Hello, I’m interested in a lot of obscure subjects, my daughter accuses me of knowing a lot of useless information, perhaps so. I’ve also been on a lot of other forums, so I’m not new to the game, it’s taking me less time to figure out who to ignore. So have at it, what do you want to know or what are you interested in?
How can I convince conservatives to stop reacting out of fear and start thinking things through?
Remove whatever it is that is making them afraid, if it’s imaginary, show them that it doesn’t exist. I will assume that you are talking about rational people who actually have the ability to think.
No, rational conservatives are hopeless. They’re smart enough to build logical yet flawed arguments in favor of their positions. I’m trying to get through to my conservative relatives who see terrorists in every shadow and blame Democrats for the mess the Republicans have created since Ronnie Raygun was in he White House. They’ve convinced themselves that only the Republican Party can protect them against the terrorists groups the Republicans helped create. They sincerely believe that unless we build a fence along the Mexican border that Mexican drug cartels will help Islamic terrorists cross into the United States.
I can only add one thing at this point, perhaps later I’ll have more. Some years ago I heard or read that most of the problems faced by a President were the result of policies and actions of the previous administration. I believe it was based on the idea that most policies take about 6 years to really have an effect on the country. The result is that each President gets blamed for the mistakes of the previous administration. I have often expressed the hope that we get a President who does nothing, and therefore makes no mistakes.
Anyone who makes no mistakes never does anything right either.
Anyone who makes no mistakes never does anything right either.Then we need to weigh the benefits of what they get right against the consequences of what they do wrong. Without getting too picky about it, I would think that there is more damage than good done by the government.
How can I convince conservatives to stop reacting out of fear and start thinking things through?Give it up. It's impossible. Many have tried, all have failed. Think of something more productive to spend your time and energy on. ;) Lois
How can I convince conservatives to stop reacting out of fear and start thinking things through?Give it up. It's impossible. Many have tried, all have failed. Think of something more productive to spend your time and energy on. ;) Lois That's the truth.
No, rational conservatives are hopeless. They're smart enough to build logical yet flawed arguments in favor of their positions. I'm trying to get through to my conservative relatives who see terrorists in every shadow and blame Democrats for the mess the Republicans have created since Ronnie Raygun was in he White House. They've convinced themselves that only the Republican Party can protect them against the terrorists groups the Republicans helped create. They sincerely believe that unless we build a fence along the Mexican border that Mexican drug cartels will help Islamic terrorists cross into the United States.One way to defeat the drug cartels is to make drugs legal, all of them, tax the sale and establish something on the order of the Pa State store system. If drugs could be bought legally at competitive prices, the illegal dealers would be out of business, and the violence would end. It worked at the end of prohibition when that it was realized that the laws were not working, and just created an illegal liquor business and organized crime.
One way to defeat the drug cartels is to make drugs legal, all of them, tax the sale and establish something on the order of the Pa State store system. If drugs could be bought legally at competitive prices, the illegal dealers would be out of business, and the violence would end. It worked at the end of prohibition when that it was realized that the laws were not working, and just created an illegal liquor business and organized crime.I've been saying that since St. Ron of Hollywood was president. We may finally start seeing some progress. Even some of my arch conservative relatives agree with me.
No, rational conservatives are hopeless. They're smart enough to build logical yet flawed arguments in favor of their positions. I'm trying to get through to my conservative relatives who see terrorists in every shadow and blame Democrats for the mess the Republicans have created since Ronnie Raygun was in he White House. They've convinced themselves that only the Republican Party can protect them against the terrorists groups the Republicans helped create. They sincerely believe that unless we build a fence along the Mexican border that Mexican drug cartels will help Islamic terrorists cross into the United States.One way to defeat the drug cartels is to make drugs legal, all of them, tax the sale and establish something on the order of the Pa State store system. If drugs could be bought legally at competitive prices, the illegal dealers would be out of business, and the violence would end. It worked at the end of prohibition when that it was realized that the laws were not working, and just created an illegal liquor business and organized crime.Very wrong, start a new thread about this topic.
