The Lefty Boom

'50 chevy pickup progressive

Actually, I was an RTD progressive today (some of us should not be allowed on US 36 prior to complete caffeination!).

Pure centrist - right down the middle, just left of center so I don't get run over by the stampede going the wrong way!

I never intended to be a liberal, but the conservatives got more and more radical until I had no choice in the matter.

Well, I'm a Mercedes hot rod liberal...... But I do ride in limos to and from the airport...... does that disqualify me as a liberal? Hummm ....don't know.

Makes you a Ted Turner liberal . . . .

And my daughter is a walk-subway-bus liberal. There, now we've covered a lot of ground.

Craven - out of curiosity - how do you get around? Is there good public transportation where you are?

I am a driven liberal, since I no longer drive.

There'spublic transportation but I mainly get rides or take taxis. I need to go down to the DMV and am dreading it.

I loved to drive, and really regret not being able to anymore.

We got flooded out on a residential NJ street a couple of weeks ago, and they totalled the car. We are now Toyota liberals. I miss my red Volks.

Well, I just
a) quoted
b) had a look at the governing French parties. (And they belong definately to the conservative/right spectrum.)

We don't have a socialistic government in Germany. It's a coalition of Social Democrats and Green.
The Socialists just have two members in the Federal parliament ('Bundestag'), form a coalition in two state governments (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin) - and have a all-German support of less than 5%.


Regarding the causes: you seem to know more about that, than I do.
Hospitals (and senior residences) especially in France are known to be understaffed in summer - this seems to be one of the reasons for some dozen deaths in German senior residences (situated in conservative southern states, btw, but that didn't matter, IMHO*) as well.
Most French seniors, who died, were singles, living on their own.

*the privately owned residences are trying to get the most benefir out of their houses = don't engage more personal.

Just some comments on Perception, Podhoretz and their choices of targets:

Norman, Midge, Eliot, John, and on and on -- are a dynasty of neo-righties (former New School socialists) who've had their eager lips on the neo-con tit for years and years. Norman and Midge years ago were interesting, acerbic, perceptive writers. They have become drones. Abrams is a classic loser, hired by Republican administrations as a kind of retired hitman. Look at that disappointed face!

Look at John's article: when there is much to be said about this uprising on the left he is defensive! He chooses to zoom in on the left's reaction to Fox News (admittedly his employer!) whom he touts for over half the article! All that panting and harrumphing to defend one single bloodthirsty flea from Murdochland!

So I say, B-O-R-I-N-G! These cons are looking for easy targets, like Perception citing (his favorite target these days) the abandonment of the elderly in France during the heat wave. I hope we lefties never never resort to this kind of stuff, where you find the easiest, most eye-catching target (Fox style) and let all the interesting and substantive stuff -- which is more difficult to understand and categorize and demonize -- slip away.

How 'bout something refreshing from an independent mind? I don't care if it slams the left. Just make it INTERESTING!!

Which would conscientiously and intentionally leave the ederly at home alone, liberals or conservatives? What social (sic) services failed and what private enterprise failed in helping those in need? Would a conservative government provide more air-conditioners? Are air-conditioners that expensive in France? Perhaps the freak heat wave took everyone by surprise? After all, not everyone believes in global warming.

In my opinion, the incident has opened up lots of conjecture on why libertarianism can fail and less why social programs fail.

Well, when I first heard that news, Light, I felt as sick as everyone else.... plus.... guilt because I know that in this country we are just as careless with the elderly, with children, with "people who get in our way."

I guess one of the sociocultural developments I give the Right more blame for nourishing and cherishing than the left is the striving, greedy, self-centered roadhog types that naked capitalism seems to generate. I would MUCH rather live in a society where this didn't happen (and I'll bet -- no, I know -- most French feel the same way).

And I do blame all of us who like material stuff a little too much, who fall for other people's definition of success, and who "forget" not just the elderly but the commitment to community in their desperation not to miss personal opportunities. I see it in myself. I see it in others. And most of all, I see it dominating the value system of our country. Let the country which is without blame cast the first stone.

is not "social darwinism" a basis of conservative ideology?

Would seem so, Dys. Not the world I want to live in. Now, some conservative will come along and ask me about all the STUFF I have and whether I would give it up. Luckily, I've spent a good deal of my life without a lot of STUFF and found it very satisfactory. So I can easily say yes, I'd give it up. Things are nice, but not at the expense of a healthy community. Lesson learned.

Amen to that, Tartarin.

By the way, Neodarwnism is an outdated science...

Kinda obviates anyone offering an opinion differing with you own, doesn't it, Boss? Ah, yes, fair and balanced . . .

BillW......yes

But I'm with Tartarin, the stuff isn't worth it and I'll soon be divesting myself of all this stuff and I have tons of it. All of it really nice too, but it's gotta go. I no longer want to bother with the upkeep and I'm not so sure I like what it takes to get and keep it. Turnin true liberal soon. Soon to be a subway, bus liberal.

Perc, why don't you get an avatar? seriously. It would be fun and you'd be more a member of the group. If you joined in a bit with the rest of us sillies with avatars, you could have opposing opinions and it wouldn't always result in a fight. It wouldn't be just the avatar........nothing magical, just you could let loose and relax a bit. Try it, it's actually a lot of fun. I think most of us want to hear your opinions, but it's just that you do provoke a bit. And never mind that others do to, because I know we all do it a bit, but if it were less relentless.......well our discussions would be more productive and less unnerving. Just a thought.

tis quite awful to be owned by our possessions. when we die to we get extra points for "stuff"?

Setanta

As I suspected ---- you're the only one that caught that-- :wink: