Confession.

Since we've all been so interested in examining the purity of each of our Democratic candidates lately, I thought it might be a valuable exercize to engage in a little self reflection.  Our leading candidates have of late been subjected to questions like, "Is he Black enough?"; "Is she woman enough to be tough enough; and byt the way did you notice that she has clevage?"; and "Can he really care about poverty if he got an expensive haircut?"

So I am going to confess my sins against Democratic purity to you all below the fold...

Confessions.

1. I worked in retail numerous times in my life and I don't know if the commissions and salaries I made on my sales were made on the backs of cheap labor, but I suspect some of the money I earned was derived from that oppression.

2. I made my parents buy me a Pet Rock.

3. I watch TV.

4. I use my airconditioning, I have two refridgerators and a full sized freezer.

5. I chose not to follow my father into law - government/public defending - and chose not to follow my mother into the not-for-profit sector.  I was an artist, self indulgent and wanted to learn about a world that I didn't know anything about and I have ended up working for evil corporations many of which were not "evil", but in the purity game I will never win that argument - so I give.

7. I used to sleep with the window open and the heat on full blast when I was in college because I didn't have to pay for it and I liked the hot/cold thing.

8. My parents paid for me to go to college; I have taken money from them from time to time; and I have inherited some valuable things.  I will/might inherit more down the line too.  I have worked hard too and built various lives (long story) all by my bitty, but again I am not pure.  I might not have accomplished many of the things I have accomplished without the advantages I had.

9. I was born white, blonde and I have mostly never been over weight in my life.  I have had "visual" advantages in my life and inside of this country I have rarely experienced the effects of racism.  Outside is a different story, but that doesn't seem to count - so I give.  In any case, I am definitely not "black enough" and it might surprise some people to know that I've always thought being black would be sort of great.  I have also paid a goodly sum of money for a hair cut in my life.

10. Follow up point on the appearance front (ha), I have from time to time worn clothing that has exposed my clevage and found it to be an advantage in business from time to time.

11. I have a car and I drive it often by myself.

12. I smoke cigarettes.  Yeah I know I am now more evil than evil incarnate.

13. I have mutual funds and I have a bank account so I know that in my own small way I have contributed to the subprime mortgage fiasco.

14. I pay my taxes so I know for sure that I have funded an illegal war that has killed a lot of people.  Worse yet, I will continue to pay my taxes and will pay off some part of that horrible war.

15. I did not take my dog with me when I left my ex because I didn't have the courage and the dog was hit by a car later because while the ex loved the dog, he wasn't very responsible about keeping him out of dangerous situations.

16. I have used extremely poisonous bug spray that is illegal in the United States out of my own purely selfish sense of self preservation.  Note: It was used outside the US, but still I have polluted the earth in my own small but significant way.

17. I like plastic ziplock bags.

18. I once wrote a college paper about The Planet Patrol and The Trade Brigade (LOL) half thinking that it was possible to achieve a benevolent and peaceful world government organization.  LOL - more - I was the "co-author" of the paper so I wasn't the only one, but that sort of naivete is probably inexcusable even when one is a "victim" of group-think.

19. I come from a Southern family and my great great great grandfather owned five or six slaves.  Thud.  What does one say about that sort of ancestral history?  Would you believe me if I told you that it was the same family line that so ingrained in me the notion of equality and humanity?

There is obviously much, much more that I could confess, but I am tapped out for the moment on the confession side.

-------------------------------------------

So here is what I believe in in no particular order and one thing I have always done:

1. The Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.  American Democracy.

2. Economic and educational opportunity for all Americans.

3. Equality and personal liberty for all regardless of race, gender, religion or whatever other weird distinction humans are trying to make on a given day.

4. Environmental and health equality as well as protections and entitlements in both areas from our government.

5. The American Dream.

6. Transparency in government.

7. My ongoing responsibility to those who have less than I have regardless of their failings.

8. Freedom of speech and religion as well as separation of church and state.

9. Fair trade.  A fair day's pay for a good day's work.

10. The Pet Rock incident even if I was only seven at the time illustrates what a sucker I am for both marketing as well as caregiving.  I won't even tell you about the stuffed racoon I insisted on buying at Woodies at full price because I didn't want it to end up on The Island of Misfit Toys...

