'In God We Trust' Signs Go Up In South Dakota Public Schools, As Required By Law : NPR

ShadowAmicus comments on Jul 26, 2019:

I do not believe in a god, but accept the concept has a useful role in society.... 'God' as in a group of men back in around ad400 put together a book collection that gives general guidance on what to do and more often, what not to do (killing people, stealing, fucking neighbours wife, etc) - ...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 26, 2019:

The same "God" also instructed the mass murder and enslaving of neighboring tribes, i.e. genocide. Is this a suitable model for the 21st Century given our access to nuclear weapons and firearms? It was bad enough with bronze spears.

I can't help noticing the trouble the spellchecker has with certain words.

Marionville comments on Jul 26, 2019:

I find it a minor irritation, but just use the edit button to correct. Not a major factor, and sometimes it causes some hilarity!

Paul4747 replies on Jul 26, 2019:

@Marionville The older I get, the more I do. And a computer throwing stones at me is not helpful. Thanks for letting me know it's been addressed, apparently.

I can't help noticing the trouble the spellchecker has with certain words.

Marionville comments on Jul 26, 2019:

I find it a minor irritation, but just use the edit button to correct. Not a major factor, and sometimes it causes some hilarity!

Paul4747 replies on Jul 26, 2019:

I'm annoyed by the imputation that I'm spelling words wrong, when I know damn well I'm not.

Once upon a time in Hollywood...... Only Tarantino. Two thumbs up.

Paul4747 comments on Jul 26, 2019:

Huh? Missing link, or screenshot, or something....

Paul4747 replies on Jul 26, 2019:

@IamNobody Oh, you meant *Quentin* Taranrino. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7131622/videoplayer/vi1240841497?ref_=vi_nxt_ap (Tarantino)

U.

Rob1948 comments on Jul 18, 2019:

Obviously, it did not work, Graham, McConnell, Gratz, Nunez, Pence and Trump as still around.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 26, 2019:

Beat me to it

Trump delivered a speech in front of a fake presidential seal showing the Russian imperial eagle ...

DenoPenno comments on Jul 26, 2019:

I thought Trump was the Russian imperial eagle?

Paul4747 replies on Jul 26, 2019:

He's the Russian turkey.

What does it mean when men say they are god-fearing men?

Paul4747 comments on Jul 25, 2019:

My experience of prison inmates who are all devout Christians now, tells me that they have no internal moral code or self-control, but only avoid doing evil because they're afraid of a supernatural punishment. If they had any kind of personal morality, they wouldn't be murderers, thieves, rapists ...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 26, 2019:

@MissKathleen That's the real problem- it doesn't. They commit more crimes, and then ask "forgiveness".

I need a hero. I’m holding out for a hero til the end of the night. Any takers?

Paul4747 comments on Jul 25, 2019:

I would, except I'm spoken for.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 26, 2019:

@janniegirl Thank you for saying so...

It’s interesting to me that saying anything remotely positive about religion brings accusations of...

Paul4747 comments on Jul 25, 2019:

I haven't the time to read all the below comments, so I don't know if anyone has pointed out the logical fallacy inherent in your post- the Appeal To Authority. It doesn't actually matter *what* Einstein believed or how intelligent he was. His views on religion have no bearing. Whether he was a ...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 25, 2019:

@skado No, there is no transcending the physical universe; there is no afterlife. Please don't pluck a fragment of one sentence out of context and then hold it next to others which are clearly about entirely different things.

The classic SF series Babylon 5 now streaming on Amazon Prime!! (No, I am not a shill for Amazon- ...

NoPlanetB comments on Jul 25, 2019:

It was good the first 2 seasons, not so much after that, IMO.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 25, 2019:

To each their own

It’s interesting to me that saying anything remotely positive about religion brings accusations of...

Paul4747 comments on Jul 25, 2019:

I haven't the time to read all the below comments, so I don't know if anyone has pointed out the logical fallacy inherent in your post- the Appeal To Authority. It doesn't actually matter *what* Einstein believed or how intelligent he was. His views on religion have no bearing. Whether he was a ...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 25, 2019:

@skado I do not bow to the expertise of theologians either; I merely point out that being highly qualified as a physicist doesn't grant a license to comment on matters of religion with any more authority than anyone else. I see no need for any "transcendental outlook", as there is nothing to transcend. We are here, this is the universe we have. I can't agree that anything defies a rational explanation. The more we learn of genetics, for example, the more we understand that our behavior is rooted in the unconscious programming of our genes; and the more we understand that we can move beyond this programming by our rational thought. An atheist can equally well be "liberated from the fetters of their selfish desires". I would argue that, without the belief in some afterlife reward, the atheist is in a superior standing morally. A religious person who performs charitable acts because of a commandment compares unfavorably to an agnostic or atheist who does the same out of simple compassion- regardless of the fact that the same act is taking place. Furthermore, as many have noted, Einstein was functionally an atheist. "Spinoza's God" was the personification of the laws of nature. Einstein merely stood in awe of nature itself. He believed there was a Hidden Variable in the universe, but didn't believe this was any kind of personal God.

Who would win in a fistfight between Jesus, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King?

snytiger6 comments on Jul 25, 2019:

I'd put my money on King. He was bigger. Of course one wonders why they would even be fighting in the first place.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 25, 2019:

Exactly the point. Like all the superhero comic book fights. Why does Superman always end up racing against the Flash (or whatever)?

It’s interesting to me that saying anything remotely positive about religion brings accusations of...

Paul4747 comments on Jul 25, 2019:

I haven't the time to read all the below comments, so I don't know if anyone has pointed out the logical fallacy inherent in your post- the Appeal To Authority. It doesn't actually matter *what* Einstein believed or how intelligent he was. His views on religion have no bearing. Whether he was a ...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 25, 2019:

@skado "It’s interesting to me that saying anything remotely positive about religion brings accusations of “apologist!” or “idiot!”. So was Einstein an idiot?" This is the classic Appeal To Authority. Rather than make your own argument, you quote an Authority (in another field). Nor did you make an argument of your own, you quoted a Wiki article. And if you can quote where I appealed to any Authority other than individual reason, I will stand corrected on that point, but I don't recall it.

Goodbye, Rutger Hauer.

CuriosityExtant comments on Jul 25, 2019:

I've always held Ladyhawke (1985) as my favorite, maybe because it was my introduction to Rutger Hauer, before I even knew of Matthew Broderick or Michelle Pfeiffer. https://youtu.be/cudAGo1nSKI

Paul4747 replies on Jul 25, 2019:

Another favorite. Unfortunately he was typecast as the heavy, the attempt at a heroic role was very rare for him and I believe it was a cult classic more than anything. I think the Alan Parsons Project soundtrack confused people, too...

Lunching in the Bay Horse pub, Heighington, near Darlington.

Paul4747 comments on Jul 25, 2019:

"31 degree heat..." I realize the metric system makes more sense. It's logical that water should freeze at zero and boil at 100. And yet that doesn't stop me thinking that 72 is a nice, comfortable temperature. :|

Paul4747 replies on Jul 25, 2019:

@Petter It was just an example of how the thought process works. For instance, we had 107F heat index here last week, which, in C, would be boiling us in our skins...

Georgia church hires woman to make contact with the dead | Barry Duke

MissKathleen comments on May 31, 2019:

Just as easy to believe two ridiculously illogical things, as it is to believe one.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 25, 2019:

I believe 6 illogical things before breakfast!

Fareed Z.

racocn8 comments on Jul 24, 2019:

You might want to know that a big part of the military budget goes into building and sustaining a secret fleet of spaceships. Gary McKinnon found pages of crew rosters headlined as Extraterrestrial Officers. Lots of eyewitnesses have testified to seeing TR3B's, Sport Models and even some very big ...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 25, 2019:

Gary McKinnon the British hacker?? I.... really doubt him as a source. And I really doubt that any conspiracy of more than 3 people could have remained a conspiracy in these times, when a President can't even get a hummer in the Oval Office without it becoming a matter of public record.

‘Trump’s Going to Get Re-elected, Isn’t He?’

Athena comments on Jul 18, 2019:

I am hopeful that all this is part of the chaos that will make Americans want stability - and vote for it in the next election. Bernie, 2020.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 20, 2019:

*Biden 2020 Fixed

‘Trump’s Going to Get Re-elected, Isn’t He?’

ToolGuy comments on Jul 18, 2019:

This guy is part of the problem.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 20, 2019:

@ToolGuy Strengthening Obamacare and adding a public option isn't sensible? Growing the economy so that the have-nots get a bigger share is impossible? You believe we're in a zero-sum economy where in order for one to win, the rest must lose? I would prefer a public-run, not-for-profit health care system. But in practice, too many are invested in the system as it stands to make it practical. So, strengthen Obamacare, offer a public option, and see how many take that option. Eventually enough people may take that option that private health insurance will wither on the vine. Too many Democrats are convinced that loathing of Trump means voters will go for anyone else, and so it's the perfect time to go as far left as possible and try to socialize everything. That's a mistake and it will drive away the middle of the road voters we need. Nothing matters now but beating Trump. We need a moderate who can win, and that's all we need. Don't repeat the mistakes of the past. Don't let your "best" be the enemy of the good.

‘Trump’s Going to Get Re-elected, Isn’t He?’

sydarthur7 comments on Jul 18, 2019:

As an interested observer from the other side of our planet, surely Bernie’s your man. I really don’t think the revolution can wait!

Paul4747 replies on Jul 19, 2019:

"The revolution" can wait until AFTER we throw the maniac out of the White House. The first, last, and only priority is to win. That means running to the middle during the primaries and running farther to the middle during the election itself. Even Republicans must be comfortable voting for the Democrat this time. Embracing the private sector is fine, as long as it's made clear that the private sector must pay its fair share and lift those who've been left behind. Because government really and truly can't do it all.

‘Trump’s Going to Get Re-elected, Isn’t He?’

ToolGuy comments on Jul 18, 2019:

This guy is part of the problem.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 19, 2019:

Explain, please. (I can answer an inscrutable comment with more of the same.)

Bad beard day. In my book, every day is a bad beard day.

bobwjr comments on Jul 18, 2019:

I like my beard and one of my sons

Paul4747 replies on Jul 18, 2019:

Also, you have the Bald of Awesome going on, along with a badass beard. Double score. I tried shaving my head one Xmas just to see how it looked, but I can't quite pull it off. Gonna wait for genetics to do it for me.

Bad beard day. In my book, every day is a bad beard day.

Paul4747 comments on Jul 18, 2019:

Hey!!!!!

Paul4747 replies on Jul 18, 2019:

@Jolanta Thank you. Exception noted. ;)

Ever happen to you

Paul4747 comments on Jul 18, 2019:

Nope Beer & Mountain Dew for me, maybe Diet Pepsi or Coke Zero. Whatever's on sale this week....

Paul4747 replies on Jul 18, 2019:

@PondartIncbendog Sorry to hear that. I'm trying to figure out a change of careers. If I had a pension to look forward to I could stick it out another 5 years, but as it is, it's just a 401, and that's 10 years minimum. I doubt I could take that. I have PTSD right now from the stuff they put us through. (Not the prisoners, the bosses.)

Ever happen to you

Paul4747 comments on Jul 18, 2019:

Nope Beer & Mountain Dew for me, maybe Diet Pepsi or Coke Zero. Whatever's on sale this week....

Paul4747 replies on Jul 18, 2019:

@PondartIncbendog Peace Was Your Profession ;) I was Army (HOO ah). And have a Master's in history with a lot of study on military matters. (Don't ask how I wound up working 20 years in corrections, instead of teaching somewhere.... just don't. The insurance package is good, that's all I can say.)

Ever happen to you

Paul4747 comments on Jul 18, 2019:

Nope Beer & Mountain Dew for me, maybe Diet Pepsi or Coke Zero. Whatever's on sale this week....

Paul4747 replies on Jul 18, 2019:

@PondartIncbendog Having served, I gotta believe the Joint Chiefs have a contingency plan for what to do if the CinC decides in a fit of pique to launch our weapons at Sweden or somewhere (for banning sales of his neckties or who knows what). It has been reliably reported, and I believe, that the JCS may very well not obey orders for a first strike, since this is against all our policies and in fact would be a war crime. Trump may not realize it, but I don't think this president has full command of the nuclear arsenal, for the first time in 70 years or more. His orders would be filtered through the chain of command, who would very likely experience technical difficulties while they called the VP, the Speaker, the Cabinet, and a lot of other people in the line of succession, who would probably invoke the 25th Amendment very quickly. (Yes, it might be a palace coup, and at that point I would be okay with it... for the purposes of preventing a global thermonuclear war.)

Ever happen to you

Paul4747 comments on Jul 18, 2019:

Nope Beer & Mountain Dew for me, maybe Diet Pepsi or Coke Zero. Whatever's on sale this week....

Paul4747 replies on Jul 18, 2019:

@PondartIncbendog So I have time then.

Ever happen to you

Paul4747 comments on Jul 18, 2019:

Nope Beer & Mountain Dew for me, maybe Diet Pepsi or Coke Zero. Whatever's on sale this week....

Paul4747 replies on Jul 18, 2019:

@PondartIncbendog When.....?

Bad beard day. In my book, every day is a bad beard day.

LiterateHiker comments on Jul 18, 2019:

I hate long, bushy beards. Repulsive.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 18, 2019:

I blame ZZ Top for the whole neckbeard thing. Great tunes, though.

Trump's "RACISTS" twit.

Paul4747 comments on Jul 16, 2019:

Well, look... I may not be able to add much to the discussion, but I will try to clarify. If a person (let's leave the Current Resident's name out of it, since he stirs up so much emotion) makes a default assumption that someone of a different color comes from a different country- well, that's ...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 17, 2019:

@Jacar Okay, here's something that is definitely NOT my own words (all of the above was my own words, despite your implication), and I will credit it. This is Representative Ted Lieu, writing in the Washington Post, and here's how Trump's words are racist. (I have taken the liberty of adding emphasis in a few key lines.) Rep. Lieu, take it away: *Ted Lieu, a Democrat, is a U.S. representative from California.* 'I served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force and currently serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Yet I still experience people telling me to “go back” to China or North Korea or Japan. Like many immigrants, I have learned to brush off this racist insult. I never thought the president of the United States would tell members of Congress to “go back” to another country. President Trump has often crossed the line of what constitutes decent behavior. But this time feels different, because he is now attacking legal immigration and U.S. citizenship. *His statements on Sunday and since then imply that immigrants are somehow less loyal to our country, less American, and that we should “go back” or “leave” if we disagree with him.* Twenty years ago, I wrote an op-ed in The Post about what it was like to wear my Air Force uniform while people questioned my loyalty to the United States, all because of the color of my skin. I was in my Air Force blues when a woman asked if I was in the Chinese air force. *The suspicion that immigrants are not to be trusted or are unpatriotic is not just wrong; it is un-American.* And dangerous. Yet it has marred America’s past, including with the 19th-century “Yellow Peril” hysteria, the internment during World War II of more than 110,000 people who happened to be of Japanese descent and accusations against Jewish Americans of harboring dual loyalties. That brand of bigotry was at the core of Trump’s online comments attacking the patriotism of Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.) and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) — insults he continued to defend on Tuesday. To say I was furious when I read Trump’s tweets would be an understatement. It brought me back to the feelings I had when writing in 1999: about belonging, sacrifice and what it means to be an American. Just as my Air Force uniform didn’t protect me from racism then, the lapel pins worn by members of Congress didn’t shield those four representatives from Trump’s hateful venom. *It didn’t matter that three of the women were actually born in the United States or that Omar immigrated from Somalia as a child.* The problem for the president is that many Americans are immigrants or have friends or family members who are immigrants. The American people continue to support ...

