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Dec. 17th, 2004 07:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vicarzTurkey and the EU is just fascinating right now. Turkey's leaders are moving to a moderate muslim political agenda in the interests of joining the EU. Now, Turkey borders some of the key Middle-East players. Wouldn't it be just fascinating if the EU managed to do with voluntary economic incentives what the US fails to do with a forced military intervention? The US $ is falling as we spiral deeper into debt and show less fiscal responsibility. Also, the US is failing to invest in helath, children, and perhaps most imporantly research & education. As technology and information drive the economy, you might see the US fall by the wayside as our ignorant masses are not a viable source of production. You see, if the EU wins the favor of the middle-east and gets access to their oil, while the US is shut out - that could be the last nail in the coffin of US as a world power. Man that would rock. Wouldn't it be nice if the principles that formed the USA outlived the USA? Perhaps the morality we left behind will rule when we fall. Go them!
The prez is pushing to 'help' the medical crisis by limiting malpractice suit amounts. Why is the press not covering the fact that the reason for medical malpractice rate increases are because the insurance companies lost their shirts in the stock market? The overall amounts of awards have only increased with the costs of inflation. Further, the entire economic basis for the actual crisis is being ignored - the profit motive is having trouble meshing with people's expectations about society's obligation when it comes to people's physical health. I blame the news for this illusory crisis - the information is out there, but all the headlines cover are the outlandish awards before they are reduced in appeals. Does everyone know that the amounts you win in court are pretty well established norms?
Why are so many people such pussies about terrorists? Why isn't it wussy to be scared of things blowing up, and perfectly ok to give up civil liberties? Isn't there a state that has "LIVE FREE OR DIE" on their license plate? When did it start being cool to be a pussy about terrorists and pro-government? Are these idiots only pro-government if the victim is muslim or middle-eastern? The people arguing we should give up civil liberties are essentially saying they trust the government to go after the bad guys and leave the good guys alone? Huh? Are these the same people who cheat on their taxes and whine about speeding tickets? When do you switch from being anti-government to pro, or are they both? Does anyone think out the drivel they spout?
I'm rooting for the EU - fuck us, go them! They're adhering to American principles more than we are, that's for sure.
The prez is pushing to 'help' the medical crisis by limiting malpractice suit amounts. Why is the press not covering the fact that the reason for medical malpractice rate increases are because the insurance companies lost their shirts in the stock market? The overall amounts of awards have only increased with the costs of inflation. Further, the entire economic basis for the actual crisis is being ignored - the profit motive is having trouble meshing with people's expectations about society's obligation when it comes to people's physical health. I blame the news for this illusory crisis - the information is out there, but all the headlines cover are the outlandish awards before they are reduced in appeals. Does everyone know that the amounts you win in court are pretty well established norms?
Why are so many people such pussies about terrorists? Why isn't it wussy to be scared of things blowing up, and perfectly ok to give up civil liberties? Isn't there a state that has "LIVE FREE OR DIE" on their license plate? When did it start being cool to be a pussy about terrorists and pro-government? Are these idiots only pro-government if the victim is muslim or middle-eastern? The people arguing we should give up civil liberties are essentially saying they trust the government to go after the bad guys and leave the good guys alone? Huh? Are these the same people who cheat on their taxes and whine about speeding tickets? When do you switch from being anti-government to pro, or are they both? Does anyone think out the drivel they spout?
I'm rooting for the EU - fuck us, go them! They're adhering to American principles more than we are, that's for sure.
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Live Free or Die
Date: 2004-12-17 05:01 am (UTC)Re: Live Free or Die
Date: 2004-12-17 11:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-17 06:36 am (UTC)I'm glad to hear someone else saying this. Every time I hear someone say that we need to be doing more to defend ourselves against terrorism, I want to gag. Once you've paid the danegeld...
I seem to recall being taught as a kid that we should admire Patrick Henry for saying "Give me liberty, or give me death!". When did our national ethos change to admiring "Take my liberty, but for God's sake don't hurt me!". The correct response to terrorism is to exercise ordinary prudence, track down the bastards if you can, and flout their attempts to make you change your way of life by refusing to change. Nothing defeats terrorism like not being terrified.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-17 06:23 pm (UTC)And yeah, "patriotism" grows and shows when the victim is foreign. Some people call it racism, but patriotism is a good thing, so it is called that instead.