We don't need the Canadian government getting any more stupid ideas. It would take a lot to get to the level of repression the US citizen suffers but let's not take that first step.
Where was his self-righteousness concern during the Bush admin.? Or any of the rethugs? Or any of e re-thugs?! HarderFuck off, man! Sam Harris, here's looking at'cha! Show this used menstrual pad what's up. But, I'll agree on the principles of his lidestration,, what's up?! Dude, what's up with New Zealand?
This legislation is really a horrendous step towards getting a democratic dictator but might I ask how is this different from the Patriot act? I'm Australian and have not immersed myself in your politics but this seems like a little bit of dejavu to me. The Patriot Act was a shocking piece of legislation that the right wing embraced. Now Obama does it and it's an attack on freedom. Both acts should not have seen the light of day. Please correct me if I wrong. My question is sincere.
@ptango101 The patriot Act allows for spying on US citizens without a warrant. This bill allows for the military detention of US citizens. Both go against our constitutional rights. We were once a democracy, but fascism has taken over.
@village1diot This is actually quite scary that something like this would even be discussed. I think it was Christopher Hitchens that said you think you are doing a good thing by sacrificing freedom for security but it doesn't take long to realise you have neither. Might be time to move to Australia mate. We don't take our politicians seriously enough to give them that much power. Ours are always a little bit tragic and pathetic.
@DarkPrince0fWGTN Fascism: a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism.
What we have is a reverse fascism, which is essentially the same thing. The corporations and industry have control of our government.
Our democracy is gone. All one needs to do is look at the recent major legislation that has passed to confirm it.
@village1diot 1. American democracy is not remotely gone and spouting shit that says the opposite is just asinine. Was the NDAA bad. Sure. It may have also been unconstitutional but saying that the U.S has a fascist state is morally bankrupt and insulting to anyone who's actually been oppressed under a fascistic tyrannical regime
@Antiks72 Yep. There is no definition of what a "terrorist" is, and there is nothing stopping them from labeling any protest or activism a terrorist act. Thus legally able to arrest anyone associated with it and then hold them indefinitely, without trial.
I am really starting to think our government is the actual "terrorism" that we must be afraid of.
@village1diot No question about it. Just look at the state of Iraq today, and look at how they've been threatening countries to do their bidding "or else".
@Antiks72 Why does Iraq worry you more than Iran? Or the fact that Egypt, Libya and Syria are all about to become theocratic tyrannies in the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood? This doesn't worry you? Clearly not. Oh it's all American and European colonialism that is the reason for the Middle East having not produced ONE outstanding thinker or scientist for 1,000 years . It'll get worse and Obama and friends are preparing the way. The free world needs to use all its skill to escape obliteration.
@ritchlouiI have no idea what your point is. Interventionist foreign policy has failed, and we've murdered hundreds of thousands in Iraq to fill the corporate coffers. If they want to become theocratic tyrannies, then that's not OUR business. Oh, and I don't support wars for Israel. Those who are responsible should be hanged.
@Antiks72 Yes. Sadly the US (and UK) foreign policies in the ME have not avoided disaster though it is hard to see how it could have been otherwise. The insidious role of Islam is central & always was. The Islamists have been planning this for a long time and the West still simply refuses to take it seriously. The intervention in Iraq was rushed, ill-prepared and basically poked a hornets nest. BTW 75% of the killing has been done by 'unknown' perpetrators by suicide, car and roadside bombings.
@ritchloui The whole military response was to enrich corporations and make Israel safer, it had nothing to do with terrorism in the region. It's so interesting to read about how Saddam wanted to start selling oil in another currency instead of U.S. dollars. Hrmmmm.
@Antiks72 Yes. The corporations have been able to buy all the powers the US Government could sell. The left haven't grasped this paradox about 'big government'. Meanwhile the Islamic theocrats have been astonishingly successful in their call to arms - and are STILL not being taken seriously. The trouble is, the turmoil in the ME, which was inevitable, will force them into the arms of the Muslim Brotherhood - a gangster organisation.
@ritchloui And the reason they've been so successful is because of our war mongering foreign policy. If we spent our time trying to be nicer to them, maybe they wouldn't turn to terrorism in the first place? Oh, and then there's that pesky Israeli problem again, which is another give away to defense contractors at around 3 billion in aid to them a year. Other than that, they don't benefit Joe Sixpack one bit.
@Antiks72 Chris Hedges is a real inspiration. I've been hungrily tracking down his talks and work. At last, a guy who seems to have a handle on what's been going so badly wrong. Much as I loved Hitchens for his eloquence and entertainment value, this guy is the man.
@ritchloui Oops, sorry. You've misinterpreted what I was saying based on my failure to define "they". What I meant was that the U.S. is threatening countries to do our will, or else. Sorry I wasn't more clear.
@village1diot What will Mitt do with this next year? Do you realise that yourcountry frightens the rest of us just as much as Iran does. Maybe more - you're much bigger and almost as daft!
@village1diot The problem is that the US Government have been taking their advice from the Muslim Brotherhood so of course they haven't clearly identified the enemy. Well, they have, it's the American public, everyone except the Islamic hornets nests popping up everywhere and the bearded or cloaked separatist Muslims who are presented as victims of 'islamophobic racism' whilst Allahu Akbar screaming murderers are nondescript 'terrorists'.
@ritchloui Oh, you're in the UK. Well, that explains it now doesn't it? Yeah, you're insane political establishment has capitulated to extremist Muslims over there. No such thing happens here, my friend. I remember seeing a bunch of these pig fuckers over in one of your cities shouting through a megaphone. Fucking ridiculous. Meanwhile, Christianity is our main problem over here.
@village1diot i doubt its ever been a democracy really...some people would sell out their own mothers to save their own worthless cowardice hides...they allways been using good americans as fucking human shields
@ptango101 President Bush included sunsets in the Patriot Act. It was always a temporary act. Obama ignored the sunsets and ran with it. And the media remains quiet, that's almost as horrifying.
Want to know what else is horrifying? Parents of grown children are realizing too late how brainwashed our kids are to accept this. Our public school institutions are reminiscent of the brainwashing of Hitler's youth. No not patriotic, just dumbed-down socialist atheists at best.
@PluralOfEverything in countries where you can't earn a billion you usually don't earn anything. The state gives you whatever it decides you should get. And you work as hard as you feel like. You get paid the same amount anyway. Then nobody works hard any more. Then there is no wealth produced. Then the pot gets smaller but everyone still demands the same wage. When they don't get it they work even less hard. I grew up in a socialist country, i've seen this.
@ChipArgyle Everything is structured better in Canada! They are great neighbors and I would move the in a heartbeat if I could!!! Plus the made the TRAILOR PARK BOYS!!!
@Bluevetteboy2012 It is now actually easier to start and operate a business in Canada than it is in the US. (And we made SCTV, Kids in the Hall, and still run Saturday Night Live after 37 years.)
