I would argue that neither yourself, nor the GP quite hit the proverbial nail on the head, though each is squarely swinging the hammer in the proper direction, with the proper velocity.
I think if you were to accept the notion that we as a species are limited in our ability to comprehend complex subject matter, and adjoin that with the truism that we are becoming increasingly specialized along with increasingly busy, we can arrive at a more perfect truth.
People are not necessarily, in your words, "actively choosing not to". Nor are they in the GP's words "Cave men beating on a nuclear reactor with rocks to find out what it is.".
Rather I think that while the capacity to understand exists, the lifestyle most often employed today offers little opportunity to digest the volume of information sufficiently to make informed choices, while simultaneously caring for oneself and one's family/friends.
To generalize, the western civilizations are largely too busy to keep up with all the needs Maslow has defined. Self-actualization is taking a back seat to the lower order needs. This is understandable to a degree, but no less troublesome.
Society is going to have to evolve in such a way so as to allow the individual(s) to provide for all lower order needs and ALSO attain self-actualization for there to be any real solution to the problem we all see as at the root of our current troubles.
Do I have a practical answer? No, not really. But I would offer that less work time, more incentive to continuous learning, and ensuring that the work level contributed, and subsequent compensation for, is adequately addressing the low order needs for the individual(s) is where the solution for this deficit is going to need to spring from.
Too true, but nonetheless sad. Your comments are an indictment on a clearly broken system. When passion and effort are not recognized or even considered as valuable...
Sorry, but the world is results-oriented. Passion has nothing to do with it. Effort has nothing to do with it. Its not just that class, or just the education system, but the whole damned thing from top to bottom.
Read this prattle last night and was going to ignore it, but I just cannot resist feeding the troll.
You do realize that SS contributions are mandatory right? And they have been around forever right?
You do remember to stock market crash in 2000-2001 right?
You do remember the stock market crash in 2008-2009 right?
Do you have any damned clue as to how completely decimated these crashes have left seniors?
Do you have any damned clue how utterly ridiculous you sound when spouting free market principles in the face of a 70 year old who lost everything when their mutual fund collapsed, and now all they have left in the world is SS?
But yeah, you're right. Grandma should have been more savvy and anticipated the systematic screwing of the American (and literally world) community at the hands of bankers and power brokers.
Ok, real quick, as I have actual work to do. If you buy bread today and its $2, but tomorrow that same bread is $3, that is inflation.
Now imagine having to buy all the "stuff" that our government has to buy, year over year. In an ideal world, without corruption, etc... etc... the budget would increase annually at a rate consistent with inflation.
The actual problem is that tax revenue is NOT increasing at the same rate. Why you ask? Because wages are and have been stagnant for far too long. Why you ask? Because of the ever increasing income gap.
Err... the 2006 elections are in November of 2006. There is a lame duck session, and then in January of 2007 the Dems took control. If you have read anything about this economy and the actual root causes you would realize that the issues go back to the late 90's, and actually before that.
The housing bubble was in progress for well over a decade. Please, PLEASE, read something, anything.
Yes, because for the 15-20 years prior premiums had been sitting idle...
GP is right, but much too kind. Voters around here are impatient, ignorant and stupid.
Don't worry, its not your fault. Not everyone has the same levels of intelligence and comprehension. Most folks really believe rationalizations such as yours.
It amazes me that so many Americans are so thoroughly confused and ignorant as to the truth about politics, and politicians. They are confused and ignorant about issues, and completely willing to drink the kool aid spewed by either side of the proverbial "aisle".
The world is full of grayness. Each issue has a multitude of variables, each with significance. The electorate at large is comprised mostly of a bunch of clueless, mindless drones unable to reason and unable to see through the bullshit.
Here's a couple quick hints for all of you:
"Freedom" means I can do whatever I want and you should just leave me alone. Snake oil salesmen love freedom. "Maintaining Principles" means that they know your arguments are morally right, but they do not give a damn, for accepting the change means bad things for them. "Reaching across the aisle" means get on board with me. You CANNOT have ANYTHING for free. You MUST pay for it. One way or another. This is NEVER in doubt. The ONLY questions are HOW and WHO.
