A very important event

[petrus4]

Have a look at this guy, kids.  Politically speaking, he's what I used to be.  An adherent of the idealistic, but still sane Left.  Someone who believes that up until around the late 70s, before it went insane, feminism actually did have a positive and legitimate purpose.  Someone who realises that it might not be the best thing if humanity becomes the sole remaining form of life on this planet, due to what we've done to it in the name of money.

This is the genuine article; the Bill and Ted demographic.  The people who listen to John Lennon or Roger Waters with tears in their eyes.  The people from whom the Left derived their false right to claim the moral high ground in the first place.  The people who the Left's leaders want as their image; who they want conservatives and other non-Leftists to think they are like.  The proverbial poster children.

These people are leaving the fold.  They're apparently tired of the social justice movement and its' vicious, authoritarian insanity.

For the first time in a long time, I'm experiencing a vague sense of genuine hope in response to this.

[ArMaP]

I only listened (I didn't want to watch to avoid seeing the guy's face, as I wasn't interested in having my thoughts manipulated by the expressions he could make) to the first 60 seconds, when I reached the conclusion that this is American-oriented and, as such, means nothing to me.

[spacemaverick]

The American political party leaders and their minions for the most part self-absorbent thinking they are each correct in their thoughts of what the American people want.  Most of them have been in their government jobs (elected types) and have become rich off of bribe money from corporations for helping along these very corporations using their political influence.  America has gotten to the point that it is led by politicians that have their own agendas, fill their pockets and have lost touch with the American people.  Since the election in 2016, the Democratic party has become the Obstructionist party.  A number of Republicans have been Republicans in name only and have sided with them.  A nation divided against itself will not stand for very long.  Democracy is essentially mob rule and a bad form of government.  A Republic, (what we started out as) is governed by the rule of law and each branch of government is a check and balance on the other branches.

[ArMaP]

Democracy is essentially mob rule and a bad form of government.  A Republic, (what we started out as) is governed by the rule of law and each branch of government is a check and balance on the other branches.

Americans... 

The United States is a republic and a democracy, a representative democracy.

[spacemaverick]

There is a difference.  I'm not getting into this discussion anymore.  I'm out.  In fact, you can take me out of Pegasus altogether.  I'm done.  Americans and an eyeroll.  Who died and left you an authority.  I'm gone.

[The Seeker]

Americans... 

The United States is a republic and a democracy, a representative democracy.

It doesn't matter and is irrelevant to the OP, for it doesn't have a damn thing to do with what type of government we have...

it is a statement about members of the democrat party leaving because they see just how twisted their party in general has become and is not a good place to be politically if they are truly wanting to espouse their ideals...

[petrus4]

Who died and left you an authority.  I'm gone.

In my experience, spacemaverick, atheists just do that, for the most part.  Some people find Armap's pedantry annoying at times, I know; but I've learned to let it wash over me.  Atheists online used to make me very angry, but then I realised that I only really need to care about their consensus opinion, if it is important to me to associate with them.  While I don't go out of my way to alienate them, I've stopped caring about whether or not they agree with what I am saying; and I've also stopped caring about their attempt to portray themselves as centralised scientific authorities, a la Wikipedia.

If an atheist is angry with you in an argument, generally speaking their tactic of last resort will be to accuse you of being unscientific or irrational, in the hope that said argument will shame you back into compliance with their opinion, because they like viewing themselves as the arbiters of what being rational or scientific means.  Given that I've known atheists from whom I took the accusation of irrationality as a genuine compliment, that trick does not work with me any more.

None of this is intended as a personal attack against Armap, and I get the feeling that he probably won't interpret it as one anyway.  This is merely an explanation of how I have learned to cope with dealing with atheists as a group, despite the fact that I am not one myself.

I am, however, somewhat ashamed to admit that I no longer engage in overt forms of religious practice, because of the degree to which I have become afraid of being caught in the act by atheists, and the possible derision or even physical persecution that may result.  If I was able to live in complete seclusion with a sealed room that was not visible from the outside, then I might start offering to Kali again; but I am not going to do it while living with my mother or anyone else.

I have had to accept the fact that, during my current lifetime, I am not living in a society which is consistent with my preferences or identity in virtually any way; and the existence of an atheistic majority, is one of the most fundamental elements of that.  I can only assume that at some time in the past, reincarnationally speaking, I was someone who behaved in a similar manner towards others, and that what I am currently experiencing is karmic.  I have endeavoured to accept that psychologically, and to endure it as stoically as possible.  The one moral requirement of a prisoner, is the maintenance of dignity.

[fansongecho]

@spacemaverick , don't go buddy, I enjoy reading your comments and thoughts on the forum as much as any others.

ArMaP - you mentioned early on the thread

"SNIP" I only listened (I didn't want to watch to avoid seeing the guy's face, as I wasn't interested in having my thoughts manipulated by the expressions he could make) to the first 60 seconds, when I reached the conclusion that this is American-oriented and, as such, means nothing to me."SNIP"

Why then, did you bounce back in ?? it looks like, and I have said this before that you were looking to create a hook to catch an emotive response from others.

