tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105799931107229707.post8805868923605547646..comments2024-03-07T03:09:25.987-06:00Comments on Unlikely Otaku: For Patricia: Political RecipesStephanie Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17772217449161603561noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105799931107229707.post-4088625689371669762009-06-04T15:27:37.113-05:002009-06-04T15:27:37.113-05:00The problem is, Zach, that there are pro-choice, a...The problem is, Zach, that there are pro-choice, anti-gay black Republicans and so saying "conservatives" feel so-and-so is misleading. Some "liberals" are buy-America only, pro-Union, others are pro-free trade.<br /><br />In fact, I don't see what we buy with those labels. All conservatives don't support the extreme conservative position of the Republican party. But one could say the "pro-life community" or the creationists or the marriage fundementalists or whatever. Then we are describing how a group of people feel about a specific issue. Even that, however, doesn't mean anything. Clearly the "pro-life" crowd are against abortion's legality, the creationists object to evolution being taught as science and the marriage fundementalists want only man-woman marriages recognized as such. The descriptor makes the need to say anything superfluous. <br /><br />But is everyone who is against gay marriage isn't necessarily pro-choice or pro-big business or anti-universal healthcare. Everyone who objected to the war in Iraq and torture isn't necessarily against capital punishment. That's the problem with the labels. <br /><br />When scientists and engineers use models, they often make simplifying assumptions to make the calculations manageable. However, over simplify or make the wrong assumption and the results stop meaning anything and that's often worse than no information at all.Stephanie Barrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17772217449161603561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105799931107229707.post-81784130913003020902009-06-04T14:29:29.708-05:002009-06-04T14:29:29.708-05:00I have to agree and disagree with this post. The ...I have to agree and disagree with this post. The reality is that to talk about individuals would be impossible. For instance, what if every article said, "the pro-choice, anti-gay Black Republicans bordering on Libertarians due to the recent shift in Republican philosophy" support the proposal, as do the "pro-choice, anti-gay Black Republicans still firmly in the Republican camp?"<br /><br />It gets a little excessive. Labels are, to a point, necessary. The problem comes in when, rather than people or policies shaping labels, labels begin to shape people and policies. Am I a liberal because I support gay marriage, or do I support gay marriage because I am liberal?<br /><br />Parties and labels should be chosen based on policies, not the other way around.<br /><br />Moreover, the two parties need to realize that they do not define the liberal or conservative movements or sentiments.<br /><br />I'm adding your blog to both of my blogrolls, please drop by, comment, and add back if you feel so inclined. Thanks!<br /><br />http://thezspot.today.com<br />http://gamingtips.today.comZachhttp://thezspot.today.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105799931107229707.post-28290209142466277182009-06-02T01:44:06.645-05:002009-06-02T01:44:06.645-05:00Rather than ramble too much here, I posted some th...Rather than ramble too much here, I posted some thoughts on my political blog. Thanks for the idea.<br /><br />http://politics2000.today.com/2009/06/01/extremists-carry-debate/Tyson Chaneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06387190211569106234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105799931107229707.post-947561881426512692009-05-31T12:47:42.633-05:002009-05-31T12:47:42.633-05:00Mother, I agree with you. There are many potentia...Mother, I agree with you. There are many potential ideologies that should, in theory work. Most like pure socialism and pure communism as well as oligarchies fail because people let power get to them and lose sight of the big picture. They're optimistic that most people are good (and I agree), but forget that people are manipulatable and that people, given power, tend to be possessive of it.Stephanie Barrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17772217449161603561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105799931107229707.post-10726737027841150922009-05-31T12:41:18.769-05:002009-05-31T12:41:18.769-05:00The problem I had answering your question is I thi...The problem I had answering your question is I think the terms "conservative" and "liberal" (and a host of others) are inherently polarizing. Even on a topic or an issue, people aren't black and white. People who are pro-choice, might be disturbed at late-term abortion or people who get abortion after abortion instead of using some other form of birth control. People who are "pro-life" might know of considerations where it might be acceptable.<br /><br />I think efforts like you describe are a fine idea. But more than that, I think regular people (as opposed to extremists) need to be part of the discussions. Too often, I think regular people bow out of the debates because extremists take them over, making most people uncomfortable.<br /><br />If, however, we discuss issues without worrying about labels, though, we might find common ground without the drama.Stephanie Barrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17772217449161603561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105799931107229707.post-82374585881216759282009-05-31T12:28:02.866-05:002009-05-31T12:28:02.866-05:00That's an impossible question, and yet you gave it...That's an impossible question, and yet you gave it a game try.<br /><br />The best of all possible political systems probably isn't a democracy, anyway. Our founding fathers understood that there are a ton of uneducated, uninformed voters out there, which is why they made it a REPRESENTATIVE democracy. Still, it's not optimal.<br /><br />Probably the optimal political system is a benevolent oligarchy of the educated elite. The problem, though, is in that "Benevolent." Power corrupts. Benevolent tends to become totalitarian and loses sight of the people that they are supposed to be protecting, and then it's not only not optimal, but truly bad.<br /><br />As a fiscal conservative and social liberal, I certainly agree with you about labels. I prefer to judge people (and their ideas) by what comes out of their mouths.The Motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15157821003454766570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105799931107229707.post-31957201232385912962009-05-31T11:17:49.539-05:002009-05-31T11:17:49.539-05:00Well, sort of. I agree with all you say about lab...Well, sort of. I agree with all you say about labels, but I really was curious about basic underlying philosophies. I mean, surely there are some genuinely conservative folks as well as some genuinely liberal folks, although as you point out, most of us fall somewhere in the middle based upon our own individual views on particular issues. I remember attending a conference and hearing a speech from a woman who worked for an organization whose purpose was to bring people from opposite ends of controversial issues together. Her organization sponsored retreats for, say, groups of pro-life and pro-choice people to come together and communicate in a neutral setting with trained moderators. My feeling is we need more efforts such as this where people from one viewpoint can meet and get to know people from the opposite perspectives. So much of what we see on the media is so polarizing.Patricia Rockwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08599725587514470536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105799931107229707.post-23476671622222403722009-05-30T21:13:05.816-05:002009-05-30T21:13:05.816-05:00Thanks, flit.
By the way, I got the picture fro...Thanks, flit. <br /><br />By the way, I got the picture from morguefiles.com; I didn't take it.Stephanie Barrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17772217449161603561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105799931107229707.post-36063189913944433892009-05-30T21:03:23.440-05:002009-05-30T21:03:23.440-05:00I think it's a brilliant answerI think it's a brilliant answerflithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06287047761151044124noreply@blogger.com