I guess the outlaw programmer was right

Chris Austin

I don't think so. I think the whole country is circling the drain and it doesn't matter which political party you worship. If we can't get back to common sense we are going to end up as one big banana republic or a bunch of little ones.

Sovereign ingredient for a happy marriage: Pay cash or do without. Interest charges not only eat up a household budget; awareness of debt eats up domestic felicity. --Lazarus Long Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece. --?

Christian Graus

How does someone who is proud of having no standards, able to have self respect ?

Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. "I am new to programming world. I have been learning c# for about past four weeks. I am quite acquainted with the fundamentals of c#. Now I have to work on a project which converts given flat files to XML using the XML serialization method" - SK64 ( but the forums have stuff like this posted every day )

Ilion

Christian Graus wrote:

How does someone who is proud of having no standards

You're such a liar. When you stop being a liar, I *may* deign to take you somewhat seriously.

Oakman

Chris Austin wrote:

a bunch of little ones.

I think that is what Stan is praying for. He fondly imagines that in the Holy Baptist Principality of Northern Idaho, he will rise, like cream, to the top.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

Stan Shannon

Chris Austin wrote:

I don't think so. I think the whole country is circling the drain and it doesn't matter which political party you worship. If we can't get back to common sense we are going to end up as one big banana republic or a bunch of little ones.

Well, even that is better than where we are headed now. I mean, who really cares if the world's greatest power is a marxist china or a marxist america.

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.

Oakman

Ilíon wrote:

I have self-respect

Then act like it. Stop behaving as if you despise yourself and feel the need to invite everyone else to feel the same way.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

Chris Austin

I just think we can be better than this. Like I said before, I am considered by many I know to be naive. But, I don't think we have to choose from either of those options.

Sovereign ingredient for a happy marriage: Pay cash or do without. Interest charges not only eat up a household budget; awareness of debt eats up domestic felicity. --Lazarus Long Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece. --?

Synaptrik

Stan Shannon wrote:

I still think it would be better to try to get the blue states to secceed from us

That would be very interesting since red states receive far more federal aid than blue states per capita. Blue states receive about 66 cents in benefit from each dollar taxed, where as red states receive something like 130 for every dollar taxed. (rough numbers, not exact, so correct if you must). Might not be a bad idea.

This statement is false

Oakman

Stan Shannon wrote:

I mean, who really cares if the world's greatest power is a marxist china or a marxist america.

Your kids?

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

Stan Shannon

Why?

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

Yeah, yeah, I know, the blue states give us all our money. Try growing your own fucking food for all those inner city lay abouts you have to support.

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.

Oakman

Synaptrik wrote:

Blue states receive about 66 cents in benefit from each dollar taxed, where as red states receive something like 130 for every dollar taxed

Yep, but you're counting a lot of of expenditures that would probably disappear pretty quickly after the secession. The south has a disproportionate number of folks on Federal welfare. I imagine a great number of them would migrate once it was cut off - after all Obama welcomes illegal aliens. ;)

Synaptrik wrote:

Might not be a bad idea.

Are you familiar with the nine nations of north america[^] concept? It's fascinating to think about.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

Oakman

Stan Shannon wrote:

Why?

Stan, if you don't care about them and they don't care about themselves, then I wouldn't be dumb enough to try to explain why most human beings would feel differently.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

Tim Craig

kmg365 wrote:

I remember, was it "Simons the Outlaw Programmer" said that Texas is the only state that can "legally" secede from the union when this topic was last discussed in the Soapbox. What I think is we may have a new GOP candidate for president in 2012 named Perry.

According to the article, both Simons and Perry are wrong. "Just FYI, on Perry's 1845 statement, Texas came into the union with the ability to divide into five states, not withdraw. After seceding during the Civil War, Texas was allowed to re-enter the union after ratifying the 13th Amendment. The 13th Amendment banned slavery in the United States and any territory subject to its jurisdiction. UPDATED: Texas v White, a U.S. Supreme Court case decided in 1869, said Texas cannot secede."

"Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it." -- P.J. O'Rourke

I'm a proud denizen of the Real Soapbox[^]
ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES!!!

Stan Shannon

Oakman wrote:

Stan, if you don't care about them and they don't care about themselves

When did I say that? I just don't see a difference between a marixist america and a marxist china. In fact, I think I would prefer the latter, at least they've had time to work our more of the kinks.

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.

Synaptrik

Not all, but red states are subsidized by blue states. And California and many others have thriving agriculture, so.... How much food does Alabama produce?

This statement is false

Mike Gaskey

Stan Shannon wrote:

at least they've had time to work our more of the kinks

and are more honest about their form of government

Mike - typical white guy. The USA does have universal healthcare, but you have to pay for it. D'oh. Thomas Mann - "Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil." The NYT - my leftist brochure. Calling an illegal alien an “undocumented immigrant” is like calling a drug dealer an “unlicensed pharmacist”. God doesn't believe in atheists, therefore they don't exist.

Stan Shannon

What did you think of the Indy tea party? I was there for about an hour. I was impressed by it.

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

Chris Austin wrote:

But, I don't think we have to choose from either of those options.

Maybe not, but it doesn't look good.

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.

Mike Gaskey

Stan Shannon wrote:

What did you think of the Indy tea party?

Stan - I thought it was great. I got there very early so I was able to be way up front. It was very positive. Really great to see folks gathered peacefully to voice their opinions. The only downside I witnesed was Gregg Garrison who when speaking made it a Republican vs. Demoocrat thing. I believe there were a number of conservative Democrats in the audience that would have been put off by his comments. I don't know if you were there to see the speakers but the speakers included: A Pakistani who was a naturalized citizen and was adamant about sticking to our roots Another immigrant, a naturalized citizen from Ireland, who specifically addressed European Socialism and socialized healthcare. She and her husband had left Ireland and relocated to London and after 2 years packed it all in and headed here. She had -0- good opinion of life in Europe. A local who was passionate about the crap going on today. All in all - terrific. Looks like there will be another, I think on the 4th of July, and a march on Washington in October just as budgets are being approved for the next physical year. I'll be taking part in both. The Indianapolis Star said there were 2,500 there. I'd guess more on the order of 10,000 but like I said, I was at the front and couldn't really guess at the depth or density of the crowd behind me. I think the MSM and current government officials are completely underestimating the impact. This is a real bottom up thing. It'll have staying power and 2010 will be an election to watch.

Mike - typical white guy. The USA does have universal healthcare, but you have to pay for it. D'oh. Thomas Mann - "Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil." The NYT - my leftist brochure. Calling an illegal alien an “undocumented immigrant” is like calling a drug dealer an “unlicensed pharmacist”. God doesn't believe in atheists, therefore they don't exist.