Do Conservatives and Liberals have something in common?

[Moonbeam]

There is a story that the plaintive wail of the flute comes from the reeds lament at being cut from its osier bed. This story, a parable for the end of childhood innocence, in my opinion, and calls the heart to remember, to long for a time that was when everything had the beauty of innocent youth.

And yet, as we all know, growing up is our duty and we have to leave childish things behind, no or else we will surely be made fun of.

Yes, I think most people suffer from some sort of nostalgia for a time that was and which we want to come again.

Now depending on things difficult perhaps to fathom, some of us can see change as that which spoils perfection and some of us are driven to bring it back again. I think you can see from this where I am going.

For the Conservative change is what destroys beauty and for the Liberal the status quo is what hold him from returning. And if all of this is so but happening at an unconscious level, people who basically seek the same thing are standing in each others way. What a mess that would be.

 

[1EZduzit]

The sad fact is that you can never, truely "go home".

 

[BoberFett]

What do conservatives and liberals have in common? They're both authoritarians who want to tell me how to live my life.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
What do conservatives and liberals have in common? They're both authoritarians who want to tell me how to live my life.

Ah yes, the old "libertarian" philosophy...otherwise known as "I like what the system has done for me, how about we freeze things right here?" And don't give me that "pulled myself up by my bootstraps" bullshit, because I GUARANTEE that the system of society and government that you so despise can take quite a bit of credit for where you are today.

Really I think that's what liberals and conservatives have in common, and why I've pretty much given up on libertarians. Liberals and conservatives (at least the smarter ones) realize that we go a lot farther together, whether we're making changes or keeping things the same, it's all about working together in some fashion to do more than we could do by ourselves. The libertarian myth that the greatness of our country is due to rugged individualism is just that, a myth. Yeah, great people did great things...but those moments only stand out in history because that's how history is written. The really great stuff was achieved by people working together, towards a higher purpose than narrow self-interest. And THAT is what the left and the right have in common...even if we might disagree just what it is we're working towards.

 

[nageov3t]

statistically speaking, they're probably both fatties

 

[BlancoNino]

"Working together" isn't a problem at all. It's being forced to work together that the libertarian ideology opposes.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
The sad fact is that you can never, truely "go home".

I went home.

But it cost me everything I treasured.

Turns out, it was a small price.

But the feeling that one can't is probably very deep.

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: BoberFett
What do conservatives and liberals have in common? They're both authoritarians who want to tell me how to live my life.

Ah yes, the old "libertarian" philosophy...otherwise known as "I like what the system has done for me, how about we freeze things right here?" And don't give me that "pulled myself up by my bootstraps" bullshit, because I GUARANTEE that the system of society and government that you so despise can take quite a bit of credit for where you are today.

Really I think that's what liberals and conservatives have in common, and why I've pretty much given up on libertarians. Liberals and conservatives (at least the smarter ones) realize that we go a lot farther together, whether we're making changes or keeping things the same, it's all about working together in some fashion to do more than we could do by ourselves. The libertarian myth that the greatness of our country is due to rugged individualism is just that, a myth. Yeah, great people did great things...but those moments only stand out in history because that's how history is written. The really great stuff was achieved by people working together, towards a higher purpose than narrow self-interest. And THAT is what the left and the right have in common...even if we might disagree just what it is we're working towards.

The problem with everyone working together is that it's as equally useful for ill as it is for good. Just look at the current administration. An entire nation working together to wage pre-emptive war, destroy freedom, support corporate abuse, and any other number of bad policies.

Minimalist government may mean moving forward more slowly, but it also means moving backwards more slowly. I'll take option B, thank you very much. Save your "I know what's best for you" bullshit for someone who's interested.

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
The sad fact is that you can never, truely "go home".

I went home.

But it cost me everything I treasured.

Turns out, it was a small price.

But the feeling that one can't is probably very deep.

Why do you have to go home? Why can't you make home wherever you are? Just go with the flow.

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: BoberFett

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: BoberFett
What do conservatives and liberals have in common? They're both authoritarians who want to tell me how to live my life.

Ah yes, the old "libertarian" philosophy...otherwise known as "I like what the system has done for me, how about we freeze things right here?" And don't give me that "pulled myself up by my bootstraps" bullshit, because I GUARANTEE that the system of society and government that you so despise can take quite a bit of credit for where you are today.

