Ironboots
Extreme Fanatic Posts: 893 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 21/5/2003 at 06:45 AM |
http://story.news.yahoo.com/fc?cid=34&tmpl=fc&in=World&cat=
Nuclear_Weapons
Rumsfeld and Bush want to restart US nuclear research into 'mini-nukes'. I
seriously don't know how that man got elected... I mean, restart nuclear
research? At a time like this? When we say North Korea can't do it, but we
do it because we're the big guys? When we go into other countries to look
for weapons of mass destruction and we're making them here in the good ol'
USA?
Either way, I don't see why we need mini-nukes anyway. We have good old
fashioned normal bombs. They can do just as much damage (if you pack enough
in) and don't screw up the nearby environment for the next two million
years.
I think this is just going to spark an arms race... With who, I'm not sure.
Probably the 'axis of evil' would do that, but they're not really ones for
telling everyone what they're doing. Oui...
So what do you all think?
See http://www.fas.org/faspir/2001/v54n1/weapons.htm for
some science on mini-nukes... ____________________ Piggy's got the Conch! |
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AloneSoul
Fanatic Posts: 522 Registered: 6/7/2002 Status: Offline
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posted on 6/6/2003 at 09:52 AM |
There are alot of fubar things going on.
Here's something to spend alittle freetime with.
http://www.thememoryhole.org/index.htm ____________________ but at least you know, just how much pain there is in living |
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Dolorosa
Extreme Fanatic Posts: 856 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 6/6/2003 at 05:44 AM |
What a delightful spin on the "You always learn from your mistakes"
story...I certainly hope my children, if I ever manage to accidentally have
one that knows where I live, don't figure out how to turn that one on
me...in any case, I'd prolly just plop them in front of the tv. ____________________ In the valley of the Goats, the Goat Fucker is King |
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Monolycus
Fanatic Posts: 580 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 6/6/2003 at 01:56 AM |
Interesting proposal, Dolo, and I would consider it. Since my career as a
grave robber is not really going anywhere and I don't have a drakkar with
which to pillage the coastlines, I was beginning to suspect that the
keynote of my life's work would be perishing with my disciples while we
defended our compound from the ATF. I'll throw your proposal on my list of
options.
As for your "Is it just me...?" observation, it has long been a truism that
experience for most people is merely the repetition of a mistake. I guess
that what they "learn" from their mistakes is how to make them on grander
scales. I am
sleepy.
~M. |
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Dolorosa
Extreme Fanatic Posts: 856 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 5/6/2003 at 02:11 AM |
Man, is it just me or do things just get stupid, then flip around and
repeat aforementioned stupid actions on a larger scale...actually I know
it's not just me, I just couldn't think of a better way to say it. Argh.
Maybe I should go for president, dude...Mono, would you jump on board as
an advisor if I did? I could use the help...specially since all I'm really
good for is destroying shit and laughing. ____________________ In the valley of the Goats, the Goat Fucker is King |
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Monolycus
Fanatic Posts: 580 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 4/6/2003 at 01:14 AM |
Xaos: I'm not trying to be contentious, but I have heard that argument
before and my take on it is that it is a bit contradictory. The idea that
New York State, California, or any centre of population concentration has a
greater voice than less densely populated areas is based upon the mistaken
precept that everyone in a given area vote unanimously... unfortunately,
that is precisely how things DO end up working out when X number of people
equal such and such many electorate votes. A more straightforward
democratic process would minimise this problem of these strategic blocks as
Boots very astutely pointed out. Additionally, the electoral college is
under no obligation to vote in accordance with the majority (and there has
not been an election yet in this country in which every electorate voted in
accordance with the majority), so in practice you have X number of people's
voices not necessarily being represented at all. This being the case, I've
often wondered why candidates for office don't simply discover who the
individuals are that comprise the electorate body and campaign directly to
those people... at the end of the day, those are the only ones whose
preferences actually matter. That is in accordance with the designs of
those wealthy landowners that were our founding fathers, anyway.
It is my opinion that no representative democracy can remain genuinely
altruistic for long. When people count upon another party to represent
their interests, they no longer (by and large) pay as close attention to
the specifics of those interests. That is to say, it is no coincidence that
huge amounts of legislation are ratified before any member of the public
ever hears anything about it or that the modal citizen in the USA is
apathetic about voting. Then again, I am the sort who would never use a
broker or blindly take a mechanic's word for things, so maybe that is just
me.
Dolo: Couldn't be more cowardly, actually, but that's the way things are.
We seem to be rebooting more than just the Cold War proper these days...
there are advisors to the Pentagon (why did they ever stop calling it the
War Department anyway?) who are actually advocating the idea of "winnable
nuclear war" (I guess the next step here is to start re-running those
quaint "Duck and Cover" psa's again and imagining that a backyard bomb
shelter would do something besides slow roast its occupants), but I have
actually read editorials recently IN PRAISE OF Senator Joe McCarthy (you
read that correctly), and the initiative to give Guantanomo its own
execution chambers so that detainees can be captured, "tried" (san legal
representation) and disposed of without any pesky prying eyes to disrupt
things... sounds suspiciously mid-twentieth century to me.
Check it out for yourself:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/052703B.shtml
Even the type of language being used recently has had a peculiar (and
nauseating) retro twist to it.
Check it out for yourself:
http://www.buzzflash.com/farrell/03/05/27.html
To call it a repeat of the Cold War is to put too fine a point on things.
What we are seeing is a reboot of the most despicable attitudes and agendae
of the second milennium. I am, as always,
your faithful servant,
~M.
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Dolorosa
Extreme Fanatic Posts: 856 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 29/5/2003 at 12:23 AM |
Yeesh...
I've always viewed bombs as an all-together cowardly way of waging war
ultimately. But enough is never enough, always more...bigger, better,
stronger and faster. This is the way of the world, and it's a bad way
altogether I figure. ____________________ In the valley of the Goats, the Goat Fucker is King |
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Ironboots
Extreme Fanatic Posts: 893 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 28/5/2003 at 12:49 PM |
I disagree Xaoswolf... Its not just the popular vote; the electoral college
itself is still size-biased. Alaska gets three measly votes while
California gets 50-something. And New York and California would -not-
determine the winner. Really... The votes are all in one big hat, there's
no state/district lines.
There'd be no strategy of winning this state over here, then this state,
ignore that state, then this one, because you'd try and get any votes you
could. It wouldn't matter what state or election district it was in. ____________________ Piggy's got the Conch! |
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Xaoswolf
Fanatic Posts: 463 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 28/5/2003 at 08:05 AM |
Even if the antiquated and elitist institution of the electoral college
were done away with,
Ummm...
Mono, the Electoral College is there for a good reason. We are not a
straight democracy, which is a very good thing. If only the popular vote
were used, then only California and New York would elect the president.
Nobody would care about Rhode Island or Idaho. The electoral college was
set up so that ALL the states would have a say in the election of the
president. ____________________ Sometimes I dream about dinosaurs shopping for cargo shorts at the Gap.
Does that make me a bad person? |
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Ironboots
Extreme Fanatic Posts: 893 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 27/5/2003 at 06:05 AM |
Mono: 'Your faithful servant'? Thanks, but a
simple 'friend' would have sufficed...
Anyway, thanks. That little pep talk made me decide to do it. I'm going to
vote for whoever I damn well want rather than paying attention to the
negativities of voting that way.
*gives the finger to the two major parties* ____________________ Piggy's got the Conch! |
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Anya
Extreme Fanatic Posts: 656 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 26/5/2003 at 09:30 PM |
I'm a bit skeptical on who runs for Presidency and stuff like that either
way...not saying that politicians are bad or anything (Hell, I can give a
-little- credit to Bush...even though his actions kind of seem oppressive),
just seen a lot of crap spring from it...then again, I guess that's life
and one of my shadow traits is losing faith from time to time. *frowns and
walks off*
I see a lot of past parallels to the present, though. This "war on Terror"
is roughly reminding me of McCarthyism...or better yet, another witch hunt.
*rolls eyes*
One sarcastic and cynical individual at the moment,
Anya |
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Monolycus
Fanatic Posts: 580 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 26/5/2003 at 07:38 PM |
Boots & Cell: My input in these discussions never seems to be very welcome,
but I'll throw it in anyway. I understand the problems you are wrestling
with here. Unfortunately, Cell, that as long as the issues of district
gerrymandering, questionable financing, campaigning irregularities and
voting procedural accountability are not addressed, there will not be a
solution to the populus vs. electorate problem. With the advent of
"electronic" voting, there is an even greater potential for abuses... whose
word are you taking for what the popular vote actually is, anyway...? Even
if the antiquated and elitist institution of the electoral college were
done away with, it is easier now to hijack an election than it has ever
been before.
On that depressing note my next observation is going to sound
counterintuitive. The "solution" (and it is a long-term solution rather
than a "quick fix") is to exercise your voice in an election. The idea
that voting for any candidate not affiliated with one of the two major
parties is tantamount to "throwing your vote away" is a self-fulfilling
prophecy that only serves the interest of the firmly entrenched Democrats
and Republicans (which is why they repeat it as often as they do). The
fact is that if a significant number of voters (the percentage required for
formal recognition varies on a state-by-state basis, but it is in no case
unreasonably high) did not internalise that it is futile to vote Green,
Libertarian, Reform, Freedom or any of the many other legitimate political
parties in the USA, we might very well not find ourselves in the position
of being forced to oust a single corrupt individual or individuals from
office. There is a reason that elected officials are slaves to polls and
surveys, and that reason is that your voice is louder than you might
believe... if a large enough percentage demanded integrity, you would not
see nearly the number of abuses that you do now. Legitimate competition
amongst honourable candidates instead of partisan affiliations and backroom
wheeling and dealing might actually cause the cream to rise to the top.
