Post #195,907
2/22/05 8:17:49 AM
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Re: From the "You can learn something from everyone" bin.
So, Antonin Scalia taught me to face the fact that I am not a "good American." I do not believe in American democracy. I want the law interpretted by Scalia's "cream." I want rule by an enlightened, educated, rational elite. I don't want what the bible-thumping, "Left Behind" reading, Benny Hinn, Jimmy Swaggart and Pat Robertson fans think is decent to become the standard for decency.
In the final analysis, the problem is not that we do not have representative government (i.e. democratically determined representation). The problem is that our current representation reflects too well the average American. That is true, up to a point. And I would rather have rule by left wing elitists then right wing fundamentalists. But in truth, I would rather avoid either extreme. Personally, I think the biggest problem we have is the number of Americans that don't vote, for whatever reason. A large percent of these people think that their vote won't influence the system anyway, so why bother? Studies and history have shown that the right wing is not nearly the majority they think they are. It is just that they are the loudest group, quick to proclaim that their offended sensibilities are the offended sensibilities of the majority, their goals are the goals of the majority and their religious views are the views of the majority. Jay
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Post #195,913
2/22/05 9:47:50 AM
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But if the RW is offense to the majority...
how is it that so few people vote? Silence is (at least) tacit acceptance.
bcnu,
Mikem
Eine Leute. Eine Welt. Ein F\ufffdhrer.
God Bless America.
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Post #195,920
2/22/05 10:40:34 AM
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Two main reasons
But if the RW is offense to the majority...
how is it that so few people vote? Silence is (at least) tacit acceptance. I see two main reasons. The first is the belief that it won't make any difference. That the politicians will cave in to vocal special interests, be they left, right or corporate. This is somewhat true, but at the same time, the fewer that vote the easier it is for small special interest to manipulate the system. The second is the mistaken belief that the RW posistions are normal, average or acceptable. The Right Wing has become very good at backing slogans and broad posistions without getting into the details of what they actually want to do. This is why you get people voting for pro-life candidates even though they don't want to make all abortions illegal. The pro-life candidates talk about creating an environment of life, or being tolerant of religious beliefs. People don't understand that some pro-life candidates consider making all abortions illegal is just the first step in a program that intends to make divorce illegal, ban birth control, remove all sex education and so on. Jay
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Post #195,926
2/22/05 11:25:16 AM
2/22/05 11:27:26 AM
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I used to think it was "a mistaken belief".
But I don't anymore. I believe Jimmy Carter was right, that the last Presidential election was about the soul of the nation. Further, every poll I've ever seen leads me to the conclusion that RW philosophy *is* the prevalent American philosophy. Certainly my own experience with the populace supports this view.
I've been looking around for a very long time for some, hell any, evidence that this conclusion I've only recently come to, that RW philosophy accurately represents what the majority is thinking, is not correct. But I'm on empty. If the majority of people, for whatever reason, don't care to the point that they won't even vote *against* Dubya, then I don't think there is any hope that "secretly, the silent majority really isn't the mean-spirited, ego-maniacal, uncaring bunch their elected representatives would lead you to believe they are."
[Edits: God, don't write and talk about two separate things simultaneously]
bcnu,
Mikem
Eine Leute. Eine Welt. Ein F\ufffdhrer.
God Bless America.
Edited by mmoffitt
Feb. 22, 2005, 11:26:12 AM EST
Edited by mmoffitt
Feb. 22, 2005, 11:27:26 AM EST
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Post #195,935
2/22/05 11:47:55 AM
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Forcrissakes.
The neocons won by 1%. After voting shennanigans. Without a positive candidate (most votes that Kerry got WERE 'against Bush').
What next? Are you going to start agreeing with the Neocons that this election was a 'mandate'?
[link|http://forfree.sytes.net|
] Imric's Tips for Living
- Paranoia Is a Survival Trait
- Pessimists are never disappointed - but sometimes, if they are very lucky, they can be pleasantly surprised...
- Even though everyone is out to get you, it doesn't matter unless you let them win.
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Nothing is as simple as it seems in the beginning,
As hopeless as it seems in the middle,
Or as finished as it seems in the end.
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Post #195,936
2/22/05 11:49:12 AM
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Or that the election was about 'values'?
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Post #195,938
2/22/05 11:53:59 AM
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Hey - having the US government in your pocket
is very valuable.
Oh.
You didn't mean corporate values?
[link|http://forfree.sytes.net|
] Imric's Tips for Living
- Paranoia Is a Survival Trait
- Pessimists are never disappointed - but sometimes, if they are very lucky, they can be pleasantly surprised...
- Even though everyone is out to get you, it doesn't matter unless you let them win.
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Nothing is as simple as it seems in the beginning,
As hopeless as it seems in the middle,
Or as finished as it seems in the end.
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Post #195,951
2/22/05 12:52:14 PM
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I have to agree with imric...
beware reading too much into stuff.
Some people voted for Bush because he's a wartime President and changing horses mid-stream etc.
But I think we lost the election because Kerry is the Democratic Bob Dole. (War Veteran, no charisma, etc.) He's an upstanding guy and all, but he's NOT Presidental Leadership material.
That said, I agree with the Republicans on this one. I think there's some fundamental flaws in the Democratic Party Leadership. (Personally, I think Dean is the first step to fixing some of those flaws.)
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Post #195,964
2/22/05 2:00:08 PM
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Right. 1% of those who voted.
+ 45+% of those who "didn't care enough to vote".
bcnu,
Mikem
Eine Leute. Eine Welt. Ein F\ufffdhrer.
God Bless America.
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