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Open thread
- By Phillip Brownlee
- Posted May 30, 2007 at 1:05 a.m.
- Filed under Open thread
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59 Comments
You can live your life, raise your kids, cast your vote, run your business, and confess your sins according to how you perceive your God speaks to you.
But one of the things about living in the United States of America dictates that you cannot write your laws because that’s what your interpretation of “God” tells you.
Deal with it.
I sincerely think the phrase “Question Authority!” has been often misunderstood as to encourage utter defiance of any figure of authority. I always think of it as a way to make sure that my best interest is taken seriously in any decision making. In other words, to be an active participant instead of a mere passive recipient.
LTP-FTL — I agree with you.. But you do realize that there are many folks not far from us, who would like for their religion to be in control of our government??
Oh yes, they are there, and they are scary… and they vote!!
Watching Larry King, Donald Trump was just on and commenting about the fall that Miss America took at the Miss Universe pageant. He said she was embarrassed, but not about the fall but about being booed every time they announced “Miss America” the crowd booed.The pageant was held in Mexico.
Authority should be questioned if you believe you have a reason for doing so. But it should be questioned in the proper forum. If the policeman pulls you over and tells you to do something- like produce your license for his inspection- you do it. You don’t question him, challenge his authority, cuss, fight or try to run off. You will have your day in court and, if you believe you have been abused, you can file a formal complaint with the agency he works for.
People get education loans to become productive citizens and make decent wages. How will citizens do that in addition to paying back loans?Corporate america is very anti american. 40 million MORE jobs at stake!
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/220331/skilled_americans_jobs_may_be_in_jeopardy.html
Fire 99% of all elected officials!
Want ANY JOB, green collar jobs,alternative energy, jobs back to america and healthcare for all? Fire 99% of all elected officials!
Why is it Americans cannot elect a representative instead of a name from corporate america? What is the romance? Why do americans fall over themselves for political media stars and fat cats? Have we not learned that these people NEVER make things better they just continue the corporate welfare and watch american jobs go abroad. It really stinks!
The news media and corporate america do NOT need to decide who OUR candidates should be for local,state or federal level representation.
The media takes in a ton of cash during our election periods and play a huge role in selecting candidates for all sides of the aisle. Then THEY decide who should participate in televised debates as if no one else matters to the voters. Yes they also seem to decide which issues are important to voters and many times miss the mark. The media has become a large part of the special interest takeover of our process as if they know what is best for all of us. Voters support this takeover by voting for those candidates who also spend the most money and the question is why?
Campaigns go too long,spend way too much money and do not necessarily provide the best available. It is up to us to stop the nonsense at the voting booths on the 2008 ballot.Not voting sends the wrong message and changes nothing.
Lets’s demand a new system and vote in Fair Vote America : http://www.fairvote.org/irv/Demand a change on the 2008 ballot.
The big money candidates are more beholden than ever to corporate special interests due to the very long nature of campaigns. How do they have time to do the job they were elected to do? We need public financing of campaigns. Citizens cannot afford special interest money campaigns for it is the citizens that get left out.
http://www.publicampaign.org/
Who would be against Public Funding? The special interest money providers and their bought and paid for politicians!Back to top
Who would be against Public Funding? The special interest money providers and their bought and paid for politicians
As was stated above these are the ones who will put out negative reasons why voters should not have more fair access to deciding how our country should be governed. Scare tactics have brainwashed many thus far for a system that would allow more individuals to run for office. I vote for public financing.
What’s at stake? Special interest financiers might find themselves with less control and no corporate welfare.
What does this say about the USA image and Miss America wonders why she was booed?
“People think Zoellick is highly intelligent and has a pragmatic mind-set,” said a senior World Bank official who spoke on condition that he not be named for fear of alienating his new boss. “But he’s still from the same people who brought you the Iraq war, the same people who brought you Paul Wolfowitz and Donald Rumsfeld. There’s immediate jaundice about his country of origin. Any American appointed by this president would carry that stigma.”
