Tharan,
No, I don't say it only because you support the war, but to be honest, I cannot see how the war in Iraq fits in logically with any other mindset.
Then you'll need to expand your view of things. I don't mean to be rude, but it's true.
But you know this war was a con job from the beginning. (NeoCon lying for desired outcome). It was done against an enemy that had not been involved in a direct attack upon our soil and thus was a war of choice (NeoCon aggression).
I don't think it was a con job. Maybe I'm an absolute retard, but I thought it was a good idea once I stopped complaining about America's stupidity and started thinking about the repercussions of NOT going to war. No, Iraq wasn't necessarily directly involved in 9/11, but they posed a serious threat. We didn't have a precise enemy to capture, besides the elusive Bin Laden. So yeah, I just don't agree with your argument. If I did, my view of the war would be different of course.
And as a result, it has severely diminished our standing in the world (NeoCon inability/unwillingness to enact diplomacy). I suspect you do not believe we are diminished both morally and actually, is that true? (NeoCon hubris).
No, I don't think we're doing too bad. I'd need to travel outside of the states to truly find out. I really don't see what anyone's problem would be, though. People just like to have someone to bitch about I think.
I agree that does not sound NeoCon. That is leaning libertarian. But let's take this premise you stated of "if the world were perfect." We both know it is not, never has been, and never will be. As such, what personal sacrifices in the name of "security" should be made? The more things you affirm here, the closer to the NeoCon mindset you drift.
I agree with you about that. Hopefully I wouldn't affirm too many things, yet at the same time kept the country secure, if I had any say in it.
No one likes to be spied on, and no one likes to die. Both sides need to comprimise a little bit and come to a middle ground on the issue. I think that has already happened and we're doing pretty good right now, besides the whole border issue. I think that has more to do with money and priority (at least in the minds of our leaders) than anything though.
I consider it a high priority. Higher than listening to phone calls, that's for sure.
This is idealistic. On a functional level, humans are not socially equal and certainly not universally free.
We're free when no one is stopping us from life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness. Without other people, that's as free as we get and it's what I consider to be freedom. Anything less than that is oppression. So the only reason we're sociall unequal and whatnot, is because other people are oppressing us.
How do you stop this oppression, but by fighting against it?
If it's our own government that's oppressing us, then we also have a right, by nature, to fight against that...
It is a nice ideal though. We are granted, as American citizens, the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but how do you translate those concepts into actionable policy?
By catering to everyone's needs and desires. That's the government's job, or at least it should be. Not everyone will ever be completely happy, but it'll be close enough.
And what terrorist has ever taken any right from you? They might blow you up, but they have not infringed your social rights. The government does that through rulesets.
I don't see what you mean. If they take my life, aren't they taking one of my rights as defined by what we're granted as American citizens?
Nothing wrong with that idea. How do you implement it? A leader with monarchistic/totalitarian tendencies, even if technically legal, will define and practice those principles in an entirely different manner than a more compassionate personality type.
The government should be set up so that each part is checked by another part, no singular party dominates, and the people have more of a direct voice. Stalling the passing of laws shouldn't be allowed...I can't recall the term for that. The federal government should oversee the state, the state should oversee the county, etc. But less power should be given to the federal. Less federal laws and more state laws. Less ATF type organizations.
These are just ideas. I don't know how to run shit.
But at what cost? For everything in life there is a cost/benefit analysis relative to risk. Have you ever been affected personally by terrorism? Any family members? What about car wrecks or cancer? Is your focus level appropriate?
I was affected personally when I watched the planes hit buildings in my country. I didn't know anyone but it very well could have been someone I knew. I don't know anyone with car wrecks or cancer. My life has been a piece of cake in the scheme of things.
But I saw my friends having children and I saw the little kids who could either have a peaceful life as I did, or have a horrible life as mine became on 9/11...so that's why I focus on terrorism. Cuz I don't want that Baghdad shit coming to America.
I agree with you here. It is not as if everything we do is not available anyway, if you know how to look. Privacy is an illusion; a childish fantasy. And the siren call of the idea of privacy is really a function of not liking/trusting the observer and fearing retribution.
Right, and I do see your point as well...that once our legal rights are being taken away, then "what's next?" It could get way out of hand.
As a general state of being an American or for specific purposes?
As an American citizen. Also kind of specific...I like our country for the most part. It's good to defend it.
Why not? Didn't you say you prefered little or no government?
There's not much accountability for private security companies. Also, controlling them is tough. They turn things into the wild west...which is kind of cool, but that can public affairs issues way out of hand. With the military doing work, things are professionally done and handled intelligently. The higher ups generally know what's happening for everyone they're leading. With, lets say, 3 private security companies there is no communication between them. They do things completely differently from eachother...some very aggressively which does nothing good for how Iraqi citizens think of us...
Basically, every government organization just needs to be checked up on. When you hire jobs out, they aren't checked up on.
But you are willing to sacrifice this fundamental portion of your "life, liberty, and happiness" because of some shadowy fear? That is 100% NeoCon. Where is your courage to live your ideals?
Shadowy fear? I don't see that. I see that there's an enemy out there...that some of them have attacked already...that many are planning on it. I seek to keep that enemy in the shadows, so that for many Americans it'll remain just a shadowy fear and hopefully even less than that.
go to grocery store. Show me our enemy. No TVs allowed.
Does the grocery store have something to do with this enemy? Why no TVs allowed? Are you saying what's reported about all of the bombings in Iraq killing sometimes hundreds of civilians in a day isn't real? That only what happens in our grocery stores is real?
I don't think you are intentionally dishonest yourself. But I do believe that you have purchased a set of goods you consider quality. I am pointing out that they are of not such high quality. Only that.
Perhaps not. What is the highest good?
What about it doesn't make sense? Traditional conservatism is family/community based. Modern republicanism has co-opted this vote brilliantly with marketing, but the actual policy output is in 180 degree polar opposition to the middle class people that vote Republican. People sometimes believe the TV and radio talking heads more than their own paychecks, tax rate, and services provided.
How is voting Republican in direct opposition to being in a middle class type of status?
Tell me, you are young, do you have college loan debt? If so, you are at a distinct competitive disadvantage to Asians and Europeans. Not only are their school systems equal or better in quality, but they emerge mostly debt free. It is but one of many examples.
How is it possible to come out debt free? Paying a lot more taxes? What if someone doesn't fit in school...should they be forced through because it's the country's policy? Should they have to pay university taxes when they aren't going to ever attend, just so others can?
I will have paid off all of my school loans by being in the military...which is very helpful. Without it, and with a medium paying job, I'd have a hard time. Costs to attend college are very high these days. Same for buying a car or a house. Many people do these things because it's how it's always been done in our country, and they fall deep into debt due to high interest rates. It sucks.
What would suck more, though, is being taxed on everything and hardly getting any of the money we've earned. I think our taxes are high enough as they are.
