Comments for ProudProgressive http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog A blog by Nicholas Solter about politics and everything else Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:26:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 Comment on The Inevitability of Gay Marriage by Proms and Preschools and Lesbians | ProudProgressive http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2008/06/17/the-inevitability-of-gay-marriage/#comment-3085 Proms and Preschools and Lesbians | ProudProgressive Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:56:31 +0000 http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2008/06/17/the-inevitability-of-gay-marriage/#comment-3085 [...] and hatred, which I certainly hope isn’t their intended educational mission. As I’ve written previously, gay marriage and full-fledged gay rights are inevitable. This school district and others of its [...] […] and hatred, which I certainly hope isn’t their intended educational mission. As I’ve written previously, gay marriage and full-fledged gay rights are inevitable. This school district and others of its […]

]]> Comment on Health Care Reform Disconnect by We Need Tort Reform, Too | ProudProgressive http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2009/09/03/health-care-reform-disconnect/#comment-3070 We Need Tort Reform, Too | ProudProgressive Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:58:07 +0000 http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2009/09/03/health-care-reform-disconnect/#comment-3070 [...] system: for-profit insurance companies and lawyers. To address the former, it’s fairly clear that we need a government-run, non-profit, insurance option in order to guarantee coverage for all Americ.... Understandably, this solution has been the focus of the Democrats’ proposal for health-care [...] […] system: for-profit insurance companies and lawyers. To address the former, it’s fairly clear that we need a government-run, non-profit, insurance option in order to guarantee coverage for all Americ…. Understandably, this solution has been the focus of the Democrats’ proposal for health-care […]

]]> Comment on Majority Support for Public Option in Health Care Reform by Health Care Reform Disconnect | ProudProgressive http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2009/08/26/majority-support-for-public-option-in-health-care-reform/#comment-3068 Health Care Reform Disconnect | ProudProgressive Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:41:11 +0000 http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2009/08/26/majority-support-for-public-option-in-health-care-reform/#comment-3068 [...] polls continue the trend I wrote about last week, in showing that a majority of Americans support, “a health insurance plan [...] […] polls continue the trend I wrote about last week, in showing that a majority of Americans support, “a health insurance plan […]

]]> Comment on The Politics of Fear and Ignorance by Bob Nemanich http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2009/08/20/the-politics-of-fear-and-ignorance/#comment-3065 Bob Nemanich Sat, 22 Aug 2009 19:16:24 +0000 http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2009/08/20/the-politics-of-fear-and-ignorance/#comment-3065 Nick: Nice review but going to one of the meetings was even more educational, at least on an anecdotal basis. My Daily Kos post reviewed the experience [http://www.dailykos.com/user/RWN] which I can sum up more simply. The idea that America doesn't deal with the concept of death is too cerebral this is about the RIGHT-Wing's entire mythological view being challenged. They will latch onto any distorted myth to oppose this for it goes to the heart of their mythology that all things can be solved my the "invisible hand of the free marketplace". This is a religious belief, an emotional belief and coincides with what Lakoff pointed to in his book "The Conservative Mind". Conservatives be those who possess a conscience or not, don't hold to concept of the "commons" or the "common good". Everything in their viewpoint is a matter of "class" or inequality and therefore those who have good health or good access to healthcare is because they are moral and being "rewarded" by the social class system. Those who don't are immoral and don't deserve it. The anger you see is the same as when a myth is being challenged, whether it is a 2nd grader being told that there is no Santa Claus or a lover who finds infidelity exists with their mate. the anger is real, the justification is not. There is no middle ground here. No reaching them, they have this fixed worldview no different than how a Roman Catholic has that the Pope is a direct decedent of Peter or evangelicals believe in personal divine intervention. Logical, rational discussion can only be made with those willing to submit to facts and an empirical review. Death panels are real for them for they "project" that given the power and inclination to pay or not pay they would have to install "death panels" for them the sick are this way because somehow or someway the person is immoral. It makes no sense except that is their pathology. Forget trying to understand it, realize it is a force in society that must be overcome---ethically but with the full measure of what is moral for the commons and the common good. Nick:

Nice review but going to one of the meetings was even more educational, at least on an anecdotal basis. My Daily Kos post reviewed the experience [http://www.dailykos.com/user/RWN] which I can sum up more simply. The idea that America doesn’t deal with the concept of death is too cerebral this is about the RIGHT-Wing’s entire mythological view being challenged. They will latch onto any distorted myth to oppose this for it goes to the heart of their mythology that all things can be solved my the “invisible hand of the free marketplace”. This is a religious belief, an emotional belief and coincides with what Lakoff pointed to in his book “The Conservative Mind”.

Conservatives be those who possess a conscience or not, don’t hold to concept of the “commons” or the “common good”. Everything in their viewpoint is a matter of “class” or inequality and therefore those who have good health or good access to healthcare is because they are moral and being “rewarded” by the social class system. Those who don’t are immoral and don’t deserve it.

The anger you see is the same as when a myth is being challenged, whether it is a 2nd grader being told that there is no Santa Claus or a lover who finds infidelity exists with their mate. the anger is real, the justification is not.

There is no middle ground here. No reaching them, they have this fixed worldview no different than how a Roman Catholic has that the Pope is a direct decedent of Peter or evangelicals believe in personal divine intervention.

Logical, rational discussion can only be made with those willing to submit to facts and an empirical review. Death panels are real for them for they “project” that given the power and inclination to pay or not pay they would have to install “death panels” for them the sick are this way because somehow or someway the person is immoral. It makes no sense except that is their pathology.

