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Last edited Sun Sep 15, 2013, 02:18 AM - Edit history (1)
Just thought I'd say hello.
I've been spending my time mostly on Anandtech's political forums for years, partly with the idea that it's more useful to talk to the people who disagree to try to inform them, than to preach to the choir.
But there are times it's nice to talk to people who are more on the same page about an issue instead of having the same 'justify why we shouldn't kill everyone outside the United States' type start from scratch discussions with people on the far right.
I'm generally what I'd call a 'strong progressive'. A hobby is the Kennedy presidency. Good to be among fellow progressives.
Smarmie Doofus
(14,498 posts)>>>But there are times it's nice to talk to people who are more on the same page about an issue instead of having the same 'justify why we shouldn't kill everyone outside the United States' type start from scratch discussions with people on the far right. >>>>
My conversations w. RWers usually don't last too long: little or no no common ground to start with. OTOH... sometimes the most ferocious polemics result from disputes over arcane points of doctrine w. people who are more or less otherwise "on the same page". We see this historically... esp in re. to religion. When European Christians weren't going after the Jews, for example, they were religious-warring w. each other with a special and fearsome --- and frankly *insane* --- fanaticism. Usually over some obscure point of doctrine.
Plenty of examples in the contemporary world today also: Shia, Sunni, Allawites, etc etc etc.
Relax: it doesn't usually get that bad here. *Usually*.
Welcome again.
Craig234
(335 posts)Thanks. I'm not too worried, people will disagree. I agree with you that people who are not far apart often fight very hard over the smaller differences.
As far as politics, I'm concerned with the 'big picture' more - first and foremost income inequality, and second and related, money in politics.
I went to a moveon meeting once when they were selecting issues for an agenda and I suggested that money in politics affected all the other ones they were concerned about, but everyone had their pet issue and no one would care about a 'general' issue like money.
I think that's one weakness poliitically for progressives, not that much coordination - then there is some it can have problem money behind it like Obama's campaign.
Smarmie Doofus
(14,498 posts)The "mechanics" that is. Make sure you click "reply to this post" ( lower right side) when you want to do that. Otherwise it's a reply to the Original Post... which in this case is a reply to yourself.
Many here ( most, probably) share this POV:
>>>As far as politics, I'm concerned with the 'big picture' more - first and foremost income inequality, and second and related, money in politics. >>>>
But there is much touchiness about the second topic ( money in politics) where it pertains to our own DEM leaders.
You'll see for yourself soon enough.
Craig234
(335 posts)Thanks. Fair discussion about money for our dem leaders, there are legitimate controversies.
There are tradeoffs between fighting the large issue of the money, and needing that money to win while it's allowed.
And that's in the best situation of a well intentioned politicians, who has access to some of that money somehow (they've got to be limited how much they can get from people whose agenda they oppose. How much will Wall Street give to Elizabeth Warren?)
Other times, you get situation such as when a 'Democratic constituency' has a right-winger who wants to win, running as a Democrat, an elephant in donkey clothing. or the classic example being 'liberal' Mitt Romney running for governor of Massachussetts.
The answer so often in politicis is organziation - where is the group with a 'litmus test' similar to the Norquist tax pledge, but for voting for something like a constitutional amendment ending corporate personhood?
With the high level of public support for that, where's the organzzation to make people lose races over it?
gopiscrap
(23,763 posts)Craig234
(335 posts)Thanks. Nice quote - I suggest you add the attribution, the quote is from 'Dom Helder Camara'.
Does this 5 minutes between posts rule go away?
gopiscrap
(23,763 posts)also I didn't know about any 5 minute rule
I'm seeing any attribution. Ya, it's letting me post once each 5 minutes.