Don't Think ... Feel

I hate to say it, as Limbaugh sometimes uses the concept in his show, which I sometimes enjoy, but consider more entertainment than information these days - but liberals do feel far more often than they think, assuming they think at all, anymore.

Welcome to the thoughtless world of contemporary liberalism. Beginning in the 1960s, liberalism, once the home of many deep thinkers, began to substitute feeling for thought and descended into superficiality.

One need only look at the relative difference between how we view thought and feeling in America today, as opposed to how they were once viewed, to understand contemporary American liberalism. You can scan definitions of liberal here to see how open to interpretation is the word. Few of them completely fit the liberal of today.

Imagine this:

Political viewpoint with origins in Western Europe during the 19th century; stressed limited state interference in individual life, representation of propertied people in government; urged importance of constitutional rule and parliaments.

And I mean the Constituion as it's written, not as some feel it should be from one day or decision to the next.

One can pick another definition, or parse the language to pick a fight - but basically post 60's liberalism has sought to liberate the feelings of individuals, not within the State, but by tearing down the perceived old state and constructing a new one through a Utopian vision which never proves practicable when confronted with common experience. But it certainly would feel so good to live there.

For example - tear down the military because war is bad - that feels good - much better than feeling that we live in a dangerous world and need to be prepared for threats of many kinds. And when there is a threat and you have to - go to war with the military you have, well then, tear down the leadership tasked with leading the war. That feels much better than admitting that during the 90's we let our guard down and did nothing to effectively prepare for the coming threat of Islamofascism.

From Transcendental Meditation in the 60's and early 70's, to isolation tanks, psychotherapy, right on up to Oprah, the Left is about feeling, emphasizing emotion at the expense of logic which can be restrictive, burdensome, and even, or perhaps, especially, boring. The last thing a liberal of today wants to be is bored. That's why they seem to flit about from cause to cause, the environment, the war, Big Business, the cause Du jour, if you will.

But they never pause long enough to offer a cohesive, rational view of how all the pieces fit together. That takes logic.

Do you think a contemporary liberal would be happy living in an environmentally pure world if it meant giving up the Volvo, or the air conditioning in Summer? If so, think, again. Forget that logic dictates some compromise - they can't have that - it doesn't feel right. And like children, they would insist on having it all.

Forget that we can't absorb millions of poor people from Mexico and maintain our own standard of living, it would feel good to do so, so let's do it. We'll worry (think) about how to pay for it later.

Forget that some number of poor and even homeless people might benefit by being told to get off their butts and go to work, that wouldn't feel good. Heaven's, you can't do that. Give them money, it's what they feel they need right now. Take it ... well, from anyone who has any, I suppose. It doesn't feel like it will ever run out, does it?

Forget that the Middle-East had been so ripe with hatred for Israel and the US for decades that it finally boiled over on two occasions involving the World Trade Centers. We were able to get by the first attack, the second one, not so much.

But liberals don't want to feel that it's a dangerous world with some truly evil people in it ... so they don't. Nope. If the US would disarm, meet every international demand with surrender, well that would feel okay; so, let's do it. And when there's nothing left to give? Well, it doesn't feel like that could ever happen, really, now does it?

No, Of course not. It doesn't feel that way. But that doesn't make it so. Left unchecked, contemporary American liberalism would feel its way right over a cliff. And probably feel good doing it, too; until it was too late.

Fortunately up until now, conservatives and a great number of moderate Americans don't seem to think that's such a wonderful idea.

Read this. But be careful. It might require you to think.

Comments

[IMHERE]

And I mean the Constituion as it's written, not as some feel it should be from one day or decision to the next.

And some FEEL we should not abide by the constitution
which makes me FEEL like they are about of lunatics.

[IMHERE]

And some FEEL we should not abide by the constitution
which makes me FEEL like they are about of lunatics.

Posted by: IMHERE | Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 08:54 AM

Sorry, I FEEL frustrated --- it should be
bunch of lunatics.

[bryce]

Repubs seemed to lose the party of logic mantle when the president claimed that god told him to invade Iraq. They now are the party whos leader hears voices in his head.

[bryce]

Terri Sciavo was another pretty clear case where the emotion seemed to rule the actions.

[lawbster]

Fortunately up until now, conservatives and a great number of moderate Americans don't seem to think --- period.

the detritus that passes for news analysis makes the case. america has stopped thinking at all levels. that and not taking responsibility for one's actions are sorely lacking. i'm beyond frustrated, despair looms large!

[xanthrope]

Perfect example of the illogic referenced.

Bush believes in God.

Bush believes it is his responsibility to protect the people of the U.S.

Bush determined the best way to do that was to take the fight to the enemy rather than wait for another attack.

Therefore: God told Bush to invade Iraq.

LOL An excellent parody of liberal dementia.

[xanthrope]

And lawbster comes up with an example of liberal incoherence. This site is funnier than the Onion.

[bryce]

Bush also "felt" that Putin was a good man, and I am sure he feels that Rumsfield is a great war strategist, it is just that pesky reality that keeps getting in the way.

Conservatives need to get back to the party of reality even if it means losing a few thumpers.

[bryce]

Whether or not Bush worships sky fairys is irrelavant, but when he starts hearing voices most proffessionals would classify him as delusional, and that is a problem.

[musicgirlms]

Way to go, Dan! I could not agree with you more! I have several liberal friends who I love and we try to avoid discussions of politics.

BUT, when we do go down that path, it invariably follows that they start emoting and making all kinds of insane personal attacks, many of which are so off-course from the topic at hand, and I remain calm and reply with logical comments and they just go more haywire! It's pretty amusing really and VERY consistent!!!

[lawbster]

glad you got the laugh, xanthrope, but the case remains, we're in deep doo doo. btw, don't a lot of us liberals disavow the existence of god? guess that would mean ole bushie is talking to himself....i know the feeling, but i don't start wars. ;-)

[xanthrope]

Actually bryce NO professional would make a diagnosis without following more rigorous protocols than you appear to embrace.

I recall that Iraq invaded Kuwait and agreed to a cease fire the terms of which it flagrantly disregarded.

I recall that in addition to several acts of war the group we know as Al Queda issued at least two declarations of war.

Sometimes a grown up has to step up and clean up the mess left by others, coast along and be popular or endure vilification and abuse for something you believe in. Admittedly a goof and incompetent in many ways, though I admire that level of commitment no matter who told Bush to do it. I know if I were Cheny or Rumsfeld I would be sitting back enjoying that big corporate money not putting up with what they have to endure everyday.

I live in a country where the major problem of the poor is obesity. What separates the poor from the rich is how many xbox games, how large a color tv, central air vs. room air conditioning. People don’t leave to escape poverty and oppression they come here because our worst is better than anything else.

The critique and complaints that obsess my liberal friends are those against a standard of perfection that has never or never will exist. Lets stop those that really think God or Allah really tells them to kill everyone that doesn’t see things exactly as they do and get back to the American pastime of bitching about petty inconveniences.

Maybe we could learn from the tribal model:
I against my brother
I and my brother against our cousin
I, my brother and our cousin against the neighbors
All of us against the foreigner.

[jamie]

Anytime anyone refers to Limbaugh the Gasbag, I immediately discount any opinions that may follow. The guy is a washed-up drug addict that just likes to hear himself talk - now that he's repaired his addiction-damaged hearing with that cochlear implant, of course.

The mere mention of his name elicits an eye-roll - even from Republicans like me.