@topperheartramada What's the difference between 500 million dollars and 1 billion? Nothing. For one human being, those numbers make no difference. The top 1% makes 40 times what they made in 1980. The bottom 99% make about the same when adjusted for inflation. There will always be rich and poor, I get that, but in the past 30 years the gap between them has widened dramatically. That's not good for anyone and makes it more dangerous for the 1%. Corporatism is not capitalism.
@topperheartramada If I had that kind of money I would probably start foundations and travel the country finding ways the help communities. Like I said, I'm not against people being wealthy. I do pretty well myself, but the quest for money just for the money is immoral. In our current economic system, money is food, shelter, clothing, health, so one person keeping the wealth of an entire nation seems immoral and counter productive to a good economic system.
@topperheartramada Since you're in the 1%, and I don't ever get to talk to people like you, I have to ask. How many people do you employ? It will make a big difference in this discussion.
@topperheartramada Try living on half of what you actually make when it's only $19,000 a year, because that's about how much tax everyone pays after sales tax (doubly-taxing your income), inflation tax, and all other 'hidden' taxes, about 50%, probably more. And you know what? Most people in this income bracket work every bit as hard as those who end up with the ridiculous sum of a billion or even a trillion dollars for the same amount of effort! No sympathy here, none at all.
@mknomad5 You see, it is not the same 'aount' of effort. If I spend the same time writing as Shakespeare does, we have made the same 'effort'. Is it equally worth? NO. That is why we have the free market, to see which effort is worth how much. You want to dictate otherwise, maybe you should ove to North Korea. They have perfected your line of reasoning. And you need not feel sympathy. Just have the decency to leave other people's property alone.
@topperheartramada Maybe you should stop huffing and puffing and put away whatever it is you're smoking and have a valid point. First you make it sound sooo hard to make a billion $, so you should get sympathy for all the effort it took to accomplish that just to have 50% taken away, then you say, "it's not about the effort, it's about the worth of the output". How about sympathy for people who put in as much effort, whose work is less valued, and who still have to pay as much or more in taxes?
@mknomad5 it's called the free market. your effort is worth as much as you can sell it for. sympathy? well, we have charities, don't we? lots and lots. lots of rich people nehind them, too. but once people who feel ædisdvantaged' assume the right to break through the doors of those more successful and to start taking out the furniture, then we have a communist revolution. you know where the furniture eventually ends up, though? the living rooms of party officials and the great leader.
@topperheartramada And don't condescend to me you smug fuck. I'll go head to head on and IQ test any day, and I obviously have you on the ropes when it comes to morals and decency. Why don't you go live in North Korea where you won't have to listen to the 99% bitch and moan?
@mknomad5 Well said. Sometimes I think it makes wealthy people sleep better when they believe all of us regular folks are lazy. Any man on my crew works harder than a hedge fund manager. Any of them. And they're all struggling. The hubris and lack of empathy among our wealthy class is incredible...and sad.
@topperheartramada I work very hard. Probably as hard as you. If you're telling me that I can have a billion dollars as long as I give up half, I'll take that deal right now. Complaining about being left with $500,000,000 is an insult to people who work hard to just get by. Do you care about them at all? I'm not talking about lazy people, but people who work hard and just barely make ends meat. What good is all that money without a soul?
@topperheartramada NDAA is the same law that allowed stalin to murder millions of russians.Aka If you protest or speak out against the state in any matter you get accused of treason an sent to siberia, or gauntanamo/ alaska/ turkey or cia torture camps, in this case.The patriot act and NDAA are both communist legislation,well done the commies have infiltrated your senate :) PIPA and SOPA are again communist facist laws that china uses(the biggest communist country left)I thought usa was smart?
@Thelondonbadger You thought the USA was smart? I'm US born and raised. Our general populace is indeed made of "village idiots." The only thing that I would call smart about my country, is the way corporations and banking institutions bribe politicians to pass laws like this.. with the media talking about every other non important issue to keep you distracted.
Damn, I sound like a hippy conspiracy theorist now.
@mosoi148 "Damn, I sound like a hippy conspiracy theorist now."
Ah, but remember that the media are run by corporations. We don't really have much of a "free press." Point being that there are fewer parties involved than your point could imply, and the whole idea of a "conspiracy" is to have multiple parties collaborating. Therefore, if there are only a couple parties collaborating, then it can't really be called a conspiracy.
@TheMidwestAtheist Yeah I know that. Most media is owned through Time/Warner I believe (please someone correct me if I am mistaken). I basically assumed that most here would already know what I was talking about. Obviously I was right.
I wasn't saying it was a conspiracy. Just poking fun at myself was all. If you can't laugh at yourself, you have no business laughing at others.
@mosoi148 If Americans weren't smart, why do they need distracting? Fact is, we used to be intelligent. An American education used to be the best education you could get. Look at our past. We invented submarines, airplanes, television, integrated circuits, transistors, light bulbs, telephones, the internet, nuclear power and bombs. We discovered that lightning is electricity, are still the only nation to ever go to the moon. The nukes need to go, but it takes brains to invent them.
@Gregorick Wow, the American named "Vannevar Bush" was actually a British guy named "Tim Burners Lee"? I did NOT know that. Thank you for the information. I'll be SURE to make a note of it.
@Gregorick No, he presented a plan to a committee. To say that he invented it is to, in his name, plagiarize the work of Vannevar Bush, Ted Nelson, and Douglas Engelbart.
@Gregorick I looked up this Tim Burners Lee. It seems that he must have been around 10-14 years old when he invented the internet, seeing as how work on it was started in the mid to late 1960s and he was born in 1955. He must be some kind of fucking prodigy to have been working for DARPA back during the Summer of Love.
@luccaskunk tim berners lee was the main guy behind the invention of what's known today as the world wide web. a lot of people mistake the world wide web for "the internet" without actually realising that it's only a part of it, and not even the part with the greatest usage.
@Rabsputin The world wide web was implemented by University of Texas's ACTLab in conjunction with other researchers from around the globe. As for the concept of the web, that was not Tim Berners Lee, sorry, but he wasn't even born yet. The concept of the world wide web AND wikis was originally invented by an American scientist named Vannevar Bush, who mind you is not in-fact related to the chimp we once had as a president.
@luccaskunk tim berners lee was the guy who proposed the whole thing in 1990 and he used a next computer as the very first web server. the guy also wrote the first functioning web browser. learn your web history, it's all out there for you, on the web.
@Rabsputin I do know my web history. You obviously do not, however. What Lee did was he took the ideas of multiple people who had been working on the problem up to half a century earlier, plagiarized the idea, convinced everybody it was his idea.
I admit he was instrumental and a very important figure. He was certainly the man who put the pieces of the puzzle together. But he made neither the pieces, nor the image on the puzzle. Neither did he invent the idea of the puzzle itself.
@Rabsputin Ok, so, your response to me pointing out that fact that the idea of the web existed before Tim Berners Lee was born is to do what? Argument from authority?
Vannevar Bush invented Memex which was to be a world wide network of microfilm slides which contain links to other relevant microfilm slides. W3 combined the work of Ted Nelson, Douglas Engelbart, and Vannevar Bush, all of whom were American. They then wholesale plagiarized the work of those three men.
