The Harper's Letter: The Death of Liberalism?

[Guest]

4 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

The letter he signed is about starting to change that.

Good, I wish they'd let me sign it.  I do have family members who would be horrified if I did, though. 

[eyeball]

On 7/21/2020 at 5:44 AM, Michael Hardner said:

The letter he signed is about starting to change that.

Is there anything comparable to Harper's letter from right-wing pundits warning it's extremities need to tone it down?

[Michael Hardner]

36 minutes ago, eyeball said:

Is there anything comparable to Harper's letter from right-wing pundits warning it's extremities need to tone it down?

I don't know.  Good question though.  I think Trump said 'some of them are very fine people' and the rest followed.

[Argus]

2 hours ago, eyeball said:

Is there anything comparable to Harper's letter from right-wing pundits warning it's extremities need to tone it down?

 

Edited July 22, 2020 by Argus

[Shady]

I had to literally laugh out loud at "Donald Trump, represents a real threat to democracy".   

[Michael Hardner]

37 minutes ago, Shady said:

I had to literally laugh out loud at "Donald Trump, represents a real threat to democracy".   

The president who puts his family into key positions like a banana dictator, who punishes Republicans who don't do his bidding, who promotes conspiracy theories and says he may not accept the results of the election ?  That guy ?  Ok.

[Shady]

1 hour ago, Michael Hardner said:

The president who puts his family into key positions like a banana dictator, who punishes Republicans who don't do his bidding, who promotes conspiracy theories and says he may not accept the results of the election ?  That guy ?  Ok.

Yes, that guy.  Many presidents have used family members or friends in key positions.  Many presidents have punished fellow party members for not towing the line.  In happens regularly in Canada.  Here you may even be kicked out of the party.  Conspiracy theories have nothing to do with democracy.  Democracy continues, even under somebody like Trump.  Courts make rulings, congress makes law, elections get scheduled and completed.  The mid-term elections went on, Trump lost seats in the senate and completely lost the house.  Odd for a dictator don't you think?  Regardless, It's funny how it's Democrats that haven't accepted the results of an election.  People don't seem to understand, you can be against Trump but not have to resort to ridiculous hyperbole.

[Michael Hardner]

Just now, Shady said:

1. Many presidents have used family members or friends in key positions. 
2. Many presidents have punished fellow party members for not towing the line. 
3. Conspiracy theories have nothing to do with democracy. 
4. Democracy continues, even under somebody like Trump. 
5. Odd for a dictator don't you think? 
6. Regardless, It's funny how it's Democrats that haven't accepted the results of an election. 
7. People don't seem to understand, you can be against Trump but not have to resort to ridiculous hyperbole.

1. Not lately.  JFK raised eyebrows by promoting his very capable brother.  Ivanka ?  
2. Not like this.
3. Arguable.
4. 'like Trump' ?  What do you mean - you are making the case that he's not even remarkable.
5. What a shitty low bar... he didn't take over yet therefore he is not a threat.
6. Hmmm.  Obama didn't pile chairs in front of the door of the oval office as Trump likely will.
7. Guilty.

[Heelaque]

The issues outlined in the Harper’s letter appear to be dealing with the symptoms not the cause - a reaction to members of the ‘moderate left-wing’ stepping further left towards extremist thinking.

This motion towards more extremist left-wing absolutism does seem more reactionary than radical in nature due to the perception that the right-wing elements of American politics took their step further right and in doing so allowed them to take and then keep the presidency from a democratic winner of the popular vote.

To a member of the moderate left-wing this result would have felt like political theft due to manipulation of the current voting framework that exists (gerrymandering, electoral college system & voter suppression) to name a few metrics.

This has been compounded during the course of this electoral term by the growing list of improprieties perpetrated by a sitting president, individual instances of which, on their own,  have historically unseated previous presidents of the past.

So in order to purchase new traction some of them sold their moderate positions in the hopes that their new extreme views will finally provide them with the foundation they need to succeed.

To frame this post with perspective rather than rifling through all of the other symptoms, I think the consistent power struggle within a two-party system may actually be the cause for the rise of extremism on both sides.

Result: With these political parties being so deeply separated the moderates on both sides will not be left with a horse in this race, signaling that it’s perhaps time for a legitimate third party to be generated so that extremism can return to the fringes of American politics no matter what side you lean towards.

In returning to the Harper’s letter it’s purpose seems to be a reminder to Democrats (that have in more recent years occupied the more moderate positions of politics) that a return to center will assist them more, politically speaking.

In short the letter should read:

“Democrats, you don’t need to despair, the current president has dug himself into a hole and he refuses to put down the shovel. We just need to wait this out, please don’t shift the political landscape too much and we can win this with relative ease”.

Edited August 2, 2020 by Heelaque

[Argus]

On 7/22/2020 at 1:00 PM, eyeball said:

Is there anything comparable to Harper's letter from right-wing pundits warning it's extremities need to tone it down?

 

[Heelaque]

That video is in direct response to Trump not the right-wing extremism.

Trump is an ‘independent’ masquerading as a Republican and up to this point at least, the party doesn’t care so long as they stay in power but that gamble is apparently starting to weigh heavy on their supporters.

Edited August 7, 2020 by Heelaque