Liberalism Sounds Like Atheism
Now that I am not consuming a constant stream of right-leaning rhetoric via radio, TV, church, or otherwise, I don’t have the same knee-jerk reaction to “liberal” thinking as I used to. I now seek a very wide variety of news and information sources (including the occasional conservative rant). After reading for a while the other night, I ran across this passage by Robert B. Reich on his web site:
Liberalism is the opposite of fanaticism. We cherish tolerance. We value deliberation. We respect rational argument. We oppose all forms of tyranny. We have faith — and it is nothing but faith — that, in the end, they won’t be able to drown us out, because common sense and common decency are on our side.
What I find interesting about this quote is that it should apply to all people… this is not an extremist viewpoint owned by the left. It’s a humanist point-of-view. It’s the way it should be.
The older I get, and the more I study the human condition, the more tolerant I am… the more thoughtful. However, he is not quite right – replace Liberalism above with Humanism (or even Atheism) and then we are getting somewhere. I think there are opportunists and idiots on both extremes of the left and right. I find that the folks in The Great Middle are the ones that respect human rights and liberty regardless of personal beliefs, ethnic background, or lifestyle. The people that I know that strongly identify with either conservatives or liberals tend to be judgmental, closed-minded, dogmatic goofballs.
And, switching gears, I’ll go out on a limb and say that “The Great Middle” is the slice of our US population that is going to elect Senator John McCain as the next President of the United States. Why a Mormon and an Evangelical Christian thought they were electable illustrates what a bubble they live in. And on the left, Barack Obama is just too far to the left… and we won’t even talk about Hillary Clinton. That leaves the most “moderate” candidate standing at the end of the day.
Congratulations extremists on both sides! You’ve chosen our next Commander in Chief.
Hugh,
Although I wouldn’t be disappointed if Mc Cain won, I don’t think he has a chance. All the big electoral states, according to current polls, will vote democrat, except for maybe Florida. Although the popular poles are as close as maybe 3% that does not determine the winner, only the electoral college. Unless they can find something dirty on Obama it would seem that he will be the next president.
your friend forrest
Having written that post back in February, I still feel pretty confident about it. However, if Barack can paint himself as somewhat moderate by November, I think he has a shot. In a very unscientific process I had noticed that most Obama bumper stickers had been on vehicles driven strictly by minorities… until today. I saw an old white guy with South Carolina plates sporting an Obama ‘08 sticker. The tide may indeed be turning.
Here’s why Barack has an uphill battle:
Sen. Barack Obama a “first-class arsonist?”
That incendiary description was how he was described by Rev. Richard Land, the well-known evangelical leader, who was interviewed by National Public Radio’s Mara Liasson for a piece on evangelicals and the presidential election.
Land was saying that the Democratic senator from Illinois was viewed by some evangelicals who view their choice of presidential candidates this year as a pick-your-poison opportunity since Sen. John McCain has not been a favorite of theirs either.
“What I hear a lot from Southern Baptist pastors and lay people … is a variation of this sort of theme: ‘John McCain was not my first choice, John McCain was not my second choice, but I’ll take a third class fireman over a first class arsonist.’ And when it comes to the issue of life, when it comes to the issue of marriage, they perceive Barack Obama as a first class arsonist,” Land said.
How about the Lay Theists out there? What do they say!?
Quoting Frank James from Swamp Politics
You know, South Carolina has license plates now that say “I Believe” with a cross and stained glass… Ho Lee Shit.
Well Hugh,
Already the 1st of November. The forth we’ll have the elections and probably the 5th we’ll know the results. As you probably know Obama is a 100 to one Las Vegas favorite. Only something very dirty released in the next few days could defeat Obama.
your friend forrest
Many of the staunch Republicans I know seem to literally fear an Obama Presidency. I certainly am not thrilled, but only because he is so extreme in his socialist views. I find that I identify much more strongly as a Libertarian (or moderate without a label) than either of the absurd party extremes we have been saddled with.
And a question (OK, two questions):
How is it that fiscal conservatism got wrapped up with the religious right and aligned with Republicans?
Where do I fit if I am socially liberal but economically conservative?
Where do I fit if I am socially liberal but economically conservative?
Hugh, most everybody would like to lend a helping hand, and support science, medicine, pure research, medical assistance, the country’s infrastructure etc. But everything comes at a cost and somebody ultimately has to decide which of the worthy causes will get funded — not easy choices.
your friend forrest