Thank you loki for bringing some sense to this dialogue. My problem with Senator Obama is not him but many of his followers. They appear rather arrogant to me and seem to think that Mr. Obama is their silver bullet to getting everything they want. Most of the newbies probably do not understand that it is THEM who should be getting envolved on the local levels and pushing up to help force the agenda of a Progressive Republic. I certainly do not want to see Senator "McChange for the Rose Garden" McCain win but neither Senator Obama or Senator Clinton is the answer. The answer is people like us who do educate ourselves as best we can, trying to help create a system that really does help educate the voting public. This will never be accomplished by sitting around sighing.

Posted at April 2, 2008 10:43 AM in response to Obama's Lama Problem

I believe that if you take time to study LBJ's record in the Senate you will find that he always had the goal to try and help blacks gain the civil rights that they deserved as Americans, but many of the southern Democrats blocked much of his effort.

Another story that most people do not retell is that about two weeks before the 1960 Presidential election Martin Luther King was arrested by law enforcement officials in the middle of the night. Mrs.King was scared that he was going to be killed. She called both the Nixon and the Kennedy Campaigns for help. It was Sargeant Shriver that talked JFK into making a phone call that helped get Martin Luther King released. Bobby Kennedy was furious as he believed that it was going to cost them the election. As Bobby was apt to do though he calmed down and helped in the effort to get Mr. King released. Then in the election many southern Democrats voted so that their states went to Nixon, but a huge amount of blacks voted for a Democratic Presidential canditate
for the first time and helpe offset the angry southern Democratic vote and get JFK elected.

There was a lot of people in all kinds of directions wanting to give America's black citizens their due. The bottom line is that all great changes in a society come about because of grassroots efforts that help give the politicians the power to make the progessive changes that are needed to help and create a more nurturing Republic.

I wonder if many of the Obama supporters have yet to learn that he will not be able to do much unless they get involved at the local level and help not only empower him but the House and the Senate. I certainly hope so.

Posted at March 31, 2008 10:40 AM in response to ALICE WALKER ON OBAMA Ignore the other post

Ahh the great and wise Eeyore speaks great wisdom once again. And a hybrid like me (Taoist/Wiccan)needs the freedom of this country to just be me.
This is the first discussion that I have followed and I must say thank you to all for a great learning experience. Now let us keep the two darn things seperate. We have enough problems with our Democracy as it is.

Posted at March 14, 2008 8:47 PM in response to The Development of Religious Liberty in America

Chris, I just wanted to compliment you on your response. I found it very instructive.

Posted at March 10, 2008 8:49 PM in response to Fallacy #1: The Founders Weren't Deists

I appreciate even in a general way what you said about all of us quoting our Founding Fathers. I have begun to read more history about the founding period and also the Civil War because I believe that most of us know so little about those important periods of our Republic.
This religious question is an important one too. I am not a Christian but was raised a Baptist. This has made me very intersted in how we must protect the rights of all religions and also those who choose to not have one. The simple fact seems to be that even most of the Founding Fathers who were Christian were very concerned about not allowing a Nation Church to develope.
I look forward to hearing more about your book.

Posted at March 10, 2008 11:18 AM in response to Fallacy #1: The Founders Weren't Deists

It seems like the way our system works is after an obvious deception that involves money the investor's interest does get considered. The consumer is left to his or her own struggles and/or demise. What is needed is putting back in the financial system some resonable regulations that helps stop the greed that always seeps into
an uncontrolled financial market. So I hope that if Countrywide and others are guilty of deception then let them pay the price. Our Republic's Commonwealth must be protected much better than what has been occuring for the last twenty years.
Of course any thinking person understands that the financial pressure of the Iraq Occupation has helped set up this subprime disaster.

Posted at March 10, 2008 10:42 AM in response to FBI/SEC Investigation Adds To Countrywide’s Woes

I think Ralph's influence is dead. I guess he has not heard about all the new voters who have no idea who he is.
As an old guy I do appreciate what Ralph Nader has accomplished for us but the fact is that a Democrat or a Republican will be our next President. I do hope that we the people will begin to demand our country back from the big money interests and demand once again that this country has financial regulations that help protect our economy, the consumer, and the honest business man. A fair bankruptcy law would also help but maybe there would be fewer Americans slaving over their debt if the Predators are kept under control with common sense regulations. Where there is money there is always some greed that must be controlled.

Posted at February 24, 2008 5:37 PM in response to The Changing Politics of Bankruptcy

Thank you for the advice. Three times I wrote some really brillian comments :), only to be refused entry even though I was logged in. I shall try your hint.

Posted at February 24, 2008 5:19 PM in response to Bug Stompin'