This is a letter I sent to my conservative brother and I thought I'd share it with you. We go back and forth every couple of weeks, then take some time off, because the arguements are never solved and it could go on forever. He accused me of Ad-hominem attacks, which I probably do on a regular basis and feel I have reason, but I also provide him with plenty of facts. Enough of the intro, here is the letter.
Dear Brother,
Ad-hominem? I attack the argument, not just the person. I give you facts, and some opinion. Are my words hateful, or just truthful? Inconvenient facts are hard for conservatives to swallow. I firmly place myself in the Reality-Based community, unlike the adoring minions of BushCo. that live in fantasy land with their complete and total cognitive dissonance.
I point out that Bush's Social Security ideas don't add up and you come back with the argument "where are the Democrats' plans?" I tell you that they have a plan, and point to one component of it, and you come back with nothing. I ask you who the Liberal elite that are in power are, and you don't answer. I ask you who the Liberal pundits are, I name off 20 conservative pundits, and you can't name one Liberal.
By the way, Bush has not come up with a detailed plan, as he has yet to send his proposal to Congress. Why? Probably because they know the numbers don't add up. They are going to try and sell the "product" to the American people with a campaign, using words like "ownership" and telling you it is "your money". The reason I am so mad is that they are not trying to "save" Social Security, or even reform it. They want that money for their rich buddies on Wall Street, and as a bonus they see a chance to destroy the most successful Liberal program ever. I'm not simply extrapolating here, the Conservatives behind the scenes have said as much. Grover Norquist, the Neo-Con architect, has said these things for the past twenty years. They have used 9/11 to take power and try and force their agenda domestically and internationally, and it is working brilliantly. Norquist said the goal it to shrink government so you could drown it in a bathtub. He also said bi-partisanship is like date-rape.
It is hard not to attack the person when they are so craven with their lies. You're right, I shouldn't hate, but that is difficult when Bush and his rich buddies are plundering the American treasury. Simply look at every proposal the guy comes up with, and you will find that it somehow benefits his rich cronies.
Liberals are tired of being pushed around, and I hope the Democratic Party is listening and starts fighting back as well, playing the same game that conservatives have been playing since Newt Gingrich came to town. Of course, when Liberals take back the country, and they will, they will treat conservatives well. Conservatives will have the same rights as always, and Liberals will be too nice to punish them for their ignorance.
I miss the days of principled conservatives, like Alan Simpson. Liberals are saying that they miss Richard Nixon for god's sake. Bush makes Nixon look like a Liberal. Our country is headed for fascism, if we are not already there, and the sooner moderate conservatives stand up to the Neo-Cons, the better we will all be. We are counting on people like you to stand up to the Neo-Cons, and bring us back to sanity. It is time to stop swallowing Karl Rove and BushCo's lies.
Yours truly,
John