The Pearl Jam/Ron Paul curse
WaveRyder
Posts: 1,128
I am 27 years old and have loved music since I can remember. As a small child I would rock out to Queen, Bob Seger, Billy Idol and Michael Jackson, among others.
When I saw Pearl Jam for the first time in 1998 as a 13 year old, my world changed. After my inaugural PJ show, I researched the band and found that not only was their music great, these were great people making it and they were doing it the right way. Aside from kick ass music, Eddie and Stone and the others didn't let the evils of the industry corrupt them.
Since as long as I can remember, I have also been fascinated and inspired by politics. Because Ive never been a partisan person, any devotion I've had to candidates has been harvested by their person, not their party.
Now to the point. Since becoming a devoted Pearl Jam fan, it's hard for me to get excited about any other band. Pearl Jam is the litmus test. Sure, you might make good music but are you of the highest integrity? Have you gone out of your way not to sell out? That answer is always 'no.'
The same goes for Dr. Ron Paul. Lobbyist haven't set foot in his Congressional office in 20 years because they know it's a waste of time. Since discovering this incorruptible man in 2006, I find it hard to get behind any other candidate. Dr. Paul is the litmus test. How many people have the backbone this man has? How many men in Washington genuinely don't want power? He's running for President to give US the power, not him.
I am thankful that the creator, or God if you want to call it that, set me on a path to discover these great men and see the good they share with the world. But sometimes, I think it's a curse because to this day, no band or musician has lived up to Pearl Jam standards. Also, to this day, no politically engaged person I have ever known of has lived up to Dr. Paul's incorruptible standards.
When I saw Pearl Jam for the first time in 1998 as a 13 year old, my world changed. After my inaugural PJ show, I researched the band and found that not only was their music great, these were great people making it and they were doing it the right way. Aside from kick ass music, Eddie and Stone and the others didn't let the evils of the industry corrupt them.
Since as long as I can remember, I have also been fascinated and inspired by politics. Because Ive never been a partisan person, any devotion I've had to candidates has been harvested by their person, not their party.
Now to the point. Since becoming a devoted Pearl Jam fan, it's hard for me to get excited about any other band. Pearl Jam is the litmus test. Sure, you might make good music but are you of the highest integrity? Have you gone out of your way not to sell out? That answer is always 'no.'
The same goes for Dr. Ron Paul. Lobbyist haven't set foot in his Congressional office in 20 years because they know it's a waste of time. Since discovering this incorruptible man in 2006, I find it hard to get behind any other candidate. Dr. Paul is the litmus test. How many people have the backbone this man has? How many men in Washington genuinely don't want power? He's running for President to give US the power, not him.
I am thankful that the creator, or God if you want to call it that, set me on a path to discover these great men and see the good they share with the world. But sometimes, I think it's a curse because to this day, no band or musician has lived up to Pearl Jam standards. Also, to this day, no politically engaged person I have ever known of has lived up to Dr. Paul's incorruptible standards.
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i hear you, but i think there have been a few, Nader and Kucinich both come to mind. Nader especially, he's fought for truth and justice the last 40 to 50 years. But yeah, i think what you are suggesting is correct. If you were to look through the history books, or look at the current house and congress, as well as the white house, you'd be hard pressed to find more than a few people who really are righteous and true and have integrity.
I think there is definitely thats part of the whole system. I think if you want to get elected or serve in public office you sort of have to sell your soul. I think thats bore out by history. Electoral politics are rackets. Corrupt, illegitmate and for the most part are more about money, power, greed and capitalism than they are about any politician actually caring about voters. The Wire, really has one of the most realisitic and dead on portrayals of all this, in their seasons on the media and the government in west baltimore.
I'm honored to work for such a person.
Im sure a lot of people told Harvey Milk to give it up, too. I'll take his cue and keep fighting for what's right.
Yeah, because being a radical activist who spent his life fighting for the equality of a minority and was assassinated in the 70s is SO much like fighting for the rights of corporations to pay $1 per hour to 9 year-olds.
Honestly.
:roll:
Dennis Kucinich for sure.
And on the musical end. Bad Religion passes the litmus test for sure.
and back to ignoring the troll
Someone who points out the gaping holes in your sensible-sounding arguments is a "troll."
Dude, really, if you're going to throw a hissy fit every time someone challenges you on some pretty fundamental bedrock of your political ideology, you're not cut out for debating politics on the Interwebz.
What gaping hole did you point out? You may dislike Ron Paul as a candidate,but I can't see how anyone can deny that he's been anything but honest in his approach to being a politician.
I'm quite sure he's honest.
But I find many of his accountability-free positions and simple-sounding yet unworkable solutions to be rather scary.
For instance... Someone who thinks we should do away with the minimum wage and child labor laws... That makes me think he wants to go back to the industrial revolution.which is what I brought up.
(and sorry, but that Harvey Milk comment was pretty obnoxious. Uncalled for and has no place in this argument.)
Ya, but I don't think this thread was about his policies at all. More about his convictions, not taking lobbyist money, and being generally honest in his approach to being a politician. And then sort of equating that to PJs approach to being in a band.
Other than his foreign policy there aren't a ton of things I agree with Ron Paul about. But I do really respect him as one of the very few honest politicians out there.
its funny how an open mind allows you to see true intent and reality. Single-issue voters lack this ability.
To me, Ron Paul is more like those "Zero Tollerance" drug rules in schools that result in girls being expelled for giving each other Midol or Tylenol. It's all about Order and the human element removed completely.
I'm very sorry, WaveRider that you get angey when I say that we're humans and not Punch Cards and that I feel government should find a balance between encouraging economic growth while protecting the people from being abused by the Mitt Romneys of the world who sees us all as worker bees.
I think I've come up with some very valid arguments as to why Ron Paul's "my way or the highway" approach is unworkable and your reaction has been to call me a "troll" and take stabs a Harvey Milk in what I'm guessing is an attempt to bring up an issue that people get a bit bugged when I bring it up.
Even Pearl Jam (to bring it back to the original topic) had to realize their "no ticketmaster" and "no videos" policies weren't workable in the real world and had to go back on them.