Politics

[xrayzebra]

.

Or is it already too late?

Look at the link below. And draw your own conclusions.

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20...5140-6451r.htm

[gtownspur]

I think the administration in the WH and the media set the tone for public political discourse in this country. After all, we live in a black or white, with us-or-against us world. Speak out against the reasoning for the Iraq war, and you’re against the troops and freedom. Support the UN, and you’re a French sympathizer. Support Social Security, and you’re a socialist. It’s wasn’t easy being a dissenter and now it's not easy being a W supporter, and it’s not just a problem on this forum either.

Despite my and Yonivore’s perceived political leanings in this forum, due mostly to our staunch defense of our opinions, I think if you look more closely at our under-lying political philosophies, you’d soon realize that most of the time neither he nor I fall clearly in the far-left or far-right conspiratorial columns. After all, Yonivore maybe a closet conservative and a religous one at that, but he is clearly also a closet Federalist, supporting the continuation and expansion of the Patriot Act, and the opinions of the Supreme Court over States-rights. I don't think Yonivore supported W's health-care reform plan, but he did support the corporate welfare-plan known as the WH Energy bill.

I, on other the other hand, stood against mis-informed Democrats who supported the war in Iraq three years ago, and I am a stead-fast critic of Hillary Clinton and the Clintonistas. I don't trust John Kerry for surrendering the 04 election so easily, and I sure as don't want to see John Edwards on another ballot that doesn't have the words 'county commissioner' proceeding it. I think the Democratic Party made a mistake not coming up with an alternative to W's proposal to privatize SS (which went down in flames), and I won't support Democrats who refuse to call for a time-line for withdrawal of our troops from Iraq and an investigation into the cir stances which lead to the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Not exactly following the set party phylosophies are we?

^^I remember when Bush won-i mean stole- the election , and many liberal pundits said that it would usher an era of machivalean politics. When you hear liberals say that about anything, you know the general public will immediately think, "Thank GOd, no more bending over and grabbing our ankles appeasement from holier than though elitist."


As for FWD putting a halt to oxymoron anti-capitalist self proclaimed Libertarians calling themselves Libertarians, I was the first to call bull on the likes of so many like MIG, and CBF who claimed they were. Some people are so far left that the Libertarian name next to theirs would be contradictory.

One either Leans to the Left or to the Right on principle. Choosing parties is a whole other thing. , Buchanan is farther right than Manny is God and Exstatic, but he considers himself an Independent too.

Republican goals and Democrat goals shift from spectrum to spectrum, but many a times people are dissatisfied with both parties means to express those ideas. Doesn't mean that they are "Middle of Da' Road, Moderate, No red state blue state here! ", just means that their views are not articulated anywhere or they feel displaced.

[DarkReign]

Unfortunately, I dont believe there are any teaching sociologists onboard to properly explain the key differences between a person who identifies with one of the 2 major parties.

But there is certainly a glaring difference.

I tend to liken political agenda and political overview more simplistic then most. Sometimes, I think the scope of some decsions/situations overwhelms people thereby making them feel uncomfortable. When so, there are always open arms of partisans for that person.

Some just plain agree.

It isnt so much a stretch of your imagination to encompass the thought process of a devout Christian/Republican/Democrat. Usually, these people tend to be very narrow-minded and unwilling to listen. My simplification: The loud mouth at work who is always right (even when wrong).

Political life isnt a testament to the people or the enrichment of values as sooooo many politicians portray. Its allllllll about CYA: Cover Your Ass. Dont be tied to the sinking ship. Dont offer opinion on sensitive, devisive issues. Play the game correctly and you might have a career.

The life of a politician WITHOUT the moniker President is a very cushy job. Very cushy indeed. It is the ultimate good life. Not only are you well-compensated for your duties, your duties are (80% of the time) optional! Look at John Kerry's voting record in the Senate. He didnt participate in how many votes? How about Kennedy? You get the point.

