pointless political post (oooh, alliteration)

[ichur72]

I usually don't post about politics. I am not convinced there would be a point to it, as I strongly suspect that internet shouting is not conducive to me learning anything or effectively advocating for my point of view. But of course there's writing and then there's reading, and some of the political stuff I have read lately has been nasty enough (

Comments

[introducingyael]

Also republican. Kind of tired of the automattic assumption that everyone in ljland isn't because republicans have the dumb.

[hipstamom]

My two closest friends are Republican and they certainly have don't teh dumb.

[ichur72]

Yep, exactly. Dumb has no respect for party affiliation, in my experience.

Donkey Girl Here!

[hipstamom]

this is interesting...

I feel the opposite. I'm like the minority in most circles because I am a Democrat. Every time, I go to a shul I cringe when politics comes up because inevitable some really racist comments fly out.

So far, I managed to wiggle out of debates by saying I'd rather not discuss politics. I won't tell most people who I'm voting for.

I do agree this election got pretty nasty on both sides really fast.

[debsters1101]

this post made me smile :-) because I hear you. isn't it sad? people are scared/anxious about voicing their political beliefs? thats why I listen to WABC and WOR. because in those venues I feel like I have friens on my side.

[ichur72]

Right ... I didn't post this because I want to start talking about politics. I just got tired of saying nothing when reading comments to the effect that everyone who votes a certain way must have an IQ in the negative range.

[cellio]

Yeah -- sad, isn't it? I can get very tiring to be around people who make the assumption that of course I'm a Democrat because that's the only real choice. Err, no.

(Not a Republican either, for the record.)

[ichur72]

Yes, it does get boring. IMHO, no party has a monopoly on mouth-breathing troglodytes and no party has a monopoly on smart, thinking people.

[llennhoff]

I don't mind when people support Republicans because they agree with what Republicans do and want. If you think that government has a minimal place in health care, vote Republican. If you think lower taxes at the highest levels and less federal regulation stimulate the economy, vote Republican. If you think that abortion is murder, vote Republican.

What I find myself driven to oppose is where I think someone is voting Republican because of things the republicans don't stand for.

As long as we're treading the line here, let me comment that it seems to me that a lot of Orthodox Jews apply the same two litmus tests to any office seeker, from city councilman to president.

1. Where do they stand on Israel.
   
2. Do they support school vouchers.
   

At the city councilman level the first question strikes me as irrelevant. At the presidential level the questions strike me as too narrow.

[ichur72]

Excellent point, and I appreciate the thoughtful comment. I agree that the first issue is increasingly irrelevant as one progresses down the chain of authority from national to local. As for the second issue, I can see how presidential support would be desirable, but in the end I don't think it's a question that can be decided above the state level.