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Stupid driver or attempted murder? - “he was probably trying to run over that obnoxious squawking bird he seemed to have pinned down” read more by rottenseed
Stupid driver or attempted murder? - “he was probably trying to run over that obnoxious squawking bird he seemed to have pinned down” read more by rottenseed
quantumushroom
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Enjoy the warmth and remember, I owe you NOTHING.
Member Since: 2006-06-22
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Rating:
27 star pointsVotes Received: 609
Votes Cast: 1271
Comments Posted: 1416 • browse
Comments Applauded: 5
Sifted Videos: 22
Profile Views: 9352
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You're a scientist in a field that either earns most of its bread from government funding (or has limited opportunities in the private sector). Concurrent with that, you see government as a tool to balance natural inequities in economics and social dynamics. Were I you, I'd vote for Obama or Hillary.
Generally, I view government as a water-stream of good intentions sprayed onto an oil fire of problemos. I believe in what Patrick Moynihan called, "Benign neglect", letting natural consequences and the free market shape society. Government is at its best when enforcing the few laws that make sense, and killing barbarians at the gate. But on its best day, it's still nothing more than raw force, a good servant but terrible master.
Every time the government is given power, it's power we the people never get back again. Therefore I'm wary.
I'd pay much more in taxes if I could see measurable positive effects. I'm talking about better salaries to recruit and train teachers (there no way in hell I'd be a teacher right now) leading to a better educated and more globally competitive populace, and greater equality in health care from a more preventative-focused health-care system (a direction which the U.S. health insurance market drives against).
Anyhow, we can discuss these things all day, but we're both products of our own experiences. I am a liberal-leaner on social issues (pro-choice, pro-specific path for current illegals to get legal status, pro-equal health care, but pro-gun) for some very specific reasons (I was long ago convinced that birth control and abortion are gender equality issues; I grew up some in California, with friends who's parents were exceptionally hard workers focused exclusively on their family achieving and contributing to America (though the parents were likely illegals); my girlfriend's dad owns a small construction business and nobody in their family had health insurance for large portions of their lives (despite his employees receiving benefits); my parents and relatives are responsible gun owners, but I've also lived in cities where poor education, poor parenting and little employment prospects leads to irresponsible gun ownership). On the classically conservative side, I make 16k a year right now. I'm not a wealthy man riding high on the government dime (and I've never met a government grant funded researcher who is, come to think of it). Luckily I'm a strong fiscal conservative living in the middle of Indiana (put 4,000 into my IRA last year, aiming for increased 5,000 max this year; got a 48% return on a mutual with large holding in Exxon and don't feel the slightest bit bad about it).
Anyhow, things are shades of gray. What I'm saying is I think we should both vote libertarian.
My dad owns guns from back on the farm (shotgun and rifle). My girlfriend's dad and brother are hunters (shotguns and rifles, mostly for bucks and ducks, though they have the front section of a boar in their den). Anyhow, its a fucking trick. "Vote for me and I'll stop these Godless liberals from making it slightly harder to buy three AK47's". Heres Barack's gun plans; note that it respects the Second Amendment while recognizing problems should be addressed so less morons kill other people; http://www.barackobama.com/issues/urbanpolicy/#crime-and-law-enforcement
2. Oh Jesus, capital gains tax... are we talking long-term capital gains? 5% is less than 20%? ... my ears are open as to how that works. Keep in mind I don't listen to O'Reilly or Limbaugh.
3. Heh, lol on this one. At least you didn't say the ex-Marine was anti-American. Anti-white? The majority of the United Church of Christ is white. Anti-semitic? He said Farrakhan, who is the neighboring (competing) church on the South side of Chicago was an important black leader to many in the country. Anyhow, THAT DOESN'T MATTER because Barack publicly said "fuck'im" after Wright went on CSPAN and said Barack was only talking like he was about certain things because he was running for office.
4. Come on, this one is too easy. Cheney and Rumsfeld ran us headlong into the biggest fucking mess we've seen in your lifetime, and they couldn't have been more 'distinguished'. And Barack doesn't go after Hillary because they're on the same fucking side! Its not supposed to be a drag out fight or else you fracture up the party. I'll be proven right or wrong once its Barack v. McCain, so lets look forward to that.
5. The internet is an amazing thing; for one you don't have to bore huge, excited crowds with massive amounts of specifics for the two people in the back who want to know what your plan are to spur investment and federal funding in biomedical research...
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/
The healthcare one is very interesting.
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/
Reiterating the 'No Bullshit' reason I'm voting Obama, a Presidential candidate should not have to lay out exacting specifics that they wish to present to Congress to look at, precisely because they don't have a Cabinet, a Senate and a Congress to help shape the plans. Sen. Obama's healthcare plans are exactly what I'd like to see built upon, and he refuses to bullshit us with some impossible outline like Hillary or the insultingly thickheaded McCain plan, which is "We have a major problem, so lets pretend really hard like we're addressing it".
I'll tell you what I know from my POV... federal dollars for research are a fucking nightmare to get right now. Many promising young researchers are being forced out because they can't get grants from the flat-lined NSF and NIH budgets. Even DOD is dropping basically all biomed fund streams. You can't tell me its not the 8 trillion in debt, the two wars AND the tax cuts (first tax cuts during a war in American history, or so WallStreetJournal tells me). Its a fucking travesty, and if you don't think I'm looking at moving abroad when I've got my PhD, you're dead wrong. I love my country but I'd rather do what I'm best at where I'll be paid to do it than sit here working as a tech and shake my head as the baby boomers try to collect social security.
In reply to this comment by quantumushroom:
Why I would never vote for Barack Obama (or Hillary)
1. Gun grabber. Any government official who thinks the people cannot be trusted with a firearms cannot be trusted with government power. I'm appalled a Constitutional lawyer wouldn't recognize the 2nd Amendment.
2. Anti-capitalist. When explained point blank that lowering/keeping capital gains tax low brings more revenue to government, he dismissed it outright.
3. Close alliance with anti-Semitic, anti-White pastor and former Weathermen terrorists. Yes, you will be judged by the company you keep.
4. the lack of experience he brings to the job
Doesn't have a distinguished record (could be argued he's too new) and the guy can't even go one-on-one in a debate with Hillary...how is he supposed to deal with nutjobs like Ahmadinejad? Will not reveal his plans for the military, budgetary or otherwise.
5. Gives good speeches that fall short on substance and specifics. The "impartial" mainstream media has let this guy have a free pass and will continue to do so. Also, he seems to take offense when pressured to answer difficult or unpopular questions. That's the opposite of transparency.
I don't think socialized medicine is a good idea, but for those who do, what specifics has he laid out already to achieve his stated goals?
I wouldn't think you'd be incredibly supportive of McCain as candidate, are you? I thought McCain would be okay until his last year and a half of pandering, dumbing down his message and watering down his ideals to get the anti-liberal side of the conservative party onboard.
No, I'm not supportive of McLame, and the proof is, the only way I'd vote for him is if the other guys ran Barack or Hillary against him.
I know why Barack is popular, he appeals to the imagination and engages emotions (just like religion does). But from my POV, the people looking to him for salvation are reacting to a (not) surprisingly false and negative presentation of reality, courtesy of the monolithic media (no, not Fox).
1. he's an grounded idealist; identifies goals and outlines realistic paths to achieving them in the ridiculous environment of Washington D.C.
-(maximize transparency in federal government! have all parties (including health care providers) involved while moving in stages to universal healthcare! get out of Iraq by pressuring their government to make hard decisions! increase community service with college scholarships! etc.)
2. the experience he brings to the job
-(Constitutional Law professor from a middle-lower class family, raised by single mom and grandparents, attracted to community service literally through the joy of helping others, history of reaching across the aisle and not only respecting but understanding opposing views, etc.)
3. is not a "good" politician; refuses to bullshit for votes
-(treats American citizens like intelligent people, doesn't change his message to suit the audience, directly challenges parties to understand one another and find compromise, etc.etc.etc.)
I wouldn't think you'd be incredibly supportive of McCain as candidate, are you? I thought McCain would be okay until his last year and a half of pandering, dumbing down his message and watering down his ideals to get the anti-liberal side of the conservative party onboard.
Actually I still think Obama as Pres/McCain as Vice would be cool, as long as nothing happened to Obama.
In reply to this comment by quantumushroom:
America can take all the criticism dopes like Dan can churn out and a whole lot more. It's just when these empty shirts (or in this case, hoodies) are called on their bullsh*t by presentations of facts, they backpedal while throwing out the same old, same old: "America bad. Life unfair. Racism."
How about some new material? This poor-me victim crap is plenty stale. Last time I checked, Whites were paying the same $4-a-gallon for gas as everyone else.
Nowhere on earth have Whites done so much for a Black minority than America, spending over a trillion dollars in 50 years on what amounts to 13% of the population. How about a little gratitude? Just a little? They're still practicing slavery in North Africa and tribes (Hutus/Tutsis) are still pointlessly killing each other over there; any White colonial remnants left decades ago, can't blame them.
Voting for Obama and his odious doof of a pastor? As long as you're not doing so out of White guilt or Black entitlement...and if not those what do you got? O-Bam's "principles" are socialist, ultra-left-wing to the left of Ted Stumblebum Kennedy. There's nothing else there in the way of plans or leadership, except to raise taxes. I don't think I'm being unfair here, if you know something I don't about Obama's experience and quals, do tell.
The White House is the absolute last reward anyone should receive for having a victim mentality.
In reply to this comment by quantumushroom: