If you don't like it here... leave.

Oddly, that seems to be the attitude of a fair number of people around here. I say "oddly" because the vast majority of Mudcatters probably hold concepts like "My country, right or wrong!" or "America! Love it or leave it!" in high contempt. Yet, "If you don't like it here... leave." expresses the very same attitude. It says that the speaker is comfortable with the status quo and that those who are not comfortable with it should simply disappear instead of trying to change it.

Now, it's been said numerous times that the Mudcat is not a democracy, and that's quite true. The place belongs to Max and he decides how it's run. But Max, Joe and virtually every person who frequents this forum are products of democratic processes. Our modes of thinking have developed within a democratic context. We've been taught that our opinions matter, and we're even encouraged to express those opinions.

It's absurd to expect people to leave fundamental chunks of their world-views at the door when they log on here. It's absurd to establish a forum where vigorous discussion of national and international political and social issues is encouraged, yet say that discussion of similar issues relative to the forum itself is somehow off-limits.

Just my two-cents worth. Have some sort of a day.