I'd love to wear a rainbow every day

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
21,030
2
61
As one who has always believed that light conquers darkness, as a citizen of the USA I still often find myself struggling to find the light switch. Our two parties are failing the American people and working hard to destroy this country.

What destroys a man also destroys a state. Arrogance, ignorance, greed, hatred, and fear. I feel like Dorothy in the land of Oz. Liberals are no longer liberal. Conservatives are no longer conservative. In order to achieve peace, we must go to war. Honesty is loony. Disagreement is unpatriotic.

The Republican party has been taken over by neo-conservatism. It is nothing new, and there is certainly nothing conservative about it's principals. In their search for an enemy to bind the American people, they have created a monster and led us into a never-ending war. And in order to fight this war, the rights of the American people have become an obstacle rather than something preciously protected. Neo-conservatives abused the September 11th attacks, using it to further their agenda of remapping the Middle East. Spreading democracy via force, spreading peace via war. Those who oppose are unpatriotic, and deemed willing to surrender to our enemies. Like our freedoms, truth is an obstacle to their agenda.

The Democrats are no safety net. While they appear to have an agenda to make life better for Americans, their strategy is much closer to mob rule rather than democracy. Those who oppose their plans for universal health care are deemed greedy, hateful, and uncaring. Like Peter Pan, their strategy is nothing less than stealing from the rich and giving it to the poor. Our being created equal is not enough, we must live and die equally as well. Unfortunately history has shown that this plan ends with everyone being poor. Is it any surprise that the war on poverty has had as much success as the war on drugs? An America destined to be stoned broke.

While the Republicans scream "terrorism," and the Democrats scream "health care" and "global warming," Americans are being taxed to death. Most middle class Americans only see half of their income. Federal income taxes seem to be the big issue, but money falls out of our wallets in so many other ways. State sales taxes, state income taxes, taxes on beer, wine, cigarettes, wheel taxes. Most people can't buy a loaf of bread without handing money over to government. The government takes in a Social Security tax, and spends it on bridges to nowhere. And even so, Congress still spends three times what they take in from federal income taxes alone, and still can't balance a budget. Our current deficit has more digits than an international telephone number. It keeps rising, and our dollar keeps falling. All the while we watch our government on the Jerry Springer show, cheering its lack of control, its lack of morality.

So every time I think I have found a light switch, and flip it, it doesn't seem to work. Americans seem to like living in the dark. It is only human nature for the eyes to close in the face of inevitable death. And we are driving straight for a fiscal brick wall. Those of us with our eyes open, trying to turn the steering wheel, are deemed "doom-and-gloomers." And as Johnny Cash once said, "I'd love to wear a rainbow every day, and tell the world that everything's OK," I simply can not and will not. I'd like to think that as long as someone, somewhere, continues to look for the light, eventually, it'll be found again. And while it may be painful for our eyes to adjust, we must comfort in knowing that evolution won't leave them behind.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,215
11
81
I read the title, cocked my head with some form of interest. Then I saw the poster, rolled my eyes, and prepared myself for a bunch of BS to be spewed.

I was not disappointed. What was the purpose of this post? Is this your defeat speech?
 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
I'd heartily welcome you to the middle where we're hated on from both sides, but you still have too many nutty ideas for me to embrace you as kin.

However, you have promise. Come back, one year! :|
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Did you write this? It's good.

I am inclined to agree with it all. I find that the study of politics and people, as nascent as that study is, leads me to frustration and at times a loss of faith in the future on a national or international level. My personal future and that of my family appears quite rosy (as far as anybody's can be) in spite of this, but I see too much ignorance in too many places to understand how it can ever be washed clean. Simply, people are not trying hard enough and don't appear to care enough. History and truth is of little concern, and even when it is it is used to support a demagogue.

 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
83,717
47,406
136
Originally posted by: bamacre
As one who has always believed that light conquers darkness, as a citizen of the USA I still often find myself struggling to find the light switch. Our two parties are failing the American people and working hard to destroy this country.

What destroys a man also destroys a state. Arrogance, ignorance, greed, hatred, and fear. I feel like Dorothy in the land of Oz. Liberals are no longer liberal. Conservatives are no longer conservative. In order to achieve peace, we must go to war. Honesty is loony. Disagreement is unpatriotic.

The Republican party has been taken over by neo-conservatism. It is nothing new, and there is certainly nothing conservative about it's principals. In their search for an enemy to bind the American people, they have created a monster and led us into a never-ending war. And in order to fight this war, the rights of the American people have become an obstacle rather than something preciously protected. Neo-conservatives abused the September 11th attacks, using it to further their agenda of remapping the Middle East. Spreading democracy via force, spreading peace via war. Those who oppose are unpatriotic, and deemed willing to surrender to our enemies. Like our freedoms, truth is an obstacle to their agenda.

The Democrats are no safety net. While they appear to have an agenda to make life better for Americans, their strategy is much closer to mob rule rather than democracy. Those who oppose their plans for universal health care are deemed greedy, hateful, and uncaring. Like Peter Pan, their strategy is nothing less than stealing from the rich and giving it to the poor. Our being created equal is not enough, we must live and die equally as well. Unfortunately history has shown that this plan ends with everyone being poor. Is it any surprise that the war on poverty has had as much success as the war on drugs? An America destined to be stoned broke.

While the Republicans scream "terrorism," and the Democrats scream "health care" and "global warming," Americans are being taxed to death. Most middle class Americans only see half of their income. Federal income taxes seem to be the big issue, but money falls out of our wallets in so many other ways. State sales taxes, state income taxes, taxes on beer, wine, cigarettes, wheel taxes. Most people can't buy a loaf of bread without handing money over to government. The government takes in a Social Security tax, and spends it on bridges to nowhere. And even so, Congress still spends three times what they take in from federal income taxes alone, and still can't balance a budget. Our current deficit has more digits than an international telephone number. It keeps rising, and our dollar keeps falling. All the while we watch our government on the Jerry Springer show, cheering its lack of control, its lack of morality.

So every time I think I have found a light switch, and flip it, it doesn't seem to work. Americans seem to like living in the dark. It is only human nature for the eyes to close in the face of inevitable death. And we are driving straight for a fiscal brick wall. Those of us with our eyes open, trying to turn the steering wheel, are deemed "doom-and-gloomers." And as Johnny Cash once said, "I'd love to wear a rainbow every day, and tell the world that everything's OK," I simply can not and will not. I'd like to think that as long as someone, somewhere, continues to look for the light, eventually, it'll be found again. And while it may be painful for our eyes to adjust, we must comfort in knowing that evolution won't leave them behind.

See I think the problem with your reasoning is that people aren't left in the dark. They know what they want, and many of the things you decry are things people want. Did you ever think for a minute that people should be able to have the sort of country that they want, and that's why they vote? Your idea that we are all created equal is all well and good, but you know as well as I do how badly that falls apart as soon as it encounters something we know of as 'reality'. And to say the war on poverty has been some sort of waste like the war on drugs is hilariously false. Not only are the percentages of Americans in poverty considerably lower then the historical average, look at the standard of living for those who are considered to be 'in poverty'. It has shot way way up. And yet the rest of us are not impoverished.

Maybe if you want your Ayn Randian utopia somewhere you should go make it and leave us people to the country that we want. You can call it Internet Ron Paul Supporter-i-stan. There will be a few thousand of you guys and you can all recline in your massive computer chairs and mash out attacks on us poor stupid socialists with your cheeto stained fingers from your paradise.
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
33,382
7,445
136
Originally posted by: bamacre
As one who has always believed that light conquers darkness, as a citizen of the USA I still often find myself struggling to find the light switch. Our two parties are failing the American people and working hard to destroy this country.

That is awfully simplistic. Did Rome not fall? Did the British Empire not fall? Did the USSR not fall? Why would we be immune to such natural historical precedence?

The hearts of men have equal capacity for good and evil, it would be a terrible lie to suggest our government is exclusively good. It was in fact, the very essence and soul of our declaration of independence and Constitution that the people need to be protected from the government. Do you deny those truths?

