Sunday, September 18, 2005
Partisanship
I can't help but notice the US versus THEM tone that has penetrated the internet, the media, and the government. It seems we don't have anything we can come together on anymore, and the public is just as divided as everyone else. People think that it's Republican vs. Democrat, but it's not. They are ALL corrupt and hey ALL need to go. The Republicans may have made the latest mistakes, but the Democrats haven't done a whole lot to try and stop them. There are two or three honest politicians at the federal level, and far too few in state and local governments. NOTHING is going to be done until the people arise from the contentment of complacency and actually DO something. But is there anything that can be done? Are we headed for another civil war? Will it be over religion this time, or money like it was last time? This type of division cannot lead to good things.
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28 comments:
Us against them helps those in power, keep us in-fighting so we don't focus our energy, makes demons out of innocents, makes politics like sport, black and white, no in-between, balance and compromise is for losers.
*shakes head*
"It seems we don't have anything we can come together on anymore"
1 - Who doesn't like cookies?
2 - Who doesn't enjoy a good orgasm?
3 - Who didn't laugh at The Three Stooges?
4 - Who honestly wouldn't drive a really nice and expensive car if they could?
5 - Who really wanted to get up to go to work today?
6 - Who doesn't want to improve their house or buy a bigger one?
7 - Who doesn't have a movie star they would fuck in a heartbeat?
8 - Who watched The Notebook and didn't cry?
9 - Who doesn't masturbate?
10 - Who doesn't think Jordan the greatest basketball player of all time?
There's a few things we all sould be able to agree upon. Hope this shined a little light on misery today. Anyone care to add to the list?
Have a hoot. Until later...
Note: If you answered "me" to 8 or 9 - you are definately a liar!
Yes, it is called division. And it is becomming more apparent all of the time.
Jeff,
Political issues are the ones I had in mind. I can't think of anything the libberals and conservaives can agree on, and there doesn't seem to be any middle ground that's acceptable, at least not to me.
Daniel,
I agree. Getting us to fight amongst ourselves takes the heat off of the government.
Jeff - 10 - Who doesn't think Jordan the greatest basketball player of all time?
A lot of stupid Lakers fans were arguing with me that Kobe is better than Michael. Morons. Look like the Zombieslayer got the last laugh. :)
PC - People think that it's Republican vs. Democrat, but it's not. They are ALL corrupt and hey ALL need to go. The Republicans may have made the latest mistakes, but the Democrats haven't done a whole lot to try and stop them. There are two or three honest politicians at the federal level, and far too few in state and local governments.
All of these statements I completely agree with. That's why I'm third party and I'm tired of people telling me I have to choose the lesser of two evils.
We can do better. I'm thinking it's like a drug addict who has to have a heart attack to realize that drugs are going to kill them. Maybe America has to get even worse before people will wise up. Like look at the price of gasoline thing. Only now people are realizing that maybe it's not a good idea to buy a vehicle that gets ten miles to the gallon. Of course, I could have told them that five years ago...
...and it's spreading. the election results in Germany are, in my opinion, an example of the Americanization of their political scene.
Yeharr
I am so worried about how much worse it will get, though.
Well, there's always been an US vs. THEM as long as *I* can remember...which is a lot longer than I'd care to admit. It's actually a helluva lot less divided that it was in the 80s, actually. But it will always be there. After all, it's easier to explain what you are NOT than what you are.
for that matter, why americans against other nationalities?
I think the us versus them element in government is helpful. The "everyone is corrupt" thought is nonsense, though politics always seems to corrupt a little. As far as the difference between liberals and conservatives: I think the essence of liberalism is caught in Bobby Kennedy's often repeated mantra (He got this from Shaw's MAN AND SUPERMAN) "I see things as they are and ask Why? then I see things as they ought to be and ask WHY NOT? The essence of conservatives (I have been one since the early fifties)is the desire to keep things pretty much as they are because radical change always encorporates the rule of unforseen results. I would hate to live in a world where anyone could freely change everyone elses life because "Why Not?" On the other hand if everyone were like me, nothing would change, I wouldn't like that either. The dichotomy is what works. What is "wrong" with the world is under attack by the liberals, and the crackpot solutions are under attack by the conservatives, and the result, whether we agree or not, is a fair amount of progress tempered by sanity.
Jeff, being lod enough to have seen both of them, your wrong. Chamberlain was the best player of all time. Magic was #2, the only guy in history who could play all five positions well.
Threescore,
Welcome, and thamks for your comments. I wonder, though, if there are things that should be changed because they perpetuate injustice and make us out to be hypocrites. Gay marriage is a civil rights issue, and ought to be changed. Abortion is also a civil rights issue. Some things must be changed when we determine that they are unjust and unfair. I wouldn't want to live in a country where that wasn't possible, and I'm seeing a return to injustice and inequality all over America. As a young person, this is a concern for my future as well as the future of my children. Will my daughter be allowed to have an abortion if she is raped? Will public education prepare them for anyhing more than flipping burgers, or will it indoctrinate them into a religion of which I am not a member? Will there be health care benefits or social security when they are elderly? Will they be drafted? I don't know, and I don't like the direction I'm having to look in to get these answers. It's more than Conservative vs. Liberal. The only real question is: Is this a place where I would want to raise my children? I don't think it will be in another 10 years, and I haven't seen much to indicate otherwise.
