Red/Blue debate (was Re: Use of hand held devices ...)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: kumiko yvonne watanabe
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>Another thing I fail to understand, it's how some in our community
>can support the politicians, pundits, and positions which are not
>only unsupportive but blatantly hostile to us and our community!

I've been told many times that the public cannot remember - and easily
forgets what happens in the local and national legislature. Specifically
they forget the voting and bills presented - track record - of their
representatives. The only time that comes out is during elections when
the opposing side of the incumbent will bring it up. Many don't know or
don't care to know.

Many that vote do not base their vote on issues and track record - they
may base it on political campaign promises, or just by ethnic background
of the person, or possibly even gender.

Campaign promises in speeches are meant to get your vote, and seldom do
politicians follow through when such issues are presented when elected
to office.=A0 Again the public quickly forgets those promises.

Even the politicians behave opposite of the party line - democrats act
and vote like republicans and visa versa. Politicians say campaign
promises to get your vote and then never follow through. When confronted
they answer with a non-answer to the question, and either move the topic
or blame it on something else they would rather talk about. So the two
party line can be very very gray.

Special interest groups that fund politicians also have a influence -
basically using money to try to buy their vote for their interest.

Look at the overall registered voters. What is the percentage that vote
- it can be very low....called voter apathy. Incumbents that have no
opposition get automatically re-elected so the power to vote is negated
in those cases.

Many that complain alot about their elected officals - when I ask them -
are not even registered to vote.

- So there are many reasons.

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(This posting was entered by kumiko yvonne watanabe, an external user of MyDLV.)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: (Yahoo user)
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I have to wonder why they can't understand the simple fact that
Republicans and Tea Bag Party candidates usually don't support our
community

I would disagree with this statement. From my many years of dressing,
there seems to be a disproportionate number of dressers who are type A
aggressive entrepreneurs or uniformed people who very much tend toward
the rule yourself with less government is better government. Laws will
never force the general public to give us respect. Our conduct and
respect for others in society is what will effect a much more lasting
change. Earning respect is always an option, demanding (as in
legislating) respect is never an option.

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(This posting was entered by (Yahoo user), an external user of MyDLV.)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Rosada Delano
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Okay, so tell me how much respect have you earned with your Type A
aggressive friends who are entrepreneurs or in the uniformed services
who are Tea Baggers? How warm and receptive towards you were they after
you revealed to them that you are among the disproportionate number of
dressers. Just curious!

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(This posting was entered by Rosada Delano, an external user of MyDLV.)

[bobbiemlv]

>Laws will never force the general public to give us respect.

Laws aren't made to force anyone to give respect. They are made to protect our rights as human beings and individuals.

[annie]

> How warm and receptive towards you were they after
> you revealed to them that you are among the disproportionate number of
> dressers.

I have lost count, over the years of DLV, of those who have remarked to the effect of "Ya know, I would be (fired | disowned | beaten up | ostracized) if my (friends | family | cow-orkers | church members | clients) knew I was here."

It's my distinct impression that a meaningful percentage of our attendees have friends, family, and associates who are quite intolerant.

It's also my impression that a certain number of our attendees do not personally identify with the GLBT community and therefore tend not to be supportive of the issues we might expect them to be in support of.

[External Poster]

This posting is from: kumiko yvonne watanabe
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My understanding is that the Tea Party was started as a movement - with
no direct leadership group like the Republican or Democrat National
Committee - and the main focus was less government spending and less
taxes.

The Republicans advocate less gov taxes, intervention and control.

The Libertarians advocates to minimize gov activity and more individual
liberty.

The Democrats advocates more social freedoms, and more government
intervention and control.

LGBT issues involve social rights and equality. I'm not sure if this
part of the party line agenda for the Tea Party, Republican, or
Libertarian parties. So it can be a reason for lack of support and why
its not on their agenda.

The only party that really has social freedoms is the Democratic
party.

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(This posting was entered by kumiko yvonne watanabe, an external user of MyDLV.)

[annie]

> My understanding is that the Tea Party was started as a movement - with
> no direct leadership group like the Republican or Democrat National
> Committee - and the main focus was less government spending and less
> taxes.

That's the way I understand the origin of the Tea Party Movement. Capitalist and Libertarian as originally created.

However, the movement is now clearly aligned with the uber-authoritarian social conservative wing of the far right. There's also evidence of connection with Big Money individuals and groups.

I don't think we'll ever see such subgroups as Log Cabin TEA, or TEA-Proud.

> The Republicans advocate less gov taxes, intervention and control.

Today's typical Republicans also advocate governmental involvement in such things as reproductive choice and school curricula. Those who deny the purpose and validity of the Establishment Clause (hardcore, soft-spoken, or stealth Dominionists and Reconstructionists) also tend to be Republican.

> LGBT issues involve social rights and equality. I'm not sure if this
> part of the party line agenda for the Tea Party, Republican, or
> Libertarian parties. So it can be a reason for lack of support and why
> its not on their agenda.

True Libertarians should support the GLBT community in that we should be free to express our identity. However they tend to draw the line when it comes to public policy asserting our rights.

> The only party that really has social freedoms is the Democratic
> party.

The Democratic party has been in favor of enforcing civil rights by public policy, going back even prior to the New Frontier and Great Society era. I think most of us wish this were not necessary, but unfortunately it was.

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Rosada Delano
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Kumiko, my friend so well stated. That is exactly why I am a die-hard
true blue Democrat. And if the Repubes start addressing our social
freedoms and equality like the progressive Democrats do, maybe I'll
consider supporting them. But for now, all they advocate for is less
government intrusion in our lives but sure want government to tell us
who we can't marry or when we can have babies, or who can/can't adopt
unwanted children.

They are great for advocating for the 2nd amendment, immigration,
pushing the "Christian", funding the military, less taxes and less
spending. These are the issues that get all them off. Nothing there
about our equality unless you're a gun-toting, hard-core "Christian"
soldier, anti-immigrant, anti-government spending, anti-taxes for the 1%
super rich, anti-climate change, anti-government regulationist, anti-
abortion, anti-GLBT (?) TRANNY! Hey, I'm aware of a few of those types
that attend DLV!

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(This posting was entered by Rosada Delano, an external user of MyDLV.)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Gina Richards
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Guilty, strike the christian part, but add get out of my pocket and my
life!

I'm really sorry I started this....

Gina

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(This posting was entered by Gina Richards, an external user of MyDLV.)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Rosada Delano
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It's all your fault! And no, they aren't gonna get out of your life. That's a
fact. That's why you need laws to protect you, and me because they aren't
gonna stop until they herd us all into camps and get rid of us. They did it in
Nazi Germany!

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(This posting was entered by Rosada Delano, an external user of MyDLV.)