February 20, 2014
— Maetenloch
Because there are reports that some people around here have been unduly happy...
Welcome to the United States of Welfare
At some point in the last year or two we quietly passed a milestone in America: As a nation we are now more benefit-takers than full-time workers.
Of course there's probably some overlap between these groups but the bottom line is that getting by with government money is more the rule now in the US than the exception.
So if you work full-time and aren't getting some form of government payout based on your income, you're a sucker part of an elite group these days. You should feel proud to declare that you are a Producer. A majority of America thanks you.
Americans who were recipients of means-tested government benefits in 2011 outnumbered year-round full-time workers, according to data released this month by the Census Bureau. They also out-numbered the total population of the Philippines.There were 108,592,000 people in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2011 who were recipients of one or more means-tested government benefit programs, the Census Bureau said in data released this week. Meanwhile, according to the Census Bureau, there were 101,716,000 people who worked full-time year round in 2011. That included both private-sector and government workers.
That means there were about 1.07 people getting some form of means-tested government benefit for every 1 person working full-time year round.
Note that these means-based benefits do not include Social Security and most government pensions. Those fall into an entirely separate Big Effin' Problem category.
Among the 108,592,000 people who fit the Census Bureau's description of a means-tested benefit recipient in the fourth quarter of 2011 were 82,457,000 people in households receiving Medicaid, 49,073,000 beneficiaries of food stamps, 20,223,000 on Supplemental Security Income, 23,228,000 in the Women, Infants and Children program, 13,433,000 in public or subsidized rental housing, and 5,854,000 in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Also among the 108,592,000 means-tested benefit recipients counted by the Census Bureau were people getting free or reduced-price lunch or breakfast, state-administered supplemental security income and means-tested veterans pensions*.
*I'm not quite what this is but it seems distinct from the usual years-of-service-based military pensions.
Wait are you paying for your own food? Come on - be a smarty and join the EBT party.
The Tragedy of the Dependency Culture
Here David French looks at how the War on Poverty and easy government checks has damaged the spirit and souls of people in Appalachia.
To get a sense of the extent of government dependency in some Kentucky counties, in Martin County, Ky. (a county LBJ visited), consider this: Income from government transfer payments exceeds all income from wages and salaries - a ratio that far outstrips the national average.
...Perhaps most disturbing of all - for those who seek private intervention to alleviate poverty and transform lives - it appears the avalanche of government aid inoculates the region against effective charitable assistance. In a separate report, Cheves details how charitable dollars also flow into Appalachia, to no discernible effect. In fact, local residents are often all too happy to let private volunteers do repair work they're perfectly capable of performing themselves - sometimes leaving homes in disrepair until the annual summer influx of college students, all eager to help. The tragedy of government dependence is the tragedy of the slowly-dying human heart - the loss of hope and the rejection of any personal revitalization that requires more than a bare minimum of effort (followed by immediate and dramatic rewards). In my own time working with at-risk youth in Kentucky, my wife and I found it extraordinarily difficult to compete with the no-strings-attached federal money, where it was all too easy to reject any true reform or true personal initiative in favor of the life they knew.
Which brings us to the end state: Meet the 36-Year-Old Dane on Welfare Since She Was 16
Free at last from the eternal shackles of survival and responsibility. And purpose.
It turned out, however, that life on welfare was not so hard. The 36-year-old single mother, given the pseudonym "Carina" in the news media, had more money to spend than many of the country's full-time workers. All told, she was getting about $2,700 a month, and she had been on welfare since she was 16....Carina was not the only welfare recipient to fuel the sense that Denmark's system has somehow gotten out of kilter. Robert Nielsen, 45, made headlines last September when he was interviewed on television, admitting that he had basically been on welfare since 2001.
Mr. Nielsen said he was able-bodied but had no intention of taking a demeaning job, like working at a fast-food restaurant. He made do quite well on welfare, he said. He even owns his own co-op apartment.
Unlike Carina, who will no longer give interviews, Mr. Nielsen, called "Lazy Robert" by the news media, seems to be enjoying the attention. He says that he is greeted warmly on the street all the time. "Luckily, I am born and live in Denmark, where the government is willing to support my life," he said.
Thanks to a generous state both Carina and 'Lazy Robert' can look forward to pleasant retirement from a life of arduous non-work in just another decade or so.
How You Too Can Score Some of Those Sweeeet Guvvie $$$
Hey don't get angry - start getting your share.
Look all that government money is just going to be spent and wasted before the big crash anyway. So why shouldn't it go to someone like yourself who's willing to invest it in value-retaining durable goods like liquor, XBoxes, firearms, Russian brides, and full-featured bunkers. Because someone has to keep our American cultural heritage alive.
Are You Responsible For the Worst Thing One of Your Ancestors Ever Did?
Yes says the Guardian.
A newly appointed city commissioner in New York, Stacey Cumberbatch, told the New York Times last week that she believed British actor Benedict Cumberbatch's fifth great-grandfather owned her ancestors on an 18th-century sugar plantation in Barbados. They "are related," the newspaper noted, "if not by blood, then by geography and the complicated history of the slave trade."
...But there is a third dimension to the victim-perpetrator axis that is less often discussed: what of those who were not directly involved in wrongdoing but who benefited from it nonetheless? This can apply contemporaneously but also to generations beyond. What if your crime - if it can be called that - is to be born the son, grandson or great-grandson many times removed from those wrongdoers, their acts echoing in your blood and in your name? Should Benedict Cumberbatch still say sorry? Should he pay for the sins of his forefathers?
David Thompson points out that while many on the left seem to implicitly assume sin is genetic, they also don't really understand the math of genetic inheritance.
As we're apparently obliged to fret about one of Mr Cumberbatch's fifth great-grandparents, what about the other 127 fifth great-grandparents? Or the 2,048 ninth great-grandparents? There's bound to be some dirt there. And as a concerned and "reflexive" person - one apparently troubled by "privilege," "structural injustice" and the "tentacles of history" - shouldn't Ms Hanman first check whether her own distant ancestors committed any sins, whether deemed grievous at the time or as fathomed by modern standards?
If "undoing past wrongs" is the imperative, along with "collective accounting," as Ms Hanman appears to believe, why not venture further into history and supposition? If we go back to Ms Hanman's own 18th great-grandparents, we could merrily agonise over the deeds and rumoured deeds of a million or so people, about whom we could be even more tendentious and unrealistic. If we poke long enough and deep enough, and squint where necessary, we may find hustlers, rustlers, colonisers and cannibals. Imagine the fun.
"You better stay away from him
He'll rip your lungs out Jim
I'd like to meet his tailor"
Could this be the ultimate Sochi fail? Kate Hansen seems to think so. The American luger filmed an unwanted hotel guest roaming the halls of Olympic Village yesterday, tweeting out the video link, posted to YouTube, along with this caption: "Wolf in my hall?!? #SochiProblems #SochiFail." In the video's description, she writes, per Sky News, "I'm pretty sure this is a wolf wandering my hall in Sochi."
[Apparently this was a hoax by Jimmy Kimmel but since I already had the headline I figure why let the hobgoblin of truth and accuracy take away all the fun.]
Also the 15 Scariest faces of Sochi.
Yahoo group. That is all.
The group thingy. And the middle class.
And my Twitter spew.
Tonight's post brought to you by updated Maslow:
Notice: Posted by permission of AceCorp LLC. Please e-mail overnight open thread and stock tips plus 1 bitcoin for S&H to maetenloch at gmail. Otherwise send your scraps to BizarroAce. Do not taunt happy-fun ball. Avoid contact with genital area. Not valid in MT, DE.
Posted by: Maetenloch at
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Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 06:49 PM (HVff2)
Posted by: The Political Hat at February 20, 2014 06:50 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: The Political Hat at February 20, 2014 06:50 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: Roland THTG at February 20, 2014 06:51 PM (qyoyx)
Posted by: Roland THTG at February 20, 2014 06:51 PM (qyoyx)
Posted by: Jules ( turning Chinese ). clever, mean, and egotistical at February 20, 2014 06:51 PM (omBWL)
Posted by: Jules ( turning Chinese ). clever, mean, and egotistical at February 20, 2014 06:51 PM (omBWL)
Posted by: rickl at February 20, 2014 06:51 PM (sdi6R)
Posted by: rickl at February 20, 2014 06:51 PM (sdi6R)
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 20, 2014 06:51 PM (oFCZn)
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 20, 2014 06:51 PM (oFCZn)
Posted by: EC at February 20, 2014 06:51 PM (doBIb)
Posted by: EC at February 20, 2014 06:51 PM (doBIb)
Posted by: AltonJackson, DTF at February 20, 2014 06:51 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: AltonJackson, DTF at February 20, 2014 06:51 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 06:52 PM (bb5+k)
Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 06:52 PM (bb5+k)
Posted by: T.Y. Hoser at February 20, 2014 06:52 PM (NTcv9)
Posted by: T.Y. Hoser at February 20, 2014 06:52 PM (NTcv9)
Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 06:53 PM (bb5+k)
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 06:53 PM (HVff2)
Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at February 20, 2014 06:54 PM (g4TxM)
Posted by: rickl at February 20, 2014 06:54 PM (sdi6R)
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 20, 2014 06:54 PM (oFCZn)
Posted by: Jules ( turning Chinese ). clever, mean, and egotistical at February 20, 2014 06:55 PM (omBWL)
Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 06:55 PM (bb5+k)
The "red wedding" had me in shock. And I'd read the book. Excellent acting by all involved, esp. by Caitlin.
