An open letter to the political posters

[motu 6]

I have extreme conservative as well as liberals as my friends and I like them all. I myself tend to be a socialist and I tend to lean towards extremism when I hear of an Oil executive getting a $400 million retirement packet! And I tend to be a conservative when I want to not pass another new law that's impossible to enforce or will never be enforced. I tend to be a capitalist when I see an ice cream maker breaking new ground and making a lot of money for himself and his employees. I tend to be a socialist when I hear that the same ice cream maker broke his rule of not paying anyone 40 times more than anyone else in the organization (yes - true story - Ben & Jerry.)

So, what the hell is wrong with this picture - I think that most of us are somewhere in the middle but tend to side with one issue or another that we see in a specific way - and we all think that the people on the other side are "whatever name you want to put here from pinko communists to full of hot air right-wingers". And we are all very intelligent on some issues and very stupid on others yes we all have this flaw whether we agree with it or not.

And the ones that exploit us are the worst of all - the politicians (I grade them a step below lawyers, murderers and child molesters.) What is worst is when people seem to blindly follow a politician or a party or a spokesman and are unable to evaluate issues in the way we can understand and formulate it; instead giving up our rational thought in favor of someone else's slogan or idea or call - and they all seem to be half baked at best. What are we all doing in these cases - we are surrendering our rational abilities to another and that's where the bitterness and name calling is so evident and annoying.

I used to love this country for how I perceived it to be and now I think its getting too intolerant (some of them are on this forum also.) Hopefully the people will make this country better or else I will have to move to Costa Rica and live on the beach and drink Imperials all day long.

[rclouse 0]

Well, GaryC, one of the things that really bothers me about conservatives like yourself is the way they say "liberal". They say it like they say the word "satanic", and it comes out in a very derogatory fashion in online political discussions. You automatically assume that if someone takes a liberal stance on an issue they are wrong, and not just wrong but dangerous. That kind of makes it hard to have a thoughtful and civil debate of an issue, don't you think?

Treat liberals with respect and you won't need to run away.

[Jenn! 918]

I used to love this country for how I perceived it to be and now I think its getting too intolerant (some of them are on this forum also.) Hopefully the people will make this country better or else I will have to move to Costa Rica and live on the beach and drink Imperials all day long.

Can I join you?!?

[000OOO000 0]

Its best to not even start a debate about politics nor religion. All it does it start a fight and these are two topics where no one is gonna win. It's personal choice anyhow. Everyone has their beliefs and you can argue til the cows come on supporting your views and it won't get you anywhere. It's fine to have convictions over your beliefs but starting threads on here just brings turmoil and a locked thread. Best advice avoid these 2 topics in the future.

[Cassie 8]

Well, GaryC, one of the things that really bothers me about conservatives like yourself is the way they say "liberal". They say it like they say the word "satanic", and it comes out in a very derogatory fashion in online political discussions. You automatically assume that if someone takes a liberal stance on an issue they are wrong, and not just wrong but dangerous. That kind of makes it hard to have a thoughtful and civil debate of an issue, don't you think?

Treat liberals with respect and you won't need to run away.

Completely agree. I am one of those that is conservative in some issues and liberal in others. I hate it when a decent discussion (or a potentially decent discussion) descends into slapping a label on someone and going home. I also can't stand how quickly someone is labelled "anti-American" or "against the troops" or "not-supporting of the President" if they dare to raise questions about the state of affairs today.

The beauty of America is that you have freedom to speak when many other countries do not allow that to happen. It saddens me to see that political discussions seem to be only "you're right and I'm wrong and never the twain shall meet". It does a disservice to the people involved and America as a whole. No one sees the whole picture to make an informed opinion or choice.

Gary, if you feel the need to gather up your marbles and go home (so to speak), so be it. It really is your choice. but a debate isn't really a debate unless there are two sides.

[nayalamb 1]

i am personally sick of the labels... i prefer to judge each issue on their individual merit and make an informed decision. not automatically side with one group or another. that leads to alot of close-mindedness, name-calling and silly assumptions (and you know what they say about assuming... )

if you bring a reasonable discussion to the table, i will be more than happy to debate it, if i can.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

i am personally sick of the labels...

