Is idealism the next form of religion in America

I don't want to start a religous debate, so I will not bring up faith in divine beings, but as I look through the last few years their seems to be a more controversial and far more destructive battle between the left and the right about Ideals and values. Faith to me is the belief in the intangible, but aren't ideals intangible and as so couldn't it be said that belief in them is faith.

I just had a knock down drag out argument about the topic of Multi-culturism on another forum, where I was called a racist, a bigot and a troll, even for bringing up the topic. Why should people be against looking at a subject and discussing it's merits. Is the belief and faith in an ideal so sacred that questions about it should never be raised?

Should the ideal that marriage be between a man and a woman, be so sanctimonious that it should bring people to blows? What right have some to shut down a conversation, because these people are so sure of themselves that they would resort to name calling and even violence.

Are we so sure of our ideals that we refuse to even discuss anything.

Isn't the debate on the raising of the debt ceiling a war of ideals. Could it not be said that these people have faith that they are standing on principle, and defending their own vision of America. Could it not be said that the lack of cooperation could just destroy the very country they are trying to save. By destroy, I mean loosing our credit rating and adversely effecting our ability to get loans.

Could this downgrade throw our country back into the very situation that we are trying to get out of, and If it does, wouldn't the powers that be simply blame the other for their blind faith in their own ideals.

Similar ideals and principles are necessary for cohesion in a nation. If groups all have differing ideals and principles, instability and dissension reign, with Balkanization possibly following. Such things can easily lead to violence and ultimately destroy a nation.

For example, the current disagreement between Socialists/Democrats and people who believe in Constitutionally limited government, may be insoluble. The differences are just too great. One side wants limited government, low taxes and few government programs; the other side wants gigantic government, high taxes, and endless government programs. Really, the best solution to this large a problem is to split the nation in half and let each side take half. It's better to go our separate ways than to be forever in contention until we grow to hate eachother.

Skycastle wrote:

Similar ideals and principles are necessary for cohesion in a nation. If groups all have differing ideals and principles, instability and dissension reign, with Balkanization possibly following. Such things can easily lead to violence and ultimately destroy a nation.

For example, the current disagreement between Socialists/Democrats and people who believe in Constitutionally limited government, may be insoluble. The differences are just too great. One side wants limited government, low taxes and few government programs; the other side wants gigantic government, high taxes, and endless government programs. Really, the best solution to this large a problem is to split the nation in half and let each side take half. It's better to go our separate ways than to be forever in contention until we grow to hate eachother.

Problem is socialist would not like that either because they would lose all that tax revenue.

It's not a matter of faith, idealism or anything else.

Our founding fathers deliberately set about creating a very limited government whose powers were strictly defined in the U.S. Constitution.

Skycastle describes the problem as insolvable, and it is. Reading the founding documents of this country doesn't leave alot of room for debate. The creators of this nation were very clear in what they wanted to do, and the activities of modern day Democrats & liberals just aren't in that picture.

We should have never even reached this point in our history, but you know the old saying, give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile. Having gotten to where we are, I really don't think it can be reversed at this point.

Annoyed wrote:

Our founding fathers deliberately set about creating a very limited government whose powers were strictly defined in the U.S. Constitution.

Annoyed, you're right. It may be too late to change things at this point. If we want our country back, it may eventually come to civil war, and I sure the hell don't want that! For now, those who see what's coming need to prepare by getting close to God, and storing up supplies for the coming troubles: guns, ammo, food, water, cooking apparatus, heating methods, walkie talkies, short-wave radios and even ham radio equipment.

After the Constitutional Convention Benjamin Franklin was asked what sort of government the delegates had created. His answer was: "A republic, if you can keep it."

Well, we've certainly failed to keep it.