Think It Through!

From here, in the comment trail:

#28 ::: Papawhale ::: (view all by) ::: August 23, 2008, 09:22 AM:
As a 60 yr. old white guy myself, I’m very disappointed in Obama and his Choice in Biden. His last chance to get my vote was to select Caroline Kennedy…Now I’ll vote Green with Cynthia McKinney…at least she shares my values and this country is certainly goin’ down the tubes, anyway.

#35 ::: Serge ::: (view all by) ::: August 23, 2008, 09:44 AM:
I see that this thread has already gotten acquired a I’m-not-TOTALLY-happy-with-the-Democratic-ticket-so-I’ll-go-vote-for-someone-who’s-sure-to-lose-and-thus-will-help-elect-McCain-but-at-least-I-vote-my-principles post.

#37 ::: Michael Weholt ::: (view all by) ::: August 23, 2008, 09:51 AM:
#35 Serge:

Yeah, I used to think it was the Corporate Media, or Corporatism in general, or Religionism, or Racism or Homophobia or Sexism or a bunch of other stuff that kept progressive causes down. Now I see it’s our own almighty consciences.

Don’t get me wrong. I think having a conscience is a great thing. I even have one myself, on occasion.

But then, you know, there’s politics in the United States of America.

#42 ::: Wakboth ::: (view all by) ::: August 23, 2008, 10:02 AM:
Michael Weholt #37:
Perfect is the worst enemy of good, and sticking to ideological purity even at the expense of actually achieving anything is a common problem with politics.

#45 ::: Serge ::: (view all by) ::: August 23, 2008, 10:28 AM:
Michael Weholt @ 37… I thought it was all those things you mention that got in the way of progressive causes. As for cconsciences, well, like you said, this is politics, and politics are about compromises, and I’ll never get my ideal candidate, and neither will any of the people around here so we compromise. Is ‘compromise’ a bad word, a stain on one’s soul?

Atticus Finch: Do you know what a compromise is?
Scout: Bendin’ the law?
Atticus Finch: [slightly bemused] Uh, no. It’s an agreement reached by mutual consent. Now, here’s the way it works. You concede the necessity of goin’ to school, we’ll keep right on readin’ the same every night, just as we always have. Is that a bargain?

If Atticus Finch can withstand compromises, I can.

No, Obama is not perfect. But how happy will your conscience be with McCain?