In a fiery speech that had her conservative Colorado audience cheering, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann railed against the dangers of health care reform and other Democratic initiatives, warning the proposals "have the strength to destroy this country forever."
"This cannot pass," the Minnesota Republican told a crowd at a Denver gathering sponsored by the Independence Institute. "What we have to do today is make a covenant, to slit our wrists, be blood brothers on this thing. This will not pass. We will do whatever it takes to make sure this doesn't pass."
Right, and I'm sure that both sides have opted out of debates as well. I certainly dont comment/post anymore in the political debates, and I'm no conservative. It goes both ways.
Location: i believe, i believe, it's silly, but I believe Gender:
Posted:
Sep 1, 2009 - 11:06am
Alafia wrote:
Bah. I've seen both sides shouting, and both sides shouted down, abused and harassed. Neither left nor right has a monopoly on "stridence" here.
Right, and I'm sure that both sides have opted out of debates as well. I certainly dont comment/post anymore in the political debates, and I'm no conservative. It goes both ways.
What I attempted to convey within the gist of my original post was the fact that the prevalence of stridently liberal voices that drown out the conservative viewpoint represents the RP community (and ownership) as intolerantly liberal. Reasonable political discourse suffers because both current and potential right-leaning (never mind ultra-conservative) members don't consider joining the conversation to be worth the effort. The community shrinks, as do monetary contributions, conceivably.
Bah. I've seen both sides shouting, and both sides shouted down, abused and harassed. Neither left nor right has a monopoly on "stridence" here.
But what about dramatic and clever proselytism formed into little mind splinters of video and selective word placement all on a bed of music and garnished with bad poetry and open chested fishing lures? Some people don't seem to like that very much either. Maybe it's the hooks. Maybe a net is easier to justify, if there is such a thing as justification. Thats it! A testimonial on the beach! A bad poem in the form of ambiguity! An anonymous arrow delivering de liver! A joke disguised as a bee sting! A smelly quote on the end of a stick! A date with destiny fish, wrapped in newspaper and cast into the sea! A bona fied sunspot on the face of a dark cloud! A brilliant conundrum dressed in dull overalls. A set of gold plated choppers! A pack of designer breath mints! A brand new decoder ring! Free dishes in laundry soap! Time Sharing! Time Sharing! Time Shares! WHAT THE HECK AM I TALKING ABOUT!!! I'm not sure just now.... I've got to go and rent a stump grinder. Seriously...no joke. That has to be funny on some level...And the irony? Who's to say? Digging beneath the dogma of institutions and the ideology of no-deposit no-return are to be found the roots of dead trees. I wish I were more of a serious man sometimes. I really do. It's not easy being a kid in an old man's body. Some day I'll have to pay up...today, maybe...
Love yas...see yas
This message will self destruct upon consumption...
Location: Perched on the precipice of the cauldron of truth
Posted:
Sep 1, 2009 - 8:40am
oldviolin wrote:
But what about dramatic and clever proselytism formed into little mind splinters of video and selective word placement all on a bed of music and garnished with bad poetry and open chested fishing lures? Some people don't seem to like that very much either. Maybe it's the hooks. Maybe a net is easier to justify, if there is such a thing as justification. Thats it! A testimonial on the beach! A bad poem in the form of ambiguity! An anonymous arrow delivering de liver! A joke disguised as a bee sting! A smelly quote on the end of a stick! A date with destiny fish, wrapped in newspaper and cast into the sea! A bona fied sunspot on the face of a dark cloud! A brilliant conundrum dressed in dull overalls. A set of gold plated choppers! A pack of designer breath mints! A brand new decoder ring! Free dishes in laundry soap! Time Sharing! Time Sharing! Time Shares! WHAT THE HECK AM I TALKING ABOUT!!! I'm not sure just now.... I've got to go and rent a stump grinder. Seriously...no joke. That has to be funny on some level...And the irony? Who's to say? Digging beneath the dogma of institutions and the ideology of no-deposit no-return are to be found the roots of dead trees. I wish I were more of a serious man sometimes. I really do. It's not easy being a kid in an old man's body. Some day I'll have to pay up...today, maybe...
Love yas...see yas
This message will self destruct upon consumption...
But what about dramatic and clever proselytism formed into little mind splinters of video and selective word placement all on a bed of music and garnished with bad poetry and open chested fishing lures? Some people don't seem to like that very much either. Maybe it's the hooks. Maybe a net is easier to justify, if there is such a thing as justification. Thats it! A testimonial on the beach! A bad poem in the form of ambiguity! An anonymous arrow delivering de liver! A joke disguised as a bee sting! A smelly quote on the end of a stick! A date with destiny fish, wrapped in newspaper and cast into the sea! A bona fied sunspot on the face of a dark cloud! A brilliant conundrum dressed in dull overalls. A set of gold plated choppers! A pack of designer breath mints! A brand new decoder ring! Free dishes in laundry soap! Time Sharing! Time Sharing! Time Shares! WHAT THE HECK AM I TALKING ABOUT!!! I'm not sure just now.... I've got to go and rent a stump grinder. Seriously...no joke. That has to be funny on some level...And the irony? Who's to say? Digging beneath the dogma of institutions and the ideology of no-deposit no-return are to be found the roots of dead trees. I wish I were more of a serious man sometimes. I really do. It's not easy being a kid in an old man's body. Some day I'll have to pay up...today, maybe...
Love yas...see yas
This message will self destruct upon consumption...
Ah, some substance. My original post acknowledged the existence of strident voices on both sides of the political aisle. You apparently see it as existing only on the liberal side. I disagree.
I find there to be a wide diversity of viewpoints expressed here on a wide span of topics. I also find that most of those expressing opinions on these topics do so civilly, and offer well-reasoned and well-intentioned comments . I did acknowledge, however, that the minority of strident voices tend to drown out the many voices of reason (I should also state that many of us have our strident moments, myself included). This is why I stated, at the end of that original post, that maybe we will have to throw the baby out with the bath water.
Perhaps part of the reason these minority of strident voices tend to draw the most attention is because it is human nature to be drawn to a proverbial train wreck. Just a guess on my part. I still believe the answer is for more participation, not less. Lately, we have had more (see, for example, the viewpoints in the Health Care thread).
I do not believe that making polarizing statements decrying polarization helps the situation.
But what about dramatic and clever proselytism formed into little mind splinters of video and selective word placement all on a bed of music and garnished with bad poetry and open chested fishing lures? Some people don't seem to like that very much either. Maybe it's the hooks. Maybe a net is easier to justify, if there is such a thing as justification. Thats it! A testimonial on the beach! A bad poem in the form of ambiguity! An anonymous arrow delivering de liver! A joke disguised as a bee sting! A smelly quote on the end of a stick! A date with destiny fish, wrapped in newspaper and cast into the sea! A bona fied sunspot on the face of a dark cloud! A brilliant conundrum dressed in dull overalls. A set of gold plated choppers! A pack of designer breath mints! A brand new decoder ring! Free dishes in laundry soap! Time Sharing! Time Sharing! Time Shares! WHAT THE HECK AM I TALKING ABOUT!!! I'm not sure just now.... I've got to go and rent a stump grinder. Seriously...no joke. That has to be funny on some level...And the irony? Who's to say? Digging beneath the dogma of institutions and the ideology of no-deposit no-return are to be found the roots of dead trees. I wish I were more of a serious man sometimes. I really do. It's not easy being a kid in an old man's body. Some day I'll have to pay up...today, maybe...
Love yas...see yas
This message will self destruct upon consumption...
Location: Perched on the precipice of the cauldron of truth
Posted:
Sep 1, 2009 - 6:48am
zipper wrote:
Your words included one double negative and and a few unclear pronoun references, but I waded through it. What I attempted to convey within the gist of my original post was the fact that the prevalence of stridently liberal voices that drown out the conservative viewpoint represents the RP community (and ownership) as intolerantly liberal. Reasonable political discourse suffers because both current and potential right-leaning (never mind ultra-conservative) members don't consider joining the conversation to be worth the effort. The community shrinks, as do monetary contributions, conceivably.
I am deeply chagrined.
Ah, some substance. My original post acknowledged the existence here of strident voices on both sides of the political aisle. You apparently see it as existing in significant numbers only on the liberal side. I disagree.
I find there to be a wide diversity of viewpoints expressed here on a wide span of topics. I also find that most of those expressing opinions on these topics do so civilly, and offer well-reasoned and well-intentioned comments . I did acknowledge, however, that the minority of strident voices tends to drown out the many voices of reason (I should also state that many of us have our strident moments, myself included). This is why I stated, at the end of that original post, that maybe we will have to throw the baby out with the bath water. That would be unfortunate.
