tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30006406.post7547547044636803006..comments2024-03-28T08:41:39.614-07:00Comments on Winging It: Guessing the MotiveStanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04523232247971115247noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30006406.post-85969553808771072172011-05-23T06:38:15.051-07:002011-05-23T06:38:15.051-07:00Yes, Dan, I suppose it might be. On the other hand...Yes, Dan, I suppose it might be. On the other hand, I am of the opinion that all people act rationally. They act according to what they believe. Now, if what they believe is irrational, then their actions will appear irrational to others, but they are still acting according to what they believe. I find it hard to believe that <i>anyone</i> acts otherwise. That is, I have no way of comprehending someone who acts with total disregard for anything at all that they consider "the right thing to do". Even a suicide bomber, as incomprehensible and irrational as that might seem, is acting according to what he/she considers "the right thing to do". Thus, I still assume, perhaps without much evidence, that liberals are acting according to what they think is "the right thing to do".<br /><br />Marshall, it would seem, then, that you are agreeing with me. The <i>motivation</i> is not "I hate America and want to destroy it", but something else. The <i>problem</i> is that the method and results appear to you and me to be detrimental to America, but I would still hold that the <i>motivation</i> (the point of this post) is not intended as such. I would contend that there <i>are</i> anti-American folk out there who do not have the best interest of this country in mind and who believe that destroying this country would be the best option. I've even read of folk who argue that <i>human beings</i> are a detriment to the universe and ought to be eliminated. But, at least in those cases, we have their stated motivation.Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04523232247971115247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30006406.post-55076330395798738092011-05-22T22:32:49.183-07:002011-05-22T22:32:49.183-07:00No. Not exactly. On one hand, I agree that they ...No. Not exactly. On one hand, I agree that they believe their policy proposals are sound, despite their close resemblance to failed attempts at similar policies. In this case, it is as I said that those who say the libs want to destroy America are are referring to the failures of the past and how implementing them now would produce the same results. It's more rhetorical, than a guess at motives. <br /><br />On the other hand, as Obama wants to "fundamentally change" the nation, he has to destroy what it is to get there. So in that sense, the accusation is accurate. However, I think the first possibility is more likely what is going on.<br /><br />More to the point, this "lib destroying America" thing is less a guess at motivations than a warning of the results of their proposals.Marshal Arthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01054268632726520871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30006406.post-31786927852444530432011-05-22T20:02:09.612-07:002011-05-22T20:02:09.612-07:00Hey, that's begging the question isn't it?...Hey, that's begging the question isn't it? There is no reason to assume ,or evidence that there is, much thinking going on at all.Danny Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15006024707303951009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30006406.post-60630102496462777132011-05-22T12:45:47.315-07:002011-05-22T12:45:47.315-07:00"The idea that liberals hate America or want ..."The idea that liberals hate America or want to destroy it comes from a frustration that libs insist on policies that are known failures."<br /><br />In your opinion. Not that I'm disagreeing, but they don't agree. They believe that their ideas are for the best. Or, let me ask you, do you <i>really</i> believe that all those liberals out there are consciously thinking, "What's the best way that we can derail the country in order to destroy it"?Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04523232247971115247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30006406.post-85835822282129116522011-05-22T11:31:45.078-07:002011-05-22T11:31:45.078-07:00Great post. Incredible how fallible human beings ...Great post. Incredible how fallible human beings not granted the power to read the heart of other people can so quickly assume the motivations of those people who take opinions in opposition. Obviously, and here I'm doing exactly that, such people aren't truly divining motivation. They are <i>applying</i> motivation in order to demonize their opponents and label them in a negative way. But I can support this "divination" of my own with the knowledge of the true motivations of the people being demonized. For example, as you suggest, pro-lifers' motivations are obvious. They are pro-life.<br /><br />One example of yours, however, is a bit off. The idea that liberals hate America or want to destroy it comes from a frustration that libs insist on policies that are known failures. It has become a case of, "if you don't want to kill yourself, why do continue to do things that will kill you?" So the slight distinction is that "libs hate America and want to destroy it" is more a matter of hyperbole than guessing motivation. Nonetheless, I would agree that it is not a good tactic to make the accusation, especially without a rock solid explanation. Far better to attack the faults of the actual policy proposal on it's lack of merit.Marshal Arthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01054268632726520871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30006406.post-27868570195154035942011-05-21T15:24:21.009-07:002011-05-21T15:24:21.009-07:00Well, I'm pretty sure that it is not today. I&...Well, I'm pretty sure that it is <i>not</i> today. I've always imagined that when someone states "I think it will be on this date," God eliminates that date from His list of possible dates because, after all, "no man knows the hour or the day." But, wait ... you're saying I'm more likely to win the lottery today than the world to end. Hmmm! Too bad I didn't buy a ticket, eh?Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04523232247971115247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30006406.post-49589809446069544822011-05-21T08:12:25.595-07:002011-05-21T08:12:25.595-07:00Hey, if you don't know when it's GOING to ...Hey, if you don't know when it's GOING to happen, you don't know when it's NOT. So therefore, it could be today... Right? Strictly from an odds position, when you think about it, the chances of it being today are millions of times greater than winning the lottery. Which in my rambling mind makes me wonder, how many Christians are more concerned with whether or not they will win the lottery today?Danny Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15006024707303951009noreply@blogger.com