prole

Since when was the belief in something the sole criteria for basis in truth? As in, "well, that's just what I believe". I see this everywhere now. It provides the ability for anyone anywhere to discount or denounce anything that doesn't jibe with their belief system in spite of any evidence to the contrary no matter how compelling. This turn from rationality towards blind subjectivity and "know-nothingism" is more frightening to me than any other ideological challenge we face. It lies at the heart of bigotry, chauvinist nationalism, and religious zealotry. Anybody with a philosophy background that can shed light here?

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The US military is a bloated, self-perpetuating, imperial money hole. I do believe that many of the people who decide to serve in it, do so for honorable reasons. That I also think they are largely misguided in their understanding the logic and motives of American power in the world has been for the last 100+ years is not necessarily dissing them. I would question the idea that joining the military is somehow a "harder" choice than living in the civilian world. Many do so as Tvash suggests, to escape poverty, drugs, crime, the uncertainties of the civilian labor market (whoops, all these exist in the military). That people can have positive experiences relative to what they can expect from civilian life is not in doubt, but the fact that people have to join an institution that dehumanizes themselves and others, requires them to kill and be killed, to invade and occupy in order to either escape the conditions in their daily civilian lives or live an honorable existence represents a gross miscalculation of priorities and resources. If you want to serve your country, go work in a homeless shelter, not Iraq.

I'm for a complete reevaluation and reorientation of the terms you just used: national defense and security. The opportunity to do so has been present a number of times in US history and was present most recently during and immediately following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In each and every instance, American elites have opted for an expansionist, imperialist, and thoroughly self-serving armed forces. I'm not a pacifist, I think armed struggle has been and can be a necessary means to achieve a positive outcome. I just don't think the military as it's presently oriented meets any of legitimate claims for "defense" or "security" for Americans or the rest of the world.

This hasn't been the case since the War of 1812.

Check your identity at the door, get told where and when to eat, sleep, shit, live, work. Get fed, fucked, and told what to think. Just like prison. That's everybody. For some there is a certain amount of personal courage involved. You may even fit the bill. Regardless, you and the rest of the military class are suckling at the teat of the biggest welfare scam in human history.

BOO!

BOO!

BOO!

Cindy's introducing the new scheme for the living room.

If you consider Osama bin Laden a moron, then yes. don't spin it fader. this administration did nothing to catch him. A couple more days to go yet...

Locking down 4th and Pine with a couple thousand very awesome people.

You can lay blame at the feet of the Republican party to the extent that the bundle of "reforms" packaged under neoliberalism: privatization, deregulation, gutting of social services, etc. were originally designed and implemented and practiced most rabidly under conservative rule. These ideas and policy prescriptions became hegemonic among global elites and began to be implemented (consensually (by elites) in advanced countries, by force in the developing/"Third" world). The Democrats were right on board in America as was Labor in England and Liberals in Europe (with minor or mild objections). As you suggest, this was a fundamental part of "globalization". That being said, if you're looking for historical scapegoats, you need look no further than these two, who were until a few weeks ago the subject of near-cultlike adoration in American political culture: Guess the ink wasn't quite dry on that one, huh Jay?

"I got a bracelet, nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah!"

Yeah, having to get permission to take a shit is real "bad-ass". Grow up.

If an enemy were really coming hard, would you try to take him from the front or the rear?

Ol' Joe's asking for an IRS audit if he can't meet his new responsibilities as a cardboard poster-child and (ironically inaccurate) rhetorical device for a sinking ship of a campaign. And he's probably voting for Obama.

"What Hitler's Hair Might Have Looked Like Had He Lived."

"McCain's $400 Manicure."

"Good God, she's using her Xnaxonian Mind Melt again...Sweet Jesus can anyone else see this blood and pus leaking out of my face...oh God, why is she smiling...the...agony...excruciating..."

I'm sure the GOP would love to lay its failures at McCain's feet, god knows he's worthy. Unfortunately, the plain facts are far more problematic for them. Their 30-year "revolution" and "permanent majority" lies in ruins. Trickle-down Reganomics and its cat-shit grab bag of assorted policies has been a spectacular failure globally, its "wealth creation" bought on the backs of consumer debt and criminally inflated corporate profits. Its unholy alliance with the Christian Right coupled with its embrace divisive "hot-button" social "issues" have obfuscated and swept our very real problems under the rug, lowered the level of national political discourse, and left the American political landscape more divided and less civil. Its single-minded ideological fixation on "small government" (only when it suits their needs, i.e. corporate profits) has bankrupted cities, states, and national government leaving us more vulnerable during times of crisis, less educated, and more dependent on shrinking wages to cover even basic needs. Its foreign policy postures have proven outmoded, outdated, expensive, and counter productive (for human beings that is, I don't know about defense contractor's bottom lines or Alkoholeke's whore-budget.) In short, it's not McCain's dazzlingly stupidity, or Obama's "honey-tounged" populist appeals. It's the fact that American Conservatism as ideologically and practically aligned is a spent force. The gun in the cartoon should be shaped like an elephant.

The greatest British climbers of all time, the futuristic old-school alpinists whose Himalayan routes many of you won't even see in your lifetimes, were welfare queens. That's right, "the dole" gave these "parasites" something for you wage-slaves to aspire to. Have fun in the cube today...

Yeah, Republican's wouldn't know anything about cult-worship...

Sorry, but I love it when, during times of crisis (like when the wheels come off your multi-million dollar, future-of-the-Republican Party campaign) the people involved start clawing at each other's faces and trampling anything in their way in their rush for the exits. True to their complete lack of composure and fitness for the highest offices in the land, the McCain campaign has become that asshole character in a 70's disaster movie that ends up killing himself because he's only out to save himself. Perfect ending. Thanks guys. Buh-bye.

My support for Obama is little more than a "lesser of two evils" kind of endorsement. But, the fact that Americans (and the world) find Obama's message and policy prescriptions inspiring is a step in the right direction regardless of whether he's able to do much under the conditions he's been given to govern. Given the spectacular failure of neoclassical economics' ability to"deliver the goods" and the bankruptcy of American Conservatism finally becoming apparent, I'd say there is at least some political space in which alternative ideas and policy may get a hearing. The enormous support he's getting in spite of (because of?) charges of "socialism", he should govern confidently from the left, though I don't think he will.