I quote these scared words:
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government

Then don?t even get me started on natural selection. That also applies to corruption and our current situation.

What destroys a man also destroys a state. Arrogance, ignorance, greed, hatred, and fear. I feel like Dorothy in the land of Oz. Liberals are no longer liberal. Conservatives are no longer conservative. In order to achieve peace, we must go to war. Honesty is loony. Disagreement is unpatriotic.

Such is the black mark of the political party system. We are to hate each other and root for our party like its some damn sports team. Ignoring the fact that the elite ruling class in Washington are all equally against our interests. Even with 11% approval rating, as self evidence of what I say- no one lifts a finger to stop it.

What I find to be true these days, is that the party stands between the people and their government. Its leadership is an elite ruling class separate from the people, who guarantee that voting isn?t the solution after they?ve stacked the deck.

I can never say there has been a President that I have been happy to vote for. Will there ever be? Not from a Republican or Democrat I think. Not from the source of the corruption.

The Republican party has been taken over by neo-conservatism. It is nothing new, and there is certainly nothing conservative about it's principals. In their search for an enemy to bind the American people, they have created a monster and led us into a never-ending war. And in order to fight this war, the rights of the American people have become an obstacle rather than something preciously protected. Neo-conservatives abused the September 11th attacks, using it to further their agenda of remapping the Middle East. Spreading democracy via force, spreading peace via war. Those who oppose are unpatriotic, and deemed willing to surrender to our enemies. Like our freedoms, truth is an obstacle to their agenda.

I am a conservative. I am not a Republican. Hell, I?d likely call myself a libertarian. I am far less interested in abortions, marriage, whatever pet peeve people vote on, than I am about the structure of our government. The anti-thesis to our constitution, Washington DC, is the biggest issue I stand on.

For fixing that, I have no political party. I stand alone.

The Democrats are no safety net. While they appear to have an agenda to make life better for Americans, their strategy is much closer to mob rule rather than democracy. Those who oppose their plans for universal health care are deemed greedy, hateful, and uncaring. Like Peter Pan, their strategy is nothing less than stealing from the rich and giving it to the poor. Our being created equal is not enough, we must live and die equally as well. Unfortunately history has shown that this plan ends with everyone being poor. Is it any surprise that the war on poverty has had as much success as the war on drugs? An America destined to be stoned broke.

I have no love for those who champion larger government as their final solution to everything. We have seen what the communists have done to their nations, yet we continue to stupidly follow in their footsteps.

While the Republicans scream "terrorism," and the Democrats scream "health care" and "global warming," Americans are being taxed to death. Most middle class Americans only see half of their income. Federal income taxes seem to be the big issue, but money falls out of our wallets in so many other ways. State sales taxes, state income taxes, taxes on beer, wine, cigarettes, wheel taxes. Most people can't buy a loaf of bread without handing money over to government. The government takes in a Social Security tax, and spends it on bridges to nowhere. And even so, Congress still spends three times what they take in from federal income taxes alone, and still can't balance a budget. Our current deficit has more digits than an international telephone number. It keeps rising, and our dollar keeps falling. All the while we watch our government on the Jerry Springer show, cheering its lack of control, its lack of morality.

So every time I think I have found a light switch, and flip it, it doesn't seem to work. Americans seem to like living in the dark. It is only human nature for the eyes to close in the face of inevitable death. And we are driving straight for a fiscal brick wall. Those of us with our eyes open, trying to turn the steering wheel, are deemed "doom-and-gloomers." And as Johnny Cash once said, "I'd love to wear a rainbow every day, and tell the world that everything's OK," I simply can not and will not. I'd like to think that as long as someone, somewhere, continues to look for the light, eventually, it'll be found again. And while it may be painful for our eyes to adjust, we must comfort in knowing that evolution won't leave them behind.

Natural selection certainly won?t leave them behind.

The economic hardships we face today are certainly the ill begotten construct of a diseased government. It?s hilarious that some champion the deficit or the weak dollar. Yet no one can champion the inflation and increased difficulty American families have with putting food on the table.

