47% of all Americans see themselves as victims, determined to parasitize The System

Dear Tig,

In religion and politics (which is itself a kind of "religion") feelings arising from childhood conditioning tend to be more important than Reason.

Because religion and politics are emotional "oceans," those humans who "live" in The Atlantic are "wisely" advised to avoid discussion with those who live in "The Pacific." 

Remember: "There are two things you must never discuss: Religion and Politics."

Since Reason has almost nothing to do with people's political reflexes, jumping into the emotional tide of "debate" is to unleash a "force of nature" whose usual upshot is to "reap the whirlwind."

For this reason, I try to use views stated by conservatives themselves as possible segue to "alternatives."

A fine illustration of this is provided by two-time GOP presidential candidate, Pat Buchanan: "The Republican philosophy might be summarized thus: To hell with principle; what matters is power, and that we have it, and that they do not.” Pat Buchanan is the living American who has served longest inside the Oval Office as presidential consultant. "Where the Right Went Wrong" - http://www.amazon.com/Where-Right-Went-Wrong-Neoconservatives/dp/0312341156

Of course, "conservatives" tend to be such self-terrorized, fearful people that they believe power -- whatever its provenance (whether autocratic, plutocratic or aristocratic) -- is preferable to the perceived "weakness" of liberalism. http://humanities.psydeshow.org/political/mcgovern.htm

This topic reminds me of Emo Philips shtick: "I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said "Stop! Don't do it!" "Why shouldn't I?" he said. "Well, there's so much to live for!" "Like what?" "Well... are you religious?" He said yes. I said, "Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?" "Christian." "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant ? "Protestant." "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?" "Baptist" "Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?" "Baptist Church of God!" "Me too! Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you reformed Baptist Church of God?" "Reformed Baptist Church of God!" "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?" He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!" I said, "Die, heretic scum", and pushed him off. 

I doubt Aquinas' Summa Theologica put it as well.

We are all haunted by our personal histories.

Those ghosts -- all the more powerful for having no "real" existence -- obstruct clarity, binding us to "the dead" at the expense of "the living." 

And at the expense of The Living God.

Love

Alan

On Thu, Sep 20, 2012 at 8:10 AM, NC wrote:

Dear Alan, Why don't the people supporting Romney realize that he would view most of them w/ contempt if he knew them & their stories? Yes, not all, but the few people I know who support him where I work ie: a not too well educated clerical worker for the hospital whose husband ran up a huge bill (at hospital) because private insurance refused him and then he died... Love, Tig

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