ralis

Vote for the 'Tea Bagger Party'! Such intellectual luminaries as Michelle Bachmann who claims that Obama is funding Al Qaeda and the second coming is imminent. Bachmann: Obama funding Al-Qaeda proves ‘we are in God’s End Times’ http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/10/07/bachmann-obama-funding-al-qaeda-proves-we-are-in-gods-end-times/ Tea party hero Ben Carson: Marriage equality jeopardizes ‘everything else in the Bible’ http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/10/07/tea-party-hero-ben-carson-marriage-equality-jeopardizes-everything-else-in-the-bible/ http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/10/07/world-net-daily-obamacare-will-lead-to-genocide-just-like-hitlercare/ World Net Daily posts lies and distortions to make people afraid. More brainwashing!

If the above two are not historical figures, then their existence is in question. After all much writing is attributed to both figures.

Boehner is blaming the impending government default on Obama not negotiating. I thought it was the right wing that were making ridiculous demands that is holding this country hostage. If the government defaults, the economy will be ruined. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/06/john-boehner-default-debt-ceiling_n_4053537.html

Some of this thread seems like religious moral posturing. If anyone has a problem with alcohol, then don't drink. But to say that Norbu should not drink is or is leading gullible students astray is nonsense. Students should be responsible adults and live their lives accordingly. Teachers are not parents! If one is projecting a parental need then be aware and deal with it.

That is what the Trans Pacific Partnership is all about.

To follow up on a previous post of mine in regards to markets not being rational. Furthermore, there is much evidence that neoliberal policies are harmful to the economy. http://www.amazon.com/The-Myth-Rational-Market-Delusion/dp/0060599030 http://www.amazon.com/Reality-Ignored-Undermined-Institutions-ebook/dp/B004TH0SF2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380994214&sr=8-1&keywords=Reality+Ignored%3A+How+Milton+Friedman+and+Chicago+Economics+Undermined+American+Institutions+and+Endangered+the+Global+Economy http://www.amazon.com/Predictably-Irrational-Revised-Expanded-ebook/dp/B002C949KE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380994299&sr=8-1&keywords=Dan+Ariely%2C%27s+Predictably+Irrational http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Instincts-Peter-Lunn/dp/0462099636/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380994395&sr=8-1&keywords=Pete+Lunn%27s+Basic+Instincts http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jan/14/neoliberal-theory-economic-failure http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=376 What is Neoliberalism? A Brief Definition for Activists by Elizabeth Martinez and Arnoldo Garcia, National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights "Neo-liberalism" is a set of economic policies that have become widespread during the last 25 years or so. Although the word is rarely heard in the United States, you can clearly see the effects of neo-liberalism here as the rich grow richer and the poor grow poorer. "Liberalism" can refer to political, economic, or even religious ideas. In the U.S. political liberalism has been a strategy to prevent social conflict. It is presented to poor and working people as progressive compared to conservative or Rightwing. Economic liberalism is different. Conservative politicians who say they hate "liberals" -- meaning the political type -- have no real problem with economic liberalism, including neoliberalism. "Neo" means we are talking about a new kind of liberalism. So what was the old kind? The liberal school of economics became famous in Europe when Adam Smith, an Scottish economist, published a book in 1776 called THE WEALTH OF NATIONS. He and others advocated the abolition of government intervention in economic matters. No restrictions on manufacturing, no barriers to commerce, no tariffs, he said; free trade was the best way for a nation's economy to develop. Such ideas were "liberal" in the sense of no controls. This application of individualism encouraged "free" enterprise," "free" competition -- which came to mean, free for the capitalists to make huge profits as they wished. Economic liberalism prevailed in the United States through the 1800s and early 1900s. Then the Great Depression of the 1930s led an economist named John Maynard Keynes to a theory that challenged liberalism as the best policy for capitalists. He said, in essence, that full employment is necessary for capitalism to grow and it can be achieved only if governments and central banks intervene to increase employment. These ideas had much influence on President Roosevelt's New Deal -- which did improve life for many people. The belief that government should advance the common good became widely accepted. But the capitalist crisis over the last 25 years, with its shrinking profit rates, inspired the corporate elite to revive economic liberalism. That's what makes it "neo" or new. Now, with the rapid globalization of the capitalist economy, we are seeing neo-liberalism on a global scale. A memorable definition of this process came from Subcomandante Marcos at the Zapatista-sponsored Encuentro Intercontinental por la Humanidad y contra el Neo-liberalismo (Inter-continental Encounter for Humanity and Against Neo-liberalism) of August 1996 in Chiapas when he said: "what the Right offers is to turn the world into one big mall where they can buy Indians here, women there ...." and he might have added, children, immigrants, workers or even a whole country like Mexico." The main points of neo-liberalism include: THE RULE OF THE MARKET. Liberating "free" enterprise or private enterprise from any bonds imposed by the government (the state) no matter how much social damage this causes. Greater openness to international trade and investment, as in NAFTA. Reduce wages by de-unionizing workers and eliminating workers' rights that had been won over many years of struggle. No more price controls. All in all, total freedom of movement for capital, goods and services. To convince us this is good for us, they say "an unregulated market is the best way to increase economic growth, which will ultimately benefit everyone." It's like Reagan's "supply-side" and "trickle-down" economics -- but somehow the wealth didn't trickle down very much. CUTTING PUBLIC EXPENDITURE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES like education and health care. REDUCING THE SAFETY-NET FOR THE POOR, and even maintenance of roads, bridges, water supply -- again in the name of reducing government's role. Of course, they don't oppose government subsidies and tax benefits for business. DEREGULATION. Reduce government regulation of everything that could diminsh profits, including protecting the environmentand safety on the job. PRIVATIZATION. Sell state-owned enterprises, goods and services to private investors. This includes banks, key industries, railroads, toll highways, electricity, schools, hospitals and even fresh water. Although usually done in the name of greater efficiency, which is often needed, privatization has mainly had the effect of concentrating wealth even more in a few hands and making the public pay even more for its needs. ELIMINATING THE CONCEPT OF "THE PUBLIC GOOD" or "COMMUNITY" and replacing it with "individual responsibility." Pressuring the poorest people in a society to find solutions to their lack of health care, education and social security all by themselves -- then blaming them, if they fail, as "lazy." Around the world, neo-liberalism has been imposed by powerful financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. It is raging all over Latin America. The first clear example of neo-liberalism at work came in Chile (with thanks to University of Chicago economist Milton Friedman), after the CIA-supported coup against the popularly elected Allende regime in 1973. Other countries followed, with some of the worst effects in Mexico where wages declined 40 to 50% in the first year of NAFTA while the cost of living rose by 80%. Over 20,000 small and medium businesses have failed and more than 1,000 state-owned enterprises have been privatized in Mexico. As one scholar said, "Neoliberalism means the neo-colonization of Latin America." In the United States neo-liberalism is destroying welfare programs; attacking the rights of labor (including all immigrant workers); and cutbacking social programs. The Republican "Contract" on America is pure neo-liberalism. Its supporters are working hard to deny protection to children, youth, women, the planet itself -- and trying to trick us into acceptance by saying this will "get government off my back." The beneficiaries of neo-liberalism are a minority of the world's people. For the vast majority it brings even more suffering than before: suffering without the small, hard-won gains of the last 60 years, suffering without end. Elizabeth Martinez is a longtime civil rights activist and author of several books, including "500 Years of Chicano History in Photographs." 13101310Arnoldo Garcia is a member of the Oakland-based Comite Emiliano Zapata, affiliated to the National Commission for Democracy in Mexico. 13101310Both writers attended the Intercontinental Encounter for Humanity and against Neoliberalism, held July 27 - August 3,1996, in La Realidad, Chiapas.

Trans Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement. A Secret Trade Agreement Conducted By The Obama Administration. I heard about this some time ago. This trade agreement will continue to erode our rights and give multinational corporations more control. Congress persons are not allowed to view this agreement except under special permission. Furthermore, anyone from Congress can only see one chapter, is not allowed to take notes, not allowed to have a lawyer present to interpret the technical details or even discuss this in public. How in the hell did Congress give away their authority to be a party to all trade agreements? For further info. http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=3129 https://www.eff.org/issues/tpp http://www.exposethetpp.org/

The tea party is doing nothing about the bloated police state. NSA, TSA, Homeland Security etc. Definite hypocrisy. Seems to me they are in love with it.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/10/04/north-carolina-gop-rep-im-taking-my-paycheck-during-shutdown-because-i-need-it/ North Carolina GOP Rep: I’m taking my paycheck during shutdown because I need it. I guess this wife of a surgeon needs money more than everyone suffering because of this shutdown. What hypocrisy!