Our wages are not matching inflation. They haven?t for over 30 years. This cannot continue indefinitely and it won?t. We are reaching the breaking point and whether we slip into the abyss in the next four years or delay it as much as 20 years ? the point remains the same. It will happen.

Nothing our government says or does is changing this. It wouldn?t serve their interests to admit they made a mistake and that they are bankrupt ? so even if there was a solution they would not enact it. The parasite will never quench its thirst to keep its host alive, and so when was the last time you?ve seen Washington DC propose that it shrink itself? They talk the talk but never commit with it into action.

As for flipping light switches. What we need is localized power and authority. We need the right of self determination for our states and local communities. We need the authority to separate ourselves from the parasite. That rule of law and authority was given to us through our nation?s declaration of independence and through our constitution. Whether we are equal men to our founders remains to be seen.
 
Oct 27, 2007
17,010
1
0
Originally posted by: bamacre
Like Peter Pan, their strategy is nothing less than stealing from the rich and giving it to the poor. Our being created equal is not enough, we must live and die equally as well. Unfortunately history has shown that this plan ends with everyone being poor.

Errrr, Robin Hood maybe?

You're obviously passionate about libertarianism (which anyone could have guessed from reading your posts here) but you say nothing new in this essay. It's the same boring anti-government tripe we hear from RPBs and libertarians day in and day out with no solutions. No offense but this article did nothing for me.
 

xochi

Senior member
Jan 18, 2000
891
6
81
LOL, The first thing i thought of when i read the title is those rainbow gay pride bumper stickers/lapel pins.


I have nothing against gays, just thought it was funny.
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
33,382
7,445
136
Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
You're obviously passionate about libertarianism (which anyone could have guessed from reading your posts here) but you say nothing new in this essay. It's the same boring anti-government tripe we hear from RPBs and libertarians day in and day out with no solutions. No offense but this article did nothing for me.

You want a solution? I give you a 230 year old solution that created the greatest nation on earth.

Secession

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ? That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, ? That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
 

palehorse

Lifer
Dec 21, 2005
11,521
0
76
Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
It's the same boring anti-government tripe we hear from RPBs and libertarians day in and day out with no solutions. No offense but this article did nothing for me.
what he said.
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
30,160
3,300
126
Originally posted by: bamacre
As one who has always believed that light conquers darkness, as a citizen of the USA I still often find myself struggling to find the light switch. Our two parties are failing the American people and working hard to destroy this country.

What destroys a man also destroys a state. Arrogance, ignorance, greed, hatred, and fear. I feel like Dorothy in the land of Oz. Liberals are no longer liberal. Conservatives are no longer conservative. In order to achieve peace, we must go to war. Honesty is loony. Disagreement is unpatriotic.

The Republican party has been taken over by neo-conservatism. It is nothing new, and there is certainly nothing conservative about it's principals. In their search for an enemy to bind the American people, they have created a monster and led us into a never-ending war. And in order to fight this war, the rights of the American people have become an obstacle rather than something preciously protected. Neo-conservatives abused the September 11th attacks, using it to further their agenda of remapping the Middle East. Spreading democracy via force, spreading peace via war. Those who oppose are unpatriotic, and deemed willing to surrender to our enemies. Like our freedoms, truth is an obstacle to their agenda.

The Democrats are no safety net. While they appear to have an agenda to make life better for Americans, their strategy is much closer to mob rule rather than democracy. Those who oppose their plans for universal health care are deemed greedy, hateful, and uncaring. Like Peter Pan, their strategy is nothing less than stealing from the rich and giving it to the poor. Our being created equal is not enough, we must live and die equally as well. Unfortunately history has shown that this plan ends with everyone being poor. Is it any surprise that the war on poverty has had as much success as the war on drugs? An America destined to be stoned broke.

