Shalrirorchia
05-11-2004, 16:02
I think what we've seen here is a complete realignment of the social fabric of our country. And I don't think it is a positive realignment. Conservatism...particularly the President's version of conservatism...often tends to exclusive. Liberalism tends to be inclusive. And while liberalism (by which I mean the quality of being open-minded) cannot provide an answer to every question, I feel that (when tempered by conservatism) it brings the greatest happiness and the greatest equality to the greatest number of people.
I myself am aligned with the political left, although that is already obvious from my posts. That said, I do not necessarily think that government is the answer to everything. I do not think that people should be completely relieved of the burden of personal responsibility. But I DO value a government that is flexible enough to intervene when it is necessary to defend the freedom, equality, and safety of its' people. That is, after all, why Man implemented government in the first place; to achieve mutual advantage that the individual could not.
But what we've seen is, in effect, the power of the Red states to override the political and social ideology of the blue states. It is in a way ironic; conservatives supposedly stand up for state's rights, but the Republican majority in the national government will now use their power to push a right-wing agenda upon ALL of the country. Even the states that don't agree with them. One European commented, "Perhaps they should just split the country in half."
That's certainly how I feel right now. Although I don't expect the conservatives on this forum to understand or care, it feels like I am under siege here as an Ohio Democrat. In fact, it feels like I've been stripped of my right to live in a free country. I feel like there is a fundamental difference in perception between you and me. The conservatives are saying, "Well, we need to restore the building to what it used to be." And I am saying, "The building wasn't ever LIKE that. We need to modernize it."
Despite John Kerry's defeat in the elections, despite the pass of all of the anti-democratic amendments, despite the fall of Tom Daschle, despite the failure of many school levies here in Ohio, I and millions of other Democratic activists will continue to strive to make this country a better place. That was, after all, the main thrust of Kerry's campaign, "Stronger at home, respected around the world". We will work to try and get America to remember itself...not in terms of a fond past which never was, but in the idealistic tenets where America was born. America was founded for freedom of religion. America was founded to divide church from state. America was founded for opportunity; for only in America can you start with nothing and become everything. America was founded in a dream of equality, or at least greater equality than ever before. America was founded to create an environment in which we would constantly press ourselves to find innovative new solutions to old problems. THAT is the America that I lived in, and that I hope to one day live again in. That America is lost now, but not forgotten. One day, we will find it again...and although that day is not this day, the dream lives on.
-Americans For Truth
amfortruth@yahoo.com
Behold why I should not be a pollster====> http://www.geocities.com/amfortruth/
I myself am aligned with the political left, although that is already obvious from my posts. That said, I do not necessarily think that government is the answer to everything. I do not think that people should be completely relieved of the burden of personal responsibility. But I DO value a government that is flexible enough to intervene when it is necessary to defend the freedom, equality, and safety of its' people. That is, after all, why Man implemented government in the first place; to achieve mutual advantage that the individual could not.
But what we've seen is, in effect, the power of the Red states to override the political and social ideology of the blue states. It is in a way ironic; conservatives supposedly stand up for state's rights, but the Republican majority in the national government will now use their power to push a right-wing agenda upon ALL of the country. Even the states that don't agree with them. One European commented, "Perhaps they should just split the country in half."
That's certainly how I feel right now. Although I don't expect the conservatives on this forum to understand or care, it feels like I am under siege here as an Ohio Democrat. In fact, it feels like I've been stripped of my right to live in a free country. I feel like there is a fundamental difference in perception between you and me. The conservatives are saying, "Well, we need to restore the building to what it used to be." And I am saying, "The building wasn't ever LIKE that. We need to modernize it."
Despite John Kerry's defeat in the elections, despite the pass of all of the anti-democratic amendments, despite the fall of Tom Daschle, despite the failure of many school levies here in Ohio, I and millions of other Democratic activists will continue to strive to make this country a better place. That was, after all, the main thrust of Kerry's campaign, "Stronger at home, respected around the world". We will work to try and get America to remember itself...not in terms of a fond past which never was, but in the idealistic tenets where America was born. America was founded for freedom of religion. America was founded to divide church from state. America was founded for opportunity; for only in America can you start with nothing and become everything. America was founded in a dream of equality, or at least greater equality than ever before. America was founded to create an environment in which we would constantly press ourselves to find innovative new solutions to old problems. THAT is the America that I lived in, and that I hope to one day live again in. That America is lost now, but not forgotten. One day, we will find it again...and although that day is not this day, the dream lives on.
-Americans For Truth
amfortruth@yahoo.com
Behold why I should not be a pollster====> http://www.geocities.com/amfortruth/