11. The Common Good.

12. Lassie, Old Yeller, and Rin Tin Tin.

13. Honor and truth.

14. Love.

15. People.

16. Mother Nature.

17. Plastic ziplock bags.

Okay so I promised the thing that I always have been consistent on and that I believe in.  Here it is:

18. I have always voted for Democrats.

I am a yellow dog Dem - I am flawed - liberal and proud of who I am and where I come from.  But I am not pure.  I will never pass a purity test.

I am a member of the human race.  I am American and all of the good and bad that that entails.  I am mortal.  So are our candidates.  All mortals as far as I know.

I am sure this diary could have been more elegant and I know that if I felt like waiting to publish I could organize it differently, but the reality is that the chaos of real life philosophical conflict is probably well represented in the disorganization.

So am I the only one around here that couldn't pass a purity test?  Because ya know some days a person has got to wonder.  Are there any other people here willing to confess?  Is there anyone else who just can't live without ziplock plastic bags :)

•  Tips for being mortal. n/t

  by inclusiveheart on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 05:42:47 PM PDT

  •  Mortality tips?

    You're clearly not pure or you'd be immortal.
    Sheesh, you short-timers are a waste of time...

    Awesome diary, BTW. My sentiments exactly. I hope this makes the rec list, as there are many of us who could stand to be reminded of the message (myself included, obviously). Thanks.

    by MTgirl on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 06:01:37 PM PDT

    •  In my Heart i am immortal - but

      get less so as I get older.

      Oh yeah - Chevron currently signs my paycheck (but at least I don't smoke cigs)

      by ETinKC on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 06:54:41 PM PDT

      •  I'll see your employer and raise you one

        Uncle Walt signs my paycheck.  As in, Disney.  And I own company stock.  So there.  Am I banned yet?

        (More to the point, am I still employed??)

        by Nancy in LA on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 07:05:08 PM PDT

        •  I make sure nobody steals

          nukular frickin' weapons...and that means you, cskendrick!

          by indeterminate cutlery on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 07:58:16 PM PDT

          •  Innocent {{Blink blink}}

            who, me? :)

            by cskendrick on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 05:48:26 AM PDT

            •  keep it up, buddy

              heh heh

              by indeterminate cutlery on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 06:34:43 PM PDT

        •  I married a Jungle Cruise Skipper

          

          'nuff said.

          by lcork on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 08:09:35 PM PDT

          •  A former jungle cruise skipper is a Dem MOC's...

            Chief of Staff.  The former skipper and I have been friends for many years.

            by RFK Lives on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 08:23:07 PM PDT

            •  Really?

              My "Goofy Height" husband will be delighted to learn that.  He loves that he had the opportunity and experience of doing that job - and he was very good at it, I have to say.  Of course, I never rode on anyone else's boat.  

              by lcork on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 09:01:51 PM PDT

        •  I love Disneyland

          I know... I'm supposed to hate all things Disney because they are a capitalist monster and ABC is right wing leaning (to be generous).  But I love Disneyland. And Disneyworld. I love Pirates of the Carribean, and Jungle Cruise, and Tiki Room. I love the way Disney makes spending money fun. I don't own stock, but I certainly support it. If it's not okay to be liberal and like Disney, then I guess I'm a hypocrite. But I don't care. Okay, I care a little, but I'm not giving up Disneyland for any political cause.

          by dianem on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 08:29:29 PM PDT

          •  There's a big conference that I go to

            at Disneyland every year.  Last year, I made every effort not to go.  However, the wife and kid threw a fit.  So, at the last minute, paying full fare, we went and did the whole Disney thing.  Stayed at the Grand Californian (which I'll admit, I do love) and had a great time.

            by DMiller on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 09:08:18 PM PDT

        •  Most reviled employer

          I think I have everyone beat: I work for an HMO.

