But then again I am legendary in my personal circles for leaving bloody stumps on myself where there once were the "limbs" of relationships.
I read almost all of it. You’ve obviously put a lot of thought into your positions, and not gotten bogged down with the superfluous. It would be nice if more people could reach such clarify, and be able to express it, especially to someone locked into their opposing position which is really a comfort zone. I will finish reading tomorrow, but hope you and your fil can keep up the exchange, You will both benefit.
But then again I am legendary in my personal circles for leaving bloody stumps on myself where there once were the "limbs" of relationships.
I think those were fantastic responses!
Congratulations on another well thought out and written explanation of who you are vis-a-vis your father-in-law.
Please tell him that “symbolism” (i.e. pride in the first black president) isn’t going to get people jobs, feed them, house them, or educate them. Successful businesses that need workers are going to do this, and Romney, in Bain Capital and other positions, did just that.
I’m sure the “good Germans” who liked the Swastika symbol later had second thoughts when they ended up in total ruin, starvation, poverty, etc.
I like your position on nominating or choosing a person because of their varied skills and background rather than focusing on one narrow skill or political orientation.
My father-in-law, after a distinguised career in the military (WW2 combat and Cold War intelligence), got a job in which he headed the logistical efforts for the 1976 Bicentennial celebration in Wash. D.C. He was responsible for housing, transportation, port-a-potties, etc., the whole kit and kiboodle. He did a very good job, yet when he wanted to promote a young black employee in his office up to a higher position with future growth because of his skills and work ethic, it was denied.
My father-in-law, a white guy, recognized the talent that this black young man had in his professional work, and wanted, like you, to promote him, yet the black establishment didn’t want to allow anyone to be a possible challenge to their incompetence. My father-in-law retired a little later, after 20 years. He had had enough of incompetence and corruption.
During his military career, his ability to pick the right people to carry out dangerous missions, or to support him (Iwo Jima, etc) while he went into action, helped ensure that he had a good chance for survival. Color wasn’t even a consideration, but in DC, “color” ruled and this city is still suffering from it (blame most of it on Mayor/Crackhead/convict Council Marion Barry and his supporters (who sound like your father-in-law).
Don’t compromise your beliefs and principles. We need more people who think like you, disregarding color, political affiliations, etc. to pick the best person for the job, to help those who need it despite the establishment’s invested interest in protecting the status quo, and to stand up to those who would politically abuse you for taking a principled stand.
Welcome to FreeRepublic. We have a ball here discussing issues, with a helluva lot of humor you won’t find on the Left, and often we provide ideas and solutions to issues talked about.
Welcome to the “Wonderful World of Free Thinkers”. There is always room at the inn.
Very well said. I sincerely wish I reason and write a tenth as well as you. Well done. The only beef, the progressive income tax is a great evil. It is the foundation st one for most of the present government excesses. It is a marxist construct that needs to be expunged from our nation.
I think you did an admirable job explaining to some one who is clearly confused. Your father-in-law ignores facts he doesn’t like. He paints with a broad brush to fundamentally condemn white people in general and particularly harshly to those who do not agree with his world view.
It is too bad that he exhibits that 60s attitude that says if you are a person of color you HAVE to be liberal or else you are just a slave. To bad his plantation is run by the likes of Harry Reid and unions thugs like Trumpka.
My guess is that this will not have a happy ending but I wish you good luck in your efforts. Perhaps he will eventually see the light
I have long said that the pivotal difference between liberals versus conservatives+libertarians on the issue of wealth is illustrated by this hypothetical example:
If next year, every citizen in the nation was to somehow become 5% richer than they are this year, the reactions would be:
I keep hoping that if they eventually come to see the truth in this example, they might have one of those "glass half full vs glass half empty" epiphany moments. But I've not had a lot of luck.
BTW, those of us who've spent 1000's of hours over the years debating liberal relatives/colleagues/eOpponents/etc, have not been able to escape hearing the exact same worn-out worthless cliched Lib talking points, and the exact same cutesy sarcastic "slams" against us, spouted over and over and over again. So it's handy, and even fun, to come up with some good rejoinders against these cliches, and be ready to go with them.
I'd appreciate hearing some good lines that you all have found to be useful retorts. I'll start off by posting a few I use:
LIB: Ghandi said, "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind".
ME: Ghandi was wrong. It is "No Consequences For Eye-Gougers" that makes the world blind.
LIB: Strength Through Peace!
ME: You have it backwards! "Peace Through Strength!"
LIB: Jesus said, "Let they who are without sin cast the first stone" [to justify someone's sin]
ME: But do you know what the very next verse says? [blank expression on their face] He said to the adulteress, "Go, and sin no more!"
LIB: The definition of a [pick one: Puritan, Conservative, Religious Righter, etc] is someone who lays awake at night worrying that somewhere, somebody is having fun.
ME: Really? Well, did you know that a [pick one: Libertine, Liberal, Democrat, etc] is someone who lays awake at night worrying that somewhere, somehow, someone is living a life that is woefully under-regulated by the Federal Government.
One more: This retort isn't in the category of "Lib vs Con," and isn't one I made up, but I can't resist including it. (No, I've never had the guts / chutzpah to use this!):
FOUL-MOUTHED PERP: "F*CK YOU!!"
RETORT: "Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you. You'd never be satisfied with your dog again".
Well anyway, I'd like to see others' useful retorts!
Great read! Thank you for the vanity posting. Your responses to the various statements of your FIL were great!
Your father in law wrote: “ Wisconsin is one clear example where, to pay for the very generous tax breaks given to the rich”
You should have pointed out that there is NO SUCH THING as “paying for a tax cut”. A tax cut isn’t an expenditure. A tax cut is the government stealing less from the people. Or letting them keep more of what they earn. It’s their money in the first place. It belongs to those who earned it. Not to government. Giving tax cuts to people doesn’t cost government one thin dime because its not spending one thin dime when tax cuts are enacted.
Wow, you actually CUT stuff out?!?! That’s a hell of a LONG exchange, but I get the drift. When you said you don’t think you’re as conservative as others here, trust me that you’re not alone! I was accused of being a member of the “GOP-e,” a term I didn’t know until I figured out it was the GOP establishment! Bwahaha! Little did my “FReerepublic Attacker” know — I am about as conservative as they come and yet I was attacked as not being conservative enough, so take heart, enjoy the exchange of ideas, ignore those who appear to be the arbiter of the orthodoxy of your level of conservatism since they seem to be the self-appointed Popes of their own religion.
Wow, you actually CUT stuff out?!?! That’s a hell of a LONG exchange, but I get the drift. When you said you don’t think you’re as conservative as others here, trust me that you’re not alone! I was accused of being a member of the “GOP-e,” a term I didn’t know until I figured out it was the GOP establishment! Bwahaha! Little did my “FReerepublic Attacker” know — I am about as conservative as they come and yet I was attacked as not being conservative enough, so take heart, enjoy the exchange of ideas, ignore those who appear to be the arbiter of the orthodoxy of your level of conservatism since they seem to be the self-appointed Popes of their own religion.
Shrugs. If they want to stay on the democrat plantation and continue to be slaves, I don’t care. The bottom line is that values don’t matter to them. They only live so that they can get free stuff and play the race card. They are the real racists. They just can’t let it go.
I`ve had running disagreements with some friends and family members on political issues until they convince me to see the light..
..the light that reminds me they are incapable of reconciling themselves to the proven and undeniable truth that progressivism is destroying America.
I admire your tenacity and patience. Good luck with the FIL. There’s always hope.
Welcome to Free Republic!
I would be delighted to replace Obama with YOU!
My, my! Daddy sure has a way with words doesn’t he? He even uses the most favorite phrase of all liberals...”At the end of the day.”
They just love this phrase and when you hear it, you will know that more than likely whoever says it is a “die hard” communist liberal.
It is a “code phrase” that really means that “the end justifies the means.”
Your father is a pompous ass.