No, rational conservatives are hopeless. They're smart enough to build logical yet flawed arguments in favor of their positions. I'm trying to get through to my conservative relatives who see terrorists in every shadow and blame Democrats for the mess the Republicans have created since Ronnie Raygun was in he White House. They've convinced themselves that only the Republican Party can protect them against the terrorists groups the Republicans helped create. They sincerely believe that unless we build a fence along the Mexican border that Mexican drug cartels will help Islamic terrorists cross into the United States.One way to defeat the drug cartels is to make drugs legal, all of them, tax the sale and establish something on the order of the Pa State store system. If drugs could be bought legally at competitive prices, the illegal dealers would be out of business, and the violence would end. It worked at the end of prohibition when that it was realized that the laws were not working, and just created an illegal liquor business and organized crime.Very wrong, start a new thread about this topic. You start it, I was answering a question on this thread.
Very wrong.The whiny liberal mantra, "We've got to protect these people from themselves". Wrong! If someone wants to do something stupid, with any luck they will eliminate themselves from the gene pool. One less stupid to deal with.
No, rational conservatives are hopeless. They're smart enough to build logical yet flawed arguments in favor of their positions. I'm trying to get through to my conservative relatives who see terrorists in every shadow and blame Democrats for the mess the Republicans have created since Ronnie Raygun was in he White House. They've convinced themselves that only the Republican Party can protect them against the terrorists groups the Republicans helped create. They sincerely believe that unless we build a fence along the Mexican border that Mexican drug cartels will help Islamic terrorists cross into the United States.One way to defeat the drug cartels is to make drugs legal, all of them, tax the sale and establish something on the order of the Pa State store system. If drugs could be bought legally at competitive prices, the illegal dealers would be out of business, and the violence would end. It worked at the end of prohibition when that it was realized that the laws were not working, and just created an illegal liquor business and organized crime.Very wrong, start a new thread about this topic. You start it, I was answering a question on this thread.It would be better if you, as a new poster start it.
Very wrong.The whiny liberal mantra, "We've got to protect these people from themselves". Wrong! If someone wants to do something stupid, with any luck they will eliminate themselves from the gene pool. One less stupid to deal with.I didn't mean you were wrong in this sense, but I agree that protecting people from themselves is an irritating liberal POV. A better way to evaluate it is, "we have to protect ourselves from those people".
I didn't mean you were wrong in this sense, but I agree that protecting people from themselves is an irritating liberal POV. A better way to evaluate it is, "we have to protect ourselves from those people".That is the proper role of the Government, the problem is who are "those people". Too often the definition is too inclusive. For example, should we be protected from "those people" who produce creosote, I would say no, but I would say yes that we should be protected from terrorists. Where do you draw the line?
Very wrong.The whiny liberal mantra, "We've got to protect these people from themselves". Wrong! If someone wants to do something stupid, with any luck they will eliminate themselves from the gene pool. One less stupid to deal with.I didn't mean you were wrong in this sense, but I agree that protecting people from themselves is an irritating liberal POV. A better way to evaluate it is, "we have to protect ourselves from those people". I find it's "conservatives" who are against legalizing drugs, not liberals. They're sure the whole country will become drug addicts if drugs are legalized. My position is that drugs are so freely available now, nobody will notice the difference if they become legal. We'll have the same number of adddicts and abusers, but much less drug-related crime. The money saved could be used for effective drug education and rehab. Lois
I find it's "conservatives" who are against legalizing drugs, not liberals. They're sure the whole country will become drug addicts if drugs are legalized.Thats not what I meant, however conservatives are totally correct that addiction will increase if drugs are legalized. (I mean true conservatives; there are so called conservatives who are pro-legalization, but they're really libertarians.)
My position is that drugs are so freely available now, nobody will notice the difference if they become legal. We'll have the same number of adddicts and abusers, but much less drug-related crime.Where did you hear this nonsense from?
The money saved could be used for effective drug education and rehab. LoisThere is money for effective treatment and rehab in most places, but thats not the main problem, the problem is the insidious nature of addiction.
I didn't mean you were wrong in this sense, but I agree that protecting people from themselves is an irritating liberal POV. A better way to evaluate it is, "we have to protect ourselves from those people".That is the proper role of the Government, the problem is who are "those people". Too often the definition is too inclusive. For example, should we be protected from "those people" who produce creosote, I would say no, but I would say yes that we should be protected from terrorists. Where do you draw the line?Psychologically ill people, like addicts, belong on the list of people society needs to be protected from.