I think that is a fantastic idea. If you need any member help organizing it I'm in.

As a simple matter of survival the Copts have accommodated themselves to every dynasty that has ruled over Egypt. They may see the writing on the wall and are working to forge an understanding for survival with the most likely winners in the new political order.

Our prayers should go out to the Coptic Community they are entering a very uncertain time.

He does sound pretty smart. Any relation?

I don't think anyone here is giving up but I believe we are going to have some rough times coming. I also don't think the Government is serious yet about doing what needs to be done to address our economic problems. If inflation is coming I don't want to be blindsided. I want to be ready to ride out the storm and thrive. I really value hearing the stories and experiences of people who lived through times like these before.

I hope I am wrong but I think you are correct about the national implications. Democrats are in a strong political position for the 2012 elections. Republican are going to deliver some very unpopular news to the voters about the budget, spending and entitlements. All democrats have to do is sit back and yell "extreme" to turn the debate away from the economic necessity of these cut and who made all the unsustainable promises.

Some of the tea party fire has been dampened by the media's effective demonetization of them. Much of it has to do with reality of the cuts starting to touch voters favorite government programs (everybody has one.) Some of it just has to do with a lack of community organizers on the right. Politics isn't a full time job for conservatives like it is for many on the left.

Crap

It turns out I'm a rhino squish

I can't believe we are having this conversation but who fired on Fort Sumter?

Union Forever

The individual states were only one aspect of the founders vision for this nation. I don't think they viewed the constitution as simply the establishment of common currency and a free trade zone. They were establishing a nation not something akin to the EU or NAFTA.

Also it is important to remember that the defenders of States Rights were more than happy to let the Federal Government enforce its will when it had the upper hand politically. With Dred Scott and the Fugitive Slave Act, Federal powers trumped the prerogatives of the individual states.   

Ok the people of the US would have been worse off if the Confederacy had manged to win the War between the States or kept from losing.

1. No Union Victory no reconstruction ammendments

2. An extension of Bleeding Kansas from Maryland to the territories

3. Effective end of the Monroe doctrine and the introduction of European balance of power politics in the Americas

How would the US have been better if the Confederacy had won?

give me a break

I don't think the South Park guys are afraid of offending Muslims. They had part of an episode pull for having Mohamed depicted onscreen wearing a salmon helmet. They also recently had the Turks up in arms for depicting a fleet of terrorist planes flying the Turkish national flag. South Park is extremely crude but I think it is actually can be one of the most thoughtful shows on TV.

Having said that tabula rasa is also correct. The mainstream culture is very comfortable with its bigotry and condescension toward religious people and the LDS in particular. I am increasingly of the opinion that this scorn is a good thing. When religious people are praised and lauded by the popular culture it is probably a sign that we are doing something wrong.

Do you really want to see a person of faith on "Jersey Shore"?   

I agree with all of Tabula Rasa's principles. Unfortunately congress is governed by politics not principle. Many times conservatives make the mistake of looking for the policy "silver bullet" that will put the government back into its constitutionally limited place.

The conservative dream is to make government small enough that we can safety turn our back on it and get back to living without its overbearing interference. This conservative utopia will never happen as long as there are liberals and leftists who think they can make a better world if they only have enough resources. 

Keeping the government limited will take constant energy inputs from conservatives.  Getting just the right policy won't put government back in its box. As soon as we let our guard down government will be on the move again.

I would love a consumption tax but it is politically inconceivable that such a reform would make it through congress. Politicians will never give up their power to influence behavior with the carrots and sticks of the tax code. Its not just a Democratic vice, Republicans are just as guilty. That is why flat, fair or national sales taxes have never made any political headway even when Republicans controlled the White House and the Congress.

ShellGamer

I am not presupposing that there is a perfectly fair rate out their somewhere. I am not even imagining that if there is a perfectly fair rate that we could reach it in our political process. I am arguing that conservatives need to shift the debate in our favor. 

The current debate is Government spends less your favorite program gets less. I am proposing a debate that asks would you support your favorite government program having less if your paycheck has more.

To answer your other question there would be almost certainly be balloon squeezing but that would also be an advantage to conservatives. It would be visible on every Americans paycheck how much the untaxed day puts in their pocket versus the taxed days. Paradoxically raising taxes on the remaining 80% of income makes the tax free day even more valuable than it was before.

They almost certainly will try, but that is also a winning argument for conservatives. If 20% of an individuals income is off limits the debate will revolve around the tax rate on the 80% of an individuals income. 

Also how long do you think it will be before American's view one tax free day a week as a right?

I would like to argue that there are other advantages to what ShellGamer calls "Eccleston's Free Day". (I think it has a nice ring to it.) It has two other great advantages. First it shows the average worker what their paycheck looks like with and without income and payroll taxes. Second it is more tangible than a cut to marginal tax rates. Because of withholding a cut to marginal rates is almost invisible spread throughout a year of paychecks. 

The best part is once the average persons sees just how much is taken out of taxes. Then we can begin the debate whether government services are actually worth it. It would expose the true trade-offs involved with government spending. Then we can have a debate about whether people want more money and less government services. 

Conservatives can then make this bargain with voters, how about less government services for 10 or 15 tax free hours in a week. It will have a political ratchet effect that that makes the voters come face to face with the trade-offs involved in government spending. I think the end result would eventually be less government and lower taxes.