Oh good. *is relieved* (I didn't think so, what with the brain-sharing and all, but...) Not that I have anything against Republicans per se (there are quite a few on my flist, including people who voted for Dubya. Twice.), but it's just something I find it very hard to wrap my head around.
Well I know of one person who voted twice, although she's calmed down by now. ;)
And I've not got anything against 'Republicans' as such (I like to read Andrew Sullivan f.ex.), even though it's a different POV to my own. Plus that label encompasses so many different things now, that it's a bit risky to use it.
One of my childhood heroes just died recently: Mark Hatfield was my senator growing up. While he was wasn't without flaws, he had genuine integrity and tried to do the right thing. It took guts to be a conservative publicly opposed to the Viet Nam war. I highly recommend his book "Conflict and Conscience".
I strongly think that it's healthy for a society to have opposing viewpoints, though obviously it's best to have those viewpoints respectfully aired. Good ideas come from all sorts of places, and refusing to acknowledge that fact is cutting our political culture off at the knees from any fresh ideas. And as far as I can tell both side of the spectrum are equally guilty.
though granted the tea party is nuts. No arguments!
One of my childhood heroes just died recently: Mark Hatfield was my senator growing up. While he was wasn't without flaws, he had genuine integrity and tried to do the right thing. Someone with integrity is always worth listening to. And thank you for the link to his obituary.
Good ideas come from all sorts of places, and refusing to acknowledge that fact is cutting our political culture off at the knees from any fresh ideas. *nods a lot*
though granted the tea party is nuts. No arguments! Heh. There are nutcases everywhere. The Tea Party are just particularly loud and scary...
I have a certain admiration for old-school conservatives. They have a philosophical coherence and discipline to their positions that I have to respect. Old school conservatives are hardly running the party, though.
To quote Ian Hislop (from Have I Got News for You - a long running news comedy quiz show), who was asked to differentiate between the different wings of the party:
'The American Republican Party is very, very right wing and The Tea Party is nuts!"
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Once! Just the once! :D But you speak of my family, intentionally or not!
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And I've not got anything against 'Republicans' as such (I like to read Andrew Sullivan f.ex.), even though it's a different POV to my own. Plus that label encompasses so many different things now, that it's a bit risky to use it.
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I strongly think that it's healthy for a society to have opposing viewpoints, though obviously it's best to have those viewpoints respectfully aired. Good ideas come from all sorts of places, and refusing to acknowledge that fact is cutting our political culture off at the knees from any fresh ideas. And as far as I can tell both side of the spectrum are equally guilty.
though granted the tea party is nuts. No arguments!
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Someone with integrity is always worth listening to. And thank you for the link to his obituary.
Good ideas come from all sorts of places, and refusing to acknowledge that fact is cutting our political culture off at the knees from any fresh ideas.
*nods a lot*
though granted the tea party is nuts. No arguments!
Heh. There are nutcases everywhere. The Tea Party are just particularly loud and scary...
(And hugs for you - I hope you feel better soon.)
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'The American Republican Party is very, very right wing and The Tea Party is nuts!"
;)