patrick.net

Birthers, practice letting go. It's healing. Just as you will never see an audit of the Fed. You will never see a Long Form Birth Certificate. Deal with it, move on, shoot some hoops, play a round of golf, hug your kid....something, but get on with living.

I did vote for Ron Paul in the early race, but isle-crossing liberals came out and voted for Gramps. That's just how it goes sometimes.

Elvis,

Perhaps when I was an idealistic teenager so many years ago, I would vote solely on principle. But, the reality of growing up is that in America, you have a choice of two candidates: Republicans and Democrats. You can waste your vote or man up and choose the lesser of two evils like a responsible adult. It is not whether the public gets screwed, but who will screw the general public less. Neither idealizing a candidate with no chance of success nor longing for a romanticized past changes the fact that we have to take responsibility for the present.

If you actually are a teenager, please accept my apologies. Continue to rage against the man or whatever teenagers call it these days. Just remember your idealism will eventually bump up against practicality.

koolaid!

Ryan, I read and reread your post. Wow, sounds like you've thrown in the towel. What would our world be like today if Ghandi (sp ?) and Martin Luther King had thrown in the towel and acted like responsible adults?

The lesser of two evils is still evil. Shouldn't a responsible adult fight for what is right...Ghandi and King did. Idealism and practicality aside, our country is self destructing from the tyranny within. Together we can and must change Americas course, otherwise we are all on the road to serfdom. We are losing our prospertity because we are losing our freedom.

...choose the lesser of two evils like a responsible adult.

But, that would suggest there are shades of gray in politics--and not the current "I'm all right/you're all wrong" that passes as discourse.
I'm inclined to think that some people today don't want a "lesser of evil". They want to label the evil and kill it outright--hence the endless hysteria and polemics. As Patrick suggested, such people become unwitting pawns of deep-pocket agendas. And I'm convinced it happens to both extremes.

I agree with Honest Abe.

The notion of a 'wasted vote' is a BS tactic used by both democrats and republicans to guilt you into voting in their direction. But in reality, every vote counts. Regardless.

I am seeing a sea of change on the horizon. I think this latest debacle and the realization by the people that BOTH parties are filled with nothing but a bunch of narcissists who grovel at the feet of their lobbyists is going to result in a change. And not the buzz word 'change' that Obama touted. But a return to fiscal responsibility. Look at how well Ron Paul did with young voters and see how well his books sell on Amazon. That is a good indicator that the word is beginning to spread regarding so many of our corrupt agencies. Especially the Fed, which has done more damage to our country than all our enemies over the past 200 years put together.

Honest Abe,
If it makes you feel better you can think of it as the better of two goods. Maybe we can all hold hands and drink Coca Cola. And maybe, if underwater home owners just ask really nicely, the banks will forgive their debts and not boot them out on the street. But, I'm not here to add sugar to the hemlock before Socrates drinks it down.
You picked a key American figure that proves my point. Martin Luther King. During his life time and for all his accomplishments, guess what...there were two political parties in control of the Federal Government: Either the Democrats or the Republicans. The last time our country had a serious look at a third party was nearly a hundred years ago when Teddy Roosevelt, a Republican, ran the Bull Moose Party. He lost to a Democrat and the party evaporated.
Who do you think King voted for in the 1960 election? While one can never be 100% certain, he did mobilize the African-American community in support of Kennedy, a Democrat. This despite the fact that Kennedy voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Why would your hero here throw his support behind a man who three years earlier voted against a Civil Right Act? The quick answer: King acted like (as I said in my previous post) "a responsible adult."
One thing is for certain, if you vote for the Libertarian Party (considered rightist) or the Green Party (considered leftist), you have wasted your vote. It is your vote to waste and if people want to waste it on dreamy eyed visions of living in candy land, by all means, that is their choice.
Like Diomedes, I see a change on the horizon. I see a change of underwear in the morning. Makes me feel all nice an comfy. But if Diomedes had to wait for Ron Paul to become President before changing his, he'd be buried in the ones he's wearing today. And, the same goes for the person waiting to see Ralph Nader become President.

Obama won the Nobel prize because he is a transformational history in American politics. With our history of oppression and enslavement, he embodies the fact that the American dream is still alive today.

1. For those of you who question his birth rights, I say that you should leave your rural neighborhoods to become a part of the rest of society, stop dating your cousins and pursue an education higher than the 3rd grade level. Even my 3 year old can read through the rhetoric of his birth rights.

