straightUp Loc: California

Start by reading the Declaration of Independence? Really? Just because they can sound out the words doesn't mean they can understand the context. The founding documents, along with the Bible are among the most misinterpreted documents I am aware of and it's because many people who read them are undereducated. Entire populist parties have based their platforms on these misinterpretations.

peter11937 Loc: NYS

And you, of course are educated and understand them ..... But others, who you have decided are undereducated, don't? I have read Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" written , what, over 1,000 years ago and understand what his intent was. Heck, even Steven Sagal understands and made al least one movie with reference to it. So I doubt that anyone literate enough to read here could suss out a reasonable understanding. If you cannot, I have book, not available on line, you actually must buy it or go to a library who has a copy, and read the book that gives the history of Tom Jefferson and the origin and complete meaning behind every line in the Declaration.

LAPhil Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Can you clue me in as to what this "corruption of the blood" refers to? I've never heard this phrase before.

peter11937 Loc: NYS

It is a way of saying the sins of the father shall not be visited on the son. As the Declaration is secular, they were saying that the behavior of one does not follow the bloodline. John Wilkes Booth's brother, for example, was not arrested in the aftermath of Lincoln's assassination.
If you ever study old English and the words meanings, Shakespeare becomes much more entertaining. The sonnets, when you know the players and the motives, are great reads and wonderful insight into the times. 1776 is simple by comparison, but good to understand what was intended in phrases no longer in use..
Read, on line, Sir Lion Gardiner's narrative on the Pequot Indian war. Good to read, a part of American History often neglected and it helps connect you with the attitudes and thinking of the era. If you can there is a History on the United Sates written circa 1815 and that too will help you with language and attitudes of he era, not what is being taught these days.

LAPhil Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Thanks, Peter. You can use the Quote Reply link to refer to the post you're replying to so that it's clear which one it is.

keithhowell58 Loc: Hollywood,fl

Fox news is a joke! Always complaining about main stream media being bias,well if Fox was so concerned about mainstream media bias start a mainstream media news network! Oh wait they can't the FCC wont allow all the lies! Some of you guys that rely solo on Fox news for your news source need to break out of the bubble and see what really is happening in politics and the world!

straightUp Loc: California

Eh, more so than others.


I was being pretty general with my statement. 'Not passing judgment on anyone in particular - just saying that many people fail to understand these documents due to a lack of language skills.


peter - every other person in the business world has that book. I have two copies myself and yes, I've read it. Most copies come with introductions that explain not only the author's intent in very simple terms but also how to apply the advise to other aspects of social interaction, such as business. The reason why it's become such a popular book is because it *IS* so easy to understand.


Not sure what your point is. So because Steven Segal makes references to the Art of War, you doubt that anyone literate enough to read here can extract a reasonable understanding? What?


Does this book have a title?

LAPhil Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Fox News, Fox News, Fox News. How do you guys manage to throw Fox News into every discussion, no matter how irrelevant?

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

Simple, McCain was the Presidential candidate. Sarah was the VP Candidate. Everybody knows the VP spot is a nothingburger. No one wanted McCain in as President - still do not. McCain came to despise her, if he didn't at the beginning, because SHE was loved and HE was not. SHE could have won had she not been tied to McCain. He obviously knew that and he was caught between a rock and a hard place......couldn't dump her because then he would get a LOT fewer votes. Dems hate her because they fear her. Conservatives LOVE her. McCain is more democrat than republican......THAT's actually why they lost.

You don't reason very well, do you? It's so simple it is pitiful you cannot.

keithhowell58 Loc: Hollywood,fl

Yes i am! I know 1 thing i'm not closed minded!

straightUp Loc: California

Fox News is actually a very smart and successful business that owes much of their success to targeting audiences and understanding what makes them tune in, which is of course the ultimate commercial objective.

They are totally in touch with the middle-class conservative psyche and it's need to feel "in the right" and they try to find stories that will make conservatives feel better about being conservative. This includes everything from the general bad-mouthing of "liberals" and "mainstream media" to actual investigative reporting that supports the predetermined conclusions of their audience. It's basically an ego rub. One of the most common tricks in sales and the result is one of the most, if not THE most profitable "news" audiences in the media market.

The joke is on the viewers that depend on it for news because at Fox (unlike traditional journalism) truth is negotiable. It's only important enough to report if it supports the conclusions conservatives want to hear. They also have top-notch legal teams with a lot of experience in navigating the loopholes and finding out where they can legally get away with stretching the truth, especially if a semi-true story will result in more conservatives tuning in. It's basically the same thing networks do with soap-operas, where they build up to dramatic episodes that millions of housewives will stop everything to tune into. What better place to advertise soap? (hence the name - a little trivia for ya).

Unfortunately, the joke is also on the rest of us who are sharing a democracy with these Fox viewers, hence the concern. If a conservative political agenda presents a danger to the American people, how will conservative voters know if their only source of news is doing everything it can to make them feel good about being conservative?

BTW, if any of you have VPN access to servers outside the country that can give you a non-US IP address, have a look for what Fox is reporting in other countries. I just did this not too long ago and was astounded to find stories from different Fox networks that totally conflict with each other.

So when the truth is something that changes depending on the audience then is it really the truth?

keithhowell58 Loc: Hollywood,fl

Fox news just reported that a major league baseball player is complaining he was left off the National baseball hall of fame list because he was a republican! I mean you have got to be kidding! And that's journalism?

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

Unfortunately you are right. The religion of the left is Moral Relativism and that is the only religion they want taught in school or represented in government. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

WhosetheBoss Loc: Arkansas

Convinced me, so is there a real source of truth or do we need to view several different news sources to know the truth. The real problem is most people are too lazy to do the due diligence and search out different sources before forming opinions.

straightUp Loc: California

When people say "it's simple" - it's usually because they aren't looking at the whole picture.

I have a different perspective on this Tasine (I'm sure you aren't surprised).

Actually, McCain was a more popular politician... Palin was a more popular celebrity, so it depends on what kind of voters are involved as to which stands a better chance at winning an election.

McCain had the respect of old-school Republicans and many moderate progressives based on his long standing record, from his military service to his role as the governor of Arizona. He stood a far better chance of bridging the partisan divide too, which at the time may still have been doable. Palin, basically had no political respect from anyone. Her only advantage was her popularity as a celebrity. Of course I know she was a politician but what I'm saying is that her support was earned not by her very short record as a politician but from the spectacle of being a governor with a pretty face. The spectacle of being a conservative woman, with a pretty face, in politics was basically all she had and as small as that was, it's what the McCain campaign was missing... an appeal to youth and the female, two voter blocs that they obviously underestimated.

By the time Katie Couric interviewed Palin and exposed her for the twit she is, it was all over. Women who aren't preoccupied with lipstick and pop-songs were insulted that McCain would expect them to fall all over Palin simply because she's a woman.

Good thing too because if they did win, the nation that elected them would have been the laughing stock of the world.