Comments on: Edwards Steps out Front on Health Care http://www.hamptonroadspub.com/blog/2007/02/27/edwards-steps-out-front-on-health-care/ News, notes, updates, and insights from the editors and staff of Hampton Roads Publishing Company Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:47:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Frank http://www.hamptonroadspub.com/blog/2007/02/27/edwards-steps-out-front-on-health-care/#comment-5207 Frank Wed, 28 Feb 2007 19:19:41 +0000 http://www.hamptonroadspub.com/blog/2007/02/27/edwards-steps-out-front-on-health-care/#comment-5207 > I enjoy your posts. I admire your work. I applaud most of your comments and conclusions. Thank you, and thanks for reading them. > But I do have a general question that was prompted by your specific comments complimenting Edwards on his healthcare ideas. Actually I was saying that I like Edwards, and encouraging people to look at him. I can see that it looked like an endorsement for his medical care ideas (sloppy writing on my part) but really it is an endorsement of the fact that he is a poor-boy-become-rich who seems to care about the poor in the way that Jack and Bobby Kennedy came to care about them. I may be wrong, of course, but he strikes me as sincere, if somewhat slick. > I'm pretty much of a newbie on the whole subject of mysticism. I'm fascinated by the books by, for example, Monroe and Tolle and Bruce. I'm even doing daily energy work, so called. I have reason to believe I have made contact with dead relatives and friends. I've had many other minor mystical experiences and one major one. My whole life has changed because of my new interests, and I'm grossly understating. I'd be interested if you want to talk more about it. I'll PEM you and you can PEM me in turn if you choose to do so. > Does all this mean I now have to become a liberal Democrat and work toward goals such as the coercive implementation of socialized medicine? Hell no! > Maybe it does. I've changed a lot of my ideas. But it seems to me that a lack in the milieu of "new age" ideas and discussions is much room for people with a more naturally conservative political bent. I entirely agree. > To deal with my own such conservative tendencies, and to still my mind and let my timeless awareness shine through, I've taken steps such as listening to much less AM talk radio. Always a good idea! Jesus said, by their fruits you shall know them, and the fruit these non-stop talkers produce seems to me to consist mainly of (1) hatred of a whole list of "enemies" and (2) contempt for any point of view that doesn't reflect their own "either/or" world, and, mainly, (3) fear -- mostly fear of unacceptable changes that are probably the result of plots by people seeking to achieve cultural dominance. > Yet I see a lot of old-timers in this spirituality business who talk as if only an infant soul would think twice about voting for Edwards, Hillary or Al Gore. They may be old-timers, but if they think that spirituality splits along party lines, or ideological lines, they have a thing or two yet to learn. > I swear off of Rush Limbaugh but then run into stuff like this. Makes things difficult. By the way, I'm not a straight conservative. If I had to describe myself politically, I'm more of a Ron Paul libertarian. I am not making any of this up. I have huge respect for Paul, because he is (1) highly intelligent, well educated, independent, and (2) faithful to the constitution (how'd he get elected in Texas??) If I thought he had a chance to make a difference I'd vote for him myself. Since that's not possible, I am reduced to either doing it anyway (hoping to swell his total enough to eventually encourage others), or vote for the lease worst option. Given the track record of the Republicans in Congress from January 1995 until January 2007, and in the White House since January 2001, there is no way I could ever vote for a Republican candidate who did not explicitly repudiate that record. How likely are we to see that?? Great comment, and one that really deserves a longer answer. Thanks. > I enjoy your posts. I admire your work. I applaud most of your comments and conclusions.

Thank you, and thanks for reading them.

> But I do have a general question that was prompted by your specific comments complimenting Edwards on his healthcare ideas.

Actually I was saying that I like Edwards, and encouraging people to look at him. I can see that it looked like an endorsement for his medical care ideas (sloppy writing on my part) but really it is an endorsement of the fact that he is a poor-boy-become-rich who seems to care about the poor in the way that Jack and Bobby Kennedy came to care about them. I may be wrong, of course, but he strikes me as sincere, if somewhat slick.

> I’m pretty much of a newbie on the whole subject of mysticism. I’m fascinated by the books by, for example, Monroe and Tolle and Bruce. I’m even doing daily energy work, so called. I have reason to believe I have made contact with dead relatives and friends. I’ve had many other minor mystical experiences and one major one. My whole life has changed because of my new interests, and I’m grossly understating.

I’d be interested if you want to talk more about it. I’ll PEM you and you can PEM me in turn if you choose to do so.

> Does all this mean I now have to become a liberal Democrat and work toward goals such as the coercive implementation of socialized medicine?

Hell no!

