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The topic was slavery, and unlike modern presidential debates, they were executed at a fairly high level of reason, intelligence, and sophistication. Why? Obviously, there was not the demand for superficial personal charisma back then that today's media culture demands. More importantly, Lincoln and Douglas could debate at this high level because they shared common ground and spoke the same language of Anglo-Christian civilization.
That common ground seems to be entirely gone. And without a moral common ground, debate and rational argument is not possible. We don't understand each other anymore, and increasingly we don't even try to make ourselves understood. We're at an impasse, a standoff, and it doesn't bode well for the future.
Yep - I often feel that I am debating with people who speak a different language.
You're not alone. Our nation is divided. The polarization has become very clear these past four years. Battle lines have been drawn. The coming election will in many ways determine the fate of our society.
You're not alone. Our nation is divided. The polarization has become very clear these past four years. Battle lines have been drawn. The coming election will in many ways determine the fate of our society.
Fr. George Rutler believes it may well be America's last free election.
Here's what I see happening in the short term:
1. The middle is disappearing.
2. Both the Left and the Right are growing.
3. The Left is growing the fastest.
4. The Right is coalescing around the Catholic Church.
That means that, in the near future, the Left will definitely be in charge, but there will be a newly invigorated and robust right-wing minority. NOT a recipe for civil tranquility.
Fr. George Rutler believes it may well be America's last free election.
Here's what I see happening in the short term:
1. The middle is disappearing.
2. Both the Left and the Right are growing.
3. The Left is growing the fastest.
4. The Right is coalescing around the Catholic Church.
That means that, in the near future, the Left will definitely be in charge, but there will be a newly invigorated and robust right-wing minority. NOT a recipe for civil tranquility.
Fr. George Rutler believes it may well be America's last free election.
Here's what I see happening in the short term:
1. The middle is disappearing.
2. Both the Left and the Right are growing.
3. The Left is growing the fastest.
4. The Right is coalescing around the Catholic Church.
That means that, in the near future, the Left will definitely be in charge, but there will be a newly invigorated and robust right-wing minority. NOT a recipe for civil tranquility.
So, who will rule this country? The Commies or the Nazis?
The topic was slavery, and unlike modern presidential debates, they were executed at a fairly high level of reason, intelligence, and sophistication. Why? Obviously, there was not the demand for superficial personal charisma back then that today's media culture demands. More importantly, Lincoln and Douglas could debate at this high level because they shared common ground and spoke the same language of Anglo-Christian civilization.
That common ground seems to be entirely gone. And without a moral common ground, debate and rational argument is not possible. We don't understand each other anymore, and increasingly we don't even try to make ourselves understood. We're at an impasse, a standoff, and it doesn't bode well for the future.
I think you hit the nail on the head in the third sentence. We the people no longer demand that our elected officials be the smartest, only that they be charismatic. Honestly, I feel that the situation is the end result of having a two party system that is controlled by special interests. The primaries are a farce, as the winner is going to be whoever the core of the party backs the most, and by the time the election rolls around we are stuck with a choice of Tweedle-Dee or Tweedle-Dum. Unfortunately, the Tweedle twins aren't the best people for the job, only the most charismatic or the ones most likely to kow-tow to the special interests.
I would love to see a third party rise up that is based on sheer common sense and has the goal of increasing education, placing absolute limits on government power and spending, and realizes that what the neighbor does with their personal life (within reason, I'm not promoting private crack houses here) doesn't affect you in the slightest.
Unfortunately, common sense has gone the way of the honest and intelligent politician. Now we're left with the people that are stupid enough to actually want to be elected officials.
I think he said that if that happened, he would raise an army of Americans to invade the sovereign states of other Americans and start a totally unecessary war based on increasing the power of the federal government and northern mercantilists while subjegating sovereign states and destroying constitutional law.
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