I rode my bike downtown on Saturday.  It's about 8 miles from my house to downtown Boise, so it's a fair ride.  Anyhow, I spent the day wandering around the farmer's market and watching people from the bar.  On my way home it was really fucking hot, so I stopped at the bar for a couple of beers and ran into some friends when I was walking out the door.  My afternoon out turned into a two-day bender and I'm not sure the pants I wore home are mine.

Anyhow, I had a curious conversation with a friend during the coffee and vodka stage of sobering up.  The guy is a flaming liberal.  You know, the sort that believes if another Republican takes office, we'll see a third-world police state with rioters being gunned down in the street.  Nonetheless, we had a civil conversation and even agreed on a few things.

Actually, we agreed on two things.  During a four hour conversation.

Immigration policy was the only area where we found commonality.  I think amnesty is reasonable.  The expense and logistics of hunting down and deporting some 12 million illegals is staggering.  Especially when most of these people have friends, family and compatriots willing to help them hide.

But, it needs to stop.  The borders need secured, even if it means turning the border into a no-man's land rivaling that between the Koreas.

The conversation demonstrated something I've understood since living in San Francisco, but never experienced quite so directly.   After discussing issues for a time we always arrived at the same point.  I argued for individual responsibility, while he wanted communal responsibility.

He's an articulate fellow, and pretty well informed.  But his position came from one of empathy.  Mine from analysis.  He accused me of being cold and selfish, I accused him of being a bleeding heart socialist.

I've never had such a candid and civil political conversation with a liberal.  I may have to sleep with him now.

Posted by: roggowj at 12:55 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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