tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post1408165833013245892..comments2024-03-18T21:52:45.757-07:00Comments on CONTRARY BRIN: Can cheating be combatted?David Brinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-62156632034704976352017-02-13T14:59:23.312-08:002017-02-13T14:59:23.312-08:00onward
onwardonward<br /><br /><br />onwardDavid Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-75027328403685189172017-02-13T14:15:23.187-08:002017-02-13T14:15:23.187-08:00donzel: “To believe in a possibility of blackmail,...donzel: “To believe in a possibility of blackmail, while also believing in a 'close friendship' suggests you also recognize the probability of nuance at work here.”<br /><br />Obviously you have been sheltered from power relationships, in which the ‘Over” party bullies and the “under” party is so grateful. “I will NEVER let your enemies see this tape we have of you, on my yacht, drunk and doing a goat. You can count on me, as long as our friendship lasts!”<br /><br />BTW not even one of the following are even remotely true:<br /><br />“Iraq '91 served multiple purposes for Bush Sr.:<br />(1) Curtailing the Cold War cuts to the military by demonstrating the utility of a powerful defense system<br />(2) Banishing the ghosts of Vietnam with a clear victory<br />(3) Preserving low oil prices for a decade or more by preventing consolidation among suppliers<br />(4) Potentially leveraging U.S. prestige from a clear win to expand other power projection capabilities in the region (Sr. had a tin ear for his own party's anti-internationalist component - one that cost him)”<br /><br />Panama & Grenada were the chest thumping Vietnam reliminators, The military proceeded to make major cuts after Iraq 91. Iraqi oil was REMOVED from the market, raising prices for the Saudis. <br /><br />The rest of your rationalization is malarkey. Bush had only to let Schwarzkopff go 50 miles north of Basra and most of the Shiites would have been saved and ecstatically thankful and loyal to us. Look at Kurdistan. All we did was maintain a no fly zone and they were saved and thankful. If we had done something similar in the south, Saddam could have been left stewing in the Sunni center, without oil or power, waiting for some general to put a bullet in his head.<br /><br />The “quagmire’ excuses for Bush Sr. are hogwash. No need to go to Bagdhad. No need to conquer the Sunni Center. Free the Kurds and prevent a holocaust falling on the southern Shiites. The Saudis ordered him not to, we committed the murder of a million people and incurred the undying hatred to the survivors. <br /><br />As for China, preventing their people from becoming westernized believers in democratic law is the top priority. Joining Putin’s anti western arc is tempting.<br />David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-7263239833424095582017-02-13T14:12:49.790-08:002017-02-13T14:12:49.790-08:00Carl M: Oh, and on the secondhand smoking discussi...Carl M: Oh, and on the secondhand smoking discussion - I noted the follow on research - <br /><br /><i>"Research observing similar reductions followed in places such as Pueblo, Colorado; <b>Bowling Green, Ohio</b>; and Monroe County, Indiana. One characteristic shared by these places was their low populations and correspondingly small sample sizes..."</i><br /><br />Was that the <a href="http://www.recode.net/2017/2/10/14576184/bowling-green-massacre-trump-true-kellyanne-conway-facebook-twitter-fake-news" rel="nofollow">Bowling Green</a> that had a terrorist attack that the liberal media is refusing to report about? ;-)<br /><br />That said, unlike Kellyanne Conway's fabrication, I do not see purported claims of massive gains from smoking bans as "bad science." Ban happens; massive drop in Helena; data obtained, new experiments needed. Larger experiments (Italy, New Zealand, Colorado) rebut the initial thesis (at least insofar as cardiac gains). <br /><br />Was it 'bad science' or simply 'science'? If the author is critical of science journalism, well, that's a different story: journalism attracts eyeballs when it commands action (even the action of passing a judgment) - a 'no action needed after all' story seldom sells. Can you imagine a work of fiction in which no action takes place? I read 'Waiting for Godot' once, admired it, and will not re-read it any time soon.donzelionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991849781932619746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-55648506073331731062017-02-13T13:38:52.386-08:002017-02-13T13:38:52.386-08:00Carl M: "David, I gotta agree with you about...Carl M: "David, I gotta agree with you about George Sr. I was disgusted by him when he giggled about blowing up sewer plants. Infants dying of diarrhea isn't funny."<br /><br />I was an adolescent at the time, so I despised Bush Sr. for a number of reasons, including this one. But the more I've learned about him (and esp. how intelligence operates), I see his decision in terms of 'probability calculations' - and less as cowardice.<br /><br />I feel quite differently about Bob Dole and that wing of the Republicans, however. Yes, flipping a communist satellite is a worthy pursuit during the Cold War. But not currying favor and selling the fruit of our land to a monster who tortures and gasses his own people. Never that. Ever. I'd be willing to give up a few hundred jobs in Kansas to take a stronger stand in '88, and perhaps that would have altered matters in '91 as well...donzelionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991849781932619746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-25669496053824996282017-02-13T13:19:16.589-08:002017-02-13T13:19:16.589-08:00Dr. Brin: To believe in a possibility of blackmail...Dr. Brin: To believe in a possibility of blackmail, while also believing in a 'close friendship' suggests you also recognize the probability of nuance at work here.<br /><br />Iraq '91 served multiple purposes for Bush Sr.:<br />(1) Curtailing the Cold War cuts to the military by demonstrating the utility of a powerful defense system<br />(2) Banishing the ghosts of Vietnam with a clear victory<br />(3) Preserving low oil prices for a decade or more by preventing consolidation among suppliers<br />(4) Potentially leveraging U.S. prestige from a clear win to expand other power projection capabilities in the region (Sr. had a tin ear for his own party's anti-internationalist component - one that cost him)<br /><br />None of those purposes would be served by a protracted presence in Iraq. Looking at other occupations of Arab lands (British, French, Israeli, and Syrian), the prospects for a 'brief' presence seemed remote. The prospects for reversals, meanwhile, were quite obvious (Iran itself, but also, most of the British/French mandate authorities). <br /><br />Bush was 100% certain American military could pulverize Iraqi army with minimal loss of U.S. troops. Probabilities fell on the latter part of that story if Saddam was removed and a protracted presence required to erect a new government. On the other hand, what was the probability Iraqis would bring down Saddam themselves? 50%? 75%? If they did so, U.S. lives would be saved, a costly engagement avoided. Worst case scenario (Vietnam '92 - 'nobody gets involved in a land war in Asia' and all that) avoided. <br /><br />Mistake? You believe it is, as did many. I thought poorly of it in '91 and became a Democrat. I think poorly of it now. But I begrudgingly acknowledge there are other ways folks calculate the national interest than my own.<br /><br /><i>"the R’oils were (1) manipulative, (2) callously immoral in their commands to Bush Sr., (3) Spectacularly shortsighted, (4) and utterly in charge."</i><br />Manipulative? Yes. Immoral? Yes, Not lifting a finger = bad; deliberately trying to block others offering aid to the oppressed = immoral. Shortsighted? Depends what vision and probabilities one opts to believe. Britain had many of the tools of democracy at its disposal when they set up a Hashemite king in Iraq. Why would America do any better? Besides, we have a general disinclination toward colonizing countries...<br /><br />For this discussion, Zoroastrian Persia was regarded as the true enemy of the Muslims from the formation of Islam. Wahhabism itself emerged largely as a backlash against expanding Persian influence in the Gulf region (esp. in Iraq, but also in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia itself, not to mention ancient Shi'a communities in Yemen) (the Syrian shi'a community was more a product of French selecting allies who would never back the Hashemites - their Iranian orbit is of more recent vintage). They have a long-term view of the struggle, just not a very optimistic or inclusive one.<br /><br /><i>"Today, they are helping push Trump toward “war” at some level with Tehran, stupidly imagining this will make Iran less dangerous, when in fact it will push Iran into Moscow’s orbit and make them more dangerous than ever."</i><br />Indeed. It is stupid. <br /><br />Voracious China remains the wild card in this puzzle. Iran cannot supply China's petrol needs, nor does China have blue water power projection, nor is geography favorable - so Iran could expect little more than a UN veto from China in 2018. But if Trump does anything more with Taiwan...this story could be different by 2020 (more likely 2024).<br />donzelionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991849781932619746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-88530149057399112002017-02-13T12:16:58.973-08:002017-02-13T12:16:58.973-08:00(continuing)
Doing the cheap precautions is anoth...(continuing)<br /><br />Doing the cheap precautions is another matter entirely of course. I am in full agreement with the Things We Ought to Do Anyway philosophy.<br />Carl M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01278814334603631598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-83278922126860260072017-02-13T12:13:30.126-08:002017-02-13T12:13:30.126-08:00David, I gotta agree with you about George Sr. I w...David, I gotta agree with you about George Sr. I was disgusted by him when he giggled about blowing up sewer plants. Infants dying of diarrhea isn't funny.<br /><br />----<br /><br />On a completely different note, an example of why refusing to panic over "settled science" can be wise:<br /><br />http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2017/02/secondhand_smoke_isn_t_as_bad_as_we_thought.html<br />Carl M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01278814334603631598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-90952334585960279972017-02-13T11:54:20.609-08:002017-02-13T11:54:20.609-08:00Abilard:
Even in rural areas the Democratic Party...Abilard:<br /><i><br />Even in rural areas the Democratic Party has shifted to the Left. Witness the ruckus at recent town meetings in flyover country.<br /></i><br /><br />Those are <b>Republicans</b> getting an earful from their constituents, not Democrats.LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-57057460067337141062017-02-13T11:18:17.290-08:002017-02-13T11:18:17.290-08:00David Brin wrote:
No, this is culture war... plus ...David Brin wrote:<br />No, this is culture war... plus the dems are too stupid to realize basic electoral facts. Not just gerrymandering and cheating, but the need to go after every single "safe" gop seat with CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS. It is time to resurrect the Blue Dogs! But liberal twits think that will be INSTEAD of liberalism. Bull. Run liberals in liberal districts and conservatives in conservative ones DUH?<br /><br />-----<br /><br />Even in rural areas the Democratic Party has shifted to the Left. Witness the ruckus at recent town meetings in flyover country. Blue Dogs would get primaried in favor of Lefties who can't win. <br /><br />Also, even if a Blue Dog happened to get elected, how would they work with their more radical colleagues? I only drop in here a few times a year and every time I do you and Tacitus are having an argument just as productive as the one above; and I think you two respect each other. What about a Blue Dog of the type that Rachel Maddow could not stand? How well would that person tolerate accusations of fascism, racism, sexism, climatism (?), or whatever the dogma of the moment happened to be? How well would could he or she work with their more dogmatic colleagues?<br /><br />I suppose the Democrats could woo a sufficient number of people in the flyover country with Bernie Sanders style left wing politics, but they would have to drop Identity Politics to do it IMHO. Obama's "post-racial" campaigns worked there (even if they do not reflect reality). Clinton's special interest big tent did not.Abilardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12849545632114544654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-52257518298285360432017-02-13T11:00:49.661-08:002017-02-13T11:00:49.661-08:00donzel to deny close Bush-Saudi ties is hysterical...donzel to deny close Bush-Saudi ties is hysterically funny. W said :”Prince Bandy helped to raise me!” He partied on princely yachts, back in his drunken days and surely there are embarrassing photos, adding another layer. Blackmail. That last bit isn’t proved, but the close ties are fact.<br /><br />The Saudi Victims’ Bill is an example of the attackers’ eliciting an immune response, at last, from the victim. <br /><br />“The Saudis shared your fear of Iran benefiting from the Iraq '03 War. Then again, they've been afraid of Iran since the 7th century.”