Would the nation be better off if the south would go away?

[Tennessee Gal]

239. No, I do not stay where I am not wanted ......... however

I have been hanging out here for a long time. Not so much lately, but quite a bit during the W years. I was consumed by the Bush v. Gore debacle and found a bit of peace here. In the years following that outrage I also spent a lot of time researching and writing. I briefly wrote articles for Buzzflash.com.

I know my stuff. I know that my beliefs are strong and every once in a while I manage to make a few valid points with conservatives in my area. There are some who can be reasoned with. The best approach is through logical reasonable questions. Then there are those who are so radical there is no point in wasting time or energy. Their radical positions are usually based on abortion or guns and they vote against their own economic interests because of those two issues.

Circumstances have changed in the American political world and that needs to be taken into consideration. There is far more right wing propaganda spreading through the media -- Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, etc. Voters are too gullible and ill informed, much more than in the past. They believe the lies they are told. It has a lot to do with the right wing training to use "talking points" through "framing" the issues. They are far more adept at this than the left, not that I would support the left spreading lies to win power.

Bottom line for me is this: I am a Southerner and proud of it. I do not believe in region bashing because those who do not live in the south cannot understand it any more than I can truly understand the other regions of the country. In a political sense the south is not what I would like it to be, but I must accept that fact and do what I can to make a difference.

DU is not what it used to be, but I will not be leaving any time soon because I still at times get valuable information here that I use to make political points whenever I have an opportunity.