@luccaskunk "Fact is, we used to be intelligent." You said it all right there. I agree with you. We used to be less distracted. Entertainment and consumerism have been decreasing the intelligence of the average American for quite some time now (as I am sure you are well aware).
The fact the majority of our country denies biological evolution and believes in a desert god and prayer to fix our problems. Yeah, most of us are pretty dumb.
@mosoi148 The reason you can't see how it can't be denied is because you accept "facts" based off of "evidence" and "statistics," but that's not the way a majority of Americans think. It's all about what's comforting. If it's comforting to believe that we're getting smarter and giving universal healthcare is an assault on our rights, but completely taking down google and wikipedia for posting a picture of Mickey Mouse is just fine, then that's what Americans believe.
@Jonstern1983 LOL. I see your point. That is the one thing that drives me crazy about this country and it's people. Most of us do not think our positions through, or understand the implications of our beliefs... Or even why we believe the way we do.
@mosoi148 What I'm about to say might make some people roll their eyes. I'd like to preface it with the statement that I do NOT believe that religion is the root of all the world's problems. This one however I definitely do think is largely caused by religion. The IQ of Americans is steadily rising, but the apparent intelligence is reducing. I think that as IQs rise, religion cracks down on free thought more and more. Free thought means new ideas means change, means they lose power.
@Judicial78 True, communist idealogy is quite noble,only the application by russia through LAWS one of which is mirrored in this NDAA, is how stalin ruled with an iron fist an could justify murdering and imprisoning everyone who was against his tyranical regime. :) For example you want to highlight corruption in the government? You write a newspaper article attacking the corrupt members, you can get imprisoned as your labeled a traitor/terrorist for criticising the government.:) understand yet?
@Thelondonbadger That's because people use communism as if it's a political ideology. In reality it's more of an economic policy. A way to distribute resources. A dictator can be a communist just as easily as a democracy can. Capitalists want you to believe though that communism is linked to socialism and linked to dictatorships and tyranny.
I love how the presidents that did what they promised or made a difference all got shot or impeached. But the one asshole who is not making anything better but making it worse is still running around with his head on his shoulders. Where are the crazy people when we need them?
You passed TYRANICAL LAWS WHICH YOUR ORIGINAL STATES WENT TO WAR AGAINST THE BRITISH EMPIRE TO BE FREE FROM LOOOOL THIS PROVES AMERICANS ARE FUCKING STUPID.Now you passed this your basicly saying anything that anyone that opposes the governments agenda(civil rights movements unions human rights protesters ) can be tortured or jailed For Ever.Sound familiar?Exact same laws thatw ere passed in IRAQ IRAN and COMMUNIST RUSSIA LOL *facepalm
@Thelondonbadger Americans are not stupid. Just these kind of people. It is sad that the citizens are suffering for the stupidity of its leaders. Please do not judge us all based on these morons. It is bad enough that our stereotype includes homosexual fat cowboys and fake ditsy blondes with boob jobs. There are people with brains and morals here. Including myself. :) Thank you.
You are quite correct, at least half of Americans are fucking stupid, ignorant geeks living in a dreamworld of religious delusion. Just look at the candidates for president! Most of them think evolution is "just a theory" and global warming is a hoax, and would support and work for the U.S. becoming a fascist theocracy. Most want to make abortion illegal in all cases. The ones of us who have a brain just sit back and shake our heads in disgust.
@leisulin That is not half of Americans. If you want to put it out there. It is half of the world is ignorant and stupid. People bashing one country for the stupidity of our so called leaders is wrong. That is like saying Asians have small dicks and Europeans have no hygiene. It is false and demeaning. If you want to bash anyone let it be the idiots that passed this law. Being an American I find this horrible. Religious concepts are in EVERY society. You need to be more open minded.
@MrsMeggyHargrave Your suppose to be the most free/ ideal country,the world wants to be like on the planet.Yet you voted in laws that go against yoru constitution an steal rights like freedom of speech specificly away from citizens.Dont distract from your own failings n responsabilitys as adults.Did more then 50% of america vote for obama? Did he then steal your rights?Are you stupid for voting in someone who would steal your basic freedoms and rights?YES thus 50% or more of america is STUPID.
@Thelondonbadger That is the thing. We did not VOTE for this to happen.This is why it is such a huge deal. Voting is a choice that I did not have when he was running as I was not yet 18. But the things that have happened were not chosen to happen. The things Obama was promising are the opposite of what he is in fact doing. The only reason he got put in office was because of his skin color and the fact there was no better of a choice. It is unfortunate that we never have anyone worth voting for.
No, I don't need to be more open-minded when a large part of the reason Dubya got elected TWICE was because the type of stupid geeks I'm referring to VOTED for him TWICE, and for the republicans in congress who helped him enact the Patriot Act and backed him in pissing away the trillions of dollars we wasted in Iraq. Who do you think put those stupid leaders in office? They didn't just walk in there and assume command. Idiots VOTED FOR THEM.
@leisulin :) I think it is funny you use stupid and geeks in the same insult. :) Our leaders are idiots. Sadly there is never anyone worth voting in. WE do not get to choose who WE want to VOTE for. WE are given people to PICK from. NONE of them are EVER any good. And the ones who are end up shot or impeached. America is not as FREE as many seem to think. This land is not run by the people. It is run by money and corrupted people with money. The rest of us sit here and suffer.
I can agree with most of that. But it should be an easy choice at least SOME of the time when we're offered another sub-standard pair of candidates. The choice between Dubya and ALMOST ANYONE ELSE should have been an easy decision to make for most people with a brain. And yet one out of every two Americans thought Dubya was a better choice. In hindsight, I still find it hard to believe, especially in 2004.
@leisulin Dont get me wrong i dont hate americans , i know pretty much 90% are decent people.Its just they are blinded by religon and ignorance which has now lost you the rights you fought the british empire to found and build yoru country on.LOL Global warming is real but humans are a small percentage of the impact of say a volcano!!!The bible supports abortion in the case of rape by a non jew.Which every christian is Lol
@Thelondonbadger Not everyone in America is christian. In fact the majority of people here I ever talk to is against many of the beliefs Christians "should" have. For example. I go to church and believe in God. However, I support abortion only in the case that the mother would not survive or was raped. If she got pregnant from being irresponsible and not keeping her legs closed then she should have the baby and give it up for adoption if not able to care for it.
There you go, putting yourself in the same camp with most of the current candidates. Well done. Your statement is based on a fallacy: the idea that sex for recreation is somehow evil. For there will always be some unwanted pregnancies in a normal world where people have sex for fun, despite both parties being as careful as they can to prevent conception. And for at least some of those cases, the woman will want to (and should be able to) get an abortion.
@Thelondonbadger And where do you get these ideas that no one believes in global warming? Its not a theory. Its already here. Many people ignore it though because of fear. That is a natural human reaction.
The same type of christianity-based ignorant skepticism about evolution extends to science in general in many cases, and for some reason in particular to global warming. You haven't noticed this?
@leisulin The patriot act means anyone with a badge,can arrest a citizen an hold them without charge indefinitely, im just waiting for an american cop with balls to walk into the white house an arrest the president under this act an throw him in jail then go do the same to every senator as he would be completely within the law and rights to.By stealing the rights of freedom of speech with this bill theyve admitted your president and senators that passed it are traitors and thus against the gov.
Yeah, I know. It was the government of and under Dubya that enacted the Patriot Act. Who elected Dubya, who voted for Dubya? Not me. It's those ignorant geeks I've been talking about. Do I like the Patriot Act? Of course not. Was there much, if anything, I could have done to prevent it? No.
@leisulin :) lol where are you from? Geeks are considered smart people here. I am not saying there are not dumb people here. Of course there are. That is everywhere these days. But I think it is wrong to judge all of us based on the lies and betrayal of our government.
There are two competing definitions of "geek". The original meaning was a carnival performer (or anyone else who'd be so inclined) who would bite off the head of a live chicken or snake as a novelty act, from which came the extended meaning of the type of person for whom such a job would be about all they could do, namely: idiot. That was the meaning I was using. The more recent meaning you are thinking of still carries a pejorative sense....
....the meaning you're thinking of would be close to the meaning of "nerd", i.e. someone who's still not NORMAL, who's good at something out of the main stream and considered a little "weird". The only reason it's beginning to take on a positive meaning is that "techno-geeks", though possibly nerdy, are nonetheless very smart and technically skilled. Being a youngster like you are, you are apparently unaware of the evolution of this word.
@leisulin Coulda written to your senator an raised the point.Ndaa is just a affirmation or making the patriot act 100% legal.So by not doing anything your basicly saying as MLK was against the policys of the us gov at the time then he woulda been thrown in jail.So by that logic your saying its fine to have slaves, genocides and women shouldnt have the vote as it was against the gov policys at the time. :)
@Forserean Republicans & Democrats are all the same in the end. At the end of the day, it makes no difference which party a politician identifies with if they support things like this. Obama promised to veto the bill and instead passed it. He promises not to abuse the power, but it's unlikely based on his record.
Welcome to America, where red is blue and blue is red; where the unliving concepts are given equal, if not more, rights than it's own living, breathing citizens.
Shows that even a douche-bag can do good things sometimes.
urcritic 3 weeks ago
Mormons have been known to stockpile food. Does that mean that Mitt Romney is going to be detained without charge sometime in the near future?
ChipArgyle 3 weeks ago
Chris Hedges is, and always has been, a sanctimonious douche.
morrowrail 3 weeks ago
@morrowrail Yet he is the one person in this country with enough balls to take this on. Nobody else is doing a damn thing.
village1diot 3 weeks ago 11
@morrowrail Why?
alsalc55 3 weeks ago
What the hell are you guys doing down there?
We don't need the Canadian government getting any more stupid ideas. It would take a lot to get to the level of repression the US citizen suffers but let's not take that first step.
Paetaor 1 month ago 2
Where was his self-righteousness concern during the Bush admin.? Or any of the rethugs? Or any of e re-thugs?! HarderFuck off, man! Sam Harris, here's looking at'cha! Show this used menstrual pad what's up. But, I'll agree on the principles of his lidestration,, what's up?! Dude, what's up with New Zealand?
christallh24 1 month ago
this loser thinks he can get away with shit just because hitchens died.
ventura433 1 month ago
This legislation is really a horrendous step towards getting a democratic dictator but might I ask how is this different from the Patriot act? I'm Australian and have not immersed myself in your politics but this seems like a little bit of dejavu to me. The Patriot Act was a shocking piece of legislation that the right wing embraced. Now Obama does it and it's an attack on freedom. Both acts should not have seen the light of day. Please correct me if I wrong. My question is sincere.
ptango101 1 month ago 4
@ptango101 The patriot Act allows for spying on US citizens without a warrant. This bill allows for the military detention of US citizens. Both go against our constitutional rights. We were once a democracy, but fascism has taken over.
village1diot 1 month ago 16
@village1diot This is actually quite scary that something like this would even be discussed. I think it was Christopher Hitchens that said you think you are doing a good thing by sacrificing freedom for security but it doesn't take long to realise you have neither. Might be time to move to Australia mate. We don't take our politicians seriously enough to give them that much power. Ours are always a little bit tragic and pathetic.
ptango101 1 month ago
@ptango101 I think you're referring to Ben Franklin's quote "Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither"?
PS: Save me a place in Coober Pedy; I always wanted to live there :P
StrikaAmaru 1 month ago
@StrikaAmaru You are probably right. All the cool quotes tend to be rehashed and repeated. That's because they are cool quotes.
Cooper Pedy??!!?! Fair Dinkum. All the real estate is underground it's so bloody hot there.
ptango101 1 month ago
@village1diot Fascism? Really? Chill the fuck out. Don't discard your rationalism and intellectual honesty so easily
DarkPrince0fWGTN 1 month ago
@DarkPrince0fWGTN Fascism: a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism.
What we have is a reverse fascism, which is essentially the same thing. The corporations and industry have control of our government.
Our democracy is gone. All one needs to do is look at the recent major legislation that has passed to confirm it.
village1diot 1 month ago
@village1diot 1. American democracy is not remotely gone and spouting shit that says the opposite is just asinine. Was the NDAA bad. Sure. It may have also been unconstitutional but saying that the U.S has a fascist state is morally bankrupt and insulting to anyone who's actually been oppressed under a fascistic tyrannical regime
DarkPrince0fWGTN 1 month ago
@DarkPrince0fWGTN lol. I'm not gonna argue with you over something that is totally subjective. It's pointless.
The bottom line is that we do not have control over our government. If you think we do, then you are not looking, in denial, or delusional.
village1diot 1 month ago
@DarkPrince0fWGTN We're heading in that direction though.
Antiks72 3 weeks ago
@village1diot Now we can all watch as the government labels more and more groups as "terrorists".
Antiks72 3 weeks ago
@Antiks72 Yep. There is no definition of what a "terrorist" is, and there is nothing stopping them from labeling any protest or activism a terrorist act. Thus legally able to arrest anyone associated with it and then hold them indefinitely, without trial.
I am really starting to think our government is the actual "terrorism" that we must be afraid of.
village1diot 3 weeks ago
@village1diot No question about it. Just look at the state of Iraq today, and look at how they've been threatening countries to do their bidding "or else".
Antiks72 3 weeks ago
@Antiks72 Why does Iraq worry you more than Iran? Or the fact that Egypt, Libya and Syria are all about to become theocratic tyrannies in the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood? This doesn't worry you? Clearly not. Oh it's all American and European colonialism that is the reason for the Middle East having not produced ONE outstanding thinker or scientist for 1,000 years . It'll get worse and Obama and friends are preparing the way. The free world needs to use all its skill to escape obliteration.
ritchloui 3 weeks ago
@ritchlouiI have no idea what your point is. Interventionist foreign policy has failed, and we've murdered hundreds of thousands in Iraq to fill the corporate coffers. If they want to become theocratic tyrannies, then that's not OUR business. Oh, and I don't support wars for Israel. Those who are responsible should be hanged.
