tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post1320961509075180798..comments2023-06-15T09:13:45.467-04:00Comments on Liberty's Torch: A Headful Of MetaphorsFrancis W. Porrettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05862584203772592282noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-73076837014705423652016-03-02T15:23:06.709-05:002016-03-02T15:23:06.709-05:00"To create a paradise through destruction is ..."To create a paradise through destruction is not possible even to the angels...and if I may be blunt, there are no angels in politics."<br /><br />As Solomon would say, this "...is futile, a chasing after the wind." Francis, perhaps you can get some writing inspiration from Solomon. His early chapters in Ecclesiastes dispell most of our heroic inclinations (e.g., "For an abundance of wisdom brings an abundance of frustration, So that whoever increases knowledge increases pain" - Eccl 1:18), instead suggesting this path, "24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in his hard work. This too, I have realized, is from the hand of the true God, 25 for who eats and who drinks better than I do?" - Eccl 2:24-25<br /><br />I think you will have a good day, Francis.RichJhttp://fishpuppy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-83590563067417236472016-03-02T09:58:48.144-05:002016-03-02T09:58:48.144-05:00syd B.,
I won't be "getting behind" ...syd B.,<br />I won't be "getting behind" anyone at this point. Not even Ted Cruz who, though I have some issues with, is the best candidate there has been at least since Reagan, if not before that.<br /><br />===================================<br /><br />Fran,<br />Given that the lyrics were written by well-known Lefty, Gordon Sumner (a.k.a. Sting), they probably have a meaning other than the one that I, lately, attribute to them. Nevertheless:<br /><br />"Spirits in the Material World"<br /><br />There is no political solution<br />To our troubled evolution**<br />Have no faith in constitution<br />There is no bloody revolution***<br /><br />We are spirits in the material world<br />(Are spirits in the material world<br />Are spirits in the material world<br />Are spirits in the material world)<br /><br />Our socalled leaders speak<br />With words they try to jail you<br />The subjugate the meek<br />But it's the rhetoric of failure<br /><br />We are spirits in the material world<br />(Are spirits in the material world)<br /><br />Where does the answer lie?<br />Living from day to day<br />If it's something we can't buy<br />There must be another way<br /><br />We are spirits in the material world<br />(Are spirits in the material world)<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wtQvbA0WC4<br /><br />===========================<br />** evolution n 1a: a process of change in a certain direction<br /> 1c(i): a process of continuous change from a lower, simpler, or worse to a higher, more complex, and better state: PROGRESS<br /> 1c(ii): a process of gradual and relatively peaceful social, political, and economic advance<br /><br /><b>VORWARTS!</b><br /><br />*** The Revolution has been cancelled due to lack of interest.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-81051997473895247402016-03-02T09:10:20.183-05:002016-03-02T09:10:20.183-05:00This election for me, is about the gutting of the ...This election for me, is about the gutting of the establishment GOP who, for years, have been moving toward the left, ignoring the principals of conservatism. It has been a painfully slow process, so slow, in fact, that many did not even notice the change. Then, in 2008, the delivery of Obama to the Whitehouse created a shitstorm, if not amongst Republicans, certainly amongst Conservatives. His radical governance has been extremely difficult for Conservatives to witness, but perhaps even more difficult has been the lack of pushback by both houses, controlled by the very so called Conservative representatives that their supporters elected to stop the leftist and radical changes in the country. Scandals, economic hardship and a feeling of betrayal have brought us to where we are today; a country devoid of direction, clarity and pride. Say what you want about Trump and I'm not a fat of his policies, but he has shaken the trees, embarrassed a few of the fossils in the party and has created an enthusiasm within Republican voters that I didn't think I'd ever see again. Like it, or not, he will be the next GOP candidate and I suspect he will go after the heart of Hillary's scandal ridden history. I think Cruz would do well against Hillary also, but that's not going to happen, so I say, lets get behind The Donald. No matter what he does, could he possibly do worse than Obama? I think not. Even if he doesn't win, I think perhaps his most significant contribution will be that he has changed the GOP party, perhaps for ever, but most definitely, for the better. <br /><br />Just another opinion for the heap. syd B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04536022701906707715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-66177384396059018772016-03-02T08:11:10.733-05:002016-03-02T08:11:10.733-05:00Fran, on a personal note, I hope you just don'...Fran, on a personal note, I hope you just don't kill Sumner off.<br /><br />I can see how it's an uphill battle to "complete" Sumner's story. My impression of Sumner is that he believes in the Founders' idea of a Federal Republic. That train has left the station full of cats out of their bags and genies far from their bottles. Instead of the national government securing boarders, providing for the common defense, coining money and a few other simple chores, it has become the speaker for the American people.<br /><br />Whereas I think the Founders expected people to form their own societies, religions, factions - indeed, States - to represent their goals, desires and quests for justice and prosperity, we've let all of that devolve onto the national government. This was partly due to human nature (laziness or whatever) but surely giving the national government the ability to collect and dole out SO MUCH money is also a big factor.<br /><br />So now that government is supposed to represent the monolithic will of 330 million people. Of course 330 million people CANNOT be represented by one point of view, so we have, as a result, the government using ever more laws trying to force us into a single pattern of attitudes and actions. This results in an overreaching central power which is exactly what the Founders were trying to prevent.<br /><br />As you say, a political hero can't save us. Sumner can try all he can to return the rule of law and Constitutional boundaries to the American political scene. But he can't (particularly in 8 years of Presidency) change an attitude of looking at the national government as our speaker/conscience/sugar-daddy that has been generations in the making.<br /><br />I wish you the best with the novel, Fran! Tim Turnernoreply@blogger.com