> Maybe it does. I’ve changed a lot of my ideas. But it seems to me that a lack in the milieu of “new age” ideas and discussions is much room for people with a more naturally conservative political bent.

I entirely agree.

> To deal with my own such conservative tendencies, and to still my mind and let my timeless awareness shine through, I’ve taken steps such as listening to much less AM talk radio.

Always a good idea! Jesus said, by their fruits you shall know them, and the fruit these non-stop talkers produce seems to me to consist mainly of (1) hatred of a whole list of “enemies” and (2) contempt for any point of view that doesn’t reflect their own “either/or” world, and, mainly, (3) fear — mostly fear of unacceptable changes that are probably the result of plots by people seeking to achieve cultural dominance.

> Yet I see a lot of old-timers in this spirituality business who talk as if only an infant soul would think twice about voting for Edwards, Hillary or Al Gore.

They may be old-timers, but if they think that spirituality splits along party lines, or ideological lines, they have a thing or two yet to learn.

> I swear off of Rush Limbaugh but then run into stuff like this. Makes things difficult. By the way, I’m not a straight conservative. If I had to describe myself politically, I’m more of a Ron Paul libertarian. I am not making any of this up.

I have huge respect for Paul, because he is (1) highly intelligent, well educated, independent, and (2) faithful to the constitution (how’d he get elected in Texas??) If I thought he had a chance to make a difference I’d vote for him myself. Since that’s not possible, I am reduced to either doing it anyway (hoping to swell his total enough to eventually encourage others), or vote for the lease worst option. Given the track record of the Republicans in Congress from January 1995 until January 2007, and in the White House since January 2001, there is no way I could ever vote for a Republican candidate who did not explicitly repudiate that record. How likely are we to see that??

Great comment, and one that really deserves a longer answer. Thanks.

]]> By: C.B. http://www.hamptonroadspub.com/blog/2007/02/27/edwards-steps-out-front-on-health-care/#comment-5120 C.B. Wed, 28 Feb 2007 06:00:34 +0000 http://www.hamptonroadspub.com/blog/2007/02/27/edwards-steps-out-front-on-health-care/#comment-5120 I enjoy your posts. I admire your work. I applaud most of your comments and conclusions. But I do have a general question that was prompted by your specific comments complimenting Edwards on his healthcare ideas. I'm pretty much of a newbie on the whole subject of mysticism. I'm fascinated by the books by, for example, Monroe and Tolle and Bruce. I'm even doing daily energy work, so called. I have reason to believe I have made contact with dead relatives and friends. I've had many other minor mystical experiences and one major one. My whole life has changed because of my new interests, and I'm grossly understating. Does all this mean I now have to become a liberal Democrat and work toward goals such as the coercive implementation of socialized medicine? Maybe it does. I've changed a lot of my ideas. But it seems to me that a lack in the milieu of "new age" ideas and discussions is much room for people with a more naturally conservative political bent. To deal with my own such conservative tendencies, and to still my mind and let my timeless awareness shine through, I've taken steps such as listening to much less AM talk radio. Yet I see a lot of old-timers in this spirituality business who talk as if only an infant soul would think twice about voting for Edwards, Hillary or Al Gore. I swear off of Rush Limbaugh but then run into stuff like this. Makes things difficult. By the way, I'm not a straight conservative. If I had to describe myself politically, I'm more of a Ron Paul libertarian. I am not making any of this up. I enjoy your posts. I admire your work. I applaud most of your comments and conclusions. But I do have a general question that was prompted by your specific comments complimenting Edwards on his healthcare ideas. I’m pretty much of a newbie on the whole subject of mysticism. I’m fascinated by the books by, for example, Monroe and Tolle and Bruce. I’m even doing daily energy work, so called. I have reason to believe I have made contact with dead relatives and friends. I’ve had many other minor mystical experiences and one major one. My whole life has changed because of my new interests, and I’m grossly understating. Does all this mean I now have to become a liberal Democrat and work toward goals such as the coercive implementation of socialized medicine? Maybe it does. I’ve changed a lot of my ideas. But it seems to me that a lack in the milieu of “new age” ideas and discussions is much room for people with a more naturally conservative political bent. To deal with my own such conservative tendencies, and to still my mind and let my timeless awareness shine through, I’ve taken steps such as listening to much less AM talk radio. Yet I see a lot of old-timers in this spirituality business who talk as if only an infant soul would think twice about voting for Edwards, Hillary or Al Gore. I swear off of Rush Limbaugh but then run into stuff like this. Makes things difficult. By the way, I’m not a straight conservative. If I had to describe myself politically, I’m more of a Ron Paul libertarian. I am not making any of this up.

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