Reply #152: Hi

[JonLP24]

I think this is a place for me. Forums such as GD have become somewhat unbearable because some of the discussions are not very productive. I regularly contributed to LBN and GD and it was fine. There were a couple of events that made me feel uncomfortable. First one was when the administration blocked the photos for very much the same reasons the Bush administration which was not to anger the enemy. It wasn't because I wanted to personally look at them but to make them available for prosecution evidence for those that administered the act. Whether I was right or wrong I didn't like that I and others here with legitimate beefs with certain policies were made fun of or had our concerns minimized as not very important. Granted there is those on either side of any given issue that are toxic to a discussion. It was at that time I believe the 'whiners', 'pony', 'out of touch' etc talk really inflamed. The other issue was when the administration (at the time) planned on continuing Military Tribunals for "enemy combatants" for the same reasons. I still check in from time to time, mostly just LBN but I spend most of my time in the Sports forum and Lounge.

These days I don't feel particularly excited about the direction this country is going and it isn't because I think the President is some sort of magic man that can fix every problem this country has. In fact I cut him some slack because I feel the culture there in this country that causes us all to be ultimately compromised. But there are specific issues such as civil liberties and the with the wars it appears there is no end in sight where I have many friends on their 5th or 6th tours that I'm disappointed in.

I think one way we could improve the way things are is focus on the 2010 elections. Work to elect progressives to offices and let many Democrats know that they can't take our support for granted.