tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1112493331021435124.post8940044946060298317..comments2023-10-29T09:28:51.170-04:00Comments on Ohio River, Left Bank, MP 606: 621. First, the Wendell Ford Dinner; then later, some plagiarism from Barefoot and ProgressiveJeff Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139210768209899692noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1112493331021435124.post-88762485731411893622010-05-08T22:09:04.813-04:002010-05-08T22:09:04.813-04:00If you've ever taken the Political Compass (at...If you've ever taken the Political Compass (at http://www.politicalcompass.org/index), then you know that Dems and Libs share certain values, as the writer points out. Markos on Daily Kos has said he's a "Libertarian Dem." So, not surprising that certain things are held in common.<br /><br />Ultimately, though, the Libertarian philosophy taken to its logical extreme results in just what the writer points out: self above all else. Self above community, self about shared sacrifice, self even above government at some point.<br /><br />Is there a balance, a tipping point? Sure. America as a whole is a libertarian (small L) nation. But we used to also have a strong sense of community, of common-weal. That has been lessened, damaged, and perhaps destroyed in some cases. The causes are numerous and would take more space than a comment should to outline.<br /><br />Even as we watch our sense of community decline, though, I think most Americans instinctively know it is declining AND want it to come back. I find it fascinating that one of Obama's most moving oratorical flourishes is his riff on "we're not blue states or red states ... we're the United State." People almost always began clapping before he even finished the phrase. They WANT us to be connected, to be part of the larger dream; but they don't know how to get there.<br /><br />We simply have to do a better job as Dems and as citizens of telling this story, of making this point.Bruce Mapleshttp://www.brucemaples.comnoreply@blogger.com