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 06:55 PM (30eLQ)
Posted by: EC at February 20, 2014 06:55 PM (doBIb)
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 06:55 PM (FHNkr)
Posted by: fluffy at February 20, 2014 06:56 PM (Ua6T/)
Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 06:56 PM (bb5+k)
Posted by: logprof at February 20, 2014 06:57 PM (ohEKh)
Posted by: grognard at February 20, 2014 06:58 PM (hjKMO)
Barbeque your government Lobsters on the beach, but don't neglect to store value-rite vodka and ammo.
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 06:58 PM (c6N69)
The ledger of accounts says they owe us.
Time to re-read Froude, "Bow of Ulysses". . .
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 06:59 PM (30eLQ)
Posted by: rickl at February 20, 2014 06:59 PM (sdi6R)
You worked and payed into the system. Better it goes to you when you need it rather than to someone who is abusing the system.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 06:59 PM (FHNkr)
Posted by: AltonJackson, DTF at February 20, 2014 06:59 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 06:59 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: Grey Fox at February 20, 2014 06:59 PM (pljWy)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 07:00 PM (ZPrif)
Posted by: Ireland is MY Island at February 20, 2014 07:00 PM (bb5+k)
Good doggeh!
Posted by: fluffy at February 20, 2014 07:00 PM (Ua6T/)
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 07:00 PM (HVff2)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 07:01 PM (30eLQ)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 07:01 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 07:01 PM (ZPrif)
Posted by: EC at February 20, 2014 07:01 PM (doBIb)
Posted by: Aggressive Micropenis at February 20, 2014 07:02 PM (LHgfw)
Posted by: Abbie Normal at February 20, 2014 07:02 PM (PXnNl)
Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 07:02 PM (bb5+k)
Conflict of interest and all that.
Posted by: EC
----------------------------
That sir, is profound.
Posted by: Tobacco Road at February 20, 2014 07:03 PM (4Mv1T)
It's like living in the old Soviet Union. Only the insane would fail to steal from the government if they cold.
The retards voted socialist, so ... give them what they voted for. A chocolate ration raised from 30 to 20 grams, unprocessed wood pulp labeled toilet paper, no Novocaine for dental work if you don't bribe the dentist, the whole nine yards.
Get your foot in the black-market door early!
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 07:03 PM (c6N69)
Posted by: votermom at February 20, 2014 07:03 PM (GSIDW)
Posted by: Aggressive Micropenis at February 20, 2014 07:04 PM (LHgfw)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 07:05 PM (84gbM)
You forgot to add that any filling in a tooth would likely be stainless steel and not dental silver.
Posted by: GMB who can't remembers back when..... at February 20, 2014 07:05 PM (nkPV9)
Posted by: EC at February 20, 2014 07:05 PM (doBIb)
He said that in this area, if you got full benefits, it equated to having a $60k/yr job.
Why at that point would anyone go to work?
He also said how people would roll up in fancy cars to get their benefits.
My mom tells him he should write a book, it would go viral. But he's not interested.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 07:05 PM (FHNkr)
Posted by: Tobacco Road at February 20, 2014 07:05 PM (4Mv1T)
Posted by: America has just gone to plaid at February 20, 2014 07:05 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: AmishDude at February 20, 2014 07:06 PM (xSegX)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 20, 2014 07:06 PM (gOmB2)
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 07:07 PM (c6N69)
Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 07:07 PM (bb5+k)
Posted by: Weirddave at February 20, 2014 07:07 PM (N/cFh)
55 EC's Amendment:
If you receive a means tested benefit such as WIC, Medicaid, food stamps, housing subsidy, free lunch, etc, then you automatically forfeit your right to vote for two election cycles.
Conflict of interest and all that.
-------
A-fucking-men to that, EC.
I've been saying the same thing for years...whereupon I usually get told that I'm being cold hearted, or something.
Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 07:07 PM (DEUoo)
Posted by: AmishDude at February 20, 2014 07:08 PM (xSegX)
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 11:03 PM (c6N69)
That's how I feel but many of my friends disagree with me. But sorry, if my fellow Americans decide that the slow road to Socialism is the way to go, they they forfeit the right to criticize me if I decide to apply for benefits one day.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 07:08 PM (FHNkr)
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 07:08 PM (c6N69)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 07:09 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: GMB who can't remembers back when..... at February 20, 2014 07:09 PM (nkPV9)
Posted by: EC at February 20, 2014 07:09 PM (doBIb)
Posted by: L, elle at February 20, 2014 07:10 PM (0xqKe)
Posted by: The Un-General Hat at February 20, 2014 07:10 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at February 20, 2014 07:10 PM (g4TxM)
Conflict of interest and all that.
Posted by: EC at February 20, 2014 11:01 PM (doBIb)
I occasionally toy with the idea of a universal income of, say, $30,000. In order to vote, hold office, sit on a jury, or serve as an officer in the military you'd have to give it up.
That, or make anyone who receives assistance perform menial labor if they aren't working. Spend four hours a day digging holes and filling them in. We'll even provide childcare during that time.
Posted by: Colorado Alex at February 20, 2014 07:11 PM (lr3d7)
Posted by: AltonJackson, DTF at February 20, 2014 07:11 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 07:11 PM (HVff2)
At this point, the best thing that could happen to us...is if people would stop loaning us money.
When it comes down to it...where do you think they will cut first:
Govt bureaucrat jobs - or - Entitlement Spending?
Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 07:11 PM (DEUoo)
Learn a trade in a community college while you can still afford it, work under the table ... skills can't be taken from you.
The welfare won't last long anyway ... the Fed is hell-bent on imitating Zimbabwe.
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 07:12 PM (c6N69)
Posted by: palerider at February 20, 2014 07:12 PM (dkExz)
Posted by: shredded chi at February 20, 2014 07:12 PM (pi02g)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 07:12 PM (84gbM)
Immediately thought of this music video.
http://youtu.be/XZGYYDvZnpg
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 20, 2014 07:12 PM (gOmB2)
Posted by: RWC at February 20, 2014 07:12 PM (f15Ls)
If I could, I would recommend recycling centers sorting bag after bag of household garbage for anything that could be recycled.
Put them in Level 4 mopp suits if you have to.
Posted by: GMB who can't remembers back when..... at February 20, 2014 07:13 PM (nkPV9)
Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 07:13 PM (bb5+k)
Second wave of housing bubble as they downgrade or go into assisted living
Social Security in the red
Pension bubble
Municipal bond bubble
Wall St bubble
Chinese lending bubble
Higher Ed bubble
And we don't have enough producers
Seriously, how do we get out of this?
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 07:13 PM (FHNkr)
A lot of kids didn't get Novocaine in the Soviet Union. They just got to scream. Unless their parents were active in the black market, or were part of the inner party.
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 07:14 PM (c6N69)
Posted by: Colorado Alex at February 20, 2014 07:14 PM (lr3d7)
Posted by: AltonJackson, DTF at February 20, 2014 07:14 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at February 20, 2014 07:14 PM (GEICT)
AmericaÂ’s chief problem is really quite simple: Congress has unlimited power of taxation.
This in turn gives Congress virtually unlimited power to borrow money against the wealth of the United States that it can forever tap – through its unlimited power of taxation.
With unlimited power to tax and borrow, the Federal Government will forever ‘discover’ unlimited ‘purposes’ for doing so.
This is precisely why our government has become an uncontrollable, ever-expanding Leviathan.
(And why it makes little difference who the president is or which party controls Congress.)
It is ignorant folly to believe that AmericaÂ’s catastrophic fiscal trajectory can be changed by electing conservative politicians into the Federal Government.
The only way our Republic will ever achieve fiscal sanity is by amending the Constitution to sharply limit CongressÂ’s unlimited power of taxation.
However, momentum for a Constitutional amendment canÂ’t be built until the conservative movement finally recognizes what is by far AmericaÂ’s biggest problem: Congress has unlimited power of taxation.
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 07:15 PM (07UzX)
Posted by: EC at February 20, 2014 07:15 PM (doBIb)
Posted by: The GOP at February 20, 2014 07:15 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: rickl at February 20, 2014 07:15 PM (sdi6R)
Or freshen up this peaty tasting swill, THEN go to bed.
TGIF, you muthutruckers.
Posted by: Tobacco Road at February 20, 2014 07:15 PM (4Mv1T)
Posted by: votermom at February 20, 2014 07:16 PM (heB1/)
Posted by: ManWithNoParty at February 20, 2014 07:16 PM (ojnk6)
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 07:16 PM (HVff2)
Posted by: GMB who can't remembers back when..... at February 20, 2014 07:16 PM (nkPV9)
Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 07:17 PM (bb5+k)
Posted by: EC at February 20, 2014 07:17 PM (doBIb)
Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 07:17 PM (bb5+k)
108...Given that choice, the obvious answer is that they would cut military spending and infrastructure maintenance.
--------
Well yeah...they're already doing that, aren't they.
Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 07:18 PM (DEUoo)
Just a reminder that in the 70s "Rockstar looks" was a standard with rather relaxed boundaries.
Mouth & MacNeal - How do you do 1972
http://youtu.be/gBDNjuazoUY
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 20, 2014 07:18 PM (kdS6q)
Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at February 20, 2014 07:18 PM (14um2)
Posted by: The Historical Hat at February 20, 2014 07:18 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: Chavez the Hugo at February 20, 2014 07:18 PM (Q8vlx)
The DJI will crash when all the boomers start cashing out their IRAs/401ks.
Someone has to buy those stocks, and the number of people buying them up for IRA is starting to become less than the number of people selling the stocks to cash out for retirement.
The US stock market is at the top of a gigantic bubble caused by IRA contributions. The crash is gonna be painful.
