Comments on: The Patriotism Game: Completely Disgusting http://blog.martincrownover.com/2008/09/03/the-patriotism-game/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-patriotism-game The musings of Martin "FredFredrickson" Crownover Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:16:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: FredFredrickson http://blog.martincrownover.com/2008/09/03/the-patriotism-game/comment-page-1/#comment-703 FredFredrickson Sat, 06 Sep 2008 07:13:46 +0000 http://blog.martincrownover.com/?p=547#comment-703 I'll second that! I’ll second that!

]]> By: Yourself http://blog.martincrownover.com/2008/09/03/the-patriotism-game/comment-page-1/#comment-702 Yourself Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:14:41 +0000 http://blog.martincrownover.com/?p=547#comment-702 It's also nice to know that if I vote the same way my state does (Illinois), my vote may essentially count for nothing. If one candidate wins the state, it doesn't matter if the won by 1 vote or 1 million, it ends the same way. If I see another person lose an election even though they have the popular vote, I'm starting a revolution. It’s also nice to know that if I vote the same way my state does (Illinois), my vote may essentially count for nothing. If one candidate wins the state, it doesn’t matter if the won by 1 vote or 1 million, it ends the same way. If I see another person lose an election even though they have the popular vote, I’m starting a revolution.

]]> By: xot http://blog.martincrownover.com/2008/09/03/the-patriotism-game/comment-page-1/#comment-697 xot Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:35:07 +0000 http://blog.martincrownover.com/?p=547#comment-697 That's a paraphrased Lily Tomlin quote. She's has a lot of great ones, I should have credited her. That’s a paraphrased Lily Tomlin quote. She’s has a lot of great ones, I should have credited her.

]]> By: FredFredrickson http://blog.martincrownover.com/2008/09/03/the-patriotism-game/comment-page-1/#comment-695 FredFredrickson Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:00:58 +0000 http://blog.martincrownover.com/?p=547#comment-695 "No matter how cynical you get, it’s impossible to keep up." I just read that quote somewhere on Digg this morning - it's awesome. :) “No matter how cynical you get, it’s impossible to keep up.”

I just read that quote somewhere on Digg this morning – it’s awesome. :)

]]> By: xot http://blog.martincrownover.com/2008/09/03/the-patriotism-game/comment-page-1/#comment-694 xot Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:19:37 +0000 http://blog.martincrownover.com/?p=547#comment-694 "The media is indeed also to blame - sensationalism sells, and intelligent conversation doesn’t. It’s a shame." It's not just a shame, it should be actionable. And it was until 1987 when the Fairness Doctrine was dropped from the FCC mandate thanks to Reagan's deregulation. The Fairness Doctrine was the guarantee that the public's airspace would be used responsibly by private, commercial interests. People seem to have forgotten that we (as in "We The People") own the broadcast airspace and we empower the FCC to sell our airspace to serve public interest. The public interest part has dropped out the equation, which means we get nothing meaningful out of the bargain. The FCC is every bit as guilty as any biased or derelict media source in the shameful corruption of political discourse and the plummeting standards of journalistic integrity. "Maybe I’m just being cynical, though." No matter how cynical you get, it's impossible to keep up. “The media is indeed also to blame – sensationalism sells, and intelligent conversation doesn’t. It’s a shame.”

It’s not just a shame, it should be actionable. And it was until 1987 when the Fairness Doctrine was dropped from the FCC mandate thanks to Reagan’s deregulation. The Fairness Doctrine was the guarantee that the public’s airspace would be used responsibly by private, commercial interests. People seem to have forgotten that we (as in “We The People”) own the broadcast airspace and we empower the FCC to sell our airspace to serve public interest. The public interest part has dropped out the equation, which means we get nothing meaningful out of the bargain. The FCC is every bit as guilty as any biased or derelict media source in the shameful corruption of political discourse and the plummeting standards of journalistic integrity.

“Maybe I’m just being cynical, though.”

No matter how cynical you get, it’s impossible to keep up.