Woo Hoo!!! Just hit level 7.

Marionville comments on Jul 16, 2019:

Shameless....tut, tut! 😂

Paul4747 replies on Jul 17, 2019:

You know me too well...

Woo Hoo!!! Just hit level 7.

LiterateHiker comments on Jul 16, 2019:

Seeing your points increase is addictive. Raises hand. Enjoy your free T-shirt and ballpoint pen. I generally don't wear clothing with words. Instead I aim for simple elegance.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 17, 2019:

And you achieve it, m'lady.

Trump's "RACISTS" twit.

Paul4747 comments on Jul 16, 2019:

Well, look... I may not be able to add much to the discussion, but I will try to clarify. If a person (let's leave the Current Resident's name out of it, since he stirs up so much emotion) makes a default assumption that someone of a different color comes from a different country- well, that's ...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 17, 2019:

@Jacar "How I think" has nothing to do with the issue, and it wasn't your question. You wanted to know how Trump's words were considered racist, and I explained it, without attacking you or anyone else. I gave the context and gave the explanation. You then moved the goalposts. So, now here's explanation part 2. I did editorialize very clearly that it's disturbing (personally) to have a sitting president in the 21st Century spouting white supremacist rhetoric. Now why you're claiming these Congresswomen have been attacking the US, and/or "demanding it become not the USA", is inexplicable, since you don't explain it. They have certainly attacked this administration's policies; but those are in no way synonymous with the USA. If attacking the party in power is the same as attacking the USA, then Trump was guilty of it long ago, considering his years of attacking the Obama administration. And yet Republicans were nowhere in defending the dignity of a sitting president then; in fact, they piled on. It's only their own presidents that deserve to be shielded from criticism, evidently. I hesitate to guess what you mean by "demanding the USA become not the USA", since the only explanations I can guess with have to do with either our economic system (and that argument goes back to the introduction of the income tax in the 1860s, at least; and certainly to the 1930s when Social Security was a plan to make us all communists); or else it's a reference to something much uglier, and I do not wish to go there.

Woo Hoo!!! Just hit level 7.

Matias comments on Jul 16, 2019:

Another male who is obsessed with status, even if this status is purely symbolic and does not provide any real perks. I have already reached level eight and I can assure you: it won't make you happier :-)

Paul4747 replies on Jul 16, 2019:

I just want to be in the club

Woo Hoo!!! Just hit level 7.

Spinliesel comments on Jul 16, 2019:

I wear mone as a nightshirt.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 16, 2019:

@Spinliesel Not at all, I'm *sure* you don't want to know and so, as a gentleman, I won't inflict the unwanted knowledge on you. Goodnight.... :)

Woo Hoo!!! Just hit level 7.

Spinliesel comments on Jul 16, 2019:

I wear mone as a nightshirt.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 16, 2019:

Well, you don't want to know what I wear at night.... ;)

For deportation

Jolanta comments on Jul 15, 2019:

Yes, we all want the address please.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 16, 2019:

Something or another Pennsylvania Ave....

God was aboard Delta flight, returned to Puerto Rico

ATDayHiker comments on Jul 15, 2019:

Who knew God was Puerto Rican? (I posted that story on July 4th)

Paul4747 replies on Jul 16, 2019:

Cheech & Chong? (I don't actually know, are *they* from Puerto Rico?)

36 THINGS YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW WITHOUT THE MOVIES 1) During all police investigations, it will be...

Paul4747 comments on Jul 15, 2019:

A couple of "Truth In Television" notes: 3) The St Patrick's Day parade in *The Fugitive* wasn't staged, it actually happened to be the day they were filming and they took advantage of it. "Real Life Writes the Script" 16) Maybe not *no* pain, but due to adrenalin, the pain response is reduced...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 16, 2019:

@greyeyed123 It even worked in Deadpool, where the last guy on the highway (who was *shot in the head* but it turned out not to penetrate- you just have to see it to believe) pulls out a couple knives to go at the costumed superpowered guy who just finished wiping the pavement with all his cronies and came within an inch of killing him a minute ago... I can only conclude he was a little scrambled from the trauma of his blunt force head wound and not thinking straight.

Second bathroom selfie

Paul4747 comments on Jul 15, 2019:

I was about to be jealous of your second bathroom.... then I read the post... My main goal in life is a house with 2 bathrooms. An in-ground whirlpool bath would be a nice bonus.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 15, 2019:

@LiterateHiker I plead guilty to satire. I just thought it might be a selfie in the second bathroom, not the second one you had taken. (Both showcasing your awesomeness, natch.) However, I stand mute as to whether I've ever taken a picture of myself in any of the above circumstances. It is well known that the male of the species has a genetic ability to ignore household cleaning situations unless parts of the room are actively attacking other parts of the room, due to life independently evolving from the dirt there.

It' Bastille Day! Anyone want to celebrate by revolting against the oppressing class? I am stoked!

Paul4747 comments on Jul 14, 2019:

Be careful what you wish for. Depending on who you ask, *you* might be a member of the oppressing class.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 15, 2019:

@OpposingOpposum Pretty sure I gave my suggestion already. "That's why voting, not revolution, is the answer."

It' Bastille Day! Anyone want to celebrate by revolting against the oppressing class? I am stoked!

Paul4747 comments on Jul 14, 2019:

Be careful what you wish for. Depending on who you ask, *you* might be a member of the oppressing class.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 14, 2019:

@OpposingOpposum And now I get to quote a favorite fictional character, John Jacob ("Jack") Crow: "Mobs have an easy answer to that eternal question of who deserves what. They just ignore it and grab." Past evidence suggests that the redistribution of wealth tends to be people smashing windows in their neighborhood appliance store, getting themselves a big screen TV... and tomorrow, everything is back to normal. That's why voting, not revolution, is the answer.

It' Bastille Day! Anyone want to celebrate by revolting against the oppressing class? I am stoked!

Paul4747 comments on Jul 14, 2019:

Be careful what you wish for. Depending on who you ask, *you* might be a member of the oppressing class.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 14, 2019:

@OpposingOpposum To paraphrase humorist Roy Blount Jr.; "I hold some reactionary views myself, like: the Edge isn't all it's cracked up to be, and if there was a Revolution tomorrow we wouldn't like it either...." People who think Caucasian men as a fungible group are the source of all the trouble on this planet, *ever*, aren't likely to be picky about; well, *this* one is a troublemaker, but *this* one over here is decent enough... Just as there are some very wealthy people (Bill Gates comes to mind, also Warren Buffett) who put their money to very good uses and even want the tax codes changed to their disadvantage and to help the nation at large. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/13/bill-gates-suggests-higher-taxes-on-those-with-great-wealth.html But then there are the Walton family. (Not the TV show. Although they gave me the creeps too,) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKzMbz0KLTE

Daily Mail: Leaked cables show UK ambassador saying Trump abandoned Iran deal in act of 'diplomatic ...

Paul4747 comments on Jul 14, 2019:

Yeah, like others are saying, I thought we all knew this... or maybe it was just Americans who saw it right away.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 14, 2019:

@jerry99 I didn't mean to imply that he was, please don't take me that way. The point was that Ambassador Darroch's private (and wholly accurate) comments to his own government were much less abrasive than any of the insults Trump publishes or utters daily about any number of foreign dignitaries or, for that matter, entire nations. (One has only to think of his putdowns of London's Mayor Sadiq Khan, or his remark about "shithole countries".) And his fans celebrate him as "honest and straightforward". Yet foreign diplomats aren't supposed to return the favor, in Trumpworld.

Daily Mail: Leaked cables show UK ambassador saying Trump abandoned Iran deal in act of 'diplomatic ...

Paul4747 comments on Jul 14, 2019:

Yeah, like others are saying, I thought we all knew this... or maybe it was just Americans who saw it right away.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 14, 2019:

@jerry99 Well... he didn't. He said it to his bosses. And Darroch's comments are mild compared to what Trump says publicly every day about foreign officials and governments, as well as about people here at home. Trump's legendarily thin skin can't stand a single poke. He can dish it out, but he can't take it.

Pence shows his poor intelligence

kodimerlyn comments on Jul 13, 2019:

What a piece of shit. That entire situation is disgusting. He and Dump should be hauled in by the Human Rights Tribunal. How do these assholes look at their children and grandchildren and still sleep at night!?!

Paul4747 replies on Jul 13, 2019:

People with low empathy can even look at the suffering of millions and not care, because those people are strangers. They lack the ability to put themselves in other peoples' shoes.

What Is Patriotism? How Is It Different to Nationalism?

Paul4747 comments on Jul 12, 2019:

Patriotism is a love of your country and wanting it to do well. Nationalism is an irrational belief that your nation is the best of them all, and can do no wrong; furthermore, anyone who criticizes it is an enemy and is out to get you. If they're from abroad, they're just filthy foreigners; if at...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 13, 2019:

@PontifexMarximus It depends. For most Americans, it is, simply because they have never been anywhere else; and they tend to feel that everyone is attached in the same way to their birthplace. They tend to feel that not feeling tied to your birth nation in that way is some form of character flaw. Most Americans, compared to the world at large, are incredibly parochial people. However, some people emigrate to a new country and adopt a new homeland, and that place becomes the object of their patriotism. For example, let's say that someone has fled a war zone or an impoverished nation and settled in Germany or Britain or Spain or America (as unlikely as the latter is in these current times). They may then feel themselves patriotic citizens and lovers of the nation that took them in and helped them build a new life. This is as valid a form of patriotism as any other, and it may be a more intense form since a great effort and life change took place... analogous to how a religious convert or an atheist often puts more thought into their belief system than someone raised in a religion. As I've been saying, "patriotism" is a very complex thing. No single definition can cover how every person feels about it. But I personally believe that narrow, atavistic nationalism is the worst variety of "patriotism" and should not be mistaken for it; the kind that says, "If you're not part of my country, you're a non-person and have no value." Unfortunately, we in America currently have a president who embodies and encourages that kind of "patriotism" among his followers.

Basic Income?

Captain_Feelgood comments on Jul 12, 2019:

Well paying jobs... It's the best way to fix financial woes.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 13, 2019:

@Captain_Feelgood "He's saving the jobs of the other 70 percent" by making a salary equal to 361 of them on average. Normally, you would expect someone whose company didn't perform to take a pay cut, not get a raise. Yeah, we're done here.

What Is Patriotism? How Is It Different to Nationalism?

Paul4747 comments on Jul 12, 2019:

Patriotism is a love of your country and wanting it to do well. Nationalism is an irrational belief that your nation is the best of them all, and can do no wrong; furthermore, anyone who criticizes it is an enemy and is out to get you. If they're from abroad, they're just filthy foreigners; if at...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 13, 2019:

@PontifexMarximus To answer that question, one must ask; which Alaskan? Which Alabamian? I suspect that Sarah Palin or Judge Roy Moore have substantially different outlooks than Berta Gardner (D- Alaska) or Billy Beasley (D-Alabama). Patriotism is an individual feeling and the perception varies from one person to another. In general, those who go around waving American flags (this can be generalized to whatever country) tend to be more nationalistic and unsubtle in their "patriotic" fervor, and assume that anyone who stands up for anything differing from American goals is an enemy, rather than a patriot of their own nation. Others tend to take a more nuanced view and realize that most people feel an affection for their birthplace, which doesn't have to mean a hatred for all others.

Basic Income?

Captain_Feelgood comments on Jul 12, 2019:

Well paying jobs... It's the best way to fix financial woes.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 12, 2019:

@Captain_Feelgood Fairness has everything to do with it. When a company's profits tank, the CEO isn't the one fired. The CEO is the one who says, "We need to restructure the company and make the hard choices and by the way, we're firing 30 percent of our work force. And I'm getting a 20 percent raise due to my hard choices." There are no hard choices involved at the executive level. The CEO and board members are all friends who recommend raises for one another. It doesn't matter if the company performs or not, they still get their raises and bonuses. If the company did well, it's a bonus for profiting. If profits went down, it's a bonus for not doing worse. But no matter what, the people who do the eight and ten and twelve hour shifts get table scraps if they even get to keep their jobs. No, it's not fair. The executives would not have a company without the workers, but they operate under the delusion that they made it all happen.

Basic Income?

Grecio comments on Jul 12, 2019:

AOC seems ultra-liberal but good point she makes is the USA would have plenty of money if we did not spend about 50% of our budget on military. Why don't we tell all nations that if you won't fight and hate us then we will build 10 hospitals in your country?

Paul4747 replies on Jul 12, 2019:

Well we tried that. (Sort of.) Foreign medical aid is viewed as cultural imperialism at best in many parts of the world, and as a CIA plot at worst. (Not helped, of course, by the fact that the CIA often does travel using "doctor" as a cover identity.) Polio was nearly wiped out by the UN's vaccination program, until radical Islamist clerics in Africa began spreading a rumor that the vaccine was secretly designed to sterilize Muslims and wipe out their religion- as if there is some way a vaccine can detect religion. Parents refused to let their children get the vital second part of the immunization. Polio once again began spreading and we were back to square 1. Hatred is not rational. Trying to bribe people who already hate you isn't going to work. It will be seen as weakness and and an invitation to attack. I'm not saying we need a Cold War level military commitment, but we do need an agile military that can support our allies and deal with threats before they reach us. American interests are not just on American soil. We are engaged in the world whether we like it or not.

What Is Patriotism? How Is It Different to Nationalism?

wordywalt comments on Jul 12, 2019:

There is a huge difference between nationalism and patriotism. I consider myself a patriot, but I am NOT an aggressive nationalist, and definitely not a white nationalist. My view of patriotism says that "my country, right or wrong" is a destructive point of view. To me, if you are a patriot, ...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 12, 2019:

Someone recently linked an article that I wish I could find again, on the origin of the "my country, right or wrong" phrase. The whole thing was something like "My country, right or wrong... if it's right, then I'll celebrate it, and if it's wrong, then I'll correct it." So it's not a narrow defense of "sticking up for my country doing things that are wrong." Like many popular aphorisms, this one lost much over the years.

What Is Patriotism? How Is It Different to Nationalism?

bobwjr comments on Jul 12, 2019:

Not the same patriotism is pride in your country and not blind following nationalism is more like my country right or wrong

Paul4747 replies on Jul 12, 2019:

Someone recently linked an article that I wish I could find again, on the origin of the "my country, right or wrong" phrase. The whole thing was something like "My country, right or wrong... if it's right, then I'll celebrate it, and if it's wrong, then I'll correct it." So it's not a narrow defense of "sticking up for my country doing things that are wrong." Like many popular aphorisms, this one lost much over the years.

