I understand my right from left. I know there are "sides" to the aisle. I lean one way but I can understand both sides. That does not mean, after hearing the arguments, that I am always persuaded.
Everyone seems to have a point to make, but it's the debate that informs both sides in and of most any issue. This is what informs and enlightens a democracy. Too bad too many people think they are too old to learn.
Whenever I hear a heated conservative espousing a viewpoint, it's amazing how passionate yet stubborn they can be. But they have their views, they are sticking to them, and detractors can go spit. I admire that. In fact, it's my family motto: "My life. I live it. I love it. Criticism be damned." It's close-minded but shows strength of conviction. It's a shame to live in a world of absolutes, though, being so inflexible that you are unable to admit you might be wrong.
This idea that liberals somehow prefer to concern themselves with the happiness of the many over the conservative's obsession with individual rights strikes me as a good idea and a place to start since both views have their merits. Equating majority rule with mob rule as they do is, however, a faulty comparison.
Let's talk about rights. Individual rights. The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution--the right hates it when you call it "the Bill of Rights"--guarantees some rights, at least in theory. (Ask Imus about the Freedom of Speech thing.) People talk about extra rights, rights to privacy, states rights. Is there a right to be wrong? People seem to think so, especially conspiracy theorists and holocaust revisionists. But these are not matters of opinion, so I suppose you have a right to display your ignorance. In the free market of ideas, you may find detractors, but stick to your guns! If you prefer your own worldview, fine, but please don't pass a viewpoint off as fact.
Do smokers have rights? It seems not, when the tide against tobacco was legitimized by lawsuits and studies showing its harmful effects. But is there such a thing? What are smokers' rights? Ha! They never had any, so the privilege to smoke is being curbed. Conservatives hate smokers, but doesn't that go against their indiviual rights argument? Or can they admit that the actions of a few should not infringe on the rights of the majority?
Put out that cigarette, pariah! Do you like being a Phillip Morris tool? Smokers stink! Well, I prefer smoke over someone's rambling invective and lame justifications for war (remember Hans Blix? Hmmm... he said the WMDs were not there, but no one remembers that, evidently). I will fight for something I believe in, so I hope our boys do, too. They thought we were done. Were not the poor Iraqis liberated years ago, remember? The mission was accomplished, no?
Quit smoking and give that money you save to the war effort if you care so deeply about it. Is that deductible? I don't think behavior can be legislated but that doesn't stop either legislative side from doing it. Remember Prohibition? Nice experiment there, experimenters.
Before you tell me about how all democrats want to do is take your rights away, read the PATRIOT Act (yes it actually stands for something). You think the Bill of Rights is offensive? Neocons are quick to say that the Constitution does not provide for privacy rights, so the government, like your employer, has every right to listen in on your conversations.
We better find the common ground and fast before the experiment backfires on our ass. Doing what is right for the most amount of people usually makes sense. One of the biggest minorities around is rich people and they are targets to be sure. The price of financial success is an unfair tax rate, maintains the right--they earned that money (just in admittedly disproportionate amounts--who can justify the obscene amounts provided corporate CEOs of failing companies?)! They are the lucky few who know how to manipulate the system to a farcical degree. Their taxes are relatively low when compared to other countries. And talk about special rights and "buying" votes--this minority has more sway and say than any other. I don't feel sorry for these entrepreneurs that turn nothing into big business, then screw up and get caught in their own accounting lies. They don't know what prison is.
Business competition is healthy, but when is enough money enough? The answer in the U.S. today: never. More profits, better returns. The free market, in both ideas and goods/services, may not be sustainable if we don't learn from the best thinkers of our times, despite their political affiliations.
