Tea Party Convention

[Smoke]

Originally Posted by Kathryn

Lindsey, personally I don't mind if people insist on minimizing or ridiculing the Tea Party Movement. I prefer to be underestimated. In fact, it can really come in handy, especially during elections.

Yes, it can, and frankly that's one thing that worries me. It's easy to see Sarah Palin as a clown, it's easy to see her followers as an uninformed and irrational mob, and therefore it's all too easy to dismiss them. It doesn't matter what flaws there are in the program if they (or you, if you consider yourself part of the movement) can stir people up and get them to the polls.

If the Democrats want to be of any use to the country -- or even if they don't but would like a share in power -- they'd better figure out fast how to communicate in a way that motivates and inspires people.

[Kathryn]

Let me make one thing abundantly clear - I am not a Republican and I am CERTAINLY not a Palin supporter. I think she's an idiot, and if I had to listen to her for four years, I would frankly rather stick bamboo shoots under my fingernails and then have someone slowly pull each one of them out every day of my life.


I am an independent voter who is very, very concerned about the fiscal side of the picture - and the individual rights of people. Yes, I am a capitalist with strong libertarian leanings. I believe that most career politicians are corrupt and that no one should be allowed to serve more than two terms - anywhere. I believe that Big Government of ANY ilk is counterproductive to our nation's stability and the good of the people.

I believe in rights and freedoms - and the individual's responsibility to handle those rights in a manner that doesn't harm others.

I believe that bureaucracy sucks the life force out of people - from the church committee level, to the school board, to the court system and the Senate floor.

I am afraid that most of our elected representatives care more about advancing their career than they care about the people who voted them in to represent their needs and wishes.

And that's just plain wrong.

It's time to clean house. And Senate.

[Darkness]

Originally Posted by Kathryn

I am an independent voter who is very, very concerned about the fiscal side of the picture - and the individual rights of people.

I am also very concerned with the the individual rights of people. I merely approach the problem from a different perspective than you do. Money is often used as a method of control. Thus, something such as the legalization of prostitution in libertarian fashion would just legitimize that power relationship.

Originally Posted by Kathryn

I believe that Big Government of ANY ilk is counterproductive to our nation's stability and the good of the people.

I would argue that Government is one of the greatest achievements of mankind... after the Who Dat Nation, of course.

[Father Heathen]

Originally Posted by Reverend Rick

That may be, but FOX has a very large fan base.

Which means that a lot of people have very low standards when it comes to honesty, accuracy, objectivity and integrity, which is a scary thought.

[dust1n]

Originally Posted by Darkness

I would argue that Government is one of the greatest achievements of mankind... after the Who Dat Nation, of course.

And one of the cause of some of the most terrible tragedies in the world. But you are definitely correct about money!

[Darkness]

Originally Posted by dust1n

And one of the cause of some of the most terrible tragedies in the world. But you are definitely correct about money!

When you factor in all the deaths that would have occurred in a state of anarchy, it would eclipse the deaths caused by government. I am just guessing here, though.

[dust1n]

Originally Posted by Darkness

When you factor in all the deaths that would have occurred in a state of anarchy, it would eclipse the deaths caused by government. I am just guessing here, though.

Then what's the advantage?

[Evamorgana]

Originally Posted by Father Heathen

What we need to avoid underestimating is how ignorant and uninformed the average voter tends to be. These people don't even know what terms like communist, socialist, fascist, etc. even mean and yet toss them around wrecklessly. If these people were honestly worried by big government overspending and overstepping boundaries, where were their protests during the Bush administration?

Exactly right. You've said it all. The world of pollitics is not for everyone.

[Magic Man]

Originally Posted by Kathryn

I get worried when I realize that the social security system I've been paying into for thirty years for my retirement is in the red and getting redder. I get worried when I make WAY under $250,000 a year and I work till well into April before I start working for myself (till then, all my earnings go toward taxes). I get worried when our national debt is spiraling out of control but we're handing refund checks out like they were candy.

So, you decided to go to anti-Obama rallies? That's weird.

I'm worried about a lot of things, and Obama is one of them. Bush was another one of them. Most career politicians are among my biggest worries in life, for that matter.

So, then, you've been going to protests for years, right?

[Kathryn]

Originally Posted by mball1297

So, you decided to go to anti-Obama rallies? That's weird.



So, then, you've been going to protests for years, right?

I have been actively supporting the libertarian party for years. I have been disgusted with Republicans for the past 8 years - but even more disgusted in the past 8 months with Obama's administration.

I guess everyone has their tipping point. Cap and Trade and the Healthdcare fiasco were what pushed me over the edge.