Middle of the Road

[DarlingVivacia]

Seems to me that the majority of Americans share a common set of values, and a relatively similar political ideology: a balanced budget is good, national security is a priority, treat our neighbors as our own...and on and on it goes smack down the yellow line.

Sure, we disagree, we waver from that solid yellow line, decidedly inching out and crossing the line to speed ahead of a giant, black SUV or a perky silver HYBRID. We yell, "slow down!" when the car speeds past us, sometimes waving the bird, other times pressing our weight firmly on the horn. "Motherfuckers!!!" we scream, while our passengers ask us in whispered tones to "cool our jets".

A matter of degrees.

The outliers are outliers and somehow they have hijacked those cars, spray painting THEIR words of love emblazoned in stainless steel fishes. Their cars scream THEIR words of defiance in orange and yellow across their bumpers.

And then this is ALL we hear about. It is maddening, like driving with the windows down on a hot and humid summer day, the din buzzing at our ears, drowning out all sanity.

We need a break, a crisp fall day, the golden blaze of autumn's glory as backdrop as we wend our way down quiet back roads. A little John Denver on the radio, sticking to the middle of the road.

 

[rgraham666]

Except for the John Denver part, I thoroughly agree.

Welcome to the AH.

 

[TE999]

Seems to me that the majority of Americans share a common set of values, and a relatively similar political ideology: a balanced budget is good, national security is a priority, treat our neighbors as our own...and on and on it goes smack down the yellow line.

Sure, we disagree, we waver from that solid yellow line, decidedly inching out and crossing the line to speed ahead of a giant, black SUV or a perky silver HYBRID. We yell, "slow down!" when the car speeds past us, sometimes waving the bird, other times pressing our weight firmly on the horn. "Motherfuckers!!!" we scream, while our passengers ask us in whispered tones to "cool our jets".

A matter of degrees.

The outliers are outliers and somehow they have hijacked those cars, spray painting THEIR words of love emblazoned in stainless steel fishes. Their cars scream THEIR words of defiance in orange and yellow across their bumpers.

And then this is ALL we hear about. It is maddening, like driving with the windows down on a hot and humid summer day, the din buzzing at our ears, drowning out all sanity.

We need a break, a crisp fall day, the golden blaze of autumn's glory as backdrop as we wend our way down quiet back roads. A little John Denver on the radio, sticking to the middle of the road.

I like the way you think DV.

Welcome to the AH.

I like John Denver btw.

 

[SweetWitch]

I like the way you think DV.

Welcome to the AH.

I like John Denver btw.

Diana Krall would work for me.

 

[TE999]

Diana Krall would work for me.

She's cool too.

Maybe K.D. Lang? Wynona Judd?

 

[DesertPirate]

Waylon and Willie please

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Yeah, ditto to what others have said, and nice av, too.

(Except you may notice that I seem to like driving with the windows down on a hot, humid day with all the noise, but I'm wierd that way, whereas your view is normal and reasonable.)

 

[SweetWitch]

Yeah, ditto to what others have said, and nice av, too.

(Except you may notice that I seem to like driving with the windows down on a hot, humid day with all the noise, but I'm wierd that way.)

It's not much fun if the wind isn't in your hair.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I agree about the AV and, BTW, don't get into a claybird match with Wynona. That woman can shoot! And Crystal Gayle is even better.

 

[SweetWitch]

I agree about the AV and, BTW, don't get into a claybird match with Wynona. That woman can shoot! And Crystal Gayle is even better.

We women can shoot. It's in our ability to keep an eye on the goal before us.

 

[glynndah]

Does it have to be country music?

 

[SweetWitch]

Does it have to be country music?

That's why I vote for Diana Krall.

 

[TE999]

Does it have to be country music?

I'll bet you don't like BBQ either. Blasphemer!

 

[glynndah]

That's why I vote for Diana Krall.

Oh, good. May I sit by you? You can have the window.

I'll bet you don't like BBQ either. Blasphemer!

Oh, but I love BBQ!

 

[Belegon]

I like country music... and rock... and metal... and alternative...

I'm eclectic like that.


I do think that the edges get all the press. I do think that most people in America have a core set of things that we believe that we all agree on. And I completely wish we would all recognize that more often...

Oh, and I like BBQ too.

Welcome to the AH, DV.

 

[TE999]

Oh, but I love BBQ!

Oh, and I like BBQ too.

I knew there was something I liked about you folks...

I'm partial to Carolina BBQ, but I've learned to live with a Flora/Tex style BBQ they serve down here. When I'm in the Carlinas tho...I chow down big time.

 

[DeeZire]

I do think that the edges get all the press. I do think that most people in America have a core set of things that we believe that we all agree on.

Thinking back to when a majority of Americans thought Iraq was behind 9/11 (I believe it was 70% at one point) I think it's possible to have more faith in the general public than they deserve. Considering the percentage who won't vote for a black for president, or a woman, or a gay, it makes for a rather sad picture.

It is a nice ideal, though. If we could all work from the center outwards, perhaps we could make some headway (which would be kind of like trying to swim upstream as long as Rush Limbaugh and Rupert Murdoch are around.)

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

DV

Your post is classic schizophrenic word salad filled with loose associations, tangential points, and uninhibited twaddle.

 

[DarlingVivacia]

Thanks for the welcome folks.

For the record, John Denver is just one option among many. Something about his voice seems expansive and open. I suppose Joni would work almost equally as well.

 

[Liar]

I like country music... and rock... and metal... and alternative...

I'm eclectic like that.

It's not alternative as long as there's guitars.

 

[DarlingVivacia]

I do think that the edges get all the press. I do think that most people in America have a core set of things that we believe that we all agree on. And I completely wish we would all recognize that more often...

The thing is, I suspect most of us would get along. But we have been taught to be suspicious of one and other. And politicians and the media LOVE to play this card. Sure, there are variables that might make communication uncomfortable; varying levels of intellect, behavioral quirks, intolerance of differing world views. But when we can get past that, once it is stripped away, we often find common ground.

A perfect example, 6:30 AM following a Holiday weekend. Back to work, yucko. I suspect that is something that many can relate to.

Happy Tuesday.

 

[SweetWitch]

The thing is, I suspect most of us would get along. But we have been taught to be suspicious of one and other. And politicians and the media LOVE to play this card. Sure, there are variables that might make communication uncomfortable; varying levels of intellect, behavioral quirks, intolerance of differing world views. But when we can get past that, once it is stripped away, we often find common ground.

A perfect example, 6:30 AM following a Holiday weekend. Back to work, yucko. I suspect that is something that many can relate to.

Happy Tuesday.

You said a mouthful there. Ugh.

Intolerance is usually the enemy, as we've seen time and again. A perfect example of this is the way your conversation was put-down by a certain poo-flinger. But by and large, most of us understand what you're saying. The common ground is in what we all want: a decent living, a comfortable home, education for our children, affordable medical care, a better life. Where many disagree is in what needs to be done to gain and keep those things.

 

[rgraham666]

I'd like to draw attention to one problem with the concept of 'middle of the road'. It implies that this spot is fixed.

But there's some indication that this isn't true.

 

[hmmnmm]

They're all a bunch of creeps and pricks. Every fucking one of 'em. Donkeys, Elephants, libs, cons, every fucking one. Nothing but fart wind. Foul stenches.

All that really matters is good music, good sex, and a good book. And pretty scenery. Having fun. Really.

Ah! Shouldn't have looked here.

Stop. Now.

Fuck.

Politics and Politicians.

Never mind.

 

[DarlingVivacia]

I suppose 'middle of the road' does imply a fixed point. Hmm, interesting.

So 1% of the working population have seen their gross wages increase 140% while the rest of the working population, 99% have seen their gross wages increase 9% (as of the article you reference dated 2002). So doesn't that suggest that if you looked at the mean, the middle of the road would stay pretty much in the same place?

For the sake of inquiry, I would propose that the infamous 1% are outliers. But are they really Outliers who impact the governing process with unequal weight? Bear with me here, because this is where is gets interesting...

Not sure if statistically the 1% actually act solely in their best financial interest. For example, 1%-ers who vote for politicians who propose raising taxes on the rich. The reverse is also true, the percentage of poor people who vote against their financial best interest by voting for politicians who raise middle class taxes, and shred unions rights as two examples. While I don't have any hard data, I have seen some compelling statistics, one of the most interesting being a map of the US that showed the cost of a tank of gasoline as a percentage of gross wages in each state (NYTimes). What struck me was that the states with the highest cost for a tank of gas as a percentage of gross wages included RED states such as Louisiana, and Mississippi for example, while the states with the lowest ratio of cost of gas to gross wages were nicely settled in BLUE states such a New York and Massachusetts. And gasoline was approx. the same price in each state.

Which speaks to my hypothesis and conclusion (sorry this got so long winded): wealth is not a statistically significant measurement of party affiliation and voting. Therefore, it could be argued that the middle of the road is the middle of the road. (Boy would I like to see a regression chart on this!)