Serious question, not just Snark

[captain_slinky]

...Because I can't write this in a way where it doesn't come out as "I think I'm so much more clever than those who have different views than me", which usually frightens away those who could answer such questions. So please take this seriously because I really *do* want to know...

This is directed at "Tea Party", "Conservative" and even a few "Libertarian" folks I know (but not all of them).

Specifically, the ones with the Yellow "Support Our Troops" Ribbons and "I Support Our Local Police/Firefighters" bumper stickers.

The money for SUPPORTING our Troops, Police and Firefighters comes from TAXES.

So every time you complain about raising taxes, you're complaining about having to support our Troops. Doesn't it boil down to a simple question of WANTING to pay them more or NOT wanting to pay them more? Where would you have the money for supporting our Troops come from without raising taxes? And don't say something akin to "Cutting The Fat" - you would have to give me an actual example of something you could cut that would give us enough money to cover what you think our Troops are worth.

If you like having a Military, Police Force, Firefighters, roads, libraries, mail, parks, public beaches and a gazillion other things you NEED Taxes, don't you?

As far as I have observed, the people with the Yellow "Support Our Troops" ribbons on their cars are the ones most likely to say that we pay too much in Taxes. It's as contradictory as the Pro-Lifers who support The Death Penalty :(

Comments

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

I think that's it... those who are crying 'Fascism' are just ruining it for real fascism... but weren't it The Hippies on The Left that started with all that? And when all is said and done, The Hippies did a pretty good job of getting heard...

[das-prompt.livejournal.com]

Dude, I've been wrestling with myself over something like this for a while. You get to be the lucky guy to hear it.

Basically it boils down to this: The demonization of our political foes in this country has gotten way out of hand, and it's distracting us from real debates about very important topics. And this would be way easier to solve if Republicans weren't actually so fucking evil.

I say that in jest, of course. Kinda. And going completely against what should be my point, I'm going to go right out in front and blame George W. Bush.

Let me try to civilly dance around my harsher opinions here to make an overall point. Many of the criticisms I hear about Obama seem to resemble Bizaro-World criticisms of GWB, and have devolved into "You said that about my guy, I'll say it about your guy" arguments that stop making any sense. Bush came in under a very close and disputed election, and some people (right or wrong) considered him to be an illegitimate president. So hey, why not find a way to dispute Obama's legitimacy too? But this election wasn't close, there were no recounts, it was a landslide, so then we have to reach to find something else. Enter the Birthers with their repeatedly debunked claims of foreign birth. Then Bush pushed the limits of surveillance, due process, and the use of torture. And (right or wrong) has been accused of acting in a manner that was unconstitutional and possibly rising to the levels of war crimes. So now the other side gets their turn, accusing Obama of tyranny, fascism, and undermining the very principles of our Constitution, by enacting health care reform?

I'm torn. On one hand, I truly believe that most on the other side of the political spectrum are good folks who want the best, and just might disagree with me on how that is going to work. And I think that raising the level of civility towards people who disagree is key. But then I see some of the stuff on the other side and I start to question where the line is drawn. And I know they're seeing that on my side too.

So what's the answer, then? What's the alternative to toning it down, even if we're sure we're right? Do we get to a point where we automatically question the very legitimacy of anyone on the other side who wins an election? Do we declare every piece of legislation proposed by the other side as unconstitutional and designed to undermine my freedom?

I need a drink.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

It seems as if maybe The Democrats tried that whole civility thing, and The Republicans used it to "prove" how weak the Left is. They tried to reach a compromise, bent over backwards trying to accommodate the demands of The Right, and what they got in return was the Congressional equivalent of a High School Jock saying "Thanks for helping me pass Algebra, FAGOT! Hey everybody, did you know that The Democrats are GAY?"

Wouldn't it be nice if Bipartisanship and cooperation weren't seen as weakness?