There. Perhaps some of you damn unprincipled, so called "independents" can get a clue and buoy up some courage to stand for what is right. You just gave back the keys to the kingdom to a bunch of witch doctors and salesmen bent on squeezing every dime from you, until your existence mirrors that of all the other little serfs in this world. I can't believe people are STILL buying into trickle down...
Sorry for the rant.
I just cannot believe that at this point in history, with so many "enlightened" and "educated" people in this country that we're willing to:
- Force Grandma into the street because SS is not keeping up with inflation because these damn people raided the funds so many time throughout history!!
- Or refusing to pay for her heart meds, so an company's investors can make more cash. It should NOT EVEN BE AN ISSUE!
- Force lil Timmy to die, because some young healthy guy in TX doesn't want to pony up the dough to help his fellow human out.
That "Freedom" word is thrown about quite a bit. Usually by a selfish pariah seeking to capitalize on your ignorance. How about instead of "Freedom", we start talking about "Fellowship"?
Your post is very insightful, but I think implied in any significant change over to all electric vehicles is a necessity to bring nuclear and so called "green" electricity production facilities up to demand levels in a more expedited fashion. At least that is the logic progression I have been pinning my hopes to.
Slashdot Mirror
Had you RTFA...
Blasphemer!!!!
Keep posting!!! Maybe one day it will sink in. We can only hope...
but wouldn't the Japanese miss them?
You deserve many more mod points... good post.
a snarky, snide, sarcastic comment such as this just fills my face with grin. Thanks!
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/11/24/national.opt.out.day/index.html?hpt=C1
"And I'm not the smartest cookie in the jar"
Just how does one go about measuring the intelligence level of imprisoned baked dough slices?
"It's probably the largest single employer of non-HS graduates outside of Walmart."
Dolling out welfare checks, or putting them to work in the hope that 1:1000000 nabs a terrorist?
Something to think about anyhow...
I would argue that neither yourself, nor the GP quite hit the proverbial nail on the head, though each is squarely swinging the hammer in the proper direction, with the proper velocity.
I think if you were to accept the notion that we as a species are limited in our ability to comprehend complex subject matter, and adjoin that with the truism that we are becoming increasingly specialized along with increasingly busy, we can arrive at a more perfect truth.
People are not necessarily, in your words, "actively choosing not to". Nor are they in the GP's words "Cave men beating on a nuclear reactor with rocks to find out what it is.".
Rather I think that while the capacity to understand exists, the lifestyle most often employed today offers little opportunity to digest the volume of information sufficiently to make informed choices, while simultaneously caring for oneself and one's family/friends.
To generalize, the western civilizations are largely too busy to keep up with all the needs Maslow has defined. Self-actualization is taking a back seat to the lower order needs. This is understandable to a degree, but no less troublesome.
Society is going to have to evolve in such a way so as to allow the individual(s) to provide for all lower order needs and ALSO attain self-actualization for there to be any real solution to the problem we all see as at the root of our current troubles.
Do I have a practical answer? No, not really. But I would offer that less work time, more incentive to continuous learning, and ensuring that the work level contributed, and subsequent compensation for, is adequately addressing the low order needs for the individual(s) is where the solution for this deficit is going to need to spring from.
"If we want to control the environment then the easiest solution is to adjust the portion of CO2 that is generated by man."
Why would you say that? CO2 extraction is not that complicated...
Cats suck. Dogs rule. Next!
Too true, but nonetheless sad. Your comments are an indictment on a clearly broken system. When passion and effort are not recognized or even considered as valuable...
Sorry, but the world is results-oriented. Passion has nothing to do with it. Effort has nothing to do with it. Its not just that class, or just the education system, but the whole damned thing from top to bottom.
Thanks. That was my impression as well. give it a year or two, along with a few firmware updates, and this things potential is huge!
how the accessory market grows and ties in with the Kinect.
Imagine a bunch of Kinect identifiable accessories, where you can emulate a multitude of varying activities.
Fun, fun, fun.