Really I think that's what liberals and conservatives have in common, and why I've pretty much given up on libertarians. Liberals and conservatives (at least the smarter ones) realize that we go a lot farther together, whether we're making changes or keeping things the same, it's all about working together in some fashion to do more than we could do by ourselves. The libertarian myth that the greatness of our country is due to rugged individualism is just that, a myth. Yeah, great people did great things...but those moments only stand out in history because that's how history is written. The really great stuff was achieved by people working together, towards a higher purpose than narrow self-interest. And THAT is what the left and the right have in common...even if we might disagree just what it is we're working towards.

The problem with everyone working together is that it's as equally useful for ill as it is for good. Just look at the current administration. An entire nation working together to wage pre-emptive war, destroy freedom, support corporate abuse, and any other number of bad policies.

Minimalist government may mean moving forward more slowly, but it also means moving backwards more slowly. I'll take option B, thank you very much. Save your "I know what's best for you" bullshit for someone who's interested.

That?s the entire point right there. Through the desire to do good they will commit a great and terrible evil. Stalin showed us all how it turns out to inject socialist authoritarianism into a government.

Rainsford wants a government of absolute control for him to do as he pleases, not giving a damn about the man that comes after him who could commit genocide under the power given to him. This sort of dictator?s abuse reaches the very core of reasons for hating the Democratic and Republican parties.

The only difference being if true conservatives stood up for the values of limited government, then their corruption and abuses are diminished, not being allowed the power to harm us. If our socialists get their way, we will all be a piece of government property, bowing down to whatever whim they have. Or whatever whim the next person has, such as the Patriot Act, which is only the smallest beginning in our devolution into communism. Many more Patriot Acts are to follow, and anyone wanting more government is a direct sponsor of these abuses.

You want human rights? Stop enslaving them to government else you WILL, I guarantee, lose them entirely. History has proven this repeatedly.

 

[daniel49]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
There is a story that the plaintive wail of the flute comes from the reeds lament at being cut from its osier bed. This story, a parable for the end of childhood innocence, in my opinion, and calls the heart to remember, to long for a time that was when everything had the beauty of innocent youth.

And yet, as we all know, growing up is our duty and we have to leave childish things behind, no or else we will surely be made fun of.

Yes, I think most people suffer from some sort of nostalgia for a time that was and which we want to come again.

Now depending on things difficult perhaps to fathom, some of us can see change as that which spoils perfection and some of us are driven to bring it back again. I think you can see from this where I am going.

For the Conservative change is what destroys beauty and for the Liberal the status quo is what hold him from returning. And if all of this is so but happening at an unconscious level, people who basically seek the same thing are standing in each others way. What a mess that would be.

It is said that there were two great banquet halls and all the guests sat at the table in splendor in the first room.
But alas they were tormented because each souls spoon had a handle six feet long and they could not eat because of the length of the handles and so each sat with the bounty in front of them but unable to enjoy its flavor and sustinance.

But I observed the second room where the guests were seated in a similar manner, and they felt no need or torment.
Because they had discovered that with the long handled spoons they could feed the guest opposite them, and so each was nourished.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: BoberFett

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
The sad fact is that you can never, truely "go home".

I went home.

But it cost me everything I treasured.

Turns out, it was a small price.

But the feeling that one can't is probably very deep.

Why do you have to go home? Why can't you make home wherever you are? Just go with the flow.

Have you ever noticed how hard that is. I mean, if you can go with the flow, you're home.

 

[piasabird]

Democrats and Republicans both seem more than willing to steal the taxpayers money and spend spend spend.

Where is Bin Ladin after spending all this money on a war on terror?

This war in Iraq has not lead to a valid return on investment. It is clear that money spent on helping any Muslims is a waste of money. People in the middle east are so full of hate that a blood lust is in their hearts and they are not worth saving.

 

[Caminetto]

All of us have our "ideas" or political philosophy.
The common ground is our "ideals" or our living to make the world a little better, no matter how wrong our ideas prove to be over time.

 

[BMW540I6speed]

The modern GOP have been demonizing the word "liberal". So liberals respond by calling themselves "progressive." Make no mistake, they have already begun demonizing the word progressive. Abandon the word "progressive" for "moderate" and they will demonize the word "moderate."

Not long ago, social issues tended to be front and center in political debate, I got into a good number of discussions with people who were sure the "homosexual agenda" and evolution were the Worst Enemies of America and All that is Good and True. It was very, very common for these types to think they were going to, I guess, make me melt or fall into paroxysms of defensiveness by calling me a "liberal," a label that few actual liberals then or now would agree I merited. But, get started on a discussion of, say, the proper limits on what Congress may do with its Commerce Clause Power.

Among the many things that demonstrate the sheer hypocrisy and lack of any principle other than the Will to Power in the modern GOP, is the sudden adoration for comprehensive federal power and abandonment of "states rights."

The examples of this are legion, starting with John Ashcroft's decision to challenge the right of the people of Oregon to permit physicians to prescribe fatal doses of drugs to terminally ill patients. Moving on from there is the federal "Terri's (Schiavo) Law," and many more examples. And if Bill Clinton had even hinted at Bush's claimed expansive power to violate the law due to his "inherent authority," why, there would have been a collective cranial explosion in those in this "new" GOP.

 

[1EZduzit]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
The sad fact is that you can never, truely "go home".

I went home.

But it cost me everything I treasured.

Turns out, it was a small price.

But the feeling that one can't is probably very deep.

To me, even though I don't feel I ever strayed too far from "home", going home just doesn't "feel" the same. "Home" has changed and I've changed. I shall keep trying though but somehow, for some reason, I think death is the only way to truley go home.

 

[Skotty]

One thing they havei n common is that both sides share conflicting desires for both self and the common good.

As for where my home is... home is where my computer is. Actually, it used to be where my cat is, but my cat died, so now it's the computer. Until I get another cat, at least.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
The sad fact is that you can never, truely "go home".

I went home.

But it cost me everything I treasured.

Turns out, it was a small price.

But the feeling that one can't is probably very deep.

To me, even though I don't feel I ever strayed too far from "home", going home just doesn't "feel" the same. "Home" has changed and I've changed. I shall keep trying though but somehow, for some reason, I think death is the only way to truley go home.

Are you words on a blackboard or the blackboard. I have heard that mystics become the immense silence over which thoughts run and not the thoughts themselves. Thought came after being joy.

 

[Vic]

Liberals and conservatives are like Coke and Pepsi, Ford and Chevy, Intel and AMD. As such, they have far more in common with each other than when with any other competiting ideologies, i.e. they want to make sure that they're the only 2 choices that people have.

 

[1EZduzit]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
The sad fact is that you can never, truely "go home".

I went home.

But it cost me everything I treasured.

Turns out, it was a small price.

But the feeling that one can't is probably very deep.

To me, even though I don't feel I ever strayed too far from "home", going home just doesn't "feel" the same. "Home" has changed and I've changed. I shall keep trying though but somehow, for some reason, I think death is the only way to truley go home.

Are you words on a blackboard or the blackboard. I have heard that mystics become the immense silence over which thoughts run and not the thoughts themselves. Thought came after being joy.

OK, I'm not sure what your trying to impart here?

I will say that I strive to be original and use my intelligence, knowledge, feelings, and experience to the best of my abilities. So I have to say I'm neither the words on the blackboard, or the blackboard itself. I'm just try to be me, whoever that is.

And what makes you so sure that thought didn't come after being pain?

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Do Conservatives and Liberals have something in common?

Both sides are being led by the lunatic fringe of their parties.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
The sad fact is that you can never, truely "go home".

I went home.

But it cost me everything I treasured.

Turns out, it was a small price.

But the feeling that one can't is probably very deep.

To me, even though I don't feel I ever strayed too far from "home", going home just doesn't "feel" the same. "Home" has changed and I've changed. I shall keep trying though but somehow, for some reason, I think death is the only way to truley go home.

Are you words on a blackboard or the blackboard. I have heard that mystics become the immense silence over which thoughts run and not the thoughts themselves. Thought came after being joy.

OK, I'm not sure what your trying to impart here?

I will say that I strive to be original and use my intelligence, knowledge, feelings, and experience to the best of my abilities. So I have to say I'm neither the words on the blackboard, or the blackboard itself. I'm just try to be me, whoever that is.

And what makes you so sure that thought didn't come after being pain?

I was trying to imply that the way home is not a direction but a shift in consciousness that brings you into the now. Home is the now. Thought is fear and fear follows pain.