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An Open Letter to Conservatives

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raditz On March 24, 2024
Blah





Houston, Texas
#2New Post! Oct 27, 2010 @ 03:08:57
@MrLavalove Said

This was posted on another site by a person whom I respect very much. I could not resist passing in on, he credits the author.

An Open Letter to Conservatives
This was originally written by Russell King. It has been pasted here for your convenience, because I think some members of this forum should read it.

Dear Conservative Americans,

The years have not been kind to you. I grew up in a profoundly Republican home, so I can remember when you wore a very different face than the one we see now. You've lost me and you've lost most of America. Because I believe having responsible choices is important to democracy, I'd like to give you some advice and an invitation.

First, the invitation: Come back to us.

Now the advice. You're going to have to come up with a platform that isn't built on a foundation of cowardice: fear of people with colors, religions, cultures and sex lives that differ from your own; fear of reform in banking, health care, energy; fantasy fears of America being transformed into an Islamic nation, into social/commun/fasc-ism, into a disarmed populace put in internment camps; and more. But you have work to do even before you take on that task.




I read this far before knowing this is another liberal bash of republicans as fear mongering, racist, bigoted, homophobic neanderthals. At least I didn't waste my time reading the rest.
white_swan53 On October 07, 2020




n/a, New Mexico
#4New Post! Oct 27, 2010 @ 04:46:13
I got about 7 or 8 of them , "you can't 's do this while doing that 's " and had t stop and go do something like walk and chew gum , just so I could get all those you can't do this while doing that 's out of my head ,,, I am not a republican and I am not afraid of my own shadow . Who ever wrote that seems to think that about half of the American voters are about 3 years old . [smile]https://i.tfster.com/tfs/images/galleries/thumb_e7425d89a075e593cb5cdba30facc7c8.gif">
Spinkiegirl On August 18, 2018




Chicago, Illinois
#6New Post! Oct 27, 2010 @ 08:17:49
@Willi Said

they can't
wow will i be glad when the political adds stop running.



Couldn't agree more!
Junkyard_Jim On August 30, 2011

Deleted



Norristown, Pennsylvania
#7New Post! Oct 27, 2010 @ 17:40:54
OPEN LETTER TO LIBERALS, LEFTISTS AND SOCIAL PROGRESSIVES:

This letter(although shorter, thank God) was written in 2009 by Marcia Segelstein, a CBS media producer. It nicely rebuts the theme letter and may give the OP (and others on this forum) a little more perspective.

Dear liberal neighbors, acquaintances, friends and family,

I'm a conservative. A political and social conservative. I know that some of you assume that means I'm mean-spirited, selfish, intolerant, greedy, and perhaps even evil. But before you write me off, allow me to explain what I really think. You might be surprised to find that, at least in some areas, we want the same things. We just disagree on how to get them.

I believe in limited government. While I think government has many important roles to play (most importantly providing a military to protect our country), in general I believe the less government the better. For one thing, bureaucracy too often breeds inefficiency, mediocrity, or even worse by not rewarding performance. Anyone who's been to his local Department of Motor Vehicles, or his post office for that matter, can attest to that. But even if government bureaucracies worked perfectly, why would I (or anyone, for that matter) want to be subject to any more laws and regulations than I already am? I believe I'm better at running my life than my congressman is.

As a believer in small government, it follows that I want my taxes to be as low as possible. I prefer to spend my own money as I choose, not because I'm greedy, but because I'll spend it more wisely and carefully because I earned it. Government waste is a given. And while I do believe the government should help the neediest among us, welfare states simply do not work. Bill Clinton knew that well enough to act on it. I believe individuals should be encouraged to be as charitable and generous as possible. (As a Christian, I believe it's my responsibility to help take care of people in need.) But I also believe individuals fare better when they take responsibility for their own lives. Dignity comes from taking responsibility, not handouts -- and dignity breeds motivation. George Will summed it up nicely when he wrote that "excessively benevolent government is not a benefactor." I believe in equal opportunity, but I don't believe that equal outcomes can (or should) be mandated.

I believe in personal freedom. The less government bureaucrats have to say about my personal life, the better. Naturally we're all subject to the laws of the land, but it's another thing entirely to have my family's healthcare run by committee, for example. Having lived through a few years without employer-provided health insurance, I know how tough that is. I'd still prefer that to the British system in which my brother had to wait three months for an MRI to determine what a doctor here diagnosed by my description alone: that he'd suffered a stroke at the age of 38. Guaranteed healthcare doesn't mean much when it's dangerously slow and just plain lousy.

Most public school systems are sad but perfect examples of how tax-supported bureaucracies simply don't work. As a conservative, I believe in school choice. Not only would individual students benefit, it would inspire healthy competition and remind administrators that they are answerable to parents.

I am also a social conservative. I believe in traditional Judeo-Christian values, and want the freedom to continue to worship as a Christian. I also want the right to raise my children with those values. I don't want my children taught that the practice of homosexuality is right any more than my liberal neighbors want their children taught that it's wrong. Liberals who wouldn't want their children taught Christian precepts in school should be able to understand why conservative Christians don't want their children taught un-Christian precepts. In fact, if public schools focused on academics and left social and moral issues to parents, we'd all be better off. Social change dreamed up and forced on society, including children, by a few Washington insiders is a truly frightening prospect. Too much power in the hands of a small group of any persuasion is a dangerous thing.

