Seeking The Best Man

2008-1-26 04:28:00

Susan wrote:

"Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: 'Mankind.' Basically, it's made up of two separate words -- 'mank and 'ind.' What do these words mean ? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
  -- Jack Handy"

JJ:

Cute quote. I've always liked Jack Handy.

Perhaps he should have written it like this:

John C wrote:

"I don't know how much you actually know about Barack Obama besides the black and white pictures that conservative commentators want to paint of all Democrats, or from the talking points of last night's Republican debate. Have you ever read any of Obama's books? I am reading one of his books right now. He does not see business as evil. Without going into a lot of detail, he sees the need to reconcile the needs of business with the needs of labor."

JJ:

I go by what he says, not what is said about him. I have heard him speak of business as if it were a blight. On the other hand, he has accepted campaign funds from a number of big businesses including nuclear even though he is timid about expressing any support for it. His history and words indicate he would generally favor unions over business in a dispute.

John C:

"Hillary is touching on the truth when she calls him a 'Reaganite.' Right now, I reading his views about race. They are not at all the typical liberal views that conservatives would have you believe. For example, he believes that a strong economy does more to lift minorities out of poverty than any affirmative action program. Obama is further to the right than most might think."

JJ:

I haven't heard any conservatives stereotype his views on race. Most of them I have heard praise him on everything but his political views.

I haven't read or heard of any quote from him on the economy as you mention. I'd be interested in seeing his exact words. The question is what is his plan to strengthen the economy when at the same time he supports raising taxes to pay for his programs?

He is to be praised for having the guts to speak favorably of Reagan. It is strange indeed that if a Democrat says anything positive about a Republican he is criticized or thrown off the plantation yet Republicans often speak favorably about famous Democrats such as JFK, FDR or even Clinton and this is perfectly accepted within the party.

John C:

"I agree with your views on Romney with regard to correct business principles. I don't know which is the greatest need in this country right now: national unity, or a return to fiscal responsibility. Too bad we have to choose between the two, but I suppose the choice depends on which one a person feels is the greatest need."

JJ:

What makes you think Obama will take us to unity? I for one will oppose him with my last breath if he seeks to impose more wasteful social spending with an increase in taxes.

Unity is often a bad thing. What is the most unified nation in the world? It is North Korea -- the worst place in the world to live. In our present state of evolution the only way a nation can be unified is by force or a great common enemy.

Historians say our greatest president was Abraham Lincoln yet the nation was more divided under him than at any other time and he was hated much more than is George Bush. The best we can hope for at present is a JFK or a Reagan who has charisma and intelligence enough to get a majority behind him.

Right now we are extremely divided philosophically and if one side wins and seeks bigger government he will be opposed by those who want smaller government. If the other side wins and seeks smaller government he will be hated and opposed by those who receive gifts from big government.

John C:

"But, you can have the greatest solution in the world, but all the ideas are useless if you can't convince people to adopt them. I think Obama stands a better chance of convincing the people that they have to work together, than Romney has of convincing people to practice sound business principles."

JJ:

I think they both have potential in influencing the country in their direction. We have an economic crisis at the threshold and if that is not solved then all the personality, social programs and ideals will be useless. If people go hungry they will be angry and will hate Obama no matter how nice he is. I think Romney is the best candidate to handle the upcoming crisis and feel there is a good chance he will take the Presidency.

John C:

"But you also commented of government forcing people to do good. 'The main purpose of government, as envisioned by the founders, is not to force us to do good, but to protect us from those who would force us to do their version of good.'

"I don't want the liberals forcing me to follow their brand of 'good,' and by the same token, I don't want the conservatives using the power of the state to enforce their brand of 'good,' either. I don't want to see what few rights I have gained, erased by a feel-good constitutional amendment."

JJ:

I feel the same way, but I see the left wanting to force me to do good much more than the right. For instance:

1. They want to take my money by force and give it to their voting constituency.
2. They want to tell people where and when and how much they can smoke.
3. They want to force safety upon me for my own good.
4. They refuse to give us control over our own social security investment.
5. They force conservative union members to give money to support the election of leftist politicians.
6. They want to force parents to use their taxes to support the failing public schools and not give them vouchers to send kids to the school of their choice.
7. The left is much more into making restrictive regulatory laws than is the right.

The only area I can think of where the right seeks to force people to do good more than the left is in the area of abortion and I can certainly see their reasoning though I do bot fully agree with it. Doing the right thing through free will is always a better solution than being forced to do good. In fact it is only good if the action is not forced. A forced action will cease as soon as the force is removed. A direction taken through free will can continue indefinitely.

John C:

"I know too much about the inner workings of the Mormon Church to ever trust a Mormon as president. He cannot be a good Mormon if he doesn't put the views of the president of his church ahead of everything else, and if he can't be true to his personal religious views, and be a good Mormon, then to my mind, he cannot be trusted in anything else."

JJ:

Romney was pro choice as governor of Massachusetts and that is certainly not towing the Mormon line. His parents were quite liberal even though they were Republicans and his Dad was a big supporter of Martin Luther King.

Normally, I would be nervous about supporting a Mormon for president but I think Romney thinks for himself. His handwriting shows a strong desire to be his own man.

John C:

"We have had enough of presidents who are divisive, who lie to the public, who parse words, and who are not open and forthcoming. We didn't pay enough attention to the Clintons or to the Bushes during their presidential campaigns. What they did then was an indication of how they would later act in office."

JJ:

Neither of them had any surprises for me. Both pretty much told (or showed) us who they were and went about being themselves. I do not know why that surprised some people.

Copyright © 2008 by JJ Dewey, All Rights Reserved