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I would imagine that this would be a good way to aleviate the increasing poverty in this country. However, there will always be enough Republicans, or other "why should I subsidize people who don't work" ideologies, out there to make enacting something like this virtually impossible, That said, people that can't make ends meet should have some help to get them through without the desperation so many of them are fighting with now, and certainly those who can't work should be looked after. Relief would be there for them if certain people in our government weren't so intent on removing the safety net. It would also help immensely if the minimum wage was also a LIVING wage. But that too is turning into an uphill battle. We really DO need to get the rich and greedy out of the way!
climate change:
the climate adapting to people not changing
an ongoing corporate policy created global catastrophe, denied by the corporate party's Republicans and ignored by the corporate party's Democrats
an opportunity for liberal cap & traders to profit greatly from bundling pollution swap credits, while short-selling futures for human survival
Crime of the Millennials:
the Millennial Generation ensuring catastrophic climate change will happen, by their choosing to join together with the degenerate (Greatest and My) generations in support of the corporate (R) & (D) party's sociopathic policies
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The APT: American Political Terms
www.chenangogreens.org
Climate deniers are spitting in the wind. The cleaner, greener future is coming, like the auto replacing the horse and buggy, and they can't stop it. People are not waiting around for the government. Solar farms are going up, as are wind farms. Some coal- powered plants are shutting down. They can make noise, but the future is already happening around us.
I agree With ckrob. The minimum income would almost surely be set too low.
The majority of politicians, I suspect, have little first-hand knowledge of people who live in poverty or even of the lives of people living in the lower middle class. Many share the view that their fellow citizens are lazy good-for-nothings, based, apparently, on some ignorant or poisonous reading of the Bible or on the egoistic social and moral "theory" of Ayn Rand, or on some biased "evidence" propounded by Charles Murray.
Kend -- How many decades ago and which scientists?
Kend -- I can think of one great advantage of the earth warming. As Guy said when the earth warms 3.5 C above base we can get rid of all the humans. 4 billion years and no human has existed on the planet at 3.5 C above base.
Palin -- Thanks for the info. Please read some of the book "Why God Won't Go Away".
This makes perfect sense. Tax breaks for the wealthy just means more money in their pocket that stays in their pocket. Extra money to a rich person will probably just be sat on, in a bank or in an investment of some sort. Money given to a poor person will mostly be spent, and not on luxury goods, on life necessities from a variety of stores and services. Not only would it boost the economy, we would see higher moral, more socializing, less violence, and far more happiness. Most of it could probably be paid for by the tax breaks and untaxed overseas income from large corporations, but instead we subsidize big oil companies, and complain about the cost of providing food stamps for the poor.
We could set an example to the rest of the world. We need to show them that being the wealthiest nation means prosperity for all, instead of an ever growing wealth gap that puts us to shame in comparison to "poorer nations".
Didn't von Daniken allege that such achievements as Stonehenge were the result of extraterrestial involvement? What color would those from distant planets be? No matter, more advanced civilizations wouldn't be obsessed with issues as trivial as hereditary skin pigmentation.
Alice: "aristobrats" is a truly wonderful addition to the English language. May I use it in my own writing? (With initial attribution, of course.)
2950-10K: What many people don't know is in 510 BCE, Darius disastrously invaded Scythia, which the ancient Greeks defined as roughly equivalent to modern Black-Sea Russia, the Crimea and the Ukraine. Nevertheless the true Scythia was probably much larger, perhaps as large as the old Russian Empire, since archaeology suggests a significant Scythian presence nearly as far west as modern-day Germany and as far east as China. DNA evidence meanwhile substantiates certain folk tales that claim Scythian origins for the Celts. Like the Celts, the Scythians were an equestrian people, and their horse-archers, at least 20 percent of whom were women -- were with their long-range recurve bows considered the most formidable light cavalry of their time.
But Darius was deterred neither by the vastness of the Steppe nor by the Scythians' fierce reputation, and he marched his massive army -- the era's largest and best equipped -- deep into Scythia. To make a long story short, the Scythians did as the Russians have so successfully done: they retreated and retreated and retreated -- then closed the door behind Darius and savaged his forces as they withdrew in ever-increasing panic. (For those interested in the details, see Herodotus, The Histories, in any complete translation.)
Nor have the Russians -- many of whom themselves bear Scythian genes -- forgotten this chapter of their Motherland's history: the Budenovka, for which Google, the pointed hat worn by the Red Cavalry during the Russian Civil War, was consciously patterned after the pointed hats of the Scythian horse archers, thereby implicitly linking the revolutionaries with ancient Russia.
Presumably we all know what happened to the Mongols -- the mounds of their skulls the medieval Russians made as monuments at the sites of Mongol defeats -- as we know the fates of Bonaparte and Hitler...
As to "Svyashchennaya Voyna" ("Sacred War"), do not be misled by the Soviet flag motif of the YouTube video I posted above. I chose that specifically for its English translation of the lyrics. The song remains popular in Russia today, and often accompanies the widely attended performances of the Russian Army Chorus and Dance Troupe, the successor to the Red Army Chorus and Dance Troupe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y4_2Qa0QQs
Our problem: Not everyone can work, due to health or circumstances, and there simply aren't jobs for all who need one. The US shipped out a massive portion of our working class jobs since the 1980s. The last I heard, there are 7 jobs available for every 10 people who desperately need jobs, and this generation utterly turns its back on the remaining three. If you are able to work AND have a job, you're already doing much better than many. You have a foot on the economic ladder. I'm far more concerned about the long-term unemployed and the unemployable.
"Perhaps intelligence is an impediment to survival rather than an advanage", muses Marc. I think that intelligence, like money, is neither good nor bad in itself; it's how these resources are utilized that is really the issue. Had our European-based culture not evolved into the dominant culture, we might not be living this nightmare today. I believe the problem is a spiritual one, first and foremost. Had this culture been less hospitable to psychopathy, greed and materialism, we wouldn't be dealing with the effects of predatory capitalism or facing the possibility of mass extinction. - AIW
DAnnemarc: I agree! Now, here is an engineering marvel that only a man can muster:
I'll bet the Neanderthals would never have built something like this. But, of course, the architect was a man...
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/18/qatar-accidental-va...
Incidentally, the Neanderthals were smart enough to make rudimentary tools and to find shelter from the weather. It got colder and colder which eventually helped to kill off some. But being able to survive, as a species, so long...what was it...250,000 years?...and died off about 100,000 years ago when modern man took over, is testament to their intelligence however large or the configuration of their brains.
Because of the increasing destruction of plant based foods they started on a larger meat diet consisting of larger animals that they had to kill. Scientists have found the artifacts of rudimentary tools made out of rocks or bones. No drones though! One theory, about the extinction of the Neanderthals, is that Modern Man was smarter and was able to fashion weapons that could kill Neanderthals from longer distances. There is some evidence that the Neanderthals even buried at least some of their dead. That's sure what I would do if I were a Neanderthal...who'd want a stinking corpse lying around the cave? But there is no evidence that this was a common practice.
"Cull the herd", Mark?! Over my dead body. But seriously, I could cry at the very thought of what technology could have done to improve our collective standard of living. Imagine a society where automation did everyone's drudge work so we could all live lives of leisure! (SIGH) But thanks to the psychopaths, the kleptocrats, the control freaks, and other members of the me-first club, that ain't gonna happen. Not in our lifetimes, certainly, and most likely never… unless we figure out how to get rid of those bastards for good, or at least strip them of their power of influence permanently.
Marc, I am no fan of Putin's. It pains me to think that cocky Russian oligarch is our one & only hope of evading World War Three. But I guess that's where we are… However, if THIS power-hungry fascist regime goes there to die, it might not be such a terrible thing, long as our loved ones aren't sacrificed to the cause. I sure am sick of these fascist clowns "rolling the dice" with our lives and the fate of this country, not to mention the fate of the world. - Aliceinwonderland
Palindromedary and Aliceinwonderland ~ Points well taken. Lets just stick to Sasquatch and nature. Let's leave the 'hocus pocus' behind us.
Besides relating Neanderthals to Sasquatch and how both--whether or not the same thing--seem to exist in harmony with nature is the point I'm trying to make. Cockroaches adapt well to their environments; and, for that reason, have been around a long, long, time; and, it is speculated, may be around a lot longer than us. It would appear that "brain size", intelligence, and the ability to survive, may not be so co-dependent after all. When it comes down to it, isn't it the survival of our species that takes precedence over everything else? Isn't it our ability to adapt to our environment that determines that survivability? Perhaps intelligence is an impediment to survival rather than an advantage?
Of course von Däniken's writings are fascinating, they're about amazing events worthy of science fiction.