The term 'tea bagger' was started by the media and members of the 'tea party', not me. Persons carrying tea bags as a sign of 'tea party' allegiance. Furthermore, I carefully parse my words. http://theweek.com/article/index/202620/the-evolution-of-the-word-tea-bagger

What people are taught in grade school has nothing to do with in depth analysis. The OP is in regards to the myriad problems occurring here in the U.S. One problem is the economic morass which said problems will not be solved by more neoliberal policies. In terms of education in the U.S. and government funding of. If government funding is cut or eliminated as some right wing groups demand, then only the wealthy will be able to afford education for their children. Drastic cuts will continue to erode the quality of education for poor children.

Condescending as usual. For your information as a moderator, sado-sexual is a medical term covered in the DSM. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadism_and_masochism_(as_medical_terms)

By checking the like box, you are in agreement with the baseless accusation made by Brian. Sado-sexual fixation and suggesting that I need therapy? Which suggests that I have a medical/psychological problem. That is a very serious accusation. Kindergarten monitor? Is that what you think of mature adults on this site that have disagreements? I chose to respond to statements made in regards to faulty beliefs about so called free markets which is neoliberal ideology which you are a proponent of.

I am not going to discuss with you given that you know nothing about economics and especially free market myth. Free markets only work in small closed societies. Sado-sexual fixation? That is a baseless accusation!

A free market economy is a myth. Ayn Rand et al, have perpetrated the idea that humans act rationally in a so called free market. Markets only work by state intervention and regulation. Why? Human participants are not always reasonable or rational. Emotion and in most cases fear are what drives markets. E.g. the stock market is driven by self interest, fear and hope. Given the human propensity towards the irrational, it is imperative that regulation be imposed in the market economy. In 1999 there was a move to deregulate the banks which allowed commercial banking and investment to be in the same company. JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs et al are examples. What followed was the banking crisis which was perpetuated by derivative trading and other high risk investments underpinned by low capitalization, which the Fed allowed. A 10% drop in the value of the bets is what bankrupted Bear Sterns. There is much online that can be researched beyond what I could possibly write. However, simplistic notions in regards to market economics lead to myriad problems. Georges Bataille refuted the idea that modern people function rationally but tend towards fear and violence. Much of what you posted excludes human nature. What about Congress shutting down the government? It seems as though Congress via the 'Tea Bagger' party is blackmailing the country and attempting to overthrow the government to meet the ideological demands of a few. Congress is not promoting "the general welfare" at this time. If this is treason, then the Constitution has been violated.

Part of the downfall is the lack of excellence in science and math education. Students in general are not well taught to engage in critical analysis. For this reason, the AGW skeptics and creationists with their mythology of 'creation science', are preventing progress in finding solutions to environmental problems, as well as social problems. The 'Tea Bagger' party is pushing for more cuts in NASA, science education, environmental research, the arts and any program that is for the greater good as opposed to selfish interests, where few benefit. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/10/03/ocean-acidification-due-to-carbon-emissions-is-at-highest-for-300-million-years/ http://www.stateoftheocean.org/

Statistical significance is a very basic term. Has nothing to do with absolute certainty which you seem to equate with.

You know nothing about statistical analysis in this regard! What you have parroted here is what you have been told to post, by Anthony Watts et al. Just keep up the deception which you are responsible for.

With you it is all about money and you don't give a damn about the human impact on the environment! Get your tin foil hat on.

This documentary is well worth watching which explores the reasons for charging the Nazi's with war crimes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6kWjsCInyA

Also there is talk that the right wing will hold the debt ceiling hostage once again and if the govt defaults, then the real problems will begin. You are right in that Americans have gotten complacent and numb. Haven't a clue!! Fox News and the media keep feeding them what they want to hear.

Just wanted to comment that the 'Tea Bagger' party is directly responsible for the government shutdown. Millions will suffer needlessly; including nutrition programs for impoverished children, medical care for the poor, no FDA food inspections and education will suffer etc.

The earth is 4.5 billion years old and that is a fact. So far your arguments are not based on anything but conjecture. What is the so called legit science to creationism?