Except when the authority is exceeding the rights granted to her/him by the constitution or by statute. You, of course, must know your rights as well as the law pertaining to them. In the case of the policeman pulling you over, you do not have to agree to your car or your person being searched if you haven’t given the officer reason to do this.
This is just nucking futz.
http://www.kansas.com/business/agriculture/story/82801.html
The world hates us, thanks to George Bush and others with his mindset…and who could blame them? We are so willing to destroy other countries “for their own good” and the “spread of democracy” whenever it suits our interests. If they need our help but we have nothing to gain, we let them wallow in their own hell, like Darfur. It’s all so transparent, anyone with an ounce of brains can see through the rhetoric. Foreign policy under this administration has been a disaster and the damage done will not be repaired in our lifetime.
KFG — Yep youre right… and another mucking fess Bush gets us into!! LOL
Farmgrrl,
Why are people so effin’ stupid?
Seriously. Why? WHY WHY WHY?
And not a peep on WeBlog about the Lefts hero to the south, Hugo”for the common good, whether you like it or not” Chavez.
Nationalize the oil, Nationalize the banks if you can get away with it and crush any dissent.
Fascism anyone?
HecklerIt was in the news over the weekend that the citizens of Venezuala are protesting the government. They are utilizing peaceful protests and marches. I don’t think anybody from this country supports Chavez. He is just as crazy as Bush, just lacks the military might that Bush has.
Violence Breaks Out in Anti-Government Student Demonstration in Venezuela
The Venezuelan government accused CNN and the Venezuelan private channel Globovisión yesterday of using subliminal messages during their coverage of the RCTV protests to instigate violence and damage the image of President Hugo Chavez.
venezuelanalysis.com
Go Hugo go!!! Go hugo Go !!!!!
Actually, Hugo just nationalized the Television stations over in Venezuelan. Hugo charged them with subversive activities.
That is what happens to leftist punks like him, they become violent dictators.
Sounds like Bush is being dictator over the companies that want to test their beef. Protect Americans? NEVER…that might be bad for business.
Just like I’m sure he applauds the neocon foursome in the SCOTUS who ruled that women have merely 180 days to file complaints against pay disparity….so the companies can hide it as long as they can and get away with it. Screw women. We’re lesser anyway, right? Maybe he feels we’ll go back to being at home if we can’t make decent wages..be under our spouses’ thumbs like good bible fearin women should be.
I don’t know why more people don’t join NOW with all this bullshit. I hope they all retire after a dem is back in office and we can get some rationality back.
Alito’s excuse was downright pathetic. I HATE THEM BASTARDS!
So who do you think the Department of Agriculture represents: consumers, or the interests of the (usually large) businesses being regulated?
We would be much beter off relying on markets for food safety.
“Market-generated information about the quality of meat undoubtedly would be much greater in the absence of government regulation. Government inspection tends to preempt market inspection, much as taxpayer-financed education crowds out privately funded schools, by reducing the incentives of sellers and buyers to look after safety on their own. There is little demand on the part of meat handlers for services that would be provided by private firms in the absence of government inspection. Business firms are, of course, also happy to have the taxpayers pick up the tab for inspection.
Similarly, with assurances by the USDA (and the media) that government regulation is crucial to consumer safety, there is little impetus for consumers to change the current institutional arrangement. Moreover, when problems of meat safety occur, there is no discussion of ‘government failure.’ Instead, regulatory officials plead for more power.”
P_Mom,Didn’t figure you for prejudice. The SCOTUS decision was not just about women. Nor was it a strike at any group of people. It was passed so that companies don’t go bankrupt paying back wages for 10 years.
Isn’t up to the employee to negotiate his/her wage? Does the gov’t hold your hand at increase time or do you put your own best foot forward?
Mary,
Why doesn’t Canada send troops to Darfur?
Why doesn’t the European Union send troops to Darfur?
There must be 20 other countries if not more with the ability to send troops/aid/refuge to those in Darfur yet America is to blame?
The world may hate us for our invasion of Iraq, but they would turn around and cry for our help when Saddam invaded Kuwait.
They will turn around and cry for our help when Iran does something in the future.
It is sheer utopian feel good about yourself oblivion.
The same attitude that people have towards those who wan’t to carry concealed is the reason why people “hate” America.
People refuse to see evil in this world until it kills their wife and kids as they sit there wishing they would have been prepared. But don’t worry, they have smoke detectors and plans to escape a fire!
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=3223473&page=1
NASA: Danger Point Closer Than Thought From Warming
‘Disastrous Effects’ of Global Warming Tipping Points Near, According to New Study
By BILL BLAKEMOREMay 29, 2007
Even “moderate additional” greenhouse emissions are likely to push Earth past “critical tipping points” with “dangerous consequences for the planet,” according to research conducted by NASA and the Columbia University Earth Institute.
With just 10 more years of “business as usual” emissions from the burning of coal, oil and gas, says the NASA/Columbia paper, “it becomes impractical” to avoid “disastrous effects.”
The study appears in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. Its lead author is James Hansen, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York.
The forecast effects include “increasingly rapid sea-level rise, increased frequency of droughts and floods, and increased stress on wildlife and plants due to rapidly shifting climate zones,” according to the NASA announcement.
*****
What do these guys know — they’re only rocket scientists . . .
Capn,
A scary section at your abcnews link is the section:”‘Potentially Uncontrollable’ Feedback Loops”.
Also the uncertainty factor — the “tipping point” may be closer than they think.
A list of the 48 scientists is at the “research” link here,’NASA: EARTH’S CLIMATE IS APPROACHING “DANGEROUS” POINT’http://www.heatisonline.org/contentserver/objecthandlers/index.cfm?ID=6434&Method=Full
Yup. Clearly, the answer is a gov’t led full-scale push for energy independence: such as Clinton’s hybrid and electric car research funding, funding that was promptly killed by BushCo. so that oil cronies could make record profits, which they have.
Worst. President. Ever.
If we were to immediately stop all usage of internal combustion cars, and require total electric cars, where would we get the electrical power to run such vehicles?
CapnAmerica,
Do you have to purposefully ignore what President Bush does to think what you do or is it just purposeful distortion because of your irrational hate for the President?
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/04/20060422-2.html
Fact Sheet: Earth Day 2006: Developing New Transportation Technology
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/20020225-5.html
President Promotes Energy Efficiency Through Technology
“Now, there’s a lot of obstacles that must be overcome in order to make fuel cells economically viable. And, therefore, we’re promoting more research and development. In January, Secretary Abraham announced a $150 million FreedomCAR plan, focused on development of fuel cell technologies that run on hydrogen, whose only emission is water vapor.”
There are too many links to go through Capn on the Presidents actions towards better technology.
Nathan,
Do you believe that Cheney’s 2001 ‘more pollution solution’ is our best option?
‘Cheney Pro-Supply Energy Forecast Contradicted by Energy Department Study, says NRDC’http://www.nrdc.org/media/pressReleases/010503.asp“Study shows energy efficiency and renewable power can meet 60 percent of new power needs projected by vice president.”
Are you impressed by $195.8 million for hydrogen research in ‘07? That’s only about one third of what the energy bill authorized.
What about his cuts in funding of programs that are guaranteed to cut oil demand in the short-term, not decades in the future’Energy gaps seen in Bush’s budgetPlan would cut funding aimed at conservation’http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/02/08/energy_gaps_seen_in_bushs_budget/?page=full
What Nathan “forgets” to mention that under best case scenarios, hydrogen fuel cars might see widespread use in 2020.
Clinton’s technologies were do-able right now.
Big difference.
BushCo’s plan are a way to stall energy independence far beyond the forseeable future to make sure that his oil men buddies–Cheney, anyone?–make more billions.
It’s the difference between looking at what people say (”we want energy independence”) and what they do (make sure that we DON’T become energy independent any time soon).
Bush ass-kissers believe what they say, not what they do.
LJ–
Unfortunately, most of our electricity right now comes from coal.
BUT, at least it’s OUR COAL. We don’t import it. And it is generated far away from city centers which would vastly reduce smog and air pollution in urban centers where most people live.
Lastly, electricity can be generated by solar and esp. WIND power, which we’ve hardly begun to tap . . . it didn’t help that Pres. Raygun ripped the solar panels from the White House as a symbolic act of the evisceration of all alternative energy funding he did during his 8 years in office.
For instance, right now because of regulation, small scale alternative energy is impractical.
If I put up a wind tower in my backyard and pump it back into the power grid, KG&E only pays me a few cents per KWatt even though I PAY about ten cents per KWatt.
However, if I could generate my own DC and use it to power my own electric vehicle, I’m saving 10c a KWatt to charge said vehicle.
That’s very cost effective.
Now, I need a chargeable electric car, which I could have had if Bush hadn’t cut the research funding to zero.
First of all, let met say that I am all for research and development of alternative energy sources. I do see that there is a a large possibility of unintended consequences. For instance, should every yard be able to have it’s own wind turbine? How big? How does it connect into the power grid? How does all these wind turbines effect natural wildlife around the community? For instance bird habitat? How big a yard do you need? Does your wind turbine interfere with your neighbors? Actually, I am quite curious and am not raising objections, but I don;t think it’s quite as simple as we would like to think. how much more coal would have to be mined and burned? Where would the plants be located? etc, etc, etc.
CapnAmerica-
maybe these questions have already been answered. I would like to know that whole picture ideas have been at least looked at.
littlejohn,
The key is higher energy efficiency. For example, a new home could use passive solar, more insulation, and better windows.
Some info on efficient and green building,http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy%20Efficiency/Programs/Green%20Building/Resources/index.htm
New thin-film photovoltaics will be cheaper, and help make home systems affordable (and profitable if you have net-metering).And ’sliver’ PV’s may be even cheaper.
Thanks for the posts
Thanks for the posts
There’s a lot of interesting technology out there. A tower in your back yard probably isn’t going to happen. There are ordnances out there that regulate the height of a tower in relation to surrounding structures, ie, you can’t build a heavy tower that might fall and crush your neighbor’s house. Still, wind generation needs to be pursued and I really don’t care about prairie chickens flying into rotors. There’s sacrifices to be made in any technology.
Nuclear needs to be considered, too. The new generation of nuclear plants are smaller, safer, and cheaper than the ones built in the 70s.
Muslims have hated Americans and tried to kill us in large numbers long before George Bush ran for President, and long before the World Trade Center bombing of 1993, usually blaming U.S. benevolence toward the hated nation of Israel. Find another reason for Muslims hating Americans besides George Bush.
Funny, that’s the same F*CKING LIE that Republican posted a few weeks ago.
When I asked him for specific examples, he had none.
What’s your proof?
Oh, and the hostages in Iran in the 70’s don’t count.
We overthrew the popularly elected Prime Minister Mosegedah in the late 50’s (Operation Ajax) and installed a KING, the Shah of Iran and forced him to be our puppet for some twenty years.
That’s has nothing to do with jihadism.
The policeman has the right to search your car whether you want him to do so or not. He may and will search it without your consent BUT anything he finds cannot be used as evidence against you in court which is why most of them find “probable cause” to search or get a warrant.
One thing we need to do is to tell Israel that they MUST vacate Palestinian land and they MUST return to to their orginal borders and, if they refuse to do so, we cut off all aid to that country until they do.
“The policeman has the right to search your car whether you want him to do so or not.”
I don’t think so. Back in the 70s I had an LA cop want to search my car – I told him ’sure’ – right after I read the warrent. He never searched it.
Ben, you are exactly right… and technically, a policeman who observes you in your vehicle not wearing a seat belt, has made a “search” of your vehicle, and by a technicality of law, any seat belt violation should be thrown out, as unlawful search… I think a few folks should try that in a court room at least… Seat belt laws are getting to Gestapo for my liking
BTW, did anybody see the 2005 kansas fatality statistics a couple of weeks ago?? The Highway Patrol said that 45% of drivers killed in fatal car accidents in 2005 were NOT wearing seat belts… Do the math… That means that 55% WERE… The odds of Not wearing one look better to me…
Here is one for the Christian right-wingers –The reason of the beliefs of bible prophecies’ (such as Revelation) coming true is that it is forced to become true by those that desire it to be the truth.It is the same belief logics as those with suicidal tendencies.You believe hard enough to be true then it will be your truth, scary to think that there are people in high places with these kinds of belief system.
