Gas Bandit's Political Thread III

[Krisken]

Time for links -

Apparently most Americans blame the media for our current economic situation.

No surprise here. It's unfortunate, but they are partially to blame, along with the financial institutions and those responsible for deregulating the banks.

Janet Napolitano has now decided that she will apologize to veterans after the report says that troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan were at risk of being recruited by right-wing extremists.

Yeah, that was a sorta apology, but wasn't.
"To the extent veterans read it as an accusation ... an apology is owed,"
Sorta reads as 'I'm sorry you don't know what I mean'.

A homeland security official says that when the report was sent to the office of civil rights and civil liberties, that it rejected some of the language in the report. But clearly the agency issued it anyway, and it is now being attributed to "a breakdown of the agency's internal process." Gee, ya think?

To be fair, the report was ordered, at the same time as the report on left wing extremism, by the Bush Administration. It was followed through by the Obama administration.

John Zeigler went to ask questions outside an event hosted by USC's Annenberg School of Journalism. The event was a ceremony honoring Katie Couric with the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism. I know, I know ... you can stop laughing. So at this event, hosted by a journalism school, to honor excellence in journalism, take a look at what happens to John Zeigler.

Wow, just wow. I hope those guys get fired/charged.
Just out of curiosity, is the school considered private property?

Democrats in Texas are upset with Governor Rick Perry for discussing the idea of secession at a tea party rally.

This I can understand. Those same people were calling Democrats unpatriotic and unAmerican as recent as a year ago.

Dianne Feinstein is going to investigate indications of new wiretap violations by the NSA.

Again, good. This wiretapping business has gone on long enough.

Eric Holder has decided that he is not going to prosecute CIA agents for using waterboarding on terrorist suspects.

I'm more interested in those White House council members who advocated torture, such as Yoo, Gonzalez, Feith, Addington. Never happen though. These guys are more slippery than a lesbian mud wrestling match.

Ohio wants to replace laid-off janitors at the statehouse with prison inmates. The union has something to say about this.

Not much to say here. I understand the job of the union is to protect the jobs of the workers, and the state wants free labor.

One out of every ten people born in Mexico lives in the United States.

Must be a better place to live. I know if I live in a shitty place, I'm moving where it is nice. What jerks, wanting a better life! Jerks.

US regulators are slowly releasing details about their bank "stress tests," to try and figure out how our financial sector is truly doing.

I'm ok with caution.

How much money does it cost the states to spend federal stimulus money? Yeah, spending money to spend money.

Duh? Oh no, people overseeing how the money is spent? I don't understand why this is frowned on. Besides, people are performing jobs to do this, right? There must be something I'm not getting that I'm supposed to be foaming at the mouth over.

A lawsuit has been filed by Bloomberg to expose the $2 trillion in bank loans that are being made in "secrecy."

Fucking A. I can't stand government secrecy.

Someone in Missouri is facing up to a year in prison for posting a photo of his ballot for mayor online.

I can see that. It was against the law to do so.

Better watch what I say, don't want to be called on "obama bashing."

I'm happy when Obama is bashed for stupid stuff he has done. News organizations should strive to be as objective as they can. Not that I think Santelli has been objective :slywink:

 

[SpecialKO]

Apparently most Americans blame the media for our current economic situation.

No surprise here. It's unfortunate, but they are partially to blame, along with the financial institutions and those responsible for deregulating the banks.

Notice, however,

Ad agencies took the brunt of the blame with 66% of people saying they believe the agencies are somewhat responsible while 33% attribute complete or a great deal of responsibility.

People are seriously blaming advertising for their poor financial decisions?!

It's not an ad agency's fault that you thought that 0% APR on your brand new car that you didn't have the long-term solvency to afford was a great, unbeatable deal. It's barely even the advertiser's, depending on how they assessed your suitability for credit.

 

[Yoink]

People are seriously blaming advertising for their poor financial decisions?!

most people blame everything and everyone for their faults, except themselves. I thought that we´ve already established that :smirk:

 

[SpecialKO]

People are seriously blaming advertising for their poor financial decisions?!

most people blame everything and everyone for their faults, except themselves. I thought that we´ve already established that :smirk:

I hate people. :explode:

 

[GasBandit]

Quickie from Bash.Org before I head home for the day -

<rosonowski> You know the old manta "Fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity?"
<rosonowski> Someone replied to it "If you know of a better way to make more virgins, I'd like to hear it."

 

[Dieb]

They're illegals. Paying direct taxes would alert the government of their presence.

It could go this way. "Leave your name, your current address, your money and we'll prepare to deport you to your homeland."

Look. They're probably second generation immigrants. Their parents have no money and can't give them a proper education otherwise. I understand all that. But if you're going to give scholarships and student loans, you do not allocate it based on race or nationality. Giving benefits based on that will stir up plenty of bile.

And then there's the children of legal citizens. Under the assumption that a legal citizen and an illegal citizen are both similarly bright and in similar need of help, who gets the priority?

Edit: Come to think about it. Malaysia gave citizenship status to plenty of illegals. The percentage of people disgruntled with the national government was increasing. So, the government just made more citizens. The government gave the illegals citizenship and voting rights, along with the reminder that they should be grateful and vote for the government's ruling party.

...what? Do you know what sales tax and property tax are? Sales tax is applied to everything you buy - there's no way to get around it (unless you live in a state without a sales tax, woot, go Oregon!...but we were talking about NC). Illegals pay this like anybody else. And assuming that most illegals rent, not own (doesn't seem that controversial of an assumption...) then it's the people who actually own the property who deal with giving the tax money to government. Nonetheless, the illegals will be paying those taxes, albeit indirectly, through their rent (just like any other renter).

Moreover, while we weren't talking about direct taxes like income taxes, the government makes it easy for illegals to pay those taxes without revealing their illegal status. Because governments like money, and are willing to overlook little things like your legality to take it

And they aren't basing scholarships or grants based on race or nationality. This bill was about giving in-state tuition to illegal residents of the state. Just the same as any other resident. State colleges, in the United States (just in case you don't know) charge lower tuition to residents of their state. This bill was about expanding that to illegals - not giving them any special benifits.

cartoon from 1934 *snipped for space*
pretty much speaks for itself.

Yep. Whoever that cartoonist was, they must have been able to see the future. I mean, he predicted exactly the communist dictatorship that followed the New Deal. I only hope the current crop of people who are warning of socialism and facism are heeded more than that man was.

Wow, just wow. I hope those guys get fired/charged.
Just out of curiosity, is the school considered private property?

It's at USC, so yes it is, because USC is a private school. So quite frankly, no, I don't have a problem with that video. A private institution has the right to deny people access to its property, duh. (well, ok, as long as they aren't doing it based on race, which clearly they aren't here). And John Zeigler is being a giant ass in that video. He was doing his absolute utmost to create a scene, so he can cry that he's being persecuted.

But if some leftist journalist went to the Fox News headquarters, and tried to interview people, what would happen? He would be thrown out, as he should be. Or, to be closer to the situation, if a leftist journalist was being an ass, trying to interview people at a private party at Liberty College, the college would be well within their right to kick him out.

Quickie from Bash.Org before I head home for the day -

<rosonowski> You know the old manta "Fighting for peace is like smurfing for virginity?"
<rosonowski> Someone replied to it "If you know of a better way to make more virgins, I'd like to hear it."

Ok, now that is pretty damn funny. Altough to be needlessly pedantic because I'm an ass like that, virgins are generally pretty bad in bed, a much better way to make more vigins is to have sex with a more experienced woman...preferably one with a nurses costume or such...

 

[Krisken]

Wow, just wow. I hope those guys get fired/charged.
Just out of curiosity, is the school considered private property?

It's at USC, so yes it is, because USC is a private school. So quite frankly, no, I don't have a problem with that video. A private institution has the right to deny people access to its property, duh. (well, ok, as long as they aren't doing it based on race, which clearly they aren't here). And John Zeigler is being a giant a** in that video. He was doing his absolute utmost to create a scene, so he can cry that he's being persecuted.

But if some leftist journalist went to the Fox News headquarters, and tried to interview people, what would happen? He would be thrown out, as he should be. Or, to be closer to the situation, if a leftist journalist was being an a**, trying to interview people at a private party at Liberty College, the college would be well within their right to kick him out.

Well, damn. Sorry, I'm going to have to side with the university then. I really wanted to give this one to you Gas. If a liberal journalist showed up on the private property of a conservative school and were asked to leave, but wouldn't, they would be treated the same way. Arrested even.

 

[Futureking]

They're illegals. Paying direct taxes would alert the government of their presence.

...what? Do you know what sales tax and property tax are? Sales tax is applied to everything you buy - there's no way to get around it (unless you live in a state without a sales tax, woot, go Oregon!...but we were talking about NC). Illegals pay this like anybody else. And assuming that most illegals rent, not own (doesn't seem that controversial of an assumption...) then it's the people who actually own the property who deal with giving the tax money to government. Nonetheless, the illegals will be paying those taxes, albeit indirectly, through their rent (just like any other renter).

I said "direct taxes". Everyone is forced to pay consumption taxes. If you want to stop paying consumption taxes, just stop consuming.

 

[Dieb]

They're illegals. Paying direct taxes would alert the government of their presence.

...what? Do you know what sales tax and property tax are? Sales tax is applied to everything you buy - there's no way to get around it (unless you live in a state without a sales tax, woot, go Oregon!...but we were talking about NC). Illegals pay this like anybody else. And assuming that most illegals rent, not own (doesn't seem that controversial of an assumption...) then it's the people who actually own the property who deal with giving the tax money to government. Nonetheless, the illegals will be paying those taxes, albeit indirectly, through their rent (just like any other renter).

I said "direct taxes". Everyone is forced to pay consumption taxes. If you want to stop paying consumption taxes, just stop consuming.

The point is that the tuition break that state residents get at in-state colleges is funded through these consumption taxes. Someone, at some point (far too lazy to check it out now) said that illegals shouldn't get the tuition break because they weren't paying for it, and that's just not true.

 

[JCM]

America did what in afghanistan?
http://digg.com/d1otCK

New Afghan Law Lets Men Starve Wives Who Deny Them Sex

A new Afghan law that has drawn Western condemnation for restricting women's rights does not allow marital rape as its critics claim, but lets men refuse to feed wives who deny them sex, the cleric behind it says

 

[JCM]

Looks like we tortured kids too-
http://rawstory.com/08/blog/2009/04/17/ ... -tortured/


And torture is widespread in Iraq.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/ ... digg_share


So, we´ve given Iran a government of Shiites who obey Iran´s will and the ayatollah, we allowed terrorism to take root in Iraq, the Taliban are still killing, and the new Afghan government is slowly starting to be become Taliban-like.

I said it many years ago in three forums back, and I´ll say it again.

The war on terror is just another idiotic middle east meddling that will bite USA back years later (like installing he shah which led the Ayatollah to rise in power, training Osama, arming Saddam and Iran, etc). And with the financial crisis, may I suggest using this?

But, on the other hand, the Franch president is calling the american president a weak wimp. How times have changed.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/w ... 106250.ece

 

[Yoink]

The war on terror is just another idiotic middle east meddling that will bite USA back years later (like installing he shah which led the Ayatollah to rise in power, training Osama, arming Saddam and Iran, etc).

and yet, some people are still howling for more blood. I guess two rotten shitholes aren´t enough for them

 

[GasBandit]

So, we´ve given Iran a government of Shiites who obey Iran´s will and the ayatollah,

You keep saying that, and keep ignoring me when I point out that in the last Iraqi election every party backed by Iran, as well as every party that identified itself as "arab" or "islam," suffered major losses, with the secularists and local types reaping huge gains.

