Calling All Muckrakers, Conscientious Objectors, future Rush Limbaughs, and Authority Questioners:
Congressional control totters on a precarious balance with NMers lining up on both ends of the political divide. Sure, the issues will be covered on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox—but they’ll be in old-people-speak, with grumblings, weird references to the “old days,” and not a shred of anything young people care about mentioned.
No Kenny G Coverage! To make sure that the elections are heard by the youth—and that issues other than Medicare benefits, hip replacement therapy, and concerns over Metamucil formulas are on the table—YN is scavenging the earth for young Geraldos, Sawyers, Chungs, Springers, Stewarts, and Sterns, ages 13 to 24, to bring youth issues to light. Local elections, key Governor, Senate and House races—if it’s on the ballot, it’s to be covered!
But this nouveau news coverage won’t stop there. YN is also scouting young Moores, Coulters, Frankens, and O’Reilly’s to write opinion pieces, help host debates (the kind where issues are dealt with, arguments are made, and people make a point) and really tear issues apart.
Work with Real Live Professional Editors! Think the chance to be one of these big names is a joke? These writers will get to actually work with prominent current and retired journalists—and even compete for best journalist! This coming election really matters and YouthNoise will help decide the results.
Noise of All Sorts While YouthNoise is a non-partisan site, NMers aren’t. Noise shouldn’t be cut and dry with only facts. It should be full of raw emotions, anger, and praise. This is a chance to get every opinion out there. Noise isn’t just words either; it can be video, audio, pictures, comics, sketches. It doesn’t matter. As long as it is passionate and deals with election issues anything goes.
Examples of submissions could be write-ups or videos of campaign rallies, interviews of voters in a heated district, or straight up news pieces.
Submit pieces or get in touch and ask questions at elections@youthnoise.com
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sara_Schmidt,
One could easily argue that we have to have one extreme.
You said it would be easy to argue, so lets hear it.
Well, there are two ways in my mind, that you could approach such a situation.
1. Relativism. Since every position is at it's highest position in the mind of the person, we are all extremists in the eyes of someone else. It's like accusing someone of being a Christian Fundamentalist, when you yourself, are an Fundamentalist Anti-Christian Fundamenalist.
2. Balance of Power. Now, I'm not saying it's impossible to have an equal balance of power with just one party, in the hotseat, but, it might be that such a balance would allow one extremist version to tip the scale, completely to their side. The alternative to this, is to have a back and forth rocking motion, if you will. You continually switch between extremes, so no one extreme has complete domination.
Now, as to the abortion scenario: I understand that it's showing how unwilling to cooperate, and I agree with you on this point. Unfortunately, I disagree that someone should have to bear with a complete and total injustice, or atleast that is what they feel.
For instance, stating that we're going to legalize abortion, even in some degree, could violate someone's own personal morales, and they would simply be labeled as an extremist, from a moderate point of view. What they are doing, on the other hand, is simply what they believe is right. And if doing what someone things is the right thing, makes them an extremist, then I'd rather not be part of that society.
As for the Death Penalty. I understand that it can be quite expensive. An alternative to his, may be a way to figure out how to lower the cost of the death penalty. That satisfies your requirements for money, and allows the death penalty.
As for when we are going to break the chain? I don't know. I don't even know if that's a good thing.
Cheated the way from fringe to elite. Clique of stylists, rounded illogic skipping a beat to a dead cert. By lheaving charges and bursting the abscess, with a forked toungue, bloated with courage and spewing self-importance. Drop your sights, aim lower, leave umblemished those with real power.
Originally posted by Sara_Schmidt: Also remember, Hydrok, that these writers and speakers are sharing their opinions--just as you are with yours. Getting opinions out, issues highlighted, and a difference made is what YN is all about, as is this campaign. Why not cover an issue you care about?
These "writers" are propoganda delivering machines. They care not of the truth but rather the attention. Do you really think that Ann Coulter actually believes the crap she spews? Or Michael Moore, or Rush Limbaugh? It's all about money and attention. They are not on a quest for truth, they are on a quest to put money in their pockets by appealing to the part of the nation that is willing to make a decision without doing research.
I can't believe that the quest for knowledge and facts through research and learning can be considered extreme.
By the way Chaos
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One could easily argue that we have to have one extreme.
You said it would be easy to argue, so lets hear it.
Furthermore, on your argument to my abortion scenario you are proving my point about how unwilling America is to cooperate, and how apathetic people in general are to others. Then on the Death Penalty example abolishing the death penalty actually fills a requirement of the Republican platform of getting rid of needless spending. If I can throw a guy into prison for life without parole I've saved more money than I would have if I gave him the death penalty. Republicans (before the Neo-Con revolution) are supposed to be all about saving money.
And yes a country can vote and still have an extremist leader, hell look at what we have now, and about 50% of America is pissed as hell over it. It's the same as the republicas would feel if Hillary managed to get elected. When are we going to break the chain of trying to counter each extreme with a greater one? It's bringing our country in the shitter, I really don't think you can seriously deny that this is a problem.
Moderation by definition would imply that there is not an extreme, but thats beside the point.
You see, here's the problem with relativism. You're moderation, is an extreme of moderation, and is still an extreme.
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I beg of you to tell me why America would have to live under one extreme.. because that is pretty much against every principle that the government was founded upon.
I never said we had to, or we should. I'm not sure where you're getting at this from?
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For example: Lets say abortion, because everyone loves to debate that... Abortion as a form of birth control is unacceptable, so are late term abortions. However there are times when doctors screw up, like when they tell a woman she is incapable of having kids, and then she turns up pregnant. Not her fault. Or if a woman is raped, I don't think she should have to live with a reminder of it every day of her life.
Yet, a pro-life proponent might argue killing a baby is an extreme, no matter the conditions. Or, a pro-choice proponent might argue that not allowing anyone to terminate a piece of their body is an extreme.
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Another, the death penalty: I believe that the death penalty should be banned, it's a useless waste of tax payer dollars to pay for an attorney for countless appeals. Might as well give them life in prison without parole. It also prevents the risk of killing an innocent. So those are some examples of a moderate point of view, and completely lacking extremism.
Wrong. You abolished the Death Penality outright. This is an extreme.
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If I feel you're full of shit, I should stand besides you... Why?
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Obviously you shouldn't because I wouldn't want you there anyway
Exactly. So, why should I stand behind a moderate stance, if I don't agree with it?
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Because it would naturally alienate nearly half of america..seems like a good enough reason to me.
Not to me. The country can debate it's point, and go through a vote, and still have an extreme leader.
Cheated the way from fringe to elite. Clique of stylists, rounded illogic skipping a beat to a dead cert. By lheaving charges and bursting the abscess, with a forked toungue, bloated with courage and spewing self-importance. Drop your sights, aim lower, leave umblemished those with real power.
Also remember, Hydrok, that these writers and speakers are sharing their opinions--just as you are with yours. Getting opinions out, issues highlighted, and a difference made is what YN is all about, as is this campaign. Why not cover an issue you care about?
Guys, I think you should make this into a debate! If you want, you could write it up as a debate form (see the ones onsite) and send it to sara@youthnoise.org to go up on the government channel.
Anybody who wants to get involved, be sure to send in your work or write to elections@youthnoise.org.
Originally posted by ChaosSplintered: Yes. Extremist Crap. That's a good way of putting it. Since extreme is a relative term, one can argue that moderation is an extreme. One could easily argue that we have to have one extreme.
Moderation by definition would imply that there is not an extreme, but thats beside the point. I beg of you to tell me why America would have to live under one extreme.. because that is pretty much against every principle that the government was founded upon.
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Isn't that what a moderate is? If you're in the middle ground on an issue, you're indecisive, wishy-washy, and generally weak on either side of an issue.
I dont think I'm indecisive at all, I'm no extremist, I'm willing to take bits and pieces of both sides into consideration to find a workable solution to a problem. For example: Lets say abortion, because everyone loves to debate that... Abortion as a form of birth control is unacceptable, so are late term abortions. However there are times when doctors screw up, like when they tell a woman she is incapable of having kids, and then she turns up pregnant. Not her fault. Or if a woman is raped, I don't think she should have to live with a reminder of it every day of her life. Thats why I advocate the morning after pill being available over the counter. See the extremists would say that the MAP is inhumane and murder and the like, but it really isn't, and they know this because they are unable to prove that it is. Another, the death penalty: I believe that the death penalty should be banned, it's a useless waste of tax payer dollars to pay for an attorney for countless appeals. Might as well give them life in prison without parole. It also prevents the risk of killing an innocent. So those are some examples of a moderate point of view, and completely lacking extremism.
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If I feel you're full of shit, I should stand besides you... Why?
Obviously you shouldn't because I wouldn't want you there anyway
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Why can't we have a great leader, that is an extremist to one end?
Because it would naturally alienate nearly half of america..seems like a good enough reason to me.
I can already see the youth of today becoming so divided that they are regurgitating extremist crap on a regular basis, right here on these boards.
Yes. Extremist Crap. That's a good way of putting it. Since extreme is a relative term, one can argue that moderation is an extreme. One could easily argue that we have to have one extreme.
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moderates are branded as indecisive, wishy washy, and weak on the issues.
Isn't that what a moderate is? If you're in the middle ground on an issue, you're indecisive, wishy-washy, and generally weak on either side of an issue.
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How about you stand up for unity and stability, instead of the country of extremes that we have become?
If I feel you're full of shit, I should stand besides you... Why?
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we need leaders, and we need them to be strong and persistance against ALL extremists.
Why can't we have a great leader, that is an extremist to one end?
Cheated the way from fringe to elite. Clique of stylists, rounded illogic skipping a beat to a dead cert. By lheaving charges and bursting the abscess, with a forked toungue, bloated with courage and spewing self-importance. Drop your sights, aim lower, leave umblemished those with real power.
Hmm, I find this to be interesting... I'd like to point out that the Rush Limbaughs, Ann Coulters, Michael Moores, Howard Sterns, Bill O'Reillys, Geraldo Riveras, and Jerry Springers are not exactly people in society that the youth should be attempting to emulate... Al Franken, Lewis Black, Chris Rock, Steven Colbert, Jon Stewart, and the like are comedians. They play an important role in government in their own way. But I would suggest that the youth of today would attempt to emulate people that actually do business without the bullcrap so to speak. Famous people that have finally begun to do this include Joe Scarborough and Chris Mathews. I can already see the youth of today becoming so divided that they are regurgitating extremist crap on a regular basis, right here on these boards. Emotions have their place, but an individuals emotions are not above the greater good. A nation founded on compromise has turned into a war zone of opposites. The republicans felt they needed a counter-weight to Clinton, well they over-compensated big time, then the Democrats tried to provide a counter-weight to Bush, and they failed miserably. This country doesn't need division, it needs understanding and acceptance or it needs non-participation from those that don't look beyond their own noses, I could care less which people decide, but I refuse to stand by and watch my country become a war zone between extremists while the moderates are branded as indecisive, wishy washy, and weak on the issues. I am equally disgusted by how willing both parties are to cast their respective moderates off to the side.
Lieberman was the first, McCain will be next, Specter is not far behind. How about you stand up for unity and stability, instead of the country of extremes that we have become? We don't need more mouth pieces, we have plenty already, we need leaders, and we need them to be strong and persistance against ALL extremists. I got news for you, Muslim extremists are not the greatest threat to our democracy, we are as a country by far the greater threat.
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