Antiks72 3 weeks ago
@Antiks72 Yes. Sadly the US (and UK) foreign policies in the ME have not avoided disaster though it is hard to see how it could have been otherwise. The insidious role of Islam is central & always was. The Islamists have been planning this for a long time and the West still simply refuses to take it seriously. The intervention in Iraq was rushed, ill-prepared and basically poked a hornets nest. BTW 75% of the killing has been done by 'unknown' perpetrators by suicide, car and roadside bombings.
ritchloui 3 weeks ago
@ritchloui The whole military response was to enrich corporations and make Israel safer, it had nothing to do with terrorism in the region. It's so interesting to read about how Saddam wanted to start selling oil in another currency instead of U.S. dollars. Hrmmmm.
Antiks72 3 weeks ago
@Antiks72 Yes. The corporations have been able to buy all the powers the US Government could sell. The left haven't grasped this paradox about 'big government'. Meanwhile the Islamic theocrats have been astonishingly successful in their call to arms - and are STILL not being taken seriously. The trouble is, the turmoil in the ME, which was inevitable, will force them into the arms of the Muslim Brotherhood - a gangster organisation.
ritchloui 3 weeks ago
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Antiks72 3 weeks ago
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@ritchloui And the reason they've been so successful is because of our war mongering foreign policy. If we spent our time trying to be nicer to them, maybe they wouldn't turn to terrorism in the first place? Oh, and then there's that pesky Israeli problem again, which is another give away to defense contractors at around 3 billion in aid to them a year. Other than that, they don't benefit Joe Sixpack one bit.
Antiks72 3 weeks ago
@Antiks72 Chris Hedges is a real inspiration. I've been hungrily tracking down his talks and work. At last, a guy who seems to have a handle on what's been going so badly wrong. Much as I loved Hitchens for his eloquence and entertainment value, this guy is the man.
ritchloui 3 weeks ago
@ritchloui Oops, sorry. You've misinterpreted what I was saying based on my failure to define "they". What I meant was that the U.S. is threatening countries to do our will, or else. Sorry I wasn't more clear.
Antiks72 3 weeks ago
@village1diot What will Mitt do with this next year? Do you realise that yourcountry frightens the rest of us just as much as Iran does. Maybe more - you're much bigger and almost as daft!
1212JackJohnson 3 weeks ago
@village1diot The problem is that the US Government have been taking their advice from the Muslim Brotherhood so of course they haven't clearly identified the enemy. Well, they have, it's the American public, everyone except the Islamic hornets nests popping up everywhere and the bearded or cloaked separatist Muslims who are presented as victims of 'islamophobic racism' whilst Allahu Akbar screaming murderers are nondescript 'terrorists'.
ritchloui 3 weeks ago
@ritchloui Oh, you're in the UK. Well, that explains it now doesn't it? Yeah, you're insane political establishment has capitulated to extremist Muslims over there. No such thing happens here, my friend. I remember seeing a bunch of these pig fuckers over in one of your cities shouting through a megaphone. Fucking ridiculous. Meanwhile, Christianity is our main problem over here.
Antiks72 3 weeks ago
@village1diot i doubt its ever been a democracy really...some people would sell out their own mothers to save their own worthless cowardice hides...they allways been using good americans as fucking human shields
gorlist187 2 weeks ago
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JenTShroder 1 month ago
@ptango101 President Bush included sunsets in the Patriot Act. It was always a temporary act. Obama ignored the sunsets and ran with it. And the media remains quiet, that's almost as horrifying.
Want to know what else is horrifying? Parents of grown children are realizing too late how brainwashed our kids are to accept this. Our public school institutions are reminiscent of the brainwashing of Hitler's youth. No not patriotic, just dumbed-down socialist atheists at best.
JenTShroder 1 month ago
STOP SOPA and PIPA
STOP SOPA and PIPA
STOP SOPA and PIPA
STOP SOPA and PIPA
Paste this everywhere for internetz!!!
Yahweigh 1 month ago
From now on, every citizen has 6 stars. If you get that you're awesome.
ksthebest 1 month ago
@ksthebest Yeah, president Obama, the man that allowed the sixth star!
Imhornydadcomeinside 1 month ago
Soon the only way to tell North Korea from America is to look at people's eyes.
777Skeptic 1 month ago
@PluralOfEverything in countries where you can't earn a billion you usually don't earn anything. The state gives you whatever it decides you should get. And you work as hard as you feel like. You get paid the same amount anyway. Then nobody works hard any more. Then there is no wealth produced. Then the pot gets smaller but everyone still demands the same wage. When they don't get it they work even less hard. I grew up in a socialist country, i've seen this.
topperheartramada 1 month ago
Hedges is an unfortunately-intelligent asshole. Unfoturnately, because he's a prick, but I have to admire his intelligence anyway.
TKStoddart 1 month ago
The American Dream is alive and well...
...in Canada.
ChipArgyle 1 month ago 2
@ChipArgyle Everything is structured better in Canada! They are great neighbors and I would move the in a heartbeat if I could!!! Plus the made the TRAILOR PARK BOYS!!!
Bluevetteboy2012 1 month ago
@Bluevetteboy2012 It is now actually easier to start and operate a business in Canada than it is in the US. (And we made SCTV, Kids in the Hall, and still run Saturday Night Live after 37 years.)
ChipArgyle 1 month ago
Chris Hedges is kind of a douchebag for his moral relativism and slander against Sam Harris, but right on here.
Nemesis000000 1 month ago 32
@Nemesis000000 Chris Hedges is to politics as Christopher Hitchens was to religion. Brilliant minds in their own ways!
SnafuMatthew 1 month ago
@Nemesis000000
"his moral relativism "
The only morals that exist.
mecher3k 1 month ago
@Nemesis000000 I was just about to say the exact same thing about that slimy Hedges, but you beat me to it. Have an up-vote!
Fenixx117 1 month ago
@fatouche99 we should meet and have a few beers. And we can spend all day giving away imaginary millions that we haven't made.
topperheartramada 1 month ago
The US government is jealous of North Korea. The goal is to be just like them.
