re: #768 ~Fianna

As I said elsewhere yesterday, the problem with American politics at this point is that we have one party with two mouths. One half of this party, in general, wants to tell us how to live our lives because they think we’re immoral; the other half, in general, wants to tell us how to live our lives because we’re stupid.

I don’t like either option.

I couldn’t agree with you more. One party wants to tell us how to live based on their religious beliefs which they consider superior and which leads to “family values.” The other wants to tell me that I’m too stupid to know what’s good for me, and learned elders will make it all better. Both are prone to the worst sin of all: hypocrisy. Ultimately, I think what people really hate is not any particular strain of political theory or belief - but hypocrisy. Everyone knows that politicians are obviously imperfect human beings, who likely have psychological problems for getting into the line of work in the first place. But the least that I expect is not to be lectured to by politicians or judged by them based on a self-created set of beliefs that they themselves can’t even follow.

I don’t judge Mark Sanford for sleeping with an Argentine mistress, I judge him for moralizing for the last decade about family values. I don’t dislike Larry Craig for his conservative views, I dislike him for lecturing me about homosexuals and family values while engaging in bathroom-stall blowjobbing. And ultimately, I really don’t dislike Sarah Palin’s fundamental positions - I dislike her for knowingly, and willfully thrusting herself into the harshest limelight on the planet, and then bitterly complaining about her treatment. Its obscene.

What I want to know is….where’s MY party? I’m a social progressive fiscal conservative. Where do I go? I am not religious, and am generally uncomfortable with ANY system that is based on religious beliefs. I think that government is fundamentally incompetent, and is unqualified to do anything but national security and tax collection. Where’s my Party? Where’s the party of reason and fiscal restraint, that does not club intellectualism as something to be ashamed off, while acknowledging that this country’s greatest asset is the sheer opportunity afforded its population in terms of business creation and growth. Where’s THAT party? Because if it exists, I’ll be a member. I am so sick and tired of the choices we have…. creationist biblethumpers on one side who I’d rather chew glass than have a conversation with on one side - moralizing, patronizing ignorants on the other who have never dealt with any issue beyond a blog post or a fundraiser.

bleagh.

/rant.

-PH