More on the "Amazing Race" -- John Edwards, Exploiting Hillary-Obama War, Plans to Campaign as a Black Woman

somethin bout britney spears was breaking news on fox

not surprising, just figured id tell ya

Oh my...

After reading that I've realized we really need to expand our repertoir of cuss words.

fun-nee

LMFAO!!!Man, that was one of the funniest things I've read in a while. I know it would never happen, but I just wish the real Jimmy Carter would go on FOX and talk to Hannity and Coma like that. I'd PAYsee that!

That should read "I'd PAY to see that!"

I, like many Americans, have a lot of atonement to do for disregarding Jimmy Carter all these years.

Onion rules.

jimmy carter was right about almost everything and americans elect ronald reagan.

That was really funny. Jimmy Carter talking like Tony Montana. Priceless.

pssst!

Jimmy Carter's Mid East Peace deal between Israel and Egypt was actually a HUGE arms deal.

You can look it up.

I thought this was a "serious" site. If I want to see fake news I can go read the onion myself.

First of all, fuck everybody who can't take a joke.

Secondly, JC has been slandered as a "bad" President. On hindsight, he was probably among the best. I wonder if anyone has shown him the Onion satire.

Funny as hell!

You sour pusses probably weren't even alive for Jimmy.
I bet even Jimbo would find that funny as hell.

And it covers it pretty well I think.
He told us, and only a few of us even remembered.

Now we can suck his dick. :D

xoites defends Constitution @ 22:

pssst!

Jimmy Carter's Mid East Peace deal between Israel and Egypt was actually a HUGE arms deal.

You can look it up.

Meanwhile, in the now...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080115/ap_on_go_co/us_saudi_arms_sales
WASHINGTON - The Democratic-led Congress is unlikely to block U.S. plans to sell $123 million worth of sophisticated precision-guided bomb technology to Saudi Arabia

Can't they spit?

Observer @ 24:

I thought this was a "serious" site. If I want to see fake news I can go read the onion myself.

Get a sense of humor, k?

Bob Bless the Onion. That was the funniest stuff ever.

Another church official bites the dust.

I don't get it ? did he really write this ? for some reason after all the BAD behavior by Someone , and all the crappy media hyping of it...and how MLK was completely forgotten today- his birthday...I am just not laughing....is this really him or just someone dissing him ? cuz if that is the case- well, it isn't funny....it's not funny anymore to make fun of people that tried to be good leaders....

Oh dear.... I thought I'd be in among the "me too"'s of folks who weren't offended, as such, but thought that the whole piece could have been better executed in a realistic Carter tone of voice. Sort of the speech Carter might have given if he were to give it.
The sort of speech that might persuade people Carter actually had given it.
I'm not offended by the potty-mouthed-ness of the piece --- fuck that, I can be as potty mouthed as the best --- but I did feel it was the wrong approach.

Neil

that was funny. thanks for the link!!!!

Might want to grab your wallet now.

Tomorrow, a special panel created by Congress is going to recommend how the country should fund our increasingly congested highway system.

Even though the report hasn't been issued, word is leaking out that the panel will endorse a large increase in the 18.4 cent federal gas tax, last raised by about 3 cents in 1993.

The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Commission was created by Congress in 2005 to research and report on ways to fund our highways.

The gas tax isn't keeping up with the cost of construction costs. To address the problem, the commission is likely to recommend as much as a 40-cent per gallon increase in the gas tax over five years, according a report by Bloomberg News.

I'm not Jimmy Carter, but if I was, I would probably put in worse language.

That was great. And historically accurate.

That op-ed is awful.

To change the subject for a moment (since this is an open thread i am allowed).

I have been convinced for some time that the GOP/MSM want Hillary to get the nomination because she would bring out all the people who hate her to vote for the Republicans in the general election. I have heard many people say Kucinich can't win so they won't vote for him in the Primaries. Edwards has been accused of not being able to win and now i am seeing people claiming Obama can't win.

Seriously, folks. The Democrats are running against Rudy, Huckabee, Mit and some guy with narcalepsy and we don't have a candidate who can win?

