A nice philosophy

[ASquareDealer]

Read this...It's from President Gerald Ford:

"I have a basic philosophy: When I meet somebody, even somebody who I've been warned is
not a very nice person, my approach is there must be something nice in that person. And if
you get to know the nice part of the individual, then you develop a relationship and a
friendship that is invaluable. And I say with great emphasis - everybody I've ever met, you
can find something good about them. And I think that is a trait we ought to embellish and
appreciate rather than discard."

The more I read of Ford, the more I like him. He seems like one of the most down to Earth, nicest guys we've ever had in the White House. Just a truly honest, regular person. Ford IMO had the misfortune of ascending to the Presidency under the worst circumstances faced by any President, and became President during a time when the nation was already mired in rising inflation, was brokenhearted and embittered after over a decade of tragedies and embarrassments, and I think it's truly a shame that he lost in 1976. Not simply because Jimmy Carter proved to be a horrid President but also because I think Jerry deserved the job. He did his best to heal a decade's worth of pain in the country. He's the kind of Republican that's rare today, and he's someone who had a high level of character, which would preclude him from ever being elected to any political office today--A reasonable man, not at all an ideologue. Under different circumstances I think Ford could've been one of the great, no BS presidents ala Truman or Ike.

Would you guys say you agree with that philosophy, about people? Figured it'd make for discussion both about the philosophy and the man--I feel Ford is not discussed as much as he should be.

[Rockntractor]

Would you guys say you agree with that philosophy, about people? Figured it'd make for discussion both about the philosophy and the man--I feel Ford is not discussed as much as he should be.

That is fine for casual acquaintances and people you are not around a lot, it is true their is some good in everyone but their are some people that the bad far outweighs the good and comes glaring out at you if you are around that person too much.
My rule is that I never expect anyone to be perfect, I expect everyone I know to make stupid mistakes from time to time and I realize underneath everything most people are out for their own preservation, I am never disappointed that way and sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised.

[NJCardFan]

Yes it is a nice philosophy. Too bad leftists choose to be vile, indignant, and outright ignorant of those who disagree with them.

[ASquareDealer]

Yes it is a nice philosophy. Too bad leftists choose to be vile, indignant, and outright ignorant of those who disagree with them.

I'm a leftist and I try to treat everyone as an individual. I don't hold conservatives to be evil or wicked or stupid or bigoted...I just feel that on economic matters we differ, but we both want the same thing: A strong, prosperous America. We just disagree on the ways to attain or hold on to that ideal. Not every Liberal is a "cradle to the grave" nanny state statist or a Socialist, nor is every conservative a nutjob who wants to "repeal the 20th century."

I think you'll find throughout our history that the most left wing (whether they were left wing by their ideology or simply by the way they governed) Presidents we've had were those who were very much opposed in ideology or practice to Socialism. For example TR, Truman, LBJ, Nixon.

[FlaGator]

I am a Christian and I view everyone as flawed and in need of God's regeneration (this includes me). Politically I am a fiscal conservative with some middle of the road to far right social views. For example I don't see it as the government's job to provide a safety net for people. That is society's responsibility. Churches and civic minded groups would be better suited to that, if they could all live the example and words given to us by Jesus. With that being said if the government is going to take some of the money God allows me to earn then I don't have an issue with it being spent on helping people who need it. That is people who truly need it and not people who just find it easier to accept a government hand out instead of contributing to society.

Personally I keep in mind that individuals can be good but people as a whole are self-centered and evil. Large groups of people only work for the good of others when they can get something out of it themselves. I am rarely disappointed. I also don't believe that all liberals are bad and all conservatives are good. There are nuts and extremists on both sides. Same can be said of the religious. If I am to judge someone I try to do it on an individual basis and not as a group, but there are certain traits that can be assigned to a group that are true. This is where stereotypes come from. The trick in life is to not hold individuals within that group to the stereotype when dealing with them on a one to one basis. Sometimes they surprise you... Unfortunately, usually they don't.

[noonwitch]

I'm from Ford's hometown, so regardless of party affiliations, most Grand Rapidians love him. He's the only President from Michigan, too. Everyone loves him because he was a nice guy. I never heard anyone say anything bad about him until I left GR and went to college. Then, it was all about how terrible he was for pardoning Nixon.