This health care debate is as painful as it gets when it comes to politics in America. I am exhausted by watching people willingly abandon critical thinking about their own beliefs in order to join a team and tear apart the other team.
Listen: Both sides are lying a little bit. Both sides have folks who are telling the truth and genuinely want to see a resolution in this debate, and both sides have morons. So please, spare us the headlines and blog posts and Facebook updates like, “Facts Don’t Matter to the Anti-Obama Camp!” and the like.
Sheesh.
I am, as usual, with the libertarians on this one, and I think the official LP response (I’ve recently joined the LP) to President Obama’s speech is right on target.
/ rant off.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I told you you couldn’t resist looking at all the blathering about healthcare.
But then you already know that I don’t give either side a break on the issue. Although I don’t really think I’ll join the LP again.
I can understand not wanting to join them, either for the first time or again. My reason was more practical than ideological: I want the numbers of a third party, particularly one with libertarian ideals, to grow.
I can understand that reasoning. I’ve just been there & done that with the LP.
Well, if everyone in the LP were like Travis, I might me tempted to join it (again). But I can’t get beyond the fundamental unseriousness and the masturbatory knowitallism.
Oh yes, that’s definitely a problem, I agree. But I don’t see it particularly missing from any political party, so I’ll tolerate it in this one. For now, anyway.
But I don’t see it particularly missing from any political party
The major parties have far less of a problem w/ unseriousness. Democrats and Republicans win. Libertarians lose.
If you bet on Arizona in last year’s superbowl I don’t think you are any less intelligent than if you’d bet on Pittsburgh. But what if you bet on the Cleveland Browns? They weren’t in the game, and neither are the Libertarians, really.
However, as the computer said in WarGames, “This is a strange game; the only winning move is not to play.” Which is why a lot of libertarians don’t play the “game” of politics, because even if you win, you lose. The problem is with the “game” itself. The idea that 50.1% of the people can vote to impose their will on 49% of everyone else, etc, etc.
Anyway, if anyone goes into the Libertarian Party thinking they’re going to win, they’re a bit delusional. For one, the Republicrats have made it virtually impossible for 3rd parties to gain any traction, & two, I always thought of the idea of the LP as being one of raising awareness of issues rather than getting candidates elected.
But that’s just me.
if anyone goes into the Libertarian Party thinking they’re going to win, they’re a bit delusional.
Uh, yeah. Thanks for correcting me on my Browns comparison–they do actually win sometimes.
For one, the Republicrats have made it virtually impossible for 3rd parties to gain any traction
This is like the people who complain about “corporate rock and roll” without realizing that Madonna and Hootie & the Blowfish are actually better at writing songs and performing music than their fave indie bands.
& two, I always thought of the idea of the LP as being one of raising awareness of issues rather than getting candidates elected.
If you want to “raise awareness” about something there are a million things you can do other than joining a poorly organized political party than continually puts up loser candidates.
I’m sorry the movie “War Games” made anything resembling a serious impression on anyone. Ally Sheedy was megahot in that flick, I’ll admit.
No, there really are laws that make third party running exceedingly difficult.
And anyway, the corollary is that only the Republicans and Democrats are running their parties well, and that that’s the explanation for the two-party system. Which I just don’t buy.
Every party has major issues and major idiots. I’m just in a place where I can’t tolerate the Republican ones anymore, so I’ve moved. I’m sure the day will come I can’t tolerate the LP ones anymore. But because I believe having more parties is a better idea, I’ve chosen one to work with for the time being. I considered the Conservative party as well.
And for the record, Hootie & the Blowfish are a terrible band.
I’m not a member of the Libertarian Party, which should indicate that I think the idea of raising awareness through it wasn’t going to work. I should’ve phrased it better & said, I used to believe that but now I don’t. Sorry for the confusion.
I’ll agree with Travis’ comment on the laws that are on the books restricting 3rd parties or making it harder for them to get on ballots & what not.
Regarding, Madonna & Hootie & Indies. Well, there’s really no comparison. Aside from going into all the ways the Big Labels use to promote their artists while trying to restrict others, using government laws if necessary, the fact is if I don’t want to listen to Madonna or Hootie, I don’t have to. Even with all their power, the Big Labels can’t make me do so.
But the Republicans & Democrats get to make all sorts of decisions about my life whether or not I want them to, whether I participate or don’t participate in their “game.” And simply saying, “Well, you gotta go with either of the two big winners or else” doesn’t really solve anything. Ask the Ron Paul Republicans how well the establishment treats them. Ask Pro-Life Democrats how well the establishment treats them. The problem becomes the tyranny of the majority over the minority & to somehow blame the minority position for “not being a winner” appears disingenuous to me.
If WarGames isn’t credible enough, then how about The Simpson’s. From Treehouse of Horror VII “Citizen Kang:”
Homer: America, take a good look at your beloved candidates. They’re
nothing but hideous space reptiles. [unmasks them]
[audience gasps in terror]
Kodos: It’s true, we are aliens. But what are you going to do about
it? It’s a two-party system; you have to vote for one of us.
[murmurs]
Man1: He’s right, this is a two-party system.
Man2: Well, I believe I’ll vote for a third-party candidate.
Kang: Go ahead, throw your vote away.
[Kang and Kodos laugh out loud]
[Ross Perot smashes his "Perot 96" hat]
– “Treehouse of Horror VII”
The next day, Kodos announces the result: “All hail, President Kang.”
The field in front of the Capitol has now become a working ground
where humans are whipped by aliens and used to carry materials.
The Simpsons family is working too, with Homer and the kids carrying
wood, and Marge pushing a wheelbarrow of cinderblocks — with Maggie
on top.
Marge: I don’t understand why we have to build a ray gun to aim at a
planet I never even heard of.
Homer: Don’t blame me, I voted for Kodos.
– “Treehouse of Horror VII”
I don’t want to outstay my welcome here as resident realpolitik gadfly. I do hope that everyone understands why I can be an active, loyal member of the imperfect party named Republican with a 100% clear conscience. I’ve worked on 6 campaigns for men I believe to be decent law-abiding people. Four of those were losing campaigns, but those men didn’t whine that the world wasn’t fair or anysuch. All of them held to principles of limited government, self-determination and free market principles. All of them were social conservatives and pro-life. I had lively conversations with the other people on the campaigns; we agreed on many things and disagreed on some things.
Anyone who believes the narrative about everything being wrapped up with big money and party anointings hasn’t paid attention to Mike Huckabee’s campaign in which he paid the least per delegate of any candidate merely by being the best communicator. Ron Paul actually spent more per delegate than Romney. Personally I’m glad that he’s in congress–it’s a big party with room for lots of different ideas.
Well, it is unlikely that the problems of this world are going to be solved on Travis’ blog.
I can understand your position perfectly. I hope it can also be understood why I can not be a member of the Republicans or Democrats or even the Libertarian Party with a 100% clear conscience.
Anyway, whoever said we had to agree on everything.