So I’m being a Google Groupie (or ‘ho?) tonight, checking to see who is linking to my site. Turns out I got linkage once on a site called the HippyHillNews, run by a gentleman named Todd Melet. Funny thing is, my link isn’t there anymore.
Looks like I’m down to four MarkTurner.net readers, though, as Todd apparently doesn’t stop by anymore. Guess he decided his politics (quite conservative, if I read him right) and mine (fiscally conservative, otherwise pretty damn wide open) are pretty far apart. No biggie. I’ll add him to my blogroll, anyway.
You see, I don’t have anything against Republicans. Some of my best friends are Republicans. I chuckle at P.J. O’Roarke. I even admire things George H.W. Bush, Barry Goldwater, John McCain, and – hell – even Jesse Helms have done. That doesn’t mean I agree with everything they’ve done.
In fact, a lot of things Republicans do I don’t agree with. But you know? That’s okay. Because this is America, where everyone has an opinion and is entitled to a voice. As long as you can reason for yourself and have something to add, I’ll listen. That doesn’t mean I have to agree, mind you, but you’ve got a chance to make your pitch.
What triggers my defense shields are the so-called “dittoheads.” These are the folks who don’t choose to think for themselves, turning over that task to whatever talk-radio personality might be raging at the moment. That, or the folks who continually paint things in extremes, demonizing the other party (and yes, I include “both” parties).
Truth is, America was built from the input from all sides. It thrives when all sides are participating. Think of that “United We Stand” junk, but not just a marketing scheme. For real. There’s a name for a system where only one party matters: it’s called “communism.”
I’d like to see less finger-pointing and blaming going on in politics. But then again, I’d like to see peace in the Middle East, and flying pigs. My point is, the two-party system in this country lends itself to the “anybody-but” crowd. Its often too easy to demonize the other side, rather than explain what you can do.
So here’s what I’ll do. I’ll link to the conservative blogs I find. In return, I ask you post a link to mine. Let folks read what they want and make up their own minds.
(In case you are still wondering, I consider myself libertarian.)