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 07:19 PM (c6N69)
EBT cards/food stamps should only work at grocery stores, Wal-Mart, Target and big box retailers were the prices are actually competitive.
EBT cards/foodstamps should not work on soda or junk food. It should only work on bread, soup, cereal, milk, eggs, juice, cheese, meat, veggies and fruits, the staples...
The people who truly need the benefits would get what they need to live.
If others don't like the lack of freedom of choice, then they can find a way to earn income that they can spend as they wish.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 07:19 PM (FHNkr)
Posted by: The Untoked Hat at February 20, 2014 07:20 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 07:21 PM (HVff2)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 07:21 PM (ZPrif)
Posted by: Kristophr
---------------------------
Moo Moo would tell us we can enjoy 10% returns ad infinitum.
I really should go to bed lest he show up.
Posted by: Tobacco Road at February 20, 2014 07:21 PM (4Mv1T)
Posted by: Colorado Alex at February 20, 2014 07:22 PM (lr3d7)
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 20, 2014 07:22 PM (oFCZn)
Posted by: buzzion at February 20, 2014 07:23 PM (LI48c)
Posted by: Yoda at February 20, 2014 07:23 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 20, 2014 07:23 PM (gOmB2)
Your inlaws already know where this express train of pain is going.
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 07:23 PM (c6N69)
Posted by: RWC at February 20, 2014 07:23 PM (f15Ls)
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 07:23 PM (HVff2)
Haha, I like the added touch of a Black Sabbath song.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 07:24 PM (FHNkr)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 20, 2014 07:24 PM (gOmB2)
Sexbots that are pay as you go?
Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at February 20, 2014 07:24 PM (14um2)
Posted by: rickl at February 20, 2014 07:24 PM (sdi6R)
Buy gold and silver. Seriously.
http://causalitysend.mee.nu/stack_metal_not_myra
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 07:24 PM (c6N69)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD)
-------------------------------
I really need to get his address.
Posted by: Tobacco Road at February 20, 2014 07:24 PM (4Mv1T)
They were Berbers and Arabs in that town. Mostly Berbers speaking Arabic as a prestige-tongue.
The slave-trade was on the outs in the Romania as of the early 600s AD. The Arabs (and Berbers) were losing their market. But God told them, or at least someone was found to assure them that God told them, that slavery was a Divine institution and that a war to acquire this booty was a Divine struggle.
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 07:24 PM (30eLQ)
How do we get out of this?
Here's a BIG hint, my fellow conservatives:
We can't begin to develop a solution until we recognize the fundamental problem.
So what is the fundamental problem? It's very simple:
Congress has unlimited power of taxation.
Or, put another way:
CONGRESS HAS UNLIMITED POWER OF TAXATION.
Any 'solution' that doesn't recognize this fundamental problem isn't a solution at all.
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 07:25 PM (07UzX)
Posted by: Infidel at February 20, 2014 07:25 PM (6bvBO)
I've been commenting since #120 and been reading since the third comment was made.
Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at February 20, 2014 07:26 PM (14um2)
Posted by: AmishDude at February 20, 2014 07:26 PM (xSegX)
Posted by: Chavez the Hugo at February 20, 2014 07:26 PM (Q8vlx)
You're fine. Interesting thoughts you have there. I particularly like the the short vid of work fails you have posted on your site.
Come on now. Ride that concrete mixer puhhlleeeezzz.
Posted by: GMB who can't remembers back when..... at February 20, 2014 07:26 PM (nkPV9)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 20, 2014 07:26 PM (gOmB2)
Posted by: Ashley Judd's Puffy Scamper, also known as MrCaniac at February 20, 2014 07:27 PM (HxSXm)
But I am worried that if the tax coffers get a boon from new economic activity, there will be no reason to fix the problems in the system.
Christie ran partly on the out of control property taxes here. Well, they're still out of control. Sure, he forced the teacher's union's hand into a compromise, but too little too late. It's still to expensive to live here, too over-taxed and spending is still too wasteful. Maybe he put a bandage on the problem for now but that doesn't cure the illness.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 07:27 PM (FHNkr)
Posted by: sound awake at February 20, 2014 07:27 PM (UtoSj)
---------------------
God speed, Infidel. I hope the best for you.
Posted by: Tobacco Road at February 20, 2014 07:27 PM (4Mv1T)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 07:28 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 07:28 PM (bb5+k)
It helps that ve haff meticulous family records, ja?
Posted by: the 1930s at February 20, 2014 07:29 PM (30eLQ)
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 07:29 PM (HVff2)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 20, 2014 11:24 PM (gOmB2)
I'm not to the actual debate yet. But the three topics are
"Empire is a more dangerous enemy than the Borg"
"The USS Enterprise would beat the Millenium Falcon in a Dog Fight."
"The Star Wars Universe is better than the Star Trek Universe."
Posted by: buzzion at February 20, 2014 07:29 PM (LI48c)
Posted by: ParanoidGirlinSeattle at February 20, 2014 07:30 PM (RZ8pf)
Posted by: RWC at February 20, 2014 07:30 PM (f15Ls)
Posted by: AmishDude at February 20, 2014 07:30 PM (xSegX)
127...It would have to be something that totally transforms society. Something that makes society vastly richer and more productive, so we can afford all the welfare and debts.
-----------
The only thing I can think of...would be a full out balls-to-the-wall Space Program.
Instead of welfare and EBT...you go to work, doing something.
Push a broom.
Cook in the cafeteria.
Riveting, driving a supply truck or making zero-g suits.
Something.
Everybody works.
Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 07:30 PM (DEUoo)
Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 07:30 PM (bb5+k)
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 20, 2014 07:30 PM (oFCZn)
Posted by: Chavez the Hugo at February 20, 2014 07:31 PM (Q8vlx)
Posted by: ParanoidGirlinSeattle at February 20, 2014 07:31 PM (RZ8pf)
Posted by: Infidel at February 20, 2014 07:31 PM (6bvBO)
Posted by: RWC at February 20, 2014 07:31 PM (f15Ls)
Posted by: Carol at February 20, 2014 07:31 PM (z4WKX)
Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at February 20, 2014 07:32 PM (AQTz3)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 20, 2014 07:32 PM (gOmB2)
Yep.
Transforms society into what E.M Forster envisioned in _The Machine Stops_. One of the most depressing and yet most prescient short stories ever written.
I'd rather have things fall apart completely first, instead of having humanity become essentially helpless houseplants.
Posted by: torquewrench at February 20, 2014 07:32 PM (gqT4g)
Posted by: shredded chi at February 20, 2014 07:32 PM (pi02g)
The first two questions seem rather objective to me. The Borg are clearly more dangerous and the Enterprise is a ship-of-the-line.
The third question is completely relative.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 07:33 PM (FHNkr)
I know. I'm half right about being a wit or so I'm told.
Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at February 20, 2014 07:33 PM (14um2)
Posted by: ParanoidGirlinSeattle at February 20, 2014 07:33 PM (RZ8pf)
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 20, 2014 07:33 PM (oFCZn)
Posted by: Rick Perry at February 20, 2014 07:34 PM (JAmwA)
Posted by: Yoda at February 20, 2014 07:34 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: Nip Sip at February 20, 2014 07:34 PM (0FSuD)
"Empire is a more dangerous enemy than the Borg"
"The USS Enterprise would beat the Millenium Falcon in a Dog Fight."
"The Star Wars Universe is better than the Star Trek Universe."
Photon torpedos have a yield of 64 megatons. The turbolasers on a star destroyer measure in the gigatons.
The Star Wars Universe is a galaxy spanning civilization that is tens of thousands of years old where fanatical warrior-monks fight a religious war while armies of millions of clones battle armies of millions of war-robots.
Star Trek is about space socialists in pajamas.
Posted by: Colorado Alex at February 20, 2014 07:34 PM (lr3d7)
Posted by: The Political Hat at February 20, 2014 07:35 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: RWC at February 20, 2014 07:35 PM (f15Ls)
But, I've paid in long enough. Tomorrow, I may be selling some tools/guns/a watch or two so I can afford a new phone & pay the power bill. I'm tired of eating like a homeless person while I watch people I know buy steak, shrimp, Pepsi and chips with EBT.
Posted by: shredded chi at February 20, 2014 11:12 PM
Wouldn't blame you if you did.I know it goes against the grain, but, the way things are heading, one might as well grab whatever one can while the gettings good. I suspect that the $$$ you don't take, will be blown on some bullshit anyway. It's not like the $$$ you're forgoing is gonna make them say "oh, joe bloggs isn't getting that $60 thou, or whatever... we'd better save that dough! so we don't rack up even more debt.... and while we're at it let's not raise taxes again."
Yeah, I'm cynical, pessimistic and irresponsible I guess. Not smart either. But, it looks like the ship is going down. Might as well nick that Dom perignon before it does. Hopefully thing can still be turned around. But, I have doubts.
Posted by: otho at February 20, 2014 07:36 PM (9gNQd)
We'll Be Back Soon
Covered California is experiencing technical difficulties with the enrollment website, which led to an unplanned system outage beginning yesterday. We are working as quickly as possible to resolve this issue.
Oh, OK. Not like I needed to check on anything important, like my health insurance.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 20, 2014 07:36 PM (kdS6q)
Posted by: Dendritic at February 20, 2014 07:36 PM (8Z8Vp)
And from the Persians, the Slavs and maybe even the Celts (Galatians) and Ossetians (Avars) . . .
I'll buy you a Guinness on behalf of the Celtic ancestry I got
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 07:36 PM (30eLQ)
The first two questions seem rather objective to me. The Borg are clearly more dangerous and the Enterprise is a ship-of-the-line.
