friend of my brother turned from a democratic activist into a Republican.

[applegrove]

I asked my brother why? He said that the guy thinks that university professors, who specialize on climate change, have a vested interest in seeing the whole field grow and that is why they believe what they believe. He felt the same way about the civil rights activists who were at law school with him... they didn't have to work hard at certain types of law classes because they were so focused on the only type of law they wanted to do (which was a fun kind of law while he was studying corporate law and didn't love it). Basically this guy feels that everyone in the world has an agenda and a vested interest in the things they do and the choices they make.

It is as though, by saying the world is so, that they can then be for the vested interests (the rich) without having to worry about their conscience. Because everybody does it. Perhaps he feels that when people vote for more equality in a society they vote that way because they put an emotional price on being a do gooder and they want that commodity. I don't really know how how cynical GOPers are.

Psst! Everybody does it. So go ahead and don't think of other people and their needs because everyone is really just out for themselves.:sarcasm:

And this from a guy who supported Gary Hart before anyone else.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. He's probably always been a republican

He's right. Everyone does have an agenda and a vested interest in what they do. And since he's a republican, he thinks that vested interest is at a personal (what's in it for me?) level. But not everyone's vested interest is selfish. Not everyone's vested interest conflicts with their conscience.

[applegrove]

2. You said it better than me. And he was a very involved democrat. Just before

Gary Hart's campaign caught fire, this guy had every copy of Hart's book that was in Massachusetts in his dorm room.

[EC]

3. Well, duh...

Yeah, we all have a vested interest - in WHAT INTERESTS US...he's one of those that chose his path by how much $$ he could make - one of those who will never be happy - because he had no vested interest in himself....



This is the same as when they critizize Gore for making money on Climate Change...when it's been an interest of his long before there was money to be made from it...he's just proving that there is money to be made in it, since everyone said going green would be a waste of money...now all those that said green wouldn't be commercially viable, see him making money on it...they are jealous ...

[applegrove]

21. Oh yeah there is definitely some envy in how the GOP politicos feel about

the centre left and left. They are the ones who really hate the intellectual elites on the left. Same with the german population just before WWII and the jews. No surprise that the masters of the right wing are tuning their followers into baser instincts. That is how psychopaths do it. They grow people down. Turn them into nasty children filled with hate.

[galloglas]

4. So what ?

So did Obama, by deed if not by name.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. Hey

Wassup?

Long time no see.

[galloglas]

14. Waiting, waiting...

I have a new shot at a medical option coming Jan 10.

Hope it works, cause I am sooooo up for a battle with the corporate Fascisti (I even have a secret plan on ice). Catch me up by email and we can talk at DFA or whatever (Eamonn says "Hi!").

[madinmaryland]

5. So he is going to support the party that has the complete opposite beliefs

of his??

:wtf:

Just, wow.

[lumberjack_jeff]

6. He's studying corporate law.

The cognitive dissonance would have eventually killed him. You can't have only one foot in the dark side.

[OHdem10]

7. Perhaps he decided--we get Republican agenda anyway, why

not be on the team with the winners.

[OutNow]

8. Which side are you on?

It's a great old union song and really asks the question that must be asked. Of course everyone is striving for something. The poor for a few more crumbs, the rich for a few more vacations, country homes, etc. It's not that we aren't all working for something, it's that these efforts end up conflicting. That's called the dialectic.

Once you set your goals you can figure the best way to reach them. For a person with a poor education that gets a job in a warehouse they can either go for it on their own, or join with their coworkers to seek higher wages and better conditions. They figure on which side they're on.

The best reason to join a union or a political party is to work together to build a better society that you can then participate in.

We know that there is a reason that most rich people are Republicans and those that see themselves in their image also join the Republican Party even when the reality is that most wanna-be rich folks aren't going to become rich and are in fact working against their own interests.

I know I'm a union member. I know which side I'm on, and I know it's in my best interest.

Which side are you on?

[applegrove]

22. Oh I am definitely a long time liberal. I vote Liberal or NDP in Canada.

[SheilaT]

10. He is seeing the world through the lens of his

own belief system. Yes, we all do that, but his is a belief system that everyone is selfish, which says a lot more about him than about anyone else.