Not including some of the perks of being a public figure. Kick-backs, regional construction deals, business import/export monies...the list is long. You alone can NOT be the deciding factor on whether this country goes to war or not, but you can certainly influence your peers on which company should get the government contract for the roads / services / etc. When youre talking about BILLIONS of dollars, wouldnt you think that politician deserves a little "feed money" for hooking up the contractor? Whether you agree or dont doesnt matter, that is exactly what these people do.

They spend very little time in their term with the concerns of their cons uents (fancy term for the people that elected him, ie the city/county/state citizens that elected them). Out of a 4 year term, the typical politician will spend about 1/4 of that time addressing the issues affecting the people they represent. By "addressing those issues", I mean campaigning. It seems all one must do to be elected is to pay a great deal of lip service to very bland, non-sensitive issues concerning very small amounts of people. The usuals; unemployment, agriculture, economy.

If you simplify the things you see on TV or read in the newspaper, scaling the events and happenings back to their most basic functions, you start to see the age-old of tendencies of tribal man and the inherent deficencies of being human. To be celebrated or ridiculed? I dont know.

My only appeal to people is to please, PLEASE...

Stop looking at your government and its actions, at all levels, as too much for you to understand. (i realize this doesnt apply to anyone who posts here, more of a calling to people without an opinion, which is my biggest pet peeve)

and...

Keep an open mind.

The political spectrum spans a wiiiiiiiide range. I am sure the "Political Cross" has been posted here many times. Just because you fall a certain 'somewhere' on that cross, does not make you a Republican/Democrat/Nazi/Fascist. You are what you desire to be. Accepting the limitations of one side or the other should be beyond you and those you love. Pigeon-holing yourself to such humanly-defunct socio-mechanisms should be beneath any free-thinking citizen of this world.

Berate me as you wish. None of it truly matters. I am neither a Democrat or a Republican (though most on one side or the other will inevitably try and tag me with such trivial labels. I believe that those who fall so one-sided believe that EVERYONE must be one or the other, because THEY do. Ignorance perpetuated by their own limitations of rationale. Pitiable). I can not single-handedly change anything I would like to in this world. But...

What I can do is maintain my family's well-being. I can make sure my children stay as open-minded and free-thinking as I am. I can state my opinion without name-calling and vitriol. I can listen to the dissenting opinion of others with an open-mind and agree with them if I believe I may be wrong or mis-guided.

As long as I do these things, the most spiritually/polictically-charged topics will take care of themselves within the family unit.

This post was never meant to go this long and I have re-read to discover so many topics left open-ended and incomplete. Oh well, I say. Wasnt like anyone here was actually listening anyway.

[FromWayDowntown]

As for FWD putting a halt to oxymoron anti-capitalist self proclaimed Libertarians calling themselves Libertarians, I was the first to call bull on the likes of so many like MIG, and CBF who claimed they were. Some people are so far left that the Libertarian name next to theirs would be contradictory.

I don't think I was trying to put a halt to anything, gtown. I was just noting that one's aversion to either party does not mean he is either a centrist or a libertarian. My point, more explicitly made, is that one could be fairly liberal on some issues and fairly conservative on others, and find problems with each of the mainstream parties as a result, but not correctly identify as a libertarian.

My bigger point here has nothing to do with that, but everything to do with the lack of respectful discourse from both sides on political issues, as virtually every thread in this Political Forum evidences.

[Marcus Bryant]

...as if politics in this country has ever been that civil...

[FromWayDowntown]

...as if politics in this country has ever been that civil...

Perhaps not, but I don't recall politics in this country often being this devisive, polarized, and (more to the point) antagonistic.

[mookie2001]

Well, democracy needs people like Nbadan and TRO to be healthy. The advent of the internet allows anyone to post crazy , though. For checks and balances in government to work you have to have differing viewpoints. Lack of diametrically opposing views leads to totalitarianism.

Very good point bonfire








and all democratic women are HIDEOUS as
they all need plastic surgery
its from having all those abortions

[JoeChalupa]

I'm a conservative liberal.