Shut up, liberal.

(j/k)

[antone 0]

Well, GaryC, one of the things that really bothers me about conservatives like yourself is the way they say "liberal". They say it like they say the word "satanic", and it comes out in a very derogatory fashion in online political discussions. You automatically assume that if someone takes a liberal stance on an issue they are wrong, and not just wrong but dangerous. That kind of makes it hard to have a thoughtful and civil debate of an issue, don't you think?

Treat liberals with respect and you won't need to run away.

Yup. I have a friend on another board who is constantly saying things like "well, the liberal believes...." and so on. He's a nice guy, but hasn't quite grasped the fact that "liberalism" isn't some monolithic structure with a set of predetermined beliefs that all must adopt.

Personally, I have seen idiots and geniuses on all sides of the political spectrum. I worry when people start saying things like "Well, my position is self-evidently true. Why are we even debating it?"

[john_and_marlene 162]

Well, GaryC, one of the things that really bothers me about conservatives like yourself is the way they say "liberal". They say it like they say the word "satanic", and it comes out in a very derogatory fashion in online political discussions. You automatically assume that if someone takes a liberal stance on an issue they are wrong, and not just wrong but dangerous. That kind of makes it hard to have a thoughtful and civil debate of an issue, don't you think?

Treat liberals with respect and you won't need to run away.

How can you tell how it was said when there is no sound .... it's typed.

[pedroh 21]

jon steward and rush limbaugh make me laugh..

[rclouse 0]

Well, GaryC, one of the things that really bothers me about conservatives like yourself is the way they say "liberal". They say it like they say the word "satanic", and it comes out in a very derogatory fashion in online political discussions. You automatically assume that if someone takes a liberal stance on an issue they are wrong, and not just wrong but dangerous. That kind of makes it hard to have a thoughtful and civil debate of an issue, don't you think?

Treat liberals with respect and you won't need to run away.

How can you tell how it was said when there is no sound .... it's typed.

Like this:

Whenever I express my views I am assaulted by a barrage of liberal platitudes. It seems that I am totally outnumbered. This makes me worry about the future of our country.

[almaty 19]

i am personally sick of the labels...

Shut up, liberal.

(j/k)

label a person long enough, and it becomes real in it's consequences.."cooley..looking glass self"

[Sister Fracas 5]

I have found that it's like arguing with someone that 2 + 2 = 4 when they say it is 5. In my mind it is so simple and obvious that I just can't comprehend a rational human thinking anything else.

hmmmm, isn't this the kind of thing you don't like said about yourself???

"better a bleeding heart than no heart at all"

dunno who said it, but it cracked me up....

ooooh, scary liberals.... gotta hide!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I have found that it's like arguing with someone that 2 + 2 = 4 when they say it is 5. In my mind it is so simple and obvious that I just can't comprehend a rational human thinking anything else.

hmmmm, isn't this the kind of thing you don't like said about yourself???

Frances, He also said:

In my mind it is so simple and obvious that I just can't comprehend a rational human thinking anything else. When I realized that I knew it was time to give it a rest. I realize that other people have equally held views and I cannot stand my own intolerance. But at the same time I am totally unwilling to give up what I know in my mind is right. So the only alternative is to bow out.

He needs a break, I say we give him one. JMHO.

[almaty 19]

I have found that it's like arguing with someone that 2 + 2 = 4 when they say it is 5. In my mind it is so simple and obvious that I just can't comprehend a rational human thinking anything else.

hmmmm, isn't this the kind of thing you don't like said about yourself???

Frances, He also said:

In my mind it is so simple and obvious that I just can't comprehend a rational human thinking anything else. When I realized that I knew it was time to give it a rest. I realize that other people have equally held views and I cannot stand my own intolerance. But at the same time I am totally unwilling to give up what I know in my mind is right. So the only alternative is to bow out.

He needs a break, I say we give him one. JMHO.

i agree..as a liberal..i respect his right to disappear