JabberCT 1 month ago
'Democracy Now' is absolutely excellent. Great clip!
chalkstuff 1 month ago
The 1% doesn't chat on youtube. Nice try.
fatouche99 1 month ago
@fatouche99 the 1% is lot more numerous that you think.
topperheartramada 1 month ago
@topperheartramada What's the difference between 500 million dollars and 1 billion? Nothing. For one human being, those numbers make no difference. The top 1% makes 40 times what they made in 1980. The bottom 99% make about the same when adjusted for inflation. There will always be rich and poor, I get that, but in the past 30 years the gap between them has widened dramatically. That's not good for anyone and makes it more dangerous for the 1%. Corporatism is not capitalism.
fatouche99 1 month ago 20
@fatouche99 try earning 1 billion. then see how it feels when someone suggests you lose half of it because they think you don't really deserve that.
topperheartramada 1 month ago
@topperheartramada If I had that kind of money I would probably start foundations and travel the country finding ways the help communities. Like I said, I'm not against people being wealthy. I do pretty well myself, but the quest for money just for the money is immoral. In our current economic system, money is food, shelter, clothing, health, so one person keeping the wealth of an entire nation seems immoral and counter productive to a good economic system.
fatouche99 1 month ago
@topperheartramada Since you're in the 1%, and I don't ever get to talk to people like you, I have to ask. How many people do you employ? It will make a big difference in this discussion.
fatouche99 1 month ago
@topperheartramada Try living on half of what you actually make when it's only $19,000 a year, because that's about how much tax everyone pays after sales tax (doubly-taxing your income), inflation tax, and all other 'hidden' taxes, about 50%, probably more. And you know what? Most people in this income bracket work every bit as hard as those who end up with the ridiculous sum of a billion or even a trillion dollars for the same amount of effort! No sympathy here, none at all.
mknomad5 1 month ago
@mknomad5 You see, it is not the same 'aount' of effort. If I spend the same time writing as Shakespeare does, we have made the same 'effort'. Is it equally worth? NO. That is why we have the free market, to see which effort is worth how much. You want to dictate otherwise, maybe you should ove to North Korea. They have perfected your line of reasoning. And you need not feel sympathy. Just have the decency to leave other people's property alone.
topperheartramada 1 month ago
@topperheartramada Maybe you should stop huffing and puffing and put away whatever it is you're smoking and have a valid point. First you make it sound sooo hard to make a billion $, so you should get sympathy for all the effort it took to accomplish that just to have 50% taken away, then you say, "it's not about the effort, it's about the worth of the output". How about sympathy for people who put in as much effort, whose work is less valued, and who still have to pay as much or more in taxes?
mknomad5 1 month ago
@mknomad5 it's called the free market. your effort is worth as much as you can sell it for. sympathy? well, we have charities, don't we? lots and lots. lots of rich people nehind them, too. but once people who feel ædisdvantaged' assume the right to break through the doors of those more successful and to start taking out the furniture, then we have a communist revolution. you know where the furniture eventually ends up, though? the living rooms of party officials and the great leader.
topperheartramada 1 month ago
@topperheartramada And don't condescend to me you smug fuck. I'll go head to head on and IQ test any day, and I obviously have you on the ropes when it comes to morals and decency. Why don't you go live in North Korea where you won't have to listen to the 99% bitch and moan?
mknomad5 1 month ago
@mknomad5 I'm sorry, that makes absolutely no sense.
topperheartramada 1 month ago
@mknomad5 That's because the "99%" would be tortured and executed by the 1%. Aparently, that's your ideal shangri-la.
7hart2 1 month ago
@mknomad5 Well said. Sometimes I think it makes wealthy people sleep better when they believe all of us regular folks are lazy. Any man on my crew works harder than a hedge fund manager. Any of them. And they're all struggling. The hubris and lack of empathy among our wealthy class is incredible...and sad.
fatouche99 1 month ago
@topperheartramada I work very hard. Probably as hard as you. If you're telling me that I can have a billion dollars as long as I give up half, I'll take that deal right now. Complaining about being left with $500,000,000 is an insult to people who work hard to just get by. Do you care about them at all? I'm not talking about lazy people, but people who work hard and just barely make ends meat. What good is all that money without a soul?
fatouche99 1 month ago
@topperheartramada I'm not sure anyone can actually "earn" a billion dollars.
PluralOfEverything 1 month ago
I am the 1 %. Eat shit, commies.
topperheartramada 1 month ago
@topperheartramada NDAA is the same law that allowed stalin to murder millions of russians.Aka If you protest or speak out against the state in any matter you get accused of treason an sent to siberia, or gauntanamo/ alaska/ turkey or cia torture camps, in this case.The patriot act and NDAA are both communist legislation,well done the commies have infiltrated your senate :) PIPA and SOPA are again communist facist laws that china uses(the biggest communist country left)I thought usa was smart?
Thelondonbadger 1 month ago 4
@Thelondonbadger It is not communist, it is fascism.
rockman202 1 month ago 2
@Thelondonbadger You thought the USA was smart? I'm US born and raised. Our general populace is indeed made of "village idiots." The only thing that I would call smart about my country, is the way corporations and banking institutions bribe politicians to pass laws like this.. with the media talking about every other non important issue to keep you distracted.
Damn, I sound like a hippy conspiracy theorist now.
mosoi148 1 month ago
@mosoi148 "Damn, I sound like a hippy conspiracy theorist now."
Ah, but remember that the media are run by corporations. We don't really have much of a "free press." Point being that there are fewer parties involved than your point could imply, and the whole idea of a "conspiracy" is to have multiple parties collaborating. Therefore, if there are only a couple parties collaborating, then it can't really be called a conspiracy.
TheMidwestAtheist 1 month ago
@TheMidwestAtheist Yeah I know that. Most media is owned through Time/Warner I believe (please someone correct me if I am mistaken). I basically assumed that most here would already know what I was talking about. Obviously I was right.
I wasn't saying it was a conspiracy. Just poking fun at myself was all. If you can't laugh at yourself, you have no business laughing at others.
mosoi148 1 month ago
@mosoi148 If Americans weren't smart, why do they need distracting? Fact is, we used to be intelligent. An American education used to be the best education you could get. Look at our past. We invented submarines, airplanes, television, integrated circuits, transistors, light bulbs, telephones, the internet, nuclear power and bombs. We discovered that lightning is electricity, are still the only nation to ever go to the moon. The nukes need to go, but it takes brains to invent them.
luccaskunk 1 month ago
@luccaskunk i have to correct you on the internet. It was invented by a British man in CERN. his name is Tim Burners Lee.
Gregorick 1 month ago
@Gregorick I'm glad wikipedia is back, too
crateguy 1 month ago
@crateguy Me too, man. Me too.
fatouche99 1 month ago
@Gregorick Wow, the American named "Vannevar Bush" was actually a British guy named "Tim Burners Lee"? I did NOT know that. Thank you for the information. I'll be SURE to make a note of it.
luccaskunk 1 month ago
@luccaskunk oh yeah, TBL invented the world wide web. simple mistake :)
Gregorick 1 month ago
@Gregorick No, he presented a plan to a committee. To say that he invented it is to, in his name, plagiarize the work of Vannevar Bush, Ted Nelson, and Douglas Engelbart.
luccaskunk 1 month ago
@Gregorick I looked up this Tim Burners Lee. It seems that he must have been around 10-14 years old when he invented the internet, seeing as how work on it was started in the mid to late 1960s and he was born in 1955. He must be some kind of fucking prodigy to have been working for DARPA back during the Summer of Love.
luccaskunk 1 month ago
@luccaskunk tim berners lee was the main guy behind the invention of what's known today as the world wide web. a lot of people mistake the world wide web for "the internet" without actually realising that it's only a part of it, and not even the part with the greatest usage.