The third question is completely relative.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 11:33 PM (FHNkr)
Its a debate so its about the points each side brings up and defends. And I just have to say again how pathetic it is to be a nerd and have zero knowledge of either.
Posted by: buzzion at February 20, 2014 07:36 PM (LI48c)
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 07:36 PM (HVff2)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 07:37 PM (30eLQ)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 07:37 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: Colorado Alex at February 20, 2014 07:37 PM (lr3d7)
Posted by: ParanoidGirlinSeattle at February 20, 2014 07:37 PM (RZ8pf)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 20, 2014 07:38 PM (DmNpO)
Posted by: To Boldly Go Where No Hat Has Gone Before at February 20, 2014 07:38 PM (AymDN)
Might actually get some writing done on the netbook. Or sleep.
Don't burn the ONT down. Jya ne.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 20, 2014 07:38 PM (gOmB2)
Posted by: thunderb at February 20, 2014 07:38 PM (zOTsN)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 07:39 PM (ZPrif)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 07:39 PM (84gbM)
You are in the position of a member of a family trust that has just watched the trust go to zero because the other siblings were spendthrifts.
While you contributed to SS, and voted for fiscal sanity, everyone else voted for retards who looted the fund to pay for goodies instead of raising government revenues. And the only way they can make good on the IOUs now is to print up more funny-money.
I feel your pain ... I contributed since age 18, but I fully expect it to be gone and dead when I hit retirement age.
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 07:40 PM (c6N69)
Posted by: The Political Hat at February 20, 2014 07:40 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 07:40 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 07:40 PM (ZPrif)
Posted by: noone, really [/i] [/b] at February 20, 2014 07:41 PM (5ikDv)
Posted by: AmishDude at February 20, 2014 07:41 PM (xSegX)
Serfs, more likely, in my case. We're lowborn Brits, Irish, and Jews in my family.
Maybe that's why I don't mind royalism. I figure some asshole's going to be my lord eventually. My prayer is "God keep the tsar far away from us".
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 07:41 PM (30eLQ)
But the question is about Enterprise vs a beat up merchant ship.... not a Star Destroyer...
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 11:37 PM (84gbM)
But that beat up merchant ship seems to be able to handle the weapons fire from a Star Destroyer.
Posted by: buzzion at February 20, 2014 07:41 PM (LI48c)
THE fundamental problem:
Congress has unlimited power of taxation.
Just how do you think we arrived at out current Welfare Entitlement State?
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 07:41 PM (07UzX)
But the question is about Enterprise vs a beat up merchant ship.... not a Star Destroyer...
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 11:37 PM (84gbM)
The initial question was about the danger of the Empire versus the danger of the Borg. The Empire has weapons an order of magnitude more powerful than the Federation. The Borg have never demonstrated anything close to that. Furthermore, Star Wars hyperdrive is much faster than warp, giving the Empire both speed and firepower advantages.
The latter part of my comment was a response to the third question.
As for the question of the Enterprise vs. the MF; I'll grant that the Enterprise would likely win if the combatants were unable to flee. However, the comparison of the Federation flagship versus a worn-down freighter is hardly a proper one. A better comparison would be the Enterprise versus the Executor.
Posted by: Colorado Alex at February 20, 2014 07:42 PM (lr3d7)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 07:42 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: AmishDude at February 20, 2014 07:42 PM (xSegX)
TPH. Its a TOS reference. Way to Eden episode. To be a Herbert is to be square. All the hippie spaceniks then went to a planet that looked like Eden but all the fruit were acidic and killed. Talk about a sermon.
And now I am really gone. Night all.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 20, 2014 07:42 PM (gOmB2)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 07:42 PM (ZPrif)
Posted by: Thrawn at February 20, 2014 07:43 PM (WlWt+)
"The Star Wars Universe is better than the Star Trek Universe."
Well, in the Star Wars Universe there are apparently only two decent looking females, Leia and Mrs. Skywalker. While in Trek, Kirk is banging smokin' space hoochies from one end of the galaxy to 'tother.
So, Trek.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 20, 2014 07:43 PM (kdS6q)
I have not received one dime in public benefits, not even unemployment. I have been paying into Social Security.
If I get the chance, I will accept assistance. But the goal is to need no one's help.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 07:43 PM (FHNkr)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 07:44 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at February 20, 2014 07:44 PM (b6koZ)
Posted by: ManWithNoParty at February 20, 2014 07:44 PM (ojnk6)
It's not bad. It's like the FoxNews B-team.
CNBC still crushes FBN in the ratings.
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 11:40 PM (ZPrif)
CNBC is on a lot of basic cable packages. Fox News Business usually is on higher tiers.
Posted by: buzzion at February 20, 2014 07:44 PM (LI48c)
Get off my fucking lawn!
Really?
Posted by: Nip Sip at February 20, 2014 11:34 PM (0FSuD)
You might want to go back and re-read what was actually written in the post.
Posted by: Mætenloch at February 20, 2014 07:44 PM (pAlYe)
Posted by: AltonJackson at February 20, 2014 07:44 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 20, 2014 07:45 PM (DmNpO)
Posted by: noone, really [/i] [/b] at February 20, 2014 07:45 PM (5ikDv)
Posted by: The Political Hat at February 20, 2014 07:45 PM (AymDN)
I'll tell you it was wasted money, though; because it was.
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 07:46 PM (30eLQ)
Posted by: thunderb at February 20, 2014 11:38 PM (zOTsN)
I'm screwed... had direct ancestors on BOTH sides... Posted by: Romeo13
We don't talk about our yankees in the attic. Most were right off the boat from Ireland, all they knew was the South was trying to be an ally with England - that was enough (and a rum ration).
Posted by: Jean at February 20, 2014 07:46 PM (4JkHl)
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 07:46 PM (HVff2)
Posted by: Carol at February 20, 2014 07:46 PM (z4WKX)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 07:46 PM (ZPrif)
Posted by: Let slip the puppies of war at February 20, 2014 07:47 PM (FbMva)
I think that must have been the inspiration for the Zap Brannigan's uniform in Futurama.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 07:48 PM (FHNkr)
Posted by: The Political Hat at February 20, 2014 07:48 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 20, 2014 07:49 PM (DmNpO)
And to the extent the real power is with the unelected bureaucracy, we don't want limits to capitol hill's power. . .
Any government reform has to deal with the real government, not just the actors on the stage.
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 07:49 PM (30eLQ)
Posted by: shredded chi at February 20, 2014 07:49 PM (pi02g)
The local pizza parlor accepts EBT.
I've been in there and had a woman in front of me who was so drunk and stoned (on weed per the smell, possibly other things too) that she literally was unable to complete the transaction. Finally the poor counter clerk had to take the "Golden State Advantage" EBT card from her and swipe it.
Let me tell you that if that system ever stops working for more than 2 days, it is going to be utter terrifying mayhem. People like that particular welfare "client" will just lose it entirely. Scary enough dealing with that sort when the card works.
Posted by: torquewrench at February 20, 2014 07:49 PM (gqT4g)
Posted by: Colorado Alex at February 20, 2014 11:42 PM (lr3d7)
I'll point out that in the debate the only question that the Star Wars side was able to win, partly because the others were handled by a petulant brat that would be shunned by other nerds and the guy that has no knowledge of either, was that the Millenium Falcon would win the dog fight.
Posted by: buzzion at February 20, 2014 07:50 PM (LI48c)
Actually most of what I wrote was tongue in cheek snark.
And truthfully I actually don't think there'll be any Burning Times as fun as they might be. Because of the vast resources of the US at worst we'll be more like Argentina which has gone bust a few times in the last century yet still avoids poverty due to all of its natural resources.
Posted by: Mætenloch at February 20, 2014 07:50 PM (pAlYe)
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at February 20, 2014 07:50 PM (b6koZ)
Posted by: The Political EBT at February 20, 2014 07:50 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 07:51 PM (ZPrif)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 07:51 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 07:51 PM (HVff2)
Dark, gritty, and willing to show that the "paradise" of the Federation was supported by genocidal protectors and the suppression of those they f**ked over.
Eddington's speech against the Federation was spot-on.
This.
And because I hate people who just post "this" I'll add: even though the Federation sucked Gorn balls in DS9, it was still preferable to the Dominion and worth fighting for.
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 07:51 PM (30eLQ)
Posted by: RWC at February 20, 2014 07:52 PM (f15Ls)
Posted by: The Breen at February 20, 2014 07:54 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: FCF at February 20, 2014 07:54 PM (Khja4)
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at February 20, 2014 07:54 PM (b6koZ)
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 07:54 PM (HVff2)
Posted by: ManWithNoParty at February 20, 2014 07:54 PM (ojnk6)
Posted by: RWC at February 20, 2014 07:55 PM (f15Ls)
She can go to Costco and get a large pizza that she can heat up at home for like $5 instead of paying $1 or more per slice at the pizza shop.
And Costco's pizzas are pretty good for store bought if you ask me.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 07:55 PM (FHNkr)
Come on. It was a soap opera set in space until the war began. Poor little black kid and poor little Ferenghi kid become best fwiends.
And the alternate time line/dimension with the hot alien babe as a lesbian slave-queen that O'Brien crossed over to the several times came after the war started too, didn't it?
Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at February 20, 2014 07:55 PM (14um2)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 07:56 PM (ZPrif)
Posted by: Carol at February 20, 2014 07:56 PM (z4WKX)
Hey Maetenloch, at last there are signs that the thread-comments to your post might be on to something worthwhile!
Comments #233 & #240 show inklings of awareness that the real problem can NEVER be solved by elections.