While the Republicans scream "terrorism," and the Democrats scream "health care" and "global warming," Americans are being taxed to death. Most middle class Americans only see half of their income. Federal income taxes seem to be the big issue, but money falls out of our wallets in so many other ways. State sales taxes, state income taxes, taxes on beer, wine, cigarettes, wheel taxes. Most people can't buy a loaf of bread without handing money over to government. The government takes in a Social Security tax, and spends it on bridges to nowhere. And even so, Congress still spends three times what they take in from federal income taxes alone, and still can't balance a budget. Our current deficit has more digits than an international telephone number. It keeps rising, and our dollar keeps falling. All the while we watch our government on the Jerry Springer show, cheering its lack of control, its lack of morality.

So every time I think I have found a light switch, and flip it, it doesn't seem to work. Americans seem to like living in the dark. It is only human nature for the eyes to close in the face of inevitable death. And we are driving straight for a fiscal brick wall. Those of us with our eyes open, trying to turn the steering wheel, are deemed "doom-and-gloomers." And as Johnny Cash once said, "I'd love to wear a rainbow every day, and tell the world that everything's OK," I simply can not and will not. I'd like to think that as long as someone, somewhere, continues to look for the light, eventually, it'll be found again. And while it may be painful for our eyes to adjust, we must comfort in knowing that evolution won't leave them behind.

cliffs?
 

heyheybooboo

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2007
6,278
0
0
You need to put down that pipe.

There are far more things than bind us together than your apocalyptic slather.

News Flash: The sun will rise tomorrow. And the next day, too.

You have Free Will. There is no single metaphysical truth which defines you, your fatalistic future or your deterministic universe. Suck it up, Nancy.

You choose to be a part of your family, your local community and American society. It is not an abstraction of your will but the shackles of a perceived moral culpability - your ultimate responsibility is only to yourself.

There is a cost to society. Your participation is voluntary. Your cognitive disease is greed. You want to accumulate all the benefits of our society without bearing the burden of its price.

Taxed to Death. Fuck you.

You may barter your existence. All you have to do is walk out the door. Free Will.

On January 20, 2009, a presidential inauguration will open a new chapter. I plan to enjoy every minute of it. Join the party, pal.

 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,415
14,303
136
Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
You need to put down that pipe.

There are far more things than bind us together than your apocalyptic slather.

News Flash: The sun will rise tomorrow. And the next day, too.

You have Free Will. There is no single metaphysical truth which defines you, your fatalistic future or your deterministic universe. Suck it up, Nancy.

You choose to be a part of your family, your local community and American society. It is not an abstraction of your will but the shackles of a perceived moral culpability - your ultimate responsibility is only to yourself.

There is a cost to society. Your participation is voluntary. Your cognitive disease is greed. You want to accumulate all the benefits of our society without bearing the burden of its price.

Taxed to Death. Fuck you.

You may barter your existence. All you have to do is walk out the door. Free Will.

On January 20, 2009, a presidential inauguration will open a new chapter. I plan to enjoy every minute of it. Join the party, pal.

Are you suggesting that he vote Democratic or commit suicide?

Seriously, I can't tell. Because society is NOT voluntary. Nor is government the only benefit or cost of society.

Free Will? Time and space are the same thing. That we experience time different than we do space is merely a delusion of our consciousnesses, a side effect of our physiology that depends upon chemical reactions. Hypothetically, one could pick a path through time just as one does through space. Get back to us when you figure it out, I'm sure you'll win the Nobel Prize.
 

heyheybooboo

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2007
6,278
0
0
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
You need to put down that pipe.

There are far more things than bind us together than your apocalyptic slather.

News Flash: The sun will rise tomorrow. And the next day, too.

You have Free Will. There is no single metaphysical truth which defines you, your fatalistic future or your deterministic universe. Suck it up, Nancy.

You choose to be a part of your family, your local community and American society. It is not an abstraction of your will but the shackles of a perceived moral culpability - your ultimate responsibility is only to yourself.

There is a cost to society. Your participation is voluntary. Your cognitive disease is greed. You want to accumulate all the benefits of our society without bearing the burden of its price.

Taxed to Death. Fuck you.

You may barter your existence. All you have to do is walk out the door. Free Will.

