As I've clearly said and demonstrated, I don't "only" concentrate on what's wrong. The problem is that most people don't want to hear what's wrong and talking about where we've failed is something foreign, strange, and somehow "unpatriotic" to them. Anyone who speaks of our ills must hate America. In my opinion, that flawed thinking has led this nation to the failed course we are undeniably on. The failures of the Bush horror and America foreign policy could have and should have been predicted many years before Bush ever darkened the White House. The only people surprised by America's current course are those who didn't pay attention our wrongs. They were too busy cheering what they thought was right.
I'll be real honest with you brother .. there is something decidely immature, almost child-like to such an approach to anything in life. I'm not talkng about you and if we're to have this discussion how about we don't personalize it.
I hate to use an over-used movie line but .. "You can't handle the truth" is just too damn appropriate to ignore when applied to far too many Americans. They whine and complain about government, the press, political parties, and politicians without any recognition that they are what they are because most Americans can't deal with truth. They don't really want to know REAL American history just as they don't really want to know that our foreign policy is frought with atrocities. They don't want to know that we have a terrorist training camp on our own shores, and those who busy cheering the "good" aren't going to tell them.
Adults deal with problems and WANT to know the truth .. in fact, they demand it.
And again, dealing with problems does not REQUIRE pessimism or negativism. One can take many different paths to the same point, that I choose a different one than you doesn't make me, or anybody, "decidedly immature". There is something about such a view where if people don't think exactly like you there must be something wrong or even "childlike" about them that seems decidedly selfish. A bit of introspection may resolve that issue, but introspection requires honesty and I will bet you will fail to actually understand that one can see a problem then seek to resolve it using a different path than the one you propound. You will then again repeat that I am "ignoring" the problem rather than seeking a solution.
One can see problems, and while seeking solutions look for the foundation that is good, seek what has gone before that was right, to build upon. Or one can see problems and seek to only point out the problem while providing no solution. Or one can see problems, not look for any foundation and attempt to solve the problem from scratch, or from only one solution group. I am of the first variety. You appear to be of the last and expect me to be as well.
"Partisan" ? .. What party would that be.
Well, "partisan" may be the wrong word. You think that all "Conservatives" are "Like this" and are so stuck in the stereotype you miss the forest for the trees.
If you mean speaking my point of view, I'm guilty, but then again, so are you and everyone else that has a point of view.
Sorry, but you seem to think your "evidence" is the only evidence to be considered, even when neither you or your evidence can answer really simple questions. I discard your evidence when it can't answer simple questions, doesn't make sesne to me, and when I have better evidence.
Isn't that what you do.
I think one is quick to dismiss evidence that is more strongly supported by scientific method such as peer review. And I think that those who do such, tend to be those who fail to understand the scientific method. If evidence is as strong in support of your side, and in cases where such evidence does exist on both sides of an issue, you will find peer reviewed papers that would support your view as well as those that would support the opposite. If they only exist on one side of the issue, the clear indication is the stronger evidence exists only on that side of the issue.
I simply request you to find any peer reviewed papers that support your view. This would lend more strength to your argument.
I'll be honest. When I first started looking into it I certainly believed I would find that the evidence supported your side. However after looking into it, and speaking with those of knowledge rather than accepting reports of "knowledge" I found that what I thought I would find wasn't supported by evidence strong enough to survive peer review.
If I appear exceptionally hard in my opinion of leaning or being to the right it's because I think they deserve it. I can't think of a single fucking thing they've been right about. Can you?
It is a point of view. Not of fact. What have I been wrong about? I stated before the war that the "WMD" they sought to "protect" us from wasn't all that awesome. Some of the "worst" was Sarin. While its effects can be nasty, it isn't very "mass" destructive. Was I wrong?
Let's see what else.... Hmmm... Ron Paul thought the war would be a quagmire and a mess and sought to protect us from our own folly using protections actually written into the Constitution, such as a formal declaration of war. It seems he was right too.
Facts can be spoken by both sides of an issue. Attempting to dismiss me, or any other who "leans right" because others followed Bush into his folly is a mistake. Yes, I agree too many of the "right" followed Bush because he was elected President and was of their Party. I do not like such blind following, and have never been much of a strong participant in it. I may "lean right" but I realize that people can make some terrible mistakes even if they are in the same party as myself. The fact is that Bush is so far from me politically it is very difficult, and has always been, to believe that he fits in the same party as I do. But he does. I have to admit it.
The disastrous course we're on had the right at the steering wheel.
Yes. And in the past, Viet Nam comes to mind, it had the left and later the right. Both of the "leanings" can make some of the same disastrous mistakes.
The worst president and worst blunder in American history came from the right.
The rest of the world now seeing America as a rogue and dangerous nation came from the right.
The new global strategic, economic, and defensive alliances that are forming without the inclusion of the US came from the right.
Every single dumb motherfucker that still supports this manic president is on the right.
I'm well aware the people on the right can work towards solutions and some of the people I've admired were on the right, like Jack Kemp and Sen. Everett Dirksen, but that doesn't change the reality of the disaster the right has ushered in.
But it does mean that all things "right" are not Iraq. That this mess started because of Bush I agree. I do not agree that he is very "right" though. He pretends to religion, that is about the only thing "right" about him. He provides government funds for medications and Federal funds for schools (even though Amendment 10 is pretty clear on that one, schools are either State or Individual powers... In this case it is clearly State.)
We can go on. But I digress. I don't like Bush, I haven't liked Bush, I didn't even like Bush when he ran against Gore.
Civil Rights
Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and a host of social saftey nets.
WWII and correct military action, like Bosnia
The more inclusive economy of Clinton
Foreign Aid
America's role as the world's statesman .. before Bush
Foreign policy in the interest of humanity, like ending apartheid in South Africa.
All of that and more are things I've discussed here .. usually in defense of government against those who don't like it or would reduce it to some ineffectual level. Don't lecture me on government brother when it's you who support Ron Paul, who doesn't believe in government and who doesn't believe in a united America. I assume in your support of him you'd have no problem with breaking up America into smaller nation-states like Paul does. I don't believe that bullshit.
One more time. I do not believe that government should ever provide something that we can do for ourselves, this does not mean that I say that government shouldn't exist or should have no role at all. I have never suggested getting rid of government, or professed a belief that government does not work.
Do not lecture me on government unless you know my opinion of it. Presuming knowledge is not the same as having it.
Stop personalizing everything. I'm talking about ideologies.
If I started insulting Socialism and stereotyping, incorrectly, your opinions based on "ideology" you most certainly would correct me. I will continue to do so with yourself as well. Either you will recognize that your stereotypes do not always fit, or you will continue to hear from me on the subject.
I don't believe there is any serious argument to be had that argues against the right demanding fall-in-line goosesteppin' adherence from it's politicians and supporters. If that's your argument, count me out because it's too dumb to waste anytime arguing.
I don't believe that there is any serious argument to be had against the same from the left. To the point where pro-life Democrats need not apply for any position of power in most areas. Kind of like pro-choice Republicans in most where they are strong. Amazingly both survive. The idea that I goosestep because you want to pretend that all people on the right do is preposterous. I speak my mind regardless of my position on the political perspective. Either you can accept that, or not, but I refuse to be characterized so incorrectly and will continue to refute such claims, even if you pretend that is isn't "personal". All forms of stereotyping actually are personal, it attempts to remove the individual from the scene and provides those comfort boxes that I spoke of before. You are comfortable in the box of your stereotype, I will continue to point out that all of us do not fit in that box.
Also you made it personal with the fact you actually named me personally in the post that started all of this. Pretending otherwise is just silly. If you do not mean to include me, not actually naming me in the post would be a good place to start.
Your quickness to personalize my every comment never brings us to discuss IDEOLOGY which was the point of my comment. Stop defending you and defend "leaning to the right."
As I said, you used my name in the post that started this. Pretending that my name isn't personal is just silly and backstepping. You want to avoid that you attempted to give me an opinion that I do not hold, and that you were terribly mistaken about it because I do not fit comfortably into your silly stereotypes.
The point is, "I lean to the right, and the characterizations you stereotype people into doesn't seem to exist here." is a valid point. Your stereotypes make you feel better about demonizing an entire group of people into "leaning-right", it is time to get outside of that comfort zone and into actually using your mind. Too often I state something and you don't even "see" it because you assume my opinion too readily. I have to repeat constantly that I was against the war, for instance. Then I have to point things out like the use of my actual moniker in a post as you attempt to say that I am too ready to "personalize" something. It is hard not to personalize when you use my name.