- Changing the players (power-holders) in government will NEVER begin to approach the solution.
We have to change the rules by which the power-holders play.
- That means Constitutional amendment. Without that awareness, it's all merely a bunch of entertaining wheel spinning.
...but I'm no longer entertained. I stopped being entertained after I had to hold my nose and vote for McCain.
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 07:56 PM (07UzX)
Posted by: andycanuck at February 20, 2014 11:55 PM (14um2)
O'Brien never crossed over. His counterpart Smiley did cross over to the main universe once though.
Posted by: buzzion at February 20, 2014 07:57 PM (LI48c)
Posted by: AltonJackson at February 20, 2014 07:57 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: RWC at February 20, 2014 07:57 PM (f15Ls)
Posted by: The Kai's Hat at February 20, 2014 07:57 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 11:54 PM (HVff2)
Well desperation tends to open doors that are closed to reason and argument.
Posted by: Mætenloch at February 20, 2014 07:58 PM (pAlYe)
A better comparison would be the Enterprise versus the Executor.
Posted by: Colorado Alex
Note the Enterprise and a heavily damaged Constellation class starship manned solely by Kirk were able to take out the galaxy raping Planet Killer.
Also, Corbomite Maneuver. People are a hell of a lot smarter in the Trekverse.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 20, 2014 07:58 PM (kdS6q)
One metric ton of dead enviro-hippie can be converted through heat-depolymerization into 80 gallons of Soylent Diesel.
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 07:58 PM (c6N69)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 07:58 PM (30eLQ)
An exception can be made for Congress to have an emergency wartime session or something, but otherwise, shut it down for the session and let the critters spend some time with the voters back home.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 07:58 PM (FHNkr)
Posted by: Infidel at February 20, 2014 07:59 PM (6bvBO)
Posted by: What dreamers may come at February 20, 2014 07:59 PM (FbMva)
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 08:01 PM (HVff2)
Posted by: The Kai's Hat at February 20, 2014 08:01 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: RWC at February 20, 2014 08:02 PM (f15Ls)
Posted by: Piercello on the road at February 20, 2014 08:03 PM (5Jtal)
I got back into it around season 5 right before the Dominion War story arc.
The last 2 seasons of DS9 are two of the best seasons of any TV show I have seen.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 08:03 PM (FHNkr)
There are several good ideas for Constitutional amendments. The idea of setting term limits for Senators and House Representatives is a very good idea.
But THE fundamental problem is: Congress has unlimited power of taxation.
-That's it. That's the real problem. Everything else is a distant second.
We are diving off of the Entitlement Cliff because: CONGRESS HAS UNLIMITED POWER OF TAXATION.
- THAT is the problem that conservatives should be focused on.
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 08:03 PM (07UzX)
Posted by: AltonJackson at February 20, 2014 08:03 PM (JMmQ9)
Also note, the Trek verse kinda has conservatives. The Maquis are pretty teaparty-ish and there's that socon earth group Worf considered joining.
SW has princesses.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 20, 2014 08:04 PM (kdS6q)
Posted by: ManWithNoParty at February 20, 2014 08:05 PM (ojnk6)
Posted by: AltonJackson at February 20, 2014 08:05 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: The Kai's Hat at February 20, 2014 08:05 PM (AymDN)
"It's a faaake!"
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 08:05 PM (30eLQ)
Posted by: knight at the kids square table at February 20, 2014 08:05 PM (q0r5L)
The mirror-universe DS9 started in season two with episode "Crossover", years before the war (but about the time the writers were foreshadowing the Dominion).
That early, eh? I didn't watch them in order and I was blinded by the tight leatherette (vinyl?) outfit. The Maquis were, obviously, correct though. Frigging RIABLOs* running Star Fleet. Pretty keen on Spoonhead dick too as I recall.
*Romulans in all but label only
Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at February 20, 2014 08:05 PM (14um2)
Posted by: Carol at February 20, 2014 08:05 PM (z4WKX)
(C'mon, you were all thinkin' the same thing)
Posted by: AltonJackson at February 21, 2014 12:03 AM (JMmQ9)
Hey I'm still working my way through my Y2K cache. Not that I'm complaining given the current prices and supply.
Posted by: Mætenloch at February 20, 2014 08:06 PM (pAlYe)
Don't forget the Ferengi were unabashed capitalists. Yes, Roddenberry originally wanted them to be TNG's bad guys (before they thought up the Borg) but the DS9 people turned the Ferengi into kinda sorta allies of the Federation towards the end.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 08:06 PM (FHNkr)
Posted by: Elim Garak at February 20, 2014 08:07 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: The Kai's Hat at February 20, 2014 08:07 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 08:07 PM (HVff2)
That episode was one of the best.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 08:08 PM (FHNkr)
Posted by: Ashley Judd's Puffy Scamper, also known as MrCaniac at February 20, 2014 08:08 PM (HxSXm)
Posted by: RWC at February 20, 2014 08:08 PM (f15Ls)
That sounds like something someone with more than one stomach would say!
Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at February 20, 2014 08:09 PM (14um2)
Oh, undoubtedly.
Equal or better pizza, too.
But for so many of the population on benefits, these sorts of rudimentary comparative calculations might as well be relativistic quantum theory. It's all down to immediate gratification of the animal impulse on someone else's dime.
"Hey, you know you could get a lot more for your money if you..."
"But I'm hungry NOW."
(And, unspoken corollary, "And this isn't MY money.")
Posted by: torquewrench at February 20, 2014 08:09 PM (gqT4g)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 08:09 PM (30eLQ)
Posted by: Infidel at February 20, 2014 08:09 PM (6bvBO)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 08:10 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: The Kai's Hat at February 20, 2014 08:10 PM (AymDN)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 08:10 PM (30eLQ)
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 08:10 PM (HVff2)
Posted by: knight at the kids square table at February 20, 2014 08:10 PM (q0r5L)
Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at February 20, 2014 08:11 PM (jucos)
Remember the episode with the genetically engineered think tank that was sent to DS9 to figure out how to deal with the Dominion? Well, those guys determined the best course of action was complete surrender to the Dominion because it would be the least loss of life compared to war.
Sisko was told the estimated death toll from a war with the Dominion and he told the think tank to shove it.
He chose war and Earth independence over pacifism.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 08:11 PM (FHNkr)
Posted by: AltonJackson has been asleep for 12 minutes at February 20, 2014 08:12 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 20, 2014 08:13 PM (DmNpO)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 08:13 PM (84gbM)
Only you can prevent pelvic fires.
Brought to you by the Bad Council.
Posted by: Fappy the Weasel at February 20, 2014 08:13 PM (0AKks)
Posted by: Dendritic at February 20, 2014 08:13 PM (8Z8Vp)
Posted by: Carol at February 20, 2014 08:13 PM (z4WKX)
Posted by: ManWithNoParty at February 20, 2014 08:13 PM (ojnk6)
"I know you. I was like you once, but then I opened my eyes. Open your eyes, Captain. Why is the Federation so obsessed with the Maquis? We've never harmed you. And yet we're constantly arrested and charged with terrorism. Starships chase us through the Badlands and our supporters are harassed and ridiculed. Why? Because we've left the Federation, and that's the one thing you can't accept. Nobody leaves paradise. Everyone should want to be in the Federation. Hell, you even want the Cardassians to join. You're only sending them replicators because one day they can take their "rightful place" on the Federation Council.
You know, in some ways you're even worse than the Borg. At least they tell you about their plans for assimilation. You're more insidious. You assimilate people and they don't even know it."
Michael Eddington
Eddington/Paul 2016
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 20, 2014 08:14 PM (kdS6q)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 20, 2014 08:14 PM (DmNpO)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 08:14 PM (ZPrif)
Our President would have had a happier life, I think, had he said that to the klingon in his own home
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 08:14 PM (30eLQ)
But who had hotter Female Officers...
Posted by: Romeo13
Ezri Dax. The cutest lil' bodysnatcher ever.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 20, 2014 08:15 PM (kdS6q)
Posted by: AmishDude at February 20, 2014 08:15 PM (xSegX)
Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at February 20, 2014 08:15 PM (14um2)
This is a point I've made before -- If the US declared bankruptcy tomorrow, all our natural resources and infrastructure would still be sitting here. Our ability to feed ourselves, plus a good chunk of the rest of the world wouldn't change (much). Prosperity is energy, and we got shitloads of it. Pournelle has written extensively on the last point.
It wouldn't be the same place, but it wouldn't be a third world hellhole either, unless the wrong people get in charge. Which is exactly what our current problem is.
Posted by: GnuBreed at February 20, 2014 08:16 PM (cHZB7)
I always thought Jadzia's smile was too smug by half.
(And no, it's not because "I don't like strong women". Kira Nerys could have her way with me anytime.)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 08:17 PM (30eLQ)
Posted by: AmishDude at February 20, 2014 08:18 PM (xSegX)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 08:19 PM (ZPrif)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 21, 2014 12:13 AM (84gbM)
I vote Lexx, Farscape or Cleopatra 2525
Posted by: The Dude at February 20, 2014 08:19 PM (bStrg)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 08:19 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 08:20 PM (ZPrif)
Maet, agree re "burning times". Inertia is the greatest force in nature. The US - as demonstrated shamefully, and to our detriment, as recently as 2009 - has inertial resources (global reserve currency, wealth, vast internal market, infrastructure, declining but extant attraction for both wealth and would-be wealth creators) that can be misused to cushion any crashes. And crashes there may well be.
I've thought this since the "LIB" and burning times discussions started. Tragically, the very virtues and accomplishments that made the country so great also allow an amazing amount of irresponsibility and dissolution to proceed without crashing the system.
So sorry, morons. Kinetic dramatic schadenfreudliche burning times are not very likely. Grinding, infuriating, depressing, enervating decline and mediocrity are probably our future.
Look at CA. It is a simply mind-blowing spectacle of bad governance - from first to worst in many ways in one generation. But CA's amazing resources (high tech, which is left alone, more or less, plus all the usual suspects of tourism, agriculture, etc.) allow the malfeasance to continue indefinitely. Lawlessness WRT the state constitution is of course required and has become rampant.
Sickening.
Posted by: non-purist at February 20, 2014 08:21 PM (afQnV)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 08:22 PM (30eLQ)
Posted by: Ashley Judd's Puffy Scamper, also known as MrCaniac at February 20, 2014 08:22 PM (HxSXm)
Posted by: shredded chi at February 20, 2014 08:22 PM (pi02g)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 08:22 PM (ZPrif)
Riker should set you up on a date with the alien who made him wear the faggy outfit then.
Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at February 20, 2014 08:22 PM (14um2)
Posted by: The Dude at February 20, 2014 08:23 PM (bStrg)
Posted by: Ag80 at February 20, 2014 08:24 PM (CGITp)
And I will raise you one Russian Fatalist...Susan Ivanava
Posted by: Romeo13
You would want Susan "The Right Hand of God" Ivanava in your foxhole. You'd want Kawaii Dax in your bunk.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 20, 2014 08:24 PM (kdS6q)
Cooth is worth a thousand of the other west-coast guys, so it balances out.
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 08:25 PM (30eLQ)
Posted by: ManWithNoParty at February 20, 2014 08:25 PM (ojnk6)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 21, 2014 12:19 AM (84gbM)
And then there is Jerry Doyle's ex : Andrea Thompson.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at February 20, 2014 08:26 PM (kVfSG)
I use the parable of the lifeboat in which everyone has a share of the rations. The stupid liberals on board want to eat everything now, while you want to ration it out slowly.
They proceed to eati their ration up quickly, and you realize that if you hold on to yours, they will overpower you and take it, and leave you all the weaker than themselves.
Eat your share, because in doing so, at least you will be able to match them in strength.
Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 11:28 PM (bb5+k)
--
More or less the Tragedy of the Commons.
Posted by: Where're my ping pong balls at February 20, 2014 08:28 PM (YxaXw)
Posted by: shredded chi at February 20, 2014 08:29 PM (pi02g)
Posted by: andycanuck at February 21, 2014 12:24 AM (14um2)
No matter how many times I see your nic, I always think of Canadianman from Kinnikuman
http://bit.ly/1mgiWVv
Posted by: The Dude at February 20, 2014 08:29 PM (bStrg)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 08:30 PM (ZPrif)
Posted by: Carol at February 20, 2014 08:30 PM (z4WKX)
Posted by: buzzion at February 20, 2014 08:30 PM (LI48c)
Oh, and that food stamp map. WTF with CA being under 5%? I believe (round numbers) that CA now has a poverty rate of 25% (federally defined), highest in the nation. And while it has 12% of the national population, it has nearly 33% of the national welfare (all forms) case load.
I believe those figures are fairly accurate. How do those yield such a low food-stamp number?
Posted by: non-purist at February 20, 2014 08:31 PM (afQnV)
Posted by: The Dude at February 21, 2014 12:23 AM (bStrg)
--
That's because it had the worst ratings.
Posted by: Where're my ping pong balls at February 20, 2014 08:31 PM (YxaXw)
Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at February 20, 2014 08:32 PM (14um2)
I'm hopelessly behind, but I think the comparison would have to be Enterprise D or E vs a standard Star Destroyer, so the ships are roughly the same size. D was a mile long, like an SD, while the original was half its length and width. An SSD is nine miles long. And forget the whole conversation if the TIE fighter wing is available.
And since SD>Enterprise given arguments above, I'm pretty sure I could take out any of them in an X-Wing, given the number of SDs I bagged over the years in Lucasarts flight sims.
Give me a missile boat, and I could seriously fuck up all of star fleet.
Posted by: Methos at February 20, 2014 08:32 PM (hO9ad)
Posted by: buzzion at February 21, 2014 12:30 AM (LI48c)
Chase Masterson nowadays looks like a piece of bacon that has been left out in the sun too long
Posted by: The Dude at February 20, 2014 08:33 PM (bStrg)
343 No 'ettes like the Trek?
--------
I do.
I liked the STVoyager and Enterprise series the best.
Well, I mean...they started out good, but then the writing started sucking.
I kept watching them anyway, though, being a scifi junkie.
Never really got into DS9...I didn't like that the Ferengi were portrayed as representative of what Capitalism is.
Granted, there were Ferengi in episodes of all the series except the original...
But DS9 had Ferengi installed as regulars, and got more into their 'rules of acquisition' bullshit.
Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 08:33 PM (DEUoo)
Posted by: ManWithNoParty at February 20, 2014 08:33 PM (ojnk6)
She was very nice when I went to get my autograph but I found myself having difficulty speaking.
Posted by: Iasonas at February 20, 2014 08:35 PM (FHNkr)
D was a mile long, like an SD, while the original was half its length and width. An SSD is nine miles long. And forget the whole conversation if the TIE fighter wing is available.
The Enterprise-D was 642 meters long. Just a little over a third of a mile long.
Posted by: buzzion at February 20, 2014 08:35 PM (LI48c)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 08:35 PM (84gbM)
I prefer the Quark/Garrick conversation about root beer.
Posted by: Methos at February 20, 2014 08:36 PM (hO9ad)
Posted by: Where're my ping pong balls at February 21, 2014 12:31 AM (YxaXw)
and? Didn't know we had to keep ratings in mind when it comes to talking about which show had the hottest chicks
Posted by: The Dude at February 20, 2014 08:36 PM (bStrg)
Posted by: wheatie at February 21, 2014 12:33 AM (DEUoo)
Ferengi were the best written species on DS9 vOv
Posted by: The Dude at February 20, 2014 08:37 PM (bStrg)
Posted by: RWC at February 20, 2014 08:38 PM (f15Ls)
What we'll never see:
An SF series where humans and nonhuman aliens really interact in completely realistic ways, to include bitterly bitching in starkly racial terms about one another while in private.
"One of the Andorians came onto the turbolift and, uuuuuugh, I had to get off early. I would have blown chunks if I stayed. They smell SO bad. Like the world's biggest asparagus fart. That goes on and on. But they act like we should be proud to smell them. The arrogant blue fuckers. Man, I can't wait till I can transfer back to Utopia Planitia and get off this crowded bucket of bolts."
Posted by: torquewrench at February 20, 2014 08:40 PM (gqT4g)
-Quark: "what do I do with this torpedo?" O'Brien: "I have a few suggestions -" Sisko: "not NOW, chief"
-Quark's jingle: "come to Quark's, Quark's is fun; come right now, don't walk - run!" ... and the aftermath
- anything said in the first(!) season episode "Duel"
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 08:40 PM (30eLQ)
Re: B5 chicks
All the gals in that series were damaged and world weary survivor types with a chip on their shoulders. Like a divorce you meet late Friday in the yogurt aisle of Whole Foods.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 20, 2014 08:40 PM (kdS6q)
http://bit.ly/1mgkL4I
Posted by: The Dude at February 20, 2014 08:41 PM (bStrg)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 08:42 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: Carol at February 20, 2014 08:43 PM (z4WKX)
An SF series where humans and nonhuman aliens really interact in completely realistic ways, to include bitterly bitching in starkly racial terms about one another while in private.
Posted by: torquewrench
That was Enterprise, actually. Vulcans had nothing but contempt for the Humans, Humans hated the Vulcans, Andorians hated everybody.....
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 20, 2014 08:43 PM (kdS6q)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 08:44 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: Otis Criblecoblis at February 20, 2014 08:44 PM (IlZPo)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 21, 2014 12:42 AM (84gbM)
The race of used Dracs masks
Posted by: The Dude at February 20, 2014 08:45 PM (bStrg)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at February 20, 2014 08:46 PM (ZPrif)
Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 20, 2014 08:46 PM (TGgNi)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 08:46 PM (84gbM)
Think... Drazi...
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 21, 2014 12:42 AM (84gbM)
Or
Pak'ma'ra
Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at February 20, 2014 08:47 PM (kVfSG)
Posted by: kbdabear at February 20, 2014 08:47 PM (aTXUx)
Posted by: ManWithNoParty at February 20, 2014 08:47 PM (ojnk6)
Posted by: cthulhu at February 20, 2014 08:48 PM (T1005)
The conservative movement will forever be dumbfounded as to how progressives with their insanely stupid ideas backed up by decades of dreadful results and entire failed empires (see the Soviet Union) keep expanding their agenda into American culture & policy.
Apparently we conservatives just can't see that the structure of government itself is what's fucked up. - That if we don't address this, we will continue to slide toward Entitlement Socialism. The Founding Fathers built in a fail safe. It is called: amending the Constitution. (see Article 5 of the Constitution.)
So I repeat, here is THE fundamental problem: Congress has unlimited power of taxation.
- This is precisely what has caused our Entitlement fiasco - just Alexis de Tocqueville feared.
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 08:48 PM (07UzX)
362 That's because it had the worst ratings.
Posted by: Where're my ping pong balls at February 21, 2014 12:31 AM (YxaXw)
and? Didn't know we had to keep ratings in mind when it comes to talking about which show had the hottest chicks
Posted by: The Dude at February 21, 2014 12:36 AM (bStrg)
---
I'm not complaining, just stating what I think is a fact. Decontamination -> dream sequences with Vulcan gal -> Vulcan body massage.
