Comments Posted By Doug King
Displaying 11 To 20 Of 44 Comments
BUCHANAN AND HIS 'WHITE MAN'S LAMENT'
Some of my ancestors came to these shores more than 350 years ago, but I am no more American than the latest naturalized citizen. What defines Americans is not our DNA but our beliefs about equality of citizens and government deriving its power from the consent of the people. Those very beliefs lead us to disagree and debate each other.
Yes, many conservatives tend to have an overly idealistic view of America's past, just as liberals tend to have an overly idealistic view of government's potential to improve society. In both cases, the beauty of the myth often cloaks ugly realities. It's good we have each other to help keep things in proper perspective.
Racism exists and to some extent affects everyone. I think it comes from our basic, tribal nature but can remain dormant if we believe in the equality of man and strive to practice what we preach.
But let's not confuse racism with nationalism or regard for the rule of law. I've lived in Vancouver, BC. Its a diverse society and I love the people there. But if I sneaked across the border, took jobs away from Canadians, and started waving the American flag and demanding benefits, I would guarantee the response would be hostile (and rightly so). And racism would have nothing to do with it.
And let's not confuse racism with objections over government confiscation of money and property. Increasing taxes on the middle class makes it more difficult to pay bills and pursue their own happiness. The vast majority of white people are not millionaires and do not have deep pockets. My income is well below Obama's promised no-tax threshold of $250K. But does the fact that I worry about hidden taxes on health insurance and other government fees make me a racist? Does my belief in capitalism and free markets make me a racist? Do my objections to welfare programs that promote generation-after-generation of poverty make me a racist?
I see racism like the Swine Flu. Yes, it exists, and yes it's nasty. But it's not our #1 health problem. But if we act like its our #1 priority, other more serious problems (failing families, failing schools, failing corporations, etc.) will not be addressed.
Comment Posted By Doug King On 22.10.2009 @ 00:34
Can someone honestly love America while hating a huge chunk of fellow Americans? I don't think so.
I see a lot of hating by both sides, and not just by average, rank-and-file citizens. The venom oozes regularly from party leaders, special interests, and media. We are kept busy reacting to and blaming each other. The partisanship is most vividly on display in Congress. We need climate change in DC.
Maybe things would turn around if...
1. The Congressional delegations of both parties enacted a 'coup' and replaced their current leadership with moderate leaders who less dogmatic and more practical.
2. The President distanced himself from partisanship by announcing his determination to veto any sweeping bill lacking strong bi-partisan support. (By the way, I think Obama would stun the country if he did this and would quickly reverse his approval rating. People would think he really is post-partisan.)
3. The media stopped giving negative attention to extremists who welcome the publicity.
If none of the above happens, I think the best course is seeking a divided government by replacing as many Congressional Democrats as possible in 2010. America has generally prospered more under a divided government than under a one-party government.
Comment Posted By Doug King On 14.10.2009 @ 22:21
OBAMA WELL DESERVES PEACE PRIZE - AFTER COMMITTEE LOWERS THE BAR
The Nobel Prize is nice, but I'd rather see the President praised by a majority of his own countrymen for keeping his promises regarding jobs and taxes and for keeping our nation safe.
Comment Posted By Doug King On 9.10.2009 @ 20:35
INTELLECTUAL CONSERVATISM ISN'T DEAD: WOULD YOU BUY A USED CAR FROM A LIBERAL? (PART II)
Good government is government that works as advertised. I fear nationalized healthcare because I don't trust politicians or bureaucrats to keep promises.
I see what's happened to our schools. All the tax money spent on eradicating poverty made the problem worse. Social Security was a good idea until politicians started using the interest from Social Security deposits for general purposes. Now the program's ability to support my generation is in doubt. And given our deep recession, how are we going to pay to a new health care program?
I don't hate Government per se. It does do a good job in some areas like building roads, sewers, and utilities. I'm grateful for police, fire, military, and the occasional, heroic public school teacher. But by and large, the Americans inspire me the most (people like Martin Luther King and Milton Friedman) never held government office.
I just think the human race is hundreds of years away from solving thorny, societal problems. Our economists and sociologists may be at the same point as William Harvey who discovered blood circulation 400 years ago. Yes, we've learned much, but we still have a long, long ways to go.
Thanks Rick, for the great posts. I've learned much from you and the comments. I think Michael Reynolds expressed it well that liberals and conservatives are at their best when they are learning from each other.
Comment Posted By Doug King On 6.10.2009 @ 18:37
INTELLECTUAL CONSERVATISM ISN'T DEAD: IT'S RESTING
Manning -- Thanks for the thoughtful response. I thought you were attacking religion, but now I suppose you are describing your own feelings. Personally, I believe most people on both sides of the spectrum are religious even though most, perhaps most, atheists gravitate to the left. I also believe religion usually plays second fiddle to economics when voters decide who to select.
You also mentioned a candidate's religion serves as "an imperfect but ... independent measure of the moral system of the candidate." I agree that's how many voters think, but I think a superior measure is how well a candidate adheres to his/her professed religion and morality. In other words, character/integrity. Identity politics helps too many candidates win office who later act out serious moral flaws. Identity politics -- be it race, religion, or gender -- is an untrustworthy measure.
Comment Posted By Doug King On 6.10.2009 @ 21:23
Fascinating discussion.
In the spirit of Rick's stated "belief that unless you can argue both sides of an issue effectively, you don’t know it and should keep reading" I will say no more than ask a question of Manning -- if he sees this.
Manning (#11): You emphasized that those who are right of center tend to be fairly religious, to one degree or another. Are you implying that those who are left of center are not very religious? (If so, I find it hard to believe, but pardon the pun). What role, if any, do you think religion plays in the populist wing of the political left?
Comment Posted By Doug King On 5.10.2009 @ 22:12
OF LOUTS, BRUTES, AND BOORS IN PUBLIC LIFE
"In the meantime, let’s agree that anyone who violates strictures against public discourse should be called out, regardless of party." I agree but I'm not holding my breath. Self-promoting opportunists like Wilson and Grayson can always count on being celebrated by their supporters.
Were so polarized, the Middle has practically disappeared.
Comment Posted By Doug King On 2.10.2009 @ 12:24
GET READY FOR 'HOUSING MELTDOWN: THE SEQUEL'
So even rougher waters are ahead! I have many unemployed friends here in Washington state and hoped we had bottomed out.
There's much I don't understand about the economy. But I believe a large part of the mortgage meltdown was the result of noble but ill-fated intentions by Congress to extend credit to those who otherwise didn't qualify.
As Henry Hazlitt said in 1946, "When people risk their own funds they are usually careful in their investigations to determine the adequacy of the assets pledged and the business acumen and honesty of the borrower.
...[But]government lenders will take risks with other people’s money (the taxpayers’) that private lenders will not take with their own money" (You can read more at http://jim.com/econ/chap06p1.html)Its wrong to lay this blame at the feet of just one party. I just hope Obama's policies don't make it worse.
Comment Posted By Doug King On 24.09.2009 @ 21:46
Who can afford "enemies"?
I suspect the number of pragmatic, rational conservatives speaking out at townhall meetings and protesting at tea parties was relatively small. It is the ordinary, "unwashed masses" -- the very type of unpolished folks who listen to Rush and Beck -- who are slowing, if not stopping, the liberal juggernaut in Congress.
I consider myself a newcomer into the pragmatic, rationalist camp. The question isn't whether we can succeed without the support of the Rushites, Palinites, Beckites, etc. because we clearly can't. (If the fight had been left solely up to us, Reid and Pelosi would have danced on our political graves months ago.) The question is how do we convince them that they need us as well.
We can't expect everyone to have an above-average education or IQ or to think exactly like us. Conservatives need to get over their hangups of working side-by-side with Evangelicals, Mormons, Atheists, Gays, etc. to preserve basic freedoms and economic opportunity. The original colonists had similar attitudes about differences in their brethren in other colonies, but they got over it.
Any conservative rebound is going to have to somehow unite purist-populists and pragmatic-rationalists.
Comment Posted By Doug King On 22.09.2009 @ 22:36
IT'S A SHAME DUELING HAS BEEN OUTLAWED
Jimmy Carter's argument is silly. Look at Obama's job approval rating -- very high at the inauguration and now hovering about 50%. Racism is supposed to explain this change? Independents (the ones who voted for Hope and Change but are now feeling remorse) are turning away because they suddenly noticed that the President is black? This is a ridiculous argument. It's also highly insulting of fellow Americans.
If this is the best liberals can do, then they must be getting desperate. Each time it gets misplayed, the race card loses some of its power to trump relevant facts. Continued misplay is making the general public immune to accusations of racism.
Comment Posted By Doug King On 16.09.2009 @ 21:34