[applegrove]

23. Yes I do believe he is projecting his own selfishness onto others.

[Ramulux]

11. I dont get it

I literally dont understand his decision-making process. So, since apparently professors of climatology believe in climate change that means that democrats are bad? What do any of the points he makes about people having an agenda have to do with your political beliefs? Is he saying that only democrats have beliefs and republicans dont? I dont understand how thinking everyone has an agenda has anything to with being a liberal or conservative. Am I missing something?

[applegrove]

24. My brother just told me and I am putting it up there because I'd like to see

what the DU thinks of it. I'm getting good feedback.

[Vinca]

12. Someone must have cornered the guy and given him a lobotomy.

[dorkulon]

13. The argument Re: climate scientists really irks me.

Who does he think has more money to lose/gain in the climate debate? Scientists or the fossil fuel industry? And it seems to me that ANYONE with any academic credentials at all who takes Exxon's side in the 'debate' suddenly receives a deluge of funding and fame. Just makes no sense.

[applegrove]

25. I know. He's projecting his selfishness onto climate scientists. It is a huge rationalization

on his part to explain away the whole GOP agenda.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

15. Sounds like he's been reading quite a few Ayn Rand books. He sounds just like it! n/t

[applegrove]

26. So true. LOL!

[OneGrassRoot]

16. One of my favorite quotes applies here:

“Liberalism is trust of the people tempered by prudence. Conservatism is distrust of the people tempered by fear.” ~ William Gladstone

In general, I feel right-wingers loathe humanity. I may find many individual people distasteful but, in general, I have great faith in humanity.

[applegrove]

27. Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, we have a winner.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

17. To add, he sounds a lot like my father and many other people.

This "I've got mine, too bad for you" attitude is not new. This is a philosophy that has prevailed, I think, since the dawn of Reaganism. The '80s were all about heightened self interests and individualism in the pursuit of happiness. There are so many Americans--regardless of party--who feel as your friend does: "I've worked hard and paid my dues. Why can't people do the same?" If we all just pursued our own self interests, society would improve because everyone would be living up to their own best potential, right?

As for this view of greed, it may explain why people get so enraged by people on the dole than they do with Wall Street thieves and avarice. They are convinced that the greedy have "earned" the right to be greedy because they paid their dues. However, those on the dole, the poor, downtrodden simply didn't make the right choices in life. Therefore, whatever ill befalls them is their own fault. They should've made better life choices. Besides, not everyone is meant to do well for themselves; not everyone is capable or smart enough to make the "right" decisions.

This attitude is not new. It is indicative of far too many in this society.

The Romans once thought like this as well. Eventually it leads to ultimate ruin.

Everyone pursuing their own self interests cannot sustain a just and orderly society. Eventually those being left behind will come to consciousness--as Marx would argue--and fight back against those in power who continue to swindle and take for themselves to the detriment of everyone else.

[MadMaddie]

18. We keep coming back to their god Reagan don't we?

I sensed it then being in high school something was changing. As our roads fall apart our society continues to disintegrate into fear and ignorance these Republicans and people like them won't blame themselves they will blame everyone else who had no power to make decisions.

Honestly,if we split the country in two and let them live in their Ann Raynd utopia they would find it likeable for a short time. They have no love of country, they only have love of themselves. The continued corporatization of American will ensure that the country takes second place to anything else.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

19. The "Me Movement" was in high gear during that time. The Southern Strategy

personified by the "Welfare Queen" is really what did it. The Republicans masterfully painting race-neutral policies into "welfare." They're doing the same thing now with this new Southern Strategy. Unemployment insurance, social security, universal healthcare, etc. Notice any recurring themes in Republican rhetoric? Those on unemployment are "spoiled" and "lazy." The working- and middle-class don't need tax cuts; by implication, it is the wealthy that creates jobs and pay over half of the taxes in this country. Therefore, the wealthy are MORE deserving of a tax break. The message is subtle but there: everyone else made poor decisions in life. Had they been lucky and inherited wealth, they would be entitled. Some people, they say, just weren't born lucky and therefore, no government policy can rectify their situation. There's nothing government can do to change the circumstances of people's lives; therefore, leave them out to pastor, put their children in foster care or better yet, JAIL! All the "undesirables" in society who scream for a government handout are a strain on this society. That's how they think. And sadly, this attitude permeates throughout society and across party lines.

[MadMaddie]

28. I agree with you

They were able to margenilie miniorities and they created a template. Now they are doing it to the entire society. That is why it is important not to single out any group for anything because this is the end result.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

20. He's a sell-out

Probably thinks he's going to be making 200,000+ soon and wants his tax cut.