Posted by: Where're my ping pong balls at February 20, 2014 08:51 PM (YxaXw)
Game over, man.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at February 20, 2014 08:52 PM (kVfSG)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 08:52 PM (84gbM)
There are other failsafes. One is called "national bankruptcy".
Technically a fail-state rather than a fail-safe.
But then, as Derb and Steyn kept pointing out: anything that can't last, won't.
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 08:53 PM (30eLQ)
Posted by: kbdabear at February 20, 2014 08:54 PM (aTXUx)
Posted by: Capt James T Kirk at February 20, 2014 08:57 PM (aTXUx)
Posted by: [/i][/b][/s]akula51 at February 20, 2014 08:58 PM (Mj+L4)
Posted by: Dendritic at February 20, 2014 08:59 PM (8Z8Vp)
Posted by: The Trekkin' Hat at February 20, 2014 08:59 PM (AymDN)
Boulder @ 389.
The problem with waiting for national bankruptcy (which is probably inevitable at this point anyway) is that if the conservative movement has not been pushing like hell for a Constitutional amendment to severely limit Congress's powers of taxation: it will be too late to start explaining to the American public why we need one.
Instead, we'll have an FDR scenario where progressives will promise to make it all better if you only give the Federal Government MORE power.
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 09:00 PM (07UzX)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 09:01 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 09:02 PM (c6N69)
Romeno at comment 388:
We absolutely needed a Constitutional amendment to end slavery!
The right to own slaves had been written into the Constitution!
Dude!
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 09:02 PM (07UzX)
Kind of like using a flamethrower to surgically remove skin cancer.
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 09:04 PM (c6N69)
Posted by: Ashley Judd's Puffy Scamper, also known as MrCaniac at February 20, 2014 09:05 PM (HxSXm)
And what about Amendments one through ten! - You know, the Bill of Rights!
I'd so those were pretty damn important changes that came after the original Constitution was ratified.
Were you being serious????
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 09:05 PM (07UzX)
There is another escape valve but it isn't an upgrade in productivity and standards of living. Just the opposite.
A massive die-off, especially if it is focused on specific segments of the population, would wipe out a great deal of debt along with owed the debt. Also a large portion of the debtors and lifelong dependents.
The trick, for those who intend to inherit the planet, is to be able to select targets without it becoming obvious before a substantial portion of the chosen victims are eliminated.
China's investments in Africa are fascinating. It's almost as if they're planning for a day when the continent's native population has largely disappeared and masses of Chinese labor will be brought in to inhabit the newly built cities and work the resources.
Posted by: Epobirs at February 20, 2014 09:06 PM (bPxS6)
If you adjust for the true inflation rate, the DJI has lost value since 1980.
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 09:06 PM (c6N69)
Yeah, the 14th Amendment is also what guarantees equal protection under the law.
- That's a bad idea???
No wonder we're in trouble.
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 09:06 PM (07UzX)
Posted by: shredded chi at February 20, 2014 09:07 PM (pi02g)
Try to not put words in other folks mouths.
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 09:08 PM (c6N69)
Okay, I'm going off of memory from a TV guide article I read at the time. I could have sworn on that poster of scifi ships floating around the internet that D/E looked around the same size as an SD.
Posted by: Methos at February 20, 2014 09:08 PM (hO9ad)
Posted by: Dendritic at February 20, 2014 09:08 PM (8Z8Vp)
Posted by: Slapweasel at February 20, 2014 09:10 PM (lq3Ak)
Here is a simple one for you: Were the 16th and 17th Amendments good ideas?
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 09:10 PM (c6N69)
Kristoph, with all due respect, I was not claiming that you had disavowed the Bill of Rights. My comment @ #401 was not directed at you but at Romeo13's comment @ #388.
However, the 14th Amendment was a VERY good idea.
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 09:11 PM (07UzX)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 09:11 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: Slapweasel at February 20, 2014 09:12 PM (lq3Ak)
Posted by: kbdabear at February 20, 2014 09:12 PM (aTXUx)
An SF series where humans and nonhuman aliens really interact in completely realistic ways, to include bitterly bitching in starkly racial terms about one another while in private.
Uh, Babylon 5 got pretty rough between Cenaturi and Narn. They felt downright genocidal about each other. Minbari didn't think much of humans, even when both were among the Rangers.
Posted by: Methos at February 20, 2014 09:12 PM (hO9ad)
Posted by: Ashley Judd's Puffy Scamper, also known as MrCaniac at February 20, 2014 09:13 PM (HxSXm)
Posted by: Kristophr at February 21, 2014 01:02 AM (c6N69)
Banging the son of the guy you're getting serious with...
Posted by: buzzion at February 20, 2014 09:13 PM (LI48c)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 09:13 PM (84gbM)
However, the 14th amendment was not absolutely needed to end slavery, and giving the vote to everyone, and not just to property owners has proven to be an absolute disaster.
Once idiots figure out that they can vote themselves bread and circuses, they tend to do just that.
The founding fathers feared universal suffrage for damned good reasons.
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 09:14 PM (c6N69)
Kristoph, easy boy. I'm challenging _ideas_ not persons.
I never said everything in the Constitution was a good idea.
I never said Amendments 16 and 17 were good. - They were both bad.
Any other questions?
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 09:14 PM (07UzX)
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 09:14 PM (c6N69)
Kristoph, cool enough my fellow conservative friend. - Not trying to get under your (or anyone else's) skin.
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 09:15 PM (07UzX)
Posted by: Dendritic at February 20, 2014 09:18 PM (8Z8Vp)
Posted by: Ashley Judd's Puffy Scamper, also known as MrCaniac at February 20, 2014 09:19 PM (HxSXm)
Posted by: akula51 at February 21, 2014 12:58 AM (Mj+L4)
It helps when the guy at the top can personally exert mind control over folks half a galaxy away. And he rules from a planet that is entirely covered in city.
Posted by: Methos at February 20, 2014 09:19 PM (hO9ad)
There must not have been any men of age 15-35 on it.
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 09:20 PM (30eLQ)
LIV
I agree with the premise just saying how it will get twisted.
Posted by: Dendritic at February 21, 2014 12:59 AM (8Z8Vp)
I got a refund as well, but it was a fraction of what I paid in. Take a look at your return, there's a difference between taxes you paid and the refund that you receive for over-paying. I paid a little over 11K in Federal taxes last year.
This, BTW, is why the current collection method is so flawed. With the taxes being automagically withheld no one really pays attention to how much they really pay, so the total cost of government is transparent to them.
And if I've misunderstood, and you are saying that is what the LIV's are going to think...I've got no problem with that. "Yep LIV, you got a refund so you don't get to vote. Sorry, them's the breaks."
And now with this drive-by comment done, I'm off to my reloading bench. Later roonz and roonettez, fear no evil!
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at February 20, 2014 09:20 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: rickl at February 20, 2014 09:22 PM (sdi6R)
Bringing the voting age down to 18 was a monumental mistake. The worst Presidents scored very high with the youngest voters and I don't think that a coincidence.
Posted by: Epobirs at February 20, 2014 09:24 PM (bPxS6)
Not really needed. Africa from Zimbabwe ( Rhodesia ) on south is one big breadbasket. It requires no real work to make it into one of the richest countries on earth, provided you are willing to force tribals to conform to civilization or die.
The Chinese are capable of doing it, and are not going to be impressed with western sanctions, or be too squeamish to do to Africans what we did to Native Americans.
Nasty on brutal? Yes. But they are capable of it.
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 09:24 PM (c6N69)
Posted by: Dendritic at February 21, 2014 01:08 AM (8Z8Vp)
Ah, I did misunderstand...but I'm still OK with letting the LIV's think that.
Also...hehehehe...he said "meat"...
OK, I'm really going to my reloading bench now. Later roonz and roonettez!
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at February 20, 2014 09:24 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: GMB who can't remembers back when..... at February 20, 2014 09:26 PM (nkPV9)
Romeo13,
The Constitution as originally written protected slave-owners rights. When the south saw that those slave-owning rights would eventually be destroyed by Constitutional amendment (Lincoln and the Republicans declared: No new slave-states will be admitted to the Union), the south started the War of the States.
Once that war was concluded, it was absolutely necessary to end the right of slave-ownership by Constitutional amendment. Moreover, it was absolutely necessary to Constitutionally declare that all citizens (including former slaves) would be guaranteed equal protection of law under the the Constitution.
And even then it would take the better part of a CENTURY to put an end to Jim Crow Laws.
- Yes, much of what is enshrined in the 14th Amendment is good and wholesome and absolutely necessary to our Republic.
Nothing else in the Constitution makes an explicit declaration of equal protections. But there had been explicit declarations of the right to own slaves.
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 09:27 PM (07UzX)
Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 20, 2014 09:27 PM (TGgNi)
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 09:27 PM (c6N69)
Posted by: Fox2! at February 20, 2014 09:29 PM (cHwSy)
Yea, but everyone involved thought they were doing the right thing, and making the right decision.
If everything goes as planned, then it all gets boring. Gotta have conflict somewhere, or its Hello Kitty Universe.
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 09:29 PM (c6N69)
Posted by: mindful webworker - slower than usual tonight at February 20, 2014 09:30 PM (kUdlA)
Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 20, 2014 09:32 PM (TGgNi)
The New England states wanted to outlaw slavery. The slave states wanted it enshrined. Neither side got exactly what they wanted, but the compromise was enough to prevent the CSA from forming in 1789.
