Everything wrong with America today

[Erika1487]

Everything wrong with America today sumed up in 2 1/2 min youtube vid...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB6ie25_fFw&sns=sms

[Erika1487]

As conservative I look at these damn unwashed pot head, hippie, world peace, yoga freaks and :smh No wonder this country is going to hell in a handbasket...

[BluegrassCat]

As the girl in the video says, isolation and anomie are serious problems. A stronger sense of community and belonging are needed today. Good post.

[Erika1487]

As the girl in the video says, isolation and anomie are serious problems. A stronger sense of community and belonging are needed today. Good post.
Don't get me wrong if you want to pray/meditate thats fine, but this one world/one tribe bunk just makes me scratch my head.

[trish]

We're all just one biosphere; possibly all evolved from one single self-replicating molecule :)

[Stavros]

As conservative I look at these damn unwashed pot head, hippie, world peace, yoga freaks and :smh No wonder this country is going to hell in a handbasket...



Meditation can actually help people with stress, you don't need to go to an ashram in Beverly Hills or feel one with nature and the world to appreciate its therapeutic benefits.

[fred41]

I have to admit that I learned something from this thread.

The word anomie.

Thanks.

[Ben]

As conservative I look at these damn unwashed pot head, hippie, world peace, yoga freaks and :smh No wonder this country is going to hell in a handbasket...

Ha ha ha! Yep! Nothing to do with neoconservatism or neoclassical economics or environmental destruction or corporate control of our government or the dearth or lack of meaningful democracy or what's called: the democratic deficit.
Or the lack of morality that's deeply rooted in the overall corporate-state structure... that has really taken hold of our society. Or endless and pointless and costly wars.
I'm not sure if anyone understands what conservatism is about. I mean, we don't really have conservatives in America. I mean, we have people that call themselves conservatives. But they're, well, what I'd call radical statists. Who want an extremely coercive and intrusive state. (And I should add that conservatism came out of classical liberalism. Which is a good thing.) Conservatives are steadfastly against state oppression. Conservatives also believe in a social contract. (And, too, what we call libertarianism in America is the opposite in places like Europe. In Europe libertarianism means: of the left.)
Adam Smith was a classical liberal or conservative. And believed in free markets. Because, as Adam Smith pointed out, that under conditions of perfect liberty you get perfect equality. That was the basis for free markets. And his support of them.
But we aren't supposed to know about that.
And:
It's people who want peace. Like... John Lennon that are just crazzzeeee -- ha ha! ;)

Imagine - The Beatles - John Lennon - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCX3ZNDZAwY)

[trish]

The very worse thing that can happen is everyone getting together to sing "kumbaya." It's a nightmare to all free thinking people.

[SugaSweet]

John Lennon sang Imagine no possessions and left a 150 million dollar estate to his family.It is all about $$$$'s and jealousy.By the way,the song Jealous Guy is on Imagine and it is a damn good tune.

[Prospero]

Boy Erika really talks the talk doesn't she... so excuse me intruding on her private grief.

Easy to excoriate the dirty unwashed hippie pothead yoga freaks, isn't it.

What I see in that video are a lot of idealistic if very naive young people who believe, albeit in an inchoate way, in goodness.

I think although naive, they are much to be preferred to the cynical and heartless, profit pursuing people of the corporate world and those in the tea party deluded by the Koch Brothers clever shenanigans into believing that they have the key to a bright and better future.

[Erika1487]

We're all just one biosphere; possibly all evolved from one single self-replicating molecule :)
And here I thougt the the world was flat :shrug silly me.

[Erika1487]

Ha ha ha! Yep! Nothing to do with neoconservatism or neoclassical economics or environmental destruction or corporate control of our government or the dearth or lack of meaningful democracy or what's called: the democratic deficit.
Or the lack of morality that's deeply rooted in the overall corporate-state structure... that has really taken hold of our society. Or endless and pointless and costly wars.
I'm not sure if anyone understands what conservatism is about. I mean, we don't really have conservatives in America. I mean, we have people that call themselves conservatives. But they're, well, what I'd call radical statists. Who want an extremely coercive and intrusive state. (And I should add that conservatism came out of classical liberalism. Which is a good thing.) Conservatives are steadfastly against state oppression. Conservatives also believe in a social contract. (And, too, what we call libertarianism in America is the opposite in places like Europe. In Europe libertarianism means: of the left.)
Adam Smith was a classical liberal or conservative. And believed in free markets. Because, as Adam Smith pointed out, that under conditions of perfect liberty you get perfect equality. That was the basis for free markets. And his support of them.
But we aren't supposed to know about that.
And:
It's people who want peace. Like... John Lennon that are just crazzzeeee -- ha ha! ;)

Imagine - The Beatles - John Lennon - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCX3ZNDZAwY)
You know what the real problem I have with this video, Ben, Prospero, Trish, Hippifried, and Stravos? It is the bury our head in the sand and meditate for a better world/peace/whatever these nuts pray for level of naive 2nd grade lets hold hands and everything will be better bs. I can talk to and deal with a standard fairweather democrat, what I can't deal with are these kind of childish liberalism that honestly belong at the bottom of thier water bong back at the commune. Maybe i am just too bitter too intrenched in politics and policy for so long that this is the new normal and it is me that can't see the forest for the trees. :shrug

[Prospero]

No one said it was the "new normal" Erika - simply that these naive people do, at least have their hearts in the right place.

