tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640470443420164863.post653748649111185314..comments2024-03-26T10:26:51.288-04:00Comments on Jim Leff's Slog: Explaining Centrism/ModerationJim Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00007232702717055047noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640470443420164863.post-71135604323532318602012-10-30T13:59:38.302-04:002012-10-30T13:59:38.302-04:00I didn't say that.I didn't say that. Jim Leffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00007232702717055047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640470443420164863.post-865441249465115292012-10-30T13:30:24.652-04:002012-10-30T13:30:24.652-04:00Perhaps. But I would be more convinced if you gav...Perhaps. But I would be more convinced if you gave a better explanation of why you described someone as a sanctimonious liberal putz <i>just</i> because he believes that a President Romney could be disastrous for this countryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640470443420164863.post-74221705645464431102012-10-29T13:59:57.866-04:002012-10-29T13:59:57.866-04:00Would it have helped if I'd listed many, many ...Would it have helped if I'd listed many, many more examples of political messaging and stances which fail to please me?<br />Jim Leffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00007232702717055047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640470443420164863.post-61612842522696864882012-10-29T13:33:53.557-04:002012-10-29T13:33:53.557-04:00«But I'm not making anything like the comparis...«But I'm not making anything like the comparison you suggest.»<br /><br /><i>But you did:</i><br /><br /><br />So when I see some ham-fisted right-wing windbag raging on TV about how Obama's destroying the country, I smirk and change the channel. And when I see some sanctimonious liberal putz raging about how Mitt Romney will destroy the country, I smirk and change the channelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640470443420164863.post-9857566335983260962012-10-28T19:04:50.593-04:002012-10-28T19:04:50.593-04:00--------------
"You've made a classic err...--------------<br />"You've made a classic error here comparing the far right conservative position as the opposite equivalent of the center left liberal position"<br />--------------<br /><br />No. <br /><br />I don't love the far right, center right, center left, or far left. None of those positions feels like "home" to me, for reasons I explained. Nor do Libertarianism, Socialism, Anarchism, Libertarian Socialism, Anarcho-Syndicalism, Communism, Fascism, or anything else you want to suggest. None work. All are destined to inequity and corruption. And, even at it's best, governance is a grind, not a soccer game. There are no messiahs to root for; just, hopefully, competence. <br /><br />In terms of specific policies, I do have my preferences. But because my preferences are consciously chosen and personal rather than osmotic and tribal, so they don't fit any mold. What's more, even if things went precisely my way, my statement above (nothing works) would still apply! So I don't get excited (i.e. "partisan") about any of it. I make my choices, and hope that, if they're implemented, the grind of governance might proceed just a little bit less awfully. <br /><br />All that said, horrendous decisions can be made, and need to be called out. That's where I can get passionate. One example was the debt ceiling brouhaha, which harmed the country in incalculable ways. I do hold a grudge on that. But I'm not making anything like the comparison you suggest.Jim Leffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00007232702717055047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640470443420164863.post-69667811366951281562012-10-28T18:45:14.278-04:002012-10-28T18:45:14.278-04:00You've made a classic error here comparing the...You've made a classic error here comparing the far right conservative position as the opposite equivalent of the center left liberal position. The reality is Obama has been president for four years and despite all attempt by the Tea Party Republicans, he has not destroyed the country. On the other hand Romney promises to do so, just think about the fact that there will probably be three Supreme Court appointments in the next term and on his website Romney says that he will appoint people in the mold of Alito, Scalia, Thomas, and Roberts (three of whom are among the most right wing members of the court in the past century). And then look at your beer choices Bud and Stella, extremely mass manufactured conglomerate swill vs. very middle of the road semi-microbrew Sam Adams. Even trying to distinguish between Stella and Bud shows this false opposites fallacy. The real opposites are Rochefort Trappistes 6 or even Rogue Stone IPAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com