Democracy & Politics: Random & True FAQs about Where I Stand
Posted: Wednesday, July 09, 2008
by Jean Purcell
OpineBooks.com
You may know what it's like to be challenged about your views, once people learn you follow political or national events.
What about this mortgage crisis? The muddle that built into a colossal disaster raises more questions---including those to do with homeowners that intentionally defaulted on mortgages once the crisis hit, to avoid a "down" housing market.
What about this oil crisis and over-dependency on foreign oil? One thing I love about free democracies is that they encourage individual ideas and initiatives that help many. You might be interested to visit T. Boone Pickens' web site: http://www.pickensplan.com/
What about the college costs; should loans be repaid? Of course!
of America abroad. Forceful disagreement can be expressed without resorting to disrespect.
Why does a President or a Congress catch all the heat? Sorry to repeat myself: same answer as above, regarding forgetfulness.
Beyond FAQs:
The People: Every U. S. president and members of congress should respect this country's people; under the U. S. Constitution, the people hold power, which they lend to politicians for limited periods of time. Office-holders should never demean citizens or belittle them at home or abroad.
It saddens me that national political language often resorts to name-calling. They would do better by trying to develop convincing arguments.
Founding Fathers: It is likely that the Founding Fathers debated each other boisterously. However, no one stomped out threatening to leave the birthing nation, did they? No one moved to another country due to not getting his way at the time, did they? You get my drift, I'm sure.
I wish more people would find a copy of the movie "1776," turn off phones, computers, and Blackberrys, and watch it in its entirety.
It distresses me to know that many Americans sometimes feel like the "1776" message from George Washington to those meeting in Philadelphia: "Is anybody there? Does anybody care?"
Government, in general: Over some of the issues that we face, I am not sure how much the Government should try to legislate.
Office of the President of the United States: I cringe when I hear disrespectful words or gestures toward the Office of the President of the United States/the President---of whichever political party.
When it is said of any U. S. president, "Throw him out!" we need to remember that we do not throw presidents out. We leave that to autocracies, theocracies, and people with no other choice because they have no free vote, free movement, or free expression. We are a democracy, and free democracies act differently: they vote.
Remember to vote. If you have not registered, please do so. Use the right to vote; the blood of America's first citizens bought that right to continue a free country by it.
It distresses me that there are those who fuel fires of division but do not show they care on a personal, immediate level.
So has his strong support for HIV-AIDS initiatives and community help among the poor.
Thank you, dear friends, for reading this far. That's all for now.
Jane an article worth contemplating. I have written for years to why, the oil, the Foreclosures, the Credit Card usury, "Immigration" that isn't immigration, lost jobs, the war, etc. Close to 800 articles on this site and otehrs over three years. It all boils down to ethics, morality, beliefs, not what we profess but what we do or fail to do. The article is correct on many points all of which should have never been if we have people of honor, integrity, beliefs, moral character and yes Love of neighbor. That is the essence of all our woes. Simple, not so. You see the world has many more professors then actual doers. More easter Bunnies then solid types. best wishes.
Robert, I think we are on the same line of perspective on this--that our personal beliefs and hopes do influence how we see people, events, and ideas. I also tend to hope that I will gain balance of understanding, taking as much cue from true facts rather than sound-bites, slogans, or third-hand reporting or commentary. It's a continual challenge, isn't it? Thank you for reading and commenting on this article!
Great article, Jane. Definitely some food for thought. It seems that in our 'Free' world of free thinking; we are quick to switch from one way of thinking to another---whichever way suits us best at any given time. We voted our President into office; but let him do one thing we don't necessarily agree with and yes, it's "throw him out!"; but if he does something exceptional that improves, say our economic situation, and it's "I knew I made the right vote!" And we will see it again and again and again.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Sandra
Hi Sandra, Thanks for reading and commenting! I agree with your comments. We are all "so human"- tending to follow emotional and instant reactions more than we sometimes intend or would prefer to do.