Subject:
|
Re: Remember the Axis of Evil? [may offend]
|
Newsgroups:
|
lugnet.off-topic.debate
|
Date:
|
Tue, 9 Dec 2003 16:19:18 GMT
|
Viewed:
|
647 times
|
| |
|
|
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Larry Pieniazek wrote:
| |
| |
To this end, I suggest that Conservatives are better at
controlling public discourse than PETA.
|
Perhaps currently they are noisier yes and more annoying, but more
controlling? Besides that runs counter to my argument, discourse apparent
control doesn’t matter as much as results do. And the modern liberals have
well nigh on to 100 years of success in the US with their message with only
somewhat of a backswing lately.
|
Lately? It can be fairly said that, in many ways, the South and its
Conservative (by today’s yardstick) agenda have won the Civil War. Quasi-covert
institutionalized racism and rampant corporate cronyism are hardly the hallmarks
of modern Liberalism, yet these are dominant factors in the US today.
| |
| |
Another problem is that PETA, for example, is generally recognized as a
self-caricaturing fringe group,
|
As is (at this point) Moral Majority... I tried to pick some serious and some
not so serious for each of the sets but welcome substitutions as long as they
fit the “traditional” definitions of L and C
|
Oh, okay. Now I see what you were after. Still, though—the far-Right elements
hold greater sway over the Republican party hold greater sway than the far-Left
elements hold over the Democratic party. Who wields greater, power (with
longer-term implications), Bill Frist or Dennis Kucinich?
| |
(which we both know are false definitions)
|
I’ll get back to this assertion in a moment.
| |
| |
The differences between the two main parties are not as small as I
understand you to believe.
|
Small enough to be worrisome though, ne?
|
It all depends which small differences we’re discussing. Also, it must be
recognized that politicians will invariably work to the benefit of their own
re-election, so on hot-button issues like gay marriage, it’s natural that
legislators from both sides of the aisle will beat the same drum . I submit
that, if a Libertarian candidate were elected to Congress (as a Libertarian),
then he or she would likewise play to his or her own re-election bid. In
general, a party is only as “principled” as it is forced to be.
| |
| |
Interesting again, but it’s a chicken-and-egg conundrum. You’re assuming
that “the socialist message” has pervaded American thought due to the
efforts of pro-socialist forces. One could likewise argue that “the
socialist message” has become so widespread because it resonates with the
true desires of the population.
|
Go ahead and make that argument... I think you’ll have a tough time of it.
|
Before I do so, I would ask to hear an elaboration the argument that this
over-reaching Socialist agenda has so totally permeated the background noise of
American culture. To that end, I would like to see it demonstrated that this
agenda has driven itself into the culture, rather than being embraced or sought
willingly by that culture.
| |
| |
I also contest the term “socialist” in this context, specifically because it
is a term intended to shape this discussion. The Liberalism that I favor is
not Socialism.
|
The Liberalism *I* favor is *also* not Socialism... The term has been
usurped. And not in a “new” or “improved” way.
|
Much like retroactively gathering dead people under the Libertarian umbrella, is
it not? Well, that’s how language works. I’m not thrilled that “proactive”
wormed its way into the lexicon, and I become physically ill everytime I hear
something described as “impactful,” but that’s too bad for me.
Nothing is served by merely clinging to outdated word usage, and I would suggest
that such adherence can lessen the relevance of one’s argument. That’s why,
for example, we shouldn’t base our international policy on 18th-century usages
of “entangling,” “foreign,” and “alliances.”
However, if we’re going to cling to word usage, I would point out that the
Libertarian Party, which nominated Harry Browne, can hardly claim itself to be
the Party of Principle.
Dave!
|
|
Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Remember the Axis of Evil? [may offend]
|
| (...) c /mine/Lar's/ and we're in agreement. (...) That's precisely what I'm driving at! (...) Perhaps currently they are noisier yes and more annoying, but more controlling? Besides that runs counter to my argument, discourse apparent control (...) (21 years ago, 9-Dec-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)
|
24 Messages in This Thread:
 
 
- Entire Thread on One Page:
- Nested:
All | Brief | Compact | Dots
Linear:
All | Brief | Compact
|
|
|
|
