It is the same argument that Barry Goldwater made so many years ago, when he told the conservatives of his time to grow up politically and not always threaten to walk off with the ball when they didn't like every play their team called. Only a supreme dictator can get everything he wants out of politics. For all the rest of us, politics is a team sport. Even vastly popular presidents from FDR to Ronald Reagan had to compromise on things they felt passionately about.....
Politics is the zone where one's religious and ethical habits are not always the only and best guides. We can make a 100 percent commitment to, for example, obey our marital vows, or adhere to the teachings of our church and consciously strive never to fall short. But in the practicality of democratic elections we cannot make such a similar commitment to every one of our governing ideals.
Elections are very specific and limited choices between different outcomes. The decision not to vote, or vote for a third-party candidate with no hope of winning, is itself a moral choice for the outcome such a vote will effectuate. People of conscience will have to decide whether feeling pure by voting "none of the above" is the highest ethical act or not.
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I'm not voting for Ron Paul because it's not expressly prescribed in the Constitution.
I see no compelling reason to vote Republican. If they offered something that differed significantly from the Democrat offering, then we could talk. But the two major parties exist only to give the illusion of choice. Amongst the current Republican candidates, there is no candidate, except for Ron Paul, who champions small, limited government. To me, it's like being offered a choice between unfiltered and filtered cigarettes. Both do pretty much the same thing, only one is slightly less toxic than the other. The better choice is not to smoke at all. The Republican party has largely abandoned, in practice, its conservative agenda. Thus, the Republican party offers me nothing. What's the motivation for me to vote for a republican candidate?
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
Am I misinformed? Because I thought that even if Ron Paul were to get elected, he couldn't do much to reduce government all by his little lonesome self from the oval office, could he? Doesn't the congress have to be on board with that as well?
Wow. That has not been my experience at all, Polly. Maybe I was spoiled at the hospitals where I have given birth, but I've LOVED hospital food. When I had my youngest, they had just redone the birthing wing and they had menus that you chose from and you called in your order like room service. A few minutes later a smiling person from the kitchen came up with warm, delicious food. It was so cool.
Seriously, at one of my jobs I worked near the hospital and we used to go to the hospital for lunch -- on purpose. Am I going to find myself shocked next time I give birth since we've moved out of that area? I hope not.
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
I've liked hospital food, too. Although I didn't get the whole menu deal, but we got to choose between a couple or three things and they brought it up only at certain meal-times.
When my daughter's in the Children's hospital, holy cow!! You call a number and within an hour it's there- whatever you want from a real nice menu - shakes, burgers, tacos, salads, soups, pudding, cookies, stir-fry, spaghetti, rolls, 12 different juices... I mean, they're good!
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
Maybe it does depend on the area....? I gave birth in UT (Cottonwood Hosp) and the food was okay, but I would not have gone there on purpose to eat... I have not found any hospitals that have "good" food... some of the components are better than others... but overall I have not liked any hospital's food and on top of that, my food almost always seems to be (at best...) "puke warm", as one friend with the same disease I have, calls it...
Of course when I (and most people, actually) end up in a hospital I am "sick" with major pain and toxicity levels (kidney, and other organ involvement is the reason usually that I have to be admitted)... which is not at all the same as having a baby...
Sorry to derail you thread Shiz... I was actually trying to be funny hiccups... But, it's been a LOOOOOONG week.
Am I misinformed? Because I thought that even if Ron Paul were to get elected, he couldn't do much to reduce government all by his little lonesome self from the oval office, could he? Doesn't the congress have to be on board with that as well?
-- Edited by bokbadok at 22:16, 2007-10-10
You're absolutely right; if Ron Paul is elected, it won't change things overnight. But it's a step in the right direction. To use an example from personal finances, if you find that you're overspending, underearning, or both, then the answer to your problem is not to get another line of credit. You should take steps towards spending less and earning more. It's the same thing in politics; don't expect things to go in the direction of change until you elect people who are willing to change things. It won't happen overnight, but it won't happen at all unless you stop electing the same sort of people that created the problems in the first place.
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
Makes note: Polly is a food snob. (In case she ever visits unexpectedly...)
So Polly, how do you like your beans prepared? I added honey and cinnamon to my pork and beans this morning, and it was good. I don't know any recipes for beans and ammo.
-- Edited by arbilad at 08:26, 2007-10-11
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
Sorry, fresh out of ammo... It's okay in my case though... we don't have any guns... Plenty of beans and rice... it's what we had for dinner... PLUS, Fresh tortillas.... mmmmmmmmm
Coco, I suppose we are food snobs... but not at all a picky eaters... Nevertheless we dislike under seasoned food...
If Rudy or Thompson end up the nominee, I will vote for a third party candidate.
I could stomach Huckabee, Paul or Hunter. I'm just hoping Mitt doesn't put his foot in his mouth again. Perhaps it's not to be.
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no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing... the truth of God will go forth till it has penetrated every website, sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done