Loki Loc: Georgia

Your post has some merit. I think, however, that "Liberal" and "Conservative" have become more of a cliche than factual classification. There was a time when the definitions of the two were almost reversed, with "Liberals" being in favor of less Governmental regulation. Both terms are subjective. I have been considered less than conservative because of my opposition to the Patriot Act, and to those who would cherry pick the Constitution to support their position. I have been called anti-Christian, and much worse, when I pointed out certain widely held beliefs and doctrines of mainstream Christianity have absolutely no basis in Scripture, and are simply fabrications of one denomination or another. Such vitriol from a born again mouth! D******eness and diversity are a strength, mostly, rather than a weakness. (This should not be confused with self righteous int***sigence and selective patriotism).
For the record, I was not agreeing with lynn2929, I was being snide. It is a failing of mine, when a self righteous demagogic hopeful casts aspersions on the intelligence of others with a missive containing grammatical and factual errors that would shame a fourth grader. At least my insults are spelled and punctuated correctly. They are also based in fact, which doesn't exactly endear me to the recipients. I find myself driven to respond to unsubstantiated claims and opinions presented as some sort of Holy Writ; when the presenters show themselves to have a less than nodding acquaintance with accepted usages of grammar, and a complete lack of either the knowledge or the desire to verify their pronouncements. I have found that, wh**ever my motivation, the intentional juxtaposition of correct grammar with an offering that is, shall we say, lacking, serves it's intended purpose.
Your assertion that Congress is out of reach of v**ers is largely correct, save that it is the fault of the v**ers, in my view. I have lived in six states, and worked in three others, and it has been my observation in things political, elected officials are as responsive as they have to be. In three of the districts I have lived in, there was a large number (comparison wise), of informed and engaged v**ers. The representatives were very responsive, because they knew there would be consequences. You get the government you deserve. If you are an informed v**er living in an area where they are a rarity, you get the government the low/no information v**ers deserve, unfortunately.

I must take brief exception to your statement about income disparity and minimum wage. Both sides are guilty of pursuing policies which harm the middle class, but Democrats tend to bear more responsibility, in my opinion, because of their championing of entitlements which are funded by God knows what. The facts are that corporations and big banks, since 2008, have donated far more money to Democrats than Republicans. Dems are just as guilty, if not more so, than Republicans, they just have more sk**l at denying it. Regarding minimum wage, it has been my observation that within a couple of months of every raise, prices of everything from gas to groceries rise enough to completely negate any very temporary increase in buying power. Obamacare's impact on small and large business is of far greater import, causing, as it has, many businesses to freeze hiring and expansion, and cut hours to avoid paying the extra cost of this so-called "affordable" health care. Any claims of savings or reduced cost in this legislation appear to be the result of some very circuitous detours around reality based bookkeeping.

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

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Wait! Whoa up there pardner! THIS conservative is a Libertarian after 50 years as a Republican. The RNC just got too limp wristed for this old country gal.

Augustus Greatorex Loc: NE

I said, "Consider the source."

However as Libertarian, your man for the Whitehouse was former RINO New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson whose biggest contribution to the e******n process was telling people to "waste" their v**e.

How was he chosen for the Libertarian ticket, anyhow?

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

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I think it all boils down to principle vs pragmatism. Most people are pragmatists and v**e for the lesser of two evils because they fear the unknown. The few who v**e on principle, v**e for the principle, not for the person. My primary principle for living and for v****g is "individual freedoms" - neither candidate of the 2 major parties represented that, and I believe Gary Johnson DOES. One reason libertarians catch a lot of guff is because they divide the "conservative" v**e. Yet, many times, they are the only people in America who are v****g on honest principles. I truly believe if republicans had v**ed on principles, they'd have v**ed for Johnson, and Obama would be a thing of the past.

Augustus Greatorex Loc: NE

You did not answer my question.

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

Sorry, thought it was a rhetorical question.

I don't know, but I liked what I saw and heard - and I talked with several conservatives who lived in NM while he was governor, and they seemed happy with him. I'll v**e for him again if he runs again. Of course, I seriously doubt there will be another p**********l e******n as long as Holder is in office to protect Barry when he simply announces he will be dictator for life.

Augustus Greatorex Loc: NE

Of course my question was rhetorical. I am engaging in discourse with you. Rhetoric is the method of discourse to convince, persuade, or inform.

Any time a rhetorical question is posed, it is expedient to answer it, because the answer is considered of import and in someway proving a point. That some people claim their question was rhetorical is usually indicative of that person is being dogmatic, as opposed to rhetorical.

It is not my intent to be dogmatic, and when it is I try to use language that indicates such. I have learned a good deal from you and others, and you can inform me further, I am sure.

Did your discussions on Governor Johnson ever deal with why he left the Republican Party? Did you know he was actively asked to leave, because of his very progressive legislation?

As far as the big O goes, I don't think he is the one. I think he will not finish this term, and our President for life will step from the "shadows" from whence he has run the government for the big O, to save us all from the big O's indiscretions. (This is my conjecture and speculation. Not much different than your own, in all honesty.)

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

No, I never talked with anyone about why he left the pubbie party ("Did your discussions on Governor Johnson ever deal with why he left the Republican Party? Did you know he was actively asked to leave, because of his very progressive legislation?"). I assumed he left for essentially the same reasons I left it - total disgust with the RNC. The RNC talks tough, but it doesn't deliver. The DNC talks like sugary syrup and delivers one poison after another. The RNC is bad, the DNC is evil. At this point it is irrelevant - the dark side got Obama in the Oval Office and that's enough said. We both know how he got there.

Ghost Loc: The 1st state to ever secede

I'm neither of these things.

Independents, Libertarians, Liberals, Conservatives....what do they really mean anymore?

Their stances have become so distorted and diluted by progressive "new speak" or "new thought" that it nearly makes any of it irrelevant.

I am a Reclaimer. Reclaiming what all that was before the bastardizations of the Progressives. Their lies have distorted the very context and idioms that we blindly accept today.

On the contrary to rumitoid's post earlier, while it has merit, but you will find this endeavor to unite the people a nigh impossible undertaking. Too many people are entrenched in their beliefs. I'm afraid this could only go one way.

Peace will never come until the other side has been destroyed.