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The closest this could be called would be fascism
Ack there is too much to discuss... :)
I loath the idea of Homeland security. Listen, if you remember the event- the media and the left were hounding the administration to do something. They did. "Bush failed to protect us, wa wa wa." We do not need the military patrolling our citizens. So based on that should I switch to the dark side?
While I see the benefit of some kind of controlled and standardized airline security program the idea of military patrolling our skies is not only fascist, it's fking communist. Perhaps if we stopped always placing blame on people when something does happen they would't be so eager to cover their political asses on both sides. I don't know how many blogs I read detailing the failure of Bushy to protect us, so Bush handed us a platter. Even after the 911 commission Kerry and Edwards constantly accused the "administration" of ignoring recomendations so they could infuriate the voter platform. Hell yes I want them ignored. Who wants a "tzar" operating outside the legislative branch? Imagine the power of that person?
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This is an interesting term these days. Neo-cons are not conservative at all, yet they still claim to be. The department of homeland security, the USA Patriot Act, a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, unprecedented deficits, increased military spending, invasion, etc. None of these things represent a conservative ideology.
You are right, they are liberal socialist ideals. Except for the military spending and invasion bit. In a nut shell and this goes back to Reagan as well. It's doing something about world ****tards versus whining about them in committees and ignoring them. Not perfect I know. If I read another liberal world womans conference thing I'll puke. Why meet if you will NEVER take the action to help? Does it make them feel good for a day?
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True conservatives would have never ruled that the federal government should quash state level authority.
Exactly how to they do that? Did the supreme court miscount the votes?
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how can you say that people who wish creation to be taught instead of evolution are pro-education
The creationists are on the defensive in this country. I have never seen anyone saying "instead of". I say what's wrong with two points of view? I would fight those who impose either restriction. Hell the creation class would be easy and quick. "God created man, any qustions?" versus a long scientific discussion of evolution and the origin of species. What is to fear there? Most of the planet believes in creation, those oppesed to it are a minority - even whacko liberals believe in some form of Astrology, or witchcraft, or earth energy or something with humans predestination outside science fact. Creation is a theory and since science can't explain even a small drop of how we exist outside of some theories, what the heck eh? I am not afraid of creationist thought, exept where christian junk science debases universal theories with no merit or out right lies.
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How can you say that people who think this nation was founded on Christian principals by Christian founding fathers has ever done so much as open a history book,
You don't think key persons involved in the founding of the union were religious? I do. In fact I believe the wanted to keep government from interfering with their beliefs and I think ALL western civilasations are founded on the same principles, not just America. It's just the way it is, like evolution - only the evolution of modern democracy.
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We can't forget all the good Regan did with the introduction of standardized testing, leading to an environment of teaching to the test and not teaching the whole child. (All while his Secretary of the Interior was saying that there is no need to protect the environment, because the second coming is at hand) End result? The US consistently scores poorest of all industrialized nations on those tests. (On some subjects, like geography the US scores third from the bottom of the world.)
As a horrible speller and test taker I agree with you then disagree. If the environement was like you say, teaching to a test, then we would score better since we have all the answers, wouldn'y we?. I was in school during Reagan and Carter and Ford and on. We took tests all the same. What about the college entry tests, do you think those are bad? But testing is not an overall guage of the effectiveness of teaching. It's a measure but the overall class experience is key. But how to you guage what needs work without tests? Doing away with all measures and making people feel good is not the answer either. Trust me my grades would have been much higher and I would have had more free time without them. In fact I have said it here before, I wouldn't have a problem putting my kid into a christian school if I had them. I would rather they learn in a competative environment with sports and some controls on activity versus a dull, lowest denomitator setting the pace, one. Even if that meant they might "gasp" believe in god. Or even better, make up their own choice. We have better control over our schools at a local level than federal. Who did you vote for in the last school board election? Anyone? What are your local big issues: condoms, soda machines and School Prayor. Insignificant drivel?
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Leave No Child Behind ring any bells?
Sure does. Increased accountability, less federal involvment more state involvment. At least we're trying reform versus just handing out money and ignoring the issue or taking away controls and passing the student on so he or she is not embarrased. I was lucky, I actually got edumicated. Not sure whats so bad about it other than Bush signed the Act.
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How many Islamic fundamentalists do you know? How many have you heard about on FOX News?
I don't watch TV. But I did see Fox news while eating at broadway deli this weekend. I noticed they use the word "terrorist" verus "insurgent" nice to have another point of view in a democracy. As for how many I know? A couple, but most people I have met in my travels are very nice. I have even been invited into mosques. Something not to be held lightly considering I am not a man of any cloth and of western decent.
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While they have not waged a war against all American citizens (just non-believers, who according to Bush shouldn’t even be considered citizens)....
. That's a bunch of B.S. besides when I said "War" I meant they aren't going out and suicide bombing a Gay Pride Parade. I would place fanatatism more on the left than right. And I am a nonbeliever. Science, yeah reason.. not so cut. I have had many irrational discussions from nonchristians. The lack of reason permeates both sides. The two most intolerant societies I have vistited are the whole of the far east (middle east and asia) the second was San Fransisco. Neither are whole heartedly Christian.
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would rather die in the twin towers than to be a part of this nation as a fascist, militant state, spreading hate, intolerance, fear, war, and ultimately vast death across the globe. Call me crazy.
I would rather fight those who made it so. Last I checked I was still free to blow my verbal load. The "insugents" will kill me if I show up in some alley in Siria, Iran, Yemen and a host of other really intolerent places. In San Fransisc I would probably be fined for hate speech since I said it was OK to be christian.
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Do you feel that you’ve listened to the other side?
I've not only listened for 30 years, I have been there. The other side talks with bombs strapped to pregnant women so she can take two souls to heaven. Kill a bird with 2 stones I guess.
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The dark ages resulted from the church having too much of a grip over Europe and halting scientific progress in exchange for mythology.
That is true, although I think perhaps that is what extended it and it was the fall over the roman empire that let the corrupt church leaders gain control? The romans kept some commense sense into it.
[quoteUnfortunately that is exactly what the likes of Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, George W. Bush, James Dobson, Ann Coutler, et al are attempting and current succeeding in doing.[/quote] If I really thought Bush was in the likes of Pat and Jerry his ass would have been handed to him. Should I name the kooks on the left? If anything they are succeeding in slowing a losing battle.
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Exactly, hence the USA PATRIOT Act and the Department of Homeland Security maked us less independent and reduce our liberty.
I don't agree that it makes us less independent or reduces liberty. If anything it removes government which is not necessary to overturn. As for Homeland Security... axe it. But don't bitch the next time it happens. Accept the risk that people want to kill us because we are in their "holy" land.
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Do you honestly think the reason we haven’t been attacked is because of the USA PATRIOT Act?
No it's because we have their asses in GTMO. We disabled Al Quida in Afganistan, we siezed terrorist assets. The Patriot Act helped in a few ways. There are a whole slew of reasons.
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Really? So all of that stuff about secret arrests, no right to speedy process, no right to jury of your peers, wire taps and searches without a warrant and secret searches. I am missing how due process is intact. Considering detainees down in Guantanamo Bay that have not been tried yet, how can you say due process is intact?
I was talking about citizens in the country legally.
[quote]Border controls are not in place. It is still a trivial task to drive an uninsured/unregistered big rig over the Mexican border (they have locked down the northern border however) full of coke or nerve gas or god knows what.
Airline security is tighter? Why, because a $6.50 an hour person that barely speaks English and most of the time is literally wearing a turban makes you take off your shoes?
Interagency communication is better? The FBI (and many other federal agencies) are NOT even part of the department of homeland security![/quote}
Damn right but I see progress and they are better. But Bush fails with the mexican border, why? He's a liberal on the issue. I fly alot and airline security is better. It was left up to the airlines in the past. I hope to god the FBI NEVER NEVER NEVER becomes part of Homeland Security. A military operation. If that happens I would stard to take your view on fascism.
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Lock the trucks, lock the water supply, lock the meat supply, lock the grain supply, lock the power grid, lock the telecommunications grid… wait… where does this money come from?
They are already locked. When is the last time anyone could waltz into a telecommunications hub or power plant? But really all I was saying is a truck hauling food should be locked don't you think? You have to have some commone sense, you can't lock up everything so perhaps you take the ware to them and prevent germany from happening in the first place? I wasn't saying that it was probable to infect I milk truck. I was saying they would not have a problem doing it from a phsycological stand point. As for war and budgets. WW2 practically bankrupted germany and england. Besides the Nazis (who were godless socialists by the way) in germany were taking over the wealth of other countries in the process: The United States declared itself Nuetral in 1939 and didn't enter the war until 1941 after England fought for years and Germany invaded country after country. The Nazis were book burners too. They burned Einstein, poetry, HG Wells etc.