The Bushie memorial institute of Moderate Heroism

[Kitteh]

Since there has been a lot of talk about this recently, I figure we need a deluge-style thread for it on here.

To kick this off:

You forgot at least one possible option: "I don't support same-sex marriage, but since they already have the right we shouldn't take it away." Several of my classmates at the time took that position.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Thatcher/Thatcher


opebo's response to problems arising from big government is more government.  No exceptions.  Combine that with extreme far-leftism on social issues and you've got a pretty scary combination. 

[Kitteh]

I have a feeling HPJ quotes will fill up half this thread:

Actually, my change was before Atlas, and of all things, Yahoo Answers Politics.

I used to be a partisan extreme liberal hack (this is probably a shock to Atlasians) and then a few things happened.  In fact, I was a liberal Democrat up until about right after the 2012 elections.  In fact, I took the PM test a year ago on this site(wasn't a member though) and got something like -8, -8.  That's right.  I used to be as liberal as opebo.  
1. I realize how stupid I sounded and how reasoned a lot of the Republican responses were, particularly from one conservative on the site named "Uncle Pennybags". 
2. I saw how radical the Democrats' positions were on the site(Yahoo Answers), such as refusing to reform entitlements at all despite their exploding out of control, supporting all welfare programs at all costs, supporting abortion at all stages with almost no exceptions, and blatant adoration of Marxism.  I never thought that liberals would support these things, but it was that forum that I realized they did.  I'm not saying this is representative of all liberals, but this made me realize there's such a thing as being way too liberal.                                                      
3. I read a few Ann Coulter books and, to my surprise, liked them a lot, even though I didn't agree with her all the time.
4.  I had a libertarian Honors Physics teacher who is absolutely awesome (though he spends more times on news than on Physics-heh heh).  He had a daily news segment and it often involved the many financial failures of areas run by liberals.  This furthered my dislike of the extreme left.
5.  I started to really read about the corruption of the Lake County  Democratic Party and started comparing the differences between my Republican-run town and neighboring areas.  
6. On social issues, I watched the impactful video "180" which changed my formerly strident pro-choice position to a moderate pro-life one.   I also flipped on the death penalty after reading about some horrendous crimes.  However, I'm still left-of-center on social issues overall.  

1)lol Yahoo answers
2)lol @ how he seems fixated on this idea that opebo is a perfect example of the American far-left

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Some of benconstine's greatest hits:

In regards to Dick Cheney:

His ideas are basically good, but they've been horribly executed, and can sometimes be a bit extreme.

In regards to the openly fascist and supportive of West Bank settlers and endorsing ethnic cleansing Yisrael Beiteinu Party:

Goodness.  I'm not a huge fan, and I think them a bit extreme.  However, they aren't as bad as people make them out to be.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

No.  Nobody is better than anybody else, especially when it comes to personal beliefs, and SSM is a personal belief.  Neither supporting nor opposing SSM make one a good or bad person.  Neither are necessarily the right view, but they are still valid views.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Very good idea.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Another good example from Bushie.

I'm a Democrat, and this is utter nonsense, but do Democrats not remember that they also threw around the "I-word" during President Bush's administration?  Is that somehow justified because he was a Republican, not a Democrat?

As if the grounds for impeachment between Bush and Obama were comparable...

[Leftbehind]

Half of the Thatcher memorial thread, with special mention going to Wynoden or whatever he's called, and his preaching about 'let us not soil the respectability of the Left by showing disrespect to the woman now she's dead' bollocks.

[TNF]

I have to choose big biz, since it's sole function is profit for itself.

Having said that, either one can easily be tyrannical.  Ideally, both government and business should be strong enough to check each other.  While government is supposed to serve and especially protect the public, that is not always the case, and governments have often driven by evil motives (obviously), especially when government is ideological (as in Nazi Germany).

Business is all about profiting itself, but although it's almost always driven but selfish interest, it can benefit society.  The profit motive sometimes drives business to provide decent service and quality products, and business sometimes even helps noble charities (although, again, it's usually to make itself look good, and thus, boost business).

The saying that "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" applies to government, business, anyone, and any institution.  Both government and business are needed to balance each other out, and the consolidation of power into the hands of a few big businesses can be as oppressive as any type of socialism.  

