Goldwater on religion and government: Agree? Disagree?

[patrickt]

Nice guys finish last. Never compromise, It's a sign of weakness.

Weak people are terrified they'll look weak so, of course, they do. People who are strong don't worry about it.

[Mr. Independent]

Nice guys finish last. Never compromise, It's a sign of weakness.

I think this statement describes how we are at our current state with the things happening now, both on the politician's level and on the layman level.

[patrickt]

I lived in a theocracy and didn't like it.


When I was the liaison with our local mosque I asked some of the guys one Friday night why, when most of the men at the mosque were moderates, the very radical conservatives ran the mosque. One of the men said, "At home we'd all have different mosques. If you only had one Christian church for all Christians it would be the most conservative, most radical that ran it because they can't compromise. It's the same for us. The nutjobs can't compromise."


Some people believe that using a condom when you have sex is murder and some think killing a baby at the time of birth isn't murder. They're both wrong and the solution lies in a compromise. Of course, radical dickheads at both extremes can't compromise.

[goodpen]

Since Obama told the world and our citizens we were "not a Christion nation" just how bad have things become with all our social culture? ooting ion stores, random terrible killings, parents not respected, and all kinds of loose morals in our society. You lose the 10 commandments and what is left for people to live together in a neighborhood or a nation?

[Wildrose]

From 1994, and why do you agree or disagree?


Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.

Goldwater represented a school of conservatism that was already dying in the fifties. Brilliant man in many ways but as this shows, a complete idiot in other ways.

[Wildrose]

Compromise comes in two forms: Zero-sum (collective bargaining like what Unions do) and Win-win which is what many of us do when purchasing something.

In politics the only compromising is Zero-sum compromising. One side has to win and the other side has to lose. There is no other way.

So I guess I would disagree. How does one compromise one's core principles away.

Well yes, in an actual compromise both sides have to give up something to come to an agreement.

[Wildrose]

Since Obama told the world and our citizens we were "not a Christion nation" just how bad have things become with all our social culture? ooting ion stores, random terrible killings, parents not respected, and all kinds of loose morals in our society. You lose the 10 commandments and what is left for people to live together in a neighborhood or a nation?

Our constitution as designed can only work to govern a moral people. We are no longer a moral people which is were so many of our problems come from.

[Physics Hunter]

Yeah, it sucked when moral, practicing Protestant Christians were in charge,

and it is so damned great now with all the fake Catholics, and other non-practicing non-religious are in charge...

[QuaseMarco]

Where did you get the idea Goldwater was "secular?"
He'd be more shocked that the preachers did take over the GOP.

If he was a religious man he would not have made the statements he did.
However, who can tell what is in a man's heart? ..... only God.

[imaginethat]

Goldwater represented a school of conservatism that was already dying in the fifties. Brilliant man in many ways but as this shows, a complete idiot in other ways.

Which ways?