Gary_Yngve

I don't like the idea of the govt imposing that rule on us, and being able to implement it effectively would most surely have some Big-Brother-esque implications. I do think that voting can be made easier to encourage more people to vote. National holiday on Election Day. How about an absentee ballot that already has prepaid postage? (I wish the IRS would do this too.) Does anyone know why people choose not to vote? And who their votes would be biased toward (left/right/incumbent...)? For a while my parents were not registered to vote so they could dodge the jury-duty rolls, but now most places pull those from driving licenses.

Two years ago I sprained my ankle badly from a frisbee injury and ended up bouldering at Stone Gardens in plastic boots while it was healing. All the gapers were asking me, "Dude, are you training for Denali?"

Funny how history books say that the Civil War was fought over states rights, but the Republicans don't want to leave gay marriage up to the states to decide.

I have heard rumors that such things exist. Please list examples. Reading about climbing. Repairing holes in climbing clothing. Buying new climbing gear. Dreaming about climbing. Sorting through climbing pictures. Writing backlogged climbing TRs. Getting drunk with other climbers. ...

We're getting payback for April this year, where we had the exact opposite situation. I don't mind the rain one bit. It gives me a chance to spend time on all the other activities I do other than climbing.

I personally don't know where he disagrees from Libertarian theory. Libertarian theory tends to operate on a metalevel above regular issues that Dems and Repubs throw around. For example, Dems and Repubs argue about welfare being broken and how to fix it. Libertarians see welfare as a kludge used to fix the problem of unemployment that was created by the minimum wage. Personally, I want the government the govt to fuck off when it comes to my personal freedoms, but I see it necessary for a fair amount of govt regulation and intervention when it comes to economics.

You mean, "Hmmm, you have a hangnail. I'm afraid we'll have to amputate your arm." ?

What about elections in India?

Scott, I was talking yesterday with a fellow who had spent several years working for the Libertarian party. On a scale of 0% to 100%, his politics fall under 80% Libertarian. The party idealogues basically told him that he'd either have to find the errors in his ways or sit in the back of the bus while the 100%ers drive.

Doesn't surprise me one bit. Software is rife with bugs, and there's no incentive for programmers to clean up their act -- all liability is signed away with the EULA (yeah, those boxes of legalese that you instinctually click through). In very few fields (aerospace control, medical apps, etc.) bugs can kill, and in those fields, development and subsequent testing and fixing comes at an exporbitant price. Computing has been around for nearly fifty years. In that time, things such as speed and storage have increased exponentially (e.g. Moore's Law). Displays have gotten better. Networks faster. Hardware cheaper. All sorts of fancy algorithms have been discovered, and fancy programming languages have been invented. But still, software engineering is slow and klunky, and we're no better at producing less bugs.

Dave, I completely agree with you that the average American is too moderate to agree with either party the way they stand right now. For that matter, the Libertarian party is too extreme to ever have a chance at getting elected, and they're not willing to dilute themselves to a more moderate stance. Sorry for nitpicking, but the quote was actually by FDR.

This thread reminds me of: http://www.technicalvirgin.com

Quite a modest delicacy, indeed!

This is an argument I don't quite understand and it's one of the things that miffs me most about conservatives. They're all for personal responsibility and freedom until someone does something they don't like, like gets an abortion or gets gay married. Then they are all for government regulation. Seems a wee bit hypocritical guys. Speaking of hypocritical, the religious right wants to establish a "culture of life," but they are strongly for the death penalty. These are inconsistent views in my mind. Though I am vehemently pro-choice, I will respect the opinion of a Catholic who is pro-life and anti-death penalty, because those views are consistent.

"I am a little bit apprehensive because the first term of Bush, he had come in as a lame duck. Now it appears as if he is winning very convincingly. To me, I think we are going to see more dictatorship on an international scale. We are going to see more extremism come out of there. We are going to see even more isolationism where America will not bother about the United Nations. To me that is a very sad affair." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3978191.stm

I go to church, I don't just live near one. You are full of it and are letting stereotypes dictate the way you think about another person. Give me a break. Scott, I don't have a problem with people who have conservative religious views. I have a problem when they impose their views on everyone else, and feel righteous while doing so. A smattering of things that happened where I grew up: 1) On a country-western dress-up day in school, about 25 kids show up in KKK garb. 2) Jewish kids get approached at their lockers and told, "If you don't believe in Jesus Christ, you're going to Hell." 3) Angry parents because they're teaching evolution in school. Students distributing creationist casette tapes in school. 4) County passes a resolution condemning the gay lifestyle. They don't repeal it, despite being threatened to lose an Olympic venue and millions in revenue (they lost the venue). 5) Father of roommate freshman year in college suggests that we hang a sign on our door saying, "Faggots not allowed." 6) Friend of mine (white) ridiculed for dating a black girl. 7) Dear friend of mine who came out in high school having to deal with hatred, people trying to "change him back," telling him he's going to Hell even though he's one of the most true Christians I know. 8) Friend of mine gets caught dealing at a private religious school. School expels him, but does NOT report it to the police because the school refuses to admit that their good Christian students have a drug problem. 9) Motivational speaker comes to a neighboring high school to speak at an official school function during school hours. The entire school is there, and he asks people who have been saved to raise their hands. 10) Our out-going SGA president gives a speech to the whole school body (during school hours) saying that he got this far in life because he believes that JC is his savior. Should I stop or keep on going?

Scott, I lived in Newt Gingrich's district between the ages of 10 and 17. I think I know what I'm talking about.

Right-wing conservatives are scared of two things: 1) gay guys molesting/raping their sons 2) their children "becoming" gay

I'd be all for that, but I want to be able to go to the Valley without having to go through customs. Have WA, OR, and CA secede.

Whoever said that there's gonna be some fucking raging punk rock the next four years is right on. Speaking of being all bummed about the election, some good punk music will let me channel all of my negative election feelings into a productive workday.

I think Osama bin Laden believes that what he's doing is the best for the Muslim world.

And Bush had the brilliant (though despicable) strategy of accusing people of not supporting our troops should they question if he was truthful on Iraq.

Sadly, yes. Proof that Americans can be swayed by deception and scare tactics. Proof that Americans can ignore the war, the environment, etc., just because they have a strong viewpoint on a religious issue.

How much damage would have to occur before people would protest against the government by marching on the White House, going on strike, etc.? Or are Americans content to have their country fucked over as long as they get their big TVs and shiny SUVs?

One hope I have for this country is that if things get bad enough, Americans will do something about it. Things would have to get a lot worse, but there are still chances for things to be fixed without waiting until 2008.