I think a lot of people defending the "progressive" agenda cannot separate the idea of self-interest from what some of the "conservative" idealists here are advocating. Maybe it's NOT always about doing what is best for oneself; maybe it's about doing what is right in principle, or at least trying to eliminate the circumstances that lead to unfair government/corporate practices.jetcitywoman wrote:the middle class conservs are still buying into the American dream that they too can be rich..if only they work hard and smart. the playing field is level, "i don't need no help from nobody least from the gubnit!"![]()
they live in a dream world, and are foolishly idealistic.
THE RICH/WEALTHY ARE BIGGEST BENEFACTORS OF GUBNIT HANDOUT/TAX BREAK/CORPORATE WELFARE (ever hear that term?) idiots.
or maybe they got fat pensions they want to preserve?
you are not rich now, and you will not be rich in your near future.
sorry to break the bad news. i'm right there with you!
your rich repub "friends" will not save you. they care not about anyone but PRESERVING their wealth at any cost (or almost any).
The playing field is NOT level, the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the middl;e class is disappearing.
congrats, all limbaugh fans. you drunk the koolaid deep and long![]()
why anyone on the BOTTOM of the social economic scale would rail against a bit of "help" (ie socialeconomic field leveling) is beyond me. You like being LAST, and you want to stay last?
only have 1 life aholes, and time is running out.
hey dumazzes, do the wealthy rail against their tax breaks, loopholes and handouts loke YOU do against your brethern? your not too far from the poor and the homeless i suspect
drink long & deep, limbaugh & co. got you right where they want you
I find it somewhat ironic that many "progressives" always admonish the conservatives for not championing the poor, poor, underprivileged masses, or the pitiful abused minorities while at the same time using the argument that it's foolish to buy into the conservative agenda because it doesn't benefit oneself. It's somewhat of an arduous position at best, and borderline hypocritical.
I don't think Joe has any delusions about being the next Rockefeller, nor do I think he really cares. Even when I disagree with him, I can see that he isn't arguing from self-interest, but rather from principle. Much of the progressive rhetoric is deeply imbued with an assumption of class-warfare that is incorrectly assumed to be at the root of conservative principles as well. This is a subtle form of brainwashing that leftists take for granted, but doesn't really apply across the board (not that conservatives aren't brainwashed as well, they are but in other ways).
This type of argument might make perfect sense to your progressive buddies, but doesn't affect conservatives in the same way because they don't view the world from the same foundational "givens". In other words, your analysis just sounds like so much hype to the intended audience (assuming you weren't just being ostentatious for the benefit of the libs on board here).
Score one for Johnny.songsmith wrote:No offense to you, but I bet not.jetcitywoman wrote:i gotta say i think my analysis slowed down the rhetoric on this thread and made a lot of conservs take pause and think.