Rational Nation USA

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Whether the republican party and its leadership want to recognize it or not they have a perception problem. A major one. Especially among minority groups and in this particular instance the African-American community. With the 50th anniversary of the signing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act approaching and with commemorative activities scheduled in Selma, Alabama, not a single member of the republican congressional leadership is attending. For a party that claims it is inclusive and has a large tent to willfully ignoring the significance of 1965 is, to say the least, foolish. But I guess the message that will be received by a majority of African-Americans is lost on them. Insensitivity to issues of this importance and magnitude is precisely why the party of Lincoln is unable to effectively grow its ranks. Sincerity gains results, empty talk flies like the wind. Either republicans are tone deaf or they simply do not care. There exists a great p...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Putting partisan politics aside, something America seems inept at of late, the following article by Sally Kohn is something we should all be able to sincerely agree on. Of course the immediate problem will be the interpretation of civil rights, civil liberties, and how they stack up with the politics and stated agendas of progressives and conservatives. In short what they mean (without emotionalism) and how to best insure they are recognized and protected. People are not robots or automatons. Most are intelligent, thinking, and caring people. But as much as some might like everyone to think alike humans are not wired that way, and if I may say so it is a it is a damn good thing ! Having stated the obvious, the next obvious observation is... how do Americans, a diverse people with many intelligent yet divergent ideas sort it out, make well thought out decisions, and continue to be the nation are fore-bearers fought to c...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Birthplace of Independent Conservative House Republicans under the leadership of Representative Peter King (R-NY) held the first in what he anticipates to be a series of hearings examining the potential dangers of radical Islam and radicalized American Muslims. The hearings are a prudent and necessary activity given the realities of our modern world. In response to the hearings being held by the House of Representatives Senate Democrats are responding with meetings of their own following their return from a ten day vacation recess. The Senate meetings will focus on what is perceived to be a spoke in anti Muslim bigotry, and to examine Muslim's civil rights. The debate about exactly what constitutes Anti Muslim bigotry, as well as the debate on the impact radicalized Muslims residing in American have on our society and it's wellbeing is worth having. This nation must come to terms with how to handle radical Islam on our shores as we...

By: Les Carpenter III Rational Nation USA Tuesday was a very good day for those of us who support Rand Paul's Libertarian philosophy of governance. His belief in a limited federal government, fiscal responsibility, a balanced budget, and greater local control reverberates in most people that understand the values this nation was founded on. The right to own and control one's own property,  and or business, is one of the hallmarks of liberty, and it is as important to freedom as the right of free speech.  Also at the core of this countries values is the belief in individual rights, and the governments responsibility to insure and preserve the rights of each individual. Rand Paul, just two days after his blowout win in Kentucky's primary finds himself in a politically precarious spot... The result of his response to a question on civil rights and his belief  the in rights of private sector business owners to serve who they please in a privately h...