Comments for Satyagraha - Cultural Psychology http://satyagraha.wordpress.com John Uebersax PhD Mon, 12 May 2008 07:07:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU Comment on Game Theory and the American Two-Party Racket by davidcramer55 http://satyagraha.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/game-theory-and-the-american-two-party-racket/#comment-2273 davidcramer55 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:49:14 +0000 http://satyagraha.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-2273 Your analysis of the situation is correct. Some people call them Republicrats to indicate they are essentially the same and controlled by the same group of super rich people. I have supported third party candidates for a long time. Maybe the answer is to get more people to wake up and smell the coffee. But, I believe the third party will soon be coopted by the super rich. Was not the Republican Party just such an outsider in the mid-1800s? The Radical Republicans were opposed to slavery and even advocated a land redistribution program for the freed Blacks following the Civil War. Maybe the question is how do we have government of the people, by the people, and for the people, which does not violate inalieanble rights, and prevent such a government from being taken over by one class of super rich individuals? Perhaps some kind of proportional allocation of power so that no one party can take all the power. In other words, maybe we need to get away from a winner take all system. Your analysis of the situation is correct. Some people call them Republicrats to indicate they are essentially the same and controlled by the same group of super rich people. I have supported third party candidates for a long time. Maybe the answer is to get more people to wake up and smell the coffee. But, I believe the third party will soon be coopted by the super rich. Was not the Republican Party just such an outsider in the mid-1800s? The Radical Republicans were opposed to slavery and even advocated a land redistribution program for the freed Blacks following the Civil War. Maybe the question is how do we have government of the people, by the people, and for the people, which does not violate inalieanble rights, and prevent such a government from being taken over by one class of super rich individuals? Perhaps some kind of proportional allocation of power so that no one party can take all the power. In other words, maybe we need to get away from a winner take all system.

]]> Comment on On Voting the Lesser of Two Evils by John Uebersax http://satyagraha.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/on-voting-the-lesser-of-two-evils/#comment-2270 John Uebersax Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:35:52 +0000 http://satyagraha.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/on-voting-the-lesser-of-two-evils/#comment-2270 Good comments -- Thanks! Good comments — Thanks!

]]> Comment on On Voting the Lesser of Two Evils by peaz3p http://satyagraha.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/on-voting-the-lesser-of-two-evils/#comment-2269 peaz3p Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:51:51 +0000 http://satyagraha.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/on-voting-the-lesser-of-two-evils/#comment-2269 Agreeably, you present a compelling and logic-based argument to vote for a 3rd party candidate. Afterall, a considerably large vote count for a 3rd party candidate could only speak volumes of dissatisfaction with the status quo 2-party system we are familiar with. As well, you also present an equally compelling case for viewing the current 2-party system as a divisive and dualistic structure that does not operate well to represent people's interests or concerns. On these two points I am in total agreement. And certainly, issues such as the flat tax, lobby/election reform and term limits are very important -- they've been tossed about for at least the last 20 years (that I can remembe)r. But when your article arrives at the idealistic "what if we all vote 3rd-party" I have to cringe. Nadar showed up mid-stream ; even so he's an excellent catalyst to force our politicians to speak about issues they'd rather not tackle in a public forum. Ron Paul is a Libertarian who is running on the R-ticket with core values I respect and admire. But when Americans are comfortable enough with their lives, when their basic needs are met (for the most part), people will not budge from their dualistic mode of thought. That's how Americans think: Left and Right. Good and Evil. Black or White. Always dualistic, and strikingly similar to mainstream western religious philosophy BTW. Americans have been primed by at least one or two centuries of Protestant values, work ethic, and a this-for-that get ahead mentality. Many are loyalists and refuse to remove any blinders - in fact, may have forgotten they were even there (life is good when you block out what upsets you.) So, back to my point, the truth may be hidden in the fact that rich and powerful people & companies (who are imbued with the same and greater legal rights as individuals) are running the US and our elected politicians, appointees and courts. It may be hidden in the tangle of military-sales boosters and media-monopolies who have somehow gotten their fat fingers stuck in the pie. And still there is only a 2-party system. Wishing, praying, willing, visualizing works in most and perhaps All cases... but how long can we wait? In human years, 4 or 8 years is substantial. Germany has a 3 party system and shares the power... but the US knows little about "sharing". It may take Americans a long time to see things for what they are, and much of their blindness comes from the fact that their boundaries end at the border... and at their TV . They have no experience of living and experiencing life overseas with other cultures and religions. When I lived in the Middle East as a child we had no fear of Muslims. We prayed at our church and they prayed wherever they were during the day. Times have changed, there is no doubt. But in my mind and heart I know all people are brothers & sisters & we are all the same. Those Arabs were our friends and kinder to us than our American counterparts when we returned to the States on vacation. I keep getting sidetracked from my initial point, yet even with all I recognize from my time on this world, is that it will take so very much more than a vote to make any change. Campaign slogans are trite and shallow, just as politicians are. Voting for a 3rd party candidate has always carried with it the argument that if enough people do it, the message will be loud enough to force certain change within government. I disagree. People forget and even the most likeable-losers are forgotten in our winner-take-all system. I say vote for the lesser evil, vote with your conscience, vote for whomever you think will make your values be heard. And if that means voting for a 3rd party candidate then that is your right. But voting in mid-election cycle changes nothing as far as the system goes. I know this: As a resident of Texas, I have always seen my vote go to the other party's candidate simply because of the way state elections are run in this state. So, my opinion is that until Americans get truly upset about this and other crimes upon their democracy a 3rd party candidate can't do any good for the election but can enhance the debate. What took Nadar so long to come out of hiding anyway? (Love your intelligent blogsite!) Agreeably, you present a compelling and logic-based argument to vote for a 3rd party candidate. Afterall, a considerably large vote count for a 3rd party candidate could only speak volumes of dissatisfaction with the status quo 2-party system we are familiar with. As well, you also present an equally compelling case for viewing the current 2-party system as a divisive and dualistic structure that does not operate well to represent people’s interests or concerns. On these two points I am in total agreement. And certainly, issues such as the flat tax, lobby/election reform and term limits are very important — they’ve been tossed about for at least the last 20 years (that I can remembe)r. But when your article arrives at the idealistic “what if we all vote 3rd-party” I have to cringe. Nadar showed up mid-stream ; even so he’s an excellent catalyst to force our politicians to speak about issues they’d rather not tackle in a public forum. Ron Paul is a Libertarian who is running on the R-ticket with core values I respect and admire. But when Americans are comfortable enough with their lives, when their basic needs are met (for the most part), people will not budge from their dualistic mode of thought. That’s how Americans think: Left and Right. Good and Evil. Black or White. Always dualistic, and strikingly similar to mainstream western religious philosophy BTW. Americans have been primed by at least one or two centuries of Protestant values, work ethic, and a this-for-that get ahead mentality. Many are loyalists and refuse to remove any blinders - in fact, may have forgotten they were even there (life is good when you block out what upsets you.) So, back to my point, the truth may be hidden in the fact that rich and powerful people & companies (who are imbued with the same and greater legal rights as individuals) are running the US and our elected politicians, appointees and courts. It may be hidden in the tangle of military-sales boosters and media-monopolies who have somehow gotten their fat fingers stuck in the pie. And still there is only a 2-party system. Wishing, praying, willing, visualizing works in most and perhaps All cases… but how long can we wait? In human years, 4 or 8 years is substantial. Germany has a 3 party system and shares the power… but the US knows little about “sharing”. It may take Americans a long time to see things for what they are, and much of their blindness comes from the fact that their boundaries end at the border… and at their TV . They have no experience of living and experiencing life overseas with other cultures and religions. When I lived in the Middle East as a child we had no fear of Muslims. We prayed at our church and they prayed wherever they were during the day. Times have changed, there is no doubt. But in my mind and heart I know all people are brothers & sisters & we are all the same. Those Arabs were our friends and kinder to us than our American counterparts when we returned to the States on vacation. I keep getting sidetracked from my initial point, yet even with all I recognize from my time on this world, is that it will take so very much more than a vote to make any change. Campaign slogans are trite and shallow, just as politicians are. Voting for a 3rd party candidate has always carried with it the argument that if enough people do it, the message will be loud enough to force certain change within government. I disagree. People forget and even the most likeable-losers are forgotten in our winner-take-all system. I say vote for the lesser evil, vote with your conscience, vote for whomever you think will make your values be heard. And if that means voting for a 3rd party candidate then that is your right. But voting in mid-election cycle changes nothing as far as the system goes. I know this: As a resident of Texas, I have always seen my vote go to the other party’s candidate simply because of the way state elections are run in this state. So, my opinion is that until Americans get truly upset about this and other crimes upon their democracy a 3rd party candidate can’t do any good for the election but can enhance the debate. What took Nadar so long to come out of hiding anyway? (Love your intelligent blogsite!)

