First, a disclaimer. With a family, many of whom are still looking for Communists, I have practice. I delight in my relationship with siblings and abide Kansas cousins. Memory of my parents is precious. In summary, folks are folks. As has been pointed out by others, there is a bit of Democrat in Republicans. And nowadays a lot is made of the Republican in Democrats. I take such utterances as a show of frustration on the part of speakers, regardless of how they’re registered to vote. Pollyanna would not be happy with my “live and let live” stance on political matters. And neither would political operatives find me worth their arguments. For I am a dedicated student of politics, down to candidates’ hair styles and TV commentator’s reruns. However, to me, it’s the philosophy, Stupid. Political philosophy. On a line which stretches from the most neanderthal to the most off-the-wall, comes my dissection of where the person I converse with fits. The line goes from reactionary to radical. The reactionary sees a need to replace the current system with one only history books can describe. The radical, looking to tear out the status quo, wants to fashion a new system based on their own desires. If taken seriously, those bi-polar philosophies bespeak anarchy. They are non-starters. The gradations of old-think to current-muddle to new-thought brings out labels which give full time employment to Political Science professors. I prefer to look at my friends and possible friends one voter at a time. Take for example Russ2. Tuesday morning, we will go for breakfast and early voting in the Tennessee primary. It is our tradition, and he always reminds me he is taking me to the court house to cancel out my vote. I look forward to this time, since I will take a Democratic ballot and he most assuredly won’t. I respect Russ2 and can be grateful for the many kindnesses he and his family have shown me. We are of the WWII generation, and started out as early FDR admirers. With the aid of a union, his path to economic success took him to a nice house, a loving wife and four succeeding Boomer children. I once showed him an essay where I used the words “raised by Freud and challenged by Friedan” and he did not know who Betty Friedan was . He experienced the shock of a woman supervisor at his factory, once the Union was confronted by EEOC. Russ2 turned into a Reagan Democrat, which is to say he is for less government as long as it doesn’t interfere with what the Army needs. And his main political interest is to see that his gun rights are not tampered with. We have discussed the change to a professional army and agree it may have been a mistake. We make fun of the pork which our savvy Representative brings to our town as it strives to become a city. We are worried about the lack of learning in our public schools. On some topics, he proclaims himself to be an Independent. It makes him really upset when Medicare rules raie his fees. I take that in stride, avoiding the prescription folly. There you have it! An old, white, NRA member, who thinks education should have more science and history in high school. A tired male who recognizes that his daughters have a lot to offer, just as his sons do. Southern from the gitgo and macho on the shop floor. Grandfather of three teen girls who are precious for their learning. So think of the two us, curmudgeons despite college degrees, and you have a glimpse of how we in the reddest part of a red state communicate.
Margaret Bassett is an 86-year old, currently living in senior housing, with a lifelong interest in political conumbrums. She hopes to hold out for one more presidential election. Bachelors from State University of Iowa (1944) and Masters from Roosevelt University (1975) help to unravel important requirements for modern communication. Early introduction to computer science (1966) trumps them. It's payback time. She's been "entitled" so long she hopes to find some good coming off the keyboard into the lives of those who come after her.
As always, I enjoyed reading your article. Having resided in east TN for years before moving away, I also know what it feels like to nearly drown in the sea of red (not to mention orange) there while proudly being of the opposite political persuasion! Needless to say, I still have very close friends there that seemingly live by the creed 'Red 'til I'm Dead'... but, unlike a lot of other republicans I've met throughout my life, my friends are quite open to honest criticism, debate, and humor -otherwise we probably would adhere to the rule of never discussing politics or religion ever... OR, even worse, not be friends at all! At any rate, I enjoyed the article and think it would go great in Rob's idea for a book 'How to Love a Right-Winger'... Keep up the great writing and stay warm up near those mountains!
-Bid
by
C.Bid (0 articles, 7 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 570 comments)
on Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 1:04:26 AM
Start up a defence contracting business with several prominent ex-politicos and upper eschelon military as partners. Get a good gumshoe bagman to grease the wheels. Then diversify into coke imports at a small hick town such as Mena and be in close touch with the governor who is of a different party to throw off suspicions that you might be in cahoots with him. Then when you leave office put that hick governor in your place to sort of give things a continuity. Pay off the media and whack anybody that might spill the beans.
Peddle your drugs through intelligence operatives to minorities in urban centers. Arrest some of the minority screw ups and send them to a private prison that you hold stock in. Whether on the street or locked up you make profit off their misery. Confiscate the property and goods of the imprisoned and turn the profit from auction back into the defence contracter that you by the way are part owner. Its all very simple, you will love your wealthy cronies and they will love you.
But dont confuse the right wing neo-con with christians, they only use the name of God to hoodwink the masses. Any true christian will be openly outspoken about war and graft, just for the record. I believe in Jesus but I dont believe in genocide or corruption. God will judge us for our deeds in this world.
by johnkriggs (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 127 comments) on Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 10:29:27 AM
by
john riggs (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 352 comments)
on Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 10:39:21 AM
