Total posts: 28,020
Posted in:
-->
@Our_Boat_is_Right
This is an abortion argument. Are you pro-life or pro-choice? To me it is disgusting and degrading to abort children as "population control," when that in of itself is a myth.
That's a false dichotomy "pro life" and "pro choice"
Pro-society is the only proper stance for a utilitarianist, which is neither of these 2.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Our_Boat_is_Right
I'm just saying there is no right or wrong position here, there are definite benefits to society for population controls.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Our_Boat_is_Right
Urban congestion is solved with population controls.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
I mostly think about your mom, but I'm not thinking about making babies.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Our_Boat_is_Right
there's not a single person sitting in traffic for hours thinking "if only we had more babies in the world"
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Our_Boat_is_Right
Abortion is a viable form of population control.
Created:
-->
@bmdrocks21
Read this wiki article.
In the year 2081, the 211th, 212th, and 213th amendments to the Constitution dictate that all Americans are fully equal and not allowed to be smarter, better-looking, or more physically able than anyone else. The Handicapper General's agents enforce the equality laws, forcing citizens to wear "handicaps": masks for those who are too beautiful, loud radios that disrupt thoughts inside the ears of intelligent people, and heavy weights for the strong or athletic.
One April, 14-year-old Harrison Bergeron, an intelligent, athletic, and good-looking teenager, is taken away from his parents, George and Hazel Bergeron, by the government. They are barely aware of the tragedy, as Hazel has "average" intelligence (a euphemism for stupidity), and George has a handicap radio installed by the government to regulate his above-average intelligence.
Hazel and George watch ballet on television. They comment on the dancers, who are weighed down to counteract their gracefulness and masked to hide their attractiveness. George's thoughts are continually interrupted by the different noises emitted by his handicap radio, which piques Hazel's curiosity and imagination regarding handicaps. Noticing his exhaustion, Hazel urges George to lie down and rest his "handicap bag", 47 pounds (21 kg) of weights locked around George's neck. She suggests taking a few of the weights out of the bag, but George resists, aware of the illegality of such an action.
On television, a news reporter struggles to read the bulletin and hands it to the ballerina wearing the most grotesque mask and heaviest weights. She begins reading in her unacceptably natural, beautiful voice, then apologizes before switching to a more unpleasant voice. Harrison's escape from prison is announced, and a full-body photograph of Harrison is shown, indicating that he is seven feet (2.1 m) tall and burdened by three hundred pounds (140 kg) of handicaps.
George recognizes his son for a moment, before having the thought eliminated by his radio. Harrison himself then storms the television studio in an attempt to overthrow the government. He calls himself the Emperor and rips off all of his handicaps, along with the handicaps of a ballerina, whom he proclaims his "Empress". He orders the musicians to play, promising them nobility if they do their best. Unhappy with their initial attempt, Harrison takes control for a short while, and the music improves. After listening and being moved by the music, Harrison and his Empress dance while flying to the ceiling, then pause in mid-air to kiss.
Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, enters the studio and kills Harrison and the Empress with a ten-gauge double-barreled shotgun. She forces the musicians to put on their handicaps, and the television goes dark. George, unaware of the televised incident, returns from the kitchen and asks Hazel why she was crying, to which she replies that something sad happened on television that she cannot remember. He comforts her and they return to their average lives.
Created:
-->
@bmdrocks21
Also, right-wingers tend to make exceptions and allowances for people being vastly different due to the variance in nature and the human condition to be different.
Left-wingers believe egalitarianism is possible with zero inequality, completely ignoring the laws of nature and the human condition.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Imabench
It used to be money always equated to support in politics before the age of instant twitter and youtube communications where you HAD to break deals with the MSM to even have a chance.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@PaulVerliane
Good, liberal dystopias can live guilt-free like Venezuela.
Golden shower state.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@PaulVerliane
Small states will form their own nation then.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
Citizens, obviously. But since US citizens want the government to also take care of immigrants, pretending like taking care of immigrants is somehow not taking care of citizens is a ridiculous right wing talking point. One is opposed to the other.
Not even Democrats on the border want to support illegals anymore.
Created:
Posted in:
only pulled back at the last second.
That's all that matters. It's the reason JFK is remembered for preventing armageddon.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
Not for lack of trying.
Wishing the worst on someone is the nadir of humanity.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@dustryder
I'm actually okay with more drone strikes if it ends the conflict Obama started.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
He is not solidly non-interventionist.
Comparatively, Trump has killed far fewer than Obama in Obama's 1st term.
The 542 drone strikes that Obama authorized killed an estimated 3,797 people, including 324 civilians. As he reportedly told senior aides in 2011: “Turns out I’m really good at killing people. Didn’t know that was gonna be a strong suit of mine.”
He also has not actually started any armed conflicts to date.
Created:
-->
@PaulVerliane
Probably Canada since it's partially Americanized.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Athias
We already have seen the effects in Seattle at only $15. The data is in. Fewer jobs. Fewer hours offered.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
You missed the shift after McCain and Paul Ryan died.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
There has been a revolution going on in the GOP, and for the better.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
This is one of the fundamental misunderstandings the right has with the modern economy. "Investing in yourself" means you need to go to school.