]]> Comment on Google helps SF homeless with free phone number and voicemail by Redeeming Corporations and Renewing America « Satyagraha - Cultural Psychology http://satyagraha.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/google-helps-sf-homeless-with-free-phone-number-and-voicemail/#comment-2265 Redeeming Corporations and Renewing America « Satyagraha - Cultural Psychology Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:41:01 +0000 http://satyagraha.wordpress.com/?p=61#comment-2265 [...] Google helps SF homeless with free phone number and voicemail [...] [...] Google helps SF homeless with free phone number and voicemail [...]

]]> Comment on Nobody for President by Judith Kipper in the Huffington Post on America’s Malaise « Satyagraha http://satyagraha.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/nobody-for-president/#comment-2263 Judith Kipper in the Huffington Post on America’s Malaise « Satyagraha Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:04:43 +0000 http://satyagraha.wordpress.com/?p=38#comment-2263 [...] described in my article « Nobody for president », we need to stop participating in the cult of the leader. Having a « media president », carries [...] [...] described in my article « Nobody for president », we need to stop participating in the cult of the leader. Having a « media president », carries [...]

]]> Comment on A Reply to Osama bin Laden by Psychology » Blog Archive » Reply to bin Laden http://satyagraha.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/reply-to-bin-laden/#comment-2249 Psychology » Blog Archive » Reply to bin Laden Tue, 22 Jan 2008 23:50:54 +0000 http://satyagraha.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/reply-to-bin-laden/#comment-2249 [...] satyagraha wrote an interesting post today on Reply to bin LadenHere’s a quick excerptA Reply to Osama Bin Laden. Preface. Following the attacks of September 2001, Osama Bin Laden has delivered several addresses to Americans. Since the American people themselves, and not their government or corporations, were addressed, … [...] [...] satyagraha wrote an interesting post today on Reply to bin LadenHere’s a quick excerptA Reply to Osama Bin Laden. Preface. Following the attacks of September 2001, Osama Bin Laden has delivered several addresses to Americans. Since the American people themselves, and not their government or corporations, were addressed, … [...]

]]> Comment on About Satyagraha by satyagraha http://satyagraha.wordpress.com/new/#comment-2245 satyagraha Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:18:59 +0000 #comment-2245 Hi Jaremy, I just saw your question for the first time. Sorry for not replying sooner. No, this quote is not from me. John Hi Jaremy,

I just saw your question for the first time. Sorry for not replying sooner.

No, this quote is not from me.

John

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