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Do Conservatives And Liberals Have Enough in Common to Keep A Country Together Anymore?
Townhall.com ^ | Nov 18, 2017 | John Hawkins

Posted on 11/17/2017 11:36:10 PM PST by Oshkalaboomboom

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” – The Declaration of Independence

Remember the woman who was fired for flipping off Trump’s motorcade? Well, she has been deluged with job offers from liberals and a Gofundme set up in her name has raised 117k dollars and counting. This seems like a small thing, but it’s indicative of where we are as a society.

There was a time when doing something trashy like flipping off a presidential motorcade would be frowned upon -- not because everyone loves the President, but because no one with class would do anything like that. Those days are gone and they’ve been replaced by non-stop trolling, outright hatred of people with differing opinions and grotesque tribalism. Gridlock has become the rule of the day in Congress for a number of reasons, but one of the biggest is that the Right and Left simply don’t agree on much anymore.

Just as an example, ask yourself this question: how many of the fundamental questions about American life do you agree with Barack Obama or Nancy Pelosi on? Think about the basic questions of American life.

The Constitution? Conservatives believe in it. Liberals believe in a “living Constitution” which is fundamentally no different than having no Constitution at all.

Religion? Conservatives tend to believe in Judeo-Christian values. Even atheists who are conservative tend to at least be friendly to those values. Liberals mock Judeo-Christian values.

What about patriotism? Conservatives tend to love their country. Liberals love this country like a wife-beater loves his spouse.

Conservatives tend to be capitalists. Liberals tend to be socialists. Conservatives believe people should be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. Liberals believe your race defines you. Conservatives believe in equality of opportunity. Liberals believe in equality of results. Conservatives believe in freedom of speech. Liberals are fine with silencing people that disagree with them. Conservatives believe in small government. Liberals believe in a frighteningly powerful central government dictating your every move.

That last one is perhaps the most significant because if liberals could live the way they want in California, New York and Connecticut while conservatives could live as they please in Texas, South Carolina and Utah, we could shrug off our differences. As the government in Washington becomes ever more powerful, that is no longer allowed.

Getting back to that central question, what do you agree with Nancy Pelosi or Barack Obama on? There are certainly some things. For example, Nancy Pelosi represents San Francisco and presumably likes the city. I’ve visited and certainly liked it as well. Barack Obama likes golf and basketball. Certainly there are plenty of conservatives who feel the same way. If we got right down to it, there are probably plenty of conservatives who like the same clothes, restaurants and TV shows that Obama and Pelosi do…but, is that enough to hold together a nation over the long haul?

America is going to be testing that proposition over the next few decades.

Recently, a Republican group in North Carolina asked me to come out and speak. After my speech, there was a Q&A session and someone there asked me, “Is it time for people who love their country to get their guns, head to D.C. and do something about what’s happening in our country?”

Just to be clear, he wasn’t advocating a terrorist attack or a random shooting; he was asking if it is time for patriots who love this country to attempt to overthrow the government to help bring our nation back to Constitutional governance.

What DIDN’T happen is worth noting. Nobody laughed. Nobody shouted, “Oh, come on!” Nobody said, “Oh, that’s just crazy, Dave. You’ll have to excuse him and his wild questions.” Instead, people sat quietly and listened for my response.

The short version of what I told him was “no.” It is not time to split the country apart and have a revolution. That’s a very extreme step and it should only be taken in the direst of circumstances

The longer version of what I told him is that he’s right to be concerned about the country and that, yes, it is entirely possible we won’t hold together long term. What happens when we – almost inevitably at this point – have a debt-driven economic crash which causes Social Security and Medicare to be gutted? Other than wanting to get those checks, what do we have holding us together anymore? Eating lunch at McDonald’s? Watching The Walking Dead? NFL games….oh wait, sorry. We don’t even have that anymore.

We have broken bonds as a nation before: first, with the British, then during the Civil War. Regrettably, we may be headed toward another break down the road. That’s not something anyone should welcome, but when large percentages of the population are forced to live under grating rules they disagree with in the strongest of terms, paid for with increasingly large amounts of tax money they didn’t want to give up and implemented by people they don’t like, respect or feel bound to as a people, no wise person should assume that will continue indefinitely.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: culturewar; leftism; liberalism; progressivism; twocountries
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To: eartick

I’ve always explained to those that argue that we have a democracy the differences.

Everyone thinks democracy is freedom. It’s not. Democracy is simply 3 wolves and 1 sheep voting on what to have for dinner.

A republic is a well armed sheep contesting the vote.

Democracy is simply mob rule. Republic is law and order and everyone has the same rights.

I’m amazed at how many people don’t know the difference.


61 posted on 11/18/2017 5:42:07 AM PST by Bulwyf
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To: lee martell
Certain issues may united us sufficiently enough to keep the patriotism strong, such as wars or innovations from powerhouses such as Apple or some new version of General Motors, Tesla, but on a strict budget.

