To Conservatives and Liberals Alike

[SmashMouth]

Where do we start...

I rarely watch the news anymore. Although I have fairly conservative views, I like to hear a balanced news report. Used to, the news meant some middle-aged white guy dressed in a suit & tie got on TV and told us about what airplane got hi-jacked, some political crap, some military altercation, a feature story about a dog that sky-dives and then a brief summary of the nation's weather. End of story. Were there left and right tendencies in the report? Some. But not like today...

Used to when you went to vote, you might actually think that either side might have a few good ideas. Now, it's so Left vs. Right, it's ridiculous.

Is Trump perfect? No. Was Either Bush perfect? No. Was Reagan Perfect? No.

Was Obama perfect? No. Was Bill Clinton perfect? No. Was Carter Perfect? No.

You see where I'm going with this? Nobody from EITHER side is perfect.

Let's take the converse - Did ANY of the above do something good EVER in their political careers? Of course they did. Everyone of them.

But here we are. As polarized as a country can be. No middle ground. No Give and Take. It's all either Red or Blue. Compromise is all but an afterthought.

What will it take for us to come together? I have a VERY Liberal nephew. Smart kid (26), but his political and social ideology is at the far end of the spectrum compared to mine. We actually discuss issues civilly with each other. We rarely see totally eye to eye, but at least we concede that the other has good points and arguments.

Can we do that as a country ever again? Can anyone on this site even begin a discussion with someone who has differing opinions? I would love to hear a discussion every once in a while without name calling or total rejection of differing ideas.

I bet it's not possible...

 

[LumRaiderFan]

46 minutes ago, SmashMouth said:

Where do we start...

I rarely watch the news anymore. Although I have fairly conservative views, I like to hear a balanced news report. Used to, the news meant some middle-aged white guy dressed in a suit & tie got on TV and told us about what airplane got hi-jacked, some political crap, some military altercation, a feature story about a dog that sky-dives and then a brief summary of the nation's weather. End of story. Were there left and right tendencies in the report? Some. But not like today...

Used to when you went to vote, you might actually think that either side might have a few good ideas. Now, it's so Left vs. Right, it's ridiculous.

Is Trump perfect? No. Was Either Bush perfect? No. Was Reagan Perfect? No.

Was Obama perfect? No. Was Bill Clinton perfect? No. Was Carter Perfect? No.

You see where I'm going with this? Nobody from EITHER side is perfect.

Let's take the converse - Did ANY of the above do something good EVER in their political careers? Of course they did. Everyone of them.

But here we are. As polarized as a country can be. No middle ground. No Give and Take. It's all either Red or Blue. Compromise is all but an afterthought.

What will it take for us to come together? I have a VERY Liberal nephew. Smart kid (26), but his political and social ideology is at the far end of the spectrum compared to mine. We actually discuss issues civilly with each other. We rarely see totally eye to eye, but at least we concede that the other has good points and arguments.

Can we do that as a country ever again? Can anyone on this site even begin a discussion with someone who has differing opinions? I would love to hear a discussion every once in a while without name calling or total rejection of differing ideas.

I bet it's not possible...

 

No, it's not possible, because if I am against illegal immigration, welfare, or obamacare, I'm considered a racist.

I don't let it bother me but the days of reaching across the aisle are over. (It never was very effective anyway)

The left (Democrats) are a party to be defeated, not compromised with.

How many abortions are OK to be included in a compromise?

How many billions in welfare are OK to be included in a compromise.

How many illegal immigrants coming in the country are OK to be included in a compromise?

How many "assault" weapons are OK to have taken off the market in a compromise?

Again, The Democrats are not to be compromised with, all their ideas are destructive to the country...they are to be defeated.

They want to lead us down the path of Socialism...I don't want to compromise on how far down that path to go.

[stevenash]

It wasn't that long ago that Venezuela was one of the wealthier countries and socialism has completely destroyed it.

[LumRaiderFan]

How would you compromise with this? (This list could be endless)

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From the article:

Mayor Bill de Blasio cited his "socialistic impulse" in describing an ideal world where New York City government has control over all land and buildings in his city.

