Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
07-01-2010, 07:08 AM   #16
Veteran Member
GeneV's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Albuquerque NM
Photos: Albums
Posts: 9,830
QuoteOriginally posted by Nesster Quote
Now that I'm thinking of this, there are two further benefits of participating here:
1) new respect for politicians and other public figures, for their thick skin (I'm presuming these people aren't sociopathically immune)
2) I've become more interested in current events and have had to do more reading in order to keep up with what goes on here.

We do sound like a parrot fight sometimes
I suppose it works for a while to inspire one to be informed, but the battle of the parrots and the mynas wears thin quickly.

07-01-2010, 07:18 AM   #17
Veteran Member
Nesster's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: NJ USA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 13,072
Then again, the era of our Founding Fathers makes our current age blush in shame when it comes to political discourse and machinations.

to clarify : back then, and all along the 1800s they were MEAN, NASTY, VILE, UNDERHANDED, LYING, CHEATING, BACKSTABBING sons of bitches who thought nothing of MANUFACTURING STORIES and HIRING PEOPLE TO SWIFTBOAT the opposition, only much worse. And, as we know re. Hamilton, actual DUELS were fought. Very instructive to read about the early US democracy.

Last edited by Nesster; 07-01-2010 at 09:25 AM.
07-01-2010, 09:12 AM   #18
Veteran Member
Ratmagiclady's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: GA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 13,563
In terms of the media, one thing we probably could do well to get over, is some notion of holding politicians to some kind of standard of 'scandal-proof' squeaky-clean moralism, at least if they aren't claiming to try to rule by these notions when most people don't live by them.

It has the effect of meaning that no one who's *interesting* or has *seen much of life* is even able to get far in seeking office.

White-collar dishonesty may be alive and well, but I kind of *want* some of our government to have inhaled a little in college, or had some sex or gotten drunk once in a while. Actually hurting people or being dishonest with money is one thing, but, hey, if you had a hippie phase, what did you learn from it? That's what I want to know.

Evangelicals get a pass on this if they claim to be 'born again,' (Dubya being a prime example,) but that doesn't help.

I mean how especially on the Democratic side, you have to have been really kind of boring to pass the de facto religious tests for office/moralistic scandalmongers' vettings, and that's not what we need, right now.

We need people with some clue about life, not those sequestered from it for their political ambitions since 'A Current Affair' hit the airwaves.

We need some Jeffersons and Franklins and even Jacksons.

Frankly, one of the most sensible and insightful conservatives I've ever met actually smoked a significant lot of pot in college, (ironically while me, the freaky mystical punk chick had gotten quite bored with the stuff long since. ) ...he probably wouldn't fit in the Republican machine at all, but of all conservatives I've met, really seemed to have his head on straight, despite trying really hard to be a womanizer. I dunno if anyone from his crowd was going for it, though.

Still remember thinking, 'This guy's smart, articulate, reasonably-easy-on the-eyes, manages to be not-obnoxious despite the caricatured 'I'm in college' thing he riffed on, and actually has the makings of a manager and even leader.'

Most of all, not in lockstep about anything: if he was, in my opinion, naively pro-business, that was cause he had some kind of intention to commit himself to his own. If he had an opinion, there was a reason for it, and it didn't come as part of a package.

He'd have been totally-disqualified from politics, though. Mostly, just cause he met folks like me and stuff.

And I think of that, cause the 'Young Republicans' of the time were indistinguishable from those among them who were just skinheads that grew out their hair a bit and wore business suits around, among whom are people actually in the GOP machine.

It's worse with Democrats, too, because it's the *Republicans* who make a big fuss about anything 'undesireable' in their past.

So, we get boring Dems with a tendency to succumb to pressures like that.

Frankly I think if we want to start getting along and ...indeed, start with those things we all want and accomplish them, ...we have to resist these identity politics. I really don't care if my politician got some sex. I do care if they are using the government, money, or religion, as some kind of *substitute* for it.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
america, beliefs, discussion, future, ideas, people, post, presidency, wonder, world
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:04 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top