On January 20, 2009, a presidential inauguration will open a new chapter. I plan to enjoy every minute of it. Join the party, pal.

Are you suggesting that he vote Democratic or commit suicide?

Seriously, I can't tell. Because society is NOT voluntary. Nor is government the only benefit or cost of society.

Free Will? Time and space are the same thing. That we experience time different than we do space is merely a delusion of our consciousnesses, a side effect of our physiology that depends upon chemical reactions. Hypothetically, one could pick a path through time just as one does through space. Get back to us when you figure it out, I'm sure you'll win the Nobel Prize.

Your participation in society is a matter of your will.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,415
14,303
136
Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
Your participation in society is a matter of your will.

Society requires my participation, or else I don't eat and sleep out in the cold.

What planet are you from?

 
Dec 10, 2005
23,990
6,793
136
Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
You need to put down that pipe.

There are far more things than bind us together than your apocalyptic slather.

News Flash: The sun will rise tomorrow. And the next day, too.

You have Free Will. There is no single metaphysical truth which defines you, your fatalistic future or your deterministic universe. Suck it up, Nancy.

You choose to be a part of your family, your local community and American society. It is not an abstraction of your will but the shackles of a perceived moral culpability - your ultimate responsibility is only to yourself.

There is a cost to society. Your participation is voluntary. Your cognitive disease is greed. You want to accumulate all the benefits of our society without bearing the burden of its price.

Taxed to Death. Fuck you.

You may barter your existence. All you have to do is walk out the door. Free Will.

On January 20, 2009, a presidential inauguration will open a new chapter. I plan to enjoy every minute of it. Join the party, pal.

Are you suggesting that he vote Democratic or commit suicide?

Seriously, I can't tell. Because society is NOT voluntary. Nor is government the only benefit or cost of society.

Free Will? Time and space are the same thing. That we experience time different than we do space is merely a delusion of our consciousnesses, a side effect of our physiology that depends upon chemical reactions. Hypothetically, one could pick a path through time just as one does through space. Get back to us when you figure it out, I'm sure you'll win the Nobel Prize.

Your participation in society is a matter of your will.

Yes, initally. But once you agree to join, it isn't really a matter of your will anymore. And according to some philosophers (Hobbes), leaving society puts you in a state of war with the Society/State and they then have the right to kill you.
 

Pabster

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
16,987
1
0
Originally posted by: Deeko
I read the title, cocked my head with some form of interest. Then I saw the poster, rolled my eyes, and prepared myself for a bunch of BS to be spewed.

I was not disappointed. What was the purpose of this post? Is this your defeat speech?

ROFLMAO, those were my thoughts exactly! :laugh:
 

NoStateofMind

Diamond Member
Oct 14, 2005
9,711
6
76
Everything will be "Rainbows & Butterflies" until that one day that changes it all happens. We see the signs all over but many refuse to look. We tell everyone we meet, but they call us names and cover their ears. We concede it is possible for us to be wrong, but maybe you can concede we may be right.
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
72,329
6,040
126
Cheer up, bamacre. What till you discover that everybody hates themselves and it's causing us to go extinct before you get depressed. The problems you see there are pretty rosy.
 

ericlp

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
6,133
219
106
Originally posted by: bamacre
As one who has always believed that light conquers darkness, as a citizen of the USA I still often find myself struggling to find the light switch. Our two parties are failing the American people and working hard to destroy this country.

What destroys a man also destroys a state. Arrogance, ignorance, greed, hatred, and fear. I feel like Dorothy in the land of Oz. Liberals are no longer liberal. Conservatives are no longer conservative. In order to achieve peace, we must go to war. Honesty is loony. Disagreement is unpatriotic.

The Republican party has been taken over by neo-conservatism. It is nothing new, and there is certainly nothing conservative about it's principals. In their search for an enemy to bind the American people, they have created a monster and led us into a never-ending war. And in order to fight this war, the rights of the American people have become an obstacle rather than something preciously protected. Neo-conservatives abused the September 11th attacks, using it to further their agenda of remapping the Middle East. Spreading democracy via force, spreading peace via war. Those who oppose are unpatriotic, and deemed willing to surrender to our enemies. Like our freedoms, truth is an obstacle to their agenda.