2. For those of you who doubt his qualifications for the Nobel Prize, remember, he is the leader of the free world...something that you or I will never accomplish. He has brought many together under one single cause with just a few inspirational speeches, something many of your pastors have yet to accomplish. Relish this moment in history, grow your families and stop being anti-Obama for the simple fact the entire world was anti-BUSH.

3. For those of you that hold his articulation in disdain, try reading a book. He is the most articulate canidate we have ever seen...I wouldnt pass on him for a job interview and couldnt pass on his run for President.

4. For those of you who tout him as a Socialist, see patricks pledge against socialism. If you are nuts enough to stop contributing to any of the following programs then please feel free to exit left to Mexico. Mexico does not have any of these public services, so feel free to be a proud Mexican.

This country isnt for you, and the American Worker no longer wants to support you.

Pledge against Socialism

By Patrick on Sunday, September 27th, 2009 at 2:30 pm | 2747 views | rss | email this

A relative forwarded this to me. I didn’t write it. –Patrick

I, ________________________, do solemnly swear to uphold the principles of a socialism-free society and heretofore pledge my word that I shall strictly adhere to the following:

I pledge to eliminate all government intervention in my life. I will abstain from the use of and participation in any socialist goods and services including but not limited to the following:

• Social Security
• Medicare/Medicaid
• State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP)
• Police, Fire, and Emergency Services
• US Postal Service
• Roads and Highways
• Air Travel (regulated by the socialist FAA)
• The US Railway System
• Public Subways and Metro Systems
• Public Bus and Lightrail Systems
• Rest Areas on Highways
• Sidewalks
• All Government-Funded Local/State Projects (e.g., see Iowa 2009 federal senate appropriations)
• Public Water and Sewer Services (goodbye socialist toilet, shower, dishwasher, kitchen sink, outdoor hose!)
• Public and State Universities and Colleges
• Public Primary and Secondary Schools
• Sesame Street
• Publicly Funded Anti-Drug Use Education for Children
• Public Museums
• Libraries
• Public Parks and Beaches
• State and National Parks
• Public Zoos
• Unemployment Insurance
• Municipal Garbage and Recycling Services
• Treatment at Any Hospital or Clinic That Ever Received Funding From Local, State or Federal Government (pretty much all of them)
• Medical Services and Medications That Were Created or Derived From Any Government Grant or Research Funding (again, pretty much all of them)
• Socialist Byproducts of Government Investment Such as Duct Tape and Velcro (Nazi-NASA Inventions)
• Use of the Internets, email, and networked computers, as the DoD’s ARPANET was the basis for subsequent computer networking
• Foodstuffs, Meats, Produce and Crops That Were Grown With, Fed With, Raised With or That Contain Inputs From Crops Grown With Government Subsidies
• Clothing Made from Crops (e.g. cotton) That Were Grown With or That Contain Inputs From Government Subsidies

" With our history of oppression and enslavement, he embodies the fact that the American dream is still alive today."

Oppression and enslavement of who?

"Obama won the Nobel prize because he is a transformational history in American politics"
So far Obama hasn't done anything to deserve any merit awards. He himself said so.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity Mr. Wong

Dont be so ignorant in attempt to ignore the fact that Africans were enslaved, stripped of their culture/dignity and left to feed off the slops of the slave owners for 400 years. To this day this country is suffering the blowback of a slave riddled past, a history of mental oppression, outright discrimination against peoples of non-European descent. Only in todays society the discrimination presents itself in subconcious behaviors.

Read up on your history, then ask the question again...but this time do so silently.

Chinese American History

Chinese American history is the history of Chinese Americans or the history of ethnic Chinese in the United States. Chinese immigration to the United States consists of three major waves with the first beginning in the early 19th century. The Chinese have been arriving in large numbers beginning with the mid-19th century, most of whom worked as laborers, particularly on the transcontinental railroad, such as the Central Pacific Railroad, and the mining industry, and suffered racial discrimination for a long time. While industrial employers were eager to get this new and cheap labor, the ordinary white public was stirred to anger by the presence of this "yellow peril." Political party caucuses, labor unions, and other organizations railed against the immigration of yet another "inferior race." Newspapers condemned the policies of employers, and even church leaders denounced the entrance of these aliens into what was regarded as a land for whites only. So hostile was the opposition that in 1882 the United States Congress eventually passed the Chinese Exclusion Act which prohibited immigration from China for the next ten years. This law was extended by the Geary Act in 1892. The Chinese Exclusion Act, passed by Congress in 1882, was the only U.S. law ever to prevent immigration and naturalization on the basis of race.[1] Korean, Indian, and Japanese laborers then later replaced the Chinese. These laws not only prevented new immigration but also brought additional suffering as they prevented the reunion of the families of thousands of Chinese men already living in America that had left China without their wives and children; anti-miscegenation laws in many states prohibited Chinese men from marrying white women.[2]

In 1924 the law barred further entries of Chinese; those already in the United States had been ineligible for citizenship since the previous year. Also by 1924, all Asian immigrants (except people from the Philippines, which had been annexed by the United States in 1898) were utterly excluded by law, denied citizenship and naturalization, and prevented from marrying Caucasians or owning land.[3]

Only since the 1940s when the US and China became allies during World War II, did the situation for Chinese Americans begin to improve, as restrictions on entry into the country, naturalization and mixed marriage were being lessened. In 1943, Chinese immigration to the U.S. was once again permitted — by way of the Magnuson Act — thereby repealing 61 years of official racial discrimination against the Chinese. Large scale Chinese immigration did not occur until 1965 when the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965[4] lifted national origin quotas.[5] After World War II, anti-Asian prejudice began to decrease, and Chinese immigrants, along with other Asians (such as Japanese, Koreans, Indians and Vietnamese), have adapted and advanced. Currently, the Chinese constitute the largest ethnic group of Asian Americans (about 22%), and have confounded earlier expectations that they would form an indigestible mass in American society.[citation needed] For example, many Chinese Americans of American birth may know little or nothing about traditional Chinese culture, just as European Americans and African Americans may know little or nothing about the original cultures of their ancestors.

Today in the United States, there are more than 3.3 million Chinese — about 1% of the total population — of which, by far the vast majority belongs to the middle class social stratum.[citation needed] The influx continues, where each year hundreds of thousands of ethnic Chinese people from the People's Republic of China, Taiwan and to a lesser extent Southeast Asia move to the US.[citation needed]

If you were to read this passage at first you would think the Chinese peoples have a resiliency that should be taught to the African American community, however, this article fails to note that Chinese were never stripped of their culture. You see, when Africans and Chinese come to America today freely they come with their culture and a strong work ethic...

However, the ancestors of the Africans/Chinese that came here 400 years ago still have a enslaved mentality, impoverished thought that holds some of them back...the work ethic that is needed to survive in today's society has been replaced with anger, frustration, and stupidity. They latch on to the culture of hip hop in place of the culture of business.

I know history very well Lorenzo. Every nation has the right to restrict entries by foreigners. Asia certainly did when Japan closed its borders for 300 years restricting contact with limited number of 'red haired' barbarians, limiting contact within Nagasaki ports for trade only. China did the same to limited seaport cities keeping the European 'Barbarians' far from the main population. They re-introduced that same policy back in 1949. We even see the Holocaust being committed in Africa today based on 'ethnic' differences and redrawing of borders. I guess we could call the post Czechoslovakia government as racist because they segregated themselves between Czechs and Slovaks borders, citing ethnical differences as cause. As did much of Central-Eastern Europe in 1990, except Germany.

Did we in the US have anything to do with this?

BTW. Im not Asian! Dont let the name fool you.

"These laws not only prevented new immigration but also brought additional suffering as they prevented the reunion of the families of thousands of Chinese men already living in America that had left China without their wives and children; anti-miscegenation laws in many states prohibited Chinese men from marrying white women."
Chinese families even today, do not like to see their daughters marrying white boys, there is lots of pressure to marry your own kind. Perhaps its because we are inferior!

"Dont be so ignorant in attempt to ignore the fact that Africans were enslaved, stripped of their culture/dignity and left to feed off the slops of the slave owners for 400 years"
It seems Ezola Foster would disagree with you. Don't you think many African Americans have done very well over the past century.
Many are self made as legit business man and woman, who 'pulled them self by the bootstrap'. Where was the recognition back then?
Or that didn't mess well for the cause/struggle? Can you name another nation which provided such opportunities?

"Lorenzo of Pasadena says

2. For those of you who doubt his qualifications for the Nobel Prize, remember, he is the leader of the free world…something that you or I will never accomplish. He has brought many together under one single cause with just a few inspirational speeches, something many of your pastors have yet to accomplish. Relish this moment in history, grow your families and stop being anti-Obama for the simple fact the entire world was anti-BUSH.

The Presidency is nothing the Media can't manufacture and money can't buy.
all you need is Accorn doctoring the statistics and the Liberal media fabricating the pollster results.
And then the other 80% is a viewing public that is capable of having about 24 hours of their weeks consumed by "reality T.V.".
Then the presidential race becomes nothing more than a great episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
and the constituents take it no more seriously.

Think of Obama as our Rebound boy friend after Bush. and like that scenario always plays out.
We will soon realize that we weren't ready for an other serious 4 year relationship with Corporations and their Lobbyists.

A Decadent Nobel Price

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107204574473543586270418.html?mod=rss_Today%27s_Most_Popular

Best article on the Peace Prize yet.

Decadent is about decay?

Thomas X:

In Response to: "Many are self made as legit business man and woman, who ‘pulled them self by the bootstrap’. Where was the recognition back then? Or that didn’t mess well for the cause/struggle? Can you name another nation which provided such opportunities?"

I am not saying that America hasnt provided opportunities, I am saying it has been a struggle for people of non-germanic decent up until 10-15 years ago. America has done a great job of righting the ills of society however, the subconscious discriminatory behaviours still exist. We have to ask ourselves why so many Americans are concerned with Obama being a Muslim. Are not Muslim humans also? Dont Christians acknowledge Muslims as a righteous people or are the simply looked down upon? These are the questions I was attempting to raise with you when you say "Discrimination against who?"..it sounded a bit naive and I was put off at the fact someone of the Asian culture could not relate to discrimination in America. That statement sounded a bit elitist so I wanted to clarify and help you to understand, however, it seems you are already in the know on many subjects.

...and yes, 1/3 of the African American community has grown independently.

America has done a great job of righting the ills of society however, the subconscious discriminatory behaviours still exist.

Do you want to prosecute thought crimes now?

One cannot legislate niceness. That subconscious discrimination will only grow stronger.

The best way to right the ills of society is to promote economic development by spreading capitalism. Through the elimination of poverty our differences can be reconciled.

"Poverty and Suffering are not due to unequal distribution of goods and resources, but to the unequal distribution of capitalism"

- Rush Limbaugh

I would like to add this: the best way to redistribute wealth is through commerce.

Exactly! And the best way to redistribute poverty is through social engineering.

thunderlips11 says

Another great way is to make what we consume, rather than borrow to buy imports

You may see more of that. A cheap dollar and high fuel (shipping) prices may "inshore" some previously offshored manufacturing. Of course, you may see built in America by foreign marks. Similar to the Toyota Tundra being American made with mostly American parts. Same with some Honda, Nissan, BMW, and soon some Hyundai models.

The Honda Odyssey is built in the USA with American made engine and transmission. The Chevy Silverado is a foreign vehicle with mostly foreign parts. The Taxi company I work for has bought hundreds of Chevy Impalas. Despite the domestic branding, every one of them is an import. The "Built in North America" phrase is just the way Ford and GM try to disguise as domestic cars those vehicles they build in Canada and Mexico.

Anyway, capitalism has its ways to ensure optimality. Under every system, there will be winners and losers. Enterprising individuals will try to become winners; losers will be better off when added value trickles down. Social engineering will eventually make everybody a loser.

I agree with you Peter that commerce can reduce poverty, however, subconcious discrimination would thwart efforts to the group not seen as favorable. So, should you or I go in for an interview we might not receive that job due to the perceptions of the person interviewing...regardless of race. This can apply to discrimination against ugly people, as we have seen in numerous studies.

Thuderlips & Headset:

Toyota employs 7,000 Americans and 70,000 japanese nationals. GM used to employ 68,000 Americans and that is down to 34,000.

You do the math and tell me whom benefits the American worker more so?

So, should you or I go in for an interview we might not receive that job due to the perceptions of the person interviewing…regardless of race.

It is just intuition. Everybody uses intuition to some degree. I do not see a problem.

(That said, racist people use racist intuition. This is why it is important for people to change from inside out.)

You do the math and tell me whom benefits the American worker more so?

American workers will benefit from economic growth when people stop asking what benefits who and simply flow with the grains of the market.

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/nobel.asp

Nah.

He was offered the prize on the condition not to attack this [?] country. Bush turned down the prize.

I am not a big fan of Bush, but if that is true he deserves some more respect. I doubt it though. $1.4M is not going to change the course of American history. (Perhaps the history of one Palo Alto home.)

The Market is not a god, and economics is not an oracle.

You are right that the market is not _a_ god. Market is God.

One can think of Universe or Nature as a giant Market, with karma being the currency. (Karma needs not have a goody-feely definition. It may simply be some action-reaction kind of thing, more like ripples in a pond.)

Economics is more like astrology, which is fascinating at times.

"The Honda Odyssey is built in the USA with American made engine and transmission. The Chevy Silverado is a foreign vehicle with mostly foreign parts."

Unionized vs non-unionized workers maybe ?

"The Honda Odyssey is built in the USA with American made engine and transmission. The Chevy Silverado is a foreign vehicle with mostly foreign parts."

Unionized vs non-unionized workers maybe ?

4X...Poor Righteous Teacher says

Obama won the Nobel prize because he is a transformational history in American politics. With our history of oppression and enslavement, he embodies the fact that the American dream is still alive today.
1. For those of you who question his birth rights, I say that you should leave your rural neighborhoods to become a part of the rest of society, stop dating your cousins and pursue an education higher than the 3rd grade level. Even my 3 year old can read through the rhetoric of his birth rights.

Zip Code 94109.
Check your post for grammatical and typo errors - then come back and criticize other people's 3rd grade level of education.
It is easy and cheap to post rants. Read a thread on this blog named "Birthers" - feel free to ask any questions.

2. For those of you who doubt his qualifications for the Nobel Prize, remember, he is the leader of the free world…something that you or I will never accomplish. He has brought many together under one single cause with just a few inspirational speeches, something many of your pastors have yet to accomplish. Relish this moment in history, grow your families and stop being anti-Obama for the simple fact the entire world was anti-BUSH.

Leader of the free world does not go around apologizing to everyone and does not bow to a foreign country leader (Saudi king).

3. For those of you that hold his articulation in disdain, try reading a book. He is the most articulate canidate we have ever seen…I wouldnt pass on him for a job interview and couldnt pass on his run for President.

Let me repeat my question from few days ago: How does one become a Constitutional Law scholar without a single paper published anywhere? The book "Dreams From My Father" was not written by Obama - the ghost writer was Bill Ayers. Book is full of unusual phrases and typo errors identical to those in Ayers' earlier book.

Leader of the free world does not go around apologizing to everyone and does not bow to a foreign country leader (Saudi king).

With all the problems in the US and abroad, you're concerned with a nod of the head? Are you kidding me?

tatupu70 says

Leader of the free world does not go around apologizing to everyone and does not bow to a foreign country leader (Saudi king).

With all the problems in the US and abroad, you’re concerned with a nod of the head? Are you kidding me?

I'm going to ask you something and answer honestly so I can respect you as either a real patriot or a marginalize you as another one way Lefty.

Did you have the same cavalier response to the image of G.W. Bush doing the sword dance?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/president-bush-shouldnt-p_b_81998.html

nosf41 says

Leader of the free world does not go around apologizing to everyone and does not bow to a foreign country leader (Saudi king).

Then again, most of the "free world" does not consider the US their "leader." Right, we don't have to apologize or bow to anybody--and other nations may feel inclined to return the favor. But, I do miss when the US was a "great nation"--when we could act unilaterally, unapologetic for our actions or words. It sounds reassuring; we could try that with our allies, but good luck whenever we need to benefit from diplomacy.

Tenouncetrout says

I’m going to ask you something and answer honestly so I can respect you as either a real patriot or a marginalize you as another one way Lefty.

When you put it that way, how can I refuse? Because you know that I go to bed worrying whether you think I am a "one way lefty"... And I fear that our definitions of patriot are somewhat different, so I probably wouldn't consider it a compliment if you called me such.

But, in any event, I find most of what W. did to be somewhat comical. So, my reaction was a combination of embarrassment and humor--not because he was engaging in a Saudi custom, but more because often I couldnt' tell the difference between the real Bush and a Will Farrell impersonation...

thunderlips11 says

Leader of the free world does not go around apologizing to everyone and does not bow to a foreign country leader (Saudi king).

...well, it's okay to make out with 'em, but not to bow. And certainly, bush woulda been the one slipping the tongue rather than receiving.

One of the worst photochops I've ever seen. Atleast out up real pics.