I do enjoy reading the many comments and arguments on this forum, many of your points do make me have a think about topics and angles, but it really does come across as being pedantic for the sake of being pedantic -

Moving on, can someone on the forum explain to a non-US citizen the difference between the Republican and Democrats political ideologies?.. PM me if it is a detailed response, I don't want to hijack the thread -

@petrus4, I don't know how I would classify my religious belief system, I do know I don't believe the BS that the Catholic and Church of England spout -  I have more interest in the Eastern Philosophies of Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism, and I have a internal sense of the spiritual nature of man, and the world in general.

I have been following the QAnon phenomenon over the last 4 months and I believe that the Q is a team of people not one person, who is creating a narrative for the alternative media and building up to a "messianic act" which I think will be designed to decapitate all of PotUS political adversary's -

There is so much smoke and mirrors about the Uranium deal, Russian interference in the elections, Hilary Server-gate, The Clinton Foundation Fraud, Benghazi and Libya, that I cant work out which politicians over there are the "good guys" and the "bad guys" -

I watched this Oversight of the Judiciary last week and was left with more questions than answers - 



Laterzz' 

Fansongecho

[ArMaP]

Americans and an eyeroll.  Who died and left you an authority.

I don't need to be an authority to have an opinion.

[ArMaP]

It doesn't matter and is irrelevant to the OP, for it doesn't have a damn thing to do with what type of government we have...

I wasn't answering the OP on that post.

[ArMaP]

Why then, did you bounce back in ??

Because I read all posts.

it looks like, and I have said this before that you were looking to create a hook to catch an emotive response from others.

I only do that to trolls, and that wasn't the case.

I do enjoy reading the many comments and arguments on this forum, many of your points do make me have a think about topics and angles, but it really does come across as being pedantic for the sake of being pedantic -

When I see something wrong I try to correct it, just that.

[ArMaP]

None of this is intended as a personal attack against Armap, and I get the feeling that he probably won't interpret it as one anyway.

I did not.

[petrus4]

Moving on, can someone on the forum explain to a non-US citizen the difference between the Republican and Democrats political ideologies?..

The main difference used to be that the Democrats were associated with the working poor, while the Republicans were the party of the rich.  These days it's a bit more complicated; primarily because the end of the Soviet Union tricked a lot of people into believing that Communism had been permanently beaten and discredited, and was not coming back.  Communism did not die, however; it has instead rebranded itself.  Partly with the United Nations and the type of utopian internationalism which that organisation promotes, and partly under the more benign label of "Democratic Socialism."

The Democrats still try and claim to be the Leftist party; but in reality, Hillary and Barry were just as much in favour of neoliberalism and pro-Zionist war profiteering as anyone in the Republican Party.

The Republican party are Right wing, or conservative and Capitalist.



Among other things, this primarily means tax cuts for the rich, and economic, legal, and social empowerment of the police and military.  Republican Presidents are almost always tyrants, and their time in office is usually characterised by an increase in foreign war and domestic authoritarianism.



To use the Egyptian symbolism, the Democrats at least claim to correspond with the crook, (Mercy, in Qabbalistic terms) while the Republicans are associated with the flail.  (Severity)  Positive and negative reinforcement, respectively.  The Democrats are more inclined to use diplomacy and pretty rhetoric to persuade people that what they want is simply the right thing to do, whereas the Republicans are more about punishment.

There is so much smoke and mirrors about the Uranium deal, Russian interference in the elections, Hilary Server-gate, The Clinton Foundation Fraud, Benghazi and Libya, that I cant work out which politicians over there are the "good guys" and the "bad guys"

There are no heroes anywhere in current Western politics.  There are only varying levels of psychopathy.  I wanted Trump to win the last election partly because I thought the Millennial Left had gained too much power under Barry and they needed to be countered, and because, while I have no doubts about Trump being a paternalistic fascist who is much closer to a Godfather than a President, I still consider him to be less malevolent and more sane than Hillary; even if, again, the difference is only one of degree.

Again, I have no false illusions about Trump.  He is a barbaric, Hobbesian oligarch who revels in his power.  Yet as undesirable as he might be, I can not even begin to imagine the amount of damage Hillary would have caused if the outcome had been different.  That would have been a departure into pure insanity.

As long as the antifa can be held at bay, the Republic stands a better chance of even partly surviving under Trump, than it ever would have under Hillary.

[astr0144]

Space Mav...

Hope you dont mean what you say.... and its was just a negative reaction at the time... which we can all experience at times...

I dont think there is need to leave on one such issue, disagreemnt or misunderstanding or misjudged communication between others at times..... and I am sure ArMaP and other members  would not want that !

Generally I think overall we treat each other with respect  even if we have disagreements at times...and I would have thought that most would think like that...

[spacemaverick]

Space Mav...

Hope you dont mean what you say.... and its was just a negative reaction at the time... which we can all experience at times...

I dont think there is need to leave on one such issue, disagreemnt or misunderstanding or misjudged communication between others at times..... and I am sure ArMaP and other members  would not want that !

Generally I think overall we treat each other with respect  even if we have disagreements at times...and I would have thought that most would think like that...

I am still considering.  I have watched US military attacked verbally, I have watched police attacked verbally and someone who does not live here nor had the classes to know the difference between a Republic and a Democracy.  I am an American, former Army and Air Force and retired from law enforcement.  Unfortunately, certain people give opinions that piss me off.  This person did not attack but the opinions I have no interest in listening too.  It is better in my opinion to leave.  I love this forum except for...