The Democrats are no safety net. While they appear to have an agenda to make life better for Americans, their strategy is much closer to mob rule rather than democracy. Those who oppose their plans for universal health care are deemed greedy, hateful, and uncaring. Like Peter Pan, their strategy is nothing less than stealing from the rich and giving it to the poor. Our being created equal is not enough, we must live and die equally as well. Unfortunately history has shown that this plan ends with everyone being poor. Is it any surprise that the war on poverty has had as much success as the war on drugs? An America destined to be stoned broke.

While the Republicans scream "terrorism," and the Democrats scream "health care" and "global warming," Americans are being taxed to death. Most middle class Americans only see half of their income. Federal income taxes seem to be the big issue, but money falls out of our wallets in so many other ways. State sales taxes, state income taxes, taxes on beer, wine, cigarettes, wheel taxes. Most people can't buy a loaf of bread without handing money over to government. The government takes in a Social Security tax, and spends it on bridges to nowhere. And even so, Congress still spends three times what they take in from federal income taxes alone, and still can't balance a budget. Our current deficit has more digits than an international telephone number. It keeps rising, and our dollar keeps falling. All the while we watch our government on the Jerry Springer show, cheering its lack of control, its lack of morality.

So every time I think I have found a light switch, and flip it, it doesn't seem to work. Americans seem to like living in the dark. It is only human nature for the eyes to close in the face of inevitable death. And we are driving straight for a fiscal brick wall. Those of us with our eyes open, trying to turn the steering wheel, are deemed "doom-and-gloomers." And as Johnny Cash once said, "I'd love to wear a rainbow every day, and tell the world that everything's OK," I simply can not and will not. I'd like to think that as long as someone, somewhere, continues to look for the light, eventually, it'll be found again. And while it may be painful for our eyes to adjust, we must comfort in knowing that evolution won't leave them behind.

So witch is it? Paper or Plastic?

You know the old saying how many Psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?

None, the light bulb has to "WANT" to change...
 

heyheybooboo

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2007
6,278
0
0
Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
You need to put down that pipe.

There are far more things than bind us together than your apocalyptic slather.

News Flash: The sun will rise tomorrow. And the next day, too.

You have Free Will. There is no single metaphysical truth which defines you, your fatalistic future or your deterministic universe. Suck it up, Nancy.

You choose to be a part of your family, your local community and American society. It is not an abstraction of your will but the shackles of a perceived moral culpability - your ultimate responsibility is only to yourself.

There is a cost to society. Your participation is voluntary. Your cognitive disease is greed. You want to accumulate all the benefits of our society without bearing the burden of its price.

Taxed to Death. Fuck you.

You may barter your existence. All you have to do is walk out the door. Free Will.

On January 20, 2009, a presidential inauguration will open a new chapter. I plan to enjoy every minute of it. Join the party, pal.

Are you suggesting that he vote Democratic or commit suicide?

Seriously, I can't tell. Because society is NOT voluntary. Nor is government the only benefit or cost of society.

Free Will? Time and space are the same thing. That we experience time different than we do space is merely a delusion of our consciousnesses, a side effect of our physiology that depends upon chemical reactions. Hypothetically, one could pick a path through time just as one does through space. Get back to us when you figure it out, I'm sure you'll win the Nobel Prize.

Your participation in society is a matter of your will.

Yes, initally. But once you agree to join, it isn't really a matter of your will anymore. And according to some philosophers (Hobbes), leaving society puts you in a state of war with the Society/State and they then have the right to kill you.

I don't totally disagree ... but 'pshaw' Hobbes :)

Procreation comes to mind. Society holds the male responsible (dead beat dads - enemies of the 'state') for the consequences of his choice. But is it fair for society to impugn the male under the guise of 'moral responsibility' if he is geneticly predisposed to procreate? I call ""foul"" !!!

