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n-dependant · Nov 5, 2004, 04:00 pm

The biggest weakness of the Democratic Party is its self perceived intellectual superiority.

Case in point:http://slate.msn.com/id/2109218/

To think to one's self "I see the whole picture. I understand the situation completely.” is simply arrogant and ignorant.

I think it boils down to people who are realistic and people who are idealistic. I think that a measure of both is what makes a person truly intellectual. If you only see thing as right or wrong, red or blue you miss the best answers.

Let me site a few simple examples. But in order to dispel any illusions about myself let me give you a little back ground. I am from a traditionally democratic state and family. My family and I are middle class. I am not a very religious person.

My examples: I supported the idealistic point of view that we should take prayer out of school. Because it should be a place of intellectual thought not religious teaching. However as a realist I must admit I think it was the wrong thing to do. The reason I think this is because a lot of people regardless of their intellectual abilities or spiritual ties teach morality to their children through their religious beliefs. Then we take these children and teach them in school that their beliefs are not scientifically founded or logical. This causes confusion and distrust of the entire moral foundation they are given. Then factor in violence on television, music, video games, and the moral decay at home and you get kids carrying guns to school.

In an ideal world it would be simply the logical thing to do. In the real world it’s causing problems. There should be a middle road.

Another example: It seems logical that if you outlaw firearms that you will get a reduction in criminal firearm use. At the very least you will make it more difficult for criminals to get them. Yet realistically this is simply not the case. You would think the same thing about drugs however you can get them on any street corner in the city I live in. I can get drugs simply by driving slowly as I turn a corner and they are already illegal! At the same time it’s notably harder to get a fire arm that is legal.

Again in an ideal world it would be simply the logical thing to do. In the real world it will just cause more problems. There should be a middle road.

Another sign of Democratic intellectual weakness is the failure to recognize the truth about republicans. The old adage that ALL republicans are simple minded red-necks or bible thumping conservatives is simply wrong. Certainly it is true of some of them. I have reviewed both platforms from and independent and un-biased point of view and the republican platforms more closely relate to my core convictions. Let’s say I am 51% republican and 49% democratic based solely on the issues. So the republicans are winning elections because people like me (independent swing voters) who are more persuade by a platform issues than whose name is on the ballot are voting in larger numbers. I used to not vote simply because I reviewed the issues and was evenly split on the parties. So it didn’t matter much to me. Over the past few years I have gotten older and a family of my own. Suddenly the family values part of it bumps up a little higher. I remember the days when the Democratic Party stance on platform issues where very inline with my own views. My views have not changed the Democratic Party has.

So although I claim independent status and would easily vote for a democrat if the platform was there I have voted republican the last few years. I guess this makes me a republican and as such I an insulted by the intellectual soap box some democrats have climbed up on. Speaking to the ones here on volconvo that slam republicans as idiots, morons, and the authors of articles like the one linked above. Republicans can easily point to the demographics and say the same thing of Democrats. Both are wrong.

Regarding the issues and why I voted Republican this time.

In an ideal world we would never be in Iraq and we wouldn’t have this mess. In an ideal world we could ask the terrorist and the insurgents to sit down and talk through our differences. In an ideal world there wouldn’t be terrorist. In the real world we are there and undermining the efforts of our troops, belittling the efforts of our allies, fueling the hatred of our enemies for ones own personal political gain is simply intolerable. In a Ideal world the Iraqi insurgents are simply people just like you and me who are peace-loving people who simply want an invading occupying army to leave. In the real world these insurgents are making no distinction between their own citizens and our personnel. They kill both. They are the pawns power hungry warlords who see the removal of formal government and a ticket to personal power.

I agree with Democrats on Stem Cell Research.
Realistic: The pros far out weight the cons.

I agree with Democrats on Abortion.
Realistic: It’s a despicable ugly thing that should be discouraged by society but ultimately it’s a decision that must be made on an individual basis.

I agree with Republicans on Gun Control.
Realistic: The studies and facts show gun control does not work.

I agree with Republicans on the economy and deficits.
Realistic: No budget could have anticipated two wars.

I agree with Republicans on Taxation. There always have been loop hole for the rich and always will be its. At least I am getting some of my money back.

I could keep going with my stances but I’m sure you could care less about them. My main point is that Democratic Party only has itself to blame for its defeat.