“I think people all over this city, of every background, would like to have the city government be able to determine which building goes where, how high it will be, who gets to live in it, what the rent will be,” de Blasio said in a wide-ranging interview with New York Magazine. “I think there’s a socialistic impulse, which I hear every day, in every kind of community that they would like things to be planned in accordance to their needs.”

 

FYI...the Socialist creed.

From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Hmmmmm...the makers = ability...the takers = needs.

[stevenash]

They simply do not/cannot grasp the idea that such policies increase the number of takers and decreases the number of makers, thus rendering the model unsustainable.  Venezuela demonstrates it perfectly.

[BS Wildcats]

2 hours ago, LumRaiderFan said:

No, it's not possible, because if I am against illegal immigration, welfare, or obamacare, I'm considered a racist.

I don't let it bother me but the days of reaching across the aisle are over. (It never was very effective anyway)

The left (Democrats) are a party to be defeated, not compromised with.

How many abortions are OK to be included in a compromise?

How many billions in welfare are OK to be included in a compromise.

How many illegal immigrants coming in the country are OK to be included in a compromise?

How many "assault" weapons are OK to have taken off the market in a compromise?

Again, The Democrats are not to be compromised with, all their ideas are destructive to the country...they are to be defeated.

They want to lead us down the path of Socialism...I don't want to compromise on how far down that path to go.

Your first paragraph nailed it.  There is not a liberal dim on this site that can come up with something other than you are a racist.  Every single one of them use that as their reasoning as to why we don't agree with their parties socialistic views.  

[SmashMouth]

1 hour ago, LumRaiderFan said:

No, it's not possible, because if I am against illegal immigration, welfare, or obamacare, I'm considered a racist.

I don't let it bother me but the days of reaching across the aisle are over. (It never was very effective anyway)

The left (Democrats) are a party to be defeated, not compromised with.

How many abortions are OK to be included in a compromise?

How many billions in welfare are OK to be included in a compromise.

How many illegal immigrants coming in the country are OK to be included in a compromise?

How many "assault" weapons are OK to have taken off the market in a compromise?

Again, The Democrats are not to be compromised with, all their ideas are destructive to the country...they are to be defeated.

They want to lead us down the path of Socialism...I don't want to compromise on how far down that path to go.

I never said you had to compromise EVERYTHING. I never said you had to sell your soul... I said this:

"Can we do that as a country ever again? Can anyone on this site even begin a discussion with someone who has differing opinions? I would love to hear a discussion every once in a while without name calling or total rejection of differing ideas."

Neither "side" can even agree on the smallest of things. It's ludicrous! I guarantee if you and I, LumRaiderFan, sit down to a discussion (even though we are both conservatives), we will not agree 100% on every issue. And that's ok. We may not change each other's mind either. And that's ok. But, I bet we don't resort to name-calling and bashing one another...simply because we are on the "same side".

Answer me this: Do you think Ted Cruz, Donald Trump or any other high level Republican really give two turds about me or you? Hell No! Nor does Hillary Clinton or Nancy Pelosi (both of whom I despise) give a rat's rear end about any John Doe Democrat walking down the street. They are all in it for themselves either monetarily or because of some power trip. I still voted for a straight Republican ticket. But don't think for a minute that ANYONE in Washington has our back.

This is just my opinion, of course. We are on our own, and we have got to learn some civility. Being civil doesn't mean compromising everything. There is not just Left or Right, Right or Wrong, Red or Blue...

 

[LumRaiderFan]

23 minutes ago, SmashMouth said:

I never said you had to compromise EVERYTHING. I never said you had to sell your soul... I said this:

"Can we do that as a country ever again? Can anyone on this site even begin a discussion with someone who has differing opinions? I would love to hear a discussion every once in a while without name calling or total rejection of differing ideas."

Neither "side" can even agree on the smallest of things. It's ludicrous! I guarantee if you and I, LumRaiderFan, sit down to a discussion (even though we are both conservatives), we will not agree 100% on every issue. And that's ok. We may not change each other's mind either. And that's ok. But, I bet we don't resort to name-calling and bashing one another...simply because we are on the "same side".

Answer me this: Do you think Ted Cruz, Donald Trump or any other high level Republican really give two turds about me or you? Hell No! Nor does Hillary Clinton or Nancy Pelosi (both of whom I despise) give a rat's rear end about any John Doe Democrat walking down the street. They are all in it for themselves either monetarily or because of some power trip. I still voted for a straight Republican ticket. But don't think for a minute that ANYONE in Washington has our back.

This is just my opinion, of course. We are on our own, and we have got to learn some civility. Being civil doesn't mean compromising everything. There is not just Left or Right, Right or Wrong, Red or Blue...

 

If you question is whether or not I can be civil with someone I disagree with politically, them my answer is yes.

To your point about whether anyone has our back...I don't need anyone to have my back...all I need is gov to stop intruding in my daily life.

Donald Trump has basically removed many of the regulations that ham-stringed the economy and look at it go.

When you have a great economy, no one needs to have your back...that shouldn't even be a mindset for Americans, but due to generations of liberal entitlement policies, it is infused in many folks way of life...they are looking for someone to go to Washington and FIGHT for them...geeez.

No one in Washington needs to have your back, the folks I want to see up there are those that want to make the fed gov as small as possible...very insignificant in my daily life. (I know, I'm dreaming)

I have discussions with folks I disagree with all the time, but there are many core value issues that can't be compromised, that was my main point.

I will disagree on your last statement...it is as simple as right and wrong in my mind.

 

[SmashMouth]

4 minutes ago, LumRaiderFan said:

If you question is whether or not I can be civil with someone I disagree with politically, them my answer is yes.

To your point about whether anyone has our back...I don't need anyone to have my back...all I need is gov to stop intruding in my daily life.

Donald Trump has basically removed many of the regulations that ham-stringed the economy and look at it go.

When you have a great economy, no one needs to have your back...that shouldn't even be a mindset for Americans, but due to generations of liberal entitlement policies, it is infused in many folks way of life.

No one in Washington needs to have your back, the folks I want to see up there are those that want to make the fed gov as small as possible...very insignificant in my daily life. (I know, I'm dreaming)

I have discussions with folks I disagree with all the time, but there are many core value issues that can't be compromised, that was my main point.

I will disagree on your last statement...it is as simple as right and wrong in my mind.

 

I agree with right and wrong on certain things - just not everything. I'm not so self-involved to think that me or my side is ALWAYS right and someone else that disagrees with me or my side is ALWAYS wrong.

[LumRaiderFan]

13 minutes ago, SmashMouth said:

I agree with right and wrong on certain things - just not everything. I'm not so self-involved to think that me or my side is ALWAYS right and someone else that disagrees with me or my side is ALWAYS wrong.

Neither am I...if you've been on the board for a while, (and I know you have) myself and several other conservatives on here have hammered the Republicans quite often.

Democrats, however, usually provide plenty to be disgusted over, such as the Kavanaugh Senate hearing.

[SmashMouth]

2 minutes ago, LumRaiderFan said:

Neither am I...if you've been on the board for a while, (and I know you have) myself and several other conservatives on here have hammered the Republicans quite often.

I know you have. And that's good. I just know that on this board, on TV, on other boards, publications, etc., we refer to "them" as Dims, Idiots, and other names. It just doesn't have to be so divisive. Do I think very lowly of some Liberals - Damn right. This new Occasional-Cortez girl that just hit the scene needs to be done away with. But the polarization is honestly just giving her more fire. We cannot afford people like her to hold office.

[LumRaiderFan]

15 minutes ago, SmashMouth said:

I know you have. And that's good. I just know that on this board, on TV, on other boards, publications, etc., we refer to "them" as Dims, Idiots, and other names. It just doesn't have to be so divisive. Do I think very lowly of some Liberals - Damn right. This new Occasional-Cortez girl that just hit the scene needs to be done away with. But the polarization is honestly just giving her more fire. We cannot afford people like her to hold office.

And we agree again...I never classify someone an idiot or dumb because I may disagree with them.  Lots of folks on both sides are smart and plenty of idiots on both sides.

The idiot part oftentimes comes in when it gets heated and someone has no other comeback than to act a fool.