We don't 'agree' to join society. We are nutured and 'socialized' as children. What catalyst causes social mores to converge and diverge from choice? At what point does the suppression of adolescent behavior in an immature mind debilitate or condition the way they exercise their will.

At what point do you walk out of that door - either as a child 'leaving the nest' or as an adult 'shunning society' indifferent to the consequences of your choice?

If you 'pay your debt' for procreation ... or whatever ... can you then walk out that door and be free without a declaration of war? If you don't walk out that door, have you not declared war on yourself and your will?

Screw Hobbes!

 

heyheybooboo

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2007
6,278
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Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Cheer up, bamacre. What till you discover that everybody hates themselves and it's causing us to go extinct before you get depressed. The problems you see there are pretty rosy.

I feel a chorus coming on .... like the song at the end of Life of Brian

:)
 

Ozoned

Diamond Member
Mar 22, 2004
5,578
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Originally posted by: bamacre
As one who has always believed that light conquers darkness, as a citizen of the USA I still often find myself struggling to find the light switch. Our two parties are failing the American people and working hard to destroy this country.

What destroys a man also destroys a state. Arrogance, ignorance, greed, hatred, and fear. I feel like Dorothy in the land of Oz. Liberals are no longer liberal. Conservatives are no longer conservative. In order to achieve peace, we must go to war. Honesty is loony. Disagreement is unpatriotic.

The Republican party has been taken over by neo-conservatism. It is nothing new, and there is certainly nothing conservative about it's principals. In their search for an enemy to bind the American people, they have created a monster and led us into a never-ending war. And in order to fight this war, the rights of the American people have become an obstacle rather than something preciously protected. Neo-conservatives abused the September 11th attacks, using it to further their agenda of remapping the Middle East. Spreading democracy via force, spreading peace via war. Those who oppose are unpatriotic, and deemed willing to surrender to our enemies. Like our freedoms, truth is an obstacle to their agenda.

The Democrats are no safety net. While they appear to have an agenda to make life better for Americans, their strategy is much closer to mob rule rather than democracy. Those who oppose their plans for universal health care are deemed greedy, hateful, and uncaring. Like Peter Pan, their strategy is nothing less than stealing from the rich and giving it to the poor. Our being created equal is not enough, we must live and die equally as well. Unfortunately history has shown that this plan ends with everyone being poor. Is it any surprise that the war on poverty has had as much success as the war on drugs? An America destined to be stoned broke.

While the Republicans scream "terrorism," and the Democrats scream "health care" and "global warming," Americans are being taxed to death. Most middle class Americans only see half of their income. Federal income taxes seem to be the big issue, but money falls out of our wallets in so many other ways. State sales taxes, state income taxes, taxes on beer, wine, cigarettes, wheel taxes. Most people can't buy a loaf of bread without handing money over to government. The government takes in a Social Security tax, and spends it on bridges to nowhere. And even so, Congress still spends three times what they take in from federal income taxes alone, and still can't balance a budget. Our current deficit has more digits than an international telephone number. It keeps rising, and our dollar keeps falling. All the while we watch our government on the Jerry Springer show, cheering its lack of control, its lack of morality.

So every time I think I have found a light switch, and flip it, it doesn't seem to work. Americans seem to like living in the dark. It is only human nature for the eyes to close in the face of inevitable death. And we are driving straight for a fiscal brick wall. Those of us with our eyes open, trying to turn the steering wheel, are deemed "doom-and-gloomers." And as Johnny Cash once said, "I'd love to wear a rainbow every day, and tell the world that everything's OK," I simply can not and will not. I'd like to think that as long as someone, somewhere, continues to look for the light, eventually, it'll be found again. And while it may be painful for our eyes to adjust, we must comfort in knowing that evolution won't leave them behind.
I heard a similar story 40 years ago, and 30 years ago, and 20 years ago, and 10 years ago. Despite that, every time and every where that I have looked, the average living condition is improving.

~~No matter how you write it down, when you look in the box, the only thing you are going to see is what is in the box. The human condition is so much more than what you have tried to make it be about. Grow up...