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: Mary Cluney who wrote (110661)	5/5/2009 10:33:08 AM
From: Rambi	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 541487

Tim, speaking of labels serves as a great segue for me, thanks :) I saw your response to a post of mine on PfP from a month back and just wanted to say that I am not a huge fan of Krugman, partly for the reason you stated: that his writing is extremely partisan and often over the top which makes me wonder about his conclusions serving his ideology more than someone who held less bias (if there is anyone these days). Bill had mentioned him as the only economist who favored the stimulus package, and I brought up the Cato report listing others because we had just discussed it here. WIth that in mind however, Krugman still is light education years ahead of probably everyone on SI in his understanding of economic principles, and disdaining his achievements and resumé because he doesn't advocate one;s beliefs merely points out one's own blind partisanship. (a distinction you do point out) I answered here because my forays into PfP land are over, though I read a couple of people there who have always been thoughtful and rational- and polite!- imo. I , The inevitable sarcasm and general insults about the fact that I "come from" the Center thread are unpleasant. Who needs it. As you can see, your calling attention to my post only brought on a sarcastic personal meaningless insult from someone plus the expected recommendations, which is why I answered you here.

To: Mary Cluney who wrote (110661)	5/5/2009 4:57:40 PM
From: Suma	Respond to of 541487

Mary I think those labels are what you said. In my life time of experiences I am finding that there are those who must believe in something. They have to have a ruler. A King or Royalty. They must have a God. They must have a cause. There are all kinds of groups that feed off the insecurities and immaturities of other's and their inability to cope with life. As some say hell is here on earth. Joel Olsten typifies some of what people need in their lives and he just turns me off. I just have a hard time being a follower of any one thing and even resent my addiction to liberal causes.. etc. (at times) I am sure that there are some of us as I have had some PM's from them who grow tired of the rants here on S.I. They need to take a vacation. However I find that there are more free thinkers and different thinkers so that the challenges are more engrossing on some of these threads than I can find in my rather mundane life.

To: Mary Cluney who wrote (110661)	5/7/2009 5:36:55 PM
From: TimF	Respond to of 541487

There are gray areas or different way to define things like fascism, communism, liberalism, conservatism etc., but that doesn't make them useless concepts. Yes their labels that humans have constructed, but so what, every label, every word, was constructed by humans, certainly you don't think we should just stop communicating because we have to rely on imperfect human constructions to do so. Which isn't to say that its worthwhile to have violent disagreement about what labels will apply. If the labels get in the way of the conversation, then other terms can be used. But labels are generally useful. Allowing one or a few words to express part of a point, rather than having to write a large essay, just to explain what group or idea your talking about every time you would use that word in a conversation, post, article etc (which could be dozens of times)