Moonlapse

As a side note to MPC's last post, not only technological but also behavioral research is used in this way. G. Stanley Hall and John Dewey sprang from the earliest research universities in the United States. Practically everything you experience now is a result of more than a century of this research, designed to influence and/or make practical use of your behavior, especially in marketing and in every stage of education.

http://taxes.about.com/od/2007taxes/qt/2007_tax_rates.htm Your average middle class American pays about 25% just for Federal income tax, add onto that the various state income taxes, Social Security taxes, Medicare taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, excise taxes, capital gains taxes, miscellaneous other taxes and government fees. The total estimate is roughly 40%.

I think this is a bit misleading. When the Federal government needs funds, the Federal Reserve (a private banking institution, which Congress gave central bank powers to in 1913, the same year that a permanent income tax was instituted) fabricates new money for it (the gold standard was eliminated in 1971). When you pay Federal income tax, your money is used by the government to pay interest, not principle, to its creditors. Services such as public education and public roads are largely funded with taxes on property and fuels.

I believe the odds are greatly against him, even if he gains massive support. The ideals that he's trying to revive are very threatening to established authoritarians.

From the Grace Commission Report (PPSS) 1984: * One-third of all their taxes is consumed by waste and inefficiency in the Federal Government as we identified in our survey. * Another one-third of all their taxes escapes collection from others as the underground economy blossoms in direct proportion to tax increases and places even more pressure on law abiding taxpayers, promoting still more underground economy-a vicious cycle that must be broken. * With two-thirds of everyone's personal income taxes wasted or not collected, 100 percent of what is collected is absorbed solely by interest on the Federal debt and by Federal Government contributions to transfer payments. In other words, all individual income tax revenues are gone before one nickel is spent on the services which taxpayers expect from their Government. Expect more 'interest' with less services.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

I'm currently reading 'Mindware: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Cognitive Science' by Andy Clark, 'Ilium' by Dan Simmons, and I'm re-reading 'Tides of War' by Steven Pressfield.

'Bowling for Columbine' disappointed me greatly. He barely skimmed the very tip of the circumstances that create school shootings, completely ignoring the institution of school itself and the progressive policies that had been implemented at Columbine, and chose in the end to focus mostly on guns. What really got me was when he made out Canada to be some kind of utopia, while the U.S. is some sort of huge war zone, completely ignoring the school shootings that have occurred there.

I read this recently, and it struck me as some good food for thought in this thread: A History of the Rise and Influence of Rationalism in Europe by W.E.H. Lecky, 1865

Charismatic bright young leader is a good PR strategy. My own rule of thumb is that the candidates most peddled by the mainstream media will essentially just maintain the status quo (1945-2007). Vote on your principles. You might want to look at Dennis Kucinich or Mike Gravel.

We're glad you like it.

Does any of this mean that we can't or shouldn't return to a Constitutional Republic and pursue the resolution of these matters by the means wisely prescribed in the original laws? There is a means of change, even Thomas Jefferson said, Issues can be federalized through the correct procedure. Yet, one exception means more exceptions means complete usurpation, which we are very close to. Look at the radical shift of power to the executive branch in past years. People are so desensitized to violations of law by the government that they support its use for the promotion of their own ideals.

That view hinges on the nature of abortion as you see it. You may see a fetus as just a part of its mother's body, whose existence is completely subject to the will of the mother; others may think that simply being fetal does nothing to negate the rights of that individual. I consider these to be the same problem. Perhaps we should carry this on in PM?

Well done. I'm envious.

Heheh, now we're getting into the issue of exactly when an unborn child is considered a sovereign individual. Though the point is, the Consitution does provide a means for change, and it should be used instead of picking and choosing which established law does and does not apply to our government. I mean as of right now, why do we even have a Constitution? It's optional, taking a back seat to pragmatism. The Founders had incredible foresight which is being paid lip service and at the same time being ignored.

Dogfish Head I'm really looking forward to this also.

I agree with his political position on abortion, in that the federal government can neither ban nor legalize abortion, therefore it is up to the states to decide. Though he's a pro-life Christian, I don't feel threatened because he doesn't make exceptions for his religious views. As a President he would actually be limiting his own powers back into accord with the Constitution. I do tend to disagree with his immigration policy, but I really don't have an answer. I guess most importantly, I believe that he's being completely honest and forthright with his intentions, which I can't say about any 'top tier' candidates. That means more to me than differences in opinion on certain policies, especially with the pervasive deception of recent administrations. http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul-arch.html

I'd say Soviet and American intervention. Here's a question for you... what are the differences/similarities of Russia's current terrorist problems and our own? True, true... however, our intervention was probably more monetary aid than anything. We don't see terrorists running around with M-16s. Russian terrorism? I haven't read up on it very much, but if my memory serves me, I believe it is mostly seperatists in outlying regions of Russia, such as the Caucuses. I'm probably wrong, I have yet to read on them. Keep digging. Never take a lesson without asking real questions.

So are you reading these as a skeptic or as an eager student?

His principles, integrity, honor and adherence to the rule of Constitutional Law have won my vote already.

That's only part of it. Handcraft is ultimately satisfying for some people.

Ahh ok. I'm partial to American microbrews, porters, stouts, black ales, and various Belgian beers - especially Trappist ales. I like to drink beer cool to lukewarm because I think its much tastier and headier. Ice cold beer doesn't have as much taste. Budweiser would have to be quaffed ice cold because it tastes like urine.

Recent high temperatures are from El Nino (discounting the already occuring warming trend), record high temps and irregular storms were predicted as a result a while ago. http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatec...1982452,00.html

That depends where and when. In Mesoamerica corn, beans, and squash were the foremost crops. In Eastern North America, things like sunflower, squash, and goosefoot were grown. Corn and beans eventually found their way into Eastern North America and became major crops after 900 AD.