Topic: Muhammad cartoon and general rants regarding the state of the world!

[abnormaltoy]

Who's milking?  I got twenty five grand in student loans.  Trust me, people in the US would rather me not work here.  I guarantee that if I went through everything that I believe you would probably be ready to pay me to leave.

I don't think having 25k in loans qualifies you to say you're not milking it! When you repay the loans and put the knowledge gained from your time in school to work, then you'll have a little more credibility.
Just remember education does not make you intelligent, look at John Kerry!
I dropped out of school in the 9th grade. I learned what I know from trial and error, mostly error!
Mark

[abnormaltoy [OP]]

Mexico, Venezuela, Bolivia - somewhere in Latin America.  That is where my research is going to be done (working with indigenous populations - hopefully Yucatecan Mayans.)  I'm hoping to get a position at a university in one of those countries. 

You can't imagine how happy I'd be if you're able to put your education to work helping those people. There are some truly horrendous conditions in certain areas of the world. But, for those people to succeed...they're going to have to compete. Within their own culture and in the greater world.
Mark

[alwayzbroken]

I believe the things I believe because they have worked in my life. Although I know there are going to be shades of gray in life, I see things mainly as black or white, right or wrong, etc. Example…you cannot be partly pregnant. So, now you kind of know how I think.
 Socialism goes against every thing that makes mankind…mankind. Socialism can only exist where mediocrity is the goal. Socialism seeks to “level the playing field”, toward this end it shaves off the peaks (human excellence) to fill in the valleys (human complacency). As a result, the end is malt-o-meal. I mean it’s food but not really. No one excels and no one fails. One cannot succeed with out failing first. The pursuit of perfection, while futile, nonetheless leads us towards excellence.
 Capitalism allows people to succeed…if the government of a given nation will allow it.

I agree, you stated the reason why communsim has never really worked. There is no incentive to work hard because there will never be any fruits to your labor. My point basically is how can you excel in life when you have no opportunity to make more than a few cents an hour sewing together Nike shoes while an American share holder is making his 100 millionth dollar. We are lucky because we have the opportunity to suceed. Which that opportunity is given to us at the cost of others. Everything has its price and we are living richly and securely while others are paying the price. I love democracy and it it great but our attitudes towards success at all costs are what terrorists use as ammo for their hatred. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't change anything about our way of life and would just assume tell anybody who is anti-capitalist to take a hike. Being anti-capitalist is just them being envious of our lifestyle.

[abnormaltoy [OP]]

I agree, you stated the reason why communsim has never really worked. There is no incentive to work hard because there will never be any fruits to your labor. My point basically is how can you excel in life when you have no opportunity to make more than a few cents an hour sewing together Nike shoes while an American share holder is making his 100 millionth dollar. We are lucky because we have the opportunity to suceed. Which that opportunity is given to us at the cost of others. Everything has its price and we are living richly and securely while others are paying the price. I love democracy and it it great but our attitudes towards success at all costs are what terrorists use as ammo for their hatred. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't change anything about our way of life and would just assume tell anybody who is anti-capitalist to take a hike. Being anti-capitalist is just them being envious of our lifestyle.

Commune-ism has never been tried. What we in America call communism is actually Marxism, a particularly virulent form of socialism. Commune-ism would be where every one actually pulled their own weight and contribute to the community. The “ideal” society.
Also, don’t be too quick to condemn the Nike share holder, my late wife was Lao, when we were first married I made like $5.60 an hour, even then we could’ve lived like (relative) kings in Laos with that kind of money. The rich people who start  companies are the ones who make the jobs. Just try to imagine how many people are working in 2006 because Bill Gates and Paul Allen started Microsoft in the 80’s.
Mark   

[alwayzbroken]

Commune-ism has never been tried. What we in America call communism is actually Marxism, a particularly virulent form of socialism. Commune-ism would be where every one actually pulled their own weight and contribute to the community. The “ideal” society.
Also, don’t be too quick to condemn the Nike share holder, my late wife was Lao, when we were first married I made like $5.60 an hour, even then we could’ve lived like (relative) kings in Laos with that kind of money. The rich people who start companies are the ones who make the jobs. Just try to imagine how many people are working in 2006 because Bill Gates and Paul Allen started Microsoft in the 80’s.
Mark

I don't have any knowledge of Laos and I am not arguing with you. In Laos, you probably could live like kings for $5.60 because most people make less than that in a week or even a month. The people who start companies deserve immense respect for the hard work and amazing ability they have as well as helping to keep the US economy strong. But there is no merit in the way those companies stay on top in many cases and ultimately outsource jobs to foreign countries which hurts us by taking jobs and certainly does not benefit the foreign nation. There is way more to this topic than I could ever hope to understand or communicate.  But anyway this tread is getting off topic largely due to me for which I apologize.

[abnormaltoy [OP]]

I don't have any knowledge of Laos and I am not arguing with you. In Laos, you probably could live like kings for $5.60 because most people make less than that in a week or even a month. The people who start companies deserve immense respect for the hard work and amazing ability they have as well as helping to keep the US economy strong. But there is no merit in the way those companies stay on top in many cases and ultimately outsource jobs to foreign countries which hurts us by taking jobs and certainly does not benefit the foreign nation. There is way more to this topic than I could ever hope to understand or communicate.  But anyway this tread is getting off topic largely due to me for which I apologize.

I got you. We're of like mind. I'm just ranting.
Mark

[Lady Di]

Man you guys are good! I love reading all this, not any surprises, and TigerToy, I would sure reconsider keeping the truck, you just never know what is going to happen in those countries.

Convince me how taking my money and letting someone else retire on it is better than letting me invest MY money towards my own retirement!
Mark

While I am at the closer to retirement end of this argument and have been paying in to SS for many years, I completely agree with that.

[abnormaltoy [OP]]

I am, as you might have noticed, extremely conservative. I’m a registered Republican…for two reasons. Libertarians can’t win and my vote is more aligned, philosophically, with them than the Democrats.
I believe, “That government is best which governs least”. If the Federal government would stick to what was CLEARLY outlined in the Constitution of these United States we, as a people would have almost unimaginable wealth. Think of it…if you only paid 10-15% of the federal tax that you now pay. If you then wanted to buy an new fridge…some one would have to make it (and they’d get paid for making it). Thus that person could then pay to send their children to private school, where they could then get an unbiased education.

[BLACKDOG]

http://news.yahoo.com/fc/world/religion

Anyone surprised

only a matter of time

[alwayzbroken]

I am, as you might have noticed, extremely conservative. I’m a registered Republican…for two reasons. Libertarians can’t win and my vote is more aligned, philosophically, with them than the Democrats.
I believe, “That government is best which governs least”. If the Federal government would stick to what was CLEARLY outlined in the Constitution of these United States we, as a people would have almost unimaginable wealth. Think of it…if you only paid 10-15% of the federal tax that you now pay. If you then wanted to buy an new fridge…some one would have to make it (and they’d get paid for making it). Thus that person could then pay to send their children to private school, where they could then get an unbiased education.

How true. We could easily pay 10-15% of our current taxes if we weren't bombing the hell out of "terrorist" nation after nation. The money spent on this "oil war" is disgusting when you think about the state of the schools in our country. Even things as minor as the damn roads are suffering because there is no money left over after all the cruise missiles and B-2 bombers are purchased.

[Lady Di]

should I bring up unions as a matter of fact of how we can't afford things built in the US?

[79coyotefrg]

now the muslims are posting cartoons of Ann Frank in the bed with Hitler



NUKE EM  NUKE EM ALL

[Lady Di]

How true. We could easily pay 10-15% of our current taxes if we weren't bombing the hell out of "terrorist" nation after nation. The money spent on this "oil war" is disgusting when you think about the state of the schools in our country. Even things as minor as the damn roads are suffering because there is no money left over after all the cruise missiles and B-2 bombers are purchased.

roads come from the state, not the federal, as do the schools. Lets not get ridiculous. The condition of both have been deteriorating way before this started.