          And yes, I have been told to die on this site in the past because of it.

          by jd in nyc on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 07:39:57 AM PDT

          •  And I thought it was going to be tough

            to confess I took a job with a big Pharma company because I needed a job. And previously worked at a few of the big Healthcare insurers - and learned a little of what was depicted in SICKO. Surprised that anyone would attack you for needing a paycheck. Unless you admitted to being one the people reported about in SICKO.

            by PAbluestater on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 09:04:53 AM PDT

            •  never denied a benefit

              I do stuff more along the lines of competitive positioning, and trying to make the insurer more into a good guy by focusing on improving healthcare. The best way to reduce medical expenses is for people to be healthy enough not to need them.

              by jd in nyc on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 02:12:02 PM PDT

          •  Big Insurance

            is my bread and butter. Please don't die - I might need you to approve further outpatient mental health benefits sometime.

            by MaskedKat on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 12:10:20 PM PDT

      •  I should hope not

        at least not around the big tanks!  ;-)

        by DMiller on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 09:05:53 PM PDT

  •  Well, I was gonna ask you out

    but now forget it.  Cya.

    by funnywittobunny on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 06:15:47 PM PDT

    •  If you chew gum, we could be even :)

      xox

      by inclusiveheart on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 06:21:58 PM PDT

  •  You infidel!

    My kinda person. Except for the smokes. There's better stuff than cigarettes, that smells better too. But I don't smoke that either. I'm a baddie two shoes. Sigh. Nice diary infidel. Me likey.

    by cosbo on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 06:16:04 PM PDT

  •  Define the American Dream

    and I'll decide whether you're pure enough.

    I'm not hassling you personally: it's just such a polyvalent phrase and I think it's worth having a discussion on what it means, as a way of furthering proud Dem messages and fending off the inevitable attacks.

    by felagund on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 06:29:40 PM PDT

    •  When I was young, I believed that

      the world was my oyster.  I believed that anything I wanted to try to do I could do.  I believed in the idea that if you worked hard, cared, and devoted your soul to something you could build a good life.

      At that time, I was naive about how many people didn't have that feeling about their potential to succeed in love, life and the pursuit of happiness.

      I want everyone in America to feel that way.  I don't expect everyone to pursue it and I don't have expectations that the definition of the dream will be the same for everyone, but I want everyone to feel that if they want to try that they can make progress towards their goals.

      That is my definition of the American Dream.  That your dream as you define it is possible if you are willing to go for it.

      by inclusiveheart on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 06:38:58 PM PDT

      •  Yes

        I was taught that too by my repug parents. I, too, was naive in not understanding that whereas we all may be created equal, we all do not have equal opportunities-- and it's not their fault.  Some of us have a higher IQ than others; some of us have had the benefit of higher education; some of us were raised in an atmosophere where we received more encouragement from our parents to excell.  It's never been an equal playing field.  

        by elveta on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 07:13:06 PM PDT

        •  There was full disclosure in my little family

          that not everyone had what I had, but there is nothing like realizing something like that on your own.  I was also never allowed to think that I was better than anyone else.  The slightest hint of superiority in my attitude was quickly challenged if I was anywhere near my parents, but they still taught me to believe in myself.  They were quite cool in that they wanted me to feel empowered, but they were totally intolerant of any snobbery and attitude.  To this day, if I feel slightly imperious I worry about what my father would say if he found out.  He is a trip though because for anti-imperialist he sure did act like the king where I was concerned a few times :)

          Everything in life is balance.

          by inclusiveheart on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 09:15:36 PM PDT

        •  and some of you are blond and have cleavage

          hmmm...cleavage...

          by JVolvo on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 08:41:19 AM PDT

      •  you beat me to it.

        The freedom to pursue the dream...whatever it might be without vultures hovering around to snatch it away.

        by Lindy on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 09:31:29 PM PDT

      •  yanno

        With your pedigree as white, blonde and descendent of slave-holders, I really should not like you. I'm black, nappy-headed and daughter of the slave-holding South and survivor of Jim Crow. But I really enjoy your posts.

        Somewhere along the line, you cast aside familial ideas and traditions and decided to think for yourself. That is a great thing.