[free my dawg]

Not an Atlas poster, but my friend showed me one of her friend's political musings and it wreaked of moderate heroism:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Kitteh]

Not an Atlas poster, but my friend showed me one of her friend's political musings and it wreaked of moderate heroism:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

...IBDD?

[Mr. Morden]

Love your new username, drj101.  It reminds me of the video in my sig. 

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Someone just needs to post a link to Ben's posting history

[King]

I find this thread somewhat appropriate yet marginally offensive.

[Хahar 🤔]

The question was whether you would pay a church tax.

I would pay it but I'd campaign against the church tax system.

[Associate Justice PiT]

The question was whether you would pay a church tax.

I would pay it but I'd campaign against the church tax system.

     Thoreau would disapprove.

[Hash]

A new level is reached in moderate heroism:

It's always easy to criticize 50 years after the events.
In Algeria: a important french community, divided into 3 departments. It wasn't just considered like a colony. So honestly, it's comprehensible to be against his independancy. And for the suez crisis, he just served the interests of his country.

[politicus]

A new level is reached in moderate heroism:

It's always easy to criticize 50 years after the events.
In Algeria: a important french community, divided into 3 departments. It wasn't just considered like a colony. So honestly, it's comprehensible to be against his independancy. And for the suez crisis, he just served the interests of his country.

How is that moderate heroism? Its just putting decisions into their historical context instead of viewing them in hindsight.

[TNF]

Depends on the office. If they support Christie for reelection for governor than FF but HP if they support him for President over a Democratic nominee.

[H. Ross Peron]

Depends on the office. If they support Christie for reelection for governor than FF but HP if they support him for President over a Democratic nominee.

When I posted that I half expected it to end up in this thread...

[DC Al Fine]

Depends on the office. If they support Christie for reelection for governor than FF but HP if they support him for President over a Democratic nominee.

When I posted that I half expected it to end up in this thread...

Damn, TNF beat me to it. You end up here a lot General

[Gustaf]

I can't believe people still use this retarded concept. Ugh.

[TNF]

Social Issues

I am quite socially liberal, especially when it comes to civil rights.  Obviously, I am passionate about LGBT rights, just as African Americans are about racial justice and women about gender equality, but I want civil rights for everyone.  As a gay Aspie, I sympathize with those who are mistreated for being different. 

The worst and most overlooked injustice in American history is the plight of the Native Americans.  More should be done to improve the lives of those living on reservations.  The first Americans should be respected, and Congress should apologize for their destruction.  I'm glad that my state (South Dakota) has replaced Columbus Day with Native American Day.

The costly war on drugs is dumb, and marijuana should be legalized for adult recreational use.  I have no interest in doing it myself, but people should not be punished for it; drug addicts hurt themselves enough.

Economic Issues

I still liberal economically, but maybe less so, at least not to the extent of French socialists.  Many aspects of economic conservatism seem logical.  There is too much wasteful spending, but today's GOP does not seem to credible on this.

I understand that too much socialism would decrease the incentive of individuals to work hard.  However, some people are unlucky, and there should be a safety net for the most vulnerable.  Many in the modern Republican Party seem to advocate a society that borders too much on social darwinism.

Infrastructure must be improved.  Building fast trains and fixing bridges are not just elitist egghead ideas.  The US needs infrastructure improvement. 

Foreign Policy

The US needs to reduce its military presence abroad.  That would help divert resources back home, and improve our infrastructure, (as I previously mentioned).  Actually, that would help our security.  China is moving ahead of us, since they take infrastructure seriously.

I love the ideals of freedom and democracy.  Unfortunately, US actions abroad have not always helped the cause.  Particularly during the Cold War, the US supported many friendly but cruel dictators.  The best that the US can do to promote its ideals is to practice them at home the best it can, and minimize intervention abroad.

However, I am not an isolationist.  The US does have an important role in the world.  I believe that it helps the US to have deep ties with other nations and that it helps the US when it is open to new ideas.  I generally support peaceful, free trade.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

This part is the only one I found notably amusing:

I still liberal economically, but maybe less so, at least not to the extent of French socialists. 

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Obviously, I am passionate about LGBT rights, just as African Americans are about racial justice and women about gender equality, but I want civil rights for everyone.

dude what the hell is this