...Question...

[Adsos Letter]

Is there any way to turn our "debates" to wards the realm of serious discussion over issues, perhaps by simply asking for informed opinions on specific topics? Something along the lines of what the issue is, why it is important, and who you think is best prepared to address it?

I'm not sayin' it hasn't been done...

I'm just wondering if we can do more of it?

For instance:

"Which candidate do you expect to most diligently restore and safeguard Church/State separation?"

This one is important to me because I believe personal beliefs about metaphysical questions to be among the fundamental rights of humans...

and

the Bush administration has been pumping untold sums into "faith-based" organizations with very little oversight. Along with prison ministries, other recipients have been social-service-type organizations.

If, as many expect, we are about to enter a severe financial crash, where will the government direct its resources...to governmental or secular vehicles of relief, or to religious relief institutions? Should this matter?

Personally, I believe Edwards would be the candidate to most appropriately address this because he seems to be the least willing of the top three to play the "faith" card.

What do you think, DU?

[Blue_In_AK]

1. A voice of reason.

I like it, Adso. :)

[Adsos Letter]

2. Thanks Blue!

I know that I am pretty new here (not quite a year) and most of my posts have been in the Lounge or the Photography group (so my post count doesn't mean anything).

But I also know that there are many excellent minds on this board and I, for one, would like to reap the benefit of some dialog or whatever insights they have to share...

I just finished reading about the hell Washington's army went through during the First Battle of Trenton ("Washington's Crossing" by David hackett Fischer, Oxford University Press: 2004).

If those guys (and gals) could suffer through that to attain Liberty, then we owe it to them and ourselves to think seriously about where we are, what we are likely to face, and what we can do about it...all without having to cross over an ice-choked river, in a full-blown Nor'Easter, with a battle waiting on the other side.

Just my $.02

[Adsos Letter]

3. 71 views and sinking like a stone...

:shrug:

[asdjrocky]

4. Honestly, I'm a big John Edwards fan-

But I believe any Democratic candidate will keep that wall. On this issue, I believe it's the republikins we need to worry about.

Thanks for posting, and there's not a darn thing wrong with the question.

[Adsos Letter]

5. Thanks, just trying to help bring in some substance...

:hi:

[rucky]

7. Rocky's right, and...

I think the reason why you don't hear so much about the issues anymore, is because we all pretty much know where they stand - and they're all mostly unobjectionable (except for the differences that have already been discussed to death).

So we're all just biden (sic) our time with trivial shit and blowing off steam until a nominee emerges.

[comradebillyboy]

6. maybe after the primaries

emotions too raw right now

[Adsos Letter]

8. thanks comradebillyboy...

it just seems to me that we need to try to downplay the emotionalism and engage in some serious, naked-to-the-light-of-day inspection of what it is we want our final candidate to accomplish, and an honest dissection of what their stand is on the issues.

:hi:

[comradebillyboy]

9. that would be great, I'd love to engage

in reasoned debates about the candidates positions etc, but human nature being what it is , we revert to more primal instincts. I admit that I can be as much of a partisan asshole as anybody on DU, but I would really prefer civil debate given a real choice.