Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I have spoken out for years about the polarization and stereotypes of liberals vs conservatives in our great nation. Sadly, I am no more effective than President Obama at doing anything about it. But what I find within the mindless attacks of people complaining about Liberals, Conservatives or civil libertarians on this board is the fact that it does absolve anyone of any personal responsibility. Far easier to cry, whine, place the blame , or as this article suggests, "pick up the marbles and go home."
I took this off Facebook, it is circulating around for who knows how long. It brings up a very good point. We are not doing ourselves, our country or each other any good maintinaing a crybaby attitude of "Oh I can;t play with you because you helped out a member of a political party I do not like. " Kind of like a long time friend who said that if I voted for Obama, he would not be my friend. WAA WAA I endorsed Obama. He was better than the Mormon. He won big. Get over it.
Anyway here is the article, presented by the host of one of our favorite Dhows DIRTY JOBS [Bob Reidel: "Mike - Saw you hangin with Bill Maher. I had no idea you were a liberal. Really blew me away. Love everything you do but now that I know who you really are, I won't be tuning in to watch anything your involved with."]
Well, hi there, Bob. How's it going? Since your comment is not the only one of its kind, I thought I'd take a moment to address it.
Bill Maher is opinionated, polarizing and controversial. I get it. So is Bill O'Reilly, which is probably why I heard the same comments after I did his show. ("How could you Mike? How could you?")
Truth is, every time I go on Fox, my liberal friends squeal. And every time I show up on MSNBC, my conservative pals whine. Not because they disagree with my position - everyone agrees that closing the skills gap is something that needs to happen. No, these days, people get bent simply if I appear on shows they don't like, or sit too close to people they don't care for.
What's up with that? Is our country so divided that my mere proximity to the "other side" prompts otherwise sensible adults to scoop up their marbles and go home?
Back in 2008, I wrote an open letter to President Obama, offering to help him promote those 3 million "shovel-ready" jobs he promised to create during his campaign. (I suspected they might be a tough sell, given our country's current relationship with the shovel.) Within hours, hundreds of conservatives accused me of "engaging with a socialist," and threatened to stop watching Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe if I didn't come to my senses.
When I made the same offer to Mitt Romney (who actually responded), thousands of liberals chastised me for "engaging with a greedy capitalist," and threatened to stop watching Dirty Jobs if I didn't take it back.
You may ask, "But what did these people think about the issue at hand?" Who knows? They were too busy being outraged by my proximity to the devil. (Poor Ed Shultz at MSNBC nearly burst into tears. "You were on the wrong stage, Mike! The wrong stage!! With the wrong candidate!!!")
Oy.
Here's the thing, Bob - Profoundly Disconnected (Page not found « Profoundly Disconnected) is not a PR campaign for Mike Rowe. It's a PR campaign for skilled labor and alternative education. PR campaigns need ... that's right, PR, and if I limit my appearances to those shows that I personally watch, hosted only by those personalities with whom I personally agree, I might as well start a church and preach to the choir.
Point is, I didn't go on Real Time to endorse BM, and I didn't go on The Factor to endorse BO. I went on because millions of people watch those shows. I approached our liberal president for the same reason. Likewise, his conservative opponent. And I showed up on Sesame Street with the same agenda that I took to Congress.
Closing the skills gap is bigger than you or me or any particular venue, and Real Time gave me an opportunity to reach 5 million people. I'm grateful for that, and I'll do it again if they want me back.
As for Bill Maher off-camera, you'll be pleased to know that the guy was a perfect gentleman. His staff is excellent, and his after-party included an open bar with a spread I've never seen in such a setting. Bill took the time to hang out with his guests and their friends after the show, chatting about this and that for over an hour, and taking pictures with anyone who wanted one. Trust me, that's rare.
Yes, he's outrageous, inflammatory, and to many, a jagged little pill. But he's also gracious, generous, engaging, and taller than he appears on TV.
Which, frankly, surprised me.
Funny thing is, He is right. What I have been saying all along. Get over it and get back to work.
The Great divide is we have to groups who have emerged.
Social Liberalism or Social Justice. The argument is going to the roots of socialism where the state controls everything for the unrealistic idea of being fair to all. Even at the expense of you rights in this country. Their idea is the US Constitution is sort of "out of Date. Many countries has tried it and almost come close to being bankrupt.
Conservatism is the full support of the US Constitution and the All important Bill Of Rights. With the Federist Papers as a guide. Most conservatives and even independents do not want the intrusion of big Brother. Smaller and more control of Gov. Powers with term Limits.
