Post by Tim Collins on Apr 4, 2009 17:42:53 GMT -7
Brownfield:
I took the liberty of copying this from "The Stimulus Bill" thread because you raise a couple of question I at least feel are worth some real discussion, and they don't fit where they were posted. I hope you don't object.
I doubt that 90 percent of the population cares. The outrage for them is the wrong person winning dancing with the stars...or american idol...or the super bowl. Circus. In all this time "they" still use "it" to keep "us" fat... dumb and happy.
I am bad myself. Not on TV...but sports. Diehard fan. Can tell you stats and stories until you die from boredom.
Politics is like circus for me. I know its fake and I cant change the result.
I'm not so sure it is that 90% don't care, but I would agree that a good portion of that 50% feels powerless to change anything and is too busy just keeping food on the table and a roof over their heads. I know that is how I feel most days.
When you're worried about the things your kids are facing everyday, and the choices (many times really stupid or wrong) they are making its hard to get excited about gun control for example. If you they had just a little more breathing space, this group would be more active, or at least more attentive.
TV provides an escape and many of us take it. Personally - I hate most reality shows and drive my wife nuts by living on a steady diet of drama and the History Channel or its clones.
A long time ago in NJ one of my oldest friends - then a teacher told me once he was amazed at the junk I watched. he said how can someone with your education watch that crap. I told him it was my way of putting my brain to sleep.
I'd guess the next biggest group, lets call it 30%, is the people that just have no interest in politics at all. Either they have plenty, worry little, and aren't into giving money to feel important, or really just don't care about anything outside their own little world.
The the final 10%? People neither of us would want making elective decisions. I know that sounds mean - but hey we all know people that we think would fall over and die if breathing and circulation were not biologically on auto pilot. I think 2 of these called into the BP show when I was on the other day.
I figured you were in that candidate camp. Why else would you stick your neck out? No offense.
No offense taken. I am considering entering the political ring, I say considering when perhaps I already have by my writing and comments on these forums, because I have taken no active steps to fill out the darn paperwork required and not sure I have time to do anything in this election cycle, or am I ready in terms of knowledge.
As to why would I stick my neck out. For one thing I don't feel like I have yet. But if I have or do, its really simple, I am certain that I give a crap and am willing to take a beating in the attempt. I'm egotistical - I think I have something to say, and it lines up what I think many would agree with.
And as I said on the other thread - I do not want to die without having made a contribution. Yeah I'm funny that way.
I was invited a while back to be on one of the local talk shows as BROWNFIELD. I declined as I really have no "goal" or end game with my manifestos. I try and make a point with humor. Some get it some do not. The example I have used is people who have seen the film Wall Street. Some think the movie glorifies Gekko and that Bud Fox is an idiot for passing up on easy street. I can not relate to that crowd. However, I know they are out there.
By the way your humor says a lot - even if there is no personal end game it reaches people like me who do have an end game in mind and it influences as well.
My younger brother has political aspirations like you do. I asked him this question "If elected to the House of Representatives is it your job to vote the views of your district or to vote the way that is in their best interest in your opinion". After trying to politalk me I asked him again directly and brother to brother he admitted that in a crunch and he had to choose he would vote his conscience and not the will of the majority of citizens in his district. That is how I think they all are...huge ego's...stroked and primped for decades. Not much different than a pro athlete who cannot adjust to life off the field when the career is over.
That is perhaps the toughest question to answer. And right now I cannot answer it for you. I just do not know. I do know that when faced with a similar choice as a manager - the rules of the company or the best for the employee, I have consistently sided with the employee. It has cost me both jobs and promotions, but not any lost sleep.
I think I would need specific cases to know for sure.
Here is what I think in terms of how the current system works. If I campaign I will do so on a specific agenda that I wish to accomplish, and a general presentation of who I am and what I believe on the big picture issues such as National Defense, Immigration, Social Spending (I hate the term entitlements) etc.. In theory if I get elected on these thoughts and plans - then I guess the general will is that I reflect their values and opinions, so if I act towards those goals am I acting on my own judgment- or on the reflected judgment of those that elected me? I guess I am still struggling with the which came first issue.
The system will change you. You will not change the system. My uncle who is now dead was a huge fundraiser in his day. I will be happy to tell you stories about how appointments get done. It's ugly. Not to mention who candidates will take money from.
Yeah I have had many conversations along these lines and do not know what the answer is going to be. I can just hope my honor and integrity is as strong as I want it to be. I'll have to be tried in this area to know.
The media as the 4th estate is a lapdog. Not a watchdog. They say its budgets and all that as far as the lack of reporting goes. That is a cop out. Its corruption. Speaking of which have you noticed how newspapermahar.com has had a ton of JOBE ads of late? Fair and balanced I am sure.
On this we agree, but I think the Internet is really making a difference both good and bad.
