Do we occasionally suffer from "round peg/square hole" thinking?

[Cuban_Liberal]

By this, what I mean is do we occasionally allow our outrage over some particular act to blind us to the very real legal or political problems confronting us in responding to said act? Do we fall victim to confusing what we wish were so with what is so? An off the cuff example would be the impeachment issue: while I'm quite certain we would ALL love to see Bush* impeached, do some of us fail to see the very practical reasons why that very likely won't happen with our current Congress (i.e., our arty doesn't control either house)?

Your thoughts?

[Misunderestimator]

1. I think we often confuse what is legal with what is right.

[Cuban_Liberal]

2. I agree. n/t

[redqueen]

6. Very strongly agree.

Ethical is left in the dust in the effort to determine legality of something, and anything that fits the definition of the legal is then ignored - no matter how unethical.

[bryant69]

8. Not sure I agree

Well I think we do, but i'm not sure we are doing that in this case.

The question is how easy should it be for a President to be impeached and removed from office. If we make it very easy, well, that is a weapon that we can use, but also our enemies can use it as well. We could move to a sitution where no President would serve his full term. WOuld that be a positive or a negative thing?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[MuseRider]

3. Mostly I think

we are all so frustrated that once some little thing comes up it gives us something we CAN wrap ourselves around and scream about. I think most of the things that are distractions don't really distract most of us but give us an outlet for all the pent up anger. :shrug: At least it has worked this way for me quite often but I am trying to be more focused and that has helped me a lot. Who knows?

[Cuban_Liberal]

13. Yes, I can see that.

:)

[inthebrain]

4. what is and what isnt.

People who acheive great things generally don't fall into that line of thinking. Sometimes attempting to do something and failing can lead to greater things down the road.

Clintons Heath Care plan was dead from the moment his pen hit the page. It may have failed but the fervor it caused still echos today.

Impeaching Bush may fail. Impeaching Bush as an attempt to hold other Republicans accountable for supporting corruption will not fail. It's a great opportunity to get your greivances in the air. It also puts the neo cons on the defensive. Something that Democrats have been failing to do for quite some time.

[Cuban_Liberal]

5. No disagreement from me.

Another way of asking my question would be:

"Is 'X' the right thing to do?" (an ethical question), as opposed to "does John have the right to do 'X'?" (a legal question).

:hi:

[Misunderestimator]

7. Or "SHOULD John have the right to do 'X'?

And what SHOULD we as citizens do to ensure that our laws are ethical?

More shades than just black and white here.

[Cuban_Liberal]

10. Again, no disagreement.

However, the one is a theoretical argument, as opposed to a concrete one.

[Just Me]

9. I think we should be willing to be more creative, take more risks,...

,...and imagine possibilities beyond "what is". Otherwise, we are boxing ourselves into inaction rather than treating obstacles like challenges to overcome and solve.

The GOP certainly doesn't allow "what is" from stopping them to manipulate the law to suit them and their positions.

[heidler1]

11. The desire to voice an objection is so strong that we might lose sight of

a very important question. Is it politically productive to expose ones views if these views show a lack in rational functionality?

Displaying anger causes most people to distrust the sanity of other peoples anger. The guy who wins in the long run politically is the one who lays out doable plans that deal with real problems. As an example "NUKE EM" don't make it. Dems seldom if ever go overboard to the point of thinking "nuke em", but I do frequently think that Dems. do mistakenly encourage their leaders to commit political suicide with some less flaming rant.

[Cuban_Liberal]

12. Kick n/t

[CornField]

14. What an interesting question

It think it is easy to allow the outrage move us to inaction. That is, we get so upset as what we see is the injustice of the system, that we become bogged down in that one thing. Instead of moving on to the things we can attack/change/enhance/whatever, we get stuck on insurmountable issues.

It reminds me of the serenity prayer: "God/Goddess/Spirit, please help me to access: the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage and willingness to change the things I can; and the wisdom and clarity to know the difference."

Sometimes it seems we are lacking in wisdom.

[Eloriel]

15. On being practical

re impeachment.

I think it's fine to keep in mind that given current circumstances impeachment is unlikely, but I think having a certain percentage of the population working on it is eminently practical.

Why? because it's difficult to impossible to predict the future. Who'd have guessed one or two years ago, for example, that Bush's approval ratings would be in the toilet? Plenty of Repugs incl true conservatives are fed up with Bush.

Also, miracles happen.

The Berlin Wall falling was a miracle. Sure, there were a number of steps that led up to it and a good number of people working on it, but most of the world did not anticipate it. And yet it happened. Same with Mandela's release.

You just never know what combination of factors might arise to make something that looks impossible now become not only possible but doable. It's important to be ready.

And one thing for sure: If NO ONE is working on and pushing for it, it will NEVER happen.

[Just Me]

16. Being truly powerful means,...taking a stand without regard to outcome.

If only we would commit to the process, together, without being infected by our expectations. Wow!!! Then, we would have focus and we would be powerful.