Quincunx Posted November 5, 2004 Report Posted November 5, 2004 If anything, this election has convinced me to read editorials (on Yahoo News, fallen behind on The Guardian (UK) website) and absorb some fine time-pressure essays, also to realize how little writing genius is needed when shouting from a strong opinion. There is one repeating difference in the style of composition: the best conservative essays built on what has happened before, and persuade the reader by chaining the events with a conservative assumption, a defensive stance; the best liberal essays built on what could happen now, and persuade the reader by a liberal conclusion after the future vision, a less defensive stance. Boaz--your example might have been using the rule set "the judgement of woman is wisest, in building a family and caring for it"--only the best genes passed on, only the best food for it. I don't agree--my rule set is "the sanctity of life is a specious argument"--bring on the meat and the abortions, although for the love of pete not at the same table. Degenero--Us vs Them was a lot more fun until the media Them realized they were an Us of their own and actually became partial. With their audience already convinced of the media bias, what real need did they have for impartiality? No one would believe it. Articles about journalism itself? No longer in bad taste. Studies into the subtle biases of themselves and their competitors? Let the audience feel it's helping to weed out corrupted media. Loosely affiliated experts of either side brought into the studio and encouraged to debate? Let them gain the trust of the audience, give them their own voice in the media. When they prove incapable of debate and degenerate into a shouting match? High ratings as the audience shouts back at the screen! Can I get an Amen! Can I get some feedback! Can I join in on the common man, can I become involved! Yes, I can! And into this rollicking, partying, buddy-buddy atmosphere, you gotta have an opinion to get into the door to be invited! And I have an opinion, and I am the media! It's a wild party now, even Dan Rather is swinging with the tides!
Finnius Posted November 5, 2004 Report Posted November 5, 2004 Woo-boy. *tugs collar* Is it hot in here, or is it just me? Ok, a few days after the election, as I was a good bit sore directly after... 'course, that could've had something to do with how I heard, but more on that later... So a few days after the election, I'm in here again. I still think that Bush isn't a good president, and never was. That's my personal belief, and it comes from two things. The first being that, while he likes to get all vocal on how he's taking action to stop terrorism worldwide, until 9/11 he ignored every important report that crossed his desk in favor of playing golf. After 9/11... yes, he sent troops into Afghanistan. And then pulled them out shortly after, their job unfinished, to attack a country without any kind of UN approval under the blanket of peacekeeping. If nothing else, that's very dangerous, very stupid foreign policy. WW2 was started the same way. Concessions to Hitler, remember? I see bad things in the next four years. That's the foreign side... the other side, I think, is more important. As I mentioned before, I live in a state that is completely controlled by the Republican party. And I do mean completely. Every sheriff, every school-board member, almost every seat in every local legislature. Lemme tell you about our economy. For starters, our labor laws and health codes get overlooked very easily. I worked in a plant that had a fine yellow dust floating around, and nobody told us it was dangerous, or told us we should buy face masks. I started coughing up blood a week and a half into that job. I'd say that's a good reason to quit. The plant is still there, still unsafe, and still gets government aid. The place I work now is hideously understaffed. Why? Because our owner has to stay under a certain cost/labor percentage. If he goes over it, they'll shut him down. With that in mind, did DHEC say anything when our air conditioning was broken, and it was over 90 degrees? Or when our septic tanks backed up into our working area? Which is also food-service, mind you. Did they say anything when our hoods stopped working, and we had carbon monoxide flooding our kitchen? Nope. Why? Because DHEC around here is controlled by a party that cares more about output than safety. Despite the above concerns, we have an A rating... 100, actually. A Republican economy is hell on the working class. There are no medical benefits to draw on unless you can prove, without a doubt, that what's wrong with you is a direct result of work. And even then, the benefits are negligable. For instance, I threw out my back hauling sanitize. They sent me to the health campus, took some X-Rays, and gave me vicodin. Vicodin, for those of you that don't know, is a painkiller. Aspirin on crack. I took one and it knocked me out for a day and a half. Thanks. I could've gotten some ibuprofin and done it myself. As for how I heard about Bush getting re-elected, cementing the entirely Republican US... I was at work, by myself, getting swamped with customers. I worked alone that day for five hours. We never had more than two people there, and trust me when I say we need at least three. Next time you go to a restaurant, count the number of people you see working. Then imagine if all of that were one guy. Would you feel sorry for him? Maybe. Would you leave? If my last two days are any indicator, probably not. When I heard that the Republicans had won the House, the Senate, and the President, I felt physically ill. Yes, the economy might get better overall. But my back'll be broken before it is. Or would be if I weren't moving to Canada. Anywho, to make it clear: This is not an attack on any one person, place, or thing. This is not a stand about personal freedom, separation of Church and State, civil rights, or any other imaginary things. This is a prediction. The US has four years to endure under the weight of the Republican party. There will likely be much praise for President Bush, as there is always praise for the dictator. History will not be so kind. Watch the economy, see where the money goes. It goes to the people that already have it. The rich will get richer, the poor will get deader. Bush knows this, or at least his puppeteers do. But they benefit, and so they do not care. Wow, that was much more Keatsian than I'd intended. True, though. /me sets mode to -soapbox
Gryphon Posted November 8, 2004 Report Posted November 8, 2004 I went looking at a star wars website the other day... It was supposed to be a discussion of the new Episode III teaser trailer. There might have been some discussion like that, maybe. I gave up looking after trawling through 30 minutes worth of post election kerry vs bush flamewar. It's nice to have people getting all passionate about politics, but it seems to me that it can be taken too far you know? On a lighter note, lets take a closer look at the term politics shall we? It can obviously be seen to come from two core words: Poli - Or if you prefer Poly... indicating many, or multiple tics - or ticks... bloodsucking vermin. politics has something to do with many bloodsucking vermin?
Alaeha Posted November 9, 2004 Report Posted November 9, 2004 Well, it would if you were dealing with a greek city-state of Bloodsucking Vermin.
Tamaranis Posted November 9, 2004 Report Posted November 9, 2004 But my back'll be broken before it is. Or would be if I weren't moving to Canada. Yes! Canada gets Finnius!
The Big Pointy One Posted November 9, 2004 Report Posted November 9, 2004 QUOTE (Finnius @ Nov 5 2004, 09:20 AM) But my back'll be broken before it is. Or would be if I weren't moving to Canada. Yes! Canada gets Finnius! Excellent. Oh, and that bit about the working conditions? That freaked me out. That's... sickening. Things aren't always that sunny around here, but I'm pretty sure if something's wrong, if you complain, stuff usually happens. Go Canada! (Go *to* Canada ;p )
Lady Celes Crusader Posted November 10, 2004 Report Posted November 10, 2004 I've read some interesting observations about Paul Martin and Georges W. Bush; While Bushy is quick when it comes to take decision and that he'll stick to it no matter what, Paul is the total opposite.
Tamaranis Posted November 10, 2004 Report Posted November 10, 2004 That's any Canadian politician in the last 30 years for ya...
Knight Posted November 10, 2004 Report Posted November 10, 2004 Finnius: I hate to nit-pick... but I still have friends in Afghanistan. To shed light on another matter- as I have held off this long on posting here, because frankly, I have no wish to alienate myself from my friends, even if I disgaree with their perspectives- as Boaz said, as a conservative, I personally try to shy away from these threads. Why? Because frankly, I don't want to get skewered for my beliefs. Beliefs are what make a person- and as such, I am who I am. Those that know me- would you change me? Would you make me a different person? In all truth, arguing and fighting, and bickering over something like this is only going to either hurt people in the end, or turn others bitter. I've never been one to like either. And in truth... I have pretty liberal views. But then, that's because I'm a Libertarian, not a leftist. A more conservative Libertarian, albeit, but a Libertarian nonetheless. I'm all for saying no to government spending on anything but law enforcement, intelligence gathering, the military, and judiciary. But then, that would upset a lot of people, would it not? But again, I am who I am. Would you change that? I don't try to change you, so please, don't try to change me. Thank you, good day, and I hope you guys feel better, because it's not as bad as you think.
Lady Celes Crusader Posted November 11, 2004 Report Posted November 11, 2004 That's any Canadian politician in the last 30 years for ya... In that case, that's for my whole life. Knight: We all come from different parts of the world so, in my opinion, it's perfectly normal that we don't share the same opinions. In fact, the ideas and debates are the roots of a healthy democracy. So stay true to your values and opinions, you're appreciated the way you are.
Knight Posted November 11, 2004 Report Posted November 11, 2004 *Smiles* Thank you, Lady Celes. I shall endeavour to do so...
The Big Pointy One Posted November 11, 2004 Report Posted November 11, 2004 So... like... are we all clear that even though lots of us may disagree with each other, that doesn't make us enemies or anything like that? For a while there, it seemed like some blood was starting to boil or something. Regardless, I know for certain that no matter how much I may disagree with someone's opinions (and I tend to do that a lot...) that doesn't change how I feel about them as a person... that much ;p In the end, when one person thinks that the way they see things is absolutely right, it's hard for them to accept people having different viewpoints (which is how I find I think too often... :S) Peace!
reverie Posted November 11, 2004 Report Posted November 11, 2004 (edited) sure, sure Big P... If i couldn't get along with people I don't agree with I wouldn't last long in my field, home, or in family reunion type enviroments.... ...worlds a divided place but it still easy to get along... like I live with a die-hard conservative from new jersey...and I'm an independant authorative-liberal from the south...and my other roommates a democrate from puerto rico... Also 2/3 of the people i work with are either republican or conservative or both... The rest are moderates / libertarians / liberals / or bonifed democrates... Also my closest friends are a Green and liberatarian couple(reformed republican) from the south... Pretty much we all get along just fine... occasionally you have to evoke the dinner time sanity rule though: No talk of politics or religion when someone get offended... rev... Edited November 11, 2004 by reverie
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