tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post1541070523554384390..comments2024-03-27T17:15:37.606-04:00Comments on Triablogue: "Single-issue voters"Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809283662428917799noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-41649502997380568772007-10-14T01:33:00.000-04:002007-10-14T01:33:00.000-04:00My problem with single issue voters isn't really t...My problem with single issue voters isn't really the one you describe. If someone holds an issue as dear to them, and on principle cannot support any candidate who opposes that view, I can respect that.<BR/><BR/>What I find dangerous about many single issue voters (especially on this topic) is the tendency to be willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING else for even the smallest assurances.<BR/><BR/>As an example, the ease with which they believe Romney's 'road to Washington' conversion to pro-life. It really doesn't matter how bad a candidate is in any other way, if he supports the pro-life movement, even if just in words, they'll buy in.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18343310535708699841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-80089500854150058042007-10-12T16:58:00.000-04:002007-10-12T16:58:00.000-04:00For me, the abortion issue comes down to this: if ...For me, the abortion issue comes down to this: if a candidate thinks abortion is acceptable, he thinks <I>murder</I> is an acceptable solution to life's many problems. He may not like when born children or adults are murdered, but fundamentally, he does not find the deliberate destruction of innocent human life to be wrong. Someone who believes that is not fit to govern, at the very least.<BR/><BR/>I once attended a talk being given by the area Planned Parenthood director. He spoke at length about his experiences getting to know the pastor of a Baptist church across the street from an abortion clinic. The point was that even though the two strongly disagreed about abortion, the Baptist pastor was "tolerant" and didn't impose his "religious" views on him, and other religious folks who oppose abortion should learn a lesson from this pastor.<BR/><BR/>During the Q&A afterword, I asked if the speaker (a Jew) thought that the Holocaust was a murderous event that decent people should have fought against. Of course he agreed. I explained then that I saw abortion as a murderous act. I said that I assumed everyone in the room would think that murder is wrong, and would fight against it (at which point a woman on the other side of the room commented that I should speak for myself!). And so I asked him, given that I think abortion is a murderous act, and murder should be fought against, why should I <I>not</I> seek to "impose" this view on society?<BR/><BR/>After some wheedling, he never did answer the question. A consummate politician!Kyjohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02576699017770933239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-15346561649332602082007-10-12T12:19:00.000-04:002007-10-12T12:19:00.000-04:00Mike said...Dear Steve,But you would admit that th...Mike said...<BR/>Dear Steve,<BR/><BR/>But you would admit that there is no philosophical proof from minimal theism to Christianity, only historical arguments, right?<BR/><BR/>****************************<BR/><BR/>I think it's possible to mount a transcendental argument for Christian theism.stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16547070544928321788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-37945859759858527862007-10-12T11:04:00.000-04:002007-10-12T11:04:00.000-04:00Dear Steve,But you would admit that there is no ph...Dear Steve,<BR/><BR/>But you would admit that there is no philosophical proof from minimal theism to Christianity, only historical arguments, right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-55222842858092745422007-10-12T10:32:00.000-04:002007-10-12T10:32:00.000-04:00Mike said...Dear Steve,Thank you for your kind res...Mike said...<BR/>Dear Steve,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for your kind response. I'd like to ask a further question please.<BR/><BR/>"Is Christianity true or false?" Suppose that I accept a minimalist theism. Would you then argue for Christianity through historical arguments or through philosophical arguments from that point on?<BR/><BR/>*************************************<BR/><BR/>Depends on the individual. Different types of evidence appeal to different people. Some folks are more impressed with historical evidence, others with philosophical argumentation.stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16547070544928321788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-41625101820304288372007-10-12T10:21:00.000-04:002007-10-12T10:21:00.000-04:00Dear Steve,Thank you for your kind response. I'd l...Dear Steve,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for your kind response. I'd like to ask a further question please.<BR/><BR/>"Is Christianity true or false?" Suppose that I accept a minimalist theism. Would you then argue for Christianity through historical arguments or through philosophical arguments from that point on?