Poet's Corner

[Slipstick Libby]

Please read this (and this goes double for my friend Slippy -g) as a description rather than an argument.
OUCH! <removes verbal knife from his back. >

My family was largely uneducated but very hard working.
Mt father quit school in 8th grade. Not because of school; he had to go to work.

I am the first woman in my famiy to graduate from college, which I did on full scholarship
I'm the fist and so far the only person to graduate. I also went on scholarship (books, fees, tuition).

Something ws just on CNN Headline News about an organization collecting funds to buy supplies for girl's school in Afghanistan. I think that's what it was about; unfortunately, I didn't start paying attention until the end. If anyone hears the organization name, contact me.

I grew up in a place where it was still looked down upon to be Irish.
And I completely (fortunately) missed that part of being Irish. My family came to America about 1853 (potato famine, of course), so they were thoroughly Americanized by the time I was born. And we lived in Arizona. Mexican immigrants were the lowest caste there; we were on the side of God and the High and Mighty.

The Kennedy family, despite the personal foibles of many of their members
Now THERE'S an understatement.

I think the terms "liberal" and "conservative" may be somewhat muddied
More than somewhat. For example, if the Democrats put up a candidate I find at all acceptable and the Republicans put up a Religious Rightist, goodbye party lines. I'd say I'm socially liberal and fiscally conservative. I don't like Republicans who want to spend every cent they can steal from me either.
Reagan is regarded by many as a Republican Hero, almost a god to some. I live in CA where he was governor. Just as he left office in hs last term, he signed a bill starting payroll witholding in CA for the first time. The effects of course were rising taxes. As predicted by critics of the bill. You don't notice the theft as much if its done a piece each week rather than one big chunk once a year.

In my mind, "liberal" is a fundamentally democratic (note small 'd') worldview
What, you think we want to dig up George III?
There are conservatives who think popular control of the gov't and those guarantees in the Bill of Rights are largely what it's all about. The rest of the Constitution isn't worth much without that.

the government has the right to ensure that its citizens are treated fairly, despite their color, IQ, nation of origin, etc.
As that applies to civil rights, yes. Excluding Caucasians and Asians from colleges so blacks and Hispanics can be admitted. Nuts!