[trish]

You know what the real problem I have with this video, Ben, Prospero, Trish, Hippifried, and Stravos? It is the bury our head in the sand and meditate for a better world/peace/whatever these nuts pray for level of naive 2nd grade lets hold hands and everything will be better bs.
Kind of like Gov Rick Perry declaring a day of prayer to end the drought :D

[Stavros]

You know what the real problem I have with this video, Ben, Prospero, Trish, Hippifried, and Stravos? It is the bury our head in the sand and meditate for a better world/peace/whatever these nuts pray for level of naive 2nd grade lets hold hands and everything will be better bs. I can talk to and deal with a standard fairweather democrat, what I can't deal with are these kind of childish liberalism that honestly belong at the bottom of thier water bong back at the commune. Maybe i am just too bitter too intrenched in politics and policy for so long that this is the new normal and it is me that can't see the forest for the trees. :shrug
Freedom of assembly and freedom of speech guarantee those people the right to do what they do; at least they are not hurting anyone, and there are many people whose bitterness with politics leads them to reject it, and to embrace something wholly personal -sometimes change begins with the self, and if it satisfies such people it would surely be odd to change it and in the process make them unhappy. Your own story suggests that the importance of personal change is greater than fidelity to a political idea. Peace and love will not change the world, but I think it is preferable to aggression and war -it's also cheaper.

[Prospero]

Freedom of assembly and freedom of speech guarantee those people the right to do what they do; at least they are not hurting anyone, and there are many people whose bitterness with politics leads them to reject it, and to embrace something wholly personal -sometimes change begins with the self, and if it satisfies such people it would surely be odd to change it and in the process make them unhappy. Your own story suggests that the importance of personal change is greater than fidelity to a political idea. Peace and love will not change the world, but I think it is preferable to aggression and war -it's also cheaper.
:iagree::iagree:

[Erika1487]

Kind of like Gov Rick Perry declaring a day of prayer to end the drought :DWell played my dear well played.

[Erika1487]

Freedom of assembly and freedom of speech guarantee those people the right to do what they do; at least they are not hurting anyone, and there are many people whose bitterness with politics leads them to reject it, and to embrace something wholly personal -sometimes change begins with the self, and if it satisfies such people it would surely be odd to change it and in the process make them unhappy. Your own story suggests that the importance of personal change is greater than fidelity to a political idea. Peace and love will not change the world, but I think it is preferable to aggression and war -it's also cheaper. I am disliked and pretty much hated by my christian conservative friends because of my transsexual status. I do not take it personal, but I would be lying if I didn't tell you it hurts to be hated & disliked by so many former friends and coworkers. I still a conservative at heart, but have rejected all thier ideas on LGBT issues. I am a bit of a lone wolf I guess in that regard, and have to deal with finding my own political place in the sun. Much in the same way these kids are I guess :shrug

[muh_muh]

find the mistake:


these damn unwashed pot head, hippie, world peace, yoga freaks and :smh

I am disliked and pretty much hated by my christian conservative friends because of my transsexual status.

[Erika1487]

find the mistake: And you point....being a conservative is bad for my transition O_o?

[Stavros]

There are plenty of Americans in the LGBT spectrum who vote Republican, I think a disdain for social groups that irritate is a pointless diversion. I don't know much about your part of Ohio, but if you are able to find and meet with people who share your political views I think it would be a solution. I hope anyway that you will continue to explain your political choices here. Eg, who do you think Romney will choose as his VP, and who would you like it to be? Other than yourself, of course...

[Prospero]

Yep - Erika for Veep. That'd be a good choice for Mitt

[loveboof]

As conservative I look at these damn unwashed pot head, hippie, world peace, yoga freaks and :smh No wonder this country is going to hell in a handbasket...

lol.. yeah wouldn't it just suck to have a little world peace!

Fuckin' Yoga! That is the number one problem in America (& the world)

[Prospero]

YOGA. It's all a chinese plot to take over the world.

[loveboof]

lol. Damn commies!

When will they just leave us alone?!

