Silent Majority ?

[Pinkfluff]

If you're looking for a reason why most of us aren't conservative, it's because one of the loudest messages conservatives have is that people who are different, who violate *their* sense of what is normal or traditional or natural, are the enemy.

I believe that we've reached the era where technology can serve humanity better if we shed capitalism.

Yep I agree with both of these things. I tried to explain the latter one to someone I know but he completely insisted that capitalism is so great. He seemed to really believe that everyone has the freedom to do whatever they want in the USA. I wish that were true. Sure our laws support it, but all one needs to do is pay attention to the news to see that money from special interests and large corporations beats the law every time. I wonder if it is because this person was a cis straight male. I'm sure things look pretty good to someone with lots of privilege, but unfortunately they don't to all of us.

[Ann Onymous]

I'm sure things look pretty good to someone with lots of privilege, but unfortunately they don't to all of us.

Actually the day before yesterday SUCKED for some of us who apparently are defined as having 'lots of privilege" and the past few months haven't been much better...I won't discuss specific numbers, but Monday was an upper five-figure loss day.  Some of us have busted our asses to get to the point in our financial lives where we are at the moment and we take grievous offense at the way the US Government pisses money away under the current administration...

Does that mean that I liked everything under previous administrations?  No it does not.  However, they did not do NEAR the damage to future generations as the current regime has done in the span of just a few years...

[Annah]

Actually the day before yesterday SUCKED for some of us who apparently are defined as having 'lots of privilege" and the past few months haven't been much better...I won't discuss specific numbers, but Monday was an upper five-figure loss day.  Some of us have busted our asses to get to the point in our financial lives where we are at the moment and we take grievous offense at the way the US Government pisses money away under the current administration...

Does that mean that I liked everything under previous administrations?  No it does not.  However, they did not do NEAR the damage to future generations as the current regime has done in the span of just a few years...

I don't think we can entirely blame the current stock market crises solely on this administration. I lost my 65K a year job under Bush's administration and I saw similar market drops too.

The way the government has been handling things for the last 20 years is to be blamed. All the administrations are to blame for this. It is a result of years of mishandling and misappropriation of monies that lead to these current events.

[Ann Onymous]

I don't think we can entirely blame the current stock market crises solely on this administration. I lost my 65K a year job under Bush's administration and I saw similar market drops too.

Don't get me wrong...I have had other days with significant losses...October 1987 was the first truly brutal week I ever experienced but my exposure was limited back then and it created some buying opportunities.  The dot.bomb period hurt as well because I had a larger stake in the markets.  However, as the professional career flourished, so to has my portfolio...I am one of those people that some want to label as privileged simply because I had been able to save and generally invest effectively.  While the current regime may not be entirely to blame, the reality is that it is hemoraging cash like it was going out of style...and yet they refuse to heed the message that came from the downgrade on the ratings. 

It really is almost enough to make me just pull out of the market and shift all of the funds out of the country.  We simply cannot afford another collapse like we saw under Carter...and even if bonds started paying rates like we saw then, I don't know that I trust the government enough not to try and monopolize them not unlike they are cramming Obamacare down our throats... 

The way the government has been handling things for the last 20 years is to be blamed. All the administrations are to blame for this. It is a result of years of mishandling and misappropriation of monies that lead to these current events.

But at SOME point, SOME administration has to say "it is time to quit pissing money away."  Instead of hitting the brakes though, the current regime mashed the go-faster pedal through the floor.  And the only thing they want to do in response is figure out how to get more money out of people in my bracket so that they can continue to fund the entitlement populous...

[cynthialee]

The system will not be repaired until it completely fails.

Don't get stuck holding paper on that day.
Specie (metals), and land that you own clear of mortgage are your best bets when the SHTF.
dyodd

[justmeinoz]

Sorry for the thread derailment there, but there is a real difference between what Americans consider 'conservative' and 'liberal', and how the terms are viewed in other places.  Lots of the silent majority here would equate a lot of US conservatives with the most extreme right wing, and really can't take them seriously.  Those who do are a bit worried.
 
On the one hand the National Party ,( which is a rural interests group, not like the BNP), is absolutely against the idea of Australia becoming a republic, yet their agricultural policies would be regarded as totally socialist by the Tea Party.  For purely commercial reasons, they are a bit more open to the Arab point of view on the Middle East than the other parties as well.

Our main conservative party is the Liberal Party, which is located about where the most moderate Republicans are, and the Labor Party is a coalition of factions ranging from old Southern style Democrats, to near Trotskyites.  Apart from the extreme left of Labor both are  staunch allies of the US and generally pro-Israel.

