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an opportunity for merriment and joy.
Sic transit gloria mundi - ancient Roman proverb
by kovie on Sun May 04, 2008 at 10:15:25 PM PDT
[ Parent ]
By that standard, we should all have spent the last 7 years mourning, if not more.
Proud Sponsor of Hope '08My Political (and moral) Compass: -9.00, -8.72
by bmozaffari on Sun May 04, 2008 at 10:22:27 PM PDT
an appropriate response to a diary about how ordinary Americans are starting to feel and find ways of dealing with the awful consequences of those past 7 years--which is only going to get much worse--to be "Wee! I'm first! Whoopie!". So forgive me if I'm not convinced by the implication to "Chill out, dude!" My parents went through this and worse as children, so it's no theoretical situation to me.
I'm sure that you didn't mean ill. But it's considered poor form here to do this.
by kovie on Sun May 04, 2008 at 10:35:21 PM PDT
As did mine and many. More sorry they didn't teach you that in the hardest of times the best a family can do is "Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas" in Maya Angelou's words. Grab the best from despair and give your kids hope - that's what I got from parents old enough to have lived through the Depression.
McCain: "Brian, would you find out what my position is .."
by MKSinSA on Mon May 05, 2008 at 05:10:36 AM PDT
For them it wasn't the Great Depression, but WWII and being a refugee in my father's case, having her childhood home destroyed in my mother's case, and poverty in both of their cases, in British Mandatory Palestine. And they both learned, in their own ways, of making the most of what they had, and taught me that as well. Which has nothing to do with the flippant tone of the comment that I was responding to that had absolutely nothing to do with the diary's topic. So I don't see or accept the connection.
by kovie on Mon May 05, 2008 at 08:12:49 AM PDT
This is about a country engorged on excess that has to tighten its belt and is uncomfortable for having to do so. Not the horrific poverty and perils your parents endured.
by MKSinSA on Mon May 05, 2008 at 08:42:51 AM PDT
these days is doing so as a result of their wastefulness and irresponsibility during the "fat" years. Many if not most are people who have not really benefited from these years in the first place, and are now suffering even more during these "lean" years. E.g. people who used to have decent and secure factory and service-sector jobs with good benefits that went abroad due to stupid and/or selfish economic and business policies, or were destroyed by the likes of WalMart--or by union-busting GOP policies. I seriously doubt that most of these people are now struggling to just stay alive, clothed and under a roof because they overextended their credit to buy an SUV, house or big-screen tv. We're entering Grapes of Wrath territory these days.
by kovie on Mon May 05, 2008 at 11:30:33 AM PDT
"I seriously doubt that most of these people are now struggling to just stay alive, clothed and under a roof because they overextended their credit to buy an SUV, house or big-screen tv."
That is absolutely not the case. What we are talking about are choices. I've worked in the community we are talking about and the choices made come down to designer sneakers vs. rent/big screen tv vs. utilities/iPods vs. nutrition. The former line takes precedence over the latter. Please don't make this a tragedy when it's not.
There are a few cases when medical overcomes consumerism but always as an AFTER effect. If you have not been down in the trenches with this, please do not make this equivalent to your parents. They had bona fide troubles which they overcame. That is not the major case in America today. I ask you to stop minimizing their historic victories to the base consumism we're seeing today.
This is a mere correction in an economy of excess. NOT a true event leading to abject poverty.
by MKSinSA on Mon May 05, 2008 at 12:59:09 PM PDT
What country are you living in? There are millions of people in abject poverty, who have to choose between health, nutrition, housing, clothes and sanity, and you think that this is mostly a matter of spoiled suburbanites who are going to have to learn to make do with basic cable for a couple of years? I have no idea where you come up with this nonsense. The past 30 years have been devastating to such people and it's only going to get worse now, due to mostly (but not entirely) GOP policies.
Although, judging from your sig line, you're not a Democrat, so your perspective sounds more like that of a libertarian or indie.
And btw, it's DemocratIC, not "Democrat".
by kovie on Mon May 05, 2008 at 04:05:57 PM PDT
Plural: Republicans and Democrats Singular: Republican and Democrat
by MKSinSA on Mon May 05, 2008 at 06:23:18 PM PDT
It's Democratic party, not Democrat party. Democratic senator, not Democrat senator. Democratic candidate, not Democrat candidate. Look it up on the DNC web site and on all credible (i.e. non-wingnut) sources. Anyone claiming otherwise is either ignorant or intentionally dishonest. Take your pick. But if you want to align yourself with the likes of Joe McCarthy, be my guest. Also, I find it interesting how you failed to respond to the substance of my comment. American, land of almost no poor people. Yeah, right.
Funny how great the world looks when viewed through Panglossian glasses.
by kovie on Mon May 05, 2008 at 10:31:34 PM PDT
It depends on the use, whether it's as a noun or an adjective. Your references to the objectionable usage all come from the usage of "Democrat" in the adjective form by Republicans, which you are correct and is intentionally wrong. MKSinSA however uses it correctly in his/her signature. Read this article for some more background on the issue.
by bmozaffari on Tue May 06, 2008 at 01:46:37 AM PDT
I tire having these battles of wits with the unarmed. It seems so cruel! You have a wonderful day now!
by MKSinSA on Tue May 06, 2008 at 01:57:59 AM PDT
"Democrat" is used as a modifier, as in "Democrat enemies", which is incorrect. Not to mention glib and dishonest since it equates the massive crimes perpetuated against the constitution by Repubs with the relatively minor ones by Dems.
Must be a Lew Rockwell libertarian type. One of the self-annointed "special people" who denies that there's poverty in America, just a bunch of irresponsible suburbanites who've brought the present economic woes upon themselves. That whole self-reliance Randian crap that views the Glass-Steagall Act and New Deal as communist plots against freedom and the constitution, and Goldwater as some kind of hero.
by kovie on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:31:14 AM PDT
hence no address. Actually, look at the URL to the DNC web site. There's your first clue. One should be intimately familiar with the inner workings of one's party before questioning the allegiance to it of another.
by MKSinSA on Tue May 06, 2008 at 01:56:39 AM PDT
"Democrat" is not a modifier, as in "Democrat enemies". It's "Democratic enemies". Or do you have some sort of learning disability that prevents you from grasping simple concepts? But if you still disagree, kindly provide links proving your point. URLs are not proof of grammatical and stylistic correctness. Not in the real world at least.
by kovie on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:23:30 AM PDT
because they have a different response than you.
by MissLaura on Sun May 04, 2008 at 10:31:09 PM PDT
It was an inappropriate comment that is considered to be poor form here. "First" comments are encouraged to be HRed. I won't do it since I suspect that it's due to misunderstanding. But considering the topic of this diary, I think it's an adolescent response to a serious matter. We are way beyond snark these days.
by kovie on Sun May 04, 2008 at 10:38:49 PM PDT
Bit sour today are we?
I don't think that little victory yell is going to sink this diary.
Esprit de Corps, etc. Just say'n'
When harmonious relationships dissolve, respect and devotion arise; when a nation falls to chaos, loyalty and patriotism are born - Daodejing (paraphrased)
by koNko on Mon May 05, 2008 at 02:26:06 AM PDT
If this was a lighthearted diary, I wouldn't have a problem. But it's about people barely getting by and making do in tough times, so it's anything but light.
I'm guessing that it's an age thing.
by kovie on Mon May 05, 2008 at 08:15:38 AM PDT
wide narrow
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