[robertlouis]

YOGA. It's all a chinese plot to take over the world.

YOGURT. It's all a Bulgarian plot to take over the world. :banana:

[broncofan]

I am disliked and pretty much hated by my christian conservative friends because of my transsexual status. I do not take it personal, but I would be lying if I didn't tell you it hurts to be hated & disliked by so many former friends and coworkers. I still a conservative at heart, but have rejected all thier ideas on LGBT issues. I am a bit of a lone wolf I guess in that regard, and have to deal with finding my own political place in the sun. Much in the same way these kids are I guess :shrug
There's a reason you're a lone wolf. You've chosen to associate with wolf poachers. It's hard to have sympathy for someone who is okay with scapegoating unless they are the victim of it. Your conservative friends approach you like they approach many other individuals they help marginalize; with closed-minded intolerance and outright disdain. Your response is that you can see eye to eye with them about everything except their mistreatment of you.

I also don't really understand the comment that you don't take it personally that you are disliked for your status but you'd be lying if you did not admit that it hurts. Sure, but I think you're lying if you maintain that's not taking it personally, and it is something to be taken personally.

The people in the video are harmless, just like those fastingforlife and other right-wingers wanted to blame all of the world's problems on while using words like "savage" to describe African-Americans and claiming such statements were harmless. You see I always thought dehumanizing people was harmful and meditation harmless. Where did I go wrong?

[muh_muh]

And you point....being a conservative is bad for my transition O_o?

no my point is youre prejudiced against some people while at the same time complaining about others being pejudiced against you
dissonant much?

[Erika1487]

There are plenty of Americans in the LGBT spectrum who vote Republican, I think a disdain for social groups that irritate is a pointless diversion. I don't know much about your part of Ohio, but if you are able to find and meet with people who share your political views I think it would be a solution. I hope anyway that you will continue to explain your political choices here. Eg, who do you think Romney will choose as his VP, and who would you like it to be? Other than yourself, of course...
I would rather vote for the coco puffs bird than Mitt and his magic underwear. At least the coco puffs bird admits he is crazy.
The Vp nod will go to Condi Rice.

[Erika1487]

Yep - Erika for Veep. That'd be a good choice for Mitt My slogan would be 'Erika has a dangler Spangler' It would be a smash with the mormon church ;)

[Erika1487]

YOGURT. It's all a Bulgarian plot to take over the world. :banana:Damn Bulgarians thier fancy food and complicated shoes (shakes fist)

[Erika1487]

There's a reason you're a lone wolf. You've chosen to associate with wolf poachers. It's hard to have sympathy for someone who is okay with scapegoating unless they are the victim of it. Your conservative friends approach you like they approach many other individuals they help marginalize; with closed-minded intolerance and outright disdain. Your response is that you can see eye to eye with them about everything except their mistreatment of you.

I also don't really understand the comment that you don't take it personally that you are disliked for your status but you'd be lying if you did not admit that it hurts. Sure, but I think you're lying if you maintain that's not taking it personally, and it is something to be taken personally.

The people in the video are harmless, just like those fastingforlife and other right-wingers wanted to blame all of the world's problems on while using words like "savage" to describe African-Americans and claiming such statements were harmless. You see I always thought dehumanizing people was harmful and meditation harmless. Where did I go wrong?
I am not afraid to say it hurts when your co workers and friends turn aginst you for who yot are. I do not hold it aginst them and take it personally because it has more too do with political posturing than real feelings towards me.

[Stavros]

My slogan would be 'Erika has a dangler Spangler' It would be a smash with the mormon church ;)

Are we speaking the same language? 'Dangler spangler'? 'Coco Puffs Bird'?-must be something very American as I don't have a clue what you are talking about.

[Erika1487]

Are we speaking the same language? 'Dangler spangler'? 'Coco Puffs Bird'?-must be something very American as I don't have a clue what you are talking about. Coco puffs = childern's cereal. Dangler is a play off my last name and the word dangle. I am a pre-op ts ya know ;)

[loveboof]

Coco puffs = childern's cereal.
We get a monkey:
http://www.bitterwallet.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/cocopops.jpg

Everything wrong with America today sumed up in 2 1/2 min youtube vid...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB6ie25_fFw&sns=sms
I seriously can't understand how anyone could have a problem with anything in that video!

The people who do are much more likely to be 'everything wrong' in America IMO...

[Stavros]

Coco puffs = childern's cereal. Dangler is a play off my last name and the word dangle. I am a pre-op ts ya know ;)

Have you ever thought of a career in marketing?

[Erika1487]

We get a monkey:
http://www.bitterwallet.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/cocopops.jpg

:smh

[Erika1487]

Have you ever thought of a career in marketing? Politcal policy wonk yes, Marketing? I will have to pass :/