The role of Gov is clear for Safety and Security and create a model for commerce that all can benefit from. Our taxes are up every year and there is always a program for the people which only a few can take advantage of.
We see President Obama righting and signing bills into office without the benefit of the both house of Gov.
Its coming down to self determination or be handled from cradle to grave. ? I'll let you bloggers decide for yourself.
That is if Big Brother approves of your free speech rights?
What on earth does this have to do with the original post?
Quote:
Originally Posted by GHOSTRIDER AZ
The Great divide is we have to groups who have emerged.
Social Liberalism or Social Justice. The argument is going to the roots of socialism where the state controls everything for the unrealistic idea of being fair to all. Even at the expense of you rights in this country. Their idea is the US Constitution is sort of "out of Date. Many countries has tried it and almost come close to being bankrupt.
Conservatism is the full support of the US Constitution and the All important Bill Of Rights. With the Federist Papers as a guide. Most conservatives and even independents do not want the intrusion of big Brother. Smaller and more control of Gov. Powers with term Limits.
The role of Gov is clear for Safety and Security and create a model for commerce that all can benefit from. Our taxes are up every year and there is always a program for the people which only a few can take advantage of.
We see President Obama righting and signing bills into office without the benefit of the both house of Gov.
Its coming down to self determination or be handled from cradle to grave. ? I'll let you bloggers decide for yourself.
That is if Big Brother approves of your free speech rights?
I have spoken out for years about the polarization and stereotypes of liberals vs conservatives in our great nation. Sadly, I am no more effective than President Obama at doing anything about it.
while i agree with you, what makes you think obama wants to do anything about this issue? especially since he is one of those driving the polarization and stereotypes.
while i agree with you, what makes you think obama wants to do anything about this issue? especially since he is one of those driving the polarization and stereotypes.
I am not sure if he WANTS to do anything, but he is UNABLE to do anything.
I do recall a lot of his rhetoric in 2008 during the campaign was to bring "both sides together" and overcome partisan politics. I think he had some grand idea that he was going to waltz into the white house, and, on his cool demeanor and with charismatic personality, somehow get competing sides to work together to fix America's problems. A grand idea, but not practical or really doable. At least in Washington, where Partisan politics continue to fail, and with the media who present few facts, and the bloggers and propagandists, who present even less.
It is a cool idea, everyone working together to solve a problem. Idea, yes. Pipe dream perhaps.
I do not see Obama as driving the polarization. I see much propaganda most of which is false. And somewhere behind it, someone is laughing all the way to the bank.
Perhaps our culture is becoming too paranoid? Before 2001, we had a degree of safety that much of the planet did not have. But the events of a few deranged terrorists changed all that. And we never had to deal with something to that scale before. So what does this mean?
It means if we want to be safe, we have to come up with ways to be safe. And for our nation, this is something new, and with anything new, a learning curve will be expected.
Yes, things will be a mess, for a while at least until the bugs are worked out. TSA is an example of a total mess. But over time, this too should evolve into something more successful.
In the meantime, the cluster-flock seems to do more to anger American travelers than to actually nab any would be terrorist. And people cry, whine, point fingers at Bush, Obama, and whoever else they are mad at at that moment. There is a problem: Terrorists hijacking planes. The solution, to provide safe air travel? Put your idea here. Until then, TSA is what we have, effective or not.
Point is, I have been saying all along, we have some of the greatest minds in the WORLD right here in our nation. Probably THE greatest in fact. And intelligence need not be drawn against blue or red lines, between conservative or liberal. Brilliant Minds need not be distracted by such nonsense as partisan politics, which is why I always have, and always will, focus on issues and finding workable solutions, and not waste time whining and crying.
while i agree with you, what makes you think obama wants to do anything about this issue? especially since he is one of those driving the polarization and stereotypes.
Obama became president but didn't consider the offer?
For the most part, and in particular at this forum ... the polarization is initiated by people describing themselves as "Conservative". I doubt they're more than just run of the mill trolls, however. These folks bait others to start arguments. That's the purpose. More often than not, I suspect they're anarchists. In reality, in the USA ... relatively few people identify solely as "Conservative", "Liberal", "Libertarian", etc. We're a blended people who on may hand may believe conservatively on fiscal matters but moderate or "liberal" on social issues ... or the other way around. Attempting to push people into rigid boxes will never work. What does exist is a rigidness on the anarchist/troll side of the discussions that doesn't allow for reasonable discussion of issues. That's what I'm seeing here, and online generally.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
social Liberals vs Conservatism.
