pirana

That's what I was getting at. Thank you. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I do not see any value whatsoever to the Electoral College. In The World According To Don, it's one person, one vote; then you add them all up, without regard to what state the person lives in, and the person with the most votes wins. The Electoral College, laws requiring a person to own property, or be white, or be male, etc are all shameful vestiges of the immature days of our culture. They were all put in place to safeguard against certain groups of people from having a say. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

It's another source of information, and appears to have a bias. (The right wingers will consider that the understatement of the century). But they are certainly not the farthest from the truth. I'd put them on the list of sources to be used in trying to get a balanced picture of reality. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Curious about where you grew up. They actually told you it was not a drill? We never had that - and were never led to believe we were about to die (which is what you are doing if you tell kids the bombers are on the way and it is real). To actually have someone made up as the bad guy pretending to try to get in the room; in light of the recent killings! These people wouldn't know good judgement if it bit them in the ass. They shouldn't be allowed near kids or a school ever again. Shouldn't be allowed to even use the words child, education, or judgement; or any words that rhyme with them. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Well said. I could add more, but why? Well, because I'm a windy dude who likes to spew. Heard it on the radio and the early reports were that the school was trying to spin this about 6 different ways. They so badly fucked up about as big time as a person can (other than outright assaulting their students) and refuse, despite evidence and the obviousness of their stupidity, to just admit their mistake. I wonder how long they'll keep trying to spin it before someone takes responsibility and just says they made a huge mistake and that they are sorry? BTW, anybody else make the correct call on the location before knowing where it happened. Kinda like the baby-down-the-well stories; you just knew this was coming from south of the Mason-Dixon Line. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I don't think it was the Supremes. I believe it was Martha & The Vandellas. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

that's not hidden And it's not silver either. The wingnuts at both ends of the spectrum are more concerned about bashing, and having a bashee, than they are about accomplishing something meaningful. they are more about looking good, or at least not looking as bad as "them" than anything else. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I wish people would stop wishing that I'd stop wishing what I'm wishing. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Hard to say. I hope to live another 30 or 40 years, so should see it from at least that perspective. My guess is that they are going to be looked on very poorly. Funny though, the historical perspective does not always end the debates, they just become a bit more civil. Instead of highly polarized pissing contests, they become just a touch more scholarly in nature. I've read several of the History-of-Everything type comprehensive looks at humanity and the amazing thing is that they are all at least slightly different. Go figure. But I'll stick by my guess is that there will be general agreement that this administration was not good for our future. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Really? I wonder what they would want for a copy of a 1965 Cobra. Better yet, a copy of the scratch built replica from Superformance named the Mark III. $60K with Ford Racing engine, $5K more with an engine from Rousch. I'd take one ASAP if they can bring it in at half-price. In British Racing Green please. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Or imagine how funny if someone sneakily switched their jar with one of those trick containers with the spring loaded snakes. "Holy tarnation Melvira! Did you put them thar snakes in my peanut butter? No? Must have been God. I knew evolution was false." " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I wonder about the origins of their hate; what sent them off the deep end to begin with? They learned it from some source. Maybe gramps is a closet homosexual, hates himself, and is taking it out on the public. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

And it just seems that no matter how often the end of the world is predicted, and regardless of the person or their source of wisdom, the world just refuses to end. Stubborn world. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I'd argue that, but who am I... GOOD! Hope it stays that way. I'd debate that too, but stop short of arguing. If we are going to get literal, to satisfy the fall in freefall, I'd say there has to be falling, not floating. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

There are too many logistical flaws to the predictions to take them literally or seriously. Heck, it's downright amusing to think that people believe such things; but they are kind of a hyperboled version of some trends I do foresee. China (and maybe more accurately the Far East in general) is on a course to become the dominant force on our planet; but not via it's power as a state or group of states. Military conflict is such a messy way to rule the world - very old school. Economic clout is so much more effective. And that clout will be wielded not by political entities but by the capital behind the state. Sure, if needed, the people of capital might have to assassinate a person or two here and there, but the might of purchasing power will win out. The US acheived it's current pinnacle via the development of unprecedented purchasing power. The occassional military skirmish is minor compared to being able to impose economic will - and is used as a last resort since it costs so much and removes so many consumers from the population. There were certainly a lot of factors that went into our growth but the bottom line is that we exerted a market controlling influence. That is waning, and with it's eventual erasure we will see significant change. Thing is it might happen so imperceptibly as to not really be all that traumatic. It is certainly the way the owners of capital would like it to happen. The radical woo-woo crowd almost WANTS to see nukes fly and Holy Reckonings and other neolithic prophecies come to life. That would be so much more sensational and fits so well with their desire to have known the future - which is bottom line the driver for their nuerosis - they have the need to be in on something very special. It's why the people in Jonestown willingly drank the Kool-Aid. Their specialness was about to go away. As long as the wackos can keep alive the idea that they are in on special knowledge of sensational out-of-the-ordinary events, they will continue to spout their nonsense. It's why the date will keep changing. It's always amusing to hear them explain why another of their predictions did not come to pass. And this is nothing. Just wait to see all the kooks come out of the woodwork as we near 2012. If I were an unscrupulous person I'd be making plans on how to get rich off their nutiness. There will be many who will do so. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Yeo. Plankton takes over, and everyone is required to switch from Crabby Patties to eating at The Chum Bucket. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

These guys need to be arrested and put on trial for treason. I know some people may consider the explanations as politically correct and apologetic, but it is absolutely the case that this is a relative minority making the whole look pretty bad. Especially to those unfamiliar with the history of Islam, and specifically with the emergence of the Wahhabi sect, their role in the birth of Saudi Arabia, and our unfortunate decision to get in bed with them for their oil before knowing the longer term implications. Wahhabiism is violent at it's roots. It was born in a culture of constantly warring tribes. There is a reason for the ring of mini-states on the Arabian Peninsula that surround the central region and the 2 holiest sites; and it is not because the less violent people preferred the beach life. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

That's definitely weighting based on a value-driven agenda. A study designed to highly rate countries with a Socialist approach. Do a study which values free market attributes and France finishes outside the top 100. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

That is one country I will never care to be compared to. You can have the attitude, taxes and all the other bs they have right along with the WHO rated health care systme You forgot about the hot chicks, superb wine, long holidays on the Riviera, and climbing in Chamonix and the Verdon gorge. And the Maginot Line. Don't forget that. And the Vichy regime. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Got a link for that? I'd like to see their criteria. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I'm always amused by the arguements for a government run single-payer system. A certain goofball senator that was killed in a plane crash kept saying there was not enough competition (3 large carrieers in MN), but out of the other side of his mouth advocated a single-payer govt run plan. Which amounts to saying 3 carriers is not enough competition, but 1 is just right. Anybody who thinks our politicians are capable of creating a solution to the rising cost of health care is naive. It is quite the reverse, they are responsible for the mess that it is, and they will make it much worse before they finally break it totally. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I like market forces, and giving people the choice. I certainly would not choose for myself unlimited access to the highest quality of care. I wouldn't want to pay for it. Sounds good, but so does eating only tofu and other ridiculously bad tasting healthy foods if you are only concerned about having the ultimate health status. People who say they, and the rest of us should make whatever sacrifices are necessary to have the best health care system possible, regardless of cost, ought first to PUT DOWN THE HAMBURGER & FRIES! Hypocrites. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Lots of other things. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Science is not a theory, it is a method of investigation, a way of thinking. Science is appealing to people who appreciate a system that corrects for quality of information. Other systems correct for profit, or maintenance of the status quo, or maximum pleasure, or . . . . I think a fun poll would be to ask people what their life corrects for. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Listening to Limbaugh is always priceless. He is so one-dimensional that after a while he is no longer any good even as entertainment. Hillary - I got to listen to her at length and up close on a symposium on health care issues. She is the consumate politician; evasive, not worthy of trust, sneaky, etc. She's not very polished, but compared to Bush she is slicker than a slippery eel. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley