Rob

I have to vote "None of the above".

How else to explain the immediate and consistantly completely wrong statements regarding the Renee Good and Alex Pretti murders as self defence moves AFTER we all saw the videos and heard the eye witness accounts, let alone the later deeper analysis of 3D imaging regarding imaginary (maybe I should say projected) viewpoints of the perp's positions in Renee's case?

To Mac's point about combatting climate change during our affordability crisis... My understanding about what can be expected of us citizens is and should be tied to what is reasonably possible and therein lies a dilemma; who decides what is reasonable if not the person making the decision? I want an electric car. I drive a gas car. I have no guilt. I do have concerns. I will switch if and when I can by my own reconing. That may not be possible before I expire. That may be possible before I expire. I do not want to be forced to not drive to save the planet when a US regime change can nullify and largly walk back WAY PAST everything I've done within my power to move the climate change needle in the direction I thnk it should go. I do not take responsibility for doing everything possible at every step I can see where I can make a difference because that view is hubris. I am a committed believer in combatting climate change. I am not in conflict with my dicisions on this issue so far.

"At the stoplight, turn right. Then stop somewhere and get me a drink. I'm thirsty." I've been musing to myself about the first Alexa virus where she starts being difficult and talking back, etc. Has that already happened? Alexa. . . . Alexa? . . . ALEXA! WHAT???!!! I loved the dialouge Mac! Certainly worth the effort. OK, I guess this got really off-topic now...

My thought on the less ignorant or not ignorant cons is that they are not concerned with the cognitive dissonance because they are only using their talking points to lead the larger mass of ignorant MAGA anyway. They are not searchng for any kind of truth other than "what do I get out of it?" That is their only truth, so I suspect it's considered the required work to aquire and maintain control of a large voting block that goes their way. I think they even get off on it, viewing everyone that they either control or push aside if they can't control them to be the hapless cucks, unable to ignore or avoid their power. Pam Blondie for instance.

Where does the meaning of "ignorance is bliss" fit into this narrative?

Confessions of an Economic Hitman is a first person account of what happens before a millitary intervention becomes necessary. His story points out actual events the author was involved in as a point man with leaders of other countries where it was the author's job to avert millitary action through bribery, coercion or coup. The flip side of the coin to Smedley Butler's accounts and rare like Smedley himself. Small paperback size.

Another facet I would add to your remark BD, is that since the advent of the A-bomb there has been a belief in our country that "nuking" is always the final answer to any nation that doesn't adopt the ways of the US. It was used as a rationale for the earlier illegal bombing of Iran. Now the rationale is "saving" Iranians with Democracy as it is openly being destroyed here at home. Have you read Confessions of an Economic Hitman?

I found this group using a targeted search that lead to Liberal Hearts which lead here. I am assuming we have a mausoleum currently because there is a lack of active promoting this site outside of a jump from the old LH. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm hoping V.3 isn't excited at the prospect of making a FB-lite.

The reason I voted "Ordinarily yes, but..." is because I too believe in general there needs to be dialoug with people having opposing ideas where it can happen and inclusivity is a hallmark of liberal thinking. In this case these are genral concepts being applied to a specific instance. To me at least, I find it less than desirable to dialoug with the internet at every social app to which I may subscribe. More sheltered places for progressive minded people are not so easy to find these days. For V.3. Perhaps a way to address growing this site's participation is to create a sister site for "anyone can join" and firewall it off from this "progressives only" site (don't advertise about here on the "anyone" site). Certain topics that are felt to benefit from participation of members from both sites can be advertised on the progressive only site in a specific page with links to the other site's topic. Progressives get to have dual citizenship if they want it, but it doesn't automatically bring the other site's members here. See if any progressives bite. If you try making it all work in one place you'll get FB-lite.

Actually macpsysto I have not been regularly visiting here, however that may change. I'm not a regular on any social media, but do inhabit my local Nextdoor village private Progressives group. Because of a "feature" in that site's algorithm someone's reply to a post automatically included others from outside the group to participate inside the group. Apparently if someone's text includes the name of a legitimate business that Nextdoor recognized, a link to that business is automatically created and anyone else who at some point linked the business in the past is notified of the business "mention" and becomes automatically added to the private group. Trolling began from that point. I believe it's actually a Nextdoor bug, not a feature intended to add to private groups. I started thinking about finding another online place to host that progressive group and remembered this site. My read on this poll was centered on "invite". My take being that a concerted effort could be made, but has not happened. My no vote was in the popular "Normally yes, but..." catagory, however I really should have voted the first option of invitation only. I have noticed that the roster here isn't large and perhaps I read too much into that and assumed some effort was being contemplated to increase participation. Namely invite the right.

My thoughts exactly. I voted no. Even following BobDylan's example, how would you expect to invite ex-MAGA and not MAGA? As soon as MAGA hardcores find out that is happening on a blue site I expect to find some putting on sheep's clothing to get in and start hunting for cucks. There are sooooooo many places to engage the right in the current political climate so IMHO adding one more place won't even move the needle. Nothing is stopping anyone from engaging the right in so many venues of life should they choose to do so. Their vitreol is so pervasive, loud and focussed in the general media it's shutting down other points of view from being taken seriously. Please go there if you think you can make a difference. If they are invited here, I too will leave.

Heavy handed? Need I remind everyone concerning the question about other genres that Gilligan's Island was accused of being communist propaganda by showing different classes existing in harmony. Thou dost complain too much, me thinks.

I'm not sure how you define the left, but if you mean Democrats I think I understand your point. IMHO, the societal issue to overcome dealing with immigration vs poverty is overcoming fear of the other and there is no one-size-fits-all solution I can see. Even Evangelists have abandoned their savior’s words on this, only to embrace attempts at drowning their own fears with perceived power and money. Fears triggered by current events that remind us of past troubles are hard to spot and even more difficult to overcome once understood. And they are unique to each individual to a large degree, even though I assume there can be groupings. Dealing with anxiety is still a personal battle. Even the seemingly most simple person operates within a complex web of conscious and unconscious thought, whether aware of much of it or not. Unscrupulous actors prey on the unwary and the fearful in order to command mass movements. Poverty is a tool for them. Even if a largely white population was made to happen in the US, all the ills we see now would still be here in full force. I suspect I am preaching to the choir with this view, no?