America Was Founded On Conservative Principles... and operated that way for about 125 years

[Ricter]

I think "restoring" not "reforming". Restoring implies bring back to the way it was, while reforming is changing to what will be. I think this is the issue with most conservatives - they want the country they were born in while liberals are pushing to change it. It would seem logical that the people who were born here and liked it would stay, and those looking to "reform" it would leave to find a place more suitable for their liking. Of course, we know that will never happen, and the argument of "leave if you don't like it" is just a silly one.

Fair enough. But there is no going back, the country will change, whether it's managed or not. I say, "manage it".

And restoring to what, no voting (among other things) for women, minorities, the landless?

 

[Frederick Foresight]

I think "restoring" not "reforming". Restoring implies bring back to the way it was, while reforming is changing to what will be. I think this is the issue with most conservatives - they want the country they were born in while liberals are pushing to change it. It would seem logical that the people who were born here and liked it would stay, and those looking to "reform" it would leave to find a place more suitable for their liking. Of course, we know that will never happen, and the argument of "leave if you don't like it" is just a silly one.

Wanting things to stay where they are or go back to where they were. How arbitrary is that? At what point in time, and to whose particular benefit, do we stop the clock? Consider the period that robber barons favored. Or "plantation owners." And so on. History always seems to favor some at the expense of others. Enlightened progress seeks to diminish the relative disadvantage in an effort to engender more fairness. Anyone who disagrees is only in it for himself. And that's okay, but only if he admits it rather than hiding behind, and wearing out, an unsuspecting flag in the process.

EDIT: "Leave it if you don't like it" is not a silly argument if your friend genuinely believes the country will well and truly implode. In that case, staying would be silly. Unless, of course, your friend was just being silly with his commentary. I'll let you decide.

 

[Ricter]

"Suzuki Roshi, I've been listening to your lectures for years," a student said during the question and answer time following a lecture, "but I just don't understand. Could you just please put it in a nutshell? Can you reduce Buddhism to one phrase?"
Everyone laughed. Suzuki laughed.
"Everything changes," he said. Then he asked for another question.

Shunryu Suzuki - Zen is Right Here

 

[Frederick Foresight]

"Suzuki Roshi, I've been listening to your lectures for years," a student said during the question and answer time following a lecture, "but I just don't understand. Could you just please put it in a nutshell? Can you reduce Buddhism to one phrase?"
Everyone laughed. Suzuki laughed.
"Everything changes," he said. Then he asked for another question.

Shunryu Suzuki - Zen is Right Here

Simple yet profound.

I remember reading somewhere that unhappiness and anxiety are caused by wanting things as they are and being afraid they will change, or not wanting things as they are and being afraid that they won't change. Contentment and equanimity come from accepting the inevitability of change.

Sounds good to me.

 

[Ricter]

Simple but profound.

I remember reading somewhere that unhappiness and anxiety are caused by wanting things as they are and being afraid they will change, or not wanting things as they are and being afraid that they won't change. Contentment and equanimity come from accepting the inevitability of change.

Sounds good to me.

"Desire is the root of all suffering."

I agree. But acceptance is inimical to the Western mind. It seems the East isn't so fond of it anymore, either.

 

[gwb-trading]

 

[TGregg]

He's just venting. I picture him sitting on his porch in a rocking chair angrily reading the newspaper, telling the journalists that they're on IGNORE!!!1!

But this doesn't answer the question as to why those on the left who aren't happy with the US the way it is and are trying to change it don't- themselves - seek another place to live.

I've oft wondered the same thing. If there were a country more in line with my beliefs and it seemed likely to stay that way and had reasonable weather (no Alaska, thank you), I'd move in a heartbeat. The main problem would be that everybody else would also be trying to get in, including our libtard friends here.

Take France, for instance. If I lived there, I'd be working hard trying to figure out how to get here. Why aren't libtards doing it the other way `round?

 

[JamesL]

He's just venting. I picture him sitting on his porch in a rocking chair angrily reading the newspaper, telling the journalists that they're on IGNORE!!!1!

But this doesn't answer the question as to why those on the left who aren't happy with the US the way it is and are trying to change it don't- themselves - seek another place to live.

If you remember, it was just the last decade when the left kept threatening to move to Canada.

 

[Scataphagos]

"...Take France, for instance. If I lived there, I'd be working hard trying to figure out how to get here. Why aren't libtards doing it the other way `round?

Because (1) there is still some money here to be confiscated/redistributed, and (2) nearly all the other Liberal "havens" have already been ruined.

 

[Tsing Tao]

And the hope part, as compared to the hopeless part.

So you think conservative's view is hopeless and liberal's isn't, do you?

I like how you claim to lean "slightly left" in your political view. Sure seems that way. Of course, you could have meant "slightly left" of Futurecurrents, I suppose. Or your previous moniker.