LOL, but I imagine she had a dryer even before becoming governor.
Well, and the funny thing about that is that I try not to use my dryer in the summer. Or when I want to save money. It's like an instinct. Money problems=cut spending. But then I am a Californian, who grew up during the drought. It brings a perspective that comes of an environment where sometimes there is less and there's not much you can do about it.
This seems so basic to me that I wonder it's a question.
Let me qualify here that are plenty of Conservatives, who understand this concept. To his great credit, McCain quite rightly pushed for legislation against torture, but that the U.S. had to actually make such legislation points out that what I describe is not basic.
There's the whole monotonous Liberal litany of current war-ness, which I won't weary us both by repeating, but the example I find most interesting was the failure of the US to support the government of Afghanistan once they had driven out the Russians (and then sort of did it again now). Focused effort and thought to the consequences of neglect (on any political parties part) could have gone a profoundly long way toward alleviating our current problems.
From the choices that they have made, I'd say McCain gets that principle and that Palin doesn't. And by Palin doesn't, I've already articulated some of my thinking, there's more, but seriously there is a point where it's all just Angel vs. Spike.
I would however argue that the terms in which one sees the opposition are an integral part of a position. A quick trip to realclearpolitics has me wading in positions. I'm told that conservatives are racist (some are, some aren't - heck I am.), that liberals are elitist (some are, some aren't – I am. I read Dante. I watched Buffy. I crossed them both) and I'm reminded of a disagreement that my father and I often have. I should perhaps clarify that we talk for about an hour a week and exchange several emails a day. So, we have plenty of space for disagreement.
He holds that to understand how a word read the dictionary. I sort of agree, but think that certain words are emotionally charged by the individual.
Thus I know that just as I am sensitized to notice slurs against me, dad is sensitized to slurs against himself.
There is an impulse, which is at the root of this discussion, to see ones self as good and the enemy as evil: Nazi’s/Hitler. Personally I'd like to see a moratorium on WWII references. Yes, it was a big war; it was not the only war.
On the other hand, my father would like to put a moratorium to my referencing the Crusades. Middle Eastern, Albigensian, Tuetonic or otherwise.
And as often as religion comes up in politics, I am reminded of something my youth minister said, "Never put a religious bumper sticker on your car, because eventually you'll cut someone off - you're human, it'll happen - and you'll be cutting that person off as a Christian and that's not the right message to send."
So, yes, as Liberals, it'd be nice if we could refrain from demonizing people. It'd be nice if fellow Christians would refrain demonizing other people. It would be nice if people with "Mean people suck" bumper stickers wouldn't cut me off. It happens.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2008-09-16 03:44 pm (UTC)Well, and the funny thing about that is that I try not to use my dryer in the summer. Or when I want to save money. It's like an instinct. Money problems=cut spending. But then I am a Californian, who grew up during the drought. It brings a perspective that comes of an environment where sometimes there is less and there's not much you can do about it.
This seems so basic to me that I wonder it's a question.
Let me qualify here that are plenty of Conservatives, who understand this concept. To his great credit, McCain quite rightly pushed for legislation against torture, but that the U.S. had to actually make such legislation points out that what I describe is not basic.
There's the whole monotonous Liberal litany of current war-ness, which I won't weary us both by repeating, but the example I find most interesting was the failure of the US to support the government of Afghanistan once they had driven out the Russians (and then sort of did it again now). Focused effort and thought to the consequences of neglect (on any political parties part) could have gone a profoundly long way toward alleviating our current problems.
From the choices that they have made, I'd say McCain gets that principle and that Palin doesn't. And by Palin doesn't, I've already articulated some of my thinking, there's more, but seriously there is a point where it's all just Angel vs. Spike.
I would however argue that the terms in which one sees the opposition are an integral part of a position. A quick trip to realclearpolitics has me wading in positions. I'm told that conservatives are racist (some are, some aren't - heck I am.), that liberals are elitist (some are, some aren't – I am. I read Dante. I watched Buffy. I crossed them both) and I'm reminded of a disagreement that my father and I often have. I should perhaps clarify that we talk for about an hour a week and exchange several emails a day. So, we have plenty of space for disagreement.
He holds that to understand how a word read the dictionary. I sort of agree, but think that certain words are emotionally charged by the individual.
Thus I know that just as I am sensitized to notice slurs against me, dad is sensitized to slurs against himself.
There is an impulse, which is at the root of this discussion, to see ones self as good and the enemy as evil: Nazi’s/Hitler. Personally I'd like to see a moratorium on WWII references. Yes, it was a big war; it was not the only war.
On the other hand, my father would like to put a moratorium to my referencing the Crusades. Middle Eastern, Albigensian, Tuetonic or otherwise.
And as often as religion comes up in politics, I am reminded of something my youth minister said, "Never put a religious bumper sticker on your car, because eventually you'll cut someone off - you're human, it'll happen - and you'll be cutting that person off as a Christian and that's not the right message to send."
So, yes, as Liberals, it'd be nice if we could refrain from demonizing people. It'd be nice if fellow Christians would refrain demonizing other people. It would be nice if people with "Mean people suck" bumper stickers wouldn't cut me off. It happens.