Borredo, we can all disagree and still have a constructive conversation. I love talking to liberals as it's my opportunity to truly try to understand them and how their mind works. Mind you, I have a very hard time in trying to accomplish this. But I do try.

And as far as neo-cons go. I'm not exactly sure how you define one. I know for myself that I discovered that I was a conservative in my early 20's. My belief in conservative values has only grown since then. Prior to my becoming self aware politically, I would have to say that I was A-political; completely apothetic to the process. I didn't even have a clue when people talked about the terms "the left" and "the right". I truly had no clue what they were talking about.

What made me become aware was first the company I worked for in the Bay Area in Silicon Valley in my early 20's. H.R. would send out these company policies and would tell all us employees about a certain subject and what it meant and what stance we should take on it. I can't even remember all the stupid crap they talked about specifically, other than to tell you it was all a bunch of PC crap. Mind you, I didn't even know what PC was back then. But I would read this crap that they put out and I would tell myself, "This is crap". "This isn't true". "And just because they say so doesn't make it so". I started paying attention to what they said, and started thinking for myself. From there I started paying attention to the news. I actually registered to vote, (a first for me at the time). I registered as a libritarian by the way.

I slowly became aware. I slowly started learning. And the main thing I learned about politics and myself is, values. Politicians from both sides of the aisle lie. It's almost a given. But just because politicians are politicians doesn't mean that you shouldn't believe and stand behind certain values.

I'm 43 now. I've learned a lot since then. I'm still learning. I realize that when I was in my late teens and early twenties you couldn't tell me squat, because I pretty much knew everything, (like lots of young people). Since then I've come to learn that I really don't know nearly as much as I thought I knew. Hell, by the time I'm a senior citizen, I'll be a frikken idiot! :) But I have learned values. And they've only gotten stronger with age. It's through these values that I have that I look at all politics.

So don't worry Borredo. I know you feel that you're in hostile territory. But I'm all for having a conversation on any subject, even if we disagree. Maybe even especially because we disagree. So even though you feel that you're in hostile territory Borredo, don't worry, you're safe. :)

- 67GTO