My Dad didn't buy it from me as a teenager, why should I buy it as a voter?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

When I was a young and rebellious teenager, I recall one particular fight I had with my father

"You should be grateful!" I shouted. "I don't shoplift or do drugs!" (Like all the really bad kids did)

I remember my Dad looking at me and saying, "That's your standard? You deserve credit because you could be a lot worse? You can't set a lower bar than that." He walked off to let me think about it.

So I'm still thinking about it today. Only in terms of politicians and political parties.

The lesson is:

No credit for the awful things you don't do

Being a little better than a far worse alternative is a no sell.

[SydneyDundee]

1. ..I like this...so true and a good reminder not to accept their low standards...

[Hydra]

2. The bar is already below the floor

And they are demanding we dig to set it lower.

And they get other people to demand the same.

We're supposed to be reaching to the stars, dammit! Not digging our way to hell.

[krispos42]

3. Chris Rock said it well

"I take care of my kids." You're supposed to, you dumb motherfucker! What kind of ignorant shit is that? "I ain't never been to jail!" What do you want, a cookie?! You're not supposed to go to jail, you low-expectation-having motherfucker!

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Chris_Rock#Bring_the_Pain_.28HBO.2C_1996.29

[KingFlorez]

4. That logic can't be applied to politics, not completely

Who runs the government has enormous consequences and even a little bit of difference can effect everything. That said, I don't believe that the Democrats are little bit better than Republicans, I believe they are light years better than Republicans. Perfection is required to be a better choice.

[scheming daemons]

5. all well and good... but you only usually get 2 choices in an election

You don't get the luxury of a perfect choice.


You get to choose the one who didn't/won't do awful things (D)... or the one who did/will (R).

[LooseWilly]

6. "Being a little better than a far worse alternative is a no sell."

So very, very true:



The time is upon us...

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Can we write him in?

:-)

[LooseWilly]

12. I did in '92...

WIthout the internet though, it was hard for It to get out Its message... ;)

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Oh the great one shall be President

By the way, we also have a Pinki and the Brian 2000 for President somewhere around here. Given what happened, I fear the Brain would have been a better choice. And no, I did not write them in...

[LooseWilly]

15. Hmm... now I'm torn... you need to put me in touch with the Pinki and the Brain faction...

so I can weigh my options...

[MrsBrady]

7. I like this

thanks.

[Axle_techie]

8. K&R

[Hassin Bin Sober]

10. K&R

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. "Not as bad" is a piss poor campaign slogan that produces a lot of "No sales".

Either by looking for alternatives, or sitting it out.

[kath]

14. "Being a little better than a far worse alternative is a no sell."

Just had to see that again.
Spot on.

[Greyhound]

16. And that's the lesson they've failed to learn once again. Being "not them" means nothing and

they can only win as long as republiks play along by nominating the crazies that other crazies won't associate with.
:kick: & R

[renate]

17. I said that to my parents, and I recognize it in my kids now, and...

... I'm really grateful that my kids haven't taken the more selfish, more instant-gratification road, just like I still think I really was a good kid for not doing the things I could have done just because I could have gotten away with doing them.

And I'm grateful that my parents recognized that I was right. It was a begrudging admission on their part (because they were right too--my grades were not as good as they should have been), but they gave me credit for being good even though I wasn't perfect.

I think it's a good thing to be better than what could have been, in an environment where being a good person is difficult. When the pressures are multiplied by money and politics, I think it's really good. And although I would prefer my government to be super duper extra awesome, I know that they're operating in an environment where saving the world is pretty damn hard and is being pushed back against, HARD, by MANY people, every step of the way. (My issues with Obama are that he starts out his negotiations by being WAY too conciliatory. But I think his intentions are 100% good.)

I see your dad's point, Phoebe, and it's a valid one for sure. But I think that good behavior and trying one's best, in circumstances where that's not the easy way to go, deserves some credit too.

[Lorien]

18. K & R. Well put. nt

[felix_numinous]

19. Absolutely-the lesser of 2 evils

is a false choice. Forcing us to pick a potential nightmare over the actual nightmare.

[myrna minx]

20. K&R n/t