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-17635809858813712302007-10-12T09:48:00.000-04:002007-10-12T09:48:00.000-04:00Brad, The problem with Huckabee is that he's a neo...Brad, <BR/><BR/>The problem with Huckabee is that he's a neoconservative who is big government. The Cato Institute gave him a "D" overall when it came to being a fiscal conservative (an 'F' in 2006). <BR/>He may have lowered taxes "94 times" but what is the net effect of his lowering some taxes with the increase in others. In 2007, Arkansas may have had a surplus, but he increased spending 65.3% from 1996-2006. He's been called the "biggest taxer and spender in Arkansas history". Grover Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform, even went so far as to call Huckabee a "serial tax increaser". <BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, he thought he knew better than the courts when he released a convicted rapist, who, after release, went on to rape and murder a woman in Missouri. <BR/><BR/>His assertions on the 'FairTax' are a bit unbelievable as well (I know the assertions come from Boortz and other ill-informed people). For instance, he won't get rid of the IRS, he will change the name of it. You can't have a national sales tax without a national agency to collect the tax (from the states or from the people).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-75844057808388731882007-10-12T08:54:00.000-04:002007-10-12T08:54:00.000-04:00MIKE SAID:“But I can still be an atheist and a Pla...MIKE SAID:<BR/><BR/>“But I can still be an atheist and a Platonist, for example like Schopenhauer. Can't I?”<BR/><BR/>Platonism is not an adequate position. It points out some problems with empiricism, and it’s definitely on to something as far as abstract objects. But it’ lacks the metaphysical resources to properly ground abstract objects. You have these free-floating properties absent a property-bearer. They aren’t mental and they aren’t material. So what are they? And how are they accessible to the human mind?<BR/><BR/>The tradition of universals as divine ideas—a la Augustine—salvages what is good in Platonism while laying a firmer foundation.<BR/><BR/>“Even if I have to accept theism, that doesn't mean I have to accept any organized religion do I? I can accept the God of philosophers. I can subscribe to natural theology. Can't I?”<BR/><BR/>Yes, you can be a theistic minimalist, but what’s the point? Is Christianity true or false? That’s the question you need to deal with.stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16547070544928321788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-39437436595420693082007-10-12T08:34:00.000-04:002007-10-12T08:34:00.000-04:00As a Christian, my "single issue" has to do with R...As a Christian, my "single issue" has to do with Romans 13. Basically, I have to consider whether or not the candidate is subject to the governing authorities of this nation.<BR/><BR/>And who are the governing authorities? We, the people, as spelled out in writings of the Founding Fathers. The Declaration of Independence explains exactly how and why this country was founded, and every politician and federal bureaucrat should be subject to the Constitution of these United States.<BR/><BR/>In my humble opinion, any politician who strays from that principle is unworthy to serve. Given the current field of candidates, that rules out all but one: Ron Paul.Lee Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11254842261338255019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-64989405220886875592007-10-12T02:58:00.000-04:002007-10-12T02:58:00.000-04:00I'd like to ask an off-topic question if you will....I'd like to ask an off-topic question if you will.<BR/><BR/>I get your point. Empiricism leads to skepticism and materialism has many problems considering minds, numbers and universals. So we are compelled to accept Platonism and Cartesianism. That's fine.<BR/><BR/>But I can still be an atheist and a Platonist, for example like Schopenhauer. Can't I?<BR/><BR/>Even if I have to accept theism, that doesn't mean I have to accept any organized religion do I? I can accept the God of philosophers. I can subscribe to natural theology. Can't I?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-73484067220590164742007-10-11T23:37:00.000-04:002007-10-11T23:37:00.000-04:00Personally, I've used the term "single-issue voter...Personally, I've used the term "single-issue voters" before, and never thought of it as a pejorative. <BR/><BR/>I bet I've unintentionally offended a lot of people!<BR/><BR/>With apologies to them, if any are reading,<BR/><BR/>-TurretinfanTurretinfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01802277110253897379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-57043404192224317312007-10-11T22:28:00.000-04:002007-10-11T22:28:00.000-04:00So far, I like Huckabee. I am baffled as to why h...So far, I like Huckabee. I am baffled as to why he hasn't garnered more conservative support. Am I missing something? Are people afraid that he is unelectable b/c he wants to do away with the IRS? What's the deal here?Brad Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00197301845256854051noreply@blogger.com