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Joined: Aug 2006
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Originally Posted by humphreysmar
I like a lot of what's in it, especially the idea that selfishness has replaced belief in many political ideas/goals and the implications behind why all parties are now alike. I know many of these things have been discussed individually here on RR, but I think what attracted me to this essay was how it pulled together so many issues.
(my bolds)
My reaction was very much the same as yours, Martha. Thank you so much for sharing. That is a kickass article.
As I was reading, I realized I hadn't quite thought of this or that that way but I so do agree with the points being made. Wow.

Originally Posted by itstarted
We all have a tendency to moan and bitch about what's going on... but what about alternatives? Liking Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich isn't an answer.
I would add Ralph Nader and ask why, It. Why are none of those an answer?
If we don't consider anything outside of the mainstream an answer, aren't we part of the problem?




"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning how to dance in the rain."
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Originally Posted by california rick
The world is much different for my generation, than it was for yours. Gen X'ers didn't grow up in the lap of endless impossibilities.

We grew up immediately with the Vietnam War in full-swing, Watergate, 1976 Oil Crisis, Astronomical housing interest rates in the early 80s. We've always lived in a world where money has been tight and services have been cut (Prop 13 in 1978)

Gen X'ers have never known "good times." We've always grown up in a world of doom and gloom (Iran hostage situation, odd-even gas lines, Beirut killing of 200 Marines, Challenger explosion) - where you take two steps forward, and one step back.

...and we still have Baby Boomer bosses holding us down and not moving out of the way for us to advance up into the higher echelons of management.

Baby Boomer bosses' current excuse for not moving out-of-the way: My 401K took a hit and I need to work a few more years.

We are a repressed generation and our repressors are our elders.
Good post, Rick.
I agree with most of what you say.

Baby Boomers can't get out of the way though like seniors maybe used to. Many boomers can't afford to.
Our generation is not treated well by the health care industry specifically.
Elders here don't get special treatment like they do in many other countries.



"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning how to dance in the rain."
olyve #152061 06/01/10 01:37 AM
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Quote
Originally Posted By: itstarted

We all have a tendency to moan and bitch about what's going on... but what about alternatives? Liking Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich isn't an answer.

...............................................
I would add Ralph Nader and ask why, It. Why are none of those an answer?
If we don't consider anything outside of the mainstream an answer, aren't we part of the problem?

As I see it, that was precisely the point of the essay. That it matters not what the "truth" is, or what is best,
but that the "Machine" is self propitiating, a neo conservatism that feeds on itself to become strong. The idealism of the Sanders' and Pauls' and Kucinisch's and yes, the Naders' just exist without being a factor.

Obama "exists" without being a factor.

And so, are we part of the problem? Well maybe not directly... but "liking" these guys, doesn't really accomplish anything.... in the same way that the words of Obama (which we like) aren't followed by action.

I did not see the tiniest sign of "hope" in the article. It was more of a "that's the way it is" statement, and the reason for my own choice to "coast".

I am certain a time will come when the people will understand their future will lie in deposing the "machine", but most likely not in my lifetime.





Life is Good!
Irked #152075 06/01/10 02:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Irked
Examples:

* Exclusionary Groups: Labor Unions. Environmental Groups. Government of the Majority.

* Freely Associating Individuals: Contractual business relationship. Industry/Business Organizations. The Church.
Goodness, Irked, you missed by a mile. the exclusionary groupings I was referring to were political and based on race, ethnicity, and gender. While they originally targeted only the 'white' male power structure, a funny thing happened on the way to diversity central. It turns out that those who gathered in these politicized groups didn't much like each other and preferred to gather power unto their own kind. Blacks disliked Jews (who had often been their allies), Mexicans and other hispanics really disliked Blacks who really disliked Mexicans and other hispanics, and the sisterhood is, at best, seriously divided along hate lines (dare I mention Sarah Palin?:-)). No wonder a study I posted here sometime ago showed that the increased 'diversity' in society had make people less willing to join in community action or help others - even of the same race, ethnicity, or gender. In other words, people have rationally moved toward a more atomistic stance out of a desire to survive and succeed in a hostile environment of exclusionary groupings created over the decades by the author's fellow travellers.

This is what happens when people see each other as members of a group rather than as individuals. It is what is continuing to tear America apart -- to the delight of some.
Yours,
Issodhos


"When all has been said that can be said, and all has been done that can be done, there will be poetry";-) -- Issodhos
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Each person is free to chop the world up
into exactly the pieces the person chooses. That some will veer horrendously from the One True Path is but to be expected. A certain number of free individuals will stray, such is the nature of Free Will.


How eager they are to be slaves - Tiberius Caesar

Coulda tripped out easy, but I've changed my ways - Donovan
Irked #152088 06/01/10 08:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Irked
Each person is free to chop the world up
into exactly the pieces the person chooses. That some will veer horrendously from the One True Path is but to be expected. A certain number of free individuals will stray, such is the nature of Free Will.
Good recovery, Irked. ThumbsUp
Yours,
Issodhos


"When all has been said that can be said, and all has been done that can be done, there will be poetry";-) -- Issodhos
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