Tuning in

Although I consider myself a news junkie I have to admit that I’m already sick and tired of the next election and it’s a whole year away. What is most disturbing to me is the fact that it seems that nobody is listening. It appears that nobody is taking the time to listen to a point of view that may be different than their own. In real life, meaningful dialog is usually the “center piece” of positive outcomes and paying attention to a variety of views enriches that outcome, but in today’s political climate it is seen as a weakness. This trait was evident during the debt ceiling showdown when the tea baggers were prepared to have the country face default with unknown economic ramifications rather than accept any compromise of their position. If there’s one issue that really threatens the future viability of our country it’s probably this notion of things having to be “my way or no way”. In reality nothing in life works in this uncompromising manner.  If I had to point to one fatal flaw I find with most tea baggers, it’s that they’ve convinced themselves that, theirs is the only one and true point of view worth considering and that every issue is black or white. Again it’s been my experience that in life that there are very few things that fit inside those two “neat boxes”. For those who are shy on facts or insecure, it sure makes it easier to deal with issues by reducing all options to two. You’re with them or against them in their black and white world and if you can’t agree with them, you’re automatically on their hate/shit list. It’s a short distance between dealing with an issue on a philosophical level to one on an emotional level. Once on the emotional level facts don’t matter, feelings matter and usually the original issue is transformed to a personal attack on the person who dares having a different point of view. Many of the tea baggers also have their self righteous attitudes bolstered by their religious beliefs. Now who can argue with their interpretation of Gods position on issues? After all, if God can speak to them about these issues, who cares what anybody else thinks? I must confess that God has never spoken to me and, I’ve wasted a lot of time looking at issues from different perspectives. I wish I could convince myself that I have a superior insight into issues and then I could tell you that you’re an ass for disagreeing with me. I think I’ll pin a tea bag to my hat and hold a copy of the constitution in one hand and a bible in the other. I just need to see if I can hear voices of certainty and wisdom from beyond the present.

Comments

[warren]

Great Commentary from a Main St. Business Owner!

http://www.wmur.com/video/29111135/detail.html

Right Antonio? ..... but where is Sylvia Poulin???

Unavailable for Comment? Mon Dieu!

[toonist]

400 construction jobs!
Will these jobs be:
A: For Berlin folk
B: Have retirement benefits
C: Include health plans
Just wondering????

[warren]

I would Bet the pay and benifits are M-U-C-H better than the Wentworth "Servers" get, down in Jackson... but who would bet against Me?
I hear your money goes further down south, Dennis. Have You checked out any Old "Plantations" yet? and, There are a LOT more "Sightings" down there as well.... But that could have more to do with the stuff they cook up in the woods. lol!

[toonist]

Temporary jobs. Yes they'll make more than the servers in Jackson. Moonshine :) love it!

[warren]

http://www.puc.state.nh.us/Regulatory/Orders/2011orders/25267g.pdf

[warren]

RATT : Out of the Cellar... Round and Round.

http://2much2do4now.typepad.com/bytechew/2008/10/rats-at-avrrdd.html

[toonist]

Still waiting for answers:

Question to you righties in this place:
1: Is the company you're working for paying you a decent wage for your services? Or does your 'JOB' stand for Just Above Broke?
2: Do they offer you a pension plan? Will you be able to retire comfortably?
3: Do they have a Health Insurance plan? I'm not talking about a plan, like my wife has, where it cost you more to pay for the plan than to be sick?
If you answered NO to any of the above they why the hell do you support the Republicans? The only people they care about is your upper management! And upper management doesn't give a rats ass about you either.
It's one of these: "Oh there's my foot, I think I'll shoot it." with you poor people on Gullible's Travels.

[Antonio Andolini]

Berlin makes the Jersey papers:
http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011309180011

[Antonio Andolini]

Such a deal! Don't miss out on this one, kids. For your donation to President Obama's reelection campaign in the amount of just $38,500, you get to rub shoulders with Warren Buffett!

"Mr. Buffett will be the headliner at an 'economic forum' and fund raiser for Mr. Obama's re-election campaign in New York on Sept. 30. Basic ticket prices are $10,000, and a $35,800 contribution gains access to a VIP pre-reception with Mr. Buffett." Wall Street Journal 09-20-2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903374004576581201849864430.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsThird

[warren]

And Where was Ms. Sylvia for WMUR's Positive Light on Berlin? -Tony?

[Antonio Andolini]

Yes, you too can be just like the President and Congress. In debt? Spend more!

"Citi mailed an estimated 346 million card offers to North American customers in the third quarter, according to figures to be released later this month by Mail Monitor, a unit of research firm Synovate. That is more than one for every man, woman and child in the U.S." Wall Street Journal 09-20-2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903374004576581084218444302.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5

[warren]

Cate St. is good for Maine, as well.

http://www.mpbn.net/Home/tabid/36/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3478/ItemId/17821/Default.aspx

[toonist]

Still waiting.......

[warren]

......Sudden attack of Polio in Your fingers Tony? Where was Our Main St. Direktor when WMUR was here...Talking to a Main St. Business Owner about the Economic Benefits of a $275 M. Project in Our Downtown? or was She looking to "Sob Story" Our Little Town even further afield than N.J. ?

[Antonio Andolini]

Definition of SHUN
transitive verb: to avoid deliberately and especially habitually
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shun

[Antonio Andolini]

toonist, NO to all three. Self employed, I cannot afford the costs of our ever-growing federal government. Republicans (are supposed to) believe in limited government. That's what I support. If "upper management" makes out better than those who wait for a handout, under smaller government, then c'est la vie. If you leave money in the pockets of those who make it, we will be headed out of recession.
You keep spouting the lefty language and commiserate with your overpaid union buddies and deadbeat bar stool warmers.

[Antonio Andolini]

Rocky, I agree that the never-ending campaign gets boring. We agree that lack of dialogue is not helping. From there, we part paths.
Factually incorrect statements such as, "when the tea baggers were prepared to have the country face default with unknown economic ramifications rather than accept any compromise of their position" don't help either. Many of your criticisms fit those on the left quite well. Speaker Pelosi, Senate President Reid are excellent examples of "You’re with them or against them in their black and white world and if you can’t agree with them, you’re automatically on their hate/shit list. It’s a short distance between dealing with an issue on a philosophical level to one on an emotional level." As for "facts don’t matter, feelings matter", well that's about as liberal as you can get!
I believe that one's religious views are personal, and not good fodder for attacking those with whom one disagrees. Unlike our European ancestors, Americans do not require belief in a particular, or for that matter any, faith.
So, we each have our opinions, attitudes and approaches to getting through life. That's what makes it interesting. Dialogue, unlike debate, requires listening. I tune in to hear what others think. I will stay tuned in as long as there is a dialogue. Those who just want to insult others, I tune out.

[Antonio Andolini]

So how come the BDS didn't interview Mayor Grenier about Lou Bravakis and the dispute with Cate Street Capital? Less than two years ago, Lou and crew were welcomed with open arms by the newly-elected mayor. How times change. Maybe Cyndi Lauper had it right, "Money Changes Everything."

[toonist]

Thanks for answering AA. Rebuttal: Bush did a wondeful job of growing government so that theory of Repubs lining small govt is out the window. Upper management doesn't give a shit about its employees...they have a good old boys club and you know it. Just recently a big company laid off 20,000 employees BUT management still got their bonuses. If you leave money in the pockets of those who make it we ain't going nowhere they'll hoard it! You're talking trickle down economy and that didn't work with Reagan or Bush...that's why we're in the mess were in! It may shock you to know that I'm not a big fan of Unions either. I feel they are outdated BUT the way things are going for the common people Unions may a purpose again. "bar stool warmers" I take it you're talking about welfare recipients. And I agree with you. There are tons of them that are just milking the system. You have an organization up there in Berlin that has cut employee benefits, management didn't lose anything ): , BUT they still manage to be able to rent a place at Old Orchard Beach for a week, 4th of July week no less, to take their 'clients' on vacation! (I once did a cartoon on that but the Sun refused to run it...another reason I'm no longer there). Some clients are their because they were dealt a bad hand and the honestly need assistance....others are there because of self inflicted drug and alcohol abuse! You call them "bar stool warmers" I prefer to call them porch pigs! Although my "Liberal" friends say it would cost too much and not prove a thing I still say the way to weed out the abusers, porch pigs, of the system is to give them mandatory drug testing. You fail you're on your own! Go see Doctor Drew.
Later AA

[warren]

Sylvia can SHUN the Biomass Project all She wants, while telling everyone who will listen, all across the fruited plains "what a sorry state Berlin is in". But eventually the Economic revival will snowball and leave Her in its wake. I see that some on Main St. realize the economic benefits that this will bring, and that speaks for itself. But I can not help wondering about that Photo of St. Anne's Church in the N.J. Courier Post Online story.... Was it Taken at Sylvia's Prompting? There are a LOT of other Unflattering Camera angles here in Berlin that do not involve Defamation of a Man's "Millstone" or His Right to Earn a Living. Was that photo and commentary less a part of the Story, and more likely "Washing Dirty Laundry in Public" ??? But Of Course this would NEVER happen in a Small Town like Berlin, now would it? Your Silence on this matter will be much appreciated by Sylvia, I'm sure. And I'll wear it as a Badge of Honor!

[Antonio Andolini]

Out of touch, out of time. The remark wasn't about Sylvia Poulin, nor the biomass plant.
Fact is, Sylvia Poulin and others are focused on improving Berlin whether there is a biomass plant or not. Some do not want to see that improvement and focus only on the biomass plant. "They'll keep living in the past."
As for out-of-state (and local) "journalists" they publish what they want. Remember the New York Times piece with the lovely photo of the old Rite-Aid block across from Gallus?

[Antonio Andolini]

Aye, toonist. That's why I said supposed to believe in limited government. Under President Bush, we had the largest government agency created - Department of Homeland Security. Big brother government at its best! Also under President Bush, the largest unfunded entitlement program - Medicare Part D.
This lack of focus on limiting the growth of government led to the ground swell known as the TEA party. Established Republicans and Democrats alike try hard to debunk this movement since it challenges the world of ever-growing government maintained by these "representatives."

[Antonio Andolini]

"In 2008, the 'politics of hope' campaign trained volunteers to testify about how they 'came to Obama' the way one talks of 'coming to Jesus.' Now they ask supporters to help build a digital enemies list. Which they’ll do, of course. But not because they love him."

http://www.barackobama.com/news/launching-attackwatchcom/

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20110921/OPINION02/709219989

[Antonio Andolini]

Our tax dollars at work:
The Justice Department and several of its agencies engaged in “extravagant and wasteful” spending on food, beverages and event planning for law enforcement conferences, including paying $16 each for muffins, $76 per person for lunch and more than $8 for a cup of coffee, according to an audit released Tuesday by the department’s Office of Inspector General.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/20/taxpayers-foot-bill-justice-department-16-muffins/

[toonist]

Uncle Sam sucks don't he? Big time!