An open letter to the political posters

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

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.

The context typically gives it away.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

An open letter to all who discuss politics on this forum.

As anyone that follows the political threads here know that I am an unapologetic conservative. 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. With the “We are at fault and we should give up” attitude I see here we will eventually go the way of Europe. Most of the European countries have gone to socialism and I fear that we are heading that way also. This is not the America I know and love. But it seems that I am in the minority now at least on this forum. When it comes to vital issues like the war in Iraq, the war on terrorism, illegal immigration, taxes and the degrading of our moral values I am not one to compromise. In my view right is right and wrong is wrong. However, since it seems that a lot of the others that also frequent the political threads here have opposite views and I feel like I am just banging my head on a wall and pissing off others with my “ignorance”. So, I will no longer be posting or responding to any thread that has to do with politics. The liberals here can have it. I only hope that some posters here will start thinking with their brains instead of their feelings. Liberalism is the easy way out because it only requires you to feel and not think.

I know that there will be a flame war over this post and I will not be looked upon favorably because of it but I will not compromise my values. So therefore I will restrict myself to only the non-political postings from now on. This is a great forum for immigration issues and that is all it will be for me from now on.

Peace to everyone that I have sparred with, you are entitled to your viewpoints. That is also something that is American. Even though I totally disagree with you I would fight to the death for your right to state your views. I hope that we can eventually come together in this country and work towards restoring it to the values that our founding fathers envisioned.

Bye and good luck to you all.

I'm with you Gary. But you know what they say about arguing with idiots..........

so, youa re still talking to yourself Rich?

I'm tougher on myself than you guys ever could be

[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???

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.

errrr.... then fine, take a break, but as long as the thread is open, he can't expect people won't comment. I don't believe I've attacked...

[nayalamb 0]

i am personally sick of the labels...

Shut up, liberal.

(j/k)

agent smith.

not that it matters much... i won't be eligible to vote in the next election anyway...

so i have to suffer with whatever decisions the rest of you make... (shudders)

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

... i won't be eligible to vote in the next election anyway...

so i have to suffer with whatever decisions the rest of you make... (shudders)

Well then, just out of spite, I will make sure I continue my streak of bad voting decisions this November. For your sake.

[nayalamb 0]

... i won't be eligible to vote in the next election anyway...

so i have to suffer with whatever decisions the rest of you make... (shudders)

Well then, just out of spite, I will make sure I continue my streak of bad voting decisions this November. For your sake.

you mean it can get WORSE?!?!?!?!?!??!?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

... i won't be eligible to vote in the next election anyway...

so i have to suffer with whatever decisions the rest of you make... (shudders)

Well then, just out of spite, I will make sure I continue my streak of bad voting decisions this November. For your sake.

you mean it can get WORSE?!?!?!?!?!??!?

Absolutely.

All I have to do is really apply myself.

[Mirorgate 0]

... i won't be eligible to vote in the next election anyway...

so i have to suffer with whatever decisions the rest of you make... (shudders)

Well then, just out of spite, I will make sure I continue my streak of bad voting decisions this November. For your sake.

you mean it can get WORSE?!?!?!?!?!??!?

Absolutely.

All I have to do is really apply myself.

Voting for Hilary huh?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

... i won't be eligible to vote in the next election anyway...

so i have to suffer with whatever decisions the rest of you make... (shudders)

Well then, just out of spite, I will make sure I continue my streak of bad voting decisions this November. For your sake.

you mean it can get WORSE?!?!?!?!?!??!?

Absolutely.

All I have to do is really apply myself.

Voting for Hilary huh?

Even I am not THAT evil!

[almaty 19]

... i won't be eligible to vote in the next election anyway...

so i have to suffer with whatever decisions the rest of you make... (shudders)

Well then, just out of spite, I will make sure I continue my streak of bad voting decisions this November. For your sake.

you mean it can get WORSE?!?!?!?!?!??!?

Absolutely.

All I have to do is really apply myself.

Voting for Hilary huh?

Even I am not THAT evil!

[*Robert* 2]

I'm with you Gary. But you know what they say about arguing with idiots..........

No, what do they say? I've been doing it so long I've forgotten!

For real!!!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

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.

I've said this before but what's often infuriating is that people often don't know what 'liberal' actually means, so it becomes a dirty catch-all term for any political position that a person can't understand or doesn't agree with. Not necessarily 'liberal'. That's works the other way of course too, but I think its a fair comment that since 9/11 political thought in the US has moved pretty far to the right. Issues are much more polarised than they used to be, due in part to bad media reporting (as opposed to 'liberal media', another common misconception - ####### reporting and editing standards somehow equates to liberal. Very simplistic argument IMO.

There's also the other screeching clanger that some folks commonly associate 'liberal' with 'leftist', when in fact they are separate and distinct positions!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

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.

I've said this before but what's often infuriating is that people often don't know what 'liberal' actually means, so it becomes a dirty catch-all term for any political position that a person can't understand or doesn't agree with. Not necessarily 'liberal'. That's works the other way of course too, but I think its a fair comment that since 9/11 political thought in the US has moved pretty far to the right. Issues are much more polarised than they used to be, due in part to bad media reporting (as opposed to 'liberal media', another common misconception - ####### reporting and editing standards somehow equates to liberal. Very simplistic argument IMO.

There's also the other screeching clanger that some folks commonly associate 'liberal' with 'leftist', when in fact they are separate and distinct positions!

"A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel."

-Robert Frost

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

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.

errrr.... then fine, take a break, but as long as the thread is open, he can't expect people won't comment. I don't believe I've attacked...

If you read the thread that prompted this one, you'll see he's the one who actually did the attacking.

[Jaylen Brit 0]

This is an interesting and flung-poo-free (thats a new phrase, and Im copyrighting it) topic, with eloquent (for the most part) argument on all sides.

I feel I'm probably more like motu describes - my personal politics don't fit into a neat little pigeon-hole - they vary according to subject.

I can be a rabid right-wing hawk on the subject of child abusers (death to all) and yet hurt a whale and I will staple you to the floor without conscience.

Having lived in the UK I like the idea of shared wealth (to a certain extent - socialism, which is something we've never had in the UK - advocates full on shared wealth and is so close to communism as to be practially its next door buddy), and shared responsibility for its citizens (national health service) but if you gave me a sure bet business opportunity you can bet Id be Mrs capitalist in 2 seconds flat. (To be fair to my fair-weather-self though I'd still be in favor of the national health service )

I'm one of those people then that the exit pollers and politicians hate - I make up my OWN mind according to the situation (which makes voting a real TRIAL!) - still, it makes life interesting