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I will never stop at wondering why little people (surely you're not a zillionaire) will keep at protecting the filthy rich...

Perhaps because I've never gotten a job from poor people? Perhaps because rich people aren't trying to vote themselves more of my money?

No matter how hard one works, one won't get ahead the well-connected guy.

Isn't envy one of the seven deadly sins? Oh wait...you're one of those godless communists, so sin is a foreign concept to you. Alles klar. You should try putting in an honest day's work sometime, instead of whining that someone else has a dollar or two more in his pocket than you do.

Santa is now a godless communist! Of course, we knew he was a red all along. Check out his apparel!
 
    Oops. It seems he has already been shot by the KGB.

Well, it depends on what you mean. If you mean Canada has the same or better results for everybody, no, it does not. Indeed, for many people, it has significantly worse results, especially those in the upper and upper middle class, and that's the point: no one is willing to have their freedom taken away, and their taxes increased, in order to be significantly worse off, even if it benefits others. There's better solutions out there that don't harm a lot of people for the sake of improving the care of a lot of other people.


Not true. I am one of those people who would receive worse care in Canada and I am totally for it. The fact is that the worse care is not bad care. The worse care is still quite good. In other words, true, I won't be able to move myself to the front of the kidney transplant list, or cut to the front of the line for a bipass surgery. No, I'll get it just as soon as everyone else. That certainly sounds fair to me, that just because I have been lucky enough to have money does not entitle me to live while others not as fortunate die. Seriously, our health care system is sick.

Your comment also fails to bring attention to the social benefits of socialized medicine. In the same way that public schools not only improve the life of one receiving an education, they also benefit society at large, public health-car provides benefits to society at large as well. One that was mentioned previously was crime (though I'm not necessarily convinced, it does have a ring of truth). There's also the benefit of fewer sick days because sickness is dealt with better. The list is quite large.

One other thing. I find it odd that the republicans (read: Christian Right) are the ones who are generally opposed to socialized medicine. Wasn't it Christ who taught the perfect example of self-less sacrifice for the betterment of society. All the while, us godless democrats are the ones calling for just that type of sacrifice. What's the deal with that?

No we don't. We have Republicans and Democrats. Anyone from any other so called "party" is really just an enemy of one of the existing parties which would make them a member of the opposing party. Where the hell have you been? If you don't hate gay marriage, then you are a godless liberal Democrat. If you support the death penalty you are christian conservative Republican. All the people who don't agree with the whole party are flip-floppers or traitors to the other party.

Actually, I have fat fingers - I have never been able to pick my nose. Seriously, I have a pair of tweezers I keep around purely for the purpose of getting the hardened nose-goblins out of there during allergy season. Clearly we live in a godless universe or one in which God hates me.

What you're describing as ID is really Creatonism. There was nothing; then something. God did it.

Intelligent Design is IMHO insidious Creationism. Creatonism isn't science but some of its more political supporters don't like evolution. (Just as one example: the bishop in Kenya suggesting fossils should be removed from public museums because they might "corrupt" people because fossils contradict the young Earth model.)

So there's an attempt to counter evolution (science) in scientific terms. Life's complicated, the universe is complicated and they'd like to think there's was an Intelligent Designer. I.e. not "God" (although this is what they mean).

The rational response is that the "evidence" to support ID is weak and inconsistent and not worthy of comparison with real theories (where this word actually means something). The IDers response is "teach the controversy!" in a further attempt to elevate this fiction to be scientifically worthy.

Evolution is science; creationism is religion. ID is fabricated nonsense to distract from science, which may lead to a godless universe. It's a shame really: rational science would eventually find god if He existed. The IDers don't appear to want to take this risk.

And FoxNews will devote several hour-long 'special features' and 'townhall meetings' which center arround bashing those godless heathens who would have sex outside of marriage and a gravitational field.

You know, there's a lot of people who actually do bemoan the old days when they could pick up a paper and read about how all the godless Chinamen and Negros were spreading disease to the good parts of town. Anything not reading like that is proof of a liberal conspiracy.

I am an American, and I'd say you're completely wrong. "Fahrenheit 9/11" did not help Bush get re-elected. The Republican supporters who rallied together were people who would all have voted for Bush anyway, and the rest of the population mostly ignored them.

The main reason Bush won is that the Democratic party couldn't offer a good alternative. Nobody liked Kerry, including the people who voted for him. Kerry was a mediocre candidate. So many people hate Bush that Kerry almost won anyway, but the people who didn't hate Bush didn't feel compelled to vote for Kerry.

A bigger reason is the ties between the GOP and the "religious right"; a lot of Christians somehow got the idea that the Republican party is the party that God supports, while the Democrats are Godless heathens. I'm not sure if this idea originated with the GOP trying to attract Christian voters, or if it originated with religious leaders who aligned themselves with the GOP in an effort to influence public policy, or some combination of both. Fortunately, it looks like people are starting to wake up, and the Democrats stand a good chance of convincing Christians that voting for a Democrat isn't a sin.

Of course you're right that they're all crooks, but that's OK - our government was brilliantly structured deliberately with this idea in mind. As long as everybody in politics is an evil greedy bastard who thinks only of himself, everything generally works out OK. The problem is that this system doesn't take political parties into account at all, and party loyalty messes everything up. The last mid-term elections helped to straighten this out a little bit - on November 8th 2006, there was a sudden massive attitude shift in the White House. I don't expect things to get any worse for awhile; the downward spiral has stopped. Of course this attitude shift came far too late to actually help anything in Iraq, but it may help with other issues like global warming and healthcare.

Linux is a tool for communists and Godless atheists!

Well, then, if your country supported freedom of the people over freedom of mega-corporations to rape and pillage, then we wouldn't be in this mess, would we?

America is at the BOTTOM of the pile in technology freedom. I work as a freelancer in the global market, and can talk to both users and clients in Israel, Romania, Australia, India - you name it. Mention Linux, and everybody's at least *heard* of it! Mention Linux on the street in America, your response will be one of:

90% (a) what the hell is that?
5% (b) Oh, you're one of those Godless Communists Microsoft warned me about!
5% (c) Oh, you're one of those hacker people. Help! Police! Hacker!

Meanwhile, many countries even have their own distro, just because it's the only way to get decent support for their native language. Other countries use it because they don't want to kowtow to the monopoly that's draining their pockets. Or for any number of other practical reasons. Yes, even because they just plain like freedom (not an American-patented concept)!

And if they use proprietary software, in about half the cases it's pirated anyway.

that Linux is a tool for communists and Godless atheists! [goes hiding under a rock]

Yes, well, see, that's just what makes it a privacy issue. Being such a godless bunch, we wouldn't want to be caught on photo coming out of a church, would we? What would our godless friends think about that? Beats having to find some quick explanation like, "I... uhh... thought it was a kinky S&M club. You know, what with the naked guy on the cross, and all." ;)

Why would you consider them godless? They love money almost as much as we do.

In godless, sexually liberated Europe, I don't see that happening anyway.

Thanks SerialK1llr;

Consider the 14 points of fascism, by political scientist Dr. Laurence W. Britt - who compared the regimes of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto, and Pinochet and identified 14 characteristics common to those fascist regimes.

Guess how many apply to modern day America...ONLY ABOUT 14 of them...

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism

From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.

2. Disdain for the importance of human rights

The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.

3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause

The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating as a means to divert the people's attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice--relentless propaganda and disinformation--were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite "spontaneous" acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and "terrorists." Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.

4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism

Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.

5. Rampant sexism

Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.

6. A controlled mass media

Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes' excesses.

7. Obsession with national security

Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting "national security," and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous.

8. Religion and ruling elite tied together

Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religi

Hi You are forgetting to inform them about about the "Akhand Bharat" ideology that many (most?) RSS/VHP/SS cadres believe in. Some believe it openly, some in covert (like Advani) You know what it says... come on! You want me to remind you? It calls for subjugation/extermination of all non-hindus in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal to re-create the glorious hindu past. How is this different from Islamic nationalists? How is this different from Nazis wanting to assimilate all Aryan countries and destroy their non-aryan populace.

RSS and other hindu nationalists openly call for use of nuclear weapons. How is this different from neo-cons in the US or Iran? Have you been to an RSS rally? Well neither have I, but I'm from Nagpur so I have some idea about what I'm talking about. RSS rallys are practically a mirror of Nazi rallys with the same hate filled monologue and brain washing of people and children.
I do support a couple of things that these guys say. The Uniform civil code for example. However, if you happen to listen to their leaders speak, it seems they want a Uniform civil code not for the human rights of Muslim women, but just because Hindu men are being denied something that Muslim men aren't! Are they equally concerned about the plight/concerns of Kashmiri Muslims as they are of Kashmiri Pundits? Of course not.

You are saying that RSS does a lot of charity work. Well it's possible to do so by having nothing to do with religion. Most people who help during disasters are not seeking religious mileage. (Though they may be religiously motivated)

You mention a quote saying a SS office having a poster of Ambedkar. What a laugh. That means they have not read a single word Ambedkar ever wrote.(I have read enough)Dr. Ambedkar was a ultra-modernist who did want want anything to do with a divisive religion like Hinduism. He did not care a rats ass about the Vedas and other religious books. Please read his books and get back to me. Also get back to the Shiv Sainiks who have Ambedkars poster.

You mention all the "achievements" of Shiv Sena in another post. Of course, the town planners and the Western consultants and IAS officers and hundreds of engineers had nothing to do with improving Mumbai... it was all Shiv Sena. Did it ever occur to you that spending on Public transport is wiser than spending on flyovers? Because the traffic in Mumbai is asked fucked as ever and will continue to get worse. And of course, they completely stopped corruption. In Dabhol for example. You are drinking too much kool aid if you think the SS governs any better or worse than Congress or any other. As far as I am concerned, the Congress is the lesser of two evils. And I'm not a Congress supporter by any stretch of imagination.

And the Dharavi slum is "improved"? Come on! I live less than a kilometer from Dharavi and it's as fucked up as ever.But now with some very filthy and half hearted Apartment complexes.

I'm not sure where you got the idea that the media does not report "atrocities against Hindus" by Communists. I read them all the time. Most Naxalites or Communists are not "godless hindus". Do you think Communist cadres in Bengal do not attend Durga puja or the dozen other religious festivals? How many Temples/Churches/Mosques do Naxalites/Communists attack. Please. When Naxalites attack, it's not because they hate Hindus. I oppose their violence, but they do have some genuine concerns. Sometimes they are poor who are simply brain washed and given power through a gun. So these are "atrocities against Hindus by other Hindus".

Finally, why don't you ask the readers of your post to Google "Shiv Sena attacks" ? Let people Google NUMBER of times Shiv Sena cadres have attacked/vandalized/beat up INNOCENTS for no reason at all. Why don't you talk about that art student from MP who was arrested and the Art dean suspended for "nude paintings"? How about MF Hussein who is in exile? All this when the fucking ancient temples are full of nude paintings.

I agree entirely... so what's taken them so long to "...water the tree of Liberty"?

The answer: the majority of people (not necessarily yourself) who loudly champion the Second Amendment don't give a damn about the rest of the Bill of Rights.

Failure to enforce separation of Church and State? "Those godless commies are trying to ban God!"

Unreasonable search and seizure? "Well it's only dug dealers, or people accused of being drug dealers, or brown people that had cash on them and -could- have been drug dealers..."

Freedom to assemble? "Why should those gutless protesters be allowed within a mile of the President? They can say whatever they want in the "Free Speech Zone" that's set up for them, far from where anyone can see or hear them so they don't bother anyone."

Free speech? "Seeing my country's flag burned makes me feel bad. We have to outlaw it!"

Habeous Corpus? "Huh?" or "Well, if the government has to take away a little freedom in order to keep me safer, I'm all for it!"

While there are probably ardent supporters of the second amendment that don't echo these beliefs, personal experience and online reading tend to make me believe that as long as it's the freedoms of minorities that are being endangered, or you chant "terror", 9/11, and "everything changed on September 11th", you can do whatever you want and the majority of vocal Second Amendment supports won't care one bit... as long as they get to keep their guns.

I'm not even asking them to literally take up arms; I just want to see one of these "cold dead fingers" types stand up and speak up when they see our liberties being eroded.

"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." - Sinclair Lewis

This museum does not reflect the beliefs of all young earth creationists! It actually makes the absurd suggestion that Dinosaurs were allowed on Noah's Ark. If that were true, there would still be Dinosaurs today! Not to mention, it goes against the bible which clearly states that only 2 of every land vertibrate were allowed on the ark. This museum was built by godless atheists who want to profit from true believers!

This museum was built by godless atheists who want to profit from true believers!

As a godless atheist, I have been interested in doing just that. A business with a lot of profit and laugh potential. I could literally be laughing all the way to the bank. If only I had the time...