Nance Greggs: A Modest Proposal

[babylonsister]

A Modest Proposal
By NanceGreggs, on March 10th, 2012


This weekend, most of the nation’s citizens will be turning their clocks forward one hour. In keeping with the situation, it would seem an opportune time for all Republicans to turn their clocks forward as well – by at least two hundred and fifty years, give or take.

I assure you, the rest of us would welcome you into the 21st Century with open arms.

It might seem a bit overwhelming at first, even frightening, as you enter into a time when women have careers, access to contraception, dominion over their own bodies, a political voice – oh, and the vote. And they use that vote in their own best interests. (I hope that last bit of info wasn’t too jarring to the senses.)

Although it’s been around for a while, we take this separation of Church and State thing pretty seriously these days. We don’t equate wishing someone a happy holiday at Christmastime with rounding up Christians and throwing them to the lions. We don’t consider ourselves to be a godless nation; we just think that rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s isn’t a bad model to go by. (You might recall who said that, as you claim to have more than a passing acquaintance with his teachings.)

Here in the 21st Century, we have access to scientific knowledge in the form of documentaries, books, up-to-date magazines, websites, et cetera. We now know with certainty that the Earth is more than 6,000 years old, and that dinosaurs did not roam the planet along with human beings. We’re also pretty sold on this round-Earth concept, and the notion that the planets revolve around the sun.

We have a series of tubes called the internet. We can see what you say back in your own time – and it’s sometimes hilarious. We can also see and hear Republican politicians pretty much every time they make a statement – that means we know about the misrepresentations and the out-and-out lies. You really ought to watch what you say, because here in the present century, we can actually access your every word – no need to rely on the town crier to pretty it up for us and apply the necessary spin. (Well, we do have FOX News, but I digress.)

more...

http://www.democratsforprogress.com/2012/03/10/a-modest-proposal/

[The Wielding Truth]

1. Thank you, babylonsister. This certainly bares repeating. Another perfection form NanceGreggs.

[Old Codger]

2. Thank You

Good to see Nance Rants here now and then, I for one really miss her posts here, just have t go to her site more often.

Thank you for posting this

[thesquanderer]

9. Where/why did she go?

Personally, as it happens, I don't miss her posts, I didn't like them and stopped reading them long ago, but I didn't know she actually wasn't here anymore. What happened?

[ZombieHorde]

13. She wrote a piece about Obama apologists,

but she did not know what an apologist was, so the piece made no sense. Of course, some the Obama opponents here on DU then told her all about her mistake, which may have been embarrassing for her, and she left.

[Maven]

14. She got too greedy for attention and her attacks on "the left" finally jumped the shark.

[FourScore]

3. I miss Nance Greggs. n/t

[Bozita]

7. +1

[hifiguy]

33. +2

At least I know where to find her now.

[FourScore]

36. I was thinking the same thing. :-)

[samplegirl]

4. Never will I pass a chance to rec.

A Nance Greggs post!

Excellent as usual!!!

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Nance is still worth a K/R

!!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

6. REC!!!! Oh yes,

Recommend and kick!

[Scuba]

8. Rec

[Grey]

10. I love Nance,

One Smart Lady. I really miss her posts.

[LiberalLovinLug]

11. I miss Nance too

She was one of the brightest DUers here. She was one that got me through the awful W Bush years with her piercingly accurate pieces that were expertly tinged with a black humor wit that only she could deliver.

I still don't understand her little tantrum though and her leaving in a huff. If she is an Obama-no-matter-what loyalist, there are plenty on here that still subscribe to that view. And isn't it better having open discussions on our differences than just walking out and slamming the door? She became a "quitter" that day, and I never saw that in her before.

[billh58]

19. Nance is not a quitter,

she just took her talent elsewhere. She owes absolutely nothing to DU.

