Rational Nation USA
Purveyor of Truth
Blogging the past six years has been an education to say the least.
Perhaps it is the political aspect that has turned the experience into sour grapes rather than the positive experience and sharing of ideas it should be. Sharing of ideas, especially with those of opposing viewpoints, is an opportunity for learning and personal growth. Unfortunately this is the exception rather than the norm in these winner take all and leave no prisoners exchanges between differing political ideologies and political parties. Maybe it has always been this way; but there was a time when reasonable compromise borne of heated debate and
honest dialogue was the respected norm.
Most would agree that no one political ideology or philosophy is right 100% of the time. By the same token no political ideology or philosophy can be wrong all of the tine either. Yet in right and left blogistan there are those who consistently, no matter what the issue, rigidly hold to the
party line or ideological purity. There is nothing wrong with remaining true to ones principals and values for sure, but when doing so it it certainly is reasonable to first understand all the knowable potential alternatives before deciding. If and when new credible information becomes available it makes sense to reevaluate your position, and when sensible be flexible enough to change based on the new information.
Some conservative and liberal bloggers, probably because of their passion and in some cases loyalty to
their cause, simply choose not to take viewpoints that differ from their own seriously. Even when the evidence clearly points to errors in their viewpoints. Those sites who fall into this category can generally be identified in one of two ways. The site either
censors viewpoints they do not agree with, or the blog proprietor while not censoring
engages in or encourages name calling and flame throwing without any thought given to truth. Of the two the latter is of the most troubling and infantile.
As noted earlier there are both conservative and liberal sites that engage in the above tactics so it is a bipartisan activity. As a somewhat right of center site
Rational Nation USA has spent more time challenging those on the right rather than the left. While this might seem odd the reason is quite simple. One should look to clean up their own backyard before concerning themselves with their neighbors backyard. A simple yet perfectly reasonable and common sense approach to progress. Unfortunately, not many agree with this view.
After six years of perusing the internet
highway one thing has become clear, apart from both sides culpability in the above described activities, it is the right (especially the fringe right) that is the most belligerent, least rational, most offensive, and provides the least credible documentation in support its positions. The ideology that at the top of its lungs trumpets free speech, freedom of religion, constitutional principles, the right to be left alone by government is, in fact, the first to toss out all of them when views it disapproves of stand in its way. It is for this reason moving away from the right is such a easy and sensible thing to do these days.
When the right talks about freedom and liberty it really means freedom and liberty only as the right views freedom and liberty.
Food for thought from two of our founders.
There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution. {John Adams}
The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty
Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind, (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight,) the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.
It serves always to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration. It agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.
There is an opinion, that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the Government, and serve to keep alive the spirit of Liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in Governments of a Monarchical cast, Patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in Governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And, there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume. {George Washington}
