Ultimately, there is only black and white, but they mix freely and liberally in the real world.
Joel Send a noteboard - 21/11/2011 11:38:34 PM
Since nothing and no one is devoid of either, all is both, and appears gray, but we must remember always that our choices remain only black or white.
Indeed.
I can only shake my head at the (American) tendency of extreme views here, either by calling the protesters all jobless hippies or by applauding their brave selfless efforts to make it a better world. As always, the truth is not as black and white. But why bother with shades of grey, they just aren't as much fun as calling the other side names, I suppose.
I think it largely a symptom of the two party system, which encourages left and right to play to their base for the sake of turnout (despite partisanship driving GENERAL turnout ever lower as the process disillusions ever more people.) For the electorate as much as the elected Jim Hightowers quip is more true now than ever: The only things in the middle of the road are yellow lines and dead armadillos. That can be simplified as "everything in the middle of the road is either dead or yellow." Moderates and Independents are much discussed, but that is because roughly 40% of the country is always precommitted to each side; as long as they show up on election day they will balance out and make the remaining 20% the decisive factor, but reaching out to that 20% too much runs the risk of alienating the 40% who MUST show up to make victory even possible. That usually leaves moderates and independents seeking the least radical candidate, because there is none that truly represents them; in a two party system, no candidate can afford that.
So both sides demonize each other as radical extremists, both to energize their own base and ensure moderates are terrified of their opponents. The result is a truly vicious circle in which politics becomes ever more polarized: I say you raped my dog; you say I raped yours after I killed it, etc. etc. Small wonder more people than not skip every election save presidential ones.
I saw everyname mention a battery thrown at a cop (which makes OWSers as dangerous to public safety as the average Philadelphia sports fan, not that that is a compliment,) and I obviously do not condone or approve the threatened retaliatory violence in that other open letter, but apart from that, is this anything more than
"You are un-American and suck!"
"No, you!"
Indeed.
I can only shake my head at the (American) tendency of extreme views here, either by calling the protesters all jobless hippies or by applauding their brave selfless efforts to make it a better world. As always, the truth is not as black and white. But why bother with shades of grey, they just aren't as much fun as calling the other side names, I suppose.
I think it largely a symptom of the two party system, which encourages left and right to play to their base for the sake of turnout (despite partisanship driving GENERAL turnout ever lower as the process disillusions ever more people.) For the electorate as much as the elected Jim Hightowers quip is more true now than ever: The only things in the middle of the road are yellow lines and dead armadillos. That can be simplified as "everything in the middle of the road is either dead or yellow." Moderates and Independents are much discussed, but that is because roughly 40% of the country is always precommitted to each side; as long as they show up on election day they will balance out and make the remaining 20% the decisive factor, but reaching out to that 20% too much runs the risk of alienating the 40% who MUST show up to make victory even possible. That usually leaves moderates and independents seeking the least radical candidate, because there is none that truly represents them; in a two party system, no candidate can afford that.
So both sides demonize each other as radical extremists, both to energize their own base and ensure moderates are terrified of their opponents. The result is a truly vicious circle in which politics becomes ever more polarized: I say you raped my dog; you say I raped yours after I killed it, etc. etc. Small wonder more people than not skip every election save presidential ones.
Honorbound and honored to be Bonded to Mahtaliel Sedai
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
An Open Letter to All People with Nothing Better To Do
20/11/2011 10:49:21 AM
- 1761 Views
Huzah! A man chooses and a slave obeys! *NM*
20/11/2011 10:56:42 AM
- 533 Views
Yeah, 'cos YTs comments are all about disobedience, and the OWSers are all about submission.
20/11/2011 12:24:36 PM
- 868 Views
Actually, my comment are about taking responsibility for yourself. *NM*
20/11/2011 05:48:33 PM
- 543 Views
As usual you miss the point completely. *NM*
20/11/2011 08:27:02 PM
- 538 Views
You want people vocally refusing slavery to return to slavery; I got the point.
21/11/2011 11:24:21 PM
- 967 Views
If what I was saying amounted to that than what your arguing for would to...
22/11/2011 06:32:04 AM
- 841 Views
This is also not about you; the response to which you replied here has been edited accordingly.
22/11/2011 08:10:21 AM
- 904 Views
How much violence has there actually been?
20/11/2011 12:35:54 PM
- 896 Views
Re: How much violence has there actually been?
20/11/2011 12:44:00 PM
- 957 Views
Because it's easy.
20/11/2011 12:49:02 PM
- 861 Views
I think it's great that student loans can't be discharged in bankruptcy.
20/11/2011 06:27:27 PM
- 778 Views
Asian parents have the right idea
20/11/2011 08:49:39 PM
- 903 Views
because that's not a huge generalization of an entire race...
20/11/2011 09:05:26 PM
- 847 Views
every pakistani, indian, viet, chinese, cambodian person I know (and thats a lot) ....
20/11/2011 09:27:34 PM
- 874 Views
I had a lot of asian peers in class growing up with parents who were not like that
20/11/2011 10:35:45 PM
- 877 Views
I understand that, and agree to a certain extent.
20/11/2011 11:53:30 PM
- 838 Views
To take it a step further
21/11/2011 02:36:49 AM
- 800 Views
Fees are mostly increasing because of tuition increase caps paired with state funding cuts
21/11/2011 01:50:02 PM
- 739 Views
Ultimately, there is only black and white, but they mix freely and liberally in the real world.
21/11/2011 11:38:34 PM
- 764 Views
HUZZAH! Very well said.
20/11/2011 01:20:48 PM
- 789 Views
Our leaders should be held accountable for refusing to lead, and we for accepting that.
22/11/2011 12:09:51 AM
- 765 Views
I think people were jeering OWS for not being "focused" because there are so many damn problems
20/11/2011 04:54:24 PM
- 892 Views
Largely true, in many respects; again, the Tea Party had much the same problem for the same reasons.
22/11/2011 12:26:29 AM
- 939 Views
It is WEIRD when Ron Paul consistently comes off as the least insane GOP candidate
22/11/2011 02:56:33 AM
- 764 Views
Yeah, I recall that link, and still do not entirely agree with it.
22/11/2011 04:16:13 AM
- 678 Views
"There are plenty of jobs and pay"... Do you read the news? *NM*
20/11/2011 12:42:30 PM
- 502 Views
Yep, there are lots of jobs...
20/11/2011 05:49:58 PM
- 891 Views
Re: Yep, there are lots of jobs...
22/11/2011 04:01:35 AM
- 783 Views
I know about a dozen Philosophy Majors off the top of my head, all of whom are gainfully employed.
22/11/2011 11:36:47 AM
- 827 Views
Re:I know about a dozen Philosophy Majors off the top of my head,all of whom are gainfully employed.
24/11/2011 04:30:00 AM
- 986 Views
Excercise in creative thinking...
20/11/2011 06:45:49 PM
- 890 Views
So you think there's no real unemployment problem aside from people being lazy and entitled? *NM*
21/11/2011 03:32:16 AM
- 536 Views
I'm sorry dude, but there ARE jobs.
20/11/2011 07:21:21 PM
- 875 Views
but what kind of jobs?
20/11/2011 08:08:58 PM
- 696 Views
"My plastic surgeon" WTF Aisha
20/11/2011 08:36:13 PM
- 933 Views
Im a nurse
20/11/2011 09:24:14 PM
- 813 Views
You had me worried about the young girl I used to know for a moment. *NM*
21/11/2011 01:01:04 AM
- 498 Views
I actually have a lot of respect for plastic surgeons outside pure cosmetics
21/11/2011 01:02:59 AM
- 877 Views
job that pay money
20/11/2011 08:57:55 PM
- 857 Views
lets face it. all the jobs you just mentioned are jobs illegals take
20/11/2011 09:35:07 PM
- 844 Views
Re: lets face it. all the jobs you just mentioned are jobs illegals take
20/11/2011 10:29:16 PM
- 790 Views
Re: lets face it. all the jobs you just mentioned are jobs illegals take
21/11/2011 12:19:52 AM
- 899 Views
That's a shitty situation
21/11/2011 12:24:20 AM
- 756 Views
First of all, I worked at a dairy and have a friend who busses tables.
20/11/2011 10:32:39 PM
- 823 Views
Actually it is the case in some parts of America. Just not the parts that get mentioned.
22/11/2011 04:05:44 AM
- 798 Views
Doesn't matter when people aren't there, or people don't have the required skills.
20/11/2011 11:51:53 PM
- 783 Views
If you can drive a truck I can get you a job tommorw hauling sand for fracing *NM*
02/09/2012 09:32:39 PM
- 331 Views
...I feel like you've been getting all of your information from TV News. This isn't about bills.
20/11/2011 04:35:13 PM
- 814 Views
Wait...you think there is a problem with courts treating corporations as persons?
20/11/2011 08:33:43 PM
- 781 Views
You know what he meant.
20/11/2011 09:32:59 PM
- 842 Views
You're talking about the Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission.
20/11/2011 10:38:43 PM
- 715 Views
Pretty sure the inception of corporations was not 1886.
22/11/2011 05:45:31 AM
- 807 Views
You do realize...
22/11/2011 06:01:47 AM
- 768 Views
Almost anything CAN happen.
22/11/2011 07:43:31 AM
- 805 Views
Actually I think we should be prosecuting these people
22/11/2011 07:46:56 AM
- 778 Views
Well, this is a red letter day; I agree with nearly, perhaps ENTIRELY, all of what you said here.
22/11/2011 07:59:42 AM
- 784 Views
You're right. I will hand you your ass on this one. If you give me gloves before touching it.
23/11/2011 02:26:35 PM
- 808 Views
Funny how once we as a society used protesting for non personal gain ...
20/11/2011 08:49:37 PM
- 887 Views
Good post
20/11/2011 09:13:12 PM
- 840 Views
The UN is clearly out of touch with reality.
20/11/2011 10:44:44 PM
- 839 Views
"There is no right to work"?
22/11/2011 05:50:30 AM
- 828 Views
That would be a legal right relating to unions not a basic human right. *NM*
22/11/2011 05:57:34 AM
- 478 Views
Right; there is a right to work when it suits you, and not when it does not.
22/11/2011 07:16:40 AM
- 732 Views
...do you know what "right-to-work" in those states entails?
22/11/2011 07:55:02 AM
- 872 Views
I would not pretend to be an authority on it, no, but broadly speaking, yes.
22/11/2011 08:12:50 AM
- 883 Views
Also, do you even have a job yet? *NM*
22/11/2011 06:02:11 AM
- 456 Views
Ikke ennå.
22/11/2011 07:28:27 AM
- 811 Views
So do you think there is no cause whatsoever for protest?
21/11/2011 03:31:04 AM
- 835 Views
I don't think the protest is about being people feeling entitled
22/11/2011 07:45:50 AM
- 915 Views
Re: I don't think the protest is about being people feeling entitled
24/11/2011 03:07:09 AM
- 760 Views