Rabsputin 1 month ago
@Rabsputin The world wide web was implemented by University of Texas's ACTLab in conjunction with other researchers from around the globe. As for the concept of the web, that was not Tim Berners Lee, sorry, but he wasn't even born yet. The concept of the world wide web AND wikis was originally invented by an American scientist named Vannevar Bush, who mind you is not in-fact related to the chimp we once had as a president.
luccaskunk 1 month ago
@luccaskunk tim berners lee was the guy who proposed the whole thing in 1990 and he used a next computer as the very first web server. the guy also wrote the first functioning web browser. learn your web history, it's all out there for you, on the web.
Rabsputin 1 month ago
@Rabsputin I do know my web history. You obviously do not, however. What Lee did was he took the ideas of multiple people who had been working on the problem up to half a century earlier, plagiarized the idea, convinced everybody it was his idea.
I admit he was instrumental and a very important figure. He was certainly the man who put the pieces of the puzzle together. But he made neither the pieces, nor the image on the puzzle. Neither did he invent the idea of the puzzle itself.
luccaskunk 1 month ago
@luccaskunk w3. org /People/Berners-Lee/
Rabsputin 1 month ago
@Rabsputin Ok, so, your response to me pointing out that fact that the idea of the web existed before Tim Berners Lee was born is to do what? Argument from authority?
Vannevar Bush invented Memex which was to be a world wide network of microfilm slides which contain links to other relevant microfilm slides. W3 combined the work of Ted Nelson, Douglas Engelbart, and Vannevar Bush, all of whom were American. They then wholesale plagiarized the work of those three men.
luccaskunk 1 month ago
@Rabsputin See also:
Memex ~ Vannevar Bush
Project Xanadu ~ Ted Nelson
NLS ~ Douglas Engelbart
luccaskunk 1 month ago
@luccaskunk "Fact is, we used to be intelligent." You said it all right there. I agree with you. We used to be less distracted. Entertainment and consumerism have been decreasing the intelligence of the average American for quite some time now (as I am sure you are well aware).
The fact the majority of our country denies biological evolution and believes in a desert god and prayer to fix our problems. Yeah, most of us are pretty dumb.
I don't see how that can be denied. ;)
mosoi148 1 month ago
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@mosoi148 "decreasing the intelligence of the average American"
"denies biological evolution and believes in a desert god and prayer to fix our problems"
I agree with you wholeheartedly but what can be done about it? Is it too late?
Look at the presidential lineup right now, it looks worse than ever! We'll have another bible-thumper in I bet!
warren52nz 1 month ago
@mosoi148 The reason you can't see how it can't be denied is because you accept "facts" based off of "evidence" and "statistics," but that's not the way a majority of Americans think. It's all about what's comforting. If it's comforting to believe that we're getting smarter and giving universal healthcare is an assault on our rights, but completely taking down google and wikipedia for posting a picture of Mickey Mouse is just fine, then that's what Americans believe.
Jonstern1983 1 month ago
@Jonstern1983 LOL. I see your point. That is the one thing that drives me crazy about this country and it's people. Most of us do not think our positions through, or understand the implications of our beliefs... Or even why we believe the way we do.
mosoi148 1 month ago
@mosoi148 What I'm about to say might make some people roll their eyes. I'd like to preface it with the statement that I do NOT believe that religion is the root of all the world's problems. This one however I definitely do think is largely caused by religion. The IQ of Americans is steadily rising, but the apparent intelligence is reducing. I think that as IQs rise, religion cracks down on free thought more and more. Free thought means new ideas means change, means they lose power.
luccaskunk 1 month ago
@Thelondonbadger i'm not an american. it's not my senate.
topperheartramada 1 month ago
@Thelondonbadger Oh please those laws have nothing to do with communist ideology. How misinformed you and anyone else who likes your comment is.
Judicial78 1 month ago
@Judicial78 True, communist idealogy is quite noble,only the application by russia through LAWS one of which is mirrored in this NDAA, is how stalin ruled with an iron fist an could justify murdering and imprisoning everyone who was against his tyranical regime. :) For example you want to highlight corruption in the government? You write a newspaper article attacking the corrupt members, you can get imprisoned as your labeled a traitor/terrorist for criticising the government.:) understand yet?
Thelondonbadger 1 month ago
@Thelondonbadger That's because people use communism as if it's a political ideology. In reality it's more of an economic policy. A way to distribute resources. A dictator can be a communist just as easily as a democracy can. Capitalists want you to believe though that communism is linked to socialism and linked to dictatorships and tyranny.
Judicial78 1 month ago
Wait a sec...why is he suing Obama? Congress passed it with so large a majority that a veto would have been useless. Sue them instead.
ragestreet 1 month ago
I love how the presidents that did what they promised or made a difference all got shot or impeached. But the one asshole who is not making anything better but making it worse is still running around with his head on his shoulders. Where are the crazy people when we need them?
MrsMeggyHargrave 1 month ago
This is why we have a Queen and house of lords: to stop the politicians from performing an ultimate clusterfuck on us.
jacksawild 1 month ago
@jacksawild God Save The Queen.
jacksawild 1 month ago
Why is it that the "land of the free" hates freedom so much?
PsychoticSnake 1 month ago
fuck chris hedges
GSW12345 1 month ago
@GSW12345 Go away you fucking sheep!
ChesterMolested 1 month ago
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pythor2 1 month ago
Somebody With The Courage And Resources Has Stepped Up...There Must Be A God!
MrHead1972 1 month ago
@MrHead1972 nope
thaer12345 1 month ago
@thaer12345 Chuck Testa.
AWildAtheistAppears 1 month ago
You passed TYRANICAL LAWS WHICH YOUR ORIGINAL STATES WENT TO WAR AGAINST THE BRITISH EMPIRE TO BE FREE FROM LOOOOL THIS PROVES AMERICANS ARE FUCKING STUPID.Now you passed this your basicly saying anything that anyone that opposes the governments agenda(civil rights movements unions human rights protesters ) can be tortured or jailed For Ever.Sound familiar?Exact same laws thatw ere passed in IRAQ IRAN and COMMUNIST RUSSIA LOL *facepalm
Thelondonbadger 1 month ago
@Thelondonbadger Americans are not stupid. Just these kind of people. It is sad that the citizens are suffering for the stupidity of its leaders. Please do not judge us all based on these morons. It is bad enough that our stereotype includes homosexual fat cowboys and fake ditsy blondes with boob jobs. There are people with brains and morals here. Including myself. :) Thank you.
MrsMeggyHargrave 1 month ago
@Thelondonbadger
You are quite correct, at least half of Americans are fucking stupid, ignorant geeks living in a dreamworld of religious delusion. Just look at the candidates for president! Most of them think evolution is "just a theory" and global warming is a hoax, and would support and work for the U.S. becoming a fascist theocracy. Most want to make abortion illegal in all cases. The ones of us who have a brain just sit back and shake our heads in disgust.
leisulin 1 month ago
@leisulin That is not half of Americans. If you want to put it out there. It is half of the world is ignorant and stupid. People bashing one country for the stupidity of our so called leaders is wrong. That is like saying Asians have small dicks and Europeans have no hygiene. It is false and demeaning. If you want to bash anyone let it be the idiots that passed this law. Being an American I find this horrible. Religious concepts are in EVERY society. You need to be more open minded.