Read this prattle last night and was going to ignore it, but I just cannot resist feeding the troll.
You do realize that SS contributions are mandatory right? And they have been around forever right?
You do remember to stock market crash in 2000-2001 right?
You do remember the stock market crash in 2008-2009 right?
Do you have any damned clue as to how completely decimated these crashes have left seniors?
Do you have any damned clue how utterly ridiculous you sound when spouting free market principles in the face of a 70 year old who lost everything when their mutual fund collapsed, and now all they have left in the world is SS?
But yeah, you're right. Grandma should have been more savvy and anticipated the systematic screwing of the American (and literally world) community at the hands of bankers and power brokers.
How completely naive. How completely sad.
*sigh*
Ok, real quick, as I have actual work to do. If you buy bread today and its $2, but tomorrow that same bread is $3, that is inflation.
Now imagine having to buy all the "stuff" that our government has to buy, year over year. In an ideal world, without corruption, etc... etc... the budget would increase annually at a rate consistent with inflation.
The actual problem is that tax revenue is NOT increasing at the same rate. Why you ask? Because wages are and have been stagnant for far too long. Why you ask? Because of the ever increasing income gap.
Why you ask? I leave THAT to your imagination.
You cannot debate sheep. It just does not work.
Err... the 2006 elections are in November of 2006. There is a lame duck session, and then in January of 2007 the Dems took control. If you have read anything about this economy and the actual root causes you would realize that the issues go back to the late 90's, and actually before that. The housing bubble was in progress for well over a decade. Please, PLEASE, read something, anything.
Please /., give us a +1 Ignorant mod!!
Yes, because for the 15-20 years prior premiums had been sitting idle... GP is right, but much too kind. Voters around here are impatient, ignorant and stupid.
Voters a largely stupid. Their actions cannot be accounted for in any rational explanation.
Here, read this. That should get you started down the road of actually understanding a small aspect of the economic environment in which you live.
"Sorry, I'm not buying it."
Don't worry, its not your fault. Not everyone has the same levels of intelligence and comprehension. Most folks really believe rationalizations such as yours.
It amazes me that so many Americans are so thoroughly confused and ignorant as to the truth about politics, and politicians. They are confused and ignorant about issues, and completely willing to drink the kool aid spewed by either side of the proverbial "aisle".
The world is full of grayness. Each issue has a multitude of variables, each with significance. The electorate at large is comprised mostly of a bunch of clueless, mindless drones unable to reason and unable to see through the bullshit.
Here's a couple quick hints for all of you:
"Freedom" means I can do whatever I want and you should just leave me alone. Snake oil salesmen love freedom.
"Maintaining Principles" means that they know your arguments are morally right, but they do not give a damn, for accepting the change means bad things for them.
"Reaching across the aisle" means get on board with me.
You CANNOT have ANYTHING for free. You MUST pay for it. One way or another. This is NEVER in doubt. The ONLY questions are HOW and WHO.
There. Perhaps some of you damn unprincipled, so called "independents" can get a clue and buoy up some courage to stand for what is right. You just gave back the keys to the kingdom to a bunch of witch doctors and salesmen bent on squeezing every dime from you, until your existence mirrors that of all the other little serfs in this world. I can't believe people are STILL buying into trickle down...
Sorry for the rant.
I just cannot believe that at this point in history, with so many "enlightened" and "educated" people in this country that we're willing to:
- Force Grandma into the street because SS is not keeping up with inflation because these damn people raided the funds so many time throughout history!!
- Or refusing to pay for her heart meds, so an company's investors can make more cash. It should NOT EVEN BE AN ISSUE!
- Force lil Timmy to die, because some young healthy guy in TX doesn't want to pony up the dough to help his fellow human out.
That "Freedom" word is thrown about quite a bit. Usually by a selfish pariah seeking to capitalize on your ignorance. How about instead of "Freedom", we start talking about "Fellowship"?
Your post is very insightful, but I think implied in any significant change over to all electric vehicles is a necessity to bring nuclear and so called "green" electricity production facilities up to demand levels in a more expedited fashion. At least that is the logic progression I have been pinning my hopes to.