No, it is not. You are massively misinformed.
Created:
Posted in:
I don't think most people think working for most of their waking hours is much of a life or that they get alot of happiness from that.
Again, stop projecting what you think is the meaning of life on to others.
This is pure ivory tower cereal box platitude signaling.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
As usual you missed my point and are making a straw man argument. I said "So if you work yourself almost to death for most of your life there is a chance you might be successful." I never said it was a death sentence. But working 16 hours a day leaves 8 hours for sleep and then you go right back to work. That leave 0 time for friends, family, church, community service, or anything else that gives life meaning. Your entire life would be consumed by work. That is not healthy and i don't think that is anyone's idea of the american dream.
It's not your responsibility to dictate to another person what they want to do to pursue their dreams. What hubris.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
No one ever said that they shouldn't have that option. But it should not be required for people to work 16 hours a day to be successful. If you can't be successful when working 40 hours a week, then the system is broken.
Life isn't fair snowflake.
This line is just self parody. i point out obvious problems and you cry about snowflakes.
The real parody is when you equate working hard to a death sentence.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
Stop being so overly dramatic snowflake. People can choose to work harder than you.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
I'm pretty sure Trump is going to skip out on California again and lose 70% to 30% in the popular vote again. He won't waste a single rally day in California. Maybe for a State seat but most certainly not for the Presidential election. He is going to give Cali the finger again while Cali votes 4 million more votes than needed for Warren to win California.
Created:
Posted in:
Virginia was always going to go blue. There are far too many % of the population working for the government to stop it from going Blue.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@bmdrocks21
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@bmdrocks21
Washington D.C. is the most dysfunctional dystopia in the entire country, with 90% registered Democrats.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@bmdrocks21
Most importantly, these are cities with a massive proportion of government-run services per capita.
More government means more corruption and more malaise.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@bmdrocks21
Created:
Posted in:
Because the leaders of both political parties tend to be rich. And the rich love the prestige of coming from an exclusive private school. Have you seen how often trump brags about his private school? It isn't about the quality of the education. It is the exclusiveness. It shows you are rich and connected.
The true rich and connected are the administrators of public schools who receive double the money per student than private schools.
In 34 states, the average private school cost is less than the average annual per-pupil public school expenditure.
Government red tape is very costly.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@TheDredPriateRoberts
More importantly, if government-run institutions were so great, why do so many Democrat politicians come from private schools and have never set foot in a public school?
Why are no Congressmen on Obamacare?
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
People don't like government education. Or healthcare.
Created:
Posted in:
Some parents, if they had the choice, would choose not to give their child an education.
Homeschool.
Created:
Posted in:
Essentially, what that those people are doing is gambling that they won't get sick.
Essentially what the government is doing is protecting people from themselves. That's an elitist oligarchy, not a democracy.
America will always be a high-risk and high-reward nation.
Created:
Posted in:
That won't be a problem for medicare for all. It removes the private insurance, but it actually gives people more choice where it matters. People will be able to see any doctor, go to any hospital and it will be covered. No more being told a doctor isn't in your network. So people will actually be getting alot more choice for less cost.
Maybe you have never shopped for insurance, but I can tell you that not everyone wants to pay for the deluxe package like the government is selling.
Some people only want to pay to be covered at their local clinic with a high deductible and low premiums. The government takes away those choices and calls people dumb and deplorable for not buying the one size fits all health plan.
Created:
Posted in:
When I say breadlines I mean enforced consumption from the government.
Being forced to buy ONLY government healthcare is what made Obamacare wildly unpopular in the consumer culture of America used to having strip malls stocked with hundreds of choices and brands at their beck and call; necessitating the now famous Obama-lie about keeping your healthcare.
This outrage was long before it was proven how inefficient government was at allocating health resources.
Created:
Posted in:
Pointing to the tax rate is a bit of a distraction tactic. If you are taxed at 25% but spend another 20% on medical costs, then you are better off paying 40% but having no medical costs. Your taxes are higher, but you are saving money. Republicans like to make the argument that taxes are inherently bad, when that simply isn't the case.
Not really. You would have to radically reform our National culture from a consumer society that lives paycheck to paycheck into a frugal society like the Nord's who don't live to spend their money as soon as they get it.
People can't go out to their favorite All-American strip mall at Nordic taxrates. Breadlines are never going to happen in the consumer culture of America.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
Young people don't have the stomach to lead a Socialist rebellion.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
@PaulVerliane
There will never be a "Hugo Chavez" or a Madura in this country because the people will destroy the government once the government turns on them.
Just look at all the people turning on Warren for even suggesting a tax on the middle class.
Every Socialist nation must tax the poor. Nordic countries tax the poor at 40%.
People with guns will never allow this to happen in America.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Lunatic
You're not allowed to start mislynch trains anymore.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@HistoryBuff
Young people have less guns.
Created:
Posted in:
There are too many guns in the hands of the voters to allow the government to grow big enough to implement socialism.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@RationalMadman
I scored it like you said. I got a 6 at the end and 6 was something I would never have thought of.
Created: