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Politics : The Left Wing Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (1328)	12/17/2000 4:54:59 PM
From: Jorj X Mckie	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6089

For whatever reason, lots of conservatives would rather spend a lot of time and effort to come up with their own opinions rather than trust experienced subject-matter specialists from the government who have sifted through all the competing experts; come up with findings, conclusions, and recommendations; vetted the results ad nauseum; and balanced the competing interests. I don't think that I can speak for "conservatives", but for me, it is a basic distrust of the individuals in the government, both democrat and republican. I would consider the situation akin to a court case where both sides have professional expert witnesses who have reached opposite conclusions that just happen to be in favor of their client. On a particular issue, both parties to trot out the experts and analysts who further their own particular agenda. Some things are pretty much common sense to me, I don't care how many experts on rainforests that a politician put in front of me saying that cutting down thousands of acres of rainforests isn't hurting our global ecosystem, I would disagree regardless of the expert's credentials. a sense that those government people are wired differently or stupid or corrupt...? Again, my opinion...I would say that they are not necessarily stupid or corrupt and that they are most certainly wired the same as the rest of us, that being that they will tend to act in their own self interest. Insofar as their self interest aligns with mine, I don't have a problem with their motivation. But all to often, I believe that politicians are motivated by things that have nothing to do with what is best for the country. Because of this, when a politician says that he is giving his support to the "Son of Star Wars", I am immediately going to look to see if one of the big government contractors is looking to locate their next plant in that politicians constituency. JXM

To: Lane3 who wrote (1328)	12/17/2000 5:46:06 PM
From: bela_ghoulashi	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6089

>>For whatever reason, lots of conservatives would rather spend a lot of time and effort to come up with their own opinions rather than trust experienced subject-matter specialists from the government who have sifted through all the competing experts; come up with findings, conclusions, and recommendations; vetted the results ad nauseum; and balanced the competing interests.<< Personally, and frankly, bland finds this a chilling statement. It appears to assume: 1. We are somehow better off not forming our own opinions. 2. "experienced subject-matter specialists" are in fact just that, unquestionably, in every case. 3. All competing experts are invariably consulted in a disinterested fashion. 4. The competing interests are truly balanced. These are huge leaps of faith. And there nothing bland has witnessed in local, state, or federal government that leads him to believe they are justified. Public servants are no less fallible than an interested, educated, informed citizenry. There is nothing sanctified about their work, or immaculate about its results. Any organized human endeavor is subject to corruption and abuse of power. To whatever degree it is not held accountable...questioned, reviewed, examined, critiqued, from the outside looking in...abuses will take root. Especially, especially...if public money is involved.

To: Lane3 who wrote (1328)	12/17/2000 9:51:32 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6089

That's exactly my point. For whatever reason, lots of conservatives would rather spend a lot of time and effort to come up with their own opinions rather than trust experienced subject-matter specialists from the government who have sifted through all the competing experts So you want people to be sheep without there own opinions? When experts disagree on facts let alone conclusions based on those facts, how would I even know which experts to follow if I wanted to follow the experts without my own thought? You say that we should "trust experienced subject-matter specialists from the government who have sifted through all the competing experts", but how are they any different from any of the other experts? They are just as likely to have their own agenda and even if they don't they are no more guaranteed of being correct then any other expert. Even if I thought that they were unbiased geniuses, would I have to change my mind every time a new administration comes in and all of these opinions change? I can't imagine why anyone would reject having that research and analysis performed on their behalf. I have no objection to anyone wanting to do research and analysis and to share there conclusions. Why do you object to people forming their own opinion? Tim