[quote=meadandale][quote=briansd1]eavesdropper, that was a great post.[/quote]
Except for the part where he repeatedly referred to me as an ‘ultra-conservative’…which erodes most of the credibility for the rest of the rant.[/quote]
Meadandale, I apologize. I mean, it’s so easy to generalize on these threads, especially the ones that tend to elicit knee-jerk reactions.
I used the word “ultraconservative” twice, so, in theory, I guess that counts as “repeatedly”. But the petty part of me can’t help but feel it’s a bit of hyperbole on your part.
If you did actually read my post, I made every attempt to avoid name-calling. And, while I may have apologized, I AM tired of ultraconservatives (whether that describes you, or not) equating dissatisfaction with distortions of capitalism with unreserved endorsements of communism and socialism. I’m tired of ANYBODY doing it. It’s untruthful. It’s inaccurate. It’s polarizing. And it’s getting old.
Perhaps I completely misread the post, and, in reality, you meant every word you said. If so, I must tell you that I don’t agree with you. I may have problems with the actions of a number of corporations and their officers and executives. But I do not believe the United States should turn to socialism or communism as an economic/sociopolitical alternative.
As for my “rant”, I’m sorry that you see it in that way. I prefer to think of it as a well-thought out dissertation on the misuse of words, distortion of their meanings in an effort to change peoples’ minds about an issue when the truth is not adequate, and use of terms to elicit fear, revulsion, and other visceral responses in the citizenry.
To be perfectly honest, your post did not deserve a response of this length and breadth of topic. However, every day I come across dozens and dozens of polarizing posts of the “Liberals/moderates/ RHINOs hate capitalism and love communism and socialism” variety that are penned by authors from a range of IQs and educational backgrounds. There is never a shortage of accompanying information, but there is always a complete absence of proof. Most of them I simply do not respond, but once every 5000 posts, I react. You were the big winner today. Again, I apologize. (Gee, I’m starting to feel like one of those whiny, wimpy, sandal-wearing, Prius-driving, Obama-worshiping, socialism-practicing, liberal-leaning Commiecrat with all of this apologizing)
In all seriousness, meadandale, I took your post as a sarcastic riposte to the individual who started the thread. I interpreted this as being from someone who is 100% for capitalism, and 100% against communism and socialism. I found it a rather black-and-white view, and I did not see it as a response to the opinions of the OP, but as an emotional reaction. I encounter many posts of this variety on a range of websites; virtually all of the websites and/or the posters are right-wing/conservative by admission. I view “Liberal/Progressives = Communists/Socialists” sentiments as polarizing and untruthful, and I view individuals making these statements as ultraconservatives, meaning that they are conservative to the exclusion of everything else. It was not meant to be an insult, and I’m not sure why you took it as such. However, we appear to be in a period of reverse political correctness, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult determining what everyone wants to be called.
As for my use of the term “ultraconservative”, I don’t see why it affects the credibility of what I brought up in my post. Could you cite examples from the text to which you take exception?