Perhaps part of the reason these minority of strident voices tends to draw the most attention is because it is human nature to be drawn to a proverbial train wreck. Just a guess on my part. I still believe the answer is more participation, not less. Lately, we have had more (see, for example, the viewpoints in the Health Care thread).
I do not believe that making polarizing statements decrying polarization helps the situation.
Location: Perched on the precipice of the cauldron of truth
Posted:
Sep 1, 2009 - 6:27am
jadewahoo wrote:
Do not assume that your opinon is the viewpoint of the majority here on RP. To whit: the stridency of voices in preponderance seems to belong to the right/Republican/conservatives hereabouts. Oh, there are a few lefties/Democrat/liberals who hark their views loudly and obnoxiously, without doubt. Perhaps it is because those right-leaning individuals who participate in these 'discussions' feel that they have to adopt the tactic of screaming louder and harsher and with more name calling negativities in order to make themselves heard, that is at the root of the imbalance. The left-leaning folks here may, justifiably, feel more kinship with the prevailing crowd, and so do not feel the need to be so vociferously agitated.
As to the departure of any given individual from RP... no one knows for certain why they have left. I agree, it is probably safe to think tht at least a fair proportion have gotten fed up with being denigrated and demeaned on a personal level because of their political affiliations. However, to assume that it is the conservatives who, primarily, have bailed is absurd. For every name you can toss into the ring as being someone who left because they got tired of defending their con-leaning, I, or someone, could toss you a lib-leaner who is no longer in our midst.
It is all in the viewpoint one holds, dear. And, of course, the attitude with which a person presents those views. Kindness begets kindness, vitrol begets vitrol. We all need to remember this.
It has always been about strident personalities, which have appeared and continue to appear on both sides of the political aisle here.
Your words included one double negative and and a few unclear pronoun references, but I waded through it. What I attempted to convey within the gist of my original post was the fact that the prevalence of stridently liberal voices that drown out the conservative viewpoint represents the RP community (and ownership) as intolerantly liberal. Reasonable political discourse suffers because both current and potential right-leaning (never mind ultra-conservative) members don't consider joining the conversation to be worth the effort. The community shrinks, as do monetary contributions, conceivably.
Do not assume that your opinon is the viewpoint of the majority here on RP. To whit: the stridency of voices in preponderance seems to belong to the right/Republican/conservatives hereabouts. Oh, there are a few lefties/Democrat/liberals who hark their views loudly and obnoxiously, without doubt. Perhaps it is because those right-leaning individuals who participate in these 'discussions' feel that they have to adopt the tactic of screaming louder and harsher and with more name calling negativities in order to make themselves heard, that is at the root of the imbalance. The left-leaning folks here may, justifiably, feel more kinship with the prevailing crowd, and so do not feel the need to be so vociferously agitated.
As to the departure of any given individual from RP... no one knows for certain why they have left. I agree, it is probably safe to think tht at least a fair proportion have gotten fed up with being denigrated and demeaned on a personal level because of their political affiliations. However, to assume that it is the conservatives who, primarily, have bailed is absurd. For every name you can toss into the ring as being someone who left because they got tired of defending their con-leaning, I, or someone, could toss you a lib-leaner who is no longer in our midst.
It is all in the viewpoint one holds, dear. And, of course, the attitude with which a person presents those views. Kindness begets kindness, vitrol begets vitrol. We all need to remember this.
That's one of my pseudonyms... my real name is not Harry Farte, either... but it is an honor to meet you... you have a great sense of humor, and I like that...
Sorry... Anarchy is only fun for a few. I'll withdraw. I'll be in the bar.
Libertarian socialism (sometimes called socialist anarchism, and sometimes left libertarianism) is a group of political philosophies that aspire to create a society without political, economic, or social hierarchies, i.e. a society in which all violent or coercive institutions would be dissolved, and in their place every person would have free, equal access to the tools of information and production...
political philosophies commonly described as libertarian socialist include most varieties of anarchism (especially anarchist communism, anarchist collectivism, anarcho-syndicalism, mutualism, social ecology, autonomism and council communism)... some writers use libertarian socialism synonymously with anarchism and in particular socialist anarchism...
I believe that opinions should vary and decorum prevail as much as possible in order to form a more perfect union...short of that, arguments should at least be funny and contain as little facts and figures as possible...
I'm not sure just now.... I've got to go and rent a stump grinder. Seriously...no joke. That has to be funny on some level...And the irony? Who's to say?
