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freshwest

(53,661 posts)
32. A person has to be interested enough to subscribe to them, but some don't listen as it disturbs the
Sat Jul 26, 2014, 01:35 PM
Jul 2014
narratives they've already written in their heads. The result is that they can hold onto cynicism and feel wise while nothing changes. It's a game for them and a self-fulfilling prophecy that costs them nothing.

Years ago then-Senator Barack Obama acknowledged this problem. He didn't have a simple solution though:

The bottom line is that our job is harder than the conservatives' job. After all, it's easy to articulate a belligerent foreign policy based solely on unilateral military action, a policy that sounds tough and acts dumb; it's harder to craft a foreign policy that's tough and smart. It's easy to dismantle government safety nets; it's harder to transform those safety nets so that they work for people and can be paid for. It's easy to embrace a theological absolutism; it's harder to find the right balance between the legitimate role of faith in our lives and the demands of our civic religion. But that's our job. And I firmly believe that whenever we exaggerate or demonize, or oversimplify or overstate our case, we lose. Whenever we dumb down the political debate, we lose. A polarized electorate that is turned off of politics, and easily dismisses both parties because of the nasty, dishonest tone of the debate, works perfectly well for those who seek to chip away at the very idea of government because, in the end, a cynical electorate is a selfish electorate.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/09/30/153069/-Tone-Truth-and-the-Democratic-Party

There are plenty of people who count on you getting cynical and count on you not getting involved so that you don’t vote, so you give up. And you can’t give into that. America is making progress, despite what the cynics say...

Cynicism is popular these days. It’s what passes off as wisdom. But cynics didn’t put a man on the moon. Cynics never won a war. Cynics didn’t cure a disease, or start a business, or feed a young mind. Cynicism didn’t bring about the right for women to vote, or the right for African Americans to be full citizens. Cynicism is a choice.


http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/07/10/remarks-president-economy-austin-tx

Please read the Rest:


http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-great-american-freak-out.html

Every word rings true and '...in the end, a cynical electorate is a selfish electorate.'

to Sheshe:

The Great American Freak-Out

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5292216

The weekly addresses are on youtube and iTunes for free. All one has to do is be willing to hear the voice and ideas of the man who was elected, not selected and paid to speak by shadowy entities who spread the message that our future was written years ago.

That's denying living in the present and the urgency of acting to help each other now. It disempowers those who believe it and hands decision making to the Libertarians and corporations.
"Lower corporate tax rates?" Here it comes... ballyhoo Jul 2014 #1
A lowering of corporate tax rates with comprehensive closed loopholes RiverNoord Jul 2014 #4
It also depends whether this is simply another ruse. On ballyhoo Jul 2014 #6
Very likely, but... RiverNoord Jul 2014 #45
And thats the point. Do we want more govt revenue, or rates that make you "feel good". 7962 Jul 2014 #39
There isnt anything wrong with lower rates providing though that the companies actually pay cstanleytech Jul 2014 #7
We are right now in an inverse totalitarian system. The companies ballyhoo Jul 2014 #9
Small corps pay corp taxes at a much higher rate than the big boys or girls randys1 Jul 2014 #26
I agree with that. I used to be in business ballyhoo Jul 2014 #30
+1 a2liberal Jul 2014 #12
The beat goes on, but this time the drummer ballyhoo Jul 2014 #15
Businesses are paying 1/3 the share they paid 30 years ago BlueStreak Jul 2014 #25
Your second paragraph is what will happen UNLESS ballyhoo Jul 2014 #29
Close loopholes first... Then we'll see. grahamhgreen Jul 2014 #44
And the real unpatriotic traitors that are to blame albino65 Jul 2014 #2
About time that the President stated it in real terms RiverNoord Jul 2014 #3
"Unpatriotic" is a George Bush, Republican threat. JayhawkSD Jul 2014 #20
Hillary 2016. L0oniX Jul 2014 #42
Legal, huh? DeSwiss Jul 2014 #5
Thanks for your weekly posting! BumRushDaShow Jul 2014 #8
A person has to be interested enough to subscribe to them, but some don't listen as it disturbs the freshwest Jul 2014 #32
One might not even need to subscribe BumRushDaShow Jul 2014 #36
Thanks for that info, and especially the article there. freshwest Jul 2014 #37
No problem! BumRushDaShow Jul 2014 #40
From what I hear, all they have to do is take a Baitball Blogger Jul 2014 #10
A Prediction: if something is passed regarding this idea Dragonfli Jul 2014 #11
He also commented that CEO responsibility is not just short term profits for shareholders.. DCBob Jul 2014 #13
Pushing them out the door moondust Jul 2014 #14
AgreeBut why do teabaggers usually support this corporate crap while claiming to be super patriotic lunasun Jul 2014 #16
Hit them with a tariff. Turbineguy Jul 2014 #17
So tax all money earned in the US, whether taxes are paid on it elsewhere or not. JDPriestly Jul 2014 #18
Just make them state they do not pay American taxes on their product or service.... Uben Jul 2014 #19
.., YvonneCa Jul 2014 #43
This is a little sugar to make the medicine go down. candelista Jul 2014 #21
Ok Mr. President - Then Close The Loophole With An Executive Order - Then Expose The Fraud In The Courts cantbeserious Jul 2014 #22
This was an issue in the 2004 election. hollowdweller Jul 2014 #23
+1. candelista Jul 2014 #33
Funny how historically it has alwyas been RIGHT WINGERS ... vkkv Jul 2014 #24
They drink, plus they are stupid people, seriously, so that makes it easier randys1 Jul 2014 #27
DUly RECommended Roy Serohz Jul 2014 #28
I am glad we have a President who is an expert on other folks patriotism. AngryAmish Jul 2014 #31
Simple jamzrockz Jul 2014 #34
I'm "people," so can I do that too, my friends? C Moon Jul 2014 #35
This hits close to home...... Stainless Jul 2014 #38
LOL ...not if the Third Way has anything to say about it. L0oniX Jul 2014 #41
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