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While I have been a fan of Mr Keillor for many years and generally agree with his views on a wide range of topics, I have been somewhat disappointed recently with some of his comments. For example, in this current piece, he makes the case for requiring military service to become president. I have served in the military and I can tell you that it is made up of real human beings, just like those who have never served. Occasionally, those in the Services (a small percentage, I might add)experience the hell of combat and that can certainly create "focus". However, regardless of whether military service adds to one's development, the fact is that if this requirement had existed previously, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Franklin Roosevelt would not have been president. The country would not have been made better had we followed this course.
In a previous column, he laments that old Joe McCarthy was right about those Communists in our government. We liberals should feel, as a result, ashamed because we rejected that notion. Unfortunately, Mr McCarthy never uncovered a single Communist in the government, despite all of his rhetoric. Further, the examples of our country being sold out by actual Communists are extremely rare. Most of those involved in espionage in our government, have overwhelmingly been in it for the money.
I mention these two examples because they point to a common element - those of us of the Liberal persuasion want to have a decent, intelligent, adult conversation with those we oppose in the political arena so that we can work together to create a better society. And we're going out of our way to find some common ground, some shared area where we can make a connection with these folks.
The problem is: this won't work! It is no different than trying to argue with a drunk. The drunk just wants to argue, they don't want to reason. In this case, Conservatives are drunk with power. It's their turn to try all of the stupid things that you had hoped would remain isolated on those rabid radio talk shows.
Sad to say, there is no common ground. When being a Conservative means signing on to torture, fraud, wiretapping, and fiscal irresponsibility, it's no longer time to talk. They are the enemy.
