak · Oct 16, 2006, 04:52 PM

For more evidence that Bush is a Commie, based on RAILhead's logic:
Search www.whitehouse.gov by keyword

BRussell · Oct 16, 2006, 05:13 PM

OK, it was a silly post, but we've all done it before.

Nicko · Oct 17, 2006, 04:08 AM

Powerbook · Oct 17, 2006, 04:52 AM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

This is hilarious to me: more and more Dems are coming out using the phrase "for the common good" to describe their positions and values. Common Good. It fits perfectly with their desire to make everyone an equal lemming, and it's funny to us that have always called Libs and (most) Dems "commies" for fun.

You only approve the typical prejudice that Americans have no clue what certain political terms, like e.g. "communism" actually mean. And even better you so openly admit that?! Now that's hilarious.

ebuddy · Oct 17, 2006, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by BRussell

OK, it was a silly post, but we've all done it before.

not me.

Kevin · Oct 17, 2006, 06:10 AM

Regardless of the ad-hominems RAIL made a point. Hillary often makes statements about things she knows America wont go for by calling it "The common good for the people"

That usually means raising taxes so the left can give your money you've worked for, to people that sit around there house and do nothing.

Do you know how many people I know that are on disability that have nothing wrong with them?

Atleast people aren't getting payed to be drunks like they were a few years ago. (Back a few years ago you could claim disability for being a drunk, and get payed to sit home and drink all day)

Of course, this was just something that was for the common good.

And it takes a village, and all those other buzzwords. I don't care who is doing it

Millennium · Oct 17, 2006, 06:16 AM

"The common good" is a meaningless term that basically reduces to whatever the speaker wants plus a little clever wordplay to make other people think they'll benefit too, whether or not they actually will. Politicians have been using it since ancient times.

Face Ache · Oct 17, 2006, 06:17 AM

Why do Republicans hate the common good?

Antisocialists.

Kevin · Oct 17, 2006, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by Millennium

"The common good" is a meaningless term that basically reduces to whatever the speaker wants plus a little clever wordplay to make other people think they'll benefit too, whether or not they actually will. Politicians have been using it since ancient times.

Yes but I was just referring to what the Left are using it for in the present tense.

ebuddy · Oct 17, 2006, 06:23 AM

Originally Posted by Face Ache

Why do Republicans hate the common good?

Antisocialists.

I certainly don't hate the common good, I just rarely see it being adequately provided by the government. What's good for you may not be good for me and too often it is those in government who know the least of what is good for the rest of us.

Anti-social? Maybe. I find that I appreciate my dog more every day.

zerroeffect · Oct 17, 2006, 09:00 AM

"It fits perfectly with their desire to make everyone an equal lemming"

Precisely why I don't side on politics or religion. Both seem to have shared goals.

voodoo · Oct 17, 2006, 09:04 AM

The British Commonwealth was actually the first attempt at worldwide communism and it would be controlled through communication and commercialism, which would be very common and complete.

V

ShortcutToMoncton · Oct 17, 2006, 09:30 AM

Hahaha. It's posts like this that brighten my day here on MacNN: staunch right-wing Christian conservative posts slightly incoherent, logically clueless post; people from all sides jump all over the painfully obvious flaws in his reasoning; Kevin joins in to defend said staunch right-wing Christian because, after all, she/he is a staunch right-wing Christian.

It's all downhill after this.

greg

Mithras · Oct 17, 2006, 09:34 AM

Yeah, good times, good times. *sniff* Times like these really makes me grateful for you guys, ya know?

Dakar² · Oct 17, 2006, 09:39 AM

Gold, Jerry, gold!

itai195 · Oct 17, 2006, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by Kevin

Do you know how many people I know that are on disability that have nothing wrong with them?

What kind of disability? Because Social Security is pretty hard to get, actually.

BRussell · Oct 17, 2006, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by ebuddy

not me.

Ha!

RAILhead · Oct 17, 2006, 11:53 AM

You guys are hilarious.

besson3c · Oct 17, 2006, 12:00 PM

Has anybody here seen my left shoe?