What Is Patriotism? How Is It Different to Nationalism?

Paul4747 comments on Jul 12, 2019:

Patriotism is a love of your country and wanting it to do well. Nationalism is an irrational belief that your nation is the best of them all, and can do no wrong; furthermore, anyone who criticizes it is an enemy and is out to get you. If they're from abroad, they're just filthy foreigners; if at...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 12, 2019:

@PontifexMarximus That's an illustration of nationalism in a nutshell. The inability to conceive that someone might have different views, but not be an enemy. That, for example, opposing the torture of prisoners of war might be a sign of having moral standards, not expressing sympathy for terrorists. Whereas a patriot would understand that both Americans and Iraqis (for example) equally love their countries, and there's no point in thinking that an American soldier would withstand torture by an enemy without revealing information, but someone from another (and hence lesser) nation would of course break and tell all they know. That kind of thinking comes from watching too many episodes of *24* and believing that anything the good guys do is good, by definition. **Wrong**. As one of my favorite fictional characters said, "You couldn't call yourselves the good guys and then go around doing bad guy things."

What Is Patriotism? How Is It Different to Nationalism?

Carin comments on Jul 11, 2019:

So unfair! I'm glad he managed to sell the shop before he was imprisoned. I heard many Japanese Americans lost all their property while they were locked up.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 12, 2019:

@zesty His family has 5 generations of draft dodging... bad knees might be genetic?

My mother is going downhill - asking for kind thoughts or feedback

bleurowz comments on May 27, 2019:

UPDATE: Many thanks to everyone who's responded, including recently. I don't know why this post is showing up as current, because I actually made it almost nine months ago and my mother passed last September. It's too old to even edit to add this update, so I'm putting this here.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 10, 2019:

I'm very sorry, you have my thoughts. My mother passed 2 1/2 years ago and I'm still surprised by realizing she's gone. I visited my dad's grave 2 weeks ago (1998 ) and was surprised by the strength of my emotion. All I can say is, they live on as long as we remember them.

Ark Encounter founder warns ‘kids of all ages’ that libraries are becoming dangerous - New York ...

nastynifty comments on Jul 1, 2019:

Lol. The most dangerous book for Christianity is the bible itself. How many of you know the story of Elisha and the bears? https://youtu.be/PyIskARTVBo

Paul4747 replies on Jul 9, 2019:

Yep That's a just and righteous God for ya

Florida principal apologizes for refusing to call Holocaust a 'factual, historical event' - The ...

webbew1 comments on Jul 9, 2019:

I put Holocaust Deniers in the same category as Flat Earthers, except that Flat Earthers are considerably more benign because they lunacy they’re attempting to spread doesn’t involve the extermination of countless numbers of lives.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 9, 2019:

On the other hand, it does considerable harm to the spread of true knowledge and an attitude of "Everyone can make up their own mind about everything." Everyone can make up their own mind about some things, such as whether the German people at large were willing participants in the Holocaust or simply turned a blind eye; to what extent the Allies ignored the warnings they heard coming out of occupied territory or what power they had to intervene in any case; and many other questions, and not only on this issue. But those opinions should be based on the documented facts, not on rejecting facts based on a suspicion of all in authority. Too many in this generation (and going back several generations, actually) distrust anything written down, simply because they assume there's a hidden agenda to it. Skepticism and a critical eye may be justified, but automatic disbelief is certainly not. Sorry... I'm an historian. I tend to go on about this subject.

Why airport facial recognition raises privacy concerns - The Washington Post

jerry99 comments on Jul 9, 2019:

I’d be a lot more concerned about privacy if most of the younger folks weren’t so busy posting every aspect of their lives up on social media.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 9, 2019:

That's their choice. I stay off anything that requires me to use my hind name. And I guess the other point is that the TSA isn't supposed to be scanning and sharing Facebook posts....

Florida principal apologizes for refusing to call Holocaust a 'factual, historical event' - The ...

Beowulfsfriend comments on Jul 9, 2019:

It goes beyond the deniers as polls show a large number of people can't even tell what the event was historically. Lots, too many, of people simply do not know. Then there is another group which I find just as damaging, in many ways, as deniers and forgeters: the yes it was bad, but what ...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 9, 2019:

Ah yes, the "what-abouters".... and there were "very fine people on both sides" of the Holocaust, I'm sure.

Trump approval rises but a majority still see him as unpresidential. - The Washington Post

gater comments on Jul 8, 2019:

Trump was elected because he wasn't presidential - look at our past failures, Obama, Bush.. the people didn't want anyone like that!

Paul4747 replies on Jul 9, 2019:

@gater A Freudian would say you are projecting. If Trump is so "brilliant", how is it that his performance as a businessman is substantially less (billions of dollars less) than if he had simply put the money his father gave him to start up into index funds and left it there? How is it that he's gone into bankruptcy SIX (count'em, 6) times? Is this part of his "brilliance"; the ability to bilk his investors and debtors by declaring that it's a new game and if they want any money back, they have to play his way? That's not a sign of brilliance, it's a sign of inept management combined with pathological dishonesty and a refusal to accept the bills he runs up; just like the countless times he's refused to pay small businesses for doing the exact work he contracted for, then claimed he "wasn't happy" with the finished job. He simply takes advantage of his battalion of lawyers and the knowledge that the small businessman can't afford to drag it out in court the way he can. Trump is a pathological liar (12 untrue things a day, over 10,000 and counting as of last month) and worships nothing but himself. At one time he was surrounded by brilliant advisers, but he refused to listen to them. Increasingly anyone of substance, to stay on in the administration, is reduced to the level of a yes-man (yes-person?). As soon as they contradict the Liar In Chief, it's curtains. One day he sings their praises as a loyal aide, the next (after they leave or are fired for telling the truth) they were "a very bad liar all along" and "an awful person". Case in point: Jeff Sessions, who was appointed solely to quash any Russia investigation. As soon as he recused himself, he went from the greatest Attorney General ever to the worst and weakest, in Trump's book. It's no wonder Trump gets along with Putin so well. They have identical cults of personality. And you, sir, have obviously joined. I'm done with you.

Just because something can be done, does not necessarily mean it should be done.

altschmerz comments on Jul 9, 2019:

Yes I saw this on the news. Like you said below, if you really want a child fucking adopt one, there are lots of them rotting away in the system. This strikes me as being selfish and vain.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 9, 2019:

@Carin True, but could it possibly be more difficult and expensive than this procedure?

Trump approval rises but a majority still see him as unpresidential. - The Washington Post

gater comments on Jul 8, 2019:

Trump was elected because he wasn't presidential - look at our past failures, Obama, Bush.. the people didn't want anyone like that!

Paul4747 replies on Jul 9, 2019:

So you seem to be saying that those who voted for him wanted someone who had no knowledge of foreign policy, economics, or diplomacy, and who runs his administration by writing, saying or doing the first thing that comes to his mind and ignoring the people who actually know anything about the matter at hand... in other words, some moron who is just like them. Only with a nuclear button. Great.... President Obama won with 52.9% of the popular vote in 2008 and 51.1% in 2012. He led us out of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. By what standards are you calling that a "failure"? Trump was elected by a quirk of the Electoral College. It cannot be repeated often enough that he **LOST** the popular vote.

“When taking an oath, our biblical ancestors placed their hands over the testicles of a witness to...

Paul4747 comments on Jul 8, 2019:

Hence phrases like "Cross my nuts and hope to die" and "I swear on a stack of testicles"...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 8, 2019:

@AnneWimsey I don't use the other things every day, that's for sure :D

Do we have religious members in this website?

273kelvin comments on Jul 8, 2019:

Interesting question; on the lines of - Strong as the Hulk is, he cannot lift Thor's hammer but what if he lifted Thor whilst Thor was holding the hammer? In some respects, god did set his own limits in the form of free will. Adam made his own choice and other than showing him the way or smiting ...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 8, 2019:

In that case, Thor is the one lifting the hammer, Hulk is only lifting Thor. The rule about anyone else lifting the hammer is logically negated once Thor lifts the hammer. As far as the free will problem, in mythology, JHVH set up a no-win situation. Man has free will, but will be punished disproportionately for exercising it; not only will the ones exercising their free will by taking the fruit be punished, but every generation after them (who had no choice about exercising their free will in that case) will be punished. All of humanity is expelled from the garden, not just Adam and Eve, since there is no return. In a similar vein, during the Noah flood, it can't be conceived that all of mankind except Noah's extended family were deserving of death... and yet they were drowned. Babies, children, the elderly, and surely there were relatively inoffensive people who didn't entertain a particularly bad thought or deed in their lives; yet they are wiped out without distinction. It's an illustration of a tyrant as God.

I made a new group called "Smart Ways To Save Money & Life Hacks".

Paul4747 comments on Jul 8, 2019:

Not to be a wet blanket, but you can only hack computers, cell phones or similar. "Life" is not susceptible to hacking.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 8, 2019:

@Kafirah Warm water? Again, yech.... It's worth 2 minutes a day to brush my teeth my way. Anyway, my main objection is to the terminology. Call it "time saving". "Life hack" is not a thing that exists. That makes life sound like a computer program. Life is more complex than a computer program.

So the Supreme Court tells the President "The citizen question is illegal " : what does he do - ...

sweetcharlotte comments on Jul 7, 2019:

I worked as a Census Taker for the Department of Commerce '90, '00, '10 in TN, NV, NC. Each time I had to enter a home and sit down with the residents whom had not mailed in the form and collect the information. No matter which state, these people feared the process. Many of them would not answer...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 8, 2019:

And sadly, they're absolutely right not to trust this administration. Not one iota of trust.

I made a new group called "Smart Ways To Save Money & Life Hacks".

Paul4747 comments on Jul 8, 2019:

Not to be a wet blanket, but you can only hack computers, cell phones or similar. "Life" is not susceptible to hacking.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 8, 2019:

@Kafirah Yech! What do you rinse your mouth out with?

President Washington lived by 110 rules of civility. President Trump does not. - The Washington Post

Charlene comments on Jul 6, 2019:

He's Not our President.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 6, 2019:

No, but unfortunately he's *the* president.

President Washington lived by 110 rules of civility. President Trump does not. - The Washington Post

HippieChick58 comments on Jul 6, 2019:

Drumpf is a donkey's ass

Paul4747 replies on Jul 6, 2019:

Aww, I like donkeys.

House Democrats sue Trump administration over president’s tax returns - The Washington Post

gater comments on Jul 3, 2019:

Why don't Democrats do something for the people than elected them? Like infrastructure

Paul4747 replies on Jul 5, 2019:

@gater Explain if you can, how walling off the border (physically impossible, by the way) solves the problem of asylum seekers being put in detention and their children separated from them to possibly die. (Not just the children- adults are dying too.) The vast majority of immigrants are stopped at legal points of entry, where they request asylum. This is their right under US law. The crisis is that the Trump administration's INS is not processing these asylum seekers according to its own procedures, since (Trump claims) they just disappear and won't show up for their asylum hearings. Therefore, rather than give a hearing date and release them to stay with their sponsors, asylum seekers are detained in overcrowded warehouses. The crisis is created by Trump to illustrate how much we "need" the wall that he promised to build to combat the imaginary threat of illegal immigration- which actually peaked in 2000 at 1.6 million arrests and has declined steeply since then. There were less than 400,000 arrests Trump's first year in office, according to the CBP. So either you believe the CBP is no good at arresting people, or there's no crisis except the one Trump himself created with his policies. I agree it's sad. Very sad that you accept the idea that there's some kind of "invasion" underway that can only be stopped by walling us off from the rest of our hemisphere; a method that didn't work for East Berlin and won't work for us. Sad that so many people are afraid of the rest of the world. Sad that they want to waste so much money, when a fraction of it could go to help nations like Guatemala help themselves and create decent living conditions, where people wouldn't feel the need to flee to America. And it's especially sad that we have a president and party who've forgotten the words on the Statue of Liberty. Asians actually outnumber Hispanics as new immigrants. So I guess the next step is walling off the West Coast?

Trump’s celebration of himself is the perfect reminder of why he must leave - The Washington Post

jerry99 comments on Jul 4, 2019:

Travis Allen: The Trump family has no history of military service in over 5 generations, 150 years and two World Wars. Let that sink in. #BoycottTrump4thOfJuly https://twitter.com/TravisAllen02/status/1146554263574843393

Paul4747 replies on Jul 4, 2019:

Pretending to know what the fuck you're doing as CinC does not count. Somebody needs to beat that into someone's orange head. (No names mentioned.)

Trump’s hijacking of the Fourth of July just got a lot uglier - The Washington Post

rogueflyer comments on Jul 3, 2019:

"Finally, the White House is handing out tickets to the event to GOP donors and political appointees. Passes are being distributed by the Republican National Committee and Trump’s reelection campaign. As many critics have pointed out, by politicizing the Fourth of July so nakedly, Trump has ...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 3, 2019:

@SeaGreenEyez And if anybody at the FEC had any testicular fortitude, they would come down on it like a ton of bricks. Except that the FEC was neutered decades ago.

House Democrats sue Trump administration over president’s tax returns - The Washington Post

gater comments on Jul 3, 2019:

Why don't Democrats do something for the people than elected them? Like infrastructure

Paul4747 replies on Jul 3, 2019:

Why doesn't Trump deliver the "yuge" infrastructure plan he promised in 2016? He had 2 years and control of both houses. Oh, wait- too busy trying to overturn the Constitution, delivering tax cuts to billionaires, and trying to build a border wall that we don't need.

Joaquin Castro stealthily captures photo and video at border detention center - The Washington Post

t1nick comments on Jul 3, 2019:

I have buy a subscription to watch the video. Not cool.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 3, 2019:

Sorry... lately a lot of people have been complaining to me, that they can't read my links for free. I find it's worth the 10 bucks a month, but I realize it's a personal choice.

Joaquin Castro stealthily captures photo and video at border detention center - The Washington Post

SeaGreenEyez comments on Jul 3, 2019:

I can't tell if you're disgusted by the border treatment or disgusted immigrants are treated as bad as people in prison. Either way, none of it is acceptable.

Paul4747 replies on Jul 3, 2019:

Technically, disgusted that they're treated *worse than* people in prison... and also that families are being separated and used as political pawns. So, both.

Trump’s celebration of himself is the perfect reminder of why he must leave - The Washington Post

papachag comments on Jul 3, 2019:

I didn't know he was at the Post ... I do agree he has to go ...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 3, 2019:

..... Right Not sure you're up to speed, but you get the general idea

Trump’s celebration of himself is the perfect reminder of why he must leave - The Washington Post

Geoffrey51 comments on Jul 3, 2019:

Never noticed before but he seems to be modelling himself on Julius Caesar from around 45 BCE with the four ridiculous triumvirate parades and the recent suggestion that he won’t leave office! Where is our Brutus?

Paul4747 replies on Jul 3, 2019:

Volunteers?

First Democratic debate: Demagogy on social issues, silence on war - World Socialist Web Site

Paul4747 comments on Jul 2, 2019:

I would say the demagogy is on the part of the author. Refusing to recognize that Russian interference played a part in the 2016 election (in other words, agreeing with Trump), insinuating that anyone who served overseas is some type of "imperialist", and a remarkable ability to read the minds of ...

