Posted by: Elizabeth in Links
I came across an article this week that perfectly articulates something that I have been saying myself for quite a long time, but didn’t have the proper words to express until now: Debating Leftists Is Like Debating Charles Manson.
The thesis of the article is this: that Leftists aren’t “operating in the same reality [as their debate opponents]. They do not operate in reality at all.”
This is something I come across in seemingly every major issue that liberals and conservatives come to a head about. Truly Conservative views are backed up with solid, undeniable facts. Liberal views are “supported” with a lot of logically invalid emotional appeals.
Take, for example, the gun issue. The conservative stance is that guns in the hands of law abiding citizens are relatively safe and are certainly more safe than only criminals possessing guns. They have several decades of studies with which to support this position. The liberal stance? “But I just don’t think it’s a good idea to have guns [wherever].” Wait.. I’m sorry.. when did “I just don’t think…” ever become a valid debate point? It doesn’t matter what you think, what can you PROVE? What can you show us with factual, valid evidence? And for that matter, why are we still passing laws based on what people think, especially in situations where the data points otherwise?
(Are you listening to me, Congress? Lowering healthcare costs by RAISING HEALTHCARE COSTS is just not. going. to do it. Query: how many of you, as of this moment, are ACTUALLY, CERTIFIABLY INSANE? I want to see hands, people, because nothing else makes any semblance of sense.)
But I digress. The point is that you cannot have a reasoned debate with people when you cannot agree on the premises. Conservatives think laws should be written based on, dare I say it, TRUTH. On what is actually happening in our country. Liberals, on the other hand, think they should be based on PUPPIES AND KITTIES, AND OH MY GOD THE CHILDREN. I don’t know… maybe there’s something wrong with me… but I just don’t find that a particularly compelling argument.
Two things struck me today as I performed my daily glean of headlines from aggregate news sites. One, an executive order from our newly inaugurated President, the other, a policy change from his newly appointed Secretary of State. The problem? I mean, aside from the fact that government has no business at all doing either of these things.
Worked it out? It’s the recession. Presumably, President Obama knows about this particular situation and is working to alleviate the strain. So.. why is it that he and his top cabinet official are actively working to increase spending given to international programs?
These policies come hot on the heels of the most expensive Presidential inauguration in US history. It cost so much, in fact, that President Bush declared a state of emergency in Washington, D.C. to help cover the costs. A state of emergency. How is it that no one at the top is seeing that we just do not have the money for the things some of them are wanting to do?
This is not the first occurrence, nor will it be the last, in what I expect will become a long trail of breadcrumbs left by this administration. For all our sakes, I hope that I am wrong. In the meantime, stay vigilant and keep an eye out for the trail.
Tags: breadcrumbs