Don't be ridiculous innovations by globalist corporations is going to instill patriotism? Are you high?

62 posted on 11/18/2017 5:45:39 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: who_would_fardels_bear

What is a right wing ideologues? Please, name a few.


63 posted on 11/18/2017 5:46:54 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: 5th MEB

Secession will prevent bloodshed. Nobody want to keep CA in the USA but state-ist thugs; which are a small minority.


64 posted on 11/18/2017 5:49:20 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Panhandle.deporable

“lonl” (lots of no laughs) Separating the country into smaller countries wouldn’t be good enough for libs. Like islam, liberalism wants complete control of everyone in the world, no separation of ideology allowed unless its separation from what founded this most unique nation. They are obsessive psychopaths who want hive mentality instead of free will. The obsession of their psychosis is the destruction of the rest of us aka those they not only disagree with but harbor hatred against for thinking and believing diversely from them.


65 posted on 11/18/2017 5:50:48 AM PST by This I Wonder32460
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To: Vlad The Inhaler

Well Vlad then, according to you, there is no solution. Why not just off yourself now?


66 posted on 11/18/2017 5:51:00 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Panhandle.deporable

There are many of us to like in Oregon. I am attached to the Constitution and keeping the US whole. The answer is simple. They move. They are the ones always threatening to leave, that hate the country. The communists can leave.


67 posted on 11/18/2017 5:59:39 AM PST by Lopeover ( The 2016 Election is about allegiance to the United States!)
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To: cherry

We must take their book, applying the process but applying our principles. Getting education back under control of the states. Teaching our history and civics.


68 posted on 11/18/2017 6:03:15 AM PST by Lopeover ( The 2016 Election is about allegiance to the United States!)
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To: Panhandle.deporable; Oshkalaboomboom

Seems to me giving up land in hopes of a lasting peace hasn't worked so well for Israel. Better to just eliminate the bad blood and keep the body intact. Our Founders not only told us bloodshed is expected, it is required, to water the tree of liberty. When the time comes, it is our duty as free men and women.


69 posted on 11/18/2017 6:08:56 AM PST by so_real ( "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.")
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To: ForYourChildren

I think it is less numbers on their side. If we had a real free press, many of those folks would be lining up with us.

They left depends on on people’s lack of knowledge & understanding. They also deliver their message through charismatic messengers! Hollywood types, musicians artists etc.

That is why Milo is such a great threat to communists! He is so cutting edge! It is like he says, politics is downstream of culture!


70 posted on 11/18/2017 6:10:20 AM PST by Lopeover ( The 2016 Election is about allegiance to the United States!)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

Bookmark


71 posted on 11/18/2017 6:24:53 AM PST by Southside_Chicago_Republican (If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

No. The blame falls at Soetoro’s and Clinton’s feet.


72 posted on 11/18/2017 6:25:30 AM PST by bgill (CDC site, "We don't know how people are infected with Ebola.")
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To: central_va
Well Vlad then, according to you, there is no solution. Why not just off yourself now?

The solution is long term.

Regain control of the education system and stop inculcating children and adolescents with liberal mush, PC thinking, racism, and hate for their own country.

Perhaps in a generation or two the majority would once again find common ground.


73 posted on 11/18/2017 6:43:12 AM PST by Vlad The Inhaler (United We Stand - Divided We Fall. Remember: Diversity is the opposite of unity.)
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To: DoodleBob
Let 'em go.

Do it county by county - but they have to promise to take Washington, DC and the Clintons or it's no deal.

Fence them in, build toll gates and toll roads between their islands.
Charge for travel on our rivers and lakes and for overflights of their despised "Flyover Country".

Let 'em grow their own food and take vacations in each other's cities.


74 posted on 11/18/2017 7:04:07 AM PST by Vlad The Inhaler (United We Stand - Divided We Fall. Remember: Diversity is the opposite of unity.)
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To: SisterK

That leaves the country open to invasion, if too many strategic points are given over to the left.


75 posted on 11/18/2017 7:40:25 AM PST by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

In a word? No.


76 posted on 11/18/2017 7:49:19 AM PST by ought-six (Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule.)
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To: Panhandle.deporable

I think you mean WESTERN Oregon and WESTERN Washington.


77 posted on 11/18/2017 7:50:25 AM PST by ought-six (Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule.)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom
“Is it time for people who love their country to get their guns, head to D.C. and do something about what’s happening in our country?” The short version of what I told him was “no.”

i disagree with the author.

78 posted on 11/18/2017 9:09:35 AM PST by ex91B10
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

No


79 posted on 11/18/2017 9:11:16 AM PST by wardaddy (As a southerner I've never trusted the Grand Old Party.....any questions?)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

BFL


80 posted on 11/18/2017 9:11:27 AM PST by Skooz (Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us)
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