Dick Cheney (in)famously made the case for invading Iraq by stating that even a one percent chance that Saddam had nuclear weapons made preemptive war imperative.
Now the vast majority of scientists are warning us that global climate change presents a significant risk of destroying civiliation, and where is Dick now?
Running his mouth and criticizing those who are trying to clean up his messes.
This must be the most evil useless person in America.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Why are so-called conservatives so resentful and afraid of universities? On every right-wing blog or radio show, we can count on hearing mocking comments about the "pansy elites" and their efforts to corrupt our pure youth.
I think it 's because conservatives really are afraid of education. Education is a force for change, for growth, for moving toward the unknown - and that scares the pants off a typical right-wingnut.
They claim to education but their actions betray a deep and subconscious fear of the results. What a conservative really supports is training. The whole"no child left behind" fiasco focused on training children, not educating them. The difference springs from the latin word e-ducare from which we derive "educate". Educare means to lead forth, to lead out. It means we don't know where we will end up at the end of the process. Human progress throughout history has occurred when brave souls had the guts to go in a new direction.
Training is a whole different process whereby the ends are pre-determined. We can train children to perform tasks, and measure those tasks with rubrics and exams. We can't measure education so easily. A true education may simmer for years before producing flowers that are unique and lovely. How can we measure this?
I think it 's because conservatives really are afraid of education. Education is a force for change, for growth, for moving toward the unknown - and that scares the pants off a typical right-wingnut.
They claim to education but their actions betray a deep and subconscious fear of the results. What a conservative really supports is training. The whole"no child left behind" fiasco focused on training children, not educating them. The difference springs from the latin word e-ducare from which we derive "educate". Educare means to lead forth, to lead out. It means we don't know where we will end up at the end of the process. Human progress throughout history has occurred when brave souls had the guts to go in a new direction.
Training is a whole different process whereby the ends are pre-determined. We can train children to perform tasks, and measure those tasks with rubrics and exams. We can't measure education so easily. A true education may simmer for years before producing flowers that are unique and lovely. How can we measure this?
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Decent health care for everyone or third world country ?
The first line of the constitutions states that it was established and ordained to promote the general welfare, among other purposes. If health care isn't the general welfare, what is? We need a strong public investment in health care for all Americans, or this country will no longer be the great beacon of hope and freedom we love.
The health care industry, along with the military industrial complex, is draining vast resources that could be going to education, scientific research, and public works that benefit and advance our society. How much of that money is siphoned off to go to insurance companies? Insurance companies provide no health care. They solely exist to make a profit and the only way they can do that, is to restrict access to health care. Providers must pay a large percentage of their income to workers who do nothing but deal with all the paperwork involved in filing claims to all the different companies. Consumers pay vast sums of money to insurance companies who ration their health care. Doctors don't decide what you need. The insurance companies tell doctors what you may have.
What a waste.
Our lack of a decent system of efficient health care puts us at risk the next time a virulent pandemic appears. And it will. History tells us that disease is as likely to bring down a culture as invasion. Ask the Incas and the other Native Americans who were conquered by the smallpox virus and the measles virus which decimated their populations and allowed them to be subjugated by Europeans.
Look at the black death, which forever altered the structure of medieval society.
If we work together as a nation, we can do this. We can develop a real, health care system and conserve our resources.
Or we can go the route of greed and corruption, of division and fear, and finally, the end of the American dream.
It ain't looking good.
The health care industry, along with the military industrial complex, is draining vast resources that could be going to education, scientific research, and public works that benefit and advance our society. How much of that money is siphoned off to go to insurance companies? Insurance companies provide no health care. They solely exist to make a profit and the only way they can do that, is to restrict access to health care. Providers must pay a large percentage of their income to workers who do nothing but deal with all the paperwork involved in filing claims to all the different companies. Consumers pay vast sums of money to insurance companies who ration their health care. Doctors don't decide what you need. The insurance companies tell doctors what you may have.
What a waste.
Our lack of a decent system of efficient health care puts us at risk the next time a virulent pandemic appears. And it will. History tells us that disease is as likely to bring down a culture as invasion. Ask the Incas and the other Native Americans who were conquered by the smallpox virus and the measles virus which decimated their populations and allowed them to be subjugated by Europeans.
Look at the black death, which forever altered the structure of medieval society.
If we work together as a nation, we can do this. We can develop a real, health care system and conserve our resources.
Or we can go the route of greed and corruption, of division and fear, and finally, the end of the American dream.
It ain't looking good.
Monday, May 18, 2009
What is all this absurd blather about "What if torture works"? Can't any one see that it doesn't matter? It is still wrong, wrong, wrong, etc etc. It is evil and barbaric and any one who commits it is one of the bad guys by definition.
Sure it does "work." So does murder. Your wife won't shut up and she is going to divorce you and take all your money and the house and she is poisoning the kids against you? Murder her! It is guaranteed to solve those problems. You need money to pay your bills and buy stuff and keep the economy strong? Break into that rich guy's house and steal his stuff. Problem solved, right?
What is happening to us that we are even having this discussion? How did those sick, twisted creeps get away with this for so long?
Sure it does "work." So does murder. Your wife won't shut up and she is going to divorce you and take all your money and the house and she is poisoning the kids against you? Murder her! It is guaranteed to solve those problems. You need money to pay your bills and buy stuff and keep the economy strong? Break into that rich guy's house and steal his stuff. Problem solved, right?
What is happening to us that we are even having this discussion? How did those sick, twisted creeps get away with this for so long?
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Are Christians really this hostile?
The message below has been circulating and seems to have quite a following. I think it has a tone that is hostile and intolerant. Paul Harvey says that Christians are tired of turning the other cheek? WTF??!! Then why call yourself Christians? I believe that whole turn your other cheek thing was the main message of the sermon on the mount, no?
One the founding ideas of this country is that religion is personal and based on individual conscience. That means that each person will have a unique idea of what religion means to himself or herself. No one can stop us from praying, anytime or anyplace, really. But by interjecting public prayer into a civic or community forum, we run the strong risk of pointing up the differences of belief that separate us when we should be focusing on goals we all share in common. This thing here is just messed up.
HOORAY, HOORAY, HOORAY for Paul Harvey. I myself have been grumbling and wondering how a handful of people have been able to take our right to pray in public places away from us. So, agreeing with Paul, I GLADLY will forward this email AGAIN, AGAIN AND AGAIN.
Folks, this is the Month that we RE-TAKE AMERICA
********* Get Ready *********
Keep this going around the globe ... Read it and forward every time you receive it. We can't give up on this issue.
Paul Harvey and Prayer
Paul Harvey says:
This is the United States of America , a country founded on Christian principles.
One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.
Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.!
God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me.
The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't care what they want. It is time that the majority rules! It's time we tell them, You don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!
God bless us one and all ... Especially those who worship Him , God bless America, despite all her faults. She is still the greatest nation of all. God bless our military who are fighting to prot ect our right to pray and worship God.
Let's make 2009 the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions .. And our military forces come home from all the wars.
Keep looking up.
If you agree with this, please pass it on.
If not delete it.
'AND THAT'S THE REST OF THE STORY'
One the founding ideas of this country is that religion is personal and based on individual conscience. That means that each person will have a unique idea of what religion means to himself or herself. No one can stop us from praying, anytime or anyplace, really. But by interjecting public prayer into a civic or community forum, we run the strong risk of pointing up the differences of belief that separate us when we should be focusing on goals we all share in common. This thing here is just messed up.
HOORAY, HOORAY, HOORAY for Paul Harvey. I myself have been grumbling and wondering how a handful of people have been able to take our right to pray in public places away from us. So, agreeing with Paul, I GLADLY will forward this email AGAIN, AGAIN AND AGAIN.
Folks, this is the Month that we RE-TAKE AMERICA
********* Get Ready *********
Keep this going around the globe ... Read it and forward every time you receive it. We can't give up on this issue.
Paul Harvey and Prayer
Paul Harvey says:
This is the United States of America , a country founded on Christian principles.
One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.
Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.!
God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me.
The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't care what they want. It is time that the majority rules! It's time we tell them, You don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!
God bless us one and all ... Especially those who worship Him , God bless America, despite all her faults. She is still the greatest nation of all. God bless our military who are fighting to prot ect our right to pray and worship God.
Let's make 2009 the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions .. And our military forces come home from all the wars.
Keep looking up.
If you agree with this, please pass it on.
If not delete it.
'AND THAT'S THE REST OF THE STORY'
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