Vote your conscience!

xoites defends Constitution @ 52:

To change the subject for a moment (since this is an open thread i am allowed).

I have been convinced for some time that the GOP/MSM want Hillary to get the nomination because she would bring out all the people who hate her to vote for the Republicans in the general election. I have heard many people say Kucinich can't win so they won't vote for him in the Primaries. Edwards has been accused of not being able to win and now i am seeing people claiming Obama can't win.

Seriously, folks. The Democrats are running against Rudy, Huckabee, Mit and some guy with narcalepsy and we don't have a candidate who can win?

Vote your conscience!

Great post xoites.

xoites defends Constitution @ 52:

To change the subject for a moment (since this is an open thread i am allowed).

I have been convinced for some time that the GOP/MSM want Hillary to get the nomination because she would bring out all the people who hate her to vote for the Republicans in the general election. I have heard many people say Kucinich can't win so they won't vote for him in the Primaries. Edwards has been accused of not being able to win and now i am seeing people claiming Obama can't win.

Seriously, folks. The Democrats are running against Rudy, Huckabee, Mit and some guy with narcalepsy and we don't have a candidate who can win?

Vote your conscience!

Couldn't agree with you more. Clinton and Obama are both empty suits so to speak. Both have shitty voting records along with piles of corporate money. Neither of these candidates ever seems to speak to the issues, they just go off an some whacky tangent.

The repubs seem hell bent on out doing each other on whos more religious, whos willing to wage the biggest war. The repub candidates are a scary/crazy bunch that should be easily beat.

This should be a slamdunk for a Liberal Democrat candidate. Don't let big money and empty promises take the presidency.

Thing Fish @ 55:

Not as funny... but prophetic:
We are at a turning point in our history. There are two paths to choose. One is a path I've warned about tonight, the path that leads to fragmentation and self-interest. Down that road lies a mistaken idea of freedom, the right to grasp for ourselves some advantage over others. That path would be one of constant conflict between narrow interests ending in chaos and immobility. It is a certain route to failure.

Not to offenf anyone, but the initials J.C. might have some kind of connection.

Thank you for posting this. I haven't laughed like that in a long time. So funny. You made my night!

It's gigantically poor taste, disgusting, and pathetic.

And a slap in the face to Jimmy Carter. Why should people make fun of him (and don't kid yourself it doesn't)?

Aren't there enough clowns already?

Malixe @ 51:

The fascinating part is that if you take out all the obscenities and vulgarities, all the rest is absolutely true!

That's what makes it absolutely fooking hilarious!

It’s gigantically poor taste, disgusting, and pathetic.

And it's spot on. The current crop of candidates, with the possible exception of Edwards, isn't fit to french kiss Carter's ass.

BennyP @ 7:

"butt"?
Come on, guy. You can say 'ass' here.
This was pretty funny.

I laughed my ASS off.

God I love this man. He probably COULD solve all the problems.
*

Chip @ 8:

After reading that I've realized we really need to expand our repertoir of cuss words.

Agreed. They had to resort to "schnook."
*

uncle joe mccarthy @ 63:

today we got to see the true colors of the current rightwing surpreme court, as they refused to hear arguments regarding dying patients being allowed to use experimental drugs not ok'd by the fda.

in doing so they allowed the lower court decision to stand that basically stated these drugs might hasten death.

the court was stacked not in regards to prolife, but in regards to the corporatists rule

who cares who the pres is....this court will continue until many of us are dead

The FDA hasn't been our friend for a looong time...
http://www.stopfda.org/july2001_fdacant.htm

Who will stand up for America's Health Freedom?
Our access to information, to drugs and to FOOD we want?
Ron Paul. Make his platform YOUR candidates platform. Or just vote for Ron Paul.

Ron @ 71:

Trittydi @ 69:

Ron @ 67:

Trittydi @ 66:
He had the answers, nobody was listening.

We were - voted for the man twice.
*

Yes but, the media was only printing and showing the weaknesses instead of the accomplishments.

Somewhat much the same as in the days of the other J.C.

ALL DAY LONG....

