Mr. President! Governator! Here's the answer
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Back in 1933, FDR needed to increase the income of the US to at least partially balance the record amounts of money he was spending trying to shore up the economy. So he got the 21st Amendment passed, re-legalizing the sale of alcohol in the U.S.of A. (And putting Eliot Ness out of work.) In a year, half a billion dollars had poured into the general coffers of the U.S. States that also taxed the same of alcoholic beverages, likewise were raking in a little dough. By 1936, taxes on alcohol amounted to 13% of the revenues of the U.S! And we weren't paying all those Untouchables' salaries, either. Okay, here's a not very tricking question: What is the largest cash crop grown in America, today? It has more value that wheat and corn put together. The answer is, of course, marijuana. A 2005 analysis by Harvard visiting professor Jeffrey Miron estimates that if the United States legalized marijuana, the country would save $7.7 billion in law enforcement costs and could generated as much as $6.2 billion annually if marijuana were taxed like alcohol or tobacco. Click[^] Marijuana is California's largest cash crop. It's valued at $14 billion annually, or nearly twice the value of the state's grape and vegetable crops combined, according to government statistics. But instead of sharing in this profit center, California spends billions of dollars enforcing laws against growing and selling it. And a billion more, at least, paying to house these hardcore criminal horticulturalists. Maybe Michael Phelps was trying to tell our leaders to tune in, get high, and break even?
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So, let me try to follow the sequence here - out of control leftist spending entirely fucks up the economy, and the only way to fix it is taxing out of control leftist social reengineering. Yeah, this is going to end well... Wow, er you guys smart er whut... :rolleyes:
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
Stan Shannon wrote:
out of control leftist social reengineering.
So wait a second ? You agree with SOME levels of government control of people's lives then ? The 'war on drugs' costs your society far more than a policy of allowing some drugs ever could. I personally do not even smoke/drink, but I'd rather not see my tax dollars wasted, people turned into criminals for victimless actions, and people who are addicts, marginalized so they are unable to seek support.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.
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Oakman wrote:
"If people let government decide which foods they eat and medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny." ~ Thomas Jefferson
You're using Jefferson to defend taxing vice to support government over-spending? Weird... The only connection this has to Jefferson is that once the blithering liberal and libertarian idiocy behind it all finally destroys whats left of American civilization altogether, we survivors will be able to reinstitute true Jeffersonian democracy.
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
Stan Shannon wrote:
You're using Jefferson to defend taxing vice to support government over-spending?
Actually Jefferson once said that the only value in tobacco - when he regarded as a pernicious blight - was in the taxes that the state took in on it. He also argued that the land used to raise tobacco would be better used raising hemp (AKA Cannabis sativa). Wow wuz he er smart or whut? :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Algoraphobia: An exaggerated fear of the outside world rooted in the belief that one might spontaneously combust due to global warming.
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Stan Shannon wrote:
out of control leftist social reengineering.
So wait a second ? You agree with SOME levels of government control of people's lives then ? The 'war on drugs' costs your society far more than a policy of allowing some drugs ever could. I personally do not even smoke/drink, but I'd rather not see my tax dollars wasted, people turned into criminals for victimless actions, and people who are addicts, marginalized so they are unable to seek support.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.
Stan wants to be a peasant working on a lord's land subject to the rules of serfdom. He believes that would fulfill his Jeffersonian fantasies.
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Stan Shannon wrote:
out of control leftist social reengineering.
So wait a second ? You agree with SOME levels of government control of people's lives then ? The 'war on drugs' costs your society far more than a policy of allowing some drugs ever could. I personally do not even smoke/drink, but I'd rather not see my tax dollars wasted, people turned into criminals for victimless actions, and people who are addicts, marginalized so they are unable to seek support.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.
Christian Graus wrote:
So wait a second ? You agree with SOME levels of government control of people's lives then ? The 'war on drugs' costs your society far more than a policy of allowing some drugs ever could. I personally do not even smoke/drink, but I'd rather not see my tax dollars wasted, people turned into criminals for victimless actions, and people who are addicts, marginalized so they are unable to seek support.
The point is that collectivism leads to exploding budget deficits which leads to rationalizing the legalization of some sort of vice so that we can make a little money off of it so that we can afford more collectivism. Anyone who cannot see whats wrong with that plan is seriously stupid. It ain't gonna work. And you have to be insanely idiotic to believe that it will. The only real question is how long will people continue to entertain this kind of utterly unworkable lunacy? It is berift of even the slightest shred of intelligent insight. When will the simple instinct for self preservation begin to kick in? All I can do is stand with slack jawed bewilderment at the bizarre intellectual rot that pervades my civilization.
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
modified on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 10:32 PM
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And if you legalise it, then people just plain won't worry so much about the economy!
___________________________________________ .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
And think about the increased profits for Keebler and other snack makers!
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Stan Shannon wrote:
You're using Jefferson to defend taxing vice to support government over-spending?
Actually Jefferson once said that the only value in tobacco - when he regarded as a pernicious blight - was in the taxes that the state took in on it. He also argued that the land used to raise tobacco would be better used raising hemp (AKA Cannabis sativa). Wow wuz he er smart or whut? :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Algoraphobia: An exaggerated fear of the outside world rooted in the belief that one might spontaneously combust due to global warming.
Oakman wrote:
Actually Jefferson once said that the only value in tobacco - when he regarded as a pernicious blight - was in the taxes that the state took in on it. He also argued that the land used to raise tobacco would be better used raising hemp (AKA Cannabis sativa).
And I'm sure he was completly correct about that. So what?
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
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Stan Shannon wrote:
out of control leftist social reengineering.
So wait a second ? You agree with SOME levels of government control of people's lives then ? The 'war on drugs' costs your society far more than a policy of allowing some drugs ever could. I personally do not even smoke/drink, but I'd rather not see my tax dollars wasted, people turned into criminals for victimless actions, and people who are addicts, marginalized so they are unable to seek support.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.
Christian Graus wrote:
You agree with SOME levels of government control of people's lives then
Of course he does. Government can control any human behavior that Stan does not engage in - just as long as they lower his taxes.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Algoraphobia: An exaggerated fear of the outside world rooted in the belief that one might spontaneously combust due to global warming.
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Stan wants to be a peasant working on a lord's land subject to the rules of serfdom. He believes that would fulfill his Jeffersonian fantasies.
Ed Gadziemski wrote:
Stan wants to be a peasant working on a lord's land subject to the rules of serfdom. He believes that would fulfill his Jeffersonian fantasies.
No, thats actually what I'm trying to avoid becoming. And I'm pretty sure that the Shannons have a much longer history of successfully doing so than do the Gadziemskis.
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
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Oakman wrote:
Actually Jefferson once said that the only value in tobacco - when he regarded as a pernicious blight - was in the taxes that the state took in on it. He also argued that the land used to raise tobacco would be better used raising hemp (AKA Cannabis sativa).
And I'm sure he was completly correct about that. So what?
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
Stan Shannon wrote:
And I'm sure he was completly correct about that
Are you really that thick?
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Algoraphobia: An exaggerated fear of the outside world rooted in the belief that one might spontaneously combust due to global warming.
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Ed Gadziemski wrote:
Stan wants to be a peasant working on a lord's land subject to the rules of serfdom. He believes that would fulfill his Jeffersonian fantasies.
No, thats actually what I'm trying to avoid becoming. And I'm pretty sure that the Shannons have a much longer history of successfully doing so than do the Gadziemskis.
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
Stan Shannon wrote:
And I'm pretty sure that the Shannons have a much longer history of successfully doing so than do the Gadziemskis.
Didn't your Daddy work for the WPA? Seems to me you said he called it one of the best jobs he ever had. Is that what you mean by succesfully avoiding being a peon?
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Algoraphobia: An exaggerated fear of the outside world rooted in the belief that one might spontaneously combust due to global warming.
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Christian Graus wrote:
So wait a second ? You agree with SOME levels of government control of people's lives then ? The 'war on drugs' costs your society far more than a policy of allowing some drugs ever could. I personally do not even smoke/drink, but I'd rather not see my tax dollars wasted, people turned into criminals for victimless actions, and people who are addicts, marginalized so they are unable to seek support.
The point is that collectivism leads to exploding budget deficits which leads to rationalizing the legalization of some sort of vice so that we can make a little money off of it so that we can afford more collectivism. Anyone who cannot see whats wrong with that plan is seriously stupid. It ain't gonna work. And you have to be insanely idiotic to believe that it will. The only real question is how long will people continue to entertain this kind of utterly unworkable lunacy? It is berift of even the slightest shred of intelligent insight. When will the simple instinct for self preservation begin to kick in? All I can do is stand with slack jawed bewilderment at the bizarre intellectual rot that pervades my civilization.
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
modified on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 10:32 PM
Stan Shannon wrote:
The point is that collectivism leads to exploding budget deficits which leads to rationalizing the legalization of some sort of vice so that we can make a little money off of it so that we can afford more collectivism.
I wonder how many folks said that back in the day when FDR and the Congress may booze legal again. I bet every time you take a sip of beer, you think about how stupid those people were to legalize it.
