okie wrote:Cycloptichorn wrote:Alright, in your opinion, what are the things that Democrats don't like which are as American as Apple Pie?
Cycloptichorn
Boy have I walked into it haven't I? I knew you would be waiting to ambush me, cyclops when I make a "wild" statement like that, I should say "wild in your opinion."
I will name just one for now, but it is an important one.
Freedom and RESPONSIBILITY of the individual and faith in the free market, also entrepeneurship, private property rights, etc. I lump them all together as one because they are all related to each other, and I believe these things are very American.
The reason I believe Democrats do not believe in the above is the politics they practice. They say they do, but actions speak louder than words. Democrats are "groupees" by nature, not individualistic by nature. They believe in solving all problems with government. These are generalities of course, but I think valid as a generality.
I will cite just one example, not that it is high on my priority list, but because it illustrates the principle. Many other things could be used to illustrate the principle. To reduce crime, liberals, mosty Democrats, advocate taking away more firearms or more complicated registration of weapons for all citizens. Meanwhile, conservatives advocate punishing and holding accountable only those individuals that commit crimes with firearms, which essentially is holding individuals responsible rather than the group responsible.
I do find it interesting that you list 'responsibility' as one of the defining charcteristics that Republicans are supposed to hold up, and Democrats don't. I think you know as well as I do that the current bunch in office don't support that view of the Republican party.
Let's look at yer example:
Quote:Meanwhile, conservatives advocate punishing and holding accountable only those individuals that commit crimes with firearms, which essentially is holding individuals responsible rather than the group responsible.
Part of the problem with this argument is that it doesn't take into account the fact that there has never been any evidence shown that punishing individuals acts as a deterrent to violent crime. It is cold comfort to a family whose father got killed in a stickup, because the criminal could get a firearm at a gun show with no ID and no background check.
Whereas making dangerous weapons more difficult to obtain, has a proactive effect of making them harder to use in crime. How difficult is this to understand? What is wrong with having to register guns, pass background checks, have some sort of control over the use of firearms in our society?
I think that most Americans agree that firearms are dangerous, or if you want to play word games, they make previously dangerous
people far more dangerous to others. Registration and background checks help reduce this danger to society. Not one person who should legally have a firearm - who has no background issues barring it - will be denied the weapon in the end, so what's wrong with making them register the weapon and regulating the sale? We do so with far less dangerous objects then guns.
In the end, one would think that a view of 'personal responsibility' would keep in mind the fact that each of us, as citizens, have a responsibility to America and our Society as well as each other and ourselves. If we don't uphold that responsibility, our country will fail. Simple as that. So I think claiming that Liberals aren't for responsibility and freedom and all that is ridiculous; we just realize that we have a responsibility to support our country, with our work, our words, our efforts, and yes, our finances, as well as our country having responsibilities towards us.
The tactic of demonizing those who have a different view of how things should be done is a dangerous one.
Cycloptichorn
