Voters choose new Virginia congressman Tuesday in special election

[alang1216]

What was it that Virginian Thomas Jefferson said about big cities?

“When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become corrupt as in Europe.”

Yes, that upper-class, plantation and slave owner who thought the common man had to be protected from himself.

 

[alang1216]

You do realize that segregation was implemented by the Democratic Party, right?

How things have changed since those ancient times. I wonder if the GOP would nominate Lincoln for president today?

 

[Sherlock Holmes]

Trouble is the vast majority of voters in that district are transplants, not real Virginians.

Nothing in the state's elections rules refers to "real Virginians" though, whatever that even means.

You have to travel around 35 miles to the west to find those.

 

[ding]

Yes, that upper-class, plantation and slave owner who thought the common man had to be protected from himself.

And you don’t?

 

[ding]

How things have changed since those ancient times. I wonder if the GOP would nominate Lincoln for president today?

No idea. He was a dark horse even then. His position was that he did not agree with slavery but had no intention to end it.

 

[alang1216]

And you don’t?

I don't want the common man, like me, to be protected by self-appointed elites. Will they have the best interests of the common man or theirs.

 

[ding]

I don't want the common man, like me, to be protected by self-appointed elites. Will they have the best interests of the common man or theirs.

You are a liberal. So whether you realize it or not you want the government to do for everyone what they can and should be doing for themselves which includes protecting them from themselves.

I’m Darwinian. I want people to suffer the consequences of their actions.

 

[ding]

Will they have the best interests of the common man or theirs.

Are you suggesting you don’t place your best interests above others? I find it odd that you expect government to take care of our interests given what you believe. Whereas I don’t expect government to take care of our needs. I expect them to place their best interests above all else.

 

[alang1216]

You are a liberal. So whether you realize it or not you want the government to do for everyone what they can and should be doing for themselves which includes protecting them from themselves.

I love when you tell me what I believe, especially when you're wrong.

I’m Darwinian. I want people to suffer the consequences of their actions.

I thought that was God's role?

 

[ding]

I love when you tell me what I believe, especially when you're wrong.

I love that you can’t understand the logical conclusion of your beliefs. That shouldn’t surprise me since you are arguing that you don’t want elites to protect you from yourself because they can’t be trusted while simultaneously desiring bigger government to take care of the people.

 

[ding]

I thought that was God's role?

It’s funny that a person such as yourself who believes in evolution so strongly recoils at the thought of people experiencing the consequences of their decisions.

God’s role in all of this is to tolerate our free will so that we can learn from our mistakes. Experience is the best teacher.

 

[alang1216]

I love that you can’t understand the logical conclusion of your beliefs. That shouldn’t surprise me since you are arguing that you don’t want elites to protect you from yourself because they can’t be trusted while simultaneously desiring bigger government to take care of the people.

I prefer a democracy where the common people control the government, not the other way around.

 

[ding]

I prefer a democracy where the common people control the government, not the other way around.

It was never meant to be a democracy but it’s become more like one than it should be. But never lose you naivety.

There’s a great comeuppance headed our way and it doesn’t matter which party is in power. Its inevitable.

 

[M14 Shooter]

It was never meant to be a democracy....

American "democracy", at the federal level, was meant to extend no further than the elections for the house of representatives.; this changed with the 17th Amendment, which specified the direct election of Senators.

That's it. Completely. In toto.

The "will of the people" is expressed in the election of representatives to Congress -- and even then, the Constitution has any number of provisions which override that expressed will.

Democracy, theoretically and practically, in America is, intentionally, very thin.

 

[ding]

American "democracy", at the federal level, was meant to extend no further than the elections for the house of representatives.; this changed with the 17th Amendment, which specified the direct election of Senators.

That's it. Completely. In toto.

The "will of the people" is expressed in the election of representatives to Congress -- and even then, the Constitution has any number of provisions which override that expressed will.

Democracy, theoretically and practically, in America is, intentionally, very thin.

When lawmakers bend to the will of the majority then it effectively is democracy. A republic is when leaders are courageous enough to go against the majority of the people to do the right thing.

 

[alang1216]

It was never meant to be a democracy but it’s become more like one than it should be. But never lose you naivety.

Thanks. And don't ever lose your cynicism.

There’s a great comeuppance headed our way and it doesn’t matter which party is in power. Its inevitable.

Probably so. Our republic has become ossified and undemocratic and it is very hard to make small changes so our system can evolve. If it doesn't bend it will break.

 

[ding]

Thanks. And don't ever lose your cynicism.

I won’t. When applied properly it leads to objectivity.

 

[ding]

Probably so. Our republic has become ossified and undemocratic and it is very hard to make small changes so our system can evolve. If it doesn't bend it will break.

I see it differently. It has become more Democratic by appealing to their target groups to stay in power.

 

[alang1216]

I see it differently. It has become more Democratic by appealing to their target groups to stay in power.

Do you believe only the Dems do this and the GOP culture wars are not meant to do the same?

 

[ding]

Do you believe only the Dems do this and the GOP culture wars are not meant to do the same?

Of course not. That’s why we are doomed.

When I say it has become more Democratic that is to say majority or mob rule. It’s not an attack on a party.