For Liberals Only!

Published on January 17, 2006 By Gideon MacLeish In Politics

This is just an observation from those who tend to subscribe to leftist philosophy on this site. Take it for what it's worth, and discard the rest.

I personally believe that many of the articles on JoeUser that have been put forth by centrist writers or others who see "both sides", but have veered right have been for one simple reason: Because the nature of most who would describe themselves as "left" is to act on "feeling" and emotion, and because it is far easier to "get your goat" by using certain keywords to elicit a response. Many on the right have become aware of this, and also have become aware that the best way to get noticed is to create controversy.

You have compelling and interesting points on many of the issues, and although there are many on the right who would agree about the solutions that you propose, there are a fair number who could be convinced, at least, that there IS a problem and work towards solutions of their own. Which is more important: that racial injustice, poverty, and inequality be solved YOUR way, or that they be solved by individuals from all sides of the political spectrum using solutions that are amenable to all? I guarantee that, no matter how you personally answer that question, there are 1.1 billion poor in the world who would prefer to HAVE food than to question the manner in which it was obtained.

There are times to divide, and there are times to unite. When we divide on EVERYTHING, we only succeed in lessening ourselves. Right now, in the context of the popular media, you "have the floor" in America. You can use that platform any way you choose; my personal suggestion is that you use it to discuss strategies to build a better future for us ALL, but that you give equal time to opposing views to present alternative solutions.

Comments

shadesofgrey

on Jan 17, 2006

Who is this "you" that you are speaking to? As far as I am aware, there is no united liberal front on this site. If there is, I havne't been invited to the tea parties.

UBoB

on Jan 17, 2006

Not a whole lot of people from the left chiming in here. I have a feeling the local pied pipers have finally managed to drive out all the liberal minded people. Kudos.

Xen001

on Jan 17, 2006

You bring up some points, however there are somethings I disagree with you on. Right now the United States is in a conservative mood, not a liberal one, it usually is that way during times of war. Also I dont see alot of liberals on this board, speaking as a left leaning moderate I was pounced by bringing up a point in my very first post, not by a liberal either mind you. I had words placed in my mouth and accused of lying and being ignorant. Not exactly the warm fuzzy feelings some seem to get when they think of "respect" conservatives give. There have been others that have been much more respectful to me, but first impressions mean alot dont they?

The way Ive always viewed American politics is that of confusion. The Right sees what is good with America and they go around parading it, theyre proud of it. The left sees whats wrong with America and they go around shouting about it, rarely acknowledging what is good about it. This I think gives people the impression they dislike the country. Both sides see the problems that exist and neither side seems to know what to do about it. They give ideas, and some of them are good ideas, however they are shot down by the other side because they are not their ideas. Look at Bush in his social security plans, its obvious something needs to be done about Social Security but instead of suggesting ideas, and taking time and effort to tweak Bush's idea or come up with a new and better one, the Democrats are using alot of energy trying to debunk it. I can guarantee you if it was a Democratic President who suggested it, the Republicans in Congress would do the same thing the Dems are doing. It has devolved to the point where neither liberals or conservatives, Democrats or Republicans dont care about what is right, they are more concerned about doing what their party wants them to do. Face it both major parties have been hijacked by special intrest groups and career politicians who aren't concerned about us, and the goons they nominate for President are all to happy to tow the party line. What this country needs is another Theodore Roosevelt, or Harry S. Truman. Someone who will tell the party to stick it, and do what they feel is right for the American people, and the future of our nation.

stevendedalus

on Jan 18, 2006

Face it both major parties have been hijacked by special intrest groups and career politicians who aren't concerned about us,

I'm with you on that score.

This is just an observation from those who tend to subscribe to leftist philosophy on this site. Why juat the left?

Furry Canary

on Jan 18, 2006

' Not a whole lot of people from the left chiming in here. I have a feeling the local pied pipers have finally managed to drive out all the liberal minded people. Kudos.'
Hardly fair. At the time you posted this jibe UBoB, there was only one pre-existing response, and that appeared to be left-leaning. It is always possible that - rather than having been 'driven out' - the left just didn't see a case worth answering.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 18, 2006

Also I dont see alot of liberals on this board, speaking as a left leaning moderate I was pounced by bringing up a point in my very first post, not by a liberal either mind you.

This site is not reflective of the general media trend, which has begun to steer to the left. Basically, the mass media within the US is reflecting the counter-culture, not the culture itself, and is one of the elements that is dividing us as a nation.

I wrote two pieces, one to each "side", as it were (and, as described on the "sister" article, painted both with a broad brush to bring some issues out that I feel merit intelligent discussion).

UBoB

on Jan 18, 2006

Not a whole lot of people from the left chiming in here. I have a feeling the local pied pipers have finally managed to drive out all the liberal minded people. Kudos.'
Hardly fair. At the time you posted this jibe UBoB, there was only one pre-existing response, and that appeared to be left-leaning. It is always possible that - rather than having been 'driven out' - the left just didn't see a case worth answering.

Easy man.

The jibe was verrrry tongue in cheek and was meant for those right wingers (two in particular) that might be reading this thread. I think most here would agree I lean towards the left. (I'm a Canadian NDP supporter, which in Canada is about as left as you can go without voting for the Communist party.

)

Peace.

Furry Canary

on Jan 19, 2006

'Easy man. The jibe was verrrry tongue in cheek and was meant for those right wingers (two in particular) that might be reading this thread. I think most here would agree I lean towards the left. (I'm a Canadian NDP supporter, which in Canada is about as left as you can go without voting for the Communist party.)'
I didn't realise the intent. Sorry.

'Peace.'
You got it. There are too few of us 'pinkos' here on JU to get bogged down in in-fighting.

kingbee

on Jan 19, 2006

the general media trend, which has begun to steer to the left. Basically, the mass media within the US is reflecting the counter-culture, not the culture itself, and is one of the elements that is dividing us as a nation.

hmmmm. sometime between the age of 8 and 10, i first discovered there was more to a newspaper than just comic strips and also began developing a jones requiring at least a 30-minute fix of nightly network news every 24 hours. from then til now, i've paged my way thru a sizeable stand of trees (tall ones too) and spent at least the equivalent of an entire year (possibly more) basking in the phosoporic glow while huntley, brinkley, chancellor, mcgee, brokaw, wallace, murrow, cronkite, rather, daly, jennings, young, robinson, reynolds, smith, reasoner, koppel and scores of locals including jerry dunphy...even don henley's bubble-headed bleached blonde who used to come on at five and tell us about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye*...let me know what was happenin out in the big wide world.

for the past 4-5 years, the myth of the liberal media has rung pretty hollow in my opinion. so far, 21st century journalism has had more in common with the late 1950s/early 60s than the 90s. murdoch's empire has taken up where the hearst and tribune syndicates left off.

while it's always possible i'm experiencing an episode of early-onset senility and i'm totally delusional, consider this: is it at all possible a bush presidency woulda emerged virtually unscathed as it did in 2004 back in, say, 1974? hell, sam donaldson--on his own--coulda demolished the boy withlout breaking a sweat.

one more thing needs considering. if the left is the counter culture, that means the right is the culture. nothing is more unseemly than a majority whining loudly about how how the counterculture media is really the mainstream media.

*the inimitable christine lund herself.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 20, 2006

nothing is more unseemly than a majority whining loudly about how how the counterculture media is really the mainstream media.

This is the media that gets seen, kingbee. When just about every major winner at the Golden Globes promotes an agenda that could only be described as "far left" (pro-suicide bombing propaganda, the "gay cowboy flick" [which, in all fairness is not the offensive piece out there, but rather the propaganda that surrounds it, put out by the very folks who MADE the film], and the transgender piece), and traditional family values are not only underrepresented, they're not represented AT ALL, then yes, I would have to conclude that the media which is aired on MOST news sources (FOX being a notable exception) is rather leftist in nature.

Frankly, I don't entirely mind it. Part of the predominance of leftist thought owes itself to five decades of "Ozzie and Harriet" mentality overriding the airwaves, and the other side DOES need to be shown. But I submit that, without balance, this nation stands a very real, very disqueting chance of suffering a "Taliban-like" backlash.

I won't question that some of the current wave of thought among this media has been GOOD: while many on the right still don't embrace homosexuality, there has been a strong condemnation by most on those who would plan violence against homosexuals; that's a good thing. We've stopped treating AIDS sufferers as pariahs and have started to come to grips with the need to address this disease head on. And those are just two of the many examples I could cite. But I still contend that we need balance; the best interests of the American people rest in a smaller government that is morally neutral and fiscally conservative, and that governs nearer the middle than any other political position.

kingbee

on Jan 22, 2006

When just about every major winner at the Golden Globes promotes an agenda that could only be described as "far left" (pro-suicide bombing propaganda, the "gay cowboy flick" [which, in all fairness is not the offensive piece out there, but rather the propaganda that surrounds it, put out by the very folks who MADE the film], and the transgender piece), and traditional family values are not only underrepresented, they're not represented AT ALL, then yes, I would have to conclude that the media which is aired on MOST news sources (FOX being a notable exception) is rather leftist in nature.

your earlier comments on mass media were meant to target--or were inspired by--the motion picture sector of the entertainment industry primarily, rather than the news media (or, perhaps, rather than news media with the exception of a subset of journalists covering the film/entertainment beat)?

i'm not trying to be difficult. just a bit confused.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 22, 2006

I meant to convey the thought that the point of the view is heavily prevalent in virtually all of the media that is seen by the majority of Americans. With the notable exception of Fox news I see it heavily represented on the other TV news outlets at the national level, and I see it heavily represented in entertainment media and most national periodicals. I wouldn't go so far as to claim that the media is entirely leftist, but my claim that they "have the floor" is because they have a strong groundswell of support in the types of media that most Americans view.

The fact is, most Americans DON'T watch the CBS evening news anymore, and their opinion on what represents popular culture is (sad but true) often shaped by the entertainment media which has VERY LITTLE good to say about anything other than a far left viewpoint.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!