Paul4747 replies on Jul 3, 2019:

@Ian-Duggan Huh. Historically speaking, Marxism is the longest path from capitalism to capitalism. Adios, comrade.

First Democratic debate: Demagogy on social issues, silence on war - World Socialist Web Site

Renickulous comments on Jul 2, 2019:

Every politician is a terrible person, they distort their parties ideas on both isles. Need a revolution

Paul4747 replies on Jul 2, 2019:

That's a rather sweeping generalization. Have you met every single politician? Are there absolutely none who are trying to do a good job for the people who elected them? Is nobody at all in politics acting from any kind of sincere belief or principle? Nobody in the entire country at any level, or in the whole world? Question:regarding this revolution; would that be a violent or a peaceful revolution? What system of government would be in place afterwards? And what makes you think the people in charge would be any less "terrible" than you think present politicians are?

Something you don't see at big car dealerships anymore.

thinktwice comments on Jun 28, 2019:

Cats know when people have a good heart...our Ace Hardware has three cats...our pet food store has cats, turkeys and ducks roaming about...my knit shop has a big orange cat...my Toyota mechanic has three toms roaming about...it is comforting to see

Paul4747 replies on Jun 30, 2019:

I frequently claim to hate cats, but I guess they know it's not true...

Pelosi on the rape allegation on the POTUS

Paul4747 comments on Jun 27, 2019:

Unfortunately he can't be impeached for acts that took place before he entered the Oval Office. "You're a miserable excuse for a human being" is not an impeachment charge. Politics is the art of the possible. In order to get anything passed, the Senate Republicans will have to vote Yes on it. ...

Paul4747 replies on Jun 28, 2019:

@redbai This conversation has been futile. Nice talking to you.

Islamic Centre, Leicester (UK) website: ‘An apostate does not have the right to life.

Amisja comments on Jun 28, 2019:

This is common to all the Abrahamic religions and is typically hypocritical. In other parts of the Q'uran it says to welcome all people of the book as 'brothers'. No mythology is internally consistent!

Paul4747 replies on Jun 28, 2019:

A pretty good sign that mythology is created by man and not any type of gods.

Pelosi on the rape allegation on the POTUS

Paul4747 comments on Jun 27, 2019:

Unfortunately he can't be impeached for acts that took place before he entered the Oval Office. "You're a miserable excuse for a human being" is not an impeachment charge. Politics is the art of the possible. In order to get anything passed, the Senate Republicans will have to vote Yes on it. ...

Paul4747 replies on Jun 28, 2019:

@redbai Had Clinton won, the Republicans would be making the exact same arguments about a "stolen election". They would be up in arms about the Steele dossier and her friendly contacts with foreign diplomats (not that those have a damn thing to do with the election). Russian interference influenced the vote, undeniably. But nobody put a gun to anybody's head. Americans voted as they voted. Clinton won the popular vote. Through a fluke of the Electoral College mechanics, Trump won the election. Nobody stole anything. Nobody was "illegally installed". Your anger and bitterness are clear but also misplaced. Your wording implies that the Constitution doesn't deserve respect. Which form of government would you prefer?

a-ha - Take On Me (Official Music Video) - YouTube

brentan comments on Jun 28, 2019:

I doubt they'll ever get anywhere.

Paul4747 replies on Jun 28, 2019:

Uhhhhhh..................

Sanders / Gillibrand 2020

Paul4747 comments on Jun 27, 2019:

I got nothin'.

Paul4747 replies on Jun 28, 2019:

@desertastronomer Yeah, it's too early to commit to any names. That's what killed us last time; people were disappointed that their choice didn't get the nod and dropped out altogether. I'll support whoever.

What truly baffles me is how anyone who has ever worked for 45, doesn't publicly stand up to him?

LiterateHiker comments on Jun 28, 2019:

Because Republicans want power.

Paul4747 replies on Jun 28, 2019:

True dat. They don't care what happens to the nation, long term or short term, as long as they have the steering wheel.

Pelosi on the rape allegation on the POTUS

Paul4747 comments on Jun 27, 2019:

Unfortunately he can't be impeached for acts that took place before he entered the Oval Office. "You're a miserable excuse for a human being" is not an impeachment charge. Politics is the art of the possible. In order to get anything passed, the Senate Republicans will have to vote Yes on it. ...

Paul4747 replies on Jun 27, 2019:

@redbai Article II, section 4: "The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." Spying would certainly qualify as treason. There's no statute of limitations on that. What you're arguing for is a Congress of the opposing party to vote to undo the results of the election, when the voters knew what a fucking piece of crap the candidate was *and elected him anyway*. I agree his conduct is a disgrace to the nation, but the knowledge was right out there in the open, and he won the election anyway. As sickening as each new revelation is, it doesn't change the argument for impeachment. It's not as if the people who voted for him are saying to themselves, "Gee, 19 women, he was okay to be President then, but now that it's 20, he should be out!" Bill Clinton was impeached for lying about a sexual indiscretion that happened *while in office*. That was a legitimate high crime or misdemeanor. Trump should be investigated and impeached for his multiple blatant conflicts of interest, violations of the emoluments clause, foreign entanglements, and the fact that he obviously has favored foreign dictators when it is in his own financial interests; and his blocking of the Russia investigation among others. There's plenty to impeach him for that he's done while in office. As to the rest; You said, and I quote you, "But she's trying to make deals (a la Joe Biden) with despicable people that have already told her that they will only pass bills that give them everything they want with the Democrats compromising everything." This is an idealistic view, not a practical one. Compromise is the only way to get things done in a divided legislative branch. My reference was to those who refused to vote for Hilary, because she was just "the lesser evil", so they threw their votes to Stein or whomever or simply didn't vote. That's how the vote was narrow enough for the Electoral College to be thrown to Trump, despite Clinton winning the nationwide popular vote; people made an idealistic choice and voted for the "best" candidate who didn't have a snowball's chance of winning. The same damn thing that killed Gore in Florida, 2000. And I'm still fucked off about that, too.

Republicans in Missouri want to keep women who use birth control from working.

Remi comments on Jun 27, 2019:

Ok did a little research before I ranted about this in FB. It's still bullshit, but it's not as bad as your article makes it sound. Ugh. This shit needs to end. Get out of other people's business https://www.newsweek.com/missouri-abortion-sb-5-crisis-pregnancy-centers-630165

Paul4747 replies on Jun 27, 2019:

Found the text of the bill: https://rewire.news/legislative-tracker/law/missouri-omnibus-abortion-bill-sb-5/

NC lawmaker says Lincoln ‘unjustly invaded’ the South, a ‘sovereign nation’

Druvius comments on Jun 27, 2019:

There's no real question Lincoln did what he could to foment war with the Confederacy, and succeeded. How just that was is debateable, though certainly the Confederacy, sovereign or not, is nothing to be proud of.

Paul4747 replies on Jun 27, 2019:

@Druvius He resupplied the fort because it was Federal property and surrendering it would be an irretrievable loss of face at the very beginning of the administration. Was it foreseeable that the Confederates would fire on the resupply fleet? Perhaps. But Lincoln informed the Governor *in advance* that he was sending a resupply mission; hardly a warlike gesture. In every case, from demanding the surrender of Federal property on SC soil to firing the opening shots, it was the Confederates who were in fact the aggressors. Calling it "pop" history in your snide way implies that there's some deeper history of which common folk are unaware. There isn't. Lincoln went out of his way to avoid hostilities until they were forced on him. All his speeches and his private discussions were geared toward the idea that the Union must be preserved, and although he felt slavery would eventually perish, he did not, at that point, see it as his role to force it out. Maybe it's "pop history" because it's true?

