Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dale Baker who wrote (50914)	2/29/2008 7:01:04 AM
From: NAG1	Respond to of 542904

<<Demonize, demonize, demonize.>>Dale It seems that is what you are doing in your post. <<We have really stopped valuing a nation with a diversity of opinion, thanks to our zero-sum political world. Time to stand up for something better.>>Dale It seems that you are doing exactly what you are talking about in your post. You are demonizing those that don't share your feeling about Obama, or at least that is what you are appearing to say. My feeling is that as a nation, we have stopped listening to each other. As you saw, probably first hand, what happened in the old Yugoslavia, it is easier to motivate people with hate than with coming out with something positive. That, I think, is what happens when people stop listening. That is what makes Obama's campaign and political rise special. And maybe that is why you are particularly attracted to Obama, especially since you were on the ground in Serbia(I hope I got that right). But if I feel that Obama has gotten somewhat of a free ride by the press, it doesn't mean that I am demonizing him. It is my observation and my opinion. And I hope that I am wrong but the way things have unfolded recently, it seems to me that Obama is no different a politician than anyone else and I feel he will act like a politician once he gets into the White House. Again, that is my observation. In my opinion, if you want to see a demonization of anyone, look and see what has happened to Clinton, again, in my opinion. With Obama looking like the candidate who is going to get the Democratic nomination, now I think, especially as the events of the past week have unfolded, you will see the demonization of Obama really begin. It is now becoming a different season. That is my opinion. If you decide to call that a demonization, so be it. Neal

To: Dale Baker who wrote (50914)	2/29/2008 7:39:34 AM
From: Bearcatbob	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 542904

"Horse puckey. We have really stopped valuing a nation with a diversity of opinion, thanks to our zero-sum political world. Time to stand up for something better." Participation on this board has caused me to ponder the divide between us to see what it is that causes all of the angst. From my perspective on the right I see three broad categories of leftist opposition. I believe the same three categories exist on the right from the perspective of someone on the other side. First, there is the principled opposition. My wife and her brothers fall into this category. They have simply looked at the same facts and have drawn different conclusions. They are hard working people who have no illusions about free lunch. The next group is the ones I consider "looney" - for me it means the "looney" left. These are people with good hearts, good intentions and absolutely no idea of how the world physically works (spoken from the eyes of a chemical engineer). I sometimes think they do not realize that oil comes from wells - wells that must be drilled, gasoline comes from refineries - refineries that must be built and metals come from mines and smelters that similarly must be built. They largely have an assumption that wealth is there to be harvested. GW warming enthusiasts who think we can revert to levels significantly below 1980 levels fall into this category. Here I often wonder if their positions are for expediency or simple lack of understanding and an over whelming desire to a lot of the right thing. The next and more extreme are the hate wings of each side. These people believe they have to destroy the other person or other ideas to achieve their goal. For example, for the hate wing of the left it is not enough to say Bush made a mistake in going to Iraq it is imperative that they prove he and everyone else associated with the decision lied. Another example of the hate wing in action is the demonization of profitable businesses. To the hate wing the profits are not a result of good business and hard work - the profits are the plundering of the poor. I could go on. But Dale is right - the demonization process is the bane of our current situation. Barack Obama offers the hope of changing this and this IMO is why I believe he is succeeding. However, as I listen to more and more of his speeches I fear he may be firmly grounded in the looney category of the opposition. Further, his recent distortion of the 100 yr. statement by John McCain is beneath him. Anyway - FWIW. Bob