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 09:33 PM (c6N69)
They could do that at home. More important is the mineral resources, such as coltan ore, that are not unique to Africa but are most easily mined there. It's doubtful the Chinese would go about it in a way that avoided some of the nastier side effects, especially if the native populace was severely depleted and incapable of pressing a meaningful objection.
Posted by: Epobirs at February 20, 2014 09:34 PM (bPxS6)
GGE - reloading at 2 in the morning? That's right - I seem to recall you work graveyard, so this would be a normal time for you. Also - very quiet, good for reloading.
Got a bit of a surprise today at the range when I tried some of the 45ACP I recently loaded (230g plated over 6.1 grains of WSF). Wow - much greater recoil than I recall with a smaller run of that recipe last year. In fact I would not have loaded 400+ if I had known - but my notes and log showed this was a good recipe. I prefer light/medium loads in general.
Now I'm thinking maybe I should use these fairly snappy rounds to aggressively address my flinch, try to cure it. The 1911 in question has a fairly rough/heavy trigger, which should improve over time (and I don't modify any of my guns). But what better way to conquer a flinch than with fairly hot ammo? Have a retired SEAL buddy who can probably help me with that. I've been at the range with him and marveled to watch his muzzle not move a bit when he shoots, rifle or pistol.
Posted by: non-purist at February 20, 2014 09:35 PM (afQnV)
Posted by: kbdabear at February 20, 2014 09:36 PM (aTXUx)
China itself is getting close to carrying capacity. Taking Africa would potentially make them a powerful as the US, if they could abandon marxism long enough to make an industrial nation.
And I don't see them worring one damned bit about the fate of anyone in their way.
Russia could conceivably do the same without conquering anyone. Russia east of the Urals is just begging for development, but the Russians are playing stupid crony corruption games instead of building proper roads/railroads, and allowing universal homesteading.
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 09:38 PM (c6N69)
I would disagree. If anything, it was a running gag on the show that they'd sometime do the stupidest thing they could imagine to baffle the enemy to the extent they failed to react properly.
And I recall Crichton once had a speech to the effect, "Is it a bad plan? It's our plan, so yeah, it's probably pretty bad. But they don't know just how bad our plan is, so they can't anticipate what we're about to do!"
Posted by: Epobirs at February 20, 2014 09:39 PM (bPxS6)
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 09:41 PM (c6N69)
Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 20, 2014 09:44 PM (TGgNi)
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 09:44 PM (c6N69)
Posted by: Kristophr at February 20, 2014 09:46 PM (c6N69)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_D._Ehlers
Posted by: Rex B at February 20, 2014 09:50 PM (OXzvH)
Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 20, 2014 09:52 PM (TGgNi)
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 09:54 PM (84gbM)
Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 20, 2014 09:56 PM (TGgNi)
Posted by: t-bird at February 20, 2014 10:00 PM (FcR7P)
Posted by: GMB who can't remembers back when..... at February 20, 2014 10:00 PM (nkPV9)
Romeno, with all due respect, I refer you to Article I Section 2 of the US Constitution as well as Article IV Section 2 of the US Constitution.
- Therein are parts designed to protect slave-owners' rights to own slaves.
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 10:01 PM (07UzX)
Those parts have since been superseded by Constitutional Amendments such as 13 and 14.
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 10:03 PM (07UzX)
Specifically Section 2 of Article IV made it clear that escaped slaves would be returned.
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 10:04 PM (07UzX)
It's worth noting that when we as conservatives make legal challenges to absurdities like Affirmative Action College Admission policies that give favored preference to certain races as well as to laws that give special protection to Labor Unions and members of Labor Unions: we are making sound Constitutional arguments under the 14th Amendment.
Yes, the 14th Amendment is a VERY important conservative aspect of the Constitution.
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 10:09 PM (07UzX)
Must sign off for the night, folks.
Please give consideration to what seems to me to be the biggest problem haunting our once great Republic:
CONGRESS HAS UNLIMITED POWER OF TAXATION.
- This is precisely what has sucked us into the Entitlement fiasco we find ourselves in.
Posted by: _Dave_ at February 20, 2014 10:11 PM (07UzX)
Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Rounding Error Extraordinaire at February 20, 2014 10:11 PM (Kz/xR)
Posted by: Fourth Horseman at February 20, 2014 10:11 PM (GKF3X)
Posted by: GMB who can't remembers back when..... at February 21, 2014 02:00 AM (nkPV9)
probably soak up a lot of oil but if you're going to try, make sure you bread them and freeze them for a day
Posted by: The Dude at February 20, 2014 10:14 PM (bStrg)
Posted by: scottst at February 20, 2014 10:16 PM (Fp9Vt)
Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Rounding Error Extraordinaire at February 20, 2014 10:16 PM (Kz/xR)
Posted by: Judge Roy Bean at February 20, 2014 10:21 PM (cCxiu)
Posted by: shredded chi at February 20, 2014 10:22 PM (pi02g)
Freeze after frying?
Posted by: GMB who can't remembers back when..... at February 20, 2014 10:23 PM (nkPV9)
Posted by: GMB who can't remembers back when..... at February 20, 2014 10:26 PM (nkPV9)
Posted by: scottst at February 20, 2014 10:28 PM (Fp9Vt)
Posted by: gushka can has Kittys what plays fetch! at February 20, 2014 10:28 PM (f858s)
Posted by: GMB who can't remembers back when..... at February 21, 2014 02:23 AM (nkPV9)
freeze before dropping them into the oil as I would expect them to fall apart if their raw and the breading is more about protecting them when they're submerged in hot oil
Posted by: The Dude at February 20, 2014 10:29 PM (bStrg)
Posted by: scottst at February 20, 2014 10:30 PM (Fp9Vt)
In 1977 we had two years of low rainfall, not just one, and there was significantly less reservoir capacity than today, but media doesn't do math.
Posted by: scottst at February 21, 2014 02:16 AM (Fp9Vt)
if we werent mandated to blow some dams and let the water out of resevoirs for bait fish we would be just fine. whole thing could be solved with some phone calls and the stroke of a pen... if only someone would lift a finger to help...
Posted by: gushka can has Kittys what plays fetch! at February 20, 2014 10:31 PM (f858s)
Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at February 20, 2014 10:39 PM (AQTz3)
Posted by: Navycopjoe at February 20, 2014 10:59 PM (KpjMV)
Posted by: Navycopjoe at February 20, 2014 11:05 PM (KpjMV)
Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 20, 2014 11:07 PM (TGgNi)
Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 20, 2014 11:15 PM (TGgNi)
http://youtu.be/yQEVPYIBx2cPosted by: GnuBreed at February 20, 2014 11:20 PM (cHZB7)
I was watching the local news a couple of nights ago. The 3rd story...after the 1,032nd story about the snow, and the local sports guy's report live from Sochi...was about a Dem announcing his candidacy for the House seat being vacated by Rob Andrews in South Jersey. It was pretty much a free commercial, listing his platform of "fighting for the middle class", crowing about the "huge crowd" of about 20 people that were at the event, etc, etc.
For a lousy House seat, in a district in another state. I'm waiting to see if they cover the GOP candidate's announcement. Ha.
My wife is worried about me, I've been yelling at the tv a lot lately. I can't wait for the midterms to heat up in earnest.
Back to my 7th beer.
Posted by: Biff Boffo at February 20, 2014 11:29 PM (1j9qS)
But I did find 15 pcs of 6.5x50 brass, and I have 15 Hornady SST 129gr boolits, so I get to try out my new powder. That makes me
Also...plenty of 9mm to load, so there is that.
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at February 20, 2014 11:49 PM (yh0zB)
I love living in this modern world...be a shame if anything happened to it...
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at February 20, 2014 11:54 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: Navycopjoe at February 20, 2014 11:54 PM (KpjMV)
Posted by: Navycopjoe at February 20, 2014 11:56 PM (KpjMV)
Posted by: Navycopjoe at February 21, 2014 03:56 AM (KpjMV)
O.O
Yeah, I'm reloading for about 20 cents a round, but then again you have to pay the hazmat fee to get powder and primer shipped to you so that will run your cost up a bit.
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at February 20, 2014 11:59 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: shredded chi at February 21, 2014 12:47 AM (xVj5P)
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at February 21, 2014 01:48 AM (yh0zB)
Posted by: DefendUSA at February 21, 2014 02:29 AM (nAHMK)
Posted by: Navycopjoe at February 21, 2014 02:30 AM (KpjMV)
Posted by: DefendUSA at February 21, 2014 02:32 AM (nAHMK)
Why, in some areas of stimulation,he haz mad skilz.
http://tinyurl.com/ln7mwob
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 21, 2014 02:39 AM (9muJv)
Posted by: Panhandler at February 21, 2014 02:58 AM (LqVNJ)
Pls kill me
Posted by: Navycopjoe at February 21, 2014 06:30 AM (KpjMV)
Could be worse, you could be a hack someplace like Chicago or New York City.
How's the wife's job search going, BTW?
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at February 21, 2014 02:59 AM (yh0zB)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 21, 2014 03:01 AM (XyM/Y)
Posted by: Epobirs at February 21, 2014 03:03 AM (bPxS6)
(George: http://tinyurl.com/kudzrp7 )
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at February 21, 2014 03:03 AM (yh0zB)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 21, 2014 03:14 AM (XyM/Y)
Posted by: I R A Darth Aggie © at February 21, 2014 05:08 AM (1hM1d)
One can argue that benefits that aren't means-tested are actually worse. It's like they want to exclude those because they don't want to offend that many people.
Posted by: JohnJ at February 21, 2014 05:26 AM (TF/YA)
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Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at February 20, 2014 06:48 PM (HVff2)