Nov 5, 2004, 04:00 pm	#1 (permalink) (top)
n-dependant Molten Ash Posts: 27	The biggest weakness of the Democratic Party is its self perceived intellectual superiority. Case in point:http://slate.msn.com/id/2109218/ To think to one's self "I see the whole picture. I understand the situation completely.” is simply arrogant and ignorant. I think it boils down to people who are realistic and people who are idealistic. I think that a measure of both is what makes a person truly intellectual. If you only see thing as right or wrong, red or blue you miss the best answers. Let me site a few simple examples. But in order to dispel any illusions about myself let me give you a little back ground. I am from a traditionally democratic state and family. My family and I are middle class. I am not a very religious person. My examples: I supported the idealistic point of view that we should take prayer out of school. Because it should be a place of intellectual thought not religious teaching. However as a realist I must admit I think it was the wrong thing to do. The reason I think this is because a lot of people regardless of their intellectual abilities or spiritual ties teach morality to their children through their religious beliefs. Then we take these children and teach them in school that their beliefs are not scientifically founded or logical. This causes confusion and distrust of the entire moral foundation they are given. Then factor in violence on television, music, video games, and the moral decay at home and you get kids carrying guns to school. In an ideal world it would be simply the logical thing to do. In the real world it’s causing problems. There should be a middle road. Another example: It seems logical that if you outlaw firearms that you will get a reduction in criminal firearm use. At the very least you will make it more difficult for criminals to get them. Yet realistically this is simply not the case. You would think the same thing about drugs however you can get them on any street corner in the city I live in. I can get drugs simply by driving slowly as I turn a corner and they are already illegal! At the same time it’s notably harder to get a fire arm that is legal. Again in an ideal world it would be simply the logical thing to do. In the real world it will just cause more problems. There should be a middle road. Another sign of Democratic intellectual weakness is the failure to recognize the truth about republicans. The old adage that ALL republicans are simple minded red-necks or bible thumping conservatives is simply wrong. Certainly it is true of some of them. I have reviewed both platforms from and independent and un-biased point of view and the republican platforms more closely relate to my core convictions. Let’s say I am 51% republican and 49% democratic based solely on the issues. So the republicans are winning elections because people like me (independent swing voters) who are more persuade by a platform issues than whose name is on the ballot are voting in larger numbers. I used to not vote simply because I reviewed the issues and was evenly split on the parties. So it didn’t matter much to me. Over the past few years I have gotten older and a family of my own. Suddenly the family values part of it bumps up a little higher. I remember the days when the Democratic Party stance on platform issues where very inline with my own views. My views have not changed the Democratic Party has. So although I claim independent status and would easily vote for a democrat if the platform was there I have voted republican the last few years. I guess this makes me a republican and as such I an insulted by the intellectual soap box some democrats have climbed up on. Speaking to the ones here on volconvo that slam republicans as idiots, morons, and the authors of articles like the one linked above. Republicans can easily point to the demographics and say the same thing of Democrats. Both are wrong. Regarding the issues and why I voted Republican this time. In an ideal world we would never be in Iraq and we wouldn’t have this mess. In an ideal world we could ask the terrorist and the insurgents to sit down and talk through our differences. In an ideal world there wouldn’t be terrorist. In the real world we are there and undermining the efforts of our troops, belittling the efforts of our allies, fueling the hatred of our enemies for ones own personal political gain is simply intolerable. In a Ideal world the Iraqi insurgents are simply people just like you and me who are peace-loving people who simply want an invading occupying army to leave. In the real world these insurgents are making no distinction between their own citizens and our personnel. They kill both. They are the pawns power hungry warlords who see the removal of formal government and a ticket to personal power. I agree with Democrats on Stem Cell Research. Realistic: The pros far out weight the cons. I agree with Democrats on Abortion. Realistic: It’s a despicable ugly thing that should be discouraged by society but ultimately it’s a decision that must be made on an individual basis. I agree with Republicans on Gun Control. Realistic: The studies and facts show gun control does not work. I agree with Republicans on the economy and deficits. Realistic: No budget could have anticipated two wars. I agree with Republicans on Taxation. There always have been loop hole for the rich and always will be its. At least I am getting some of my money back. I could keep going with my stances but I’m sure you could care less about them. My main point is that Democratic Party only has itself to blame for its defeat.