MrsMeggyHargrave 1 month ago
@MrsMeggyHargrave Your suppose to be the most free/ ideal country,the world wants to be like on the planet.Yet you voted in laws that go against yoru constitution an steal rights like freedom of speech specificly away from citizens.Dont distract from your own failings n responsabilitys as adults.Did more then 50% of america vote for obama? Did he then steal your rights?Are you stupid for voting in someone who would steal your basic freedoms and rights?YES thus 50% or more of america is STUPID.
Thelondonbadger 1 month ago
@Thelondonbadger That is the thing. We did not VOTE for this to happen.This is why it is such a huge deal. Voting is a choice that I did not have when he was running as I was not yet 18. But the things that have happened were not chosen to happen. The things Obama was promising are the opposite of what he is in fact doing. The only reason he got put in office was because of his skin color and the fact there was no better of a choice. It is unfortunate that we never have anyone worth voting for.
MrsMeggyHargrave 1 month ago
@MrsMeggyHargrave
No, I don't need to be more open-minded when a large part of the reason Dubya got elected TWICE was because the type of stupid geeks I'm referring to VOTED for him TWICE, and for the republicans in congress who helped him enact the Patriot Act and backed him in pissing away the trillions of dollars we wasted in Iraq. Who do you think put those stupid leaders in office? They didn't just walk in there and assume command. Idiots VOTED FOR THEM.
leisulin 1 month ago
@leisulin :) I think it is funny you use stupid and geeks in the same insult. :) Our leaders are idiots. Sadly there is never anyone worth voting in. WE do not get to choose who WE want to VOTE for. WE are given people to PICK from. NONE of them are EVER any good. And the ones who are end up shot or impeached. America is not as FREE as many seem to think. This land is not run by the people. It is run by money and corrupted people with money. The rest of us sit here and suffer.
MrsMeggyHargrave 1 month ago
@MrsMeggyHargrave
I can agree with most of that. But it should be an easy choice at least SOME of the time when we're offered another sub-standard pair of candidates. The choice between Dubya and ALMOST ANYONE ELSE should have been an easy decision to make for most people with a brain. And yet one out of every two Americans thought Dubya was a better choice. In hindsight, I still find it hard to believe, especially in 2004.
leisulin 1 month ago
@leisulin Dont get me wrong i dont hate americans , i know pretty much 90% are decent people.Its just they are blinded by religon and ignorance which has now lost you the rights you fought the british empire to found and build yoru country on.LOL Global warming is real but humans are a small percentage of the impact of say a volcano!!!The bible supports abortion in the case of rape by a non jew.Which every christian is Lol
Thelondonbadger 1 month ago
@Thelondonbadger Not everyone in America is christian. In fact the majority of people here I ever talk to is against many of the beliefs Christians "should" have. For example. I go to church and believe in God. However, I support abortion only in the case that the mother would not survive or was raped. If she got pregnant from being irresponsible and not keeping her legs closed then she should have the baby and give it up for adoption if not able to care for it.
MrsMeggyHargrave 1 month ago
@MrsMeggyHargrave
There you go, putting yourself in the same camp with most of the current candidates. Well done. Your statement is based on a fallacy: the idea that sex for recreation is somehow evil. For there will always be some unwanted pregnancies in a normal world where people have sex for fun, despite both parties being as careful as they can to prevent conception. And for at least some of those cases, the woman will want to (and should be able to) get an abortion.
leisulin 1 month ago
@Thelondonbadger About volcanoes:
volcanoes(.)usgs(.)gov/hazards/gas/climate(.)php
Humans release 80-270 times the CO2 volcanoes do every year.
gimmethegepgun 1 month ago
@Thelondonbadger And where do you get these ideas that no one believes in global warming? Its not a theory. Its already here. Many people ignore it though because of fear. That is a natural human reaction.
MrsMeggyHargrave 1 month ago
@MrsMeggyHargrave
The same type of christianity-based ignorant skepticism about evolution extends to science in general in many cases, and for some reason in particular to global warming. You haven't noticed this?
leisulin 1 month ago
@leisulin The patriot act means anyone with a badge,can arrest a citizen an hold them without charge indefinitely, im just waiting for an american cop with balls to walk into the white house an arrest the president under this act an throw him in jail then go do the same to every senator as he would be completely within the law and rights to.By stealing the rights of freedom of speech with this bill theyve admitted your president and senators that passed it are traitors and thus against the gov.
Thelondonbadger 1 month ago
@Thelondonbadger Now that would be funny. The leaders of our country are all corrupt.
MrsMeggyHargrave 1 month ago
@Thelondonbadger
Yeah, I know. It was the government of and under Dubya that enacted the Patriot Act. Who elected Dubya, who voted for Dubya? Not me. It's those ignorant geeks I've been talking about. Do I like the Patriot Act? Of course not. Was there much, if anything, I could have done to prevent it? No.
leisulin 1 month ago
@leisulin :) lol where are you from? Geeks are considered smart people here. I am not saying there are not dumb people here. Of course there are. That is everywhere these days. But I think it is wrong to judge all of us based on the lies and betrayal of our government.
MrsMeggyHargrave 1 month ago
@MrsMeggyHargrave
There are two competing definitions of "geek". The original meaning was a carnival performer (or anyone else who'd be so inclined) who would bite off the head of a live chicken or snake as a novelty act, from which came the extended meaning of the type of person for whom such a job would be about all they could do, namely: idiot. That was the meaning I was using. The more recent meaning you are thinking of still carries a pejorative sense....
leisulin 1 month ago
@Meggy
....the meaning you're thinking of would be close to the meaning of "nerd", i.e. someone who's still not NORMAL, who's good at something out of the main stream and considered a little "weird". The only reason it's beginning to take on a positive meaning is that "techno-geeks", though possibly nerdy, are nonetheless very smart and technically skilled. Being a youngster like you are, you are apparently unaware of the evolution of this word.
leisulin 1 month ago
@leisulin Coulda written to your senator an raised the point.Ndaa is just a affirmation or making the patriot act 100% legal.So by not doing anything your basicly saying as MLK was against the policys of the us gov at the time then he woulda been thrown in jail.So by that logic your saying its fine to have slaves, genocides and women shouldnt have the vote as it was against the gov policys at the time. :)
Thelondonbadger 1 month ago
He looks like FDR.
Al1981X 1 month ago
So, where do you think the American Tien An Men Square will be?
TBTabby 1 month ago
@TBTabby zuccotti park
satanisthetruegod666 1 month ago
last
melrobRTF 1 month ago
If Obama were a republican, he'd just have his guy arrested.
Forserean 1 month ago
@Forserean Republicans & Democrats are all the same in the end. At the end of the day, it makes no difference which party a politician identifies with if they support things like this. Obama promised to veto the bill and instead passed it. He promises not to abuse the power, but it's unlikely based on his record.
Welcome to America, where red is blue and blue is red; where the unliving concepts are given equal, if not more, rights than it's own living, breathing citizens.
ARPerson9 1 month ago
;o
PKgazaPK 1 month ago