[rhett o rick]

25. She quit DU nm

[billh58]

38. The last I heard from Nance,

she decided to take a break from DU and I am glad that she is thoughful enough to have taken her unique writing talents elsewhere. Someone who decides to leave an abusive relationship is not a "quitter."

DU is definitely not the center of the Democratic universe, nor even very supportive of the Democratic Party, so "quitting" DU is a matter of perspective.

[rhett o rick]

43. DU is not a lock-step Democratic blog if that's what people are looking for.

In fact it is mostly centrist if you ask me. And she has a lot of followers here. But no one should be subject to abuse but there are tools to limit that here. Alerts and ignores. But apparently she feels more comfortable else where, more power to her.

Now I have had some conversations with a person that sounded a lot like her but under a different DU name. Probably my mistake.

As far as DU not supporting the Democratic Party, I have to disagree. I hope you dont mistake holding our elected reps feets to the fire and non-support. If we wanted lock-step we would call on Grover Norquist.

[billh58]

44. I sincerely appreciate your

Last edited Tue Mar 13, 2012, 10:53 PM - Edit history (1)

views about the leanings of DU members, and your civility. I have no quarrel with you, or with anyone on DU for that matter. DU has evolved since the 2008 primary election campaigns, and everyone needs to judge for themselves whether that evolution was for the better, or the worse. Point-of-view, and all that.

As with most political discussion boards, however, a very vocal minority on some DU forums shouts the loudest, complains the most, and in the end contributes very little to an open and honest conversation about Democrats or the Democratic Party. I was around when the meltdown began, but at the time I was more active on another popular Democratic board which has since gone the same way as DU. BTW, the active membership of that particular board is around 10% of what it once was.

The "lockstep," "feet-to-the-fire," and "apologist" arguments have become so overused that they have become virtually meaningless and serve only to further polarize the DU extremes -- few of which are Democrats by self-definition. Many DU contributors have left for greener and less stressful pastures, and Nance just happens to be one of them.

I stick around partly for the amusement factor, and partly out of nostalgia for better times.

[rhett o rick]

45. I am here because I learn from debates with those that dont see eye to eye with me.

I could go to one of those unmentionable progressive sights and banter with those that agree with me but that's no fun nor interesting. Nance and I had a lot of head to head battles. I would hope she appreciated them as I did. Again there is no room for bullying and it shouldnt be put up with. I see it here but use the ignore function when it is aimed at me.

[ElboRuum]

26. Discussions, yes.

Harangues, no. Accusations of apologism, no. Vitriol for its own sake, couched in the interminably vile rhetoric of concern, no.

Which is, as I recall, the way it was when she left. Of course, any time someone gets fed up with the asschewings around this place, decides to leave, and has the temerity to say why, it is standard operating procedure around here to say things like "buh-bye" and "don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya", and it doesn't matter how long they've been here or what impression they've made. And it's horseshit.

She didn't quit DU. DU quit her.

[LiberalLovinLug]

37. Poppycock

"She didn't quit DU. DU quit her."

She had lots of love here. From me and many others. Despite my more critical view of the President, I was very fond of her and her wit and cutting prose. Many on here can have these different opinions on the direction Mr. Obama is taking the country, how much he fights for progressive issues etc..but we stay and debate it out. Almost everyone on here agrees on most of those progressive issues but perhaps disagree on how and when we should expect those issues to be addressed. But we don't quit if we hear too many voices we don't agree with. From what I have seen Nance has many fans both those that agree with her 100% and those that don't including me. I wish she'd come back. DU did not, en mass, quit on her. It was all her decision.

[billh58]

40. And from my

perspective, the correct decision. Nance doesn't need to come back to DU, as she is still accessible, and fighting the good fight with her talent for the written word. DU has absolutely nothing to offer her.

[ElboRuum]

46. You are wrong. n/t

[billh58]

39. Too true... (nm)

[nxylas]

30. Plenty, but not enough

She couldn't live with the fact that DU isn't an Obama lovefest and that criticism of the President is actually allowed on here.