TS,
I'm not sure what you mean by the question, but if you're referring to the elections in Germany, we're discussion Americanization for several reasons. The most obvious being that the values of the German people have changed due to the American cultural influences seen on TV, in the Media, etc. BP may be more able to explain what he meant by his statement.
polanco,
why complain about "us vs them" mentality only between americans? why not worry about american vs them mentality as well? after all, who doesn't like cookies?
the reason i bring this up is because i think you have very populist and nationalist political tendencies, and traditionally that means an "us vs them" mentality in an international sense. for example, you complain a lot about illegal immigration, but don't acknowledge legal immigration is nearly impossible for most people who want to come here. why? are you afraid of masses of "non-americans" (whatever that means)? as for outsourcing, i think it is the root problem. after all, it creates wealth for american businesses. the problem is how that wealth is distributed. personally, i think income tax reform could help solve that problem.
i'm not saying we should all become "world citizens." but i am saying what is good for them is also sometimes good for us.
TS,
I understand that it is difficult for people to get visas, as it is for Americans to receive visas for other countries. That doesn't excuse people taking advantage of our school system, labor laws, etc... when they are in the country illegally. It may be nationalistic, but I think we have a lot of domestic problems that need to be taken care of before we can responsibly allow increased immigration. I also think that illegal aliens should not be eligigable for government services. I think hat people who hire or house illegal aliens should be heavily fined and those who help illegals come into the country should be jailed. We have an obligation to provide for OUR citizens first. As fa as outsourcing, as long as any eligable American is out of work, companies should be heavily fined or even shut down for engaging in outsourcing.
We have an obligation to provide for OUR citizens first.
right on!
As far as outsourcing, as long as any eligable American is out of work, companies should be heavily fined or even shut down for engaging in outsourcing.
completely agreed. Why are we always giving other people our jobs while we have people in poverty here who would be more than glad to have them?
I can't stand the politically correct mentality that all nationalism is bad, and all nationalism leads to Hitler. For the record, Hitler wasn't the only nationalistic person who ever lived. By listening to these PC people, they're trying to get you to believe that.
And I'm sick of the double standard that says Americans can't be proud to be American, but make fun of any aspect of their country and they start whining profusely.
I think when I run for Congress in 2010 or so, I'll run as a pro-privacy, pro-freedom, and NATIONALIST.
You got my vote Zombie!
I'm nine for 10 anyhow.
Until later...
Interestingly enough there has been one political issue that 90% of the american people agree on.
A rabid dislike of the recent supreme court decsion in Kelo vs (brain freeze, New Haven?) oh well. IT seems no one, white. black, liberal, conservative, religious, atheist or anyone else likes the idea of getting their property given to some other private party for profit.
As of the serious Ux vs them mode, well, when no one is willing to compromise or admit the other side may have a point that is all you are left with.
Exmi,
Excellent point. I guess we've found one so far.
polanco,
which country has denied you a visa? most countries don't even require u.s. citizens to apply--they automatically grant them 30-day tourist visas. i don't know what you're talking about as far as americans finding it difficult to get visas.
what i DO know is that researchers and university students from certain countries must re-apply for entry back into the united states, EVEN IF they have a valid visa, job, or u.s. university program they are enrolled in!
i've never said we should grant amnesty to illegals, so stop harping on that issue. what i'm saying is that an "us vs them" mentality prevents us from solving the problem.
as for outsourcing, your solution would "heavily fine or even shut down" nearly every major american company. (if you disagree, name me ONE american brand that doesn't source part manufacture overseas.) so tell me, do you think we should boycott chinese goods? why or why not?
I was referring to residential visas. The problem with tourist visas is that people often use them to stay in the country illegally. I think we need to figure out a way to keep that from happening rather than continuing to deny visas. Work visas for a lot of European countries are difficult to obtain. You're using immigration as a way to illustrate and US vs Them mentality and I'm continuing in that vein. This post is about the political divisions between CITIZENS of THIS country, not the US prejudice against those from other countries. That's a different category, and I can certainly write about it later.
fine. i was just pointing out that "us vs them" seldom leads to constructive solutions in any context, not just in domestic politics.
You're absolutely right. By no means am I enouraging divison, but we have a lot of problems in this country. Immigration is a pretty big one, but right now, partisanship is something we need to focus on. If we don' stand togethe, we're destined to fall apart.
I'd rather limit immigration and have enemies than be flooded with illegals. We not need partisanship as much as we need to save our country from becoming just another sucky Third-World nation.
And I'm not about to compromise and give away my country and my economy to China either.
China is a very real military threat, and i seems I need to post on this, because it's something people want to talk about. My husband and I are learning to read Chinese.
PC - About once a month, some crazy Chinese general makes a statement about sending nukes at America if such and such happens. Why we give them a penny or any of our jobs is beyond me.
Looking forward to seeing your post.
In relation to 10, what's basketball...
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