I have no problem with that, but I can't imagine how not dealing with problems makes anything any better. It certainly doesn't work with any occupation, child rearing, education, or any damn thing else. Problem solving requires dealing with problems, not cheerleading.
And this is plain deliberate ignorance or mistatement. I state that "I work to resolve issues from a different perspective." You read, "He ignores all problems." You have yourself so boxed in that you can't even hear anymore.
What I post as problems are history and fact that rarely gets challenged as fact .. but I shouldn't say anything about them? Cheerleaders sure as hell aren't.
And again you hear "Ignore Problems"... It is total BS that you press onto myself and others because it is what you want to believe they do. It makes it so much easier to find them as "enemies" if you do this. I understand. Long ago I used to do this with the left.
That's an interesting perspective brother, especially considering the reality of America today where the corporate will is more powerful and important that the will of the people. That element outside of government now controls it and America has been privatized, even our elections.
Personally, I believe in a blending of capitalism and collectivism, but the government exists for the people, not the individual. The blindness comes from people who have closed minds and run from words like "collective" and who believe that everything that ever needs to be known about government was known 250 years ago. The blindness comes from people who have beem "systemized" and "cowboyized" and conditioned to react predictably to buzz words and any information not officially sanctioned, and who remain intentionally blind to truth. That blindness is on the right.
The left SCREAMED that Iraq was a fraud and there was no WMD in Iraq .. which side was blind?
The left SCREAMED that George Bush was not fit to be president .. which side was blind?
Both were. Especially those who allowed their "leaders" the excuse that they were too stupid to figure out that Bush was preparing to invade when they voted to okay this "war". Collectivism is your magic word, as Libertarianism is mine. I have seen it fail. Shoot it was my job to watch its failure when I was a Translator in the Navy.
The left said that all the bullshit about how dangerous Iran is was just made up and contrived just like the last time it SCREAMED about it .. which side was blind?
Neither, it seems that the "right" just reported that the stuff about Iran being that dangerous was an incorrect report and that the effort to create nukes was stopped in 2003, right after the invasion of Iraq. It seems that both were "right" on this one.
The left fought for EVERY social safety net, child protection act, and human right accomplishment achieved in this country, often against the whims of the right you fought instead for corporations .. which now control this nation.
The left controlled the Legislative portion of government for about 40 years but didn't fix this? Why? It could be that you are mistaken about who did this to you.
You speak of the wonders of the right at the same time the right is in serious decline. At the same time republicans are jumping ship like rats you're trying to tell me about how insightful they are. The right is in decline for a very good reason .. they espouse a failed ideology.
As the left did as the right was in decline. It is simply a matter of perspective of time. The left will again decline, the right will ascend and you will hear hacks of the right stating this same thing about the left. This is simple political hackery. Pretending that temporal failure based on the crappy leadership of Bush is permanent is just pretense to make yourself feel better and pretend that there will never again be a swing in that pendulum. IT will swing, and you will hear Dano and others who will be pretending that there will never be a swing the other direction as well.
Yes, Bush's policy failed. I predicted it would. You can even ask others on this board, I have stated that at his failure it was my hope that the right could finally shed the messed up Religious Collectivism that seems to permeate too much of the party because of their strong population at primaries and lead them to forget that there are issues to resolve that need to be viewed rather than focusing on gays getting divorces...
You don't solve problems by looking at what's good, you solve problems by looking at problems, and any real introspective requires the maturity to take a hard look at SELF. There is nothing magical or mysterious about introspective, but it requires, it demands the maturity to engage in it.
No you solve problems efficiently by seeking an already strong foundation upon which to build rather than attempting to resolve the symptoms of the problem and missing the actual central reason. Seeking what has been done right is very much a portion of resolving problems. Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.
And again, you simply ignore my post about introspection, I find this sad. Even in a post about how open you are to new ideas you are so stuck that you cannot even see that you failed a bit of that introspection yourself and failed to comprehend direct information given to you about myself.
This shows that same "immaturity" that you constantly repeat others are exhibiting as if it will make it sound more "true" to yourself. Repeating false information is not introspection, nor is it wisdom. And as we have all learned from Bush, it doesn't make the information any more true either.