        Knowing a bit about your background and evolution gives a little bit of hope. Thank you for sharing.

        by CocoaLove on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 06:40:15 AM PDT

        •  There is really a whole other diary in

          trying to explain that I didn't cast aside anything. But the part of AL that my family is from was never much of a slave holding region for economic and probably some religious reasons as well.  There is a whole diary that could be written about the differences between the hill country and the Black Belt.  The Black-White relationship in the hills was traditionally much more intimate and for the most part everyone worked and ate together.  My grandaddy's family never had slaves and they hid in the caves during the Civil War because they had no desire to fight for the Plantation South's slave economy.  The farmers in that part of the south actually had some common cause with Black folks in that they too lived under a certain amount of oppression leveled upon them by the wealthy plantation owners in the Black Belt.  One nearby county suceeded from the AL Confederacy because they felt no allegiance to the Plantation South.  So I am not all that out of line with my familial and regional roots really.

          I was raised as was my father to respect everyone regardless of skin color, class, religion or whatever.  

          by inclusiveheart on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 09:59:59 AM PDT

      •  when I was young I felt the same way

        except I didn't label my dreams 'the American dream'. I called it life's expectations. Now I am old I still feel the same way and know that when I was young I was right.  That if you stick to your principles, code of honour and morality through thick and thin life is just a waking dream  and you can emerge with honour.

        by soccergrandmom on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 09:29:28 AM PDT

  •  I forgive you, inclusiveheart! : )

    And, while we're here in the confessional, I must admit that I have smoked a cigarette or two, and furthermore that I have no plans to exchange my incandescent light bulbs for fluorescent ones anytime soon.  Since I've never owned a car, I think I've earned the right to three or four goddamned incandescent bulbs!  : )

    by keikekaze on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 06:39:25 PM PDT

    •  Heh...

      Your car vs. lightbulb thing reminded me that Lewis Black did a commentary recently on Earth Day, where he showed Oprah being all 'green' by handing out energy efficient lightbulbs to the studio audience.

      "But," he said, showing an earlier clip, "she was clearly compensating for this:"

      Oprah: "EVERYONE HERE GETS A CAR!  EVERYONE HERE GETS A CAR!"

      [studio audience nearly craps itself with excitement]

      Great diary, inclusiveheart.  

      by Dale on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 08:18:37 PM PDT

      •  And that reminds me . . .

        . . . that here in California we have a public service TV ad telling us that if everyone in California switched to fluorescent bulbs, "it would be the equivalent of taking a million cars off the road!"  To which my response is always,"Well, in that case, why don't we skip the fooling around and just go directly to taking the million cars off the road?  And wouldn't two million be even better?"

        by keikekaze on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 08:48:48 PM PDT

        •  That's even more stupid

          Jeez, Keikaze, you live here in CA and are a participant here, and that's how you respond?

          That's the height of arrogance.  

          You know, as well as I do, how hard it is to get around in CA without a car.  public transportation SUCKS in this state, and you know it.    I would love to use public transportation every  day that I need to , but buses don't come up my mountain road, and they usually won't transport bales of hay for me (which I need to feed my animals).

          My suspicion is that you live in a town that has public transportation and that you  have never used a CFL in your life because you don't know how much money they save you in the long term.  Well some of us don't live in your part of a city, some of us live in the country and we don't have the luxury of CHOICE.  But we can make small changes that over the long run are very significant.

          One thing I do is I don't drink bottled water.  I have no need to. Our water is some of the best I've ever drunk, and we get it tested EVERY year (which is more than I can say for most bottled water).  It's from an underground aquifer and it's a lot better than tap water. And I drink it in a GLASS, or a reuseable bottle.

          When it's so easy to DO the right things, why in hell would you admit to not doing it?

          by Hummingbird on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 01:32:03 AM PDT

          •  This kind of hostility . . .

            . . . to the very idea of getting out of the car, and hostility to the messenger of the idea, and self-righteousness about it to boot, is a good indication of the depth of the problem we face in trying to get Americans to grow up and take some responsibility for themselves, especially in California.

            You jump to all kinds of false assumptions about me that are not supported by anything I said (I don't live in San Francisco, or any other city with good public transportation; I know how hard it is to get around on poor public transportation and yet I do it anyway, and don't make excuses to get myself out of it; I have used CFLs and am aware of their costs, and of their shortcomings as lighting)--and yet YOU call ME "arrogant"!

            by keikekaze on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 01:00:13 PM PDT

    •  Why on earth wouldn't you switch though?

      it's far cheaper, and the lighting is just as good.  If you've heard mythes about "flicker" rates, well that's all they are - just MYTHS.  It saves you a tremendous amount of money, and energy, over time.  It may cost you more per bulb to start, but I swear I've had these things in my sockets for 10 years without replacing them  It's a major event when a bulb goes out.  There's no reason to be proud of not using compact flourescents, it's just stupid not to, there's no reason to even have a guilty pleasure in that. You're just wasting money not to have them.  

      It's one thing if you are addicted to ciggies (I am as well - and I'm actively trying to quit) because that's an addiction and a physical thing and people really shouldn't guilt trip you, it's another thing to think it's cool not to replace things that could be easily replaced and actually save YOU money and save the earth on energy use. Inclusive Heart is making a confession, sure, but not to stupidity.  I honor her confession, I've done many of the same things she has, but to think it's ok to have no PLANS to change is really not a confession, but a bit of arrogance.  There's no reason that you shouldn't change to CFLs, and it sounds like it's more about arrogance on your part more than anything else.  It's great to admit you are a fuck up, but to advocate yourself being one without explaining why, is really, honestly, bizarre.  Can you explain why you won't buy the CFLs?  Do you have a real reason, aside from being contrary?  

      curious minds would like to know.

      by Hummingbird on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 01:17:14 AM PDT

      •  I've never seen a fluorescent that didn't...

        ...cause me significant headache, and that wasn't a nasty, poor imitation of real illummination.

        by khereva on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 08:33:13 AM PDT

        •  I am in the same boat on the lighting

          issue.  n/t

          by inclusiveheart on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 10:02:02 AM PDT

        •  We use CFLs

          in all our fixtures except for the 3-way lamp next to the couch, and that's because we can't find one that fits.

          Our complex actually converted all the outdoor lighting to CFL a year or so ago -- very cool... :)

          by Cali Scribe on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 10:23:33 AM PDT

        •  first time i heard that CFLs cause headaches

          Regarding the quality of the light: Why don't you change all your light bulbs for CFLs for a month and see if you can adapt?  If not, you can donate them to somebody else.

          by hesk on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 10:48:10 AM PDT

          •  Flourescents aren't a constant source of

            light and for some of us the effect is kind of like looking directly into a strobe light.  What happens is that your eyes are constantly adjusting for the constantly changing light intensity.  Some people's eyes are more reactive to the effect than others.  I had a very difficult time all through college trying to read in the library because there very few incandescent lights.  I have stayed in countless hotels because of the biz I do - sometimes for weeks at a time and I've never adjusted.  I also get "sea sick" when I wear polarized lenses which is apparently something that happens to a small percentage of the population.  Funny too because I have sailed and boated all my life and I have never gotten sea sick from that.  I just don't turn on that many lights; I use mirrors to amplify light; and I always rely on as much natural light as possible.  

            by inclusiveheart on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 12:20:04 PM PDT

            •  well, if they really make you sick...

              then stay the hell away from them!  ;)

              I was just curious, because I've sit in front of a computer monitor all my life and am very sensible to any flicker there.  I also know from my childhood how annoying flickering flourescents are.  I never got any headaches because of that, but it's definately irritating and makes it hard to concentrate.  But then, I almost never get headaches.  However, now most monitors and displays are high quality and CFLs that I am around (home, work, etc.) are high quality, so I've thought that it may be a quality issue as well.

              Interesting what you say about polarized lenses, never heard of that as well.

              by hesk on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 02:00:25 PM PDT

          •  Let's see if I read this correctly.

            K: "I have always found fluorescent lights a source of headache, annoyance, and misery."
            H: "Why don't you replace every light bulb in your house with them?"

            umm, let's see.
            You could start by revisiting the sentence to which you were responding.