So the silent majority is a pretty fluid idea.  Yours is definitely not mine Kate, so if you do come back please don't assume all of us hold familiar positions and opinions even if we have the same label.

Karen.

[Pinkfluff]

Actually the day before yesterday SUCKED for some of us who apparently are defined as having 'lots of privilege" and the past few months haven't been much better...I won't discuss specific numbers, but Monday was an upper five-figure loss day.  Some of us have busted our asses to get to the point in our financial lives where we are at the moment and we take grievous offense at the way the US Government pisses money away under the current administration...

Does that mean that I liked everything under previous administrations?  No it does not.  However, they did not do NEAR the damage to future generations as the current regime has done in the span of just a few years...

I certainly am not saying that times haven't been tough on everyone (well mostly everyone) lately, but I think it is fair to assume that if you deal in funds as large as five figures (and if that was the loss you probably deal in at least six figures) that you are not facing homelessness and untreated medical problems. I don't deny that you have worked hard. So have I. Yet I don't even get anything to show for it. While you may worry about your financial life, I am stuck worrying about my entire life and how much longer they will let me live it.

As far as the government, I am no longer a fan of Obama after this so-called deal, but it has been shown that the majority of the debt and deficit problems faced by the government come from Bush's reckless spending on two wars (they never did find the WMDs he said Iraq had) and on tax breaks for the very rich.

[Stephe]

As far as the government, I am no longer a fan of Obama after this so-called deal, but it has been shown that the majority of the debt and deficit problems faced by the government come from Bush's reckless spending on two wars (they never did find the WMDs he said Iraq had) and on tax breaks for the very rich.

I agree.

Here's where the debt came from, when and by whom.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2011/07/31/the_debt_crisis/

If someone doesn't  like the facts, that doesn't change what they are. I'm no fan of Obama but people who preach he is the main contributor to the debt aren't using facts. Regan over doubled the deficit but for some reason he is their God? I just don't get it. If ANYONE is to blame over the current market crash it's the tea party, S&P says this in their report. But some people just don't want to hear the truth when it doesn't fit their agenda. Stick with these tea party guys and watch ALL your investments disappear.

[tekla]

Typical of the cut and run crowd.  First try to silence all opposition, and when that doesn't work take you ball and go home.  Any wonder we're in big trouble when people are not even capable of listening to an opposition argument anymore?

BTW, the US is spending $325 million per day in Afghanistan, and the entire country ain't even worth half of that if you bought it outright forever.

[BunnyBee]

You give me what I want and I'll... have everything I want.

That's how compromise works, doesn't it?

[AbraCadabra]

Sorry, just came to mind, a line from a song by Christia Aguilera.
Maybe should have quoted that? --- C.A.?
Sorry for the oversight.

Also, that thread got so HEAVY it's just not funny. Tends to bring out my frivolous side, with the OP having left, feeling ever so misunderstood. Now joining her*) own silent majority?

Girl will be girls,
Axelle
PS: Freudsche Fehlleistung*) - Lapsus linguae - THIS was not intended, neither meant as a snub. I wish to apologize.

[foosnark]

I am one of those people that some want to label as privileged simply because I had been able to save and generally invest effectively.

Half the people on earth over age 20 have a net worth under $4,000.  2/3 of the people on earth over 20 are under $10,000.

Chances are pretty good that every person on these forums is priveleged.  Certainly anyone who can even *think* about investing is priveleged.  The middle class doesn't typically invest, except maybe in a retirement plan of some kind; it's not because they are stupid or lazy or less deserving but because they simply don't earn enough to save, much less to risk.  And yet the middle class is FAR better off than the world's poor.

My thought is, if wealthy people don't want to pay tax, they don't get to use public roads, public fire departments, public police, public clean water, or public clean  air, nor do they get the benefit of the defense provided to the public by the military.  Enjoy Somalia, the Tea Party paradise.

[Ann Onymous]

My thought is, if wealthy people don't want to pay tax, they don't get to use public roads, public fire departments, public police, public clean water, or public clean  air, nor do they get the benefit of the defense provided to the public by the military.  Enjoy Somalia, the Tea Party paradise.

Yet another misconception...you will find that those with wealth are not opposed to taxes (not thrilled with them, but understand them as a necessary evil).  The problem is when the government wants to impose punitive rates on the haves while the have-nots either are below a taxable threshold or pay a much smaller percentage.  If the government TRULY wanted to equalize tax burdens, then we would see a flat tax with the balance coming through what amounts to a sales tax (in which case people are only being taxed on what they actually consume). 

Federal taxes on income are not where the vast majority of funding for roads and public service come from...in fact, most local services are paid for through the property taxes on residential and commercial property, or in the case of a volunteer fire department, on the local association fees.  Something like 50 cents of every gallon of gas on average is state and federal taxes...although the distribution of those funds is hardly handled in an equitable fashion.  Admittedly, I have not paid attention to what amount of my Avgas is tax and what is not...and most of what I fly is often handled as a wet-lease, meaning that if I refuel somewhere, it really isn't coming out of my pocket as a separate expense and is credited against my per-hour rate...and then there are the stupid TSA-related taxes on commercial flight that do absolutely NOTHING towards the improvement of domestic air safety. 

 

[Annah]

Sorry, just came to mind, a line from a song by Christia Aguilera.
Maybe should have quoted that? --- C.A.?
Sorry for the oversight.

Also, that thread got so HEAVY it's just not funny. Tends to bring out my frivolous side, with the OP having left, feeling ever so misunderstood. Now joining his her own silent majority?

Girl will be girls,
Axelle

The thread wasn't meant to be funny. It was suppose to be heavy. She brought up a something that was a concern to her and even though many of us philosophically disagree with her, the mature thing to do is to voice of our own opposition to those ideals without attacking her. Even if she got ugly with us, our responsible response is not to put her or others who share her philosophies down.

Anyone can disagree and people should disagree and voice their opinions but the execution on how one disagrees with another should always be centered around a co respect; even if she doesn't respect you, the answer is not to return the favor. If someone gets out of hand with me, i simply will not stoop to their own level. I simply report it and go on with my life.

And even if you don't agree with her, calling her a guy is a bit below the belt.

[SandraJane]

Anyone can disagree and people should disagree and voice their opinions but the execution on how one disagrees with another should always be centered around a co respect; even if she doesn't respect you, the answer is not to return the favor. If someone gets out of hand with me, i simply will not stoop to their own level. I simply report it and go on with my life.

And even if you don't agree with her, calling her a guy is a bit below the belt.

True, but beware of "righteous self promotion" in the interest of the better good.

[AbraCadabra]

Well thank you for pointing this out Annah,

I have correct my error:

Now joining her*) own silent majority?

Girl will be girls,
Axelle
PS: Freudsche Fehlleistung*) - Lapsus linguae - THIS was not intended, neither meant as a snub. I wish to apologize.

Further more, I did not say *that thread should be funny*, you are quoting me out of context here by saying: *The thread wasn't meant to be funny.*

I said *it was getting too heavy*, and that THIS was not funny. A very different meaning that is.
You may agree?

Axelle

[cynthialee]

I believe that when one takes the high road it should only be a few inches above the low road....this affords the other individual room for improvement.

[wendy]

I come to Susan's because as a scientists (biomedical area) i thought I could contribute to inform the forum on the advances in unraveling the underlying biological causes of GID. To my surprise evidence on the biological origins of GID was not welcome or plain rejected, by most of the posting people.

In just about any post there is a 1:50 or more ratio of people who post versus people who just read. Please I urge to participate more, express you views.

Kate D

Hi Kate I am an ultra conservative that accepts nothing.  My gut tells me that GID had biological origins.  My studies show me some major differences between general TS in East and TS in West.  One big difference is that 75% of MTF in West "liked" females to some degree.  This number is three times higher than in East.

Do you have statisitics to back up your findings?

[SandraJane]

I think the reason is that the knowledge of GID is personal at an individual level and because the person knows their experiences better than anyone else, no on can refute it, whether scientist, medical doctor, or phsychologist psychologist.

Been waiting to try that!

[Annah]

Hi Kate I am an ultra conservative that accepts nothing.  My gut tells me that GID had biological origins.  My studies show me some major differences between general TS in East and TS in West.  One big difference is that 75% of MTF in West "liked" females to some degree.  This number is three times higher than in East.

Do you have statisitics to back up your findings?

Can you further explain what you mean that 75% of MTF in the wst "liked" females to some degree and what your assumptions are regarding this?

I also find it interesting that you state you are ultra conservative followed by you "accepts nothing." To be honest, I never heard of a conservative openly admit that they refuse to accept any other "explanations" so I have to commend you on your convictions even tho I disagree.

Also, concerning your biological convictions, you state it is all based on medical explanations. If these became standard, would you start dressing as a man and living as a man again if your personal medical examinations came back with negative results of Transexualism?

I know you feel convinced you are trans but what if the medical tests prove otherwise? It would be similiar to those who are trans who desperately want to be intersex but their tests shows they were born biologically 100% male. Many do not take the results lightly. I wonder howsomuch more the emotional disturbance may be compounded based on an actual transsexual medical examination that proves negative of transsexualism. At least those who did not test positive for intersex traits still have their gut feelings of being a transsexual to fall back on.