Letters to the Editor
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@ AKA
Thanks for your replies. I've been off doing chores so its late and I'll try to keep it brief.
On your 9:08 note- you said something about being a single issue voter. Well I'm not that- I think the war surpasses a single issue and is interconnected with a multitude of foreign and domestic policy issues. That's why given a choice between someone who was for the war and someone against I'll always pick the patter. Incidentally, I thought Edwards apology for the war vote was enough because he seemed to be honest about it and eager to make it right. I don't think Hillary has show an ounce of remorse - I don't think for a second she was fooled by Bush and her posture on Iran backs that up. (I also agree that Biden is probably the most rational- and knowledgeable about these things.)
Words do give permission to violence. But context also counts. I've tried in my participation in these forums to highlight ugly sentiments when I see them- not all the time (I do have to work) but not trying to police language. I go after the meaning not the words themselves- pushing the hate underground isn't any good. Outlawing a word doesn't change a mind.
I'll have to quibble with your logic a bit on domestic violence- it was socially understood as a private matter, which you agree. But you also say it was socially unacceptable but the law had to catch up. The law caught up when public sentiment changed- due to the advocacy you sight- that changed minds about it being a public, law-enforcement issue.
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speaking of whom
I'm an Obama girl, but I sure do miss Joe Biden. Sniffle.
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smith v klantex
ms. smith is echelons above trailer Katie, a stump stupid loaner from free republic. It does seem ms. smith misses no opportunity to take offense, but she has nuance, eloquence, and a seemingly good heart. Kate is an idiot. not much of a contest. smitty could be a younger version of Rodham, actually. that's not a bad thing at all. Kate the Hate will vote McCain as she was going to all along, and will continue to post bleeding and bleating about how Obama supporters lack civility. This whole site lacks civility, for the most part.
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AKA
Also, sex positive feminism is not about sexualizing young girls. That's crass commercialism. And I don't think men who were apt to exploit women ever needed the green light from feminism. Being sex positive is not permission for exploitation.
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So,
Smith is pouring out her I had it hard hard luck story. Sure she was there when the stock market fell in 29, she was there diggin' for coal in the deepest coal mine, Smith had it so hard and rough, that they used to boil the souls of their shoes for food, so the leather wouldn't be so tough.
Smith is patently so full of shit, to be credulous of flap, you'd have to be a fuck-wit.
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AMEN Celia!
Also, sex positive feminism is not about sexualizing young girls. That's crass commercialism. And I don't think men who were apt to exploit women ever needed the green light from feminism. Being sex positive is not permission for exploitation.
You know, call me sex positive or whatever, but every time you post I get a little hotter for you. :) I'm sure you have a BF dammit, always happens to me.
Oops, was that sexist of me?
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AKA
On the 13 point plan to change violent behavior:
I agree almost entirely. I would quibble with point 4 on scholarships only in that we should provide universal secondary education without the caveat of having a child- provide adequate health/sex ed -including real info about and access to birth control- and don't punish kids for mistakes if they have kids too soon.
Also in that, provide vocational training and technical apprenticeships for students who are not academically inclined.
I would add:
Raise the federal minimum wage to a living wage.
Subsidize and regulate early childcare/daycare.
Provide universal non-violent conflict resolution programs in schools. Augment that with anger management for troubled children.
Reform the juvenile corrections system. De-privatize that and the adult prison systems. (Nobody should be profiting from crime and violence.
Strengthen the programs that provide prison release re-entry and job training programs.
Provide support for elder care and bolster family leave policies to assist caretakers.
I think these things in addition to all of your points are what is needed in a progressive domestic agenda.
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@renegade
You know, earlier tonight, I clicked on this thread and actually burst out laughing, the venom was so unbelievable, not to mention utterly juvenile. "Progressives Go Postal" about sums things up.
A correction: you're dead wrong about my political affiliation. I've been a registered Independent since the late Sixties, but have voted Democratic 99.9% of the time. However, I haven't felt good about the party since Bill Clinton's administration ended. Due to this rather vile primary season, I now hold large parts of it in contempt, especially the parts which have trashed and betrayed the Clintons - the only success story the party has had in dogs' years (Obama will rue the day he arrogantly and foolishly wrote off Bill Clinton's administration - believe it).
So, like millions of others, I'm a free agent who will follow her conscience come November. At this point, absolutely nothing in my conscience tells me I have any obligation at all to vote for Obama should he become the nominee. I don't believe him much of the time, nor do I believe in him, or even like him. You can call that racism; I call it my right to make a judgment based on the available evidence.
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Mmmkay, Kate
If your so called "conscience" leads you to vote for McBush, I've got no truck with you. Sorry, you lose all credibility when you even pretend that there is some god-forsaken reason you should vote for the warmongering, borrow and spend, doddering old fool, who can't tell the difference between Sunnis and Shiites, and admits he knows nothing about the economy, versus a progressive Democrat. As for your 99% track record, the only people who speak in percentages are those with a record to run from. Joe Lieberman and Zell Miller also have (theoretically, unless you examine too closely) high "Democratic" percentages. They're still not Democrats. They're political concern trolls. The only difference between you and them is that they are more tactful, and you don't hold elective office (I'm guessing).