09-15-2008, 05:16 AM
Interesting video; although like most right wingers, Funbobbasso tends to pick and choose. Thomas Paine also stated that "The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion". Sounds fairly godless/heathen/pinko/commie/hippie/subversive/multicultural to me.
And since many if not most 'conservatives' tend to adhere to nativist, thin-lipped, pinched versions of fundamentalist Christianity, they may be interested in knowing he also believed that "All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit".
This post is apropos of nothing relating to Puna, and I fully expect Rob to exercise his moderator duties and bounce it, but I'm going to vent anyway.
I am sick up to here with the way the current administration in particular and the right in general have perverted the legal traditions and constitutional precedents of this country.
I'm tired of being told that up is down, black is white, good is bad, and right is wrong and then basically accused of treason when I question this dreck.
I'm tired of the "let's you & him fight" bravado of 5 deferment chickenhawks who courageously send other people's kids into combat, but in their youth chose to serve their country by entering law school or defending Texas from the threat of invasion by Oklahoma.
I'm tired of the glorification of ignorance and stupidity that appears to be ascendant in current political discourse; where educational background, critical thinking skills, and situational flexibility are disparaged and the ability to gut a moose is considered a leadership trait.
Upon further reflection, there are a few things that pertain to Puna. Many here (hard rightists included) are of Social Security age and willingly cash their 'socialist' checks every month. You ought to be aware that without the efforts of 'liberals' in 1935, you'd be at the mercy of your kids, your own savings, or the kindness of strangers for your survival. Congressional Republicans were almost universally opposed to passage of the act and only when forced into an up-or-down voice vote did they acquiesce.
How many of you older Puna residents are benefiting from Medicare? More than a few I'd suspect. Like it or not you can thank 'damn liberals' for that too. When Lyndon Johnson signed the Medicare bill into law in the presence of Harry Truman in 1965, he said: “No longer will older Americans be denied the healing miracle of modern medicine.” On the other hand 'conservative' deity Ronald Reagan viewed it as "the advance wave of socialism". All of you god fearing liberal haters are cordially invited to send your money back.
Women and minorities in Puna probably take the right to vote for granted, no? Well, left to the tender mercies of the reactionary right, you'd still be waiting for the franchise.
How about safer food and work places, clean air & water, the ending of legalized segregation and gender discrimination, the abolition of child labor, paid vacations, sick leave, the 5 day work week? Bet none of you turn any of these benefits and advancements down. Again all of these were strongly opposed by the right.
It would take way more time than I have today to adequately list the improvements to the quality of American life, culture and society that have been brought about by people whose politics were unashamedly liberal. It's a record that deserves not ridicule but celebration.
aloha,
Gene
_________________________
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
And since many if not most 'conservatives' tend to adhere to nativist, thin-lipped, pinched versions of fundamentalist Christianity, they may be interested in knowing he also believed that "All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit".
This post is apropos of nothing relating to Puna, and I fully expect Rob to exercise his moderator duties and bounce it, but I'm going to vent anyway.
I am sick up to here with the way the current administration in particular and the right in general have perverted the legal traditions and constitutional precedents of this country.
I'm tired of being told that up is down, black is white, good is bad, and right is wrong and then basically accused of treason when I question this dreck.
I'm tired of the "let's you & him fight" bravado of 5 deferment chickenhawks who courageously send other people's kids into combat, but in their youth chose to serve their country by entering law school or defending Texas from the threat of invasion by Oklahoma.
I'm tired of the glorification of ignorance and stupidity that appears to be ascendant in current political discourse; where educational background, critical thinking skills, and situational flexibility are disparaged and the ability to gut a moose is considered a leadership trait.
Upon further reflection, there are a few things that pertain to Puna. Many here (hard rightists included) are of Social Security age and willingly cash their 'socialist' checks every month. You ought to be aware that without the efforts of 'liberals' in 1935, you'd be at the mercy of your kids, your own savings, or the kindness of strangers for your survival. Congressional Republicans were almost universally opposed to passage of the act and only when forced into an up-or-down voice vote did they acquiesce.
How many of you older Puna residents are benefiting from Medicare? More than a few I'd suspect. Like it or not you can thank 'damn liberals' for that too. When Lyndon Johnson signed the Medicare bill into law in the presence of Harry Truman in 1965, he said: “No longer will older Americans be denied the healing miracle of modern medicine.” On the other hand 'conservative' deity Ronald Reagan viewed it as "the advance wave of socialism". All of you god fearing liberal haters are cordially invited to send your money back.
Women and minorities in Puna probably take the right to vote for granted, no? Well, left to the tender mercies of the reactionary right, you'd still be waiting for the franchise.
How about safer food and work places, clean air & water, the ending of legalized segregation and gender discrimination, the abolition of child labor, paid vacations, sick leave, the 5 day work week? Bet none of you turn any of these benefits and advancements down. Again all of these were strongly opposed by the right.
It would take way more time than I have today to adequately list the improvements to the quality of American life, culture and society that have been brought about by people whose politics were unashamedly liberal. It's a record that deserves not ridicule but celebration.
aloha,
Gene
_________________________
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
_________________________
"I've been on food stamps and welfare, did anybody help me out? No." - Craig T. Nelson
"I've been on food stamps and welfare, did anybody help me out? No." - Craig T. Nelson