I have come to realise,that others outlooks & views,on everything,only make one wrong,in the opinions,of one that has
differing opinions!People suggesting,that a members views,should
be kept from political & other biases,seem to be correct.
Example:My youngest daughter(divorced)is almost,exclusively,
involved,with a divorced man,who has grown children.He is SO
Democratic,that I think that he would vote for Castro,if he was
Democratic.We got along in almost everything,but always ended up in an argument because of politics.We had a great respect for
each others intelligence & finally realised that we weren't going to
change the others mind.We agreed to not bring up politics & now
get along greatly.I think that most people were correct!Therefore,
if I agree with others opinions or not,I will ignore them!(Opinions)
I would SUGGEST that others do the same but that is up to them!
Irish

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Irish---Better to be dead & cool,then alive & uncool!
(Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man)

I think the BIG problem with being a conservative (Republican or otherwise) is the outlandish way in which they express themselves about the views of others.Call it tunnel vision or narrowmindedness or whatever.He is so Democrat that he would vote for Castro? What the hell is that supposed to mean? I have been called a communist aoung other things for my left of centre views by many a people that you would think should know better.What is it about the neo-cons??? If I called them all facisists there would be an uproar and probably many death threats.Another thing,What is it with right wingers and their death threats? HUH? Can't they express themselves without threatening to kill someone they don't agree with? Listen,Conservatives are responsible for the black lists i the 50's Watergate in the 60's Iran/Contra in the 80's and now the lies that got us into an occupation of another country and our soldiers being killed everyday.Their general views on "patriotism" and "religion" are a joke that as Voltaire would say people are too afraid to laugh at. Usually when they are challenged about what they are saying which isn't nearly enough the answer back with;well escuuuuuse me.I guess freedom of speech doesn't apply to conservatives.I find this to be quite a strange reply since most of the attacks on the 1'st amendment have been by the right wing.I too feel that politics shold be discussed open and freely amougst people and have encountered the "Lets change the subject" or "This is not the appropriate place to discuss." It's to bad because if we don't speak up we will get a government like the one we have.

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Sex is one of nine reasons for reincarnation.The other eight are unimportant...Henry Miller

Here, here, lakritze, do we realy want to go back to the 80's with ragan and thatcher, not me. I don't know enough about what happend in the states then to comment, but here we were torn to pices by the philosiphy of greed.

lakritze, I agree w/you 100%.

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Communication is the key.

I personally am liberal, but I can say from experience that being open-minded and at least willing to listen to others whether you agree with them or not before responding can take what would turn into a political screaming match into an interesting and often mutally beneficial discussion. I am from the south, so my views are far from popular. However, I've been known to change a few minds on issues simply because instead of attacking I prefer to give my opinions and reasons why I hold those opinions. The key thing here is to let the other person do the same, otherwise if you tune them out while they are speaking, what incentive do they have to listen to you?

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I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart's affections and the truth of imagination. What the imagination seizes as beauty must be truth - whether it existed before or not.
-John Keats

You are right Kate. For me dialouge is an exchage between people who may have opposing views, but will listen with respect and lack of judgement. It is from these kind of converstions that great ideas are born.

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Susan

Politics is a dirty business. In order to sway the electorate to vote one way or another, the opposing sides is demonized to put fear in the hearts of the people. BOTH Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. are guilty of this.

I no more think that Republicans want to starve children and the elderly, no more than the Democrats want to vote for Castro. But listening to our leaders, they will continually promote such propoganda in order to put the balance of power on their side.

It's a power struggle to see who holds the reins of power. All the more reason that we as responsible citizens need to study the issues and find the truth behind the rhetoric.

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"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

"I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them."
- Ian L. Fleming (1908-1964)

I think that I need to clarify,what I meant.The MAIN reason that
,my wife & I,are registered as independants,is because,some people,Democratic or Republican,would vote for Castro or Saddam,strictly because they were in that party.I only specified
Democratic,because the mentioned person(my daughters boyfriend)is in the Democratic Party.Not bringing up politics,means
that we get along greatly.If anyone from a certain party,took
offense,they obviously missunderstood my thread.I used(when I
was younger)to think that anyone that thought differently,then me,
was wrong.Now,older,I realise that people can think differently, &
if they are a decent person,that's life.When you have fought,strictly,to stay alive,you look at things differently,as far as
importance! Irish
P.S.That is "What the Hell,I meant by that!"
Anger, is the wind,that blows out the light, of the mind!

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Irish---Better to be dead & cool,then alive & uncool!
(Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man)

The older I get, the less inclined I am to sign my name to someone else's isms ists ians and ans. But being able to talk about these issues in a mature and respectful manner, is essential for intellectual freedom.

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Vigil, if you were my husband, I would give you poison.

Madam, if you were my wife, I would take it.

Tess,

While politics can be dirty, there is no inherent requirement for it to be so. At the same time it is essential, as man is by nature a social animal.

While one must look carefully to find them there are limits to "how low can they go". For example, the attack ads of the early 90s have been deemphasized when their audience responded negatively towards their authors rather than towards their targets.

I doubt however that the campaign managers will let their candidates crawl too far out of the electioneering cesspit.

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Eudaimonia