]]> By: FredFredrickson http://blog.martincrownover.com/2008/09/03/the-patriotism-game/comment-page-1/#comment-693 FredFredrickson Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:25:22 +0000 http://blog.martincrownover.com/?p=547#comment-693 That's a good point Xot, and I agree - informing voters about their options and making them care about it is definitely a more important issue. The problem is that it's hard to educate people on the issues and help them make informed choices when their opinions are already corrupted by this silly patriotism stuff. How do you show someone that they can vote on issues as they want, and not as their party wants, when their party makes them feel like they might be labeled a friend of the enemy if they do? The media is indeed also to blame - sensationalism sells, and intelligent conversation doesn't. It's a shame. Maybe I'm just being cynical, though. I do believe there is hope for reform in the whole process, if we push for it and help the people we know make informed decisions. But when I see some buffoon get on a stage, tell a room full of people that half of the other half of the country is welcoming terrorism into the country with open arms, and then see all the people cheer to this, it makes me wonder how much hope there really is. I don't want people to agree with all my views on the issues... I just want them to stop allowing themselves to be wooed by empty husks who just repeat sound bytes over and over until the point is drilled home. It's fine no matter which way you decide to vote - but please, do so because you actually believe in the cause, and not in fear of some fabricated evil. That’s a good point Xot, and I agree – informing voters about their options and making them care about it is definitely a more important issue.

The problem is that it’s hard to educate people on the issues and help them make informed choices when their opinions are already corrupted by this silly patriotism stuff. How do you show someone that they can vote on issues as they want, and not as their party wants, when their party makes them feel like they might be labeled a friend of the enemy if they do?

The media is indeed also to blame – sensationalism sells, and intelligent conversation doesn’t. It’s a shame.

Maybe I’m just being cynical, though. I do believe there is hope for reform in the whole process, if we push for it and help the people we know make informed decisions. But when I see some buffoon get on a stage, tell a room full of people that half of the other half of the country is welcoming terrorism into the country with open arms, and then see all the people cheer to this, it makes me wonder how much hope there really is.

I don’t want people to agree with all my views on the issues… I just want them to stop allowing themselves to be wooed by empty husks who just repeat sound bytes over and over until the point is drilled home. It’s fine no matter which way you decide to vote – but please, do so because you actually believe in the cause, and not in fear of some fabricated evil.

]]> By: xot http://blog.martincrownover.com/2008/09/03/the-patriotism-game/comment-page-1/#comment-692 xot Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:44:49 +0000 http://blog.martincrownover.com/?p=547#comment-692 Divisiveness is how politicos have cemented votes for eternity. It's a game (literally) that's never going to change. I think a bigger problem is voter apathy and the pollution of the minds of those who actually do vote. If the press only did their job honestly (I'm looking at you television networks and newspaper editors), most of these jokers wouldn't get into office, or if they did, they'd never get a second term. Corruption in government is horrible, but being kept ignorant of it more so. There are some alarming trends in this nation, but I still believe that of all the hellholes on Earth, this is by far the best one. If you don't vote, vote! If you do vote, don't vote the party line, vote with total selfishness using your informed conscience as a guide. And never forget, no matter who you vote for, they all suck. Tush, this old anarchist does ramble on. Divisiveness is how politicos have cemented votes for eternity. It’s a game (literally) that’s never going to change. I think a bigger problem is voter apathy and the pollution of the minds of those who actually do vote. If the press only did their job honestly (I’m looking at you television networks and newspaper editors), most of these jokers wouldn’t get into office, or if they did, they’d never get a second term. Corruption in government is horrible, but being kept ignorant of it more so.

There are some alarming trends in this nation, but I still believe that of all the hellholes on Earth, this is by far the best one. If you don’t vote, vote! If you do vote, don’t vote the party line, vote with total selfishness using your informed conscience as a guide. And never forget, no matter who you vote for, they all suck. Tush, this old anarchist does ramble on.

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