[craigartzner]

Thanks nyokodo. Yes my father seems to be very much an adherent of mainstream moderate-left political ideology.

In one of our conversations he described what he called “political movements masquerading as legitimate political parties”. He didn’t say it but I knew he was talking about tea party-oriented groups. I then asked him to define what it means to be a “legitimate political party”. I got nothing but crickets in reply.

It’s one thing to to be willfully ignorant of politics, but it’s just so frustrating because he presents himself as a seeker of knowledge, is constantly reading, and has a library full of books. If he was just ignorant and was holding views based on that ignorance, it would be easier to accept futility of further conversation and walk away.

Another thing that is vexing to me is that he is a huge fan of Henry David Thoreau, who from what I’ve understand is much more in the libertarian camp than in that of moderate leftism. I read “Civil Disobedience” (at his request!) and was quite pleased with most of the ideas presented. Dad travels to Concord, MA every year to attend the Thoreau Society annual gathering. He has Thoreau coffee mugs, t-shirts, and bumper stickers. I remember quoting to him “A government is best which governs least” and his reply was something to the effect of “…well Thoreau was a complicated man…”, which seems to be his and other mainstreamers default answer to any difficult question (“it’s complicated”).

So what does Henry David Thoreau offer that would appeal to someone of a left-wing persuasion? How is it possible to love the writings of Thoreau and at the same time be a supporter of Obamacare? Have I just not read enough Thoreau?

[craigartzner]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the input. I did have a verbal discussion with my Dad a week or so ago on socio-political issues and it went better than in previous times. Still not great though. Oh well. Baby steps I suppose.

[craigartzner]

Great posts! Vinny I’m subscribed to RockingMrE too. He has alot of good things to say. I don’t agree with everything he says, but most of it strikes a positive chord with me.

[craigartzner]

Yes Patricia that sounds plausible. That being said, I think the ideal should be that the government shouldn’t be in the role of subsidizing the education in the first place.

But I don’t see any reason that your idea shouldn’t apply in the meantime. Maybe one of the staff guys can enlighten further.

[craigartzner]

Thanks Jason. Appreciate the input.

[craigartzner]

What is your name?
Craig Artzner
How do you describe yourself ideologically?
Conservative Libertarian. I grew up more or less in a Republican family, and solidified those views as I got older, up until my early 30s. My political story is very much like Tom Wood’s, I became a neocon when I was in college, but as I got older I became disillusioned with the Republican “establishment”. I had heard of libertarians and Ron Paul before, but it took awhile to come around to that way of thinking. I was against gay marriage and thought the drug war needed to be fought, LOL.
How did you first hear about Tom Woods?
I saw him on the John Stossel show talking about unions. From there I went to YouTube looking for any speeches and seminars available to listen to. I think I may have seen them all.
Facebook and Twitter profiles?
On Facebook under my name. Probably should be on Twitter, but haven’t joined yet.
Other Fun facts about you?
My family is a polarizing mix of relatively extreme political ideologies. My mother’s side is conservative neocon I guess I would say, and my father’s side is liberal democrat statist (although they claim not to be statist). I’m also a car guy. I have a 1973 Chevy Blazer, it’s a full convertible (think Chief Brody’s truck in the movie “Jaws”), and I also have a lifted golf cart for off-roading.
Courses your looking forward too?
Anything really. Don’t have one in particular I can single out.

[craigartzner]

Thanks Tom…and Jerry (Tom & Jerry, lol). I understand it better now.

[craigartzner]

AB’s post is one I’ve wondered about as well. SM put it well. I think that it really may not make much of a difference to the insurance companies to fight to keep costs down. If providers keep raising prices, insurance companies will just pass the costs on to the consumer, which isn’t really us. For most of us, our employer is the buffer that somewhat mitigates the damage.

At my work, our health insurance is re-assessed annually, and it goes up every year. But I still think there’s just not enough of a real-world connection between our wallets and the cost of our healthcare.

[craigartzner]

I guess I was thinking that someone may not have the right to the singular act of physically forcing silence on someone, wherever they may be, but I suppose the right to expel someone from your property would render it irrelevant and unnecessary, no?

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