<br /><br />You’re kidding, right? The R’oils ORDERED GHWBush to stop Schwarzkopff before we could liberate Basra, in 92. Why, otherwise, would he stop, and let the Shiites of southern Iraq be slaughtered by a Saddam who was amazed he was allowed to do it? For that crime, that stain upon our honor, I despise Bush Sr even more than Junior. The seeds of catastrophe were sown that day.<br /><br />Had we liberated Basra and the region, we’d have been adored as saviors and the southern Shiite Arabs would have been our pals forever, not Iranian satraps who despise us (rightfully). The R’oils ordered this because they feared a new, Shiite Arab state on their border would inspire their own Shiites. But it would have been more Arab than Shiite, and far friendlier than the radicalized Badr movement we see there today.<br /><br />In other words, the R’oils were (1) manipulative, (2) callously immoral in their commands to Bush Sr., (3) Spectacularly shortsighted, (4) and utterly in charge. That is a horrid combination.<br /><br />Today, they are helping push Trump toward “war” at some level with Tehran, stupidly imagining this will make Iran less dangerous, when in fact it will push Iran into Moscow’s orbit and make them more dangerous than ever.<br /><br /> David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-19815386993152762222017-02-13T09:07:59.293-08:002017-02-13T09:07:59.293-08:00Smurfs, OSC's Empire was written to be a tie-i...Smurfs, OSC's Empire was written to be a tie-in to a video game.<br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_(Card_novel)<br /><br /><br />David Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-20962328428028871632017-02-13T08:46:29.942-08:002017-02-13T08:46:29.942-08:00It'll be interesting to see what happens with ...It'll be interesting to see what happens with the gerrymandering issue in WI. Will it get heard become SCOTUS before an appointment (something the GOP doesn't want, banking on the court's makeup when it's nine again). If the decision is upheld (WI is gerrymandered) who does the redistricting?<br /><br />As far as election fraud, apparently the Pres thinks there's 3 million federal criminals out there. Shouldn't he be doing something about that? I still want to know the outcome of the uncounted votes.<br /><br />Carl M.,<br /><br />Media markets do still matter in some places. Such as western WI, which is served by Twin Cities media, which has little interest in affairs across the border. Those are some of the same places in the state with lousy internet. I suspect there's other places with the same problem.<br /><br />Dr. Brin,<br /><br />As an aside, where I grew up, the nerds were always king. There was plenty of bullying, times being what they were, but never because of being smart. But then, most of the local University's professor's had their children in my schools. I can't count on my hands and feet the number I *know* have advanced degrees of one sort or another. College was just the natural expectation, and the graduation rate was something like 95% (it's lower now). And even then, the most successful have left. I was the weird guy on both the football team and math team.<br /><br /><br />TCB,<br /><br />It is unquestionable that the best thing about the internet is that it allows people to come together.<br /><br />Tony Fisk,<br /><br />Might it not also be that at the top of the economy, the social net also becomes more important than raw financial power? If all your friends also have more money than they need, why would they help you in your endeavors if not for the personal ties you ahve with them? Many of those endeavors are either too big or too risky for even the elites.<br /><br />And there are lots of old people who do understand social media, but to them it's just like the old town used to be. You knew everyone, and all the gossip was known. Just the circle is larger.<br /><br />donzelion,<br /><br />And some of us predicted that Iraq had a hundred groups just waiting to explode if the lid came off in the form of removing Hussein and the Baathists. And that those groups weren't interested in western Democracy. But no one was listening.<br /><br />raitonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-20947472003724853752017-02-13T08:20:31.846-08:002017-02-13T08:20:31.846-08:00@David S,