But, on the other hand, the Franch president is calling the american president a weak wimp. How times have changed.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/w ... 106250.ece

In the last year or so, I've become very impressed with Sarkozy.




Ok, time for some links -

Looking for a job? They're where I've been saying they were all along. Saddle up, pardner. The top 5 US Cities for jobs are Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Ft. Worth and Dallas.

North Korea is holding two American journalists and is considering sentencing them to ten years in jail.

Henry Waxman is being stubborn and insisting on a 20% reduction in greenhouse gases over the next decade. According to our federal government's clean air laws, carbon dioxide and five other "greenhouse gases" officially "endanger public health and welfare." The far-reaching implications of this is huge, folks. A naturally occurring and essential gas in our atmosphere is endangering our health. This is about money. Watch.

Janet Napolitano just keeps digging herself into a deeper hole by trying to justify and explain the DHS report. Here's the latest on what she has to say about veterans.

Barack Obama is going to join the push "to stop the marketing of credit in ways that addicts people to it." Yeah, because it is all the credit card companies fault and not the fault of the people who spend beyond their means. Besides .. now the government is in charge of all bank marketing practices.

Congress is reconvening, and at the top of their list of issues to tackle is government healthcare.

Obama administration officials just can't seem to understand why tea party protesters are so upset .. after all, "Obama just cut taxes for 95 percent of the American people." That's quite a trick, when 40% weren't even paying taxes to begin with.

Pork time. Meet the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport.

 

North Korea is holding two American journalists and is considering sentencing them to ten years in jail.

Fuck em. They're idiots. They illegally entered a country after being told not to. Sucks to be them but it's their own damned fault.

 

[Mr_Chaz]

Henry Waxman is being stubborn and insisting on a 20% reduction in greenhouse gases over the next decade. According to our federal government's clean air laws, carbon dioxide and five other "greenhouse gases" officially "endanger public health and welfare." The far-reaching implications of this is huge, folks. A naturally occurring and essential gas in our atmosphere is endangering our health. This is about money. Watch.

Be clear about your wording here Gas... He's asking for a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. As in, not the naturally occuring CO2, but the stuff being emitted by us. I know how you feel about global warming, no point having another copy of that debate, just reminding you, it's not CO2 (the naturally occurring and essential gas, agreed), but the ever increasing amount of it that they've declared is endangering our health.

 

[JCM]

So, we´ve given Iran a government of Shiites who obey Iran´s will and the ayatollah,

You keep saying that, and keep ignoring me when I point out that in the last Iraqi election every party backed by Iran, as well as every party that identified itself as "arab" or "islam," suffered major losses, with the secularists and local types reaping huge gains.

Nope. I refuted that (and your "iraq rape room before, now paradise!" point also, with the current wave of rape, violence and prostitution and a death toll worse than Saddam´s)

Funny for you to say that with the Iraq torture, rape and racism agaisnt sunni links being shown in your thread, but hey,

I before listed who is in the government, and you, as usual, ignored opposing evidence that what your favourite news tells you is wrong, really, lets take a look at who is controlling Iran?

-Jawad al-Maliki, is the Prime Minister of Iraq, and guess what? He´s the secretary-general of the Islamic Dawa Party, a part of the Iran-funded Shiite United Iraqi Alliance. They fought for the Ayatollah before, and still get money from Tehrain.

-Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, the Speaker of the Council or Representives is a Iranian mouthpiece who calls all acts of violence , as being fault of Jews, Israelis and Zionists.

-The Council of Representatives of Iraq? Mostly Shiite, with a very strong anti-sunni/pro-Iran movement which had caused several Sunni council members to rboycott the government in 2007.


I now most americans are such retards that cant tell apart a Sunni from a Shiite, but its not that hard to understand that giving a country to people whose RELIGION tells them to blindly obey the Ayatollah.

And again, seeing that Sunnis are being killed, rampant torture is going on, rape rooms (funny how your Saddam-era hyperbole become post-US reality, only Bill O´Reilly and those who share his opinions would still believe that "things have improved".

I also loved how you avoided the Afghanistan issue, now that Taliban-like rules are starting to be implemented, Taliban is again stoning women and in control of several areas and you guys are still supporting a worse regime than that of Saddam, Saudi Arabia.

 

[Espy]

I now most americans are such retards that cant tell apart a Sunni from a Shiite

Because I'm sure most Brazilians can tell apart a Minnesotan Lutheran and a Iowan Methodist right? :bush:

 

[Denbrought]

I now most americans are such retards that cant tell apart a Sunni from a Shiite

Because I'm sure most Brazilians can tell apart a Minnesotan Lutheran and a Iowan Methodist right? :bush:

Sigh, just
Sunni and Shiite are the two largest Islam denominations, it's practically like saying catholics and protestants in terms of how much they're known.

 

I now most americans are such retards that cant tell apart a Sunni from a Shiite

Because I'm sure most Brazilians can tell apart a Minnesotan Lutheran and a Iowan Methodist right? :bush:

Sigh, just
Sunni and Shiite are the two largest Islam denominations, it's practically like saying catholics and protestants in terms of how much they're known.

And I still couldn't tell them apart.

 

[Krisken]

I now most americans are such retards that cant tell apart a Sunni from a Shiite

Because I'm sure most Brazilians can tell apart a Minnesotan Lutheran and a Iowan Methodist right? :bush:

Sigh, just
Sunni and Shiite are the two largest Islam denominations, it's practically like saying catholics and protestants in terms of how much they're known.

And I still couldn't tell them apart.

It helps that catholics and protestants aren't trying to kill each other.

 

[Espy]

I now most americans are such retards that cant tell apart a Sunni from a Shiite

Because I'm sure most Brazilians can tell apart a Minnesotan Lutheran and a Iowan Methodist right? :bush:

Sigh, just
Sunni and Shiite are the two largest Islam denominations, it's practically like saying catholics and protestants in terms of how much they're known.

Sigh and double :eyeroll: :eyerolltop that baby! I am so disapproving! Woot!). The point you seem to be missing is that cultural things like sections of religion are just that, culturally based. If that culture isn't represented strongly in a culture then it's a rare thing for them to be able to know the difference. Even in a "christian" or at least very religious nation like America many people don't know the difference between Catholics and Protestants, some don't even know they are part of the same religion.
Using something that is primarily culturally unique to lambast your opponents? Pointless.

-- Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:57 am --

Please keep in mind, I'm not saying Americans shouldn't know these things, they probably should. It would be useful. But it doesn't make anyone a retard for not knowing something that they really have no reason to know about.

 

[GasBandit]

:smoke:

Here's a link

Iraq’s provincial elections actually weaken Tehran’s hand.

First, they were not entirely dominated by Shiite voters. After mostly boycotting the 2005 Iraq elections, Sunnis participated on Saturday in large numbers. Many of them seem to recognize that their abstention had been a mistake. If they follow through in the general elections that should be held later this year, the composition of Iraq’s Parliament will change substantially.

Moreover, it’s unfair to assume that Tehran calls the shots among Iraqi Shiites. This gives too much credit to Iranian propaganda, and too little to the good sense of the Shiites themselves. Now they must decide whether taking orders from mullahs in Tehran is really more attractive than electing their own representatives in Baghdad.

There's a link

...in recent years, American and Iraqi officials have been working toward the goal of national reconciliation, with Sunni inclusion being the top priority.

As a result, Sunni Arab public opinion has been changing the past six years. Many Sunni Arabs have realized it is in their interest to take part in the electoral process and have found that their presence is accepted.

