tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32924329.post3684500342335618293..comments2023-10-31T03:58:32.056-07:00Comments on Empathic Rationalist: Daniel Spirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656412977046134771noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32924329.post-66883470574102792152007-05-21T16:21:00.000-07:002007-05-21T16:21:00.000-07:00Bert,I would never take the attitude that "I'm rig...Bert,<BR/><BR/>I would never take the attitude that "I'm right" and "you're wrong" -- especially not in a blog entitled Empathic Rationalist. Rationally, we understand mostly how ignorant we are when it comes to political or theological truths.<BR/><BR/>All that I can say is that -- in my humble opinion -- it would be great to have a guy like Novick on the Hill speaking the things that most people wouldn't have the guts to say, and articulating the point in a way that most people wouldn't have the brains to conceive. I also think the guy is pretty down to earth, which is why I don't use the term "idealistic" for him though I admit that in certain respects it's undeniably apt.<BR/><BR/>Finally, as for convincing people, I long stopped thinking that I'm likely to do that. But that doesn't stop the fingers from clicking the keyboard.Daniel Spirohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09656412977046134771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32924329.post-24811305022242311892007-05-21T08:54:00.000-07:002007-05-21T08:54:00.000-07:00Daniel, it's not in my nature to pity a country, w...Daniel, it's not in my nature to pity a country, which though flawed, still is something of a shining beacon on the hill top.<BR/><BR/>If the US Senate has 100 senators who lack Novick's idealism and passion, it's because the voters of this country either lack them as well, or were not given proper choices. I think it's mostly that latter. <BR/><BR/>I'm not knocking Mr. Novick, I'm just pointing out that even if Oregonians did have the gumption to send Novick/Mr. Smith to the Senate, he'd be outnumbered 99 to 1, and I wouldn't bet on a happy ending.<BR/><BR/>I think too many of us look in our mirrors and say to ourselves, 'boy, I'm glad I'm not a flawed human being.' So we don't change... And even if we do spot a flaw or two, we trivialize the flaws and tell ourselves that overall we're wonderful people. After all, don't our dogs love us?<BR/><BR/>If you're the Empathetic Rationalist, then I must be the Cynical Curmudgeon. If you want to posit that when our views differ, yours is the correct view, I shan't be upset, but I'm not likely to be convinced.<BR/><BR/>The knowledge that there will never unanimity on any issue is, among other things, important to learning how to achieve and maintain happiness, whatever the heck that is.Bert Bananashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14601645383399698392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32924329.post-5113416736205841862007-05-21T05:19:00.000-07:002007-05-21T05:19:00.000-07:00Bert,Don't pity Novick. Pity the U.S. if we have ...Bert,<BR/><BR/>Don't pity Novick. Pity the U.S. if we have 100 Senators who lack Novick's idealism and passion.Daniel Spirohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09656412977046134771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32924329.post-53606238927755001722007-05-20T20:03:00.000-07:002007-05-20T20:03:00.000-07:00Maurice,I never professed to be Novick. Sorry, bu...Maurice,<BR/><BR/>I never professed to be Novick. Sorry, but since I don't know you and I just watched "Pacific Heights," your message was kind of creepy. Had I just watched a good comedy, I might have laughed instead.Daniel Spirohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09656412977046134771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32924329.post-18927351768987137402007-05-20T17:02:00.000-07:002007-05-20T17:02:00.000-07:00'...Runaway economic unfairness..." does strike a ...'...Runaway economic unfairness..." does strike a responsive chord within most of us who work hard to make a living while playing by the rules. <BR/><BR/>I worry that Mr. Novick is a bit too idealistic. I truly believe that most people play by the rules because they either don't have the wherewithal to bend them to their benefit. I did a study of Mexican governmental corruption in the 1960s. I came to believe that it was institutionalized and that those not in power didn't really fight against it because they were hoping that they would soon have their day in the catbird seat.<BR/><BR/>I've been told that Communism would have worked fine, that the theories behind it were just peachy keen, except that humans are too flawed to be proper stewards.<BR/><BR/>I both admire and pity people with the vision Mr. Novick displays. But his 'we gotta fight global warming' and 'universal health care' positions leave him, IMHO, vulnerable to the flawed human beings who think there's a way to get things done that doesn't take too much in taxes. <BR/><BR/>Making life 'better' in America isn't going to be cheap and most of us don't mind cutting corners if we're doing okay. I don't think there are enough 'green people' and 'welfare junkies' voting, meaning that not much is going to change at the local and state levels.Bert Bananashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14601645383399698392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32924329.post-78733390972868711262007-05-19T12:47:00.000-07:002007-05-19T12:47:00.000-07:00I knew Novick, Dan. And you're no Novick.I knew Novick, Dan. And you're no Novick.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00871698618711064531noreply@blogger.com