Quote :

"The technical definition of tyranny includes "arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; despotic abuse of authority." I think the EMTALA, which forces hospitals to treat anyone who comes in to the emergency room, is an abuse of authority. I don't think one couple should pay 110K in taxes and receive the same gov't services as someone who pay 12K in taxes. That is an unrestrained exercise of power IMO. The fact that gays can't get married and that there are harsher sentences for marijuana possession than murder sometimes are arbitrary abuses of power. Fuck tyranny in any form and degree. "

Nothing you say is necessarily unreasonable (except that rich people on average DO use their share of gov. services/programs), but what exactly is your goal for society? How exactly is your view suppose to result in anything productive within our current political system?

It's all fine that you hate our politics and hate our gov., but what's your point? How does this help out me or you or anyone else in society? Are you going to form a militia and try and revolt or something?

If I could rebuild society from scratch, it would look definitively different than now, but it does me or anyone else any good for me to constantly bitch that life isn't perfect. At some point, it seems you'll have to deal with it.

11/6/2008 12:25:35 AM

^It's certainly helpful for claiming the moral and philosophical high-ground 90% of the time.

I've posted my views on the ideal government vs the most pragmatic course given our current system in a different thread. I think you saw it, moron, but besides that I'm too sleepy right now to bother re-stating my thoughts.

Would be interested to see what Vix says though.

11/6/2008 12:32:33 AM

Relieved, amazed, exhausted, excited, anxious, worried, ready…

For the last month and a half I have been on staff with the Obama Campaign up in Ohio (Washington County, southeast Ohio) so obviously my feelings toward his victory are a little different. I have been working 18 hour days, 9am to 2, 3, 4am Monday through Sunday for the last month and half and can’t believe that the election is over haha.

I also voted for Bush 4 years ago, my freshman year at State, and am a registered republican here in NC. The world seems to be at a cross roads right now and I honestly feel that Barack Obama is the President we need to lead us through the next four years.

Two experiences really stick out in my mind. The first was about 3 weeks ago at our Ohio All Staff “GOTV” training in Columbus when then Senator Obama came walking into the room during the middle of a main group session. Of course the room went crazy and everyone rushed the stage. It was during his “pep talk” to us that I looked around and realized that 400, 21 to 28 year olds were winning one of the most important, if not THE most important, state in the country for the next president of the United States. From the top down, starting with and including the State Director, Jeremy Bird and State Field Director, Jackie Bray, I’d say 90% of the Ohio campaign staff are under the age of 28. That’s pretty incredible and really excites me when I see what our generation is capable of doing when we are willing to really work for something.

The second was last night after the election had been called and there were clips of Austria, Australia, Japan, Africa, and other nations out celebrating in the streets that Barack Obama was going to be the next President of the United States. President Elect Obama brought this up in our last national staff conference call this afternoon when he said that there are very few times when you can do something that makes the rest of the world feel more hopeful, and I really think that last night we made the rest of the world feel more hopeful because Barack Obama is going to be the next President of the United States.

I think that’s the type of President this country needs for the next four years. Someone that our generation is excited about and willing to work for and someone that the rest of the world is excited about and willing to stand behind.

I didn’t read all 4 pages, but did want to hit on the whole, “which book will he swear on” thing. I consider myself to be an “evangelical” and it seems to me that having the President, or anyone for anything swear on the Bible doesn't make much sense. Just want to throw out Matthew 5:33-37 (if you’re interested in the discussion you can look it up). I don’t really understand how making the President of the United States take an oath by swearing on the Bible matches up with that scripture. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case with a lot of issues these days…

[Edited on November 6, 2008 at 12:33 AM. Reason : .]

11/6/2008 12:32:34 AM

^You sound a little like Sarah Palin.

Africa is not a nation

11/6/2008 12:39:21 AM

^ beat me to it.

Quote :

"The second was last night after the election had been called and there were clips of Austria, Australia, Japan, Africa, and other nations out celebrating in the streets that Barack Obama was going to be the next President of the United States."

hehehe

11/6/2008 12:44:42 AM

Has anyone seen this speech circulating of Obama and why religion can't guide a nation's government? It's fantastic, so well presented. His reasoning is very top shelf, can't wait to see it in the WH.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odsDYodanxQ

11/6/2008 12:45:09 AM

Quote :

"^You sound a little like Sarah Palin. Africa is not a nation "

Lol, thanks...it's been a really long couple of days. Just grouped them all together for the heck of it but most was shown from Kenya I believe.

11/6/2008 12:50:12 AM

Ok..
We really gotta get this whole affirmative action thing under control y'all.
Don't you think it's getting a little out of hand?

11/11/2008 10:07:00 PM

Quote :

"don’t really understand how making the President of the United States take an oath by swearing on the Bible matches up with that scripture."

i had to swear on the bible to register to vote in NC. this was at Eva H. Perry library, an historically black area of Raleigh. I almost giggled, but the oath was being performed by a very large, stern looking black man.

it was surreal. i think i had Exorcist-style nightmares for a few days afterwards.






but seriously... can you imagine Obama declining to swear on bible, opting to "affirm" instead? half of the country would shit a huge collective brick.

11/11/2008 11:00:47 PM

You registered in person? Wow.

It wouldn't be politically prudent for Obama to affirm, rather than swear on a bible. So he will swear on a bible, he is a politician after all.

11/12/2008 12:23:37 AM

not really all that surprised when his transition team went from "OMG NO LOBBYISTS" to "ok we'll let some in but they have to sign a paper sayin they'll be chill".

he is a politician after all

11/12/2008 6:16:06 AM

Quote :

"You registered in person? Wow. "

yeah. I'm an old fart. that was early '90s, when no one had internets, and it wasn't during a major election cycle.




BTW, I could also smoke in the library.









[Edited on November 12, 2008 at 12:57 PM. Reason : ]

11/12/2008 12:44:05 PM

11/12/2008 12:48:28 PM

may as well be president clinton with all of the clintonistas in the cabinet

but maybe that is because obama wouldn't possibly nominated the people he's closest to

11/20/2008 8:37:33 PM

engrish, motherfucker, do you speak it?

11/21/2008 11:25:00 AM