Comments on: Listen to the Music http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/listen-to-the-music.html An Independent Netzine About Ideas Tue, 15 May 2012 16:14:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Lorna http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/listen-to-the-music.html/comment-page-1#comment-10364 Lorna Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:57:52 +0000 http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/?p=755#comment-10364 I don't believe it was the GOP's choice that music other than country not be played at the convention. I firmly believe that most mainstream music groups WON'T ALLOW their music to be played at ANY GOP event, as evidenced by the HART sister's ridiculous outcry when the RNC played their song, Barracuda at the end of the convention when Sarah Palin walked out on stage. Their response came so quickly it makes you wonder, 'were they sitting there watching with their finger on speed dial?' I don’t believe it was the GOP’s choice that music other than country not be played at the convention. I firmly believe that most mainstream music groups WON’T ALLOW their music to be played at ANY GOP event, as evidenced by the HART sister’s ridiculous outcry when the RNC played their song, Barracuda at the end of the convention when Sarah Palin walked out on stage. Their response came so quickly it makes you wonder, ‘were they sitting there watching with their finger on speed dial?’

]]> By: MrTom http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/listen-to-the-music.html/comment-page-1#comment-10244 MrTom Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:26:08 +0000 http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/?p=755#comment-10244 You've hit on the core of GOP policy and promotion: hate. You're only the second commentator that I've come across that has stated what should be obvious. The ultra-conservative mentality that has captured the Republican Party (during the counterrevolution) is simply a culture of hate. One of my theories of life, which I constantly challenge myself to prove wrong – try it - is that it is easier to hate than to love, and corollaries are that it is easier to hate than to cooperate and easier to hate than compromise. Hatred is immediate and vigorously reinforces one's sense of self. Hating someone or something makes a person sense himself or herself solidly and strongly. Hatred doesn't take the time or efforts required by a loving relationship or working out, let’s say, the proper methods and taxation levels for maintaining a safe and efficient public transportation system (not to mention the mix of highway v. mass transit that comprised the system in the first place). The hatred angle works for both social and fiscal conservatism. “THOSE goddam liberals want to steal MY money for THEIR highways” completely ignores the benefit derived by the wage or salary earner’s ability to drive to work. Social conservatism is even more frightening, since it is destructive to individual and collective humanity. Gays, being a minority, are an all-too-easy target for hated. The so-called prolife movement is, if possible, are even more frightening. A prominent advocate for K-12 education related to me a comment made by a state legislator that education advocates aren’t as effective as prolife advocates because “you people don’t make me fear for my life when I walk to my car at night.” It is the height of hypocrisy that prolife tactics include terroristic threats on other peoples’ lives. In all these cases, hatred makes it powerfully easy. Selfish greed is reinforced by hatred. Add the reinforcement of group belonging and it is a powerful force to be reckoned with, no matter how often the chosen candidates proclaim their bi-partisanship. You’ve hit on the core of GOP policy and promotion: hate. You’re only the second commentator that I’ve come across that has stated what should be obvious. The ultra-conservative mentality that has captured the Republican Party (during the counterrevolution) is simply a culture of hate.

One of my theories of life, which I constantly challenge myself to prove wrong – try it – is that it is easier to hate than to love, and corollaries are that it is easier to hate than to cooperate and easier to hate than compromise.

Hatred is immediate and vigorously reinforces one’s sense of self. Hating someone or something makes a person sense himself or herself solidly and strongly. Hatred doesn’t take the time or efforts required by a loving relationship or working out, let’s say, the proper methods and taxation levels for maintaining a safe and efficient public transportation system (not to mention the mix of highway v. mass transit that comprised the system in the first place).

The hatred angle works for both social and fiscal conservatism. “THOSE goddam liberals want to steal MY money for THEIR highways” completely ignores the benefit derived by the wage or salary earner’s ability to drive to work. Social conservatism is even more frightening, since it is destructive to individual and collective humanity. Gays, being a minority, are an all-too-easy target for hated. The so-called prolife movement is, if possible, are even more frightening. A prominent advocate for K-12 education related to me a comment made by a state legislator that education advocates aren’t as effective as prolife advocates because “you people don’t make me fear for my life when I walk to my car at night.” It is the height of hypocrisy that prolife tactics include terroristic threats on other peoples’ lives.

In all these cases, hatred makes it powerfully easy. Selfish greed is reinforced by hatred. Add the reinforcement of group belonging and it is a powerful force to be reckoned with, no matter how often the chosen candidates proclaim their bi-partisanship.

]]> By: Hathor http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/listen-to-the-music.html/comment-page-1#comment-10242 Hathor Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:37:21 +0000 http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/?p=755#comment-10242 Where was Jeb Bush's son, Colin Powell and Condi Rice Where was Jeb Bush’s son, Colin Powell and Condi Rice

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