They are the ignorant, the malignant, the stupid, the crazy, the bigoted, the criminal, the fanatic; the scum element of society. Republican or not; American or not, past or present; conservatives are virtually always on the wrong side of every question.
You owe an awful lot, just by being raised in and benefiting from this society. Society is why you are on the Internet complaining about being expected to contribute to the society that has made you something better than an animal, instead of digging for grubs like an ape .
In other words, lies and distortions are OK if they are Republican lies and distortions. Cherry-picked “intelligence” and outright lies are not “flawed intelligence”; they are lies.
However, if you read this thread as suggested, the concept keeps getting reinforced.
Some liberals on the SDMB simply are incapable of discussing politics without the kind of foam-flecked fulminations we have seen here. The thread starts out perfectly calmly, with both sides (mostly) making an effort to be fair-minded and give the other side a reasonably accurate description. Then the Usual Suspects show up.
You must realize you’re including yourself in the Usual Suspects list. You have been nowhere near as vitriolic as Der Trihs, but you and he are the only ones slamming the other side in this thread without slamming your own. Everyone else has either been civil or equally dismissive.
Because the Republicans ARE that bad. They are literally a collection of incompetents, theocrats, ruthless capitalists, bigots, conquerors and torturers. I’d stop regarding them as scum and fools, if they’d stop being scum and fools. Instead, every time I turn around it’s bash the gays, shove Jesus down our throats, bomb, torture, lie, and on and on.
Interesting thread , some good answers and some off the wall and out in the ozone.
A couple of funny ones too.
I’m a registered Dem who is really more of an independent with some conservative views. I value personal responsibility. While I feel we should help our less fortunate countrymen when they need it I also recognize that people must feel the consequences of bad choices in order to learn. I think people shouldn’t be penalized for being smart, dedicated and industrious but I’m concerned about cooperate greed and too much cooperate influence in law making.
I’d like to see an economic structure that allows any honest hard working person to afford the essentials of a decent life. That means affordable health care and an opportunity for an education. I also don’t want to pay someone’s medical bills and rent and grocery bill so they can have a cell phone, play station and cable TV.
I heard George Will the other night promoting his new book. When asked about the difference between conservative and liberal he said {paraphrased}
The two things that both value are equality and freedom. Conservatives desire freedom and accept inequality of outcome in pursuit and preservation of it.
Liberals desire equality and are willing to sacrifice and circumscribe freedom in pursuit of it.
I find this a very interesting philosophical premise. It seems to me we’ve been struggling to find a balance between freedom and equality for some time. Social safety nets have helped a lot of people but has also hindered natural consequences for choices and created a sense of entitlement. The free market system hasn’t adequately addressed cooperate greed and manipulation of our laws so inequality in economic opportunity gets worse instead of better.
IMHO that translates in neither side having all the answers. If we can make the move back toward honest debate about the issues with both sides focusing on working solutions rather than control we have a better chance of making some progress.
I’m well aware of unrealistic zealots on both sides of the issue.
That doesn’t make your post more accurate or fair minded. It’s neither.
Foam flecked fulminations are a clear sign that the individual is not up for a rational discussion of the issues, but let’s not mistake a calmer demeanor for rational discussion. Rational discussion IMO means a reasonable presentation of the issues and the facts that apply.
Der Trihs, the Iraqi insurgents - who you have said you have supported in their fight against our military - are using guns (which are far more primitive than ours) to stand up to us, and they’re doing a hell of a job at it, no matter what side you come down on.
Honestly, I’m surprised to hear such a pessimistic attitude about guerrilla warfare from you. I always had you pegged for the Abbie Hoffman type of left-winger, the kind of guy who would be on the front lines of any physical insurgency against an oppressive government (a type of radical who I have much more respect for than the stereotypical peace-and-love hippie.)
It’s true that in modern times, guns are mainly used to oppress people - they’re used by the government, directly, to oppress people, not through second-hand channels like the random killing of some abortion doctor. All across the third world, guns in the hands of tyrants are perpetrating the oppression, by government, which you crusade against.
The only answer to this, is an armed population. Which is why the 2nd Amendment is still important!
What complete crap. Modern day conservatives want to control what happens in the bedroom, restrict recreational drugs, and put controls on sex-oriented entertainment. Historic conservatives supported slavery and segragation.
Today’s conservatives have also supported expansion of the right of the govt to spy on its own citizens.
When was the last time Geoge Will was right (i.e., correct) about anything?