Chas good interpretation of those statistics. Your take on those would make any Republican proud.
:)
Wiseman: If you can figure out what prophesies are foretold in Revelation, you are indeed insightful!
Personally, I think your concern is paranoid.
A policeman has to have probable cause to search your car(or house) or get a warrant. If he has to ask he doesn’t have cause, if you say yes then he doesn’t need a warrant because you gave consent.
Sol, if the company was doing the right thing to begin with they wouldn’t have to be paying back wages for 10 years.
It’s about fairness in employment, if she didn’t do a good job, she wouldn’t still be working there after all those years. To try to blame pay disparity on the employee is ridiculous. It enrages me that you think just because you’re a man that you’re entitled to make more money and if the woman doesn’t, so what?
But then you sit there and bitch because those same women use public assistance when they can’t support their families. You damn hypocrite.
Keeping women down in jobs that pay less, or keeping them from earning the same as men is bad for everyone. But you don’t get that…because you probably think it means more money in your own pocket. No wonder you’re a republican.
Outlander, it is better to be paranoid then to bury your head in sand.
I would like to thank the Eagle editors for their continuing advocacy for these poor undocumented angels. Where would we be without them?
A 27-year-old day laborer admitted in court Thursday to abducting and sexually assaulting his 7-year-old neighbor at a Southside apartment complex.
“I know what I did,” said Jonathan Castillo, speaking through a Spanish translator in Marion Superior Court. “I was drunk, and I can’t just fix things just because I’m drunk.”
The victim underwent surgery after the attack early Tuesday and remained in Riley Hospital for Children on Thursday, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Sgt. Matthew Mount said.
Castillo admitted his guilt during what is typically a routine hearing that allows the court to explain the charges to the defendant. Court Commissioner Steve Rubick entered a not-guilty plea on Castillo’s behalf despite the admission.
“By confessing under oath, you’ve just made (the public defender’s) job much more difficult,” Rubick said.
Prosecutors asked that Castillo’s bond be increased to $250,000, citing the risk to the community and a flight risk because Castillo is an illegal immigrant. Castillo had told Rubick he is a dual citizen of Mexico and Honduras and works as a day laborer.
Castillo also has prior convictions for two felonies — theft and residential entry — as well as driving while intoxicated and domestic battery, records show.
Rubick granted the request for higher bond. Castillo is being held in the Marion County Jail.
Castillo, police said, wore a mask, climbed up the metal supports of a third-story balcony and snatched the child from a bedroom at the Capital Place Apartments near Hanna Avenue and U.S. 31.
The victim lives in the apartment with her mother, father and 3-year-old brother.
The Indianapolis Star does not generally identify the victims of sexual assault.
The child’s father runs his own cleaning business and works nights. He told police he locked the front door when he left, but the balcony sliding door was open because the air conditioning was out.
He said his family is struggling to cope with the attack while his daughter’s physical wounds are healing.
“She’s a little better,” the father said by phone. “It’s very hard, you know. It’s very hard to see my daughter.”
Police said Castillo grabbed the victim while the child’s mother was sleeping in another bed a few feet away. Castillo’s apartment is in the same building.
The girl’s family discovered her missing about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday and began searching the apartment complex. Family members stepped outside and saw the suspect drop the girl on the ground and run toward his apartment, according to police and court records.
Castillo’s girlfriend, Maria Sanchez-Perez, 33, told police she saw blood on Castillo shortly after the assault, according to reports. Police seized several items from Castillo’s apartment.
Neighbor arrested following girl’s abduction, assault
Drunken Illegal Alien Rapes 7-Year-Old Indiana Girlhttp://blog.vdare.com/archives/2007/05/24/drunken-illegal-alien-rapes-7-year-old-indiana-girl/print/
Wow, good post, Sgt. S.
