I know what you said in your post. Again, I'm sorry. I did not mean to insult or question your intelligence. If I have caused you any pain or angst whatsoever, I am deeply, deeply sorry. I do not believe that people have to be stupid or gullible to have a different viewpoint, you are reading too much into a statement that was obviously worded very badly. I am sure that there are many, many Reps who care deeply for the kids in question, just as I am sure that you do everything in your power to help the people around you. The issue that I have is with the leaders of the Republican party, who do not come across to me as having as much focus on the underprivileged as the leaders of the Democrats. This is not to say that the policies the Dems want would necessarily be the best, either. I think the correct policy lies somewhere in between and that it is the stonewalling done by both sides that ends up hurting the people we are talking about here, namely the underprivileged.
So what are your beliefs based on? Simply what the majority thinks? I just don't think thats much of a philosophy thats all.
My beliefs are based on an analysis of our policies and politics that I started once I was old enough to start thinking about politics (around age 15 or 16). I have looked around and seen that the people who get things done are people who investigate possible approaches, compromise with the opposition, and come up with workable policies that meet the needs of ALL parties. To his credit, I think Bush did this fairly well during his tenure as the Governor of Texas. Governor Johnson of New Mexico did it very well there, and from what I understand, Howard Dean did it pretty well in Vermont. Personally, I think that if the majority (centrists) came up with our policies instead of the wackos from the extreme left and extreme right, we would have a much more civilized system of government.
NP. I agree that the thread was not nearly as colorful until then (discounting my starred out expletive, of course).
So basically your beliefs are based upon the majority, which changes from day to day based upon media manipulation, spin, and well let's throw in the weather. I don't know man your beliefs just don't seem to have any solid footing. You just say I'm for the middle, well what the heck is the middle for? Middle person stands scratching head, well I don't know I was just watching Everybody Loves Raymond and I guess well I don't really know...whatever everybody else thinks I guess...
See work of Aristotle for more information on the good of the middle path. Especially his treatments of ethics and politics.
Hey I did my thesis on the Aristotle and the best regime and you have to know the conditions for the middling regime, which I will admit is a good regime, in fact it is the best practical regime. However, in Aristotle, the middling regime is led by virtue, not a democratic fervor that seems to be the only form of government that people will accept these days. So, in a sense, we have not yet come to a middling regime here in America... You should also see Aristotle's thoughts on democracy, not to favorable.... I'm just getting on andy because his beliefs aren't really based in any bedrock like virtue, or any idea of the highest good... they are just kind of wishy washy go with the tide of popular belief, but this can be bad, look at Nazi Germany, or Alexis de Touqeville and his thoughts on the Tyranny of the Majority....
Now that's a political platform I can support. I can honestly say - without any hyperbole whatsoever - to everyone in this thread (at least the 1st page & 1/2) not named B-Bob, MadMax, JuanValdez or Mrs. Valdez: You are all part of the problem, none of you have any solutions. Your insults & empty rhetoric are most counterproductive. Grow the **** up and be constructive.
Did you look at any of the issues pages on the website? My beliefs are based on what I think the middle of the political spectrum is. IE, I am for welfare, but I believe that it needs to be limited to getting a person back to a position where they can work (slightly expanded unemployment insurance). I also believe that if you are on welfare, you should do some work for the government for that money, whether it be mowing the median, picking up litter, or whatever. I am not saying that I think we need to run our country by polls, I am saying that we should have a political party that actually represents most people's political beliefs, which are somewhere in the middle of the political spectrum. If you would like to see and talk about my specific beliefs, visit www.andymoon.com/middleparty and click on one of the issues links. Each link goes to a page where we discuss that issue from the perspecive of someone from the political middle.
My beliefs are based on accountability and ethical behavior. You have misunderstood my comments on the middle of the political spectrum. I don't know where you picked up this "majority" idea that you have labeled me with. The basis of my ideals comes from the Declaration of Independance, mostly. I believe that everyone is created equally and that we are all due certain rights, most notably liberty. Liberty may be the biggest right we have given up over recent years and I think it is time to take it back.
Buck, Can you really say without any exaggeration that none of us has ANY solutions at all? Isn't that a bit egotistical considering that you don't even know me and (to my knowledge) we have never even had a conversation? I am all about solutions, that is all I do all day long is solve problems.
I figured out where it happened. I said What I should have said was "I think that if centrists came up with our policies instead of the wackos from the extreme left and extreme right, we would have a much more civilized system of government." I happen to believe that centrists are the majority of the politically aware, but that does not mean that I believe in rule by the majority alone. I think majority rule is a particularly BAD idea, which is why I was so confused when you accused me of desiring it. I believe in rule by the center of the political spectrum with fringe groups operating on the fringe. I am sorry that I misspoke and caused the confusion.
LOL... No dude I just am way overread and I'm going to be able to do jack squat with that job except teach college kids about stuff. I'll be living off a measley 30k a year and supporting my big Catholic family of 17 kids as we huddle around the fire. I'm guess I'm just trying to say that being read is good, but there are much more important things to life, and andy, I'm sorry but I was a lazy bum with a 56k connection and I didn't feel like waiting for web pages to come up so I didn't read your web site.... It's good you look back to the Declaration but I think you have to look back even further than that, to see where excatly these rights come from, and to remeber what sorts of duties they entail.... a good book to read is this book by a guy named Richard Kranak, I think its called Christianity and Modern Democracy or vice a versa something like that. Its a great read although I don't really agree with his critique of the Pope for using Kantian language. Also you should check out this book by a 20th century philosopher, Leo Strauss, entitled What is Political Philosophy? It will help build your understanding into what is politics, and will help you see that all modern day Political jargon actually stems from some sort of philosophy. It's important to know the roots of what it is we beleive in. Both are excellent reads, but I don't necessarily agree with every point made in them. Both books are very logical and I think you will gain a greater appreciation for your country and hopefully for your president, who despite some of his intellectual shortcomings, really is a good person and cares for preserving these ideals.