Forget trying to understand it, realize it is a force in society that must be overcome—ethically but with the full measure of what is moral for the commons and the common good.

]]> Comment on The Politics of Fear and Ignorance by Sarah http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2009/08/20/the-politics-of-fear-and-ignorance/#comment-3064 Sarah Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:32:45 +0000 http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2009/08/20/the-politics-of-fear-and-ignorance/#comment-3064 What a great quote from Obama. How amazing to have a president who actually believes that we are morally obligated to look out for each other. What a great quote from Obama. How amazing to have a president who actually believes that we are morally obligated to look out for each other.

]]> Comment on Ten Things I Like About the US by squid http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2009/01/23/ten-things-i-like-about-the-us/#comment-3063 squid Thu, 07 May 2009 04:42:54 +0000 http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2009/01/23/ten-things-i-like-about-the-us/#comment-3063 3. Due process and other rights of the legal system. With four of the ten amendments in the bill of rights devoted to the legal system, it’s clear that our founding fathers put a priority on these rights. I appreciate living in a country where I can’t be arrested and thrown in jail indefinitely without “due process of law” or suffer any of the other brutal and unfair legal practices so common in the world. Oh, really? "Lundeby said the USA Patriot Act stripped her son of his due process rights" http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5049867 Wake up. 3. Due process and other rights of the legal system. With four of the ten amendments in the bill of rights devoted to the legal system, it’s clear that our founding fathers put a priority on these rights. I appreciate living in a country where I can’t be arrested and thrown in jail indefinitely without “due process of law” or suffer any of the other brutal and unfair legal practices so common in the world.

Oh, really?
“Lundeby said the USA Patriot Act stripped her son of his due process rights”
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5049867
Wake up.

]]> Comment on The Irrelevancy of Death-Penalty Deterrence Studies by Colorado to Abolish Death Penalty? | ProudProgressive http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2007/11/29/the-irrelevancy-of-death-penalty-deterrence-studies/#comment-3055 Colorado to Abolish Death Penalty? | ProudProgressive Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:43:51 +0000 http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2007/11/29/the-irrelevancy-of-death-penalty-deterrence-studies/#comment-3055 [...] resources that could go toward solving pending crimes.” While that may be true, I’ve pointed out in the past that arguments like this miss the point; the death penalty is inherently immoral. Why can’t we [...] […] resources that could go toward solving pending crimes.” While that may be true, I’ve pointed out in the past that arguments like this miss the point; the death penalty is inherently immoral. Why can’t we […]

]]> Comment on Ten Things I Like About the US by A.S. http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2009/01/23/ten-things-i-like-about-the-us/#comment-3052 A.S. Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:46:32 +0000 http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2009/01/23/ten-things-i-like-about-the-us/#comment-3052 I would add to your list a democratically-run government with peaceful transition of power, like we saw on Jan. 20th. We don't need to have a violent revolution to make changes happen. I am proud to live in a country where the former president and the new president shake hands cordially even though they don't like each other. In regards to free education, I took this for granted until I went to South Africa, where I was shocked to learn that parents must pay for their children's schooling, even in the elementary grades. The educational system is not totally tax supported like it is in the U.S. I would add to your list a democratically-run government with peaceful transition of power, like we saw on Jan. 20th. We don’t need to have a violent revolution to make changes happen. I am proud to live in a country where the former president and the new president shake hands cordially even though they don’t like each other.

In regards to free education, I took this for granted until I went to South Africa, where I was shocked to learn that parents must pay for their children’s schooling, even in the elementary grades. The educational system is not totally tax supported like it is in the U.S.

]]> Comment on Ten Things I Like About the US by Sarah http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2009/01/23/ten-things-i-like-about-the-us/#comment-3051 Sarah Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:43:24 +0000 http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2009/01/23/ten-things-i-like-about-the-us/#comment-3051 Thanks for the link :) This is a good list. I agree that it is important to think about the positive aspects of our country. I feel incredibly privileged and lucky to live in the United States. Clean water hit home for me last summer when the water main broke and we were without water for a few hours. It was so disconcerting to not be able to turn on the faucet and get a drink if I needed it, to not be able to shower, and to not be able to flush the toilets, and then I suddenly realized that something I take so much for granted, clean water and indoor plumbing, are not available to large numbers of people in many parts of the world. Thanks for the link :) This is a good list. I agree that it is important to think about the positive aspects of our country. I feel incredibly privileged and lucky to live in the United States.

Clean water hit home for me last summer when the water main broke and we were without water for a few hours. It was so disconcerting to not be able to turn on the faucet and get a drink if I needed it, to not be able to shower, and to not be able to flush the toilets, and then I suddenly realized that something I take so much for granted, clean water and indoor plumbing, are not available to large numbers of people in many parts of the world.

]]> Comment on Ersatz Airport Security by First Civil Rights Violation of the Year? | ProudProgressive http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2008/09/17/ersatz-airport-security/#comment-3047 First Civil Rights Violation of the Year? | ProudProgressive Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:51:10 +0000 http://www.proudprogressive.org/blog/2008/09/17/ersatz-airport-security/#comment-3047 [...] on the plane. Most frustrating to me, however, is that this incident is representative of our whole reactive and asinine approach to airline security. The airline, while sort-of apologizing, insisted that, “While ultimately this issue proved to be [...] […] on the plane. Most frustrating to me, however, is that this incident is representative of our whole reactive and asinine approach to airline security. The airline, while sort-of apologizing, insisted that, “While ultimately this issue proved to be […]

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