I understand we can't discuss politics, but can we discuss the future of our country?

[dvcgirl]

I'm confused why the thread "Recession on the Loom" was locked. It wasn't my thread, but it was a really good discussion and every single participant was respectful.

I PMed the webmaster who pulled it, but when I have done that, I never get a response.

The Budget Board is the fifth most popular forum on this website....out of 50 something forums. There are 131,000+ threads on there right now.

As we all know, the Budget Board is really a more serious form of the Community Board. I completely understand why Politics was pulled as a topic. Some of those discussions were so over the line it was ridiculous.

But we weren't discussing politics in that thread. We were discussing the future of our nation...and government fiscal policy....not politics. Did a couple of Presidents names come up? Yes, but only in reference to fiscal policy, not political ideology.

I'm sure the moderators and owner of these forums have noticed the plethora of people posting about job losses, pay cuts, trip cancellations and the like. Still, they come here to talk....to work things out....maybe even to learn a thing or two from some people who are maybe a bit more versed on certain topics.

There was no snakiness in that thread whatsoever.

I'm just confused....

No disrespect meant to the moderators. I wouldn't want your job. But just because the name Obama, Bush or Clinton comes up....that doesn't necessarily mean that we're discussing politics. They are future and past presidents and did have a bearing on the conversation.

 

[punkin]

I agree. I thought that thread was remarkably low on snark, which by itself should show that it's not really political.

I really would like a place to discuss fiscal and economic policy. I guess the budget board is not the place.

 

[crusoe2]

I was wondering the same thing. I realize the thread had become long and would have been time-consuming to read all the way through. But that was one of the most informative and helpful discussions I've seen recently. It was also taking a turn towards sharing ideas for coping with the hard times so many of us feel are ahead. I would still be interested in hearing what others have to say on that topic.

 

[blondietink]

I agree 100%. That previous discussion was remarkably non-political and supportive of each other's postings. Yes, there were some that disagreed with others, but it was a respectful conversation. Some good points were brought up by people who know a lot more about government than I do and I was learning a lot about how things were done in the past and are being done now.

For the thread to be closed was, in my opinion, wrong.

 

[rockiesfan]

I agree. I liked the discussion and thought everyone was respectful of differing viewpoints.

 

[eliza61]

I am always a bit baffled when some of our threads get closed. I think it's a situation where since previous political threads were so godawful and some really turned downright nasty, they are nipping all of them in the bud.

I know I've been sent warnings a time or two for simply mentioning a political candidate or any inference to a possible view and some times I see what I call "veiled" digs.

I didn't get a chance to see the recent one that was closed but I do feel that it would be hard for folks to discuss the future of the country without it getting political. I don't chime in as much on them because generally I don't think we really have a discussion, pretty much the seem to just turn into very depressing mantras, so I can't give an opinion on it.

I do wish they would give more of a reason when they do decide to close a popular post and I totally agree that if everyone is being respectful and polite, I think the thread should be allowed ot run its course but I fully acknowledge it's their sandbox so if I want to play, I follow the rules.

 

[blondietink]

I do not believe that there was any warning given out before the thread was closed. I do not recall seeing any warning of it being political. All of a sudden, it was just closed.

 

[Muushka]

I agree. All of the responses on that thread were thoughtful and respectful of others. I have seen much worse remain open.

Their house, their rules I guess.

 

[Skatermom23]

Add me to the list of people who was enjoying the posts. It is a topic that weighs heavy on all our minds these days and I thought everyone was being very civil in their comments. One of the best threads I have followed in a while.

 

[dvcgirl]

And listen, I have a lot of respect for the Moderators. I'm sure they put in a fair amount of time skimming these boards and handing out warnings and all of that. Count me among the people who have gotten a few infractions since they started that system. And I deserved it. We all get caught up in these conversations sometimes.

I guess my main point is that in my mind there is a difference between discussing politics and *policy*. We can talk about our ideas for how we'd like to see things solved without bringing up politics.

The political discussions on these boards used to be nothing more than an extension of talk radio. People just shouting at each other...."I'm right!!" "No I'm right!" It's like trying to discuss religion....you really aren't going to convince someone to change their mind, so what's the point.

But if we can't have a civil discourse about the direction of this country on a message board like this....even if we don't always agree, well....it doesn't bode well for the future of the country.

 

[cats mom]

I missed the recession discussion initially, but when I saw this thread I found it and skimmed all 10 pages.

I didn't feel it had strayed too far from a budget centered discussion into the political realm; although as has already been pointed out, when you're talking fiscal policy there will be some political undertones, I'd say that's inescapable.

But I thought everyone was trying to stick to the topic and that they were being very respectful about it.

While I do understand the their house, their rules logic, it would be nice to have a better understanding of exactly what the rules are.

 

[crusoe2]

Question - Could anyone suggest some good discussion forums on topics such as fiscal policy, the repercussions of our current economic problems, etc? I am primarily interested in how others are preparing to cope with the tougher times I believe are ahead of us. But it is difficult to discuss that without touching on the political aspects. Since I do want to abide by the rules of this site, maybe the answer is to find another site more suitable for the topic. Hopefully one that is as friendly and civil as the discussion on our closed thread.

 

[Colleen27]

Question - Could anyone suggest some good discussion forums on topics such as fiscal policy, the repercussions of our current economic problems, etc? I am primarily interested in how others are preparing to cope with the tougher times I believe are ahead of us. But it is difficult to discuss that without touching on the political aspects. Since I do want to abide by the rules of this site, maybe the answer is to find another site more suitable for the topic. Hopefully one that is as friendly and civil as the discussion on our closed thread.

Unfortunately I really don't think there are any... More politically oriented forums tend to be rather nasty and partisan as a rule. I've found some good discussions on gardening/homesteading forums as far as how to cope with tough times, but even there there tends to be a fair bit of snark between the "granola" types and the "militia/survivalist" types.

I was disappointed to see that thread closed because I thought we avoided the political as well as one could in a discussion of our collective economic future, and I thought the turn the thread had taken about how to adapt was a good one.

 

[crjack]

Although I didn't post on it I did see most of the thread and was disappointed to see it closed as well.

One important insight I gain from the longer threads is learning more about the current situation in different regions. I live in the same area that I was raised and often times look at things based on my enviroment (housing, jobs, etc). I have learned a lot from other posters who live in areas very different from my own here in the northeast.