Exploring with Surrogate

Exploring with Surrogate

Quote:

"1. Black folks were not really people. (The negotiated figure was 3/5 of a person)

2. God sanctioned the practice because it's talked about extensively in the Bible, therefore ending it would be contrary to scripture.

3. The economy of the South depended on it. To end it would be catastrophic.

Then the "fake" argument: Washington should not interfere with an individual State's right to treat people (and creatures that were only 3/5 of a person) any way they damn well please.

It was this fake argument that lead to war, in which 350,000 people and creatures that were only 3/5 of a person died. Why fake? -Because it's always used to justify untenable things."

I guess it should be mentioned that these "conservatives" who were actually the forefathers of today's Democratic party, did not see slaves as 3/5 of a human being. They didn't see them as human beings at all. The 3/5 measure was part of what's called the "3/5 Compromise" in which anti-slavery forces in the north were able to get those "conservatives" in the south (ahem, forefathers of today's Democrats) to count slaves as at least 3/5 of a human being or else the south would not ratify the constitution (the north wanted slaves counted as human beings, "conservatives" in the south did not).

Some of our most God-fearing Christians were actually abolitionists and it might help to remind Surrogate that the Republican party, where the conservative movement began, was formed to oppose slavery. Yup, it's true. Abraham Lincoln, the man who ended slavery, was a Republican. And blacks voted Republican until the rise of FDR.

States' rights is actually part of the US Constitution. There are such things as states' rights, and so it is not a conservative or liberal issue. Slaveowners (the forefathers of today's Democratic party) argued that it had to do with states' rights but in short they were merely using the constitution to defend an evil practice. Welcome to politics, folks. And that is what started the Civil War.

To suggest that states' rights are evil, and that conservatives endorsed slavery is at best ignorant and at worst shameless.

(and did you ever notice that libs love to say whatever they want, but somehow don't seem to understand that "living your life as you see fit" is part of that same spirit? It's called the Bill of Rights...)

Lastly, Surrogate says

"Most conservatives I've met seem to believe fiercely that it is the right of individuals to live their lives as they see fit without the intrusion of a large central government. This, of course, while pursuing laws that prohibit others to live their lives as THEY see fit."

First of all, it is the right of every American to live their life as they see fit-- this is part of the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. The reason why we have a checks and balance system, and the reason why we have power to the states ingrained in the constitution is to prevent a large central government. This isn't a conservative or liberal argument-- it's a fact.

Secondly, I know of no law that a conservative has wanted passed that would prevent "others to live their lives as they see fit." Gay marriage? CIvil Unions. Abortion? Still legal. I mean, I guess unless you want to commit murder outside the womb, you're in a bit of a mess, but otherwise, most conservatives just want what most Americans want-- personal freedom and smaller government.

Unless I'm missing out on why Republicans have ruled congress for the last 12 years.

So, dear readers, beware: don't go 'exploring' with Surrogate. I'm not a betting man like he is, but if I had to wager, I'd say that he doesn't know what he's talking about half the time.