Stan Shannon wrote:
All I can do is stand with slack jawed bewilderment
Yeah, I bet that is about all you can do.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Algoraphobia: An exaggerated fear of the outside world rooted in the belief that one might spontaneously combust due to global warming.
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Stan Shannon wrote:
The point is that collectivism leads to exploding budget deficits which leads to rationalizing the legalization of some sort of vice so that we can make a little money off of it so that we can afford more collectivism.
I wonder how many folks said that back in the day when FDR and the Congress may booze legal again. I bet every time you take a sip of beer, you think about how stupid those people were to legalize it.
Stan Shannon wrote:
All I can do is stand with slack jawed bewilderment
Yeah, I bet that is about all you can do.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Algoraphobia: An exaggerated fear of the outside world rooted in the belief that one might spontaneously combust due to global warming.
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Oakman wrote:
Stan Shannon wrote: All I can do is stand with slack jawed bewilderment Yeah, I bet that is about all you can do.
I think its been obvious for a long time that Stan's a mouth breather
Josh Gray wrote:
I think its been obvious for a long time that Stan's a mouth breather
Makes him useful in the summer - less flies buzzing around.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Algoraphobia: An exaggerated fear of the outside world rooted in the belief that one might spontaneously combust due to global warming.
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Christian Graus wrote:
So wait a second ? You agree with SOME levels of government control of people's lives then ? The 'war on drugs' costs your society far more than a policy of allowing some drugs ever could. I personally do not even smoke/drink, but I'd rather not see my tax dollars wasted, people turned into criminals for victimless actions, and people who are addicts, marginalized so they are unable to seek support.
The point is that collectivism leads to exploding budget deficits which leads to rationalizing the legalization of some sort of vice so that we can make a little money off of it so that we can afford more collectivism. Anyone who cannot see whats wrong with that plan is seriously stupid. It ain't gonna work. And you have to be insanely idiotic to believe that it will. The only real question is how long will people continue to entertain this kind of utterly unworkable lunacy? It is berift of even the slightest shred of intelligent insight. When will the simple instinct for self preservation begin to kick in? All I can do is stand with slack jawed bewilderment at the bizarre intellectual rot that pervades my civilization.
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
modified on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 10:32 PM
Stan Shannon wrote:
which leads to rationalizing the legalization of some sort of vice so that we can make a little money off of it so that we can afford more collectivism
So, you're a teetotaller ? I am, as it happens, but I don't push my beliefs on others. I take it you do ?
Stan Shannon wrote:
It ain't gonna work.
I've been in favour of legalizing and taxing dope forever. Because it makes sense, regardless of anything else.
Stan Shannon wrote:
The only real question is how long will people continue to entertain this kind of utterly unworkable lunacy?
This is very shrill, but it doesn't make any sort of point. Why is it lunacy ?
Stan Shannon wrote:
When will the simple instinct for self preservation begin to kick in? All I can do is stand with slack jawed bewilderment at the bizarre intellectual rot that pervades my civilization.
You're great at hyperbole. If you have a point, I am listening.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.
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Christian Graus wrote:
You agree with SOME levels of government control of people's lives then
Of course he does. Government can control any human behavior that Stan does not engage in - just as long as they lower his taxes.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Algoraphobia: An exaggerated fear of the outside world rooted in the belief that one might spontaneously combust due to global warming.
OK, I think I see where the problem is.....
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.
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Josh Gray wrote:
I think its been obvious for a long time that Stan's a mouth breather
Makes him useful in the summer - less flies buzzing around.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Algoraphobia: An exaggerated fear of the outside world rooted in the belief that one might spontaneously combust due to global warming.
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Oakman wrote:
Josh Gray wrote: I think its been obvious for a long time that Stan's a mouth breather Makes him useful in the summer - less flies buzzing around.
There's a joke there somewhere about talking shit
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So, let me try to follow the sequence here - out of control leftist spending entirely fucks up the economy, and the only way to fix it is taxing out of control leftist social reengineering. Yeah, this is going to end well... Wow, er you guys smart er whut... :rolleyes:
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
Because the good ol' Christian Right is always blameless, huh.
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Ed Gadziemski wrote:
Stan wants to be a peasant working on a lord's land subject to the rules of serfdom. He believes that would fulfill his Jeffersonian fantasies.
No, thats actually what I'm trying to avoid becoming. And I'm pretty sure that the Shannons have a much longer history of successfully doing so than do the Gadziemskis.
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
Stan Shannon wrote:
I'm pretty sure that the Shannons have a much longer history of successfully doing so than do the Gadziemskis
Ah, but me dear mother came from the Moores who have a long history of owning Shannon villeins.