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Friday, October 23, 2015

Think About What You Read*


Think About What You Read*

Years ago, I had a boss who was discussing a management technique he had read in a book.  He was not telling people to use this technique; he was simply bringing it up as a point of discussion.  Someone at the meeting who did not agree with what the book was saying asked rather sarcastically,

“Just because it is in a book, do you believe everything you read?”

Without skipping a beat my boss responded calmly,

 “No, but I think about everything I read.”

When I read political commentary and peoples reaction to it, be it around the water cooler (Do they still have water coolers?) man on the street, or Facebook comments, it seems to me that people no longer think about what they read or hear. 

Yes, me too, I am a people.

If the origin of a statement comes from President Obama, Hillary or any traditionally Liberal mind, conservatives automatically come out fighting and slam the statement.  The same goes for any Republican or Conservative statement; Liberals automatically put it down with much vigor.

For instance, I used to listen quite a bit to Rush Limbaugh, a Conservative (also a bit of a blow hard).  I don’t hate Rush, when I used to listen to him he often made some very good, very logical points.  I even bought two of his books.  However, after listening to him on the radio for several years and reading two books, I realized he did not ever agree with a single position or statement from any one that did not claim to be Conservative.  .

NOT ONCE! NEVER! EVER!

I get it, he is conservative, his audience is Conservative, but not once, not one single time did he ever agree with a statement by a Liberal.  Everything Bill Clinton (or whatever Democrat was in any position of power) said and did was wrong…and done for evil purposes.  He would not even consider that a liberal position was genuine; no, every Liberal position was taken to win votes, win elections, and to give power to government not for any public good, but only for their own evil desires.

I picked on Rush and Conservatives here because I am, in general, a Conservative myself and I want to appear to take the high road, but the other side of the aisle is exactly the same.  Since I have been following politics I cannot think of a single Conservative position that any Liberal of consequence has not put down as simply a position to increase the wealth of the 1% or evil corporations, a position for the rich to keep their foot on the necks of the poor, a position to gain votes, or a position that is just “mean spirited” and evil because all Conservatives are “mean spirited” and evil.

NOT ONCE! NEVER! EVER!

Liberal positions on taxing and spending are ALWAYS wasteful and careless.

Conservative positions on taxing and spending are ALWAYS “Draconian” and “mean spirited.”

Social issues are treated similarly by both sides.

For the most part Conservatives and Liberals both want the same thing for this country…peace, harmony, equality and prosperity.

I know that most people will not believe that statement, but speaking for most Conservatives that I know they want peace, harmony, equality and prosperity. The Liberal friends I have, and yeah I have a few, seem to also want peace, harmony, equality and prosperity.

The two sides just have different ideas on how to get there.

I for one am deciding to listen to positions that may not follow my general ideology, and then, like my old boss suggested “Think about those positions.” I probably will disagree with most of the agendas of Hillary, President Obama and other Liberal leaders, but I will listen.  I will assume that their agenda is based on what they genuinely believe is best for the most people in the country and the country as a whole.   

I will not have a knee jerk negative reaction…I will think about what they say. 

Occasionally I just might agree.

*Several weeks ago I promised I would no longer post or comment on political issues…OK, starting now.

15 comments:

  1. It's a good start to bringing you around to my way of thinking, Joe. ;^/

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  2. Not a bad way to approach things Joe. People on both sides of the aisle need to start thinking, not just shooting from the lip.

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  3. as one who straddles the aisle, i wish more folks would open up their minds.

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  4. You just can't help yourself, can you? It's YOUR blog, by cracky! Write about whatever you want to write about. Let the big stupidheads respond however they want. Somebody might learn something.

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  5. I try and limit what I watch on MSNBC (always Liberal) and Fox News (always conservative) and check out other sources so I don't become too entrenched in one political viewpoint.

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  6. Can't we all just get along????

    There. I said it. But if anyone starts singing Kumbya? Heads are gonna roll!

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    Replies
    1. Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya;
      Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya;
      Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya;
      Oh, Lord, kumbaya...

      Delete
    2. LOL!

      ♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫ Oh, Lord, kumbaya...♪♫♪♪♫♪♫

      Delete
  7. This has been how i view things all along -- i like being a mugwump, taking each issue as it comes, looking at both sides, and deciding for myself.

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  8. I clearly remember when you made that promise.
    I made the same promise to myself. I wonder if
    I'll ever break it, but it ain't gonna be now. LOL

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  9. You are correct and it's why I think Congress is a joke. Why do they even bother voting on anything? Every one of them just tows the party line.

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  10. As I've always said, a good idea is a good idea, regardless of where it originates. Sometimes I agree with the outcome one political party or the other wants, but not necessarily for the REASONS they want it. EX: We need more income equality, not because the evil conservatives are screwing the masses, but because it will be an enticement for us to work together and think more about what's good for us ALL. It will be in our national interest to be unified and strong, not polarized, with everyone looking out for only #1. The end result is we will ALL be better off....it isn't a zero sum proposition. One side doesn't have to lose for the other to win. Don't always look at things in liberal/conservative terms. Look at the big picture.

    And I think Stephen Hayes is spot on.

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  11. Yep, we need to get rid of both political parties and get an new party. Independent or libertarian. What we have now hasn't been working well for a very long time.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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  12. I try to understand and think about both sides of stories, many people do I suspect. But there are some even out here who seem to take great delight in slamming anyone with different beliefs. We do have one political writer for our paper who quite often says that while he doesn't agree with this or that person, they do have good ideas and if only the opposing parties could get together, maybe the country could get some good out of it.
    Does that make sense?

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  13. You raise some good points. I think my friends are about a 50/50 mix of Liberal and Conservative, and I see a lot of them doing exactly what you're talking about. I think you're right that most people want good things for society, even if there's some disagreement about what that is, and a lot of disagreement about how to get there.

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