[annabanana]

12. Ah Nance, Nance

Come home.

[tridim]

15. Please come home Nance

You are missed.

[Irishonly]

16. Thank you for posting

Nancy Greggs is one of the biggest reasons I joined DU. The other was the Top 10 Conservative Idiots. I miss reading her rants.

[kag]

17. Kicked, Rec'd, and shared on Facebook

Thanks, Nance...wherever you are.

[grantcart]

18. Vintage Nance. Always refreshing.

[gateley]

20. My honor and pleasure to recommend two of my ABSOLUTE favorites --

babylonsister and NanceGreggs!

[SalviaBlue]

21. The loss of Nancegreggs is a huge loss for DU.

Thanks for the link.

[sellitman]

29. Amen!

I miss me some Nance!

[freshwest]

22. Great rant. K & R. Here's the clock picture someone posted here earlier:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002408162

[nolabear]

23. Oh I do miss Nance's posts. She's one reason I stuck around.

Her posts and Jackeens' photos, among others. An awful lot of others.

[Tumbulu]

28. Yes, same for me

I love Jackeens' photos. Is she still with DU?

[LittleGirl]

24. thanks for posting.

I joined DU to comment on her posts. Nance. Miss you.

[1620rock]

27. Hmm, I never suspected she was the type to throw a hissyspit and walk out the door...

That being said, she is a great writer and is sorley missed.

[chervilant]

34. Sad,

what passes for 'great' writing these days. I guess dangling participles are all the rage.

In my early years as an advocate for survivors of relationship violence, I repeatedly adjured my colleagues to develop strategies to help batterers, observing that our efforts to eliminate relationship violence would be ineffective if we failed to help the perpetrators. My proposals were met with derision (much like the derision expressed on DU toward anyone who criticizes Mr. Obama). To this day, few programs exist to help batterers understand and change their behaviors. As I predicted, relationship violence continues unabated.

How can we HOPE to encourage those citizens about whom Nance 'rants' to merely contemplate our perspective--let alone embrace it--if we denigrate or ridicule? Furthermore, these poor 'Republican' souls are our sisters, our brothers, our mothers, our fathers, our neighbors, our friends, our fellow citizens. How can we NOT explore ways to engage them?

For great writing, and a framework within which we might effect change among our neo-conservative brethren, consider Richard Hofstadter's The Paranoid Style in American Politics and anything Gandhi wrote about Satyagraha.

[billh58]

41. There is a

difference between great writing, and good grammar. And, just so often, wayward grammar is written with purpose in order to titillate the Ear.

Anything written which pleases the Ear, and stimulates the mind, is great writing.

[chervilant]

42. Indeed.

Good on you for supporting writers everywhere, great or otherwise.

[patricia92243]

31. Nancy should have put people on ignore if they really upset her - and not deprive the rest of us of

her excellent posts. She was the only journal I had on alert (or whatever it's called) so that I would know when she had a new post.

I hope she reads all the pleas for her to come home - and does just that.

[bvar22]

32. DURec, but personally, I wish BOTH Parties would wind thier clock forward....

...from 19th Century Laissez-faire Capitalism Economic Policy.
We have already tried Privatized, No Regulation, Free Trade/Free Market Economics.
It is in the History Books.
It didn't work then,
and it is not working now.

As in the late 19th Century, this approach produced a very RICH 1%,
and a huge underclass of Slave Wage Workers, and those were the "lucky" ones.

That is what angers me most about the last 30 years of bi-partisan deregulation and "Free Market" Economics.
We have already been there and done that.

Hmmmm.
Maybe THAT is WHY "they" have stopped teaching History in the schools,
and no longer require high school students to read Steinbeck, Frank Norris, Upton Sinclair, or any of the other American writers
who wrote about LIFE for the Working Class in the era when government was Off the Backs of the Job Creators.




Cherish your memories,
because "they" are taking everything else.

[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[cliffordu]

35. Another gem from Nance

K&R