We can have a discussion or we can have the spin....

[daleanime]

Have you noticed how easy it is, even here, not to have the discussion? To discount, belittle, demean, or just ignore/list any views that are a little(or a lot) out of step with your own?

Some of that is no double human nature, but more then a bit is planned. Keep the sound bits small, yell the big lies loudly and endlessly, do ever thing you can to discourage the conversion. Because if the people get together and start comparing notes who knows what may happen? The spin may slow down a bit.

Last week I had a 'interesting' little phone conversion-called up our supplier to order a new set of deposit bags, and as we were going of over the details, she mentioned that damn "healthcare thingee". That was the kickoff for a fairly intense 6/7 minute talk.

Even though we disagree on almost everything about 'politics', her from the far right, I from my "why-the-hell-can't-we-get-single-payer" left, we found that we could work it out between us. She definitely liked 'Medicare for All' buy ins.

But these are the talks that we can't have, after all we must live in the real world right? I mean we can always change it later, when the forces that worked against us this time will still be there, just richer and more invested then ever. Heaven knows the longer we wait the richer some grow, and that seems to be the means to the end as far as their concerned.

After all it's not like we have any grave problems hanging over our heads? Like a growing national debt, trade imbalance, or a collapsing eco-system. Think national, act local, and don't stop talking.

[elleng]

1. What my atty and I got today from my 'husb,'

HIS spin on the LAW! NO discussion! Just like the bad old days!

[daleanime]

2. Oh, yea....

I've been there, don't let him wear you out.

[elleng]

3. Thanks. I feel pretty worn out at the moment!

Fortunately, I'm not my attorney! (Husb IS his OWN, and did complain about how much time he's spent on this! GOOD)

[Hello_Kitty]

4. A surprising number of conservatives I know support SP or a public option

Definitely in the minority but I wouldn't expect any considering the heavy propaganda that comes from the Right on this.

[daleanime]

5. I know....

with some folks all you have to do is change the name of the program. (Like Medical for All)

[alc]

6. I want discussion

I've thought about starting a site for a while for people who want to discuss issues with other people who disagree with them as well as those who agree. (I've created and run a other non-political sites so it's not just a pie-in-the-sky dream). There have been a number of times that I've read DU and FR threads on the same topic with lots of attacks on each other and misrepresentation of the other's opinion and I just want to scream "YOU AGREE, stop attacking and talk".

Let me know if you'd be interested in a site of open discussion from ALL viewpoints. I definitely need help. I've been thinking about it for over a year and the more I think, the more I have respect for moderators on all sites. I want emotion, strong opinions, everyone to feel free to say anything on topic. I don't want rudeness, personal attacks, censorship. I'm not qualified to determine what's on topic, rude, an attack, etc (nobody is, especially with a wide variety of participants with different backgrounds and definitions of rudeness). So how is it open but controlled but not censored? Some people who cause the most problems also contribute a lot of novel viewpoints. I'm trying to figure out an invite-only (with very liberal invite mechanism if I can find a way. like a "please invite me" button on every post and if the poster wants to host you anonymously they can). But you are responsible for anyone you invite, and you are the only one who can boot or censor them.

I currently have 2 other sites I'm working on (for free in my spare time plus a few I maintain) in addition to my real job. But if I get a few other people working on the concept and rules with me I may get motivated to make this my next hobby project. (and other people to work on actual site with me would be even better)

[treestar]

7. Everyone listens to other views

Everyone is exposed to other views all day every day.

When the other side is repetitive and unresponsive to logic, they don't persuade.

[daleanime]

8. True enough...

listen, acknowledge, and then response(not repeat). If you spent all day hammering on one nail, nothing gets build.