Comments on: Republican Death Spiral enters militant phase

By: Oregon’s Democratic Summit: inspiring and sobering | Dismounting Our Tiger

Oregon’s Democratic Summit: inspiring and sobering | Dismounting Our Tiger — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 22:39:44 +0000

[...] reinforced my concerns for our nation’s future. I’ve written about this before in posts such as Republican Death Spiral Enters its militant phase. An extremist minority now dominates the Republican Party. It undermines any ability to govern when [...]

By: Kmeccat

Kmeccat — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:39:34 +0000

Dear Ed:
Your article is well written and thorough. It’s also so very frightening. Ever since Bush Jr. found his way into office, with Cheney guiding him with his dark soul, this country has changed into an angry, irrational place. Many times I have had the sinking feeling that the right wing extremists would become violent. Unfortunately, in the past few days, the violence appears to have begun–with verbal assaults, death threats, bricks through windows, and severed gas lines. Frightening…. with these people, nothing is certain. Here’s hoping calmer minds prevail, and the darkening skies turn bright again……

Dear Kmeccat:
Amen! And thanks for your supportive comments.

In other posts I’ve tried to show how we are more responsible for where we are than we’re willing to give ourselves credit/blame for. The good news is that we can change ourselves far more easily than we can change others…. so we can contribute to the solution regardless of what others do.

By: Thomas K. Rooney

Thomas K. Rooney — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:04:57 +0000

Very well said! I have been thinking of these attacks on our democratic process and the people who are fanning the flames, This has taken on a new level of violence and I fear for the safety of our elected leaders and their family’s. I think the far-right have finely reached the bottom of the barrel and now the scum is rising to the top! This will end the Republican Party as we know it.

Thomas:
The Republican Party I once respected is long gone, and we desperately need a healthy two party system and a healthy dose of independents in Government. Both parties, by nature tend to over-represent extremists, as does the seniority system in Congress, points I’ll elaborate on in a future post. I have no problem with a proportional number of extremists being elected, that’s healthy, but making it easy for extremists of either the right or left to be elected and chair committees to the detriment of Independents and moderates in both parties is unhealthy.

By: davedave

davedave — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 22:23:15 +0000

it isn’t a great leap from the teabagger paranoia to the timothy mcveigh poorly focused violent extremism.

you’re right, this ride could get bumpy…

Dave:
Agree. It’s why we who believe in democracy as our social order should continue to speak calmly, forcefully and hopefully about what’s going on and what we might do to help.

By: JennyWRN

JennyWRN — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 21:49:33 +0000

Good update, and your first article was prescient, too. I was watching what was happening but wouldn’t have been able to describe what I was seeing. Your articles fit what I have been seeing into a framework.

One thing. As someone who never slings insults or acts in a bullying manner when discussing ‘contentious’ issues on the internet, I had given up trying to enter into any discourse with those expressing the ‘wilder’ opinions, regarding it as a waste of time.

I’m not quite convinced it’s worth trying again, but you’ve got me thinking about it.

Jenny WRN:
Thanks for your comments. We all need supportive feedback in a sea of negativity. I too get discouraged, and stopped writing for several months. I encourage you to get back into the fray. Perhaps this might help: don’t seek to convert anyone else, seek only to offer ideas and to encourage, nurture and support those who are leading their own enlightenments. We all believe things in a network of experiences, emotions and relationships which prevent simple rational thoughts or pieces of persuasive evidence from making profound changes. I wrote an essay last April titled “We cannot save other nations, we can only create failed states” which describes some of the underlying principles in all interactions between individuals as well as between nations. If you get a chance, give it a read and let me know what you think about it. Also, I encourage you to read Eric Hoffer’s book. It’s still in print, its relatively small and eminently readable.

Thanks again for your comments.

Ed Lee

By: aa and mad

aa and mad — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:54:17 +0000

I think you have a few good points there but you forget one thing…..There are armed people on the left as well and make no misstake we will not go gently into that good night .

Dear aa and mad:
If it gets to that point, we’re all losers. I for one don’t own any weapons, never have and I hope never will. I’m totally committed to the democratic process.

Ed Lee