Well, it seems to me, just from the tone of your writing, that you are a straight arrow kind of person... A true, old fashion conservative, maybe in the mold of Dwight D. Eisenhower or Barry Goldwater, is one who believes in small government, pay as you go, balancing the budget, live and let live, and helping our fellow humans get a leg up. So if my instincts are correct.... then look in the mirror and you'll find just the sort of person I had in mind..... BTW, the new-so-called conservative these days refers to that sort of person as a liberal.

 

Point taken!

BTW,
I live just up the road on Fox Island WA, overlooking Honeymoon Bay and Hale's Passage. But my wife and I have always loved Portland...
And I don't mean to be cantankerous.... but somehow... to me anyway.... bike paths, sidewalks, and light rail, etc... just seem to echo a slower, more caring pace.... That somehow, in some deeper place, such tokens to what I think of as our true selves, can make us aware of our shared innate sanity; of our deeper shared connection that, over the centuries has been refered to as "being centered," "the wisdom within, and "The knower," etc.. Although I'm not in the least bit religous, it's also been known as the bhudda within, or the christ within......and somehow, I don't know why, but it somehow makes sense........

 

I'd say overall Charles you have it right. The problem for me personally todays poltical parties Dem and Rep neither truely represent what i believe and even at my young age of 21 i have often though of running for local office such as school board or county comisioner (sp?)

 

Well, that's the ticket. If you don't like it, get in there and change it by getting elected. It's a hard ladder, but if we the people agree with you, we'll vote you in. I've long been a moderate, Eisenhower type conservative... But that all ended with Ronald Reagon, who spent money like a drunken sailor. I've never been a Bush fan, but George senior at least believed in paying as you go....

The first Democrat I voted for was Clinton... but only because I didn't like what was happening to the Republican party and all of those hypocrites who called themselves conservatives.... I wasn't crazy about Clinton, but he was closer to a moderate Republican than a Democrat...

Still, like you, I dislike both paries. They are both too dependant on Big Money Lobby... and are more like factions of the same one party....they remain in collusion only to hold onto power. In this case that one party is largely controled by Big Money Lobby which is a money game now called The Corporation... or Big Business, who's only interest is in making a fast buck and screw everybody else... Hey, don't get me wrong... I play the money game, but I don't want those greedy @$%%!&! 'ers running my country, putting in politicians such a Cheney and Bush so they can get fat on the blood of our young soldiers.
BTW, you're prolbably aware of it, but it doesn't hurt to say it every so often....the definition of fascism is a one party system that operates for the good of the corporation....

 

I can see the day when Arkology living will be the norm, single family homes will be taxed out of existence (except for the government class), individual transportation options will be highly taxed, citizens (if those exist anymore) will be herded into trains for the morning commute, socialism will "be good for us" and mosts folks will still have to bust our asses to pay for those who write poetry, paint pictures, sculpt bronze, still can't read or write, who just want to chill. Oh, and the bike paths will still be nice but unused.

While many of us (me included) long for an easier or simpler way of existence, where we are better connected with our neighbors and nature, our current systems of government and social structures lead us elsewhere in the pursuit of $.

I vote with my morals, ride by bike for pleasure, live in a low congested neighborhood (Longview, WA), I know three of my neighbors, ride a motorcycle to be in the wind, fish to struggle and respect nature, rant on this forum and take self defense firearms classes to vent.

 

Sounds good there is nothing like empting magazines full of lead into s block of wood or at a target to relax urself. I know i do it and have been doing it since i was 6.

 

I'm smiling as I write... not at you, nor in a disrespectful way.... Hell, I guess I just enjoy reading a good rant! even if we hold somewhat different world views... The last time I rode a bikers bike was in 1965/66 when I was in Vietnam flying with the 19th Air Commandos out of Tan San Nhut AFB, Saigon... It got me to my apt on Le Van Jet street, and to my aircraft the next morning.... but most importantly, to a gorgeous Eurasian woman who owned a bar ( The Green Lantern ) and often shared my bed....So even though my "bike," a little Honda, wouldn't make a rust spot on a real biker's bike maybe I have an inkling of how you feel......

 

For me, it's getting out there that counts, not WHAT you ride, or who you think you are. It is also about living, as you expressed. My moniker expresses my fun side, I have no club affiliation or hang with anyone who thinks what they ride is that important. I have been riding very fast Harley's since I was 26. None of which will beat any large displacement Suzuki in a race. I just don't care.

 

that's classic charles.

i am more interested and love to see that owner of the "the green lantern", on how they look like during those olden days.

got those oldies pics?

 

Only in my head. But I've been a full time painter since 1977, mostly portraits... and was painting while in Vietnam... painted and sold a few paintings of Jeannie.. ( French pronunciation ) Even later when showing in different galleries.... Wrote a novel which is still in print at Amazon, etc... Paradise Now.... It's fiction... based on fact and about halfway into the story the scene moves to Vietnam... I used Jeannie almost exactly as I remember her... and I think I did a good detailed word painting of her...