if you're upset at Obama's economics, then you should be even more upset with the GOP
If you have a problem with Obama's economic policies/proposals, then I assume that you were already somewhere between uncomfortable and upset with Bush's economic policies.
If not, then a.) I'm glad you woke up (but you still ought to take it easy); or b.) you need to study up instead of being a partisan hack.
Here are two reasons to be more upset at Bush and the GOP than at Obama.
First, the GOP (supposedly) knows better. You don't blame children for everything you would criticize in an adult. You don't blame people as much who have less knowledge, less reasoning power, and so on. You don't expect a non-religious person to live up to the same standards as a religious person. I don't think the Dems can "help it"-- and so, they are less morally culpable.
Second, the GOP recent perfidy on fiscal matters renders its opposition today far less effective. They have not lived by the principles they now find so important-- largely out of hypocrisy and political convenience. By avidly endorsing similar things in recent years, they are in no (effective) position to oppose now.
posted by Eric Schansberg @ 5:26 PM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
I don't disagree with the overall sentiment of this post. But as a non-religious, but moral person, I take offense to the statement:
"You don't expect a non-religious person to live up to the same standards as a religious person."
Look at the percentage of atheists in the general population vs. the prison population.
I don't know of anyone who expects a non-religious person to live up to the same standards as a religious person. A religious person claims to adhere to certain additional beliefs and subscribe to additional behavioral norms. It follows that a non-religious person should not be held to the same standards.
This is not the same as saying that non-religious people are less moral than religious people. That would be an absurd claim based on the available data.
Moreover, it is not necessarily to be expected. For example, religions often speak to improving moral conduct. But it could (easily) be that more moral people are not attracted to religion. (In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis uses toothpaste and the natural quality of one's teeth to draw a like comparison. I'll post on that next.)
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