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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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pro-choice, gay rights, evolution, etc.
That's why you're STSOTY.
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jstan
climber
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Korea: "Gooks"
Germany: "Krauts"
Japan: "Japs"
Whites: "Honky"
Blacks: "nigger"
Democrats: socialists, commies, elitists
Obama: "Barry"
When starting a war the first thing is to dehumanize people on the other side. Easier to rationalize doing anything you wish to them that way. This is stupid.
During the Civil War General Lee always referred to the North as "these people." Though desperately undermanned compared to the Union he obtained amazing successes because he was able to put himself in their shoes and predict what the Union would do. He knew McClellan would never commit his reserves so Lee could send every man he had into the line.
Had he called them some emotion laden name he would have subsequently had to surmount an emotional barrier if he was to use all of his talent to compete with subhumans, the North. No one wants to admit it will take all they have to deal with "subhumans." A patently silly barrier to give oneself.
So we know Bookworm has prepared his rationalization for doing whatever he pleases, regardless of their rights, to groups of US citizens.
That is the definition of
civil war.
As JE and others have said, civility in discussion is the bedrock on which a country and its citizenry stands.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Thanks, jstan.
I think that we need to go beyond civility and recognize that we are, by and large, on the same side. Both Democrats and Republicans want a strong defense, although we may disagree on what brings that about. Both Republicans and Democrats want to help the poor, although our ideas of the best means may differ. You'd never know that from the campaign rhetoric which, thanks to the modern media, is now continuous.
Particularly if I read the normal media outlets uncritically, I would think that the only thing any party or movement wants is to destroy their rivals. When George W. Bush (you could add "shrub" to your list of epithets, jstan) was in power, and particularly after the 2002 elections, it would be easy to conclude that the Democrats wanted the United States to fail, so that they could blame everything on him. Now that Obama is president, it's hard to avoid a similar conclusion about Republicans.
Of course, the extremes in both parties sell more news than the moderates, so that's most of what we'll hear about. I'm just wondering how the adults get heard amidst this intellectual food fight.
John
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BrianH
Trad climber
santa fe
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Take away the cash nexus and there still remains a psychological predisposition toward war and militarism on the part of the GOP. This undoubtedly arises from a neurotic need to demonstrate toughness and dovetails perfectly with the belligerent tough-guy pose one constantly hears on right-wing talk radio. Militarism springs from the same psychological deficit that requires an endless series of enemies, both foreign and domestic.
The results of the last decade of unbridled militarism and the Democrats' cowardly refusal to reverse it[4], have been disastrous both strategically and fiscally. It has made the United States less prosperous, less secure and less free. Unfortunately, the militarism and the promiscuous intervention it gives rise to are only likely to abate when the Treasury is exhausted, just as it happened to the Dutch Republic and the British Empire.
**Goodbye to All That: Reflections of a GOP Operative Who Left the Cult
Saturday 3 September 2011**
[url="http://www.truth-out.org/goodbye-all-reflections-gop-operative-who-left-cult/1314907779"]
This is one of the clearest and most cogent political analysis I've seen in a long time.
While many of the so called rank-and-file GOP/teaparty voters may believe the simplistic platitudes they hear on Fox, this article, from one who served the Overlords, explains how these "low information voters" have been hoodwinked by hypocritical leaders.
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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jstan, John, if you two are going to be so reasonable and logical, would you mind starting your own thread? Why ruin all our fun?
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jstan
climber
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JE:
Our changing "the News" into "infotainment", suggests a serious problem. Americans are looking only for entertainment.
This may have come about because we are no longer able to entertain ourselves.
We have become a passive dependent people.
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BrianH
Trad climber
santa fe
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We have become a passive dependent people.
I characterize it as a disease of affluence. We're so caught up in our First world problems, we have lost a lot of perspective.
We enjoy the benefits of generations of hard work. Our highway system, our public libraries, our telecom networks and military (just a few examples) were the pride of the world for many decades. That was grace of hard work, compromise and a shared vision for a better future for our children. Deep inside a voice wonders if we could do it again if necessary. We doubt we can, and that drives anxiety which fuels teh crazy.
We've inherited the richest country in the world, and like many who inhereit money, we're pissing it away.
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Get that, "home ownership is a fundamental right". Insane liberal socialists, lead by Holiness Obama.
Rhetoric like this is why this country is heading towards failure. Obama didn't write this and it is highly unlikely that it will pass. It is a private initiative, much like the tea party.
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jstan
climber
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LEB, whomever you are.
Would you think it appropriate were you to pull up a TV program showing the Third Reich's invasion of Poland presented as "infotainment"?
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jstan
climber
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LEB:
No, I don't know who you are.
Show me why Rush Limbaugh would not be pointing the finger as to why Poland was invaded the previous day, were this to happen. Our political theater is all about entertainment.
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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do you think it was written by conservative Republican bankers????? No, this is classic liberal thinking, you libs own this one, talk about destroying America.
And this is classic "us against them" thinking. No way to win this war. We are all going down. That is why I told JohnE I had no idea how to solve the issue he brought up, and which Jstan has been trying to point out for years now.
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Jstan, didn't a law change in the last 20 years or so that allowed TV stations to be biased in their news reporting? I know that it has always been biased to some extent, but it got worse after this change. I just can't remember what it was called. Does anyone know what I'm referring to?
What I remember is someone challenged the constitutionality of requiring TV stations to have balanced new reports, and they won. Which led to the creation of fox news and more and more biased report on all stations.
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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So Mousey,
The first amendment was a really bad idea?
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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PT
So Mousey,
The first amendment was a really bad idea?
There are instances where the public good outweighs your right to free speech. TGiot.
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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The first amendment was a good idea. Too bad it's on a case by case basis.
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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Who determines "public good?"
You Mousey?
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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My nickname is not mousey. TGiot. Get it right or f*#k off.
Who decided it was a good idea to restrict freedom of speech in theaters?
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Moosie.. no mousey and not moosey.. moosie.
I will say it again, Fox News is a cheerleader for the right. They do, however, offer opposing opinions via guests so I get to hear both sides of controversial issues.
Meh.. their opposing opinions guests are weak sauce. I don't need hours and hours to realize that. Its just like going on the Oliely show. He isn't going to treat you fair, so feck him.
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Bob D'A
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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knuckle drag-ers
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