Comments on: 5 questions http://www.alterform.com/miscellaneous/5-questions Nate Cavanaugh is a designer & developer located in Southern California. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:24:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jakobson http://www.alterform.com/miscellaneous/5-questions/comment-page-1#comment-15 Jakobson Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:14:56 +0000 http://localhost:8888/miscellaneous/5-questions#comment-15 <p>Jakobson </p> Jakobson

]]> By: Ryan Miglavs http://www.alterform.com/miscellaneous/5-questions/comment-page-1#comment-14 Ryan Miglavs Wed, 30 May 2007 21:28:23 +0000 http://localhost:8888/miscellaneous/5-questions#comment-14 <p>Hm. It's true I've heard that particular statement come up, though not terribly often with my activist friends (this is the sort of argument we've realized doesn't come across as consistent or intelligent). </p> <p> We usually speak in terms of keeping _religion_ and politics separated. I'd like to give my liberal companions who spout "no moral legislation" stuff the benefit of the doubt and say they must _mean_ religion, but I'm not sure they've all thought it through. </p> <p> Anyway, I look forward to your response, and continued discussion. </p> <p> [ryan] </p> Hm. It's true I've heard that particular statement come up, though not terribly often with my activist friends (this is the sort of argument we've realized doesn't come across as consistent or intelligent).

We usually speak in terms of keeping _religion_ and politics separated. I'd like to give my liberal companions who spout "no moral legislation" stuff the benefit of the doubt and say they must _mean_ religion, but I'm not sure they've all thought it through.

Anyway, I look forward to your response, and continued discussion.

[ryan]

]]> By: Nate Cavanaugh http://www.alterform.com/miscellaneous/5-questions/comment-page-1#comment-13 Nate Cavanaugh Wed, 30 May 2007 11:42:05 +0000 http://localhost:8888/miscellaneous/5-questions#comment-13 <p>Ryan, that is actually a great response. I actually disagree with you, but at least we can argue with a common foundation. <br /> For the sake of a good discussion, my next post will actually respond to each of your points one by one, using Christian morality as the basis. </p> <p> Now, I would disagree however, that a lot of liberals don't ask for morality to be kept out of politics. This almost always gets said as soon as any of these topics come up: abortion, prayer in schools, gay marriage, intelligent design being taught in public schools, etc. </p> <p> My whole main point that I was going for is that the left generally doesn't want morality legislated until they have something they want to impose on everyone else, then it's moral this and moral that. </p> <p> Which I am all fine with, but let's at least try and codify it. But the whole anti-religion slant that the left is on is actually quite contradictory to many of their other ideological claims. </p> Ryan, that is actually a great response. I actually disagree with you, but at least we can argue with a common foundation.

For the sake of a good discussion, my next post will actually respond to each of your points one by one, using Christian morality as the basis.

Now, I would disagree however, that a lot of liberals don't ask for morality to be kept out of politics. This almost always gets said as soon as any of these topics come up: abortion, prayer in schools, gay marriage, intelligent design being taught in public schools, etc.

My whole main point that I was going for is that the left generally doesn't want morality legislated until they have something they want to impose on everyone else, then it's moral this and moral that.

Which I am all fine with, but let's at least try and codify it. But the whole anti-religion slant that the left is on is actually quite contradictory to many of their other ideological claims.

]]> By: Ryan Miglavs http://www.alterform.com/miscellaneous/5-questions/comment-page-1#comment-12 Ryan Miglavs Tue, 29 May 2007 16:39:41 +0000 http://localhost:8888/miscellaneous/5-questions#comment-12 <p>Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention: I'm really about as far left as they come. I'm a dirt-poor, queer, socialist, Christian ACLU member. All for moral reasons, of course. </p> Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention: I'm really about as far left as they come. I'm a dirt-poor, queer, socialist, Christian ACLU member. All for moral reasons, of course.

]]> By: Ryan Miglavs http://www.alterform.com/miscellaneous/5-questions/comment-page-1#comment-11 Ryan Miglavs Tue, 29 May 2007 16:36:40 +0000 http://localhost:8888/miscellaneous/5-questions#comment-11 <p>The notable response is that all of your questions completely hinge on one argument: that liberals/leftists/Bush-dislikers/me/whatever claim morality shouldn't or can't be legislated. </p> <p> It turns out very few of the thoughtful people I know make such a claim. I certainly don't. And I've been against almost every single action Bush has taken while in office. For me, to be quite honest. it's BECAUSE of the morality. Bush gives tax breaks to the wealthy and the corporate while increasing taxes and cutting programs for the poor and the weak. He sends other people's children into war while he dodged service himself. He claims we're fighting for freedom while authorizing imprisonment and torture. He cuts countless regulations that are meant to ensure that we're good stewards of this planet. </p> <p> No, for me, it's that Bush's actions are almost always immoral. I think it's time for someone to turn the tables (and I mean that in the Biblical sense). </p> <p> [ryan] </p> The notable response is that all of your questions completely hinge on one argument: that liberals/leftists/Bush-dislikers/me/whatever claim morality shouldn't or can't be legislated.

It turns out very few of the thoughtful people I know make such a claim. I certainly don't. And I've been against almost every single action Bush has taken while in office. For me, to be quite honest. it's BECAUSE of the morality. Bush gives tax breaks to the wealthy and the corporate while increasing taxes and cutting programs for the poor and the weak. He sends other people's children into war while he dodged service himself. He claims we're fighting for freedom while authorizing imprisonment and torture. He cuts countless regulations that are meant to ensure that we're good stewards of this planet.

No, for me, it's that Bush's actions are almost always immoral. I think it's time for someone to turn the tables (and I mean that in the Biblical sense).

[ryan]

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