Dakar² · Oct 17, 2006, 12:02 PM

Check your left foot.

voodoo · Oct 17, 2006, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

Check your left foot.

I heard it was pretty good.

V

Monique · Oct 17, 2006, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Your post is pointless. I plainly said Dems are starting to use a phrase that hits home to their communist leanings. Nothing meaningless there.

Let's just say 40% of the U.S. is communist, so what. What does it changed in your life?

France had elected a communist government at one point and so what, life continued as it always was.

ironknee · Oct 17, 2006, 02:36 PM

boy people are getting desperate...try again

Wiskedjak · Oct 17, 2006, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Your post is pointless. I plainly said Dems are starting to use a phrase that hits home to their communist leanings. Nothing meaningless there.

And what does it mean when Republicans use the same term?

"the secret to America's success was our talent for bringing people together for the common good and our willingness to serve a cause greater than self" sounds rather Communist, using your logic.

tie · Oct 17, 2006, 02:39 PM

I don't know -- I'm a strong Bush supporter, but still don't follow how anyone could possibly be against the 'common good'? It is like saying you favor 'cut-and-run'ing. Are you a terrorist, RAILhead? You're starting to sound like one. If you're against the common good, I think you would have to be. Either that, or a Democrat, but then your post is all about how Democrats are for the common good (damn them). Maybe there is a Clinton angle I'm missing? If Clinton is for the common good, then I guess I'd have to be against it. It's too confusing.

Millennium · Oct 17, 2006, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by tie

I don't know -- I'm a strong Bush supporter, but still don't follow how anyone could possibly be against the 'common good'? It is like saying you favor 'cut-and-run'ing. Are you a terrorist, RAILhead? You're starting to sound like one. If you're against the common good, I think you would have to be.

Exactly. Even slavery could be said to work for the common good, as long as you limit your viewpoint to exclude the slaves. And in the end, that's the problem with the phrase: the 'common good' cannot exist unless you limit your viewpoint to exclude those who don't benefit and those who pay for it one way or another. It helps that there's usually a lot of overlap between these two groups.

olePigeon · Oct 17, 2006, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by Millennium

Exactly. Even slavery could be said to work for the common good, as long as you limit your viewpoint to exclude the slaves. And in the end, that's the problem with the phrase: the 'common good' cannot exist unless you limit your viewpoint to exclude those who don't benefit and those who pay for it one way or another. It helps that there's usually a lot of overlap between these two groups.

Don't forget to include the embryos.

Spliffdaddy · Oct 17, 2006, 05:27 PM

If you believe the government can help you - you're the definition of a loser.

Millennium · Oct 17, 2006, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Don't forget to include the embryos.

You're the one saying it, not me.

Millennium · Oct 17, 2006, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by Monique

France had elected a communist government at one point and so what, life continued as it always was.

France's government is structured in such a way that it's difficult to do much of anything at all, which is what enabled life to 'continue as it always was'. If you want an example of a more effective democratically-elected communist government, India has one.

itai195 · Oct 17, 2006, 06:57 PM

India has an effective government?

voodoo · Oct 17, 2006, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

If you believe the government can help you - you're the definition of a loser.

Depends. They can help you defend your country and protect your rights. That's basically their purpose.

V

tie · Oct 17, 2006, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by Millennium

Exactly. Even slavery could be said to work for the common good, as long as you limit your viewpoint to exclude the slaves. And in the end, that's the problem with the phrase: the 'common good' cannot exist unless you limit your viewpoint to exclude those who don't benefit and those who pay for it one way or another. It helps that there's usually a lot of overlap between these two groups.

Precisely! And slaves couldn't vote, either. Should gays be allowed to vote today? I think RAILhead might really be onto something here. If Bush is a communist, then should we still support the war in Iraq? Food for thought.

Millennium · Oct 18, 2006, 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by itai195

India has an effective government?

Insofar as they can actually enact Communist policies, yeah. This is, for example, one of the major reasons that labor there is so cheap (at least by US standards): the Indian government actually has strict regulations keeping wages low.