Big story on ABC Radio News: Britney Spears.

Britney Spears, the lead story on ABC at noon today.

ABC = America's Braindead Corporation

Ten more years?!

So, are we supposed to vote for Romney? He said in Michigan, we will advance further in the next 10 years more than we have in the last 1,000 years. Voting repug has so many benefits. Sarcasm.

I do my homework @ 79:

Did Hillary and Edwards Conspire to Edge Out Dem Candidates? I can't tell by this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLT4wa0qmzM&eurl=http://neufneuf.blogspot.com/

NO!

Meanwhile, in California Gray Davis writes a similar article...

Who ever said PETA is immoral? They are supposed to be all about the animals right?

Yeesh...

http://www.2solitudes.com/headlines-actualites/73/PETA-Killed-Over-97--o...

Oh, and it looks like the CIA and White House have some competition:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7181877.stm

Something tells me this black hole's got nothin'

Gotta go, have a date with this, which is EXACTLY like all the girls I meet...boohoo:

http://discovermagazine.com/2008/jan/robots-evolve-and-learn-how-to-lie

Daddy-O @ 83:

...The SWAT team knocked on (i.e. smashed through) the door, asked to enter private property (i.e. barged right in like they owned the place), politely guided (i.e. kidnapped) the child, and escorted (i.e. packing heat like the 11 year old was a threat) to the hospital, where the doctors at the hospital took one look at the boy and sent him right back home...

Who's child is that really?
It Takes A Village.

And a Philosopher King/Queen to bring about Utopia.
Golden souls (leeches) ruling over Copper souls (producers) with Silver-souled soldiers (heads or tails.) And yes, it takes initiative force. Of course, of course, of course.

Daddy-O @ 89:

Brad @ 88:

Daddy-O @ 83:

...The SWAT team knocked on (i.e. smashed through) the door, asked to enter private property (i.e. barged right in like they owned the place), politely guided (i.e. kidnapped) the child, and escorted (i.e. packing heat like the 11 year old was a threat) to the hospital, where the doctors at the hospital took one look at the boy and sent him right back home...

Who's child is that really?
It Takes A Village.

And a Philosopher King/Queen to bring about Utopia.
Golden souls (leeches) ruling over Copper souls (producers) with Silver-souled soldiers (heads or tails.) And yes, it takes initiative force. Of course, of course, of course.

Yup, agree...

Oh, and if you're a fan of good ol' Halliburton, it seems like mass corruption is not the only business they're into.

It looks like RAPE is now the next product for sale...

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/30090

From the link:

"The Iraqi puppet government is barred from prosecuting criminals employed by U.S. contractors in Iraq as the result of one of Paul Bremer's decrees (CPA Order 17). The U.S. Justice Department is understood to be barred from pursuing justice as a result of Bush and Cheney's appointment of Alberto Gonzales clone Michael Mukasey as Attorney General and Congress' acquiescence in that disgraceful appointment."

I know, it's sad. But if it only helps just one person, it's all worth it.

Brad @ 90:

Daddy-O @ 89:

Brad @ 88:

Daddy-O @ 83:
Who's child is that really?
It Takes A Village.

And a Philosopher King/Queen to bring about Utopia.
Golden souls (leeches) ruling over Copper souls (producers) with Silver-souled soldiers (heads or tails.) And yes, it takes initiative force. Of course, of course, of course.

Yup, agree...

Oh, and if you're a fan of good ol' Halliburton, it seems like mass corruption is not the only business they're into.

It looks like RAPE is now the next product for sale...

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/30090

From the link:

"The Iraqi puppet government is barred from prosecuting criminals employed by U.S. contractors in Iraq as the result of one of Paul Bremer's decrees (CPA Order 17). The U.S. Justice Department is understood to be barred from pursuing justice as a result of Bush and Cheney's appointment of Alberto Gonzales clone Michael Mukasey as Attorney General and Congress' acquiescence in that disgraceful appointment."

I know, it's sad. But if it only helps just one person, it's all worth it.

If I was asked by this poor girl to do anything I would try...