Thanks for reminding us that all crime in the US would immediately END if it weren’t for all the GREASERS.
I’m betting that child-molestation is much lower in the Hispanic community than in the Anglo.
Just a hunch from living along the border where you can’t even date a girl without her mother tagging along . . .
Parkay writes, “Muslims have hated Americans and tried to kill us in large numbers long before George Bush ran for President, and long before the World Trade Center bombing of 1993″
I ask for an example and I get nothing.
You heard of an eye for an eye.
This is LIE for a LIE.
The reich-wing makes up a purely spurious statement that they can’t back up, so now it’s our turn:
George W. Bush snorted cocaine off the naked buttocks of a male prostitute when he was AWOL from the Texas National Guard.
I kid you not!
Ah, Mr. Slaughter, here in Wichita your story rings a bit hollow. Yes, illegal immigrants do commit horrendous crimes – just like native born Americans – probably to a lesser degree however.
But here in Wichita, we have a home-grown crime sex crime practitioner, that didn’t just damage women physically, he murdered them. He had a total of ten victims.
He was good citizen, Boy Scout leader, solid Republican, church president, happily married suburbanite.
You may remember his name. He is Dennis Rader, a.k.a., BTK.
Channel 12 has done a poll on the Arena. “News at 10″
Wiseman, I believe your assessment of the prophecy scenario is right on target… They want Armageddon to come.. So they keep looking for it, and even in some cases, perhaps DOING things that might hasten such a battle… That is not just paranoid, it could be very dangerous…
Chas,
Maybe you don’t understand how seatbelts work, and all of the technology that’s involved? I suggest reading,http://auto.howstuffworks.com/seatbelt.htm
And “restraints” at,http://auto.howstuffworks.com/nascar-safety1.htm
BTW: Corzine’s SUV was only doing about 30 mph when it hit the guard rail.
KWCH poll shows people WANT a re-vote. It also shows a significant erosion of support the the arena due to all the changes. THAT is what the proponents are so afraid of.
Capn,
Here are three examples of Muslims trying to kill us in the 1980’s:
The 1983 truck-carried-explosive of Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983.
The 1986 Berlin nightclub bombing by Libya-sponsored terrorists that moved President Reagan to launch an air strike against Libya’s presidential compound.
The 1988 Pan-Am flight 107 (Lockerbie) bombing.
What is notable these, and subsequent attacks, is that anti-American jihadists completely lack the the capacity to destroy America. They can only mount occasional small-scale actions, that kill far fewer Americans annually than hospital errors, which cannot possibly destroy America, unless we posit that hospital errors are destroying America, and we must mount a “War on Hospital Errors”.
We’ve been duped by a small group of neocons, whose motivations we cannot understand, because first they are mentally ill, and secondly they work behind the Wizard of Oz curtain in secrecy, into squandering our nation’s wealth and welfare, by mounting a medieval-crusades-ideology invasion of the Middle East to capture its treasures, in this case oil.
Here is what Hermann Goering reportedly said during the Nuremburg trials:
“Naturally the common people don’t want war: neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country that determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship.
“Voice or no voice, the peoplle can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”
How did we get into Iraq? Fear-mongering. That was effective, by the total fabrication of a tie between Al Quaeda and Iraq, an the total fabrication that Saddam was working to build weapons of mass destruction, including a nuclear weapon that lackey mouthpiece Condoleeza Rice said was going to put a “mushroom cloud” on our country.
The biggest risk to our nation isn’t “Islamic terrorism”. It is power-and-riches-lusting hyper-capitalistic/ medieval-minded treason to our Founding Fathers’ vision of an Enlightenment-based dream of something that wasn’t the ancien regime model of plutocrats using the vast majority of other people as disposable pawns.
Capn and WSClark –
Your claims are very true. According to the DSM-IV, pedophilia (and acts thereof) is almost solely perpetrated by white males under the age of 40.
Yes. Some illegal immigrants commit terrible crimes. But native-born citizens commit just the same crimes on the same frequency, if not a greater one. Citizenship status has nothing to do with likelihood to commit crimes.