Randy Cassingham's Blog

Posted by Anthony, Australia on July 21, 2011:

It is always a good sign that you are on the correct track if you are being attacked from both the ideological left and ideological right.

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Yeah, I know. The complainer's don't, though. -rc

Posted by Michael, Florida on July 21, 2011:

I'm with Anthony of Australia--when describing THIS is TRUE to others, I tell people that you are "an equal opportunity offender". I find that to make you a more trustworthy source since I know you don't have an ideological agenda to grind. It's also why I liked "Bloom County" in its day and don't care that much for "Doonesbury".

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Sniff. I really miss Bloom County. It was brilliant. -rc

Posted by Michael in Maryland on July 21, 2011:

I'm confused about something. How does Senator Joseph McCarthy get blamed for the idiocy of the House Committee on Un-American Activities?

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I think it's rather clear I'm talking about the McCarthy era that most people are generally aware of. It's made even more clear in the linked Honorary Unsubscribe writeup. -rc

Posted by Jayson, Toronto on July 22, 2011:

Traditionally Liberal is the Centre, Conservative the right and Socialist the left. Every week there is always something I am learning from your writings Randy. Some is tongue in cheek which matches my humour style and some I feel compelled to pass along the topic to friends. Recently I have been wondering why there isn't the 3 parties in the US, apparently at one time there was. Making a 3 dog race would be a better benefit for Americans to choose the best of the bad bunch than between 2. Now I read about the Red Scare, was the Socialist Party swept up in this as well?

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In addition to the Democratic (est. 1828) and Republican (1854) parties, there are a lot of "third" parties in the U.S. that are recognized on a federal level. Just a sampling: America First Party (2002), American Nazi Party (yeah, really; 1959), American Third Position Party (2010), Christian Liberty Party (1996), Communist Party of the United States of America (1919), Freedom Road Socialist Organization (1985), Freedom Road Socialist Organization (1985), Freedom Socialist Party (1966), Green Party of the United States (2001), Labor Party (1996), Libertarian National Socialist Green Party (1997), Libertarian Party (1971), Modern Whig Party (2008), National Socialist Movement (1974), Objectivist Party (2008), Party for Socialism and Liberation (2004), Peace and Freedom Party (1967), Progressive Labor Party (1961), Prohibition Party (1869), Revolutionary Communist Party USA (1975), Socialist Equality Party (1966), Socialist Party USA (1973), Socialist Workers Party (1938), U.S. Marxist-Leninist Organization (1981), United States Marijuana Party (2002 Duuuude!), United States Pirate Party (2006), and the World Socialist Party of the United States (1916). Whew! That's maybe half of the list I found. I haven't even heard of a lot of those.

Most Americans would abhor a good number of these parties (e.g., Nazis), so it says a lot about how much we believe in Freedom of Speech that they're officially recognized here. But having a party is one thing; having enough support to get a candidate on the ballot is another. -rc

Posted by Mike, Florida on July 22, 2011:

I think Jayson, Ontario is referring to 3 parties that all have long-term traction. In the U.S., only 2 have had long-term traction; the Democratic Party and the Republican Party (which basically replaced the Whig Party when it fell apart). The only third party that seems to have any long-term traction are Libertarians, and they've got a ways to go before they become a significant force, much less field a President. Most third parties have had a very narrow appeal or were formed/driven by a single individual (like Ross Perot's "Reform" Party, 1996).

I know you couldn't list 'em all, Randy, but I don't think the list would be adequately representative without the mention of Teddy Roosevelt's Progressive Party (1912), aka "The Bull Moose Party". It didn't have a long-term impact either, but it definitely was colorful. :-)

Posted by Mike from Dallas on July 22, 2011:

But you don't understand. Back then, such blacklisting was a result of imagined fears of communism while, today, it's a result of very real fears of terrorism. Of course, it's always "different" when it comes to people's perceived fears.

Witness the backlash of opinions from the Casey Anthony trial. "The system has failed; we must resort to mob rule and lynchings."

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I assume you're being facetious, since it's not at all different: fear of the Boogeyman of the Week. Insert "Communists", "Nips", "Gooks", "Liberals", or the current one, "Terrorist". Once that is solved, there will be another one -- trust me on that! I just hope it's not "Space Alien"! :-) -rc

Posted by Mike from Dallas on July 22, 2011:

My bad; yes, I was being facetious. I'm still amused that it's irrational hysteria when it's "your" imagined fears, but it's solid social concern of "my" fully justified fears. Either way, both seem to advocate throwing out the protections of the Constitution and law to suit us who are absolutely convinced of the sanctity of our causes.

Contempt of Congress? For invoking the 5th Amendment? And such a charge by the very group who WRITES the laws based upon the document containing such Rights.

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My impression is, the doctor didn't invoke the Fifth, but rather refused to testify. Invoking the Fifth is not supposed to imply guilt, but it does. So many don't want that taint, and refuse to use it when they're not guilty. -rc

Posted by Patrick, Chicago on July 22, 2011:

Clarification; "Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." --attributed to Edmund Burke, Irish statesman (1729-1797).

Sigh.

RC, FYI, it's Jorge Santayana who is known for his comment: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it",Reason in Common Sense, volume 1 of The Life of Reason,

Born in Madrid, December 16, 1863; died September 26, 1952, in Rome.

Burke's was:there are none so deaf as those that won't hear, and none so blind as those that won't see, 12 January, 1729 - 9 July 1797

Another eloquent Irishman described by Edward Gibbon as "'the most eloquent and rational madman that I ever knew."

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I'm not sure what someone else's quote has to do with the "history" quote that is attributed to Burke, even if Santayana was inspired to write his own version of the much-older quotation. -rc

Posted by Dave, Brisbane Australia on July 22, 2011:

In your blog you say:

"Good thing we're not that stupid anymore, and wouldn't think of doing such crazy and ridiculous things ever again."

I hate to paraphrase such a marginal candidate as Sarah Palin, but her biggest assault on President Obama was to call him a "Socialist".

Doesn't that indicate that the McCarthyesque feelings still exist? (Or were you making that comment with tongue in cheek?)

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I think I was pretty clear that indeed, we haven't learned anything from history. -rc

Posted by Pierre, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada on July 23, 2011:

Yes. Here in Canada, we have three parties. And all have considerable "traction", and have had for some time. And I think the US would benefit from 3 parties.

Right now, I look at the US, and worry about its survival. The country is far too polarized. There are too few truly intelligent truly patriotic (not self serving flag wrappers) in US politics now a days.

I'd suggest Randy to run, he has the brains, and apparently the integrity. But he has a few big liabilities: Not many would "get" his sense of humor. He tends to be too dry and forthright when he speaks. Sometimes, he tends to speak the truth too acidly. He is having too much fun doing what he is doing now. He'd probably get more traction running in Western Canada!

NOTE: We used to have a notable 4th party "The Rhino Party". Now we have the "Green Party". It may call itself "green", but it is a far rightist party. it tries to be "green" but all that is green is not green. Our previous 4th party the BQ, only had traction in one province. When the fickle Quebec voters abandoned it (in the last election) it went on the skids. Will it make a comeback? Who knows?