James Randi briefly debunks von Däniken's writings in his book Flim-Flam!, ch. 6 "The Paper Chariots in Flames". That's from 1982, but there's probably something out there that takes advantage of the last 32 years of archeological scholarship.
Randi also accuses von Däniken of racism, because he seems to think that the great works of brown people couldn't possibly be their own; they must have had help. But he doesn't suggest that the great works of white people (such as the Parthenon and Stonehenge) weren't achieved by white people.
Aliceinwonderland ~ I learned about the water bottle decades ago, and you are so right about how well it works. Unfortunately, lately we've welcomed feral cats into our home. We find ourself walking on eggshells around them trying not to spook them. I've no problem using a water bottle on a little arrogant house cat; but, if I turned one on a feral cat who is just getting used to the house I would undo months of patient conditioning with a couple of squirts.
There are other techniques as well we could use. I could cover their scratching areas with thick canvas. There are also commercial liquids I could spray on those areas to discourage them. However, our furniture is so old we just don't care. We are trying to use verbal commands to train. It works with the feral cats somewhat. They respect our wishes much more than the house cats do. (Actually, as I've learned, Feral cats are far better behaved than house cats are. Perfect ladies and gentlemen.) Maybe, in time, when they are well conditioned to the house, we might bring back the dreaded bottle. Maybe if we buy new furniture. I'm too much of a softy to spray them over this old junk. Maybe I'll just wait for it to fall apart and then buy more old junk. Say what you want about old junk, it brings a lot less stress into your life than new stuff. The last thing I want in my life is to feel threatened by something our little friends do naturally.
We were just discussing the purchase of a new lounge chair to replace one that is completely worn out. Part of the discussion concerned fabric. The main part is it has to be cat resistant--like our sofas have been for so many years. They are upholstered with a decorative canvas-like fabric that despite being treated like a scratching post for many years now show no signs of deterioration. That will give us and the cats peace of mind.
Thank you, Aliceinwonderland, the peacemaker ;-} Sounds good to me as long as everyone else is game.
Aliceinwonderland: "men smarter than women".. I wouldn't bet on it either. There's obviously some pretty smart women...even here on this forum...I wouldn't want to match IQs with them! And that goes for some of the men on this forum as well. I'm not naming any names...you all know who you are. ;-}
Be careful, Marc, with all that biblical talk. We don't wanna trigger another one of Palin's long-winded diatribes!
Frankly my friend, I find tales of Sasquatch a lot more believable than a thousand-year human lifespan. - AIW
Men smarter than women?! Don't make me laugh.
By the way, I've heard & read that brain size in humans actually shrinks with excessive weight gain. Since I tend to get such information from reliable sources, I can't dismiss it. However I won't deny that I've known some very bright individuals who happen to also be heavy. Even Einstein looked kinda plump, later in life. - AIW
I could almost agree with that.
Now, you are using bait and switch. I certainly would not conclude that "God" has anything to do with anything since "God" is a supernatural concept. Nature is a natural concept not a supernatural one. Nature is real...God is not.
Besides, it looks like you are committing a very obvious logical fallacy when you start off assuming one thing that you now call "nature" then assume that the terms Nature and God are synonymous (which they are most certainly not) and then you use the term "God" in the place of where you previously used "nature".
Nature is nature. Why not just call it nature? Why put hocus-pocus into it at all?
People like to eat food.
therefore:
If one were to simply replace the word "bullsh1t" with the word "food" one could easily conclude that: People like to eat "bullsh1t".
Loren Bliss ~ Well said! Thanks for all that information. Again, I feel we all learned a lot from you. WWIII certainly seems to be the objective. When will despots learn that Russia is where power hungry fascist regimes go to die. I hate the idea of watching helplessly while Corporate elected psychopaths roll the dice with the future of my country. I certainly hope you are right about Putin's insights. I also hope Putin is a good chess player. What a shame when the best interests of your country lay in the hands and wisdom of the leader of another.
Indeed, Marc. But personally, I've never had cats that were into clawing furniture. Even if they were, a squirt gun makes a marvelous disciplinary tool. I don't tolerate cats on kitchen counters, tables, computer components, etc. and with this method, they get the message very quickly. They hate getting sprayed so it makes a very effective deterrent without injury or maiming. Another benefit of the squirt gun is that they don't learn to associate human hands with punishment or pain. I highly recommend it. - Alice I.W.
I think pets should count as dependants. It would be a great way to reduce the load on animal shelters; which, we pay for with our taxes anyway.