I think its more than just Free Republic. Civility in general has been in steep decline. You see it on the road every day. You see it as you shop. You see it in our government. You see it in the schools. You see it in the workplace if you are lucky enough to have one. Society has started to apply more importance to how loud you say something, rather than actually considering the content of what was said. It seems to me that the content of what was said is now the last criteria being considered.
Nowhere is that more clear than in our federal government. The senate used to be the greatest house of debate on the planet. But alas, today senators speak, but there is no real debate. There is posturing and making public statements, but do they actually consider what each other is saying? Do they actually have an honest debate where facts are separated from conjecture? Do they honestly consider or even think about what any one else is saying? It doesn’t appear to me like they do. Heck, they don’t even read the bills they vote on any more.
I would be in favor of every bill being posted on the internet for a minimum of 30 days. There are enough people who still care about this country that would take the time to actually read it, and report their findings via multiple avenues. With all the social networking options available today, controversial aspects of the bills could be found, disseminated, and discussed in many venues, Free Republic being one of them. At least our representatives would become aware of those areas that are controversial to the country. Perhaps they would be shamed into actually reading what they vote on, especially if their constituents are pointing out things in the bill which they personally agree/disagree with.
I might not agree with others perspectives, but I gain nothing by being rude, yelling and screaming, insulting or demeaning others.
Very, very well said.
@ post 61. That was well said but I have a much different opinion.
I try to be reasoned and polite and I am sure much of your comment was directed at posters here on FR. It has gotten ugly around here.
Our country is so polarized and entrenched that it is all but impossible to change course because people have been conditioned to think in terms of social justice instead of the constitution that promised me the fruits of my own labor and promised nothing to those who won’t work.
We have followed the inevitable cycle to it’s conclusion just as the “Rise and Fall of Empires” tells us. We have almost half of our nation living off the other half. We have half our country that does not vote. The half that votes are equally divided.
I don’t mean to be cynical but the time for debate is over. The definition of robbery is “the taking of one’s property by another through the use or implied use of force”. We are being robbed to pay for half our country when 95% of them should be taking care of themselves. We have trashed our constitution and it shows.
This has been inevitable through the last few decades but we did not have to deal with the consequences of our undisciplined behavior. Now, the inevitable crushing debt has entered the picture and like another ably stated above, everyone does not want to give up their piece of the pie.
I hate to say it, and I thank you for your post, but it’s highly likely that our country will sink as we know it and it’s probable most of our fellow countrymen will be sitting on their corner of the deck holding a small piece of pie when they take their last breath.
I don’t want to compromise with liberals because if we meet them halfway we are moving in the wrong direction. Bi-partisanship sucks. I want a constitutional government and I will be free to help those I want and be free to ignore those I don’t.
Lest you think I am heartless.... I give much more than required of both my money and time to those in need. I don’t need a politician to tell me what I owe someone else.... Jesus told me everything I need to know.
As an American, you don’t owe me anything besides respect for my rights. As an American, I don’t owe you anything except respect for your rights. The government is telling both of us what we owe the other after they take their cut and that is not right.
We have lost our ability as a nation to reason with one another because we no longer play from the same set of laws. They view the constitution one way and we view it another. Some have a Judeo-Christian ethic and some have a “gimme” ethic. It will not be resolved through further discussion. Sorry FRiend, that’s how I see it.