            1. I will not spend money to buy bulbs of a sort that I hate, because they: a. give me headaches, and b. provide shitty illumination.

            2. I will certainly not spend that kind of money to maximize my displeasure, with the added anticipation of throwing said money away (or visiting said misery on someone else) at the end of the month.

            Hint: I am not one of the  DC 'Rats*. That means I will not, having declared that an action is completely antithetical to my beliefs and principles, immediately reverse myself on your say so.
            
            
            
            
            ^{*No similarity to real rats is meant or implied. Real rats are intelligent, trainable animals that provide a vital and useful service to science and medicine. Also, a real rat will fight when cornered. Again, no similarity to actual rats should be inferred.}

            by khereva on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 05:05:30 PM PDT

            •  That's a MYTH

              There is no flicker rate with CFL's.  They operate on  60,000 HZ.  They don't flicker!  They are NOT regular fluorescents.  That's a MYTH.

              The decent ones are coated on the inside with phosphorous, and they do NOT flicker... I have all of my lights now filled with them, except for a couple that cant accept those things (dimmers)You're just wrong on this.

              here's an email I sent a friend about this...

              The technology is much improved.  As I told Buddy, the flicker rate is gone. Neither Claire nor Daja has ever commented that they have gotten headaches from the lighting in our house, and we are 98% CFL.

              From the Seattle City Light Residential Conservation site.

              "Q 5: Are CF bulbs harmful to my health?
              A 5: There are common myths that fluorescent lights cause headaches, rob the body of Vitamin B and can cause seizures. Many of these myths began when fluorescent lights first came into being in the 1940's. At that time, the phosphors (white coating on the inside of the glass tubes) were very primitive and gave off an unnatural and unpleasant bluish-green color causing people to look jaundiced or sick. The old-style tubes also produced excessive glare that prompted some people to squint and get headaches. And the ballasts were magnetic which caused the lights to flicker at 60 Hz (cycles per second). This just-barely perceptible flickering was annoying to some, and was blamed for headaches and seizures, although this effect was never proven. Today's fluorescent tubes and bulbs are vastly improved. State-of-the-art rare earth phosphors show true colors and natural skin tones. And flicker is totally eliminated with new electronic ballasts that operate as high as 20,000 Hz."

              My only problems with the new CFL's is that they aren't BRIGHT enough. I have to use more specialty bulbs for anything that requires close work. Preferably ones that act like sunlight. But guess what?  They are CFL's too.

              Here's another site:
              http://www.thehcf.org/...

              Here's another:
              http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

              They don't have the flicker problem.  Period.

              by Hummingbird on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 07:36:21 PM PDT

              •  Fluorescent Flicker a 'myth'? bwahahahahaha

                That doesn't even pass the laugh test.

                And I don't need the laboratory 'proof' for something I've experienced myself.

                No, I don't intend to try them-- and the arguments I've seen here in favor of them haven't caused that decision to so much as flicker.

                by khereva on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 07:44:10 PM PDT

            •  I was unclear

              I know that flourescent light can be irritating (makes it hard for me to concentrate, personally), but I had no problems with any recently bought CFL.  (By recent, I mean in the last 5 years.)  Also, the quality of the light has improved dramatically. So I thought, that it's a quality issue.

              By the way, what's ethical about the choice of lightning you make?

              by hesk on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 08:45:35 PM PDT

      •  How about this:

        They provide a vastly inferior quality of light, I don't like them, and I don't like you. I'm already fed up with your lecturing.

        by keikekaze on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 01:08:44 PM PDT

      •  For your future reference, hummingbird . . .

        . . . not that you and I will ever meet, but speaking as a matter of general principle:  If you're trying to persuade someone you don't know to come around to your point of view, it is singularly unhelpful to jump right in, with a complete stranger, calling him "stupid" (twice), "arrogant" (twice), ignorant, prideful, a "fuck-up,"  and "addicted to cigarettes" (which I am not, and hadn't said I was).  This is name-calling, and unwarranted (and highly impertinent) assumption, based on no evidence whatsoever.  You turn me into a straw man of your own creation so that you can belittle me, a person you have never met and know nothing about.  And you do it all in the hectoring tone of a crusading district attorney, DEMANDING ANSWERS!!! which I do not owe you and which you do not deserve.  This approach to "argument" is not likely to induce the respondent to respond with further rational argument; it's far likelier to induce the respondent to reply, "Drop dead!"  

        by keikekaze on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 01:36:35 PM PDT

        •  ok, I was probably out of line

          But so were you.

          by Hummingbird on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 07:37:54 PM PDT

          •  You were; I wasn't.

            I made a semi-humorous comment (that was the intention, anyway) in inclusiveheart's "confessional" mode.  Whereupon you jump in and start calling me all kinds of names, although my comment was not addressed to you and did not call anybody names.

            by keikekaze on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 10:40:39 PM PDT

  •  I am currently have a consulting engagement

    full time with a Big Pharma company. I will take some of the money I am making and donate it to democratic candidates. Will that make me less evil? :-)

    by MarkInSanFran on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 06:47:26 PM PDT

    •  It has been what I've done all my

      working life.  

      by inclusiveheart on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 06:50:54 PM PDT

      •  Like it or not

        we are all a part of this culture and no way can be untouched by its conventions. However, despite our 'flaws' (and I am one that doesn't have any patience with the holier than thou PC crowd) upon reflection we do note that our actions and our lives do have consequences. Many people don't give it a second thought.

        All we can do is try our best so that the consequences we leave behind us are more positive than negative.

        But here's the difference between our "purity" and a politician's - not one of us I would wager would mouth platitudes aimed at scoring points with liberals while slipping us a pile of fascist-lite shit about representing the people while supping at the table of the plutocracy that aims to enslave us.

        That stuff matters. A lot.

        I smoke too. No cleavage though. But I like it, too.

        by Dave925 on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 07:08:32 PM PDT

        •  How poor should a Progressive candidate be?

          The corporate media will always find "viable" reasons to discredit and demolish populist and Progressive candidates. Remember Dean's scream?
          They're also very good at shaping reality and with little effort could make Mother Teresa appear as evil as Hitler.

          by annefrank on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 07:44:55 PM PDT

          •  Manipulated perception

            it's rooted in an unwillingness due to a complete lack of its promotion to think critically by large swaths of the population.

            This has been done intentionally, it has always been done intentionally whether to keep people illiterate or granting them that, stunting their ability to use the skill.

            Thus are the works of the enemy.

            by Dave925 on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 08:39:35 PM PDT

          •  Answer:

            as poor as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, adjusted to 2007 dollars.

            I don't buy into that crap about wealthy people being unqualified to represent the poor. It's a RW talking point for bringing down "class traitors", and the irony is that they're trying to use it on Edwards, who's hardly a patrician.

            Roosevelt really was a patrician, they did call him a class traitor, and they've never forgiven him, even as 75 years later they are still dismantling the New deal every chance they get.

            by sidnora on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 08:41:35 AM PDT

    •  I hear the VLWC is selling indulgences

      In the grand old tradition, they are priced according to your means.  Here is the price schedule for a family of four earning $45,000/year.

      Plenary indulgence:  You are now politically correct and the darling of almost all the candidates:  $2,300.

      Partial indulgences:

      Seven years of incorrectness forgiven:
        Your choice of years:  $800
        Last seven years:  $500
        First seven years:  FREE

      Three years of incorrectness forgiven:  $400

      Voted for Bush:  $900
      Voted for Bush twice:  $2,300

      100 days:  $80

      One offensive statement:  $10/listener

      If your family income is under $18,000/year, your indulgences can be had my making a pilgrimage to a Democratic challenger's office on five consecutive Second Fridays and working the phones.  

      Above $18,000/year, calcuate a multiplier by dividing your income into $45,000, and multiply that by the list price of the indulgence of your choice.  Pay either that or $2,300, whichever is lesser.

      Purchase your indulgence from MoveOn, ActBlue, or any liberal PAC advertising on dKos.

      by Yamaneko2 on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 07:58:38 PM PDT

    •  carbon credits for you n/t

      by riverlover on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 08:15:21 PM PDT

    •  If you contribute money

      to candidates that will defeat their efforts,  that literally COME from them, I can't think of anything more appropriate from your money.

      In fact that is what I would do . :)

      It's called "biting the hand that feeds you (poison)"

      If you could actually persuade them to stop that would be better, but it's highly unlikely.

      by Hummingbird on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 01:38:00 AM PDT

    •  I think it's

      unethical to make your money this way.

      by palachia on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 07:40:40 AM PDT

  •  I share your stated beliefs n/t

    by elveta on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 07:01:06 PM PDT

  •  My confession...

    ...I've always had a penchant for speaking my mind no matter what the cost. I've also always gotten weak in the knees around true blondes with nice cleavages. While I hate the word slavery and all of its dire implications, and since I haven't gotten my notice to report to the internment camps yet for opposing the Bush regime, and the summer still abounds do you think I could be your...never mind, I shouldn't confess so much.

    Who said confession was good for the soul? Not me. :)  Great diary and Peace!

    by ImpeachKingBushII on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 07:09:51 PM PDT

  •  Inclusive, I think we're sisters! LOL n/t

    by Mary Julia on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 07:23:40 PM PDT

  •  I can forgive all the other stuff

    But forcing your parents to buy you a pet rock when you were 7 or any age for that matter is unforgivable. No matter if it was because of gullibilty or some twisted maternal instinct. It simply proves that your soul is as black as pitch and you can never be redeemed. Good luck with that. ;-)

    ((((Snark)))))

    by Wes Opinion on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 08:12:13 PM PDT

    •  Cut her some slack

      at least it wasn't a Chia Pet.  ;)

      by littlesky on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 04:05:12 AM PDT

      •  Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

        by JVolvo on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 08:46:29 AM PDT

      •  But wouldn't a Chia Pet

        absorb carbon dioxide and help reduce global warming?

        Can't wait to start on my "Cover The World In Chias" campaign... ;)

        by Cali Scribe on Sun Aug 19, 2007 at 10:26:00 AM PDT

  •  I'm Not Sure Your Musical Taste...

    ...is as good as it should be.

    I notice you say nothing about arena shows, or illegal downloading, or indie artists who sign with major labels, or...

    by DHinMI on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 08:23:38 PM PDT

    •  I skipped the music tonight because in that

      area... I am damn near perfect except for maybe how much fun I had seeing Cheap Trick at San Diego Street Scene on September 9th, 2001.  Oh and when I was eleven/twelve I loved Sammy Hagar as much as I loved Cheap Trick.

      I am not sure if she is around these parts these days, but an old family friend who is the person who turned me on to dkos is the person who took me and my best friend to see Queen when we were 12.

      Stream of conciousness...

      by inclusiveheart on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 08:39:51 PM PDT

      •  Scaramouche...

        ...scaramouche will you do the fandango?

        I'm home in Detroit seeing my parents this weekend, and  last night while driving to meet some friends downtown, I flipped on one of the 17 classic rock stations in Detroit and caught a "triple play" of j. Geils Band, and I was all about feathered hair and painters pants and moon shoes all over again.  

        by DHinMI on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 08:47:20 PM PDT

        •  Lol - awesome.

          I am looking forward to being 80 in a nursing home and fighting with the staff about playing the music louder!!

          I went to Ft. Reno Park on Thursday night to see these three bands that all basically sucked, but that were incredibly amusing.  One was the dour punk version of the Hansen Brothers complete with the 12-14 year old boy singing lead and the songs were titled "Bouncy Gorrila" with repetative lyrics "Bouncy gorrila, bouncy gorrila {repeat refrain fifteen times} Scratches his arm pit {repeat refrain fifteen times and make sure voice cracks a few times}".  The last of the three featured a young man who was dressed as Edie Sedgwick in a silver mini dress who sang songs about celebrities.  He like to say "God Damn!" a lot.  There really is nothing like live music.  I hope they organize some for me if I make it to the old folks home.  lol.

          by inclusiveheart on Sat Aug 18, 2007 at 08:57:37 PM PDT

      •  I still like Cheap Trick...