In a nutshell, I'm for limited government that acts to preserve opportunity and encourage personal responsibility. I'm for small government that allows me the freedom to believe what I choose to believe, and raise my children accordingly. I believe it's my duty to help people in need, and that while government has a role to play in that regard, it is among the least capable of institutions to do so with positive long-term outcomes.

Ronald Reagan captured the conservative ethos in another quote from that famous 1964 speech: "[Y]ou and I have the ability and the dignity and the right to make our own decisions and determine our own destiny."

So, liberal readers, if you think that the concepts of small government, personal freedom, and personal responsibility are wrong, so be it. Thankfully the government hasn't mandated that you agree with me. But if you think they're evil, then forgive me, but I think you're wrong.
MrLavalove On November 01, 2010




Las Vegas, Nevada
#8New Post! Oct 27, 2010 @ 17:57:57
Yeah, the "conservatives" like a small government just big enough to militarily exploit foreigners and just big enough to legislate THEIR own bigoted hateful religion by telling people whom is it "proper" for them to love, but just small enough not to be able to stop them from economicly exploiting their fellow citizens. Nice argument, totally worthless! And if you can't talk about politics without bringing your religion into it, you have no business even discussing politics in the first place. Its called separation of church and state. AMERICA IS NOT A "CHRISTIAN NATION" !!!
Junkyard_Jim On August 30, 2011

Deleted



Norristown, Pennsylvania
#9New Post! Oct 27, 2010 @ 18:02:06
@MrLavalove Said

Yeah, the "conservatives" like a small government just big enough to militarily exploit foreigners and just big enough to legislate THEIR own bigoted hateful religion by telling people whom is it "proper" for them to love, but just small enough not to be able to stop them from economicly exploiting their fellow citizens. Nice argument, totally worthless.


Ah, aren't you true to form. Well, we'll see which road the country takes in a few short days. There's always loving, socialist progressive areas to which you can freely emigrate from here. No law against it yet.
Junkyard_Jim On August 30, 2011

Deleted



Norristown, Pennsylvania
#10New Post! Oct 27, 2010 @ 18:04:31
@MrLavalove Said

Yeah, the "conservatives" like a small government just big enough to militarily exploit foreigners and just big enough to legislate THEIR own bigoted hateful religion by telling people whom is it "proper" for them to love, but just small enough not to be able to stop them from economicly exploiting their fellow citizens. Nice argument, totally worthless! And if you can't talk about politics without bringing your religion into it, you have no business even discussing politics in the first place. Its called separation of church and state. AMERICA IS NOT A "CHRISTIAN NATION" !!!


Whoa! We touched a socialist nerve. You couldn't get it all in on one shot and actually had to go back to post a bit more. Many countries have been down your old, sorry, tired road already and frantically decided to ride out as quickly as possible.
MrLavalove On November 01, 2010




Las Vegas, Nevada
#11New Post! Oct 27, 2010 @ 18:09:22
@Junkyard_Jim Said

Whoa! We touched a socialist nerve. You couldn't get it all in on one shot and actually had to go back to post a bit more. Many countries have been down your old, sorry, tired road already and frantically decided to ride out as quickly as possible.



If "America" is so free and loves "Freedom" and "Democracy" so much, then why do you think Americas has a hobby of overthrowing democratically elected leaders of foreign nations then installing dictatorial puppets that brutally suppress "Freedom" and "democracy" ?

P.S. Your letter was "thankfully" shorter because is was a steaming pile of indefencable garbadge and one can only bulls*** on that level for a limited time, Unless of course the person in question is a politician....
Junkyard_Jim On August 30, 2011

Deleted



Norristown, Pennsylvania
#12New Post! Oct 27, 2010 @ 18:11:39
@MrLavalove Said

If "America" is so free and loves "Freedom" and "Democracy" so much, then why do you think Americas has a hobby of overthrowing democratically elected leaders of foreign nations then installing dictatorial puppets that brutally suppress "Freedom" and "democracy" ?


Way too broad an indictment. Give me some examples, countries, dictators installed, dates and conditions and I'll either agree or rebut.
MrLavalove On November 01, 2010




Las Vegas, Nevada
#13New Post! Oct 27, 2010 @ 18:13:11
@Junkyard_Jim Said

Way too broad an indictment. Give me some examples, countries, dictators installed, dates and conditions and I'll either agree or rebut.


What !? Are you a youngster or have you been living in a cave for 50 years ?
someone_else On August 30, 2012
Not a dude.


Deleted



American Alps, Washington
#14New Post! Oct 27, 2010 @ 18:15:06
@MrLavalove Said

What !? Are you a youngster or have you been living in a cave for 50 years ?



Both. Where are your examples?
Junkyard_Jim On August 30, 2011

Deleted



Norristown, Pennsylvania
#15New Post! Oct 27, 2010 @ 18:19:00
@MrLavalove Said

What !? Are you a youngster or have you been living in a cave for 50 years ?


Neutral, non-partisan sources, please. You claim its a "hobby". Non-neutral websites claim 14 overthrown governments in the past 110 years with US involvement. However, by the standard they set, we would have to include Afghanistan, Iraq, Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in those numbers, also.

I'm all for overthrowing governments dangerous to the US. Love to start with Iran currently.

So what? If anyone is hanging out in a cave, it is the segment of our population that believes whistling in the dark and accepting all extra-national political and military events should be left to unfold without involvement if situations dictate.
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