Vote with your conscience and have faith, but do not let despair with the
system cripple you from acting at all ("Why bother voting? It's all rigged
anyway." Fatalism is for losers). Boots, do not try to worry so much over
voting blocks and byzantine policy issues that are out of the hands of the
common person. Vote for the individual and party that you most believe in
and have faith that a majority will do the same. I am, as always
your faithful servant,
~M.
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dead-cell
Fanatic Posts: 344 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 26/5/2003 at 07:22 AM |
I think what meant was the fact that Gore won the Popular votes, but Bush
won the electoral votes. There is also another book titled Every Thing You
Know Is A Lie, and it stated some of the same things as Moore's book. Your
right Ironboots this is a paradox. I wish I knew the solution to it, so it
would not happen again. ____________________ co-worker: "Your gay!?"
myself: "Didn't you see my rainbow pin?"
co-worker: "I just thought you liked skettles."
-(yes, it actually happened to me) |
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Xaoswolf
Fanatic Posts: 463 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 22/5/2003 at 06:13 PM |
Ummm...
Nicholas, the only thing Moore has ever proven is that if you trick lot of
people into believing your bullshit, they'll make you rich.
____________________ Sometimes I dream about dinosaurs shopping for cargo shorts at the Gap.
Does that make me a bad person? |
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Ironboots
Extreme Fanatic Posts: 893 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 21/5/2003 at 08:40 PM |
Yeah, I know abou it, Dead-cell... Damn this catch 22 we're in. Vote for
Nader, you took votes away from Gore. Vote for Gore, you erased any chance
of the green party becoming strong. Vote for Bush, well... Bush wins
anyway.
What if... what if... Nader had run under the democratic ticket? He has the
support of the democratic constituents AND the green party dudes. Then do a
switch back to Green once your in office. Don't think it'd be possible,
though. I'm sure there's some animosity between the two parties for their
vote-splitting history.
I don't know what I should do this next election. Should I vote for the
dems, and give my strongest shot against Bush? Or should I vote green,
which is the party I most like and is the most truthful?
Augh... damn system! I can see the founding fathers laughing at me! ____________________ Piggy's got the Conch! |
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Erishkigal
Member Posts: 62 Registered: 5/10/2002 Status: Offline
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posted on 21/5/2003 at 05:24 PM |
Due to my shocking lack of knowledge on political and global subjects, I
think it is wise to stay out of any debates on this forum. Therefore my
A-B-C conclusion is:
This is a bad idea. ____________________ Let viagra bring the magic back. |
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dead-cell
Fanatic Posts: 344 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 21/5/2003 at 05:19 PM |
I was perfectly happy with the some odd 2,000 nukes we have all ready. As
for Bush I don't trust him, never did. My family mocked me when I told them
I was voting for Nadar, that was untill the bitch fight in Florida. Now I
get the solom look :you were right: when the subject is broght up. ____________________ co-worker: "Your gay!?"
myself: "Didn't you see my rainbow pin?"
co-worker: "I just thought you liked skettles."
-(yes, it actually happened to me) |
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Nicholas
Member Posts: 74 Registered: 17/3/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 21/5/2003 at 01:08 PM |
Bush wasn't elected... Al Gore one by about a thousand votes (which isn't
much mind you). They proved it in the book "Stupid White Men".
Unfortunately Gore stepped down because the recount made him look stupid,
and did so before the final results were found. Bush also had deceased
people voting for him... as in fake ballots ____________________ "Be neither a master nor a slave to pudding, for there is a time to gather,
and a time to cast pudding away" |
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Sardonic-Pain
Fanatic Posts: 248 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 21/5/2003 at 12:06 PM |
i don't see why either! You would think that we'd be smarter than
that....we had a ban for a reason. During the cold war we could have ended
the world! I know that I was too young to remember the end of the cold war
but muh mama said the day that those Soviet ships were on their way to
cuba (b/c of the cuban missile crisis) She said that the world stood still
that day....everyone held their breathe...It's really pointless though,
extrememly pointless.....You would think that you would learn a little from
the past and yet we don't...we let history repeat its self.....Just like
you would think we would have learned from Napolean...if there was no
Napolean there would probably be no Hitler.....Hiroshima is still
devestated about the effects of the a-bomb we dropped in WW2 so i mean wtf
I know other countries have just as much technology as we do and the minute
we start dropping someone is gonna drop one on us ____________________ My Life is like a porno-Without the sex-Just the weird music |
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dead-cell
Fanatic Posts: 344 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 21/5/2003 at 12:06 PM |
Egads, this is what happens when people elect leaders with no mind of their
own. ____________________ co-worker: "Your gay!?"
myself: "Didn't you see my rainbow pin?"
co-worker: "I just thought you liked skettles."
-(yes, it actually happened to me) |
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