Let't get down to where the rubber hit the road. The real threads running under most of the comments on these type web sites can be answered when you answer the above questions. For you right brainers note that I said "most" not all. So what do you say about that.

It depends what you mean by "freedom." I'm assuming you mean pure capitalism vs. pure socialism for these purposes (my own preference would be the moderate socialism of Scandinavia). But freedom isn't just not having the government tell you stuff. If that were it, then capitalism would win easily. Freedom is also about being able to live your life the way you want, and socialist societies do a better job of that by giving people the economic means to enjoy life - guarantees of the minimal necessities of life and fewer work hours so they have time to spend doing what they want.

You decide the label. I do not think either is ideal. I think a society that is good and just. that the most vulnerable members (elderly,disabled children) can have healthcare and food. That we take care of our enviornment and leave our water and air clean for the next generation. That we invest in our military for our protection and tread very carefully into conflicts. A country that is careful and focused in order to truly protect us and not distract us from real threats.That we work to build alliances and if another country is not inherently evil just does not want to join our conflict that we dont spend the next 5 years bashing its citizens ,breaking ties and engaging in hateful rhetoric. I think those individyuals that are driven should be allowed to have successful financial lives but they should not be given a free hand with their pollutants and trash just for that billion. I think certain industries such as healthcare and pharmaceuticals do need price limits or we drive the entire country bankrupt.I think industries that promote addictions and social problems should pay extremely hefty taxes or be against the law.(tobacco)
I think when certain industries that the working man nees to live(such as food,fuel,housing) if one of those has a blockbuster multibillion windfall they should not be allowed to suck the life out of the average workig person with sky high prices and billion dollar tax cuts by their president just because that is his industry. So what is this society is it capitalism or socialism or maybe it is a thinking society that realizes we all fail if we follow an extremephilosophy.

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BLIND FAITH IN BAD LEADERSHIP IS NOT PATRIOTISM

True right brainers. Too ashamed to say socialist because you know over a long time period it won't work but then the feel good do good nature comes out and the unintended consequences of creeping socialism are espoused. A system which requires one member to support another member (through taxes) is socialist and diminishes the freedom of the hard working tax payer. Almost 50% of the people in this country pay no Federal Income taxes. The way things are going in this country it will be 75% in a few years. We have a dangerous phenonema taking place in this country--creeping socialism. The percentage paying no taxes keeps getting larger and larger and hence their power at the ballot box. It is no surprise that the unscrupulous politician who promise a free mean ticket get the vote of those who pay no taxes. The money being extracted is largely wasted. It breeds contempt and envy for anyone who has a little money and only reinforces demands for bigger handouts. The current system is evolving into the antithesis of what this country was founded on and eventually will be its ruin. Socialism eventually results in everyone except the governoring body becoming poor, then revolution and collapse.

I guess I am curious about your response because educated people who pay the most in taxes are usually democrats. I work with the public at a hospital and see about 20-22 patients a day and in the course of that many express their political opinion.(I do not divulge mine in this medical setting thats why this forum is interesting and good for discussion).About 25% are on welfare not to be confused with medicare. the welfare patients are the most ardent of Bush fans. You see our system is so set that I do not think that the numbers change much with regards to republicans or democrats for president. I have no idea of exact numbers but I think about half of those people have no options due to health issues and some are users. No one wants those people draining our resourses. There is no candidate who wants to increase welfare fraud. The current difference in the parties is very complex and is how to approach security and social problems. I think it was mostly uneducated people that did elect Bush and I think almost all my welfare patients mirror your political rhetoric. They want to blow up other people , they love Bush and his rhetoric. I just let them express themselves. I am not going to get into a namecalling game with you but you might read through some posts to hear what others say about that issue. Also the July 2001 Scientific American publication has a great article on right and left brain theories. It sounds like the ideal thought process is to be influence by both and it is very complex.

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BLIND FAITH IN BAD LEADERSHIP IS NOT PATRIOTISM

Registered Republicans are higher educated than Democrats. That's a fact. Also it should be noted that without the black vote there would be virtually no democrats in the congress-democrats get 85 to 90 % of the black vote. Other minorities also vote overwhelming democratic. These minorities are the least educated in our society. I guess in calling one a leftist is name calling. I don't see it that way. Are you ashamed of what you are? Do you deny you are a leftist? Can you absorb the facts.

You sound racist and your views on who makes up parties is left over from 1968. Actually the weekly standard (a republican journal) that I subscribe to did report that the hispanic vote went to Bush and the Black vote was 60 40. It did say people jumped party lines in this election and polls repeatedly showed that voters with 4 years of college or greater leaned towards Kerry and the blue collor or unemoplyed leaned towards Bush. Now you have to remember that most of us are following politics closely because we are interested but the majority of americans do not even follow the issues closely they actually vote on who they "like" and who they can relate to. Bush did not appeal to intellectuals but intellectuals are definetly a minority so he was safe.

one comment 025025 i think especially if you review threads 3 different members have commented or your use of idiot,dumb,hitler quotes,racist comments,references to countires deserving of being blown up( the one comment you made about Italians was dispicable considering they supported our military in Iraq.

moderatejim says, "one comment 025025 i think especially if you review threads 3 different members have commented or your use of idiot,dumb,hitler quotes,racist comments,references to countires deserving of being blown up( the one comment you made about Italians was dispicable considering they supported our military in Iraq.
Reply With Quote"

I think moderatejim is not olny a leftist but an Italian as well. But here are the facts. Did not the Italian people elect Benito Mussolini prior to WWII just as the Germans elected (a leftist from the German socialist workers party) Hitler. Now I said the Italian and Germans suffered because of the leaders they chose. As a group they got what they deserved. Now that is supposed to be dispicable. I don't recall making any Hitler quotes. What I said in different ways was Goebbels maxim was to repeat a lie over and over and over again until it became imbeded in the public mind as fact. That's history. Now you may be ignorant of history but you need education like yestesday. Of course, any fact that goes against a right brain dominant person causes them to start making up charges. As far as being stupid. Stupid does as stupid is. You need to get a life. Finally I have now been charged with racist comments. Where? Are you refering to the fact that minorities in this country are the least educated. That's a fact. Typical right brainer cannot handle fact if it disturbes their feel good, do good right half brain. Saying some people have a diminant side is scientific fact. But then you go on to charge me with attributes you yourself possess. Like name calling. You really do need to look in the mirror.

moderat.. who is not so moderate. According to a left of center CNN site. the racial breakdown of voting by minorities was as follows:

Black 88% voted for Kerry
Latino 53% voted for Kerry
Asian 56% voted for kerry
Other 54% voted for kerry

That's the facts Jack and they don't match with yours