U.S. History / U.S. Government / Politics

[Karin Rengu]

Yea, try telling that to my borders express. They don't have crap.

[Athos]

Where do you think I get my law books from? :p In fact, I went there today to buy the Oxford guide to philosophy and Catch-22

[Karin Rengu]

I wandered in my borders for an hour and couldn't find anything like that!

[Athos]

If I'm ever in your state: you + me = book shopping. No ifs ands or buts.

[Karin Rengu]

I won't argue to that, but you'd probably never even get close to my little town. I mean, I'm over an hour from Pittsburgh and that's the biggest city closest to me. Over an hour away. That's sad lol

[Athos]

I guess I'll just have to drive then. It'll be worth it.

[Karin Rengu]

It would be fun.

[Athos]

It sure would. >.> And you would have some great reading material.

[Karin Rengu]

Yea. Something that's not fricking A Farewell to Arms. God, when we had to read that, I was like "YES! War story!" then I finished it and was like "Damn it. Lame love story." XD Sorry, when you said great reading material, I thought of how terrible that book was.

It looks like you're a mod again too! Coolness!

[Athos]

Yes. I am back as requested by popular demand. I never read Farewell to Arms. I'm more interested now in this "In Defense of America" book. Pretty interesting. You should see my room now. I just bought: Breaking Dawn, Doctor Faustus, The Oedipus Cycle, and Gulliver's Travels.

[divinephoenix]

Nice books Athos. Isn't your room a library yet?

[Athos]

Yeah. It is currently housing 200+ volumes.

[Karin Rengu]

o.o Wow. I have 116 mangas. But few novels. Only the good ones. Like, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Portrait of Dorian Grey, The Mysterious Island. Good books yup.

Well, it's cool that you're a mod again!

[Athos]

On the 19 years I have been here on this earth, I have only owned one manga, which was G Gundam Vol. 1. I'm EXTREMELY picky when it comes to literature (okay, and coffee, and women--or so says my friend). I don't own either one of those books. When I unpack my books (since I have to pack them and most of my crap up) I need to make a list of all the books I have because I've noticed now that I've stated buying duplicates (such as The Complete Volumes of Sherlock Holmes, Vol 1 and 2).

But seeing as how political events are becoming interesting, what is your take on the armed conflict between the former soviet satellite Georgia, and Russia? I think it's interesting how President Sarkozy went over there and "brokered" a cease-fire, meanwhile President Bush hadn't done anything other than to make public statements. Of course, Russia is upset at us for giving aid to Georgia. But what interests me in this whole dilemma is that the U.S. actually didn't meet with the leaders of Russia and try to police the action.

Also, what is your take on the "Gang of 10" Karin, and having Nanci Pelosi recess Congress when the American Energy Act of 2008 came up for debate?

[Athos]

I was asked by Rage the difference between Conservatism and Neoconservatism. Conservatism's origins are traced back to Edmund Burke in the 18th century. Burke had argued for the American colonies to stay and work things out with the Crown. Conservatism's basic political principles are based on the ancient classical and Christian moral natural law (which is why a lot of Christians tend to lean right on the political spectrum). Conservatives also tend to favor limited government and has a set foreign policy. Now, neoconservativitism was founded by Irving Kristol, who had wrote The Neoconservative Persuasion which gives the insight into the neoconservativism mind. "[. . .] neoconservatism had had its own distinctive qualities in its early years, but by now had been absorbed into the mainstream of American conservatism." This is why people most often confuse traditional American conservatism with neoconservativism. It's different (according to Kristol) in that, "Neoconservatism is the first variant of American conservatism in the past century that is in the "American grain." It is hopeful, not lugubrious; forward-looking, not nostalgic; and its general tone is cheerful, not grim or dyspeptic [. . .] [Neocons favor] cutting tax rates in order to stimulate steady economic growth. [. . .]Neocons do not like the concentration of services in the welfare state and are happy to study alternative ways of delivering these services." Also, as Francis Fukuyama has noted that neoconservatism has taken a wrong turn in the international arena by creating the great American hegemony by intervening in foreign governments and taking out any government that isn't a democracy.