MuadDib

/thread hijacking senses tingling

Mojo:

Fair enough. I do want to point out that being progressive does not necessitate being liberal. Though most (including myself) are, I do know quite a few conservative progressives as well. About other peoples money, I suppose it really comes down to whether or not you have a sense of responsibility towards your fellow man. It isn't just other peoples money, it is as much my money as yours that pays for these initatives, it is about fairness, equality, and accountability. The current American political engine is set up such that politics (and the ability to enact change) rests within a dynastic elite. If you aren't a member of the this elite when you enter politics then you almost certainly will be shortly following. The system is messed up. There is no reason a rich man should get better medical treatment than a poor man, his life is not more valuable. There is no reason a black man should be more likely to get the death sentence than a white man, his crimes are no more heinous. There is no reason those who make the most money should be able to act above the law, they are still citizens. There is no reason that heterosexuals should be able to have families and enjoy tax and insurance benefits while homosexual families are not sanctioned and get no benefits, a family is still a family. I could go on, but I think the point is clear. Power in this country no longer rest with the people and the money that pays for programs of equality come disproportionately from those who can least afford them but need them the most. Unfortunately, the way things are in this counrty requires money to solve problems because money runs politics and media and those are the tools of democracy. It isn't evil to have taxes or to use tax money to forward society and equality, it is evil that the taxes and programs won't be enough because only the poor pay for them. Part of being a citizen is having a duty to your country, state, city, and most of all your neighbor. Raising taxes isn't the best answer, but when we can't touch the military spending (past and present accounts for almost 50% of the current budget) then what choice to we have? I'm all for cutting military spending when not making one stealth jet could fully fund benefits for 3 million teachers. But seeing as the current congress doesn't see that as viable then it does come down to a citizens responsibility to the society he lives in to pay taxes and have those taxes go to relieving the poor, the hungry, the young, and the old who need it.
Anyway, no I realize I'm preaching so I'll stop. All I really have to say is that nothing that comes from compassion can be evil. My disrespect for President Bush doesn't come merely from a disagreement over his policies. It comes from my belief that he is an owned politician who serves a tight group of special interests which makes him often act outside the good of the people towards the good of the interest group. This is no exclusive to him but I do feel that it is these interests that are destroying democracy and do unjustice to the American people.

Addendum: If the progressive/liberal/conservative debate is going to go on much past this let's create a seperate thread for it.

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"The courts that first rode the warhorse of virtual representation into battle on the res judicata front invested their steed with near-magical properties." ~27 F.3d 751