The role of the Federal Government...

[gpsjoe]

I don’t believe most people are indifferent. I think most have strong beliefs and core values and many are polar opposites but none are right or wrong, just different.

Put a liberal and conservative together like Hannity and Colmes and they talk on forever never convincing the other of anything. I think young people should listen to this banter and decide for themselves. Those two seem to enjoy the interchange and it’s done with great respect. But at the end of the day the liberal is still liberal and the conservative is still conservative but undecided folks may have been influenced one way or the other. Good stuff here.

I’m a little too old to be influenced by either of them. I have my biases and only find joy when they say something I believe in which is ridiculous in itself. My professional career was 30 years as a resident of Northern Virginia in suburban Washington DC where Capitol Hill was the local news, every night.

I’ve had enough in my life and don’t want anymore. I find it irritating when people make comments that go against my core beliefs and values and get super irritated when people tell me how I “should feel” about anything. I can guarantee you I don’t think or feel that way but my feelings are my feelings and I’m keeping them.

During this election cycle I decided that if McCain wins I’m going hiking and if Obama wins I’m going hiking. Let the will of the majority be done.

The election of a black does nothing for me. Now maybe if he were Polish things might be different. We haven’t had a Polish president yet. Are we being discriminated against? Oh wait, there was Bill Clintonsky, but I must be mixing up the last part of the name with someone named Lewinsky.

Today there are a dozen or more TV channels with political commentary and an equal amount with SITCOMs. I choose SITCOMs, cheap escapism but that’s the kind of guy I am. There are hundreds of political and religious websites where you can fight with your opponents or preach to a choir of believers and get your jollies that way. But there are very very few websites dedicated to hiking as this one is. So why post political or religious rhetoric here? It just doesn’t make sense.

[azbackpackr]

The usual platitude is that in polite society one does not discuss politics, sex, or religion! I'd like to amend that! Let's leave politics to the politicians, religion to the clergy, and let's all talk about something we actually know about!



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azbackpackr

[Hikngrl]

I am not sure that AFScout80 was refering to the reason why these posts can't be made here on this site as much as why posts such as these have to escalate they way the posts made here in the past few days did. Correct me if I am wrong AFScout80.
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~~~Diane~~~

I want to shine!

[azbackpackr]

[azbackpackr]

Anyone posting right at this moment should go back a couple pages as we are all posting at the same time here!

I don't think discussions need to get ugly as they have in on other threads. No need to attack the other person, I agree with y'all. I was also trying to have a little fun here with Hooli, the cop!
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azbackpackr

[evenstar]

[GTG]

[azbackpackr]

<--- <--- <--- GTG!

And for Hooli:
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azbackpackr

[evenstar]

[Al_HikesAZ]

[evenstar]

[thesuperstitions]

Our "community" is filled with 3-dimentional inhabitants though. How boring it would be to ONLY be able to discuss topics that are deemed "appropriate". For the most part, we're all friends here and we actually LIKE each other and VALUE each other, even if we don't always agree on certain topics. The key, of course, is respect for one another. I have great respect for everyone I've met through this site and hope that no one has taken offense to anything I've stated. (however, you may take offense at how long and boring my statements became!)

I, for one hope that we can continue to discuss whatever's on our minds, including, but not limited to, HIKING.

[Hikngrl]

I don't believe any one is angry Ken, it just appeared that some were loosing that respect we value so much and becoming more and more offensive and people were becoming uncomfortable.
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~~~Diane~~~

I want to shine!

[paintninaz]

Personally, I've felt so bombarded with political talk for the past 18 months (or more), on the radio, on TV, daily flyers in my mailbox (what a waste of money and environmental resources that is!), endless discussions at work...I did my duty, I voted. But the last place I want to come and discuss or read more politics is HERE!

I come here to enjoy, not to see everyone's feathers getting ruffled...people are entitled to their own opinions and ranting about someone's opposing opinion as being wrong, or acting like you are the only one with all the facts, is useless to everyone....and it's far from enjoyable.

We've been through all this before...we had this same discussion 4 years ago, and all agreed to keep politics off the site, but for some reason it always has to creep back on and has the same outcome, with threads getting locked and other threads starting up to antagonize the situation. It's tiring. If one feels the need to continue it, please take it elsewhere.

I think Joe said it best...

[Sande J]

I have always liked Community. That is what is nice about this site. As long as people post respectfully about topics there is some great insight here from some very intelligent people. I don't always post much because I think I learn more listening. Personally I like being aware and I think there are alot of people in this country that really don't care about anything unless it affects them directly. Alot of folks really do care and You all have excellent points...now that is Community!
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And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stone, good in everything..
-William Shakespeare-