Okay, just about everyone here is a thinker and most of you write really well and are able to express ideas and discuss issues without being snarky, too. Over the years from X. and now here on Theophiles, it has also become obvious that many of you are also keenly interested in politics. I'm hoping to solicit some help - somehow or another, I have managed to be appointed content manager of an upcoming website that will provide book reviews from a variety of political perspectives. Part of the job is to solicit individuals to write reviews. As of right now, I need three or four more. Any political perspective is appreciated and welcome. We are currently in greatest need of folks writing from a "liberal" perspective. Anyone that's willing to help a cat out, please let me know.

Thanks!

H&P, 

smc

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OrionBlastar  - I would like to help   |2009-07-09 19:55:24 but I discuss issues by being too snarky and joking around. I would not fit on your web site for book reviews. Plus I have a libertarian viewpoint, and I am on disability and cannot afford to buy the books in question for reviews.

SasyMomaCat  - libertarians are welcome, too ...   |2009-07-09 22:26:23 which is good, since I tend to lean heavily that direction. As far as purchasing books, I plan to get mine from the library and borrow from friends as much as possible. Nothing wrong with joking around and good-natured snark (vs. mean and nasty snark).

OrionBlastar   |2009-07-14 22:07:13 So how much does the job pay, or is this a volunteer basis?

SasyMomaCat  - Pro Bono   |2009-08-01 09:16:51 unfortunately, it's completely volunteer (including me and the founder). I'm really running into difficulty in finding folks to write :)

WebbedFeetOfClay  - intriguing   |2009-07-09 20:13:24 but I think I have shown myself to be pretty "crazy" when it comes to politics (and am not sure it would be good for me spiritually to poke the argumentative bear that i've so carefully put to bed.) that said I would very much like to hear more info if you wouldn't mind the longshot.

SasyMomaCat  - longshots are good ...   |2009-07-09 22:30:23 Thanks for the inquiry - the name of the site is PoliticBooks.com and the tagline is pretty simple - "book reviews from a variety of political views." Other than that, there's not too much. If there's something specific you're curious about, I could probably come up with an answer, but that's just about all of the definition we have.

holmegm   |2009-07-10 10:39:16 I don't think I could help out from the liberal viewpoint ;) Sounds interesting, though :)

Entity   |2009-07-10 12:15:06 If liberals (Alec Baldwin, Josh Brolin, SNL) can play conservatives, I don't see why a conservative can't play a liberal for some outrageously satirical book reviews.

SasyMomaCat  - good point ...   |2009-07-11 14:31:03 That's funny - and true! Could be an interesting thing to pursue after the site is well established. Just to be sure anyone reading knows, though, we actually do want someone (a few someones?) whose personal viewpoint is liberal.

SasyMomaCat  - you're still welcome to write!   |2009-07-11 14:29:06 Even though the liberal viewpoint is what we are most lacking, you're still welcome to contribute. Just let me know if you'd like to participate.

SteveGus   |2009-07-10 20:27:25 It does sound like an interesting project. Despite what it may seem to some folks around here, I don't consider myself a "liberal". I look on myself as a conservative who doesn't see much actual conservatism in contemporary U.S. right wing politics. Because, at least currently, the right wingers are the side that has all of the political litmus tests and non-negotiable demands now --- this is part of what I mean when I say I don't see much conservatism there --- as far as they're concerned I'm not with 'em so I must be against 'em. So it goes.

SasyMomaCat  - amen   |2009-07-11 14:32:51 There isn't a whole lot of traditional conservatism in the "right."

Entity   |2009-07-11 16:43:04 I find it disappointing that people seem to be more apt to change their views based on the political group they belong to than the religious group they belong to. Because conservatives | liberals | libertarians | greens | socialists | communists believe a certain thing, members will modify their views to become more like the other members of that group and allow their views to change based on popularity. However, fewer people are willing to modify their views to conform to the teaching of their church. Shouldn't our moral compass point to a fixed point instead of being affected by the changing winds? For me, I am less concerned about whether my views are 'traditional conservative', 'right', 'Republican', or 'neo-conservative'. I would rather that my views be Christian.

WebbedFeetOfClay  - the difficulty being...   |2009-07-11 18:48:56 there are saints whose political outlooks were very different in some capacities. While church teaching is clear on a lot of things, ideal political form is not at all one of them (with good reason.)

SasyMomaCat   |2009-07-11 18:50:11 I can certainly see where you are coming from on that. It seems, however, that people are less likely to change their views to fit with a political group(unless they are running for office) than they are to change group affiliations to match more closely what they believe. I see similar approaches with church as well - rather than conform their views to church teaching, most will seek out a church that has similar beliefs to their own. I agree, I would certainly rather my views be Christian - however, that will mean different things to different people. Even within a given church tradition, you will find differing opinions of what it means to have "Christian" views.

Entity   |2009-07-11 22:56:03 I guess I've seen a lot of people who change their views to fit with a political group, very often at college, but sometimes also later in life. A few examples come to mind. One sister-in-law was somewhat liberal on a couple of issues. She went to a liberal college and to be a Democrat in the group she hung out with meant becoming a vegetarian, becoming pro-abortion, and becoming pro-homosexual marriage, all of which she switched her views on to fit in. A friend had been a staunch pro-lifer. I never saw her without her little baby feet pin on. She became a Democrat because of the war. She became pro-abortion because of becoming a Democrat. A old roommate discovered senior year of college that he is gay. Living in the gay subculture has changed many of his views. I suppose some are good, such as changing him from an ecological disaster to ecologically minded, but it has also changed his views on assisted suicide, abortion, and drug use. It was odd watching him change from a conservative Republican to a liberal Democrat, but that is what is expected in the gay subculture. For a Protestant, I see no problem switching churches to find one with similar beliefs. The Protestant subculture is based on an individual interpreting the Bible and determining one's own beliefs. For a Catholic or Orthodox, it should not be the same as the Church has a higher authority. Instead of conforming the church to us, we should be conforming to the God-given authority of the Church.

metallurge   |2009-07-12 00:58:19 I dunno. Perhaps I am coming at this from a little different perspective, but I see a couple things differently. First, you are attributing political changes to group membership. See, what jumps to my mind is that correlation is not causation. Perhaps outward group membership/identification is a byproduct of a preexisting inward change? Then secondly, why is the Church no longer identified as an authority which is relevant in peoples lives? Well, part of that is that the Church has become entangled in politics to the point that many people can not themselves be entangled in good conscience by the Church. Much of what the Church has to say in the world is so blatantly political as to be detrimental to the gospel. And so many Church leaders have abused their authority that it has passed beyond scandal into a given fact. But the more important cause is radical individualism. Bottom line is, people are unwilling to commit to something larger than themselves. Any authority. Secular or otherwise. Church is competing in a marketplace of ideas on basically equal footing with secularity. Which is why the church growth movement exists.

metallurge   |2009-07-12 01:09:21 At a different time in my life, I might have liked to help out. I sat out the 2008 election cycle as much as I possibly could, because I have found that talking politics really isn't good for my spiritual walk. I am at heart an idealist, and I am trying to avoid becoming a cynic. I would not consider myself liberal. I am certain that both sides in the culture wars would be unhappy with me. And you know what? I am just fine with that. And then there are more personal reasons, related to the many life changes which I am presently undergoing. I simply do not have the time to do something like this right. But I wish you luck in your endeavor, SMC!

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