As far as the political theads go, I say what's on my mind and express my feelings about things, so I actually don't consider myself a liberal or conservative, although I have been accused of being liberal ;-)
I ended up here by meeting others here on other forums and since it's my kind of place, I settled right in.
By the by....I've been "ganged up" on several times -- mostly over in Abuzz.
Not only do I not run away -- I LOVE IT!
There are many conservatives who stick here despite the fact that opposing views may be more prevalent.
well, I range from liberal/socialist to rightwing libertarian depending on the issue involved but once I got labled as an extremist anarchist I appear to be stuck with the label no matter what I offer as opinion.
Dys
Dys, extremist anarchists aren't allowed to wear leather leggings, are they?
BBB
Asherman
Asherman, while I often disagree with some of your political views, I never tire of your presentation of them. I've learned a lot in the process and still have enough brain cells left to decide whether or not I agree with you. And---you never attack people on a personal basis for their contrary views regardless of how much they may irritate you.
People who don't get personally bellicose with others can express any views they wish and receive feedback in kind.
BBB
I want to say that asherman and some other conservatives on here are fine human beings. But I often just don't like their politics. I can disagree with asherman on one thread and then we can get together when he writes one of his good stories or posts a supurb painting.
Hmm... I don't think that the views and the opinions of the forum are unbalanced; although one may consider there to be a liberal bias, this is one liberal site in the midst of thousands of conservative ones. It's not as if liberals here are ganging up and bullying Conservatives away: if a Liberal were to talk rubbish, I'm sure that A2Kers would be just as ready to criticize or argue against their views.
I don't think it's a black and white issue; I like A2K for the way it is. If there are to be more conservatives, it all depends on Conservatives staying here, not on A2K being more conservative. People come and go; that is only natural.
i wholeheartedly agree with you. I'm certainly not blaming this site or the members. It's unfortunate that liberals outnumber conservatives by such a wide margin here. I'm just saying, do you think the debates would be more lively and informative, and less one sided if there were more conservatives.
I wouldn't mind seeing an occasional thread everynow and then praising bush and defending his actions.
I have never, here or anywhere else, suggested that people be prevent from speaking their minds, or trying to persuade others to change theirs. I believe that folks have a duty to themselves and to society at large to make their opinions known, even when those opinions seem foolish to most people.
Sometimes foolishness is just that, foolishness. Such talk may be of interest to psychiatrists, but most folks just stop listening after awhile. Sometimes, when the issue(s) are strongly emotional, foolishness can result in mob behavior. Lynch Law never stops to consider anything beyond what is "self-evident" and in conformance with the mob's idea of what is right and wrong. At the beginning of the 21st century, political correctness has taken some extreme forms ... and the country is increasingly divided by the flavor of political correctness one favors.
On one hand there are those who expect that our government be perfect and moral in all things. Crimes and errors of the past are enough to condemn us for all time, but the present is expected to somehow right wrongs that occurred hundreds of years ago. Because government deal with realities, it isn't possible to ever have perfection and so this school of thought wants to get rid of the scoundrels and replace them with someone else. Would President Gore truly been any different than President Bush? The truth of the matter is that no one, not even Al Gore, can say with certainty what he would have done given the same circumstances. BTW, I personally would have prefered a Gore Administration over one headed by Bush. Presidents are elected to govern, but according to some, Presidential acts are only valid if the majority of the world agrees with them. This position stands staunchly by the notion that we should have as pure a democracy as is possible. With modern communications, the extreme position is that virtually every governmental decision should be put to a plebescite. If you don't like a politician's decisions, or if "stuff" is happening that you dislike, you throw the rascal out. In this point of view, everyone would be saints if it were not for the conscious and nefarious behavior of "someone".
The other point of view is that the Constitution is more important today than at almost any time in our past. We have a representational government that deserves the backing and support of the public, unless it is clearly shown under law that named individuals has violated the law and their oaths. No one, not even the President is above the law, but neither shall they be condemned without due process. The past may be filled with errors, but the present is not required to make right every wrong, much less reward every person who asserts that they, or their remote ancestors were "wronged". Those who attack our country and murder our citizens, or who support and give sanctuary to our enemies, deserve to be hunted down, and captured or killed, regardless of what some Frenchman might think or say. To those who fall into this point of view, the United States has been one of the greatest forces for good that the world has ever known. American arms have defended the weak and opposed the forces of oppression consistently. American policy today is still devoted to what our political leadership regard as proper for the defense of the nation and the well-being of most of the world, terrorists and the supporters of terrorism excepted.
Sometimes a person advocates the violent over-thow of the government, or actively support enemies dedicated to our destruction. That is, to my mind treason, a crime that ranks right up there with murder for hire. To support terrorists who explode bombs killing our fellow countrymen is not going to win the turncoat any citizenship ribbons, but so long as their treason goes no further, they still have the right to yell their opinions from the rooftops.
I am politically a Federalist, and a strong believer in the Constitution and structure of an effective government. I believe that there should be a balance between all of the interest groups both within and under the government. I think that some of the original balance designed by the Framers has been lost -- lost to the notion that a "pure" democracy is better than a representative system that sometimes makes decisions we don't agree with. I am a patriot who, without denying the mistakes and crimes of the past, still pledge my life, my property and my sacred honor to the defense of the Constitution and the Nation. I support a strong American military as the best guarantor of peace and security within our borders and for the world at large. I don't believe in conspiracy theories, especially when they consist of no more than empty accusations woven by political opponents of the person/party/administration they are directed against. I believe in personal responsibility and initiative as the best way for individuals to improve themselves and society at large. I believe in a balance between an effective government, and one that stays out of local issues and individual lives.
Odds are pretty good that I'll take a lot of flack for these remarks. Why, because those who look at our flag see it as representing injustice, oligarchy, and imperialism seem to be in the majority here. What I expect is that replies will, deny that and insist that they are only against the President and the policies followed by the US government during Republican administrations. Oh well.....
what are some other sites like this, are there any conservative forums perhaps to get a perspective on their beliefs.
i'm interested in getting as diverse a perspective on the world as possible.
so if ANY of you can provide with a link to other forums (or simply what I should type into google) similar to this, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
And btw, no one has yet to answer my question, what is the roundtable that people here referred to as the conservative meeting ground?
The Roundtable is a hosted forum. That is comments are restricted to members only. You have been nominated for membership already. The Roundtable is the second listing at the top of the Forum Index.
I don't know about "Conservative" sites, I don't visit any. Most of the conservative sites I've seen are just the other side of the coin from those who feature the "far left", and "extreme liberals". In short, not worth the bother.
Can anyone help me find the square table? Sorry, I couldn't resist ;-)
Put down the bottle, Montana, and.... slowly.....back away.
Only if you meet me at the square table ;-) I'll share my bottle with ya
Asherman
Ash, I don't find any listing for The Roundtable" on the forum list.
BBB
It is a private forum - members only.