[alwayzbroken]

roads come from the state, not the federal, as do the schools.

  

[BLACKDOG]

roads come from the state, not the federal, as do the schools. Lets not get ridiculous. The condition of both have been deteriorating way before this started.

you beat me to it!

[Lady Di]

 

you beat me to it!

and considering my condition of that's saying alot!

[Lady Di]

now the muslims are posting cartoons of Ann Frank in the bed with Hitler



NUKE EM NUKE EM ALL

The best reaction is no reaction. That is what they want out of us. Ignoring it will be way more effective.

[Lady Di]

The best reaction is no reaction. That is what they want out of us. Ignoring it will be way more effective.

For if we truely believe in freedom of speech, then let them have their say. We know how ridiculous it is.
Better yet... post a editorial cartoon of a bunch of muslims sitting around snickering about drawing an editorial cartoon of Ann Frank and Hitler, with US looking over there shoulder and laughing saying behind their backs "oh yeah, they got US!"

[Lady Di]

The only thing that makes a ball buster angrier is when you don't care about their ball busting.

[Lady Di]

Like yeah, and so?

[Lady Di]

nanny nanny booboo? Come on!

[abnormaltoy [OP]]

nanny nanny booboo? Come on!

I think a rousing neener, neener is in order
Mark

[Rocksurfer]

Hey if someone can make some Jesus soap what's the problem with a little Muhammad ribbing?




                                                                                                                                                                                           

[BLACKDOG]

Hey if someone can make some Jesus soap what's the problem with a little Muhammad ribbing?




                                                                                                                                                                                           

well, he did cleanse us of our sins! 

[Rocksurfer]

well, he did cleanse us of our sins! 

but why is it on a rope?  Guess you don't wanna drop the soap while you get cleansed of your sins eh?

[BLACKDOG]

but why is it on a rope?  Guess you don't wanna drop the soap while you get cleansed of your sins eh?

thats not a rope, its just really long...blue...hair

[abnormaltoy [OP]]

To think this started with a query about the cartoons. Including the brief “left” turn with TT, I’ve enjoyed it.
alwayzbroken wrote:
“How true. We could easily pay 10-15% of our current taxes if we weren't bombing the hell out of "terrorist" nation after nation. The money spent on this "oil war" is disgusting when you think about the state of the schools in our country. Even things as minor as the damn roads are suffering because there is no money left over after all the cruise missiles and B-2 bombers are purchased.”
   It’s not that. The 10-15% would represent the cost, an admitted approximation, to fund what is actually in the Constitution. Mrs. Willy…the Interstate Highway system was begun as a national defense project and most of the money comes from the feds. In the Constitution there is support for the military (Thank GOD!). There isn’t support for foreign aid, welfare, art projects, public TV, the feds owning land or a bazillion dollar bridge in Alaska going to an island where nobody lives! The point I was making is cut out everything and return the power to the “several States”. I believe the Federal government should be a kind of clearing house to help the States with similar projects.  Somebody once wrote that the United States “is not merely a nation but a nation of nations” meaning the states (Webster defines state as: commonwealth, country, land, sovereignty, nation) are sovereign nations joined together towards a common goal.
 
But wait there’s more! Getting back to something on the original idea.

   1.The islamic-wackos give no quarter…they should expect none. They DO NOT compromise…period! You convert to islam or you die. They will not “tolerate” you, they will not accept your religious choice…unless you choose islam. They are the ultimate thought police, they are the dark side of the force! In my opinion, at best all muslims are cowards. Both for their terrorist acts and for the “reasonable” muslims that won’t stand up to them.  If they can burn our flags, cheer when their sons kill thousands of innocents and film beheadings then I’m all right if a cartoon hurts feewings.
   2. I don’t give a rat’s a$$ about not finding WMD’s (yet!). Sadam had them…President Bush knows it, Chappaquiddick Kennedy knows it, every-freakin-body knows it! He moved them to another arab country.
   3. From a national security and an economic stand point…we have to secure our borders now! I live 60 miles from the border, I don’t think some people, due to distance from the border, realize how bad it is. I’ve seen groups, not dark secretive ninja-like bands, but freaking families going though the washes. Our armed forces are here to protect our borders. Let them.
   4. Stop welfare. In Chicago there was a ‘public housing” project named Cabrini Green (obviously built with public funds and the residents were subsidized) that at one point was to be the shining example of how a federal “War on Poverty” was going to be won. Within 30 years it had become a shooting gallery. Riddled with crime. The feds decided to tear it down. It was a complete failure. A local news broadcast an interview with a soon to be former resident. She said “It’s not nearly as nice here as it was 28 years ago”. 28 freaking years! If you can’t better yourself in 28 years perhaps you should just give up. I believe in, and extend, a hand up. I do not believe in hand outs.

I figure this is enough to keep this going for a while!
Mark


Ps. I am purposefully not capitalizing islam, muslim and arab as a somewhat childish insult.

[BLACKDOG]

nicely said abnormaltoy

Here's a little tidbit from Robin Williams.  I got this back in 2003, but I figure its worth repeating

Enjoy!!

 Robin Williams' plan...(Hard to argue with this logic!)
>
> I see a lot of people yelling for peace but I have not heard of plan
>for
> peace.  So, here's one plan:
>
> 1) The US will apologize to the world for our "interference" in their
> affairs, past &present. We will promise never to "interfere" again.
>
> 2) We will withdraw our troops from all over the world, starting with
> Germany , South Korea and the Philippines . They don't want us there. We
>would
> station troops at our borders. No more sneaking through holes in the
>fence.
>
> 3) All illegal aliens have 90 days to get their affairs together and
>leave.
> We'll give them a free trip home. After 90 days the remainder will be
> gathered up and deported immediately, regardless of who or where they
>are.
> France would welcome them.
>
> 4) All future visitors will be thoroughly checked and limited to 90 day
>
> visits unless given a special permit. No one from a terrorist nation
>would
> be allowed in. If you don't like it there, change it yourself, don't
>hide
> here. Asylum would not ever be available to anyone. We don't need any
>more
> cab drivers.
>
> 5) No "students" over age 21. The older ones are the bombers. If they
>don't
> attend classes, they get a "D" and it's back home, baby.
>
> 6) The US will make a strong effort to become self sufficient energy
>wise.
> This will include developing non polluting sources of energy but will
> require a temporary drilling of oil in the Alaskan wilderness. The
>caribou
> will have to cope for a while.
>
> 7) Offer Saudi Arabia and other oil producing countries $10 a barrel
>for
> their oil. If they don't like it, we go someplace else.
>
> 8) If there is a famine or other natural catastrophe in the world, we
>will
> not "interfere". They can pray to Allah or whomever, for seeds, rain,
>cement
> or whatever they need. Besides, most of what we give them gets "lost"
>or is
> taken by their army. The people who need it most get very little,
>anyway.
>
> 9) Ship the UN Headquarters to an island some place. We don't need the
>spies
> and fair weather friends here. Besides, it would make a  good homeless
> shelter or lockup for illegal aliens.
>
> 9b) Use the buildings as replacement for the twin towers.
>
> 10) All Americans must go to charm and beauty school. That way, no one
>can
> call us "Ugly Americans" any longer.
>
> Now, ain't that a winner of a plan.
>
> "The Statue of Liberty is no longer saying   'Give me your poor, your
>tired,
> your huddled masses.' She's got a baseball bat and she's yelling, 'You
>want
> a piece of me?'" - Robin Williams>

[yotatilla]

Robin Williams is hilarious. Thats off "Live On Broadway", right? As for people mentioning communism, that is the perfect society, on paper. It was skewed by the thoughts and selfishness of men. Hmmm, that sound farmiliar there Muslims? It is the selfishness of men that ruins a lot of stuff.


Sam

[abnormaltoy [OP]]

No matter who you are, that's funny! Have you seen his description of golf? I almost choked!