NC lawmaker says Lincoln ‘unjustly invaded’ the South, a ‘sovereign nation’

Druvius comments on Jun 27, 2019:

There's no real question Lincoln did what he could to foment war with the Confederacy, and succeeded. How just that was is debateable, though certainly the Confederacy, sovereign or not, is nothing to be proud of.

Paul4747 replies on Jun 27, 2019:

Have you read, I dunno, any history books ever? Lincoln appealed for peace from the first. The South declared, *IN 1860*, that merely electing Lincoln was an act of aggression against them and they would be justified in seceding. Lincoln gave orders to resupply a Federal fort (Fort Sumter); South Carolina fired on the fort. That's an overt act of war. Period.

Before gun control, when shootings were unheard of. 1950s an early 60s!

sewchick57 comments on Jun 27, 2019:

You mean when it was illegal to own military weapons?

Paul4747 replies on Jun 27, 2019:

Pardon me? It has *never* been illegal to own military weapons. In 1934, a $200 tax was put on the sale of machine guns (something like $10,000 now, I guess?). That was the very first gun control law in the US. Progressively, restrictions have been strengthened, such as the ban on owning new automatic weapons in 1986. But they have never been flat-out illegal. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/history-of-gun-control-legislation/2012/12/22/80c8d624-4ad3-11e2-9a42-d1ce6d0ed278_story.html?utm_term=.b099a7122e8c Certain military weapons were very much legal. The standard infantry rifles, the M1 Garand and M1 Carbine, were in many thousands of civilian hands. They were common hunting rifles. There was in fact a Civilian Marksmanship Program that sold surplus rifles to the civilian market. This still exists, although not many know about it. http://thecmp.org/ The M1911A1 .45 pistol was among the top of the line for handguns because the US military used it. I think, by "military weapons", you mean "scary looking black rifles" that became prevalent during the Viet Nam War. The M-16 was designed in 1959 and the civilian version, the AR-15, was first sold in 1964. Modern high-capacity handguns go back to the Browning Hi-Power, first appearing in the 1930s. And yet we didn't have these "mass shootings". What's new is the way some elements of pop culture devalue life and glorify violence in general, along with our instant media culture. Someone who wants to become famous (or infamous) only has to buy a gun and go misuse it in a horrific manner, and they'll be known to thousands a few hours later. For some, obviously the temptation is irresistible.

Summer Hiking Pennsylvania has some beautiful state parks that are reasonably close to my house.

Deiter comments on Jun 27, 2019:

29 waterfalls? Here in SoCA we’ve 1 trail w/ a “waterfall” that trickles like an old man with an inflamed prostate. Water’s precious here. People don’t realize that CA once had a lake that was the largest body of freshwater west of the Mississippi – Tulare Lake. Indian settlements ...

Paul4747 replies on Jun 27, 2019:

"trickles like an old man with an inflamed prostate" I'm laughing my prostate off

Does anyone else worry that they're dumb and just don't realize it?

Paul4747 comments on Jun 26, 2019:

You're not going insane. You're going sane in an insane world.

Paul4747 replies on Jun 26, 2019:

@Renickulous Spoooooooonnnnn!!!!!!! (edited because damn site won't let me use the all-caps it deserves :D)

President Donald Trump Imposes 30% Tariffs on Solar Panels | Time

NoPlanetB comments on Jun 25, 2019:

I agree it's outrageous but why are they made overseas? Why not right here? The US could use the jobs.

Paul4747 replies on Jun 26, 2019:

@BD66 You're premise is that we have a closed system, where there's only X dollars to go around, and we can't raise standards without crippling the economy. In fact, raising the floor boosts the economy for all, including those at the top. As JFK put it, a rising tide lifts every boat. A truly united United Nations could mean decent wages and living standards worldwide, including for those "WalMart families". (Mind you, the only reason WalMart can sell so cheap is that they're effectively subsidized by my tax dollars, even though I don't shop there. They have pamphlets in the break room explaining how their employees can apply for public assistance so their families can make ends meet despite the pitiful wages WalMart pays. The tax breaks they get from communities based on the numbers of "full-time jobs" they promised to bring in become ridiculous when you realize that the WM corporation defines a full-time job as 30 hours a week, not 40. And when you consider that the Walton family is among THE richest in the world, yet got there by the most worker-unfriendly practices in America... backed up by the politicians they donate to so they can go on discriminating against workers who try to organize, against women, and their numerous other documented outright illegal practices. But I digress.) But the United States, for the most part, has been against a united United Nations, because we fear a loss of "sovereignty" (those filthy Europeans aren't going to tell us what to do!) and of course nations like China are against it because, A., their regime would receive much more scrutiny than they want, and B., they're profiting from American corporate greed (like WalMart's ability to label things "Made In America" as long as some part of it is assembled here, or just labeled here).

President Donald Trump Imposes 30% Tariffs on Solar Panels | Time

NoPlanetB comments on Jun 25, 2019:

I agree it's outrageous but why are they made overseas? Why not right here? The US could use the jobs.

Paul4747 replies on Jun 26, 2019:

@NoPlanetB I think I meant to tag @BD66 but I agree with your point as well. It's all interconnected; labor laws, pay, environmental law, pollution controls, all need to be enforced as a worldwide collaboration or there will be a race to the bottom... as indeed we've seen. The fact that US industry is allied with the Republican party in racing to the bottom, rather than trying to enlist the rest of the world in raising everyone's standards, merely shows that their sole concern is lining their pockets in the short term, and fuck the world.

President Donald Trump Imposes 30% Tariffs on Solar Panels | Time

NoPlanetB comments on Jun 25, 2019:

I agree it's outrageous but why are they made overseas? Why not right here? The US could use the jobs.

Paul4747 replies on Jun 26, 2019:

This is the REAL problem with free trade agreements; they're only free and fair if all parties are enforcing the same safety, wage and health standards. Foe example, NAFTA was supposed to raise the living standards for workers south of the border, not drive manufacturing to rock-bottom minimum wage factories in Mexico. But somehow that part was never enforced- because huge corporate donors make too much money getting their parts made elsewhere and are able to use that leverage against the unions to get concessions or just drive the unions out altogether.

Here Are the Lowlights from Day 1 of the Anti-LGBTQ Christian Hate-Conference | Hemant Mehta | ...

Geoffrey51 comments on Jun 22, 2019:

Is this a USA-wide phenomenon or restricted to certain states?

Paul4747 replies on Jun 23, 2019:

From what I read it seems to be in the South mostly, but it's bound to spread... sadly.

Here Are the Lowlights from Day 1 of the Anti-LGBTQ Christian Hate-Conference | Hemant Mehta | ...

linxminx comments on Jun 22, 2019:

Do you know how many people attended this conference?

Paul4747 replies on Jun 22, 2019:

@linxminx I'm thinking more of "incitement". But it's no more legally than if I were to say "It would be a shame if 'Pastor Tommy' were to be shoved into the river," in my understanding, except that I'm not saying it to a bunch of people who are eager to shove someone into a river.

Here Are the Lowlights from Day 1 of the Anti-LGBTQ Christian Hate-Conference | Hemant Mehta | ...

linxminx comments on Jun 22, 2019:

Do you know how many people attended this conference?

Paul4747 replies on Jun 22, 2019:

I can't find that documented, however there are a number of churches affiliated apparently, enough that the Southern Poverty Law Center has branded them a hate cult. Then there's the "Make America Straight Again conference http://nifbcult.com/tommy-mcmurtry-prays-for-violence/ in which "pastor" Tommy McMurtry "prayed" for protests to grow violent so that they could shoot LGBT protesters...