We seem to focus on our differences more than our similarities on this section. Whether you buy into the left/right paradigm or not, we have a plethora of shared ideologies here, so let's discuss them.

From what I can gather, many people on here are gun enthusiasts and protectors of our basic right to own weapons.

Most agree that big government leads to corruption. Unfortunately, unregulated private markets lead to the same. So we all agree that corruption exists in almost every form of rule. Any ways to mitigate this seeming reality?

So what are some other similar views you guys notice? I think by focusing on what we share rather than where we disagree, we can keep a semblance of civility.

psh... "gun rights" theres a joke

i lost my "gun rights" due to our common choice of work....

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Unfortunately-
Everything I post is completely fictional, and pictures from various internet sites.

That sucks dude. Just learn kung fu. Then you can dodge bullets and kill with your hands!

If corruption exists in most forms of rule, eliminate the rule. Self rule is the best. Governments answer to problems is to intervene, dictate and use force. The purpose of government is (should be) to protect individuals rights to be individuals...that's not happening now and it ain't good. Most government is not needed. It's a jobs program and not a very good one.

Private companies are private. If they have a product or service that people like they will succeed, if not they should not be propped up by government either monetarily or legislatively. Free markets work.

Most problems in the world are caused by one person or group of people intervening in others lives, usually without the permission of those being affected. As long as somebody is harming nobody, they should be able to do what they want.
It should be that simple.

I agree - it should be that simple.

One huge area of common ground we all tread upon is our love and devotion to cannabis.

This is an excellent thread because we have a tendency to lose sight of what, in actuality, has brought us all together here on the politics forum at RIU.

This would be the aforementioned cannabis!!!

This is indeed a beautiful thing!

I am quite delighted to see that this forum is still in existence.
I returned to this site after a one and a half years absence.
This is my favorite forum and I would like to see a greater degree of civility exhibited by the participants.

There seems to be a pronounced shift to the right of the political spectrum since I last participated here (much to the chagrin of the illustrious Medicineman)

I wonder why this shift has occurred???

In any event, I think this is an excellent topic.

IMO, the government that governs best governs least...Free markets need some guardrails, but that is about it. The human profit motive is a thing of pure beauty and will enhance the lives of all humans lucky enough to enjoy the fruits of freedom and liberty

Wavels

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If you wind up with a boring, miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest or some guy on TV telling you how to do your shit, then YOU DESERVE IT.
~ Frank Zappa ~

Liberty means responsibility, that is why most men dread it.
~George Bernard Shaw~

Well-said. +rep to you - keep it comin'.

I believe that as a whole we cannot trust ourselves to make the right decisions, we cannot trust government to make them for us, and we cannot trust the businesses to look out for our welfare.

As humans we will always try to get the most out of everything we can. And that leads to our downfall everytime. It is just in our nature.

So to get around that we need to understand the good and bad of it all and set up a system that takes it into consideration. We have to be able to have a entity that is set up to look after our needs and not our wants. And then make it so that they get the reigns pulled in when they go to far, which they always will eventually do.

Same with businesses, we need them and the human greed that makes them succeed, but at the same time we need to have something set up to keep them in check.

Basically this is what our system was set up to be. Lately we have lost our voice (the people portion) and the government and business (mostly business) have gathered up what we had lost.

There needs to be more indicators, almost like booby traps in place. Once one side starts to get too much control it trips the switch and new laws are pushed to take it back and give to the other two sides. This way nobody can get too much power.

We are too set in our ways and change too slow. We get so afraid of change that it stagnates. But like economic indicators show that something needs to be done, we should have sociological indicators and political indicators that trigger an appropriate response. And then those micro changes can be watched to make sure that the change is in the right direction that was intended and move forward, if they don't it is scrapped and a new adjustment is used.

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“He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice.” -Einstein

this is not aimed at anyone here, though i cannot help it if the shoe fits:

far right people are to the point of psychotic fantasy with all the mental gymnastics
required to continue praising the 'progress' of the GOP over the last decade.

for 8 years i had to listed to idiots in 10-gallon hats saying "if you don't support
the president you're unamerican and evil and love terrorists." the second
obama's ass hit the oval office chair, they're wishing for his failure and 'all-american'
texans are crying "succession".

then i have to read these stupid theories on why the GOP was genius after all, and even
when they fucked up it was all done on purpose for a greater good. its disturbing to
witness the constant outpouring of repeated false rumor amplified by irrational rage and
an unconditional support in anything GOP. thats right: unconditional. you cannot reason
with someone who adheres to an absolutist cult-like mentality.

what is most fascinating is that these very people will accuse you of committing the very sin
they are: celebrity worship/cult of personallity. they continue to worship the nearly perfect bush.
any criticism is mild at best and only really amounts to "i think he could have been a bit more awesome".

the typical pattern of conversation always follows:

them: "obama is scum/hitler/satan/baby raper/etc"
me: "what a ridiculous and baseless statement"
them: "oh so you're going to defend him like a good obamabot, huh? how do kieth olberman's nuts taste? you're just brainwashed"

conclusion: if you do not believe obama is scum incarnate then you are 'brainwashed' by msnbc

i have no interests in conversations like this anymore.

Two excellent posts!

Hanimmal: Great to hear from you. Would you agree with the ancient tenet: human nature being what it is, history will repeat itself? Every great society has fallen.

PVS: Simply put, you're extremely intelligent. And it seems we share a common hatred for dogmatic loyalty. This type of attitude is poisonous anti-intellectualism at it's strongest manifestation.