Everywhere a link-link

Meanwhile, the once-dominant Sunni Arabs regained political power in other parts of the country - having boycotted the 2005 election.

There were fears of violence in the mainly Sunni flashpoint province of al-Anbar, where tribal leaders had threatened to take up arms over the result.

In the event, they came in just half a percentage point behind another Sunni party to which they are allied.

 

[Denbrought]

Even in a "christian" or at least very religious nation like America many people don't know the difference between Catholics and Protestants, some don't even know they are part of the same religion.

And here is where I stop discussing.

 

[JONJONAUG]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,516988,00.html

Congress to end online shopping without state sales tax.

 

[Espy]

Even in a "christian" or at least very religious nation like America many people don't know the difference between Catholics and Protestants, some don't even know they are part of the same religion.

And here is where I stop discussing.

Because you agree it's ridiculous to classify an entire country as retarded over a religious definition that isn't part of the social consciousness?
If not then I'm really not understanding what's got you all

 

[GasBandit]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,516988,00.html

Congress to end online shopping without state sales tax.

From the article-

Previous attempts in past years to do so have flopped.

and

The only exceptions until recently have been in cases where large online retailers have physical offices in certain states.

For example, Washington state residents pay sales tax on orders from Seattle-based Amazon, as do residents of Kansas, Kentucky and North Dakota, where the company has facilities.

This as well... Every time we buy a Dell online, we have to pay sales tax on it as well because they're headquartered in Texas.

Here's hoping it'll flop again. Probably will, if you ask me.

 

[Lamont]

In the last year or so, I've become very impressed with Sarkozy.

That rather tells me you don't speak French.

 

[GasBandit]

In the last year or so, I've become very impressed with Sarkozy.

That rather tells me you don't speak French.

Fwerr-may-la-boosh!

 

[Mr_Chaz]

It helps that catholics and protestants aren't trying to kill each other.

Oh really?

Are you sure?

 

[Krisken]

It helps that catholics and protestants aren't trying to kill each other.

Oh really?

Are you sure?

Sorry, I should have said "In America". Funny thing about Americans you may not have realized- as a civilization our vision doesn't extend past our borders if we can help it.

 

[Covar]

It helps that catholics and protestants aren't trying to kill each other.

Oh really?

Are you sure?

Sorry, I should have said "In America". Funny thing about Americans you may not have realized- as a civilization our vision doesn't extend past our borders if we can help it.

It did once, but then we saw Mexico and in our horror turned around quickly and spotted Canada.

 

[Mr_Chaz]

It helps that catholics and protestants aren't trying to kill each other.

Oh really?

Are you sure?

Sorry, I should have said "In America". Funny thing about Americans you may not have realized- as a civilization our vision doesn't extend past our borders if we can help it.

It did once, but then we saw Mexico and in our horror turned around quickly and spotted Canada.

And then they burned down the White House. Sucks to be you.

 

[Dieb]

You keep saying that, and keep ignoring me when I point out that in the last Iraqi election every party backed by Iran, as well as every party that identified itself as "arab" or "islam," suffered major losses, with the secularists and local types reaping huge gains.

Not quite true. As your links further down the page show, Iran isn't quite the puppet master in Iraq. But it's not like every party backed by Iran lost. PM Jawad al-Maliki's party was the biggest winner, and they are pro-Iran. Not quite as pro-Iran as the Sadirists, but they are still fans of that country. Most of their leaders, including al-Maliki, spent their exile years in Iran, for example.

In the last year or so, I've become very impressed with Sarkozy.

Oh Sarkozy. I actually like him as well - he's just so bloody Gallic. For example, he's pretty much transparently saying these things about Obama because he's jealous of all the attention Obama got in his Europe visit. Hilarious.

A naturally occurring and essential gas in our atmosphere is endangering our health. This is about money. Watch.

What? Just because something is naturally occuring and indeed essential doesn't mean it can't harm people's health if there is too much of it in the atmosphere. For example, everyone knows Carbon Monoxide is fatal if there is too much in your nearby atmosphere. But do you know that the human body naturally produces Carbon Monoxide? It's thought to help as a nurotransmitter and blood vessel relaxant in small quantities (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_Mon ... _processes)

There are plenty of good reasons to be skeptical of global warming, but "CO2 is naturally produced" is not one of them, and is in fact incredibly stupid.

Obama administration officials just can't seem to understand why tea party protesters are so upset .. after all, "Obama just cut taxes for 95 percent of the American people." That's quite a trick, when 40% weren't even paying taxes to begin with.

Oh please, we've been over this before. Once could have been a mistake, but a second time is deliberatly obscuring the truth. Yes, I'm calling you a liar. Sure, 38% of americans don't pay income taxes. But there are a hell of a lot more taxes than just the income tax. Why do you ignore payroll taxes, sales taxes, property taxes...the list goes on. If Obama raised any of these, you'd be screaming bloody murder. But when he cuts taxes, suddenly all that matters is income taxes?

Please keep in mind, I'm not saying Americans shouldn't know these things, they probably should. It would be useful. But it doesn't make anyone a retard for not knowing something that they really have no reason to know about.

I'm sorry, but yes every American has a bloody good reason to know the difference between Sunni and Shitte. The security of our country depends on it. Without knowing it, you can't understand the first thing about all the strife in the Middle East. Seems pretty damn important to me. Still, I'm not going to call people "retards" for not knowing it - but I will call them almost criminally uninformed.

 

[GasBandit]

Obama administration officials just can't seem to understand why tea party protesters are so upset .. after all, "Obama just cut taxes for 95 percent of the American people." That's quite a trick, when 40% weren't even paying taxes to begin with.

Oh please, we've been over this before. Once could have been a mistake, but a second time is deliberatly obscuring the truth. Yes, I'm calling you a liar. Sure, 38% of americans don't pay income taxes. But there are a hell of a lot more taxes than just the income tax. Why do you ignore payroll taxes, sales taxes, property taxes...the list goes on. If Obama raised any of these, you'd be screaming bloody murder. But when he cuts taxes, suddenly all that matters is income taxes?

Chances are if you were in that 38% making too little to pay income taxes, you also weren't spending a whole hell of a lot on property and sales taxes, however. You might have a point about payroll taxes, but I have no doubt that if the payroll tax was eliminated entirely, the savings would not exactly get passed on to the employee, now would they?

 

[Espy]

Please keep in mind, I'm not saying Americans shouldn't know these things, they probably should. It would be useful. But it doesn't make anyone a retard for not knowing something that they really have no reason to know about.

I'm sorry, but yes every American has a bloody good reason to know the difference between Sunni and Shitte. The security of our country depends on it. Without knowing it, you can't understand the first thing about all the strife in the Middle East. Seems pretty damn important to me. Still, I'm not going to call people "retards" for not knowing it - but I will call them almost criminally uninformed.

I don't think I agree with your assertion that the security of our country depends on whether or not Joe the Crackhead and Mary the Housewife know the difference between the two. With a growing muslim presence it would be wise for them to learn the difference for personal reasons but overall for the majority of Americans it's as unimportant as whether or not they understand the difference between Baptist and Methodist.
Obviously there are those who need to know these things since they deal with them on a regular basis, particularly military and policy makers. Their knowledge could make a difference national security wise, but for the average american? Maybe you could explain what you mean since I'm not really getting it. If we are just talking about "understanding the strife in the Middle East" then sure, it's an important part of it, but I don't see how every American needs to understand it. Their understanding of it won't affect anything. Should they? Probably. Will it make a difference in the Middle East Strife? Probably not unless you know something I don't. Which is entirely possible. I'm not terribly bright. :aaahhh: