Discussion Board

Some people get upset when views expressed differ from their own. Only then do they want to ban political speech from a forum. But, nearly all topics are political. For example, global warming is political, and we have a special thread dedicated to that subject. If it's not your thing, you can stay off that thread.

Current events, like the presidential election affect us, our health, and our food. We need to speculate on who might be appointed surgeon general, what laws might be enacted related to pesticides, pollution, school lunches, and what happens in the Department of Agriculture.

So, I suggest a separate thread where those of us who enjoy reasoned and robust discussion of ideas (as opposed to name-calling and personal attacks) may discuss such matters.

OR you could go to a political forum! wouldn't that be cool and rewarding?

you could find a great spot where people agree with you - OR visit a e-place w/ people whose views are markedly different ---- and be a heretic!

wouldn't that be fun?

(and every discussion might be viewed as religious in nature, right?)

Actually, what would be most rewarding is to have an intellegent conversation with people who are respectful of one anothers' views and genuinely intersted in finding out what makes one another tick. There are a lot of those kinds of people on this board, and I like it well enough to tolerate the occasional one who goes off on a pointless rant.

I agree with Vanilla Orchid. I like that this forum is, in general, full of helpful advice and respectful conversation and populated by people who are trying to support one another in health and well-being. I think a political issues forum (maybe as a replacement and expansion of the global warming forum?) would allow a special place for discussions that might otherwise show up in The Lounge. Not everyone appreciates the presence there of more controversial political issues, but other folks are of the opinion that politics is caught up in all things, even the simplest daily life choices we make at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I agree also.

I also agree. I think that the people here start off on a much higher level of rapport and understanding than a political board. We know that we are more than just our political opinions, and that just because someone is diametrically opposed to our view, we have experiences of them that go beyond their political/social/religious/ethical POV. In other words, we know they are human, have feelings like we do, and at heart probably have the same good intentions and struggles that we do.

I see that this board could provide the opportunity to actually listen to someone who thinks and feels very differently from us. We have to maintain at least a minimum standard of courtesy (assuming we keep using our "real" screen names).

I do not have many friends who sit in the very conservative, very religious end of the spectrum to be able to ask for their views, in a respectful way. I am interested in hearing from people at this end of the spectrum, especially if I already know that we have at least one thing in common - in this case, McDougall.

And I also know that discussions like these can get heated and unless handled in an adult way, can end up with name calling and blatantly erroneous and emotive generalisations. Even when everyone's behaving themselves, there will be a point at which Person A is on one side of an issue and Person B on the other and that's just how it goes. So having the discussions removed from the general forums like the Lounge is necessary. People who don't want to engage or read or be exposed to that kind of topic can easily ignore it.

I would like to see the Global Warming forum name changed to Environmental Concerns. That could include global warming, energy conservation, buying local grown food, pollution, etc. All of those things tie into what we eat. For examplr buying locally conserves energy. Also pesticides and fertilizer used in farming operations affect the food we eat as well as the environment.

I think food policy issues; such as subsidies, school lunches, corporate food lobbying in Washington, etc. are also directly linked to the way we eat in the United States. I don't know if Environmental Concerns adequately includes these important issues.

Yes I agree, but I don't think environmental concerns such as global warming, polllution, green liviing, etc. have to always be considered political either. There should be two separate categories.

[quote="Vanilla Orchid"]Actually, what would be most rewarding is to have an intellegent conversation with people who are respectful of one anothers' views and genuinely intersted in finding out what makes one another tick.

amen

quick question - maybe those of you who are really into politics know the answer to this...

why aren't we hearing more information about Senator Biden's recent brain scans?

ok, looked this one re Biden up...

he's had surgery twice this year for aneurysms (sp - don't have time to check; writing papers....)

and a brain tumor.

next question...

why haven't Sen. Obama's health records been released? decades of heavy smoking; "user" history. there's been speculation (even here) - but records haven't been released...

how bout his academic records - also kept a mystery. the latest ad here in MO shows him fondly reminiscing about bookin' it w/ mom on a daily basis at 4:30 AM to keep up with the other gradeschoolers. wonder who tutored him through college and grad school...

you've discussed your deep concerns w/ such topics when related to those of other persuasions than your (collective) own...

Don't know about any of the other stuff, but from what I've read, his smoking is/was 7-8 cigarettes a day. NOT good, but hardly heavy smoking, which implies more a pack or two a day. That is, of course, if that 7-8 is anything near the truth. Which is anyone's guess. I'd find it hard to believe that he could do the workouts he does (which seem to be uncontested) if he had years of heavy smoking under his belt, though.

Oh, and about his academic performance, I don't think Harvard is easily tricked in to electing someone who needs extensive tutoring as president of the Harvard Law Review. Did you mean that insinuation to be as nasty as it sounded? I hope not.

Biden's health is a concern, but less because he's not the top ticket - he's the backup. McCain's health is a greater concern because he is the top ticket and the backup is polarizing, at the very least. Even among the Republican party - it's not just liberal pinko scum who question Palin as VP. Many many longstanding Republicans are not happy with Palin and are not voting the McCain ticket in part because of that nomination. Colin Powell is just the latest. (Of course, there are longstanding Democrats who aren't going to vote for Obama because he's black.)

--and longstanding Republicans like Powell voting for Obama because THEY are black.