I took the liberty of copying this from "The Stimulus Bill" thread because you raise a couple of question I at least feel are worth some real discussion, and they don't fit where they were posted. I hope you don't object.
Apr 4, 2009 16:48:18 GMT -7 @brownfield said:
Tim, I doubt that 90 percent of the population cares. The outrage for them is the wrong person winning dancing with the stars...or american idol...or the super bowl. Circus. In all this time "they" still use "it" to keep "us" fat... dumb and happy.
I am bad myself. Not on TV...but sports. Diehard fan. Can tell you stats and stories until you die from boredom.
Politics is like circus for me. I know its fake and I cant change the result.
I'm not so sure it is that 90% don't care, but I would agree that a good portion of that 50% feels powerless to change anything and is too busy just keeping food on the table and a roof over their heads. I know that is how I feel most days.
When you're worried about the things your kids are facing everyday, and the choices (many times really stupid or wrong) they are making its hard to get excited about gun control for example. If you they had just a little more breathing space, this group would be more active, or at least more attentive.
TV provides an escape and many of us take it. Personally - I hate most reality shows and drive my wife nuts by living on a steady diet of drama and the History Channel or its clones.
A long time ago in NJ one of my oldest friends - then a teacher told me once he was amazed at the junk I watched. he said how can someone with your education watch that crap. I told him it was my way of putting my brain to sleep.
I'd guess the next biggest group, lets call it 30%, is the people that just have no interest in politics at all. Either they have plenty, worry little, and aren't into giving money to feel important, or really just don't care about anything outside their own little world.
The the final 10%? People neither of us would want making elective decisions. I know that sounds mean - but hey we all know people that we think would fall over and die if breathing and circulation were not biologically on auto pilot. I think 2 of these called into the BP show when I was on the other day.
I figured you were in that candidate camp. Why else would you stick your neck out? No offense.
No offense taken. I am considering entering the political ring, I say considering when perhaps I already have by my writing and comments on these forums, because I have taken no active steps to fill out the darn paperwork required and not sure I have time to do anything in this election cycle, or am I ready in terms of knowledge.
As to why would I stick my neck out. For one thing I don't feel like I have yet. But if I have or do, its really simple, I am certain that I give a crap and am willing to take a beating in the attempt. I'm egotistical - I think I have something to say, and it lines up what I think many would agree with.
And as I said on the other thread - I do not want to die without having made a contribution. Yeah I'm funny that way.
I was invited a while back to be on one of the local talk shows as BROWNFIELD. I declined as I really have no "goal" or end game with my manifestos. I try and make a point with humor. Some get it some do not. The example I have used is people who have seen the film Wall Street. Some think the movie glorifies Gekko and that Bud Fox is an idiot for passing up on easy street. I can not relate to that crowd. However, I know they are out there.
By the way your humor says a lot - even if there is no personal end game it reaches people like me who do have an end game in mind and it influences as well.
My younger brother has political aspirations like you do. I asked him this question "If elected to the House of Representatives is it your job to vote the views of your district or to vote the way that is in their best interest in your opinion". After trying to politalk me I asked him again directly and brother to brother he admitted that in a crunch and he had to choose he would vote his conscience and not the will of the majority of citizens in his district. That is how I think they all are...huge ego's...stroked and primped for decades. Not much different than a pro athlete who cannot adjust to life off the field when the career is over.
That is perhaps the toughest question to answer. And right now I cannot answer it for you. I just do not know. I do know that when faced with a similar choice as a manager - the rules of the company or the best for the employee, I have consistently sided with the employee. It has cost me both jobs and promotions, but not any lost sleep.
I think I would need specific cases to know for sure.
Here is what I think in terms of how the current system works. If I campaign I will do so on a specific agenda that I wish to accomplish, and a general presentation of who I am and what I believe on the big picture issues such as National Defense, Immigration, Social Spending (I hate the term entitlements) etc.. In theory if I get elected on these thoughts and plans - then I guess the general will is that I reflect their values and opinions, so if I act towards those goals am I acting on my own judgment- or on the reflected judgment of those that elected me? I guess I am still struggling with the which came first issue.
The system will change you. You will not change the system. My uncle who is now dead was a huge fundraiser in his day. I will be happy to tell you stories about how appointments get done. It's ugly. Not to mention who candidates will take money from.
Yeah I have had many conversations along these lines and do not know what the answer is going to be. I can just hope my honor and integrity is as strong as I want it to be. I'll have to be tried in this area to know.
The media as the 4th estate is a lapdog. Not a watchdog. They say its budgets and all that as far as the lack of reporting goes. That is a cop out. Its corruption. Speaking of which have you noticed how newspapermahar.com has had a ton of JOBE ads of late? Fair and balanced I am sure.
On this we agree, but I think the Internet is really making a difference both good and bad.