I don't know what I feel more of...anger or helplessness...I guess that is how the whole country feels right now...it's a difficult time, a time when we will say to our grandkids "in my day..."

Why is everything so fucked up? Why do things keep getting worse? There is not one single person to blame, because a pile of shit stacked this high takes many people to create (unless of course your name is Limbaugh).

So if it takes this many people, that means LOTS of people are fucked up...does this mean that the human race is fucked? It seems to me like everyone is corrupted...even when the country elects a different group of people (2004 demofacks), the direction has not changed. We're going in the same direction...

You know what REALLY scares me?

Every single one of the "front runners" is going to continue the direction. Yes some have minor tweaks, and there will be a lessening of the downhill movement, but the DIRECTION will still be pointing the same way. It doesn't matter if we go from 100 mph down to 20 mph, that fucking cliff is still in front of us so one day we will go over, unless we not only make changes, but CHANGE DIRECTION.

Re-boot.

The shriveled humanoid parasites are like computer viruses, short-circuiting our movement towards life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness (happiness replaced property in the final draft.)

Brad @ 96:

The shriveled humanoid parasites are like computer viruses, short-circuiting our movement towards life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness (happiness replaced property in the final draft.)

Awesome analogy, because it helps to show that the only way to fight such viruses is to strengthen our immune system. That means making EVERYONE stronger.

So how do we do this? The answer is clearly not by making the location of virus creation (government) bigger. If we do that, we simply make the festering wound even more attractive for the dregs of society who have an inkling towards becoming a virus to become a virus.

No, we must strengthen EVERYONE, and that means education. Corny yes, but if we don't fight the viruses with our brains, the only other alternative is to fight them with our muscle, and that means civil war all over again.

Drew @ 92:
<blockquote
...
You know what REALLY scares me?

Every single one of the "front runners" is going to continue the direction. Yes some have minor tweaks, and there will be a lessening of the downhill movement, but the DIRECTION will still be pointing the same way. It doesn't matter if we go from 100 mph down to 20 mph, that fucking cliff is still in front of us so one day we will go over, unless we not only make changes, but CHANGE DIRECTION.

Of course the front runners are going in the same direction. They are the ones the MSM support. That is why they are the front runners. The campaign experts running their shows know what they can and cannot get away with. They know how much money it takes to get elected and where the money comes from. Our electoral process is broken hence our government is broken and our illusion of Democracy is just that.

It comes down to us. But what can we do? We can choose Coke or Pepsi. Same great taste; no substance.

Some day when we are really fed up perhaps we will have a national strike and shut the country down. And perhaps when we do they will round up the people they think are the leaders of the stike and detain them until things go back to normal.

If anybody has any real solution please feel free to express tham.

In Europe when the government is fucked up the people throw it out, here we just change the channel.

Drew @ 98:

...No, we must strengthen EVERYONE, and that means education. Corny yes, but if we don't fight the viruses with our brains, the only other alternative is to fight them with our muscle, and that means civil war all over again.

Delivering tools for critical thinking is key. Not something to trust to a centralized educational system, beholden to initiative-force collected taxes. That system would/does obsequiously glorify the State, placing the individual beneath "the common good," what ever the f@&k that is portrayed to be, at any given moment.

xoites defends Constitution @ 101:

Sorry for screwing up Drew's quote. here it is:

"You know what REALLY scares me?

Every single one of the “front runners” is going to continue the direction. Yes some have minor tweaks, and there will be a lessening of the downhill movement, but the DIRECTION will still be pointing the same way. It doesn’t matter if we go from 100 mph down to 20 mph, that fucking cliff is still in front of us so one day we will go over, unless we not only make changes, but CHANGE DIRECTION."

Thanks, but you didn't hafta..

xoites defends Constitution @ 103:

Brad @ 102:

Drew @ 98:

...No, we must strengthen EVERYONE, and that means education. Corny yes, but if we don't fight the viruses with our brains, the only other alternative is to fight them with our muscle, and that means civil war all over again.

Delivering tools for critical thinking is key. Not something to trust to a centralized educational system, beholden to initiative-force collected taxes. That system would/does obsequiously glorify the State, placing the individual beneath "the common good," what ever the f@&k that is portrayed to be, at any given moment.

I think, and i say this from the heart, that the first person to get f@ck as an email address is going to get a lot of email.

You may like Aristotle, he is the guy who started the whole critical thinking movement, maybe it's time we re-re-reintroduced him to our schools.

Also, you may like this guy...

http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=24661

Jung has similar thoughts, although he thinks the problem is overpopulation...but I think it's what you said, it's got to be the glorification of not having to think and let the state do it for us...it's like we're a country of 27 year old children who won't leave our parent's homes.

Liberia canceled local elections because they can't afford them...in related news this may force Liberians to increase fines on overdue books

xoites defends Constitution @ 107:

I have been lucky enough to be involved in social change in my life, but it took a strong community, which i no longer have. Serious change takes serious commited people willing to give up creature comforts and stability and the willingness to go to jail, accept violence perpetrated on them, and a myriad of other challenges.

I think you're right...having lots of goods to buy means nothing if you're part of a social system of misery...

If you want to start shit, I'm there.....actually I'm here, so I don't know where there is...unless there is here, then I don't have to get up...

Drew @ 111:

Brad @ 109:

Drew @ 106:

xoites defends Constitution @ 103:

You may like Aristotle, he is the guy who started the whole critical thinking movement, maybe it's time we re-re-reintroduced him to our schools.

Also, you may like this guy...

http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=24661

Jung has similar thoughts, although he thinks the problem is overpopulation...but I think it's what you said, it's got to be the glorification of not having to think and let the state do it for us...it's like we're a country of 27 year old children who won't leave our parent's homes.

Nanny takes such good care of me, why would I ever leave home? So what if she's become an evil whore and the floor is about to cave in. She's my pimp and I'll stand by her.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

I'm still laughing, motherfucker...

Drew @ 110:

xoites defends Constitution @ 107:

I have been lucky enough to be involved in social change in my life, but it took a strong community, which i no longer have. Serious change takes serious commited people willing to give up creature comforts and stability and the willingness to go to jail, accept violence perpetrated on them, and a myriad of other challenges.

I think you're right...having lots of goods to buy means nothing if you're part of a social system of misery...

If you want to start shit, I'm there.....actually I'm here, so I don't know where there is...unless there is here, then I don't have to get up...

Ok

I'm ok

I got up off the floor.

I am feeling better.

The hysterical laughter is subsiding.

I am feeling strong enough to go on.

Drew @ 112:

Drew @ 111:

Brad @ 109:

Drew @ 106:
Nanny takes such good care of me, why would I ever leave home? So what if she's become an evil whore and the floor is about to cave in. She's my pimp and I'll stand by her.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

I'm still laughing, motherfucker...

Drew @ 112:

Drew @ 111:

Brad @ 109:

Drew @ 106:
Nanny takes such good care of me, why would I ever leave home? So what if she's become an evil whore and the floor is about to cave in. She's my pimp and I'll stand by her.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

I'm still laughing, motherfucker...

I'm STILL laughing Brad, that's the funniest shit I heard all week dude...

I think Jon Stewart has it right. We need a revolution with a sense of humor.

Drew @ 119:

xoites defends Constitution @ 117:

Arctic Dude @ 115:

FYI

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/01/14/bc-marcemeryc...

This is a litmus test for the issue. We'll see what century Mr. Harper is in with the war on drugs. We need you folks to help so Canada can be liberal and smart on cannibis and set an example for your next Dem. Pres. to reference.

I never heard of Mr. Emory but i can certainly respect a man who is willing to give up his freedom to keep two friends out of prison.

I'll pimp Ron Paul on this one...if he's elected, he is going to pardon every pot smoker in prison...

woah...I mean he is going to pardon every person convicted on pot (as well all drug related) charges...

oops, I almost advocated for no more prisons

I can get behind abolishing prisons.

xoites defends Constitution @ 120:

Drew @ 119:

xoites defends Constitution @ 117:

Arctic Dude @ 115:

I never heard of Mr. Emory but i can certainly respect a man who is willing to give up his freedom to keep two friends out of prison.

I'll pimp Ron Paul on this one...if he's elected, he is going to pardon every pot smoker in prison...

woah...I mean he is going to pardon every person convicted on pot (as well all drug related) charges...

oops, I almost advocated for no more prisons

I can get behind abolishing prisons.

If you're behind them, then at least you'll avoid the stampede once they're all set free out front...

smart move O' Constitutionalist...

xoites defends Constitution @ 121:

If Ron Paul got elected and pardoned all drug offenders half the people in prison would be released which would go a long way to reduce overcrowding.

Of what, prisons or the country?

I still want to get to work on time...

Drew @ 124:

xoites defends Constitution @ 121:

If Ron Paul got elected and pardoned all drug offenders half the people in prison would be released which would go a long way to reduce overcrowding.

Of what, prisons or the country?

I still want to get to work on time...

Back in the 1980's a Judge in DC declared the overcrowding in the DC jail was illegal. They had five people in each cell, the corridors were lined with matresses. He ordered the jail to reduce the numbers and fined DC every day that they did not.

The solution?

An hour before headcount (which they did three times a day) they loaded up the extra prisoners on buses and drove them around the parking lot.

Brad @ 127:

Gee, it's pleasant here tonight.

I agree. The only other person in my 5 room cell is my fiance and there is no head count.

xoites defends Constitution @ 126:

Drew @ 124:

xoites defends Constitution @ 121:

If Ron Paul got elected and pardoned all drug offenders half the people in prison would be released which would go a long way to reduce overcrowding.

Of what, prisons or the country?

I still want to get to work on time...

Back in the 1980's a Judge in DC declared the overcrowding in the DC jail was illegal. They had five people in each cell, the corridors were lined with matresses. He ordered the jail to reduce the numbers and fined DC every day that they did not.

The solution?

An hour before headcount (which they did three times a day) they loaded up the extra prisoners on buses and drove them around the parking lot.

yikes...

You know, I am not one iota afraid of drug users...I have known crack, heroine, pot, cocaine, and meth users and the drugs in their lives was not the problem, it was their ideas. Drug users who do not commit violent acts are not a threat to society, so why are we paying tax money to separate them from society? Society has not rejected them, they rejected society, but in a non-violent way.

It comes down to philosophy. If we own our own bodies as we should in a free society, then what we do to our own bodies should be up to us. Drug related charges can only exist if our society does not believe that we own our own bodies.

Prostitution is the same thing...I will not solicit one, but what people do with their own bodies is up to them.

But philosophy is not a strong point in this country as much as it used to be. We got lazy and had the unrealistic notion that since philosophy has "already been discovered centuries and millenia ago", why focus on something that people in robes used to focus on?

I don't think this is a good thing to think at all because philosophy is like any skill. If you don't use it for long enough, you'll forget how to use it...and then you become de-evolved and barbaric.

Our minds need to be kept up and exercised. We cannot always rely on others to do the thinking for us. We made this mistake when we thought that specializations in our jobs was enough and that nothing else mattered. But since our schools are state run, there is no incentive to teach philosophy because it breeds dissent and independent thinking, two things that operate antagonistically towards the state.

Drew, in the early twentieth century when doctors actually subscribed heroin to addicts to keep them from going through withdrawal a district attorney figured out he could scare people. He used these addicts as a boogy man to get elected on the promise of making drugs illegal and politicians have been scaring us ever since to gain power. Check out a book called Drug Crazy.

Internet social networks I mean.

Brad @ 133:

Social networks are an exciting tool for social change.
People find out how much they actually share, that they are not so different. People will find ways these tools can replace Nanny. Religious groups have their churches and events, now people can unite easily on shared human values. To help and uplift each other. Because most, though obviously not all, naturally like and care about other likable people. We don't want people to suffer, because we have empathy, typically.
We can also share warnings about negative experiences, and people with consistently low ratings will be motivated by ostracism to change.

Yes, they control us because they have broken our social networks. We are disconnected and distrustful of each other and easily manipulated.

xoites defends Constitution @ 132:

Drew, in the early twentieth century when doctors actually subscribed heroin to addicts to keep them from going through withdrawal a district attorney figured out he could scare people. He used these addicts as a boogy man to get elected on the promise of making drugs illegal and politicians have been scaring us ever since to gain power. Check out a book called Drug Crazy.

I'll check it out...on bittorrent...if it's good I'll buy it...

So if drug laws are all about power, then the only solution to fight that power is if drug users go out and campaign for office.

Sounds silly doesn't it? Doesn't this kind of prove that maybe it's not ALL about power? If people are scared that easily, maybe it's not power that is the problem...maybe it's irrational fears...

Maybe there are just too many people who ARE afraid of drugs, irrationally of course, and that is why there are laws.

What we need to do is have education about drugs in school...

Wait a minute...state run schools will not teach kids about drugs, they will SCARE kids about drugs...

And so the cycle repeats...

OK, so I think I have this nailed down...

1. Irrational fear is the problem
2. State run schools play off these fears and encourage them
3. People become fearful into their adult lives
4. Adults are not supposed to be afraid so they falsely put on a bravado show to hide their insecurity
5. Some fearful adults become law makers, some become Bill O'Reilly
6. Fear tactics work at keeping a difference in power structure of society intact
7. Center of fear creation expands as people become more and more fearful and ignorant
8. Downfall of society
9. rEVOLution
10. Peace

We distrust business. A wedge between the individuals that compose society and producers of survival values. There are good and bad businesses, some compete honestly and some seek to block competition with government favors/regulation. I expect there are gradations of good-bad, it's easy to become infatuated or reverse-infatuated with some characteristic.

xoites defends Constitution @ 139:

This has become our town square. We can say what we want. The problem lies in the fact that we are not neighbors. There is a disconnect. We can't see each other. Half the time some jerk interupts and just pisses everyone off and the focus goes away.

We can filter them out, or form our own network, like ning.com offers. Even our own social networking site, and "un-friend" disruptive influences.

Video conferencing tools are out there too! And virtual worlds to share. And competitive biz keeps the prices plummeting.

Brad @ 140:

We distrust business. A wedge between the individuals that compose society and producers of survival values. There are good and bad businesses, some compete honestly and some seek to block competition with government favors/regulation. I expect there are gradations of good-bad, it's easy to become infatuated or reverse-infatuated with some characteristic.

Ya, distrust of business IS rampant...

That's why the government sponsored Enron and Worldcom attacks were a piece of the puzzle. The government and the fearful had to make people distrust business, that way they turn to government, which is exactly what they want.

I am amazed that some people think that Enron and Worldcom were representative of the whole of business. I know a little about accounting, and believe me, if the government really wanted to, they could find something to imprison you no matter how honest you think you are...that is the beauty and complexity (and perhaps fearfulness) of free enterprise...people put business to a higher standard than government.

What the haters of Enron and Worldcom hardly ever admit is that if the government applied the same standards of accounting to THEMSELVES as they applied to Enron and Worldcom, then every single person in government would be in jail for massive fraud.

The financial fraud that goes in government PALES in comparison to business. Business at least has to face the possibility that if they are caught, then they go bankrupt, just like Enron. Business is self correcting, it is not perfect. Those who chastise free enterprise chastise it because it is not perfect. But they do not chastise government interventions even if it is FAR from perfect and in fact continually imperfect. If government gets caught, they simply take a few bad apples out and put more in. Meanwhile, the basket of apples continues to rot until it smothers the whole country.

If people were honest with themselves and convinced themselves that business in general cannot be corrupt for any length of time, but government can in fact be and not have to pay the consequences, then we will have started down that different path I spoke of earlier.

Ah, Drew?

Would you mind if i point out that it is the marriage of corporate interests with the government that seems to be the problem here?

The term Military Industrial Complex did not come out of thin air and now we also have the Prison Industrial Complex and i dare say the Security Industrial Complex has arrived but nobody has written a book about it yet.

(Unless of course they have and i missed it.)

But you sure brought it home, xoites.