In my opinion, democracy works best whe...@David S,<br /><br />In my opinion, democracy works best when the alignments are fluid on different issues. When I may vote against my Republican neighbor on issues like abortion, but vote with him on issues like fiscal responsibility. So I'd probably vote with the majority on some issues and with the minority on others.<br /><br />Democracy becomes more dysfunctional the more rigid the party lines become. When the same voters break along lines of black/white, poor/rich, sexual freedom/sexual constraint, etc, then you end up with one group of citizens who gets its way on everything and another which never does, and they battle fiercely for the few marginal votes necessary to make their side the "winner".<br /><br />If (say) the Jewish vote roughly approximates the general electorate on most issues, then I don't feel any need to have a Jewish representative to feel that my interests are served. But if it's a case that Jews, as a class, will either be a winner or a loser, then you're darned right I want my congressman to be one. And every other identity group does as well. And in the long run, that doesn't work.<br />LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-44888430370393050312017-02-13T08:12:07.399-08:002017-02-13T08:12:07.399-08:00Sorry about all the typos above. I'm my own wo...Sorry about all the typos above. I'm my own worst editor. ;)Smurphsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-67877409901031729222017-02-13T08:10:30.081-08:002017-02-13T08:10:30.081-08:00Just commenting on a few threads back about Orson ...Just commenting on a few threads back about Orson Scott Card.<br /><br />It's been years since I read Ender's Game, but I never thought the government was a democratic one. Everything devoted to the war effort, inducting children at the age of 6. Seems pretty autocratic and militaristic to me.<br /><br />A few years later I just stooped reading OSC, not because of his view (i was reading for entertainment, not education), but because he stopped editing himself. The stories got bogged down in what I call keyboard diarehha. Thank Gog our host does not have the same affliction!<br /><br />I did read Empire a few years ago, someone gave it to me. I remember thinking while reading... hmm, this makes no sense... hmm, that was silly... hmmm, that logic doesn't follow.<br /><br />Eventually, when he got to the whiz-bang mechs, I realized what was going on. He was trying to sell a movie script. It was all about the fighting. Logic didn't matter.<br /><br />Smurphsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-27302448301123987322017-02-13T08:00:08.746-08:002017-02-13T08:00:08.746-08:00One thing that has been missing from the gerrymand...One thing that has been missing from the gerrymandering discussions is minority representation within parties. If a region has five districts and the population is 80% democrat and 20% republican, then one should expect 4 democrats and one republican. All of the current discussion have been about how to achieve this.<br /><br />But this hasn't been the entirety of the redistricting discussion. If the region is 50% white, 25% Latino and 25% black and the four democrats are consistently white, there have been calls to redistrict to fix this.<br /><br /><br />David Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-38833140095555846942017-02-13T07:55:22.459-08:002017-02-13T07:55:22.459-08:00When ever you think of secured hack on school grad...When ever you think of secured hack on school grade, fbk hack, twitter, whatsapp, credit repairs, private investigation/spy on anyone and infiltrating any server reach out to hotcyberlord@gmail.com for a legit hack business.Estesfranco76https://www.blogger.com/profile/06210372642674230865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-56296178889343586092017-02-13T07:50:11.323-08:002017-02-13T07:50:11.323-08:00More proof that so-called Republican conservatives...More proof that so-called Republican conservatives are adverse to facts and reality.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/11/02/non-partisan-congressional-tax-report-debunks-core-conservative-economic-theory-gop-suppresses-study/#698b907431bd" rel="nofollow">Republicans suppressed a nonpartisan report that found tax breaks for the rich does not stimulate the economy</a>. Of course, people will say "oh, we can't trust that" but consider. This was published in Forbes. Not some left-wing journal.<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-12646509420474047802017-02-13T06:51:14.967-08:002017-02-13T06:51:14.967-08:00@LarryHart.
If a county is part of two districts,...@LarryHart.<br /><br />If a county is part of two districts, then you have two partial counties. If it is completely within one district, then you have one. If the districts lines are all county boundaries, then the number of partial counties equals the number of counties. <br /><br />That ideal would be rare due to differences in population, of course. But a Libertarian activist came rather close designing districts for NC a few years ago that fit one man one vote limits. David would have approved of the result.Carl M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01278814334603631598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-54082565000294112242017-02-13T05:38:35.493-08:002017-02-13T05:38:35.493-08:00City Mouse/Country Mouse
Guess I have gone the ot...City Mouse/Country Mouse<br /><br />Guess I have gone the other direction. I was young (can't really say I ever "grew up") in what passes in the Midwest as a major urban area. I left after Med School and have been living and working in smaller communities ever since. My three kids have all gone to school in mid sized towns and are now living in places even smaller than I do.<br /><br />Yesterday I drove up to my old stompin' grounds. There are always a few things worth doing there although this was an obligatory family visit. But I look around and get zero sense I would want to live there. <br /><br />Its a matter of choice. The inner portions are dingy, bleak places. Grifters - apparently organized - stand on strategic street corners with hand made cardboard signs. When did we get to the point where organized begging began in America? But I still prefer that to monotonous, bland, repetitive suburbia.<br /><br />Small town life. I literally know the Butcher, the Baker and if we had a Candlestick maker I'd know her too. As I turned the corner onto my street one of the local disabled guys strolled by. He does not beg, although he does pester everyone to give him odd jobs with lawn work and such. I know him, his interests, his mom's health status.<br /><br />This has little if anything to do with pigment or with talk radio. I have my preferences, sure. But I think the concept of people having a natural "circle" size has much merit. Your estimable qualities aside virtual pals don't sub for that. Maybe in some parallel life I could be comfortable with my street of brownstones or my cul de sac.<br /><br />TacitusTacitushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17007086196578740689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-67080319571706390962017-02-13T00:46:35.465-08:002017-02-13T00:46:35.465-08:00donzelion:
I took your point, and was trying to l...donzelion:<br /><br /><i>I took your point, and was trying to link an answer to a different question - if most rural people experience cities as 'the place they lose their kids to' - why should they be attracted to racially loaded language? What other fears are at work, and how do they link together?</i><br /><br />Three possible reasons come to mind:<br /><br />1) Because a lot of them believe that support will most reliably come from blood relatives, and the difference between "put your own family first" and racism is really only a difference of scale.<br />2) Because non-whites live overwhelmingly in cities, and anti-metropolitan prejudice can easily mutate into prejudice against the <i>people</i> who live in cities.<br />3) Because their car-dominated way of life increases their exposure to right-wing propaganda media – talk radio in the US, or tabloid newspapers (whose headlines are often prominently displayed at gas stations) in the UK – while leaving them with fewer counterexamples to such propaganda.George Cartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12170378024031141482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-29977758152656187852017-02-12T22:48:00.015-08:002017-02-12T22:48:00.015-08:00Agh, just wrote a response to you Dr. Brin, realiz...Agh, just wrote a response to you Dr. Brin, realized it was much too long, and deleted it. Nutshell version: <br /><br />(1) Bankers trade with their enemies as well as their friends, and the wise do well not to read too much into whom they deal with (at least not until they can read the terms of the deals). So to in intelligence circles. That typifies the Bush/Saudi relationship far more than 'master/slave' - whether in the 70s, 80s, '91, or '03. <br /><br />(2) The Saudis shared your fear of Iran benefiting from the Iraq '03 War. Then again, they've been afraid of Iran since the 7th century.<br /><br />(3) "the Saudis...still have hugely powerful friends in the GOP."<br />The 9/11 Victims Bill suggests that the friendships aren't particularly strong, even if the friends themselves may be. donzelionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991849781932619746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-27320601677871174432017-02-12T22:33:47.738-08:002017-02-12T22:33:47.738-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.donzelionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991849781932619746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-17914203072862897672017-02-12T21:39:27