Reply #14: FLAME ON [View All]

Just kidding. I hear what you're saying, but I have a couple responses.

1) While I hear and feel what you're saying here I think it's a difference between revolutionary change and evolutionary change. The conservative shift in this country didn't happen overnight in late 2000. It started in 1964 and took forty years. Candidates didn't suddenly go from being 'realisitcally progressive' to 'radically conservative' in time for the 1966 Republican primaries. Right now for us it's 1965. I understand those who want to strike back and win it all next year. It's not going to happen though. If we only support truly progressive candidates, by your definition, then there is a better than even chance that many of the most vile Senators will be reelected next year, including Santorum. While we have to fight the battles we can win, and we have to fight who to fight for, I'll take pro-life Casey over pro-idiocy Santorum any day of the week and I'll donate money to make it happen.

2) I'm not sure if I fully agree with the progressivity corresponding to economic times argument. I think there are some coincidences, but I think the poor economic times of the late seventies helped lead to the conservative Reagan revolution. Economic times, if they're bad, tend to hurt whoever is in power. So by that argument, then we want them now right? Well I live here. Economic times will be hard for me since I own a small business. Also if you have sympathy for people in Iraq, keep in mind not all of us are dissaociated from it. Some of the money that I earn here in America goes to paying a Canadian who owns a house in Baghdad so my Grandmother there in Iraq has a place to live. We're all interconnected. Also if America's economy tanks, it'll probably take the rest of the world with it, particularly Canada who is our largest trading partner.

3) You're spot on here. Why read the U.S. papers when the British ones are far more interesting. Also they use big words which make American papers look like they were written for fourth graders.

Anyway. Tell the truth as you see it. Who gives a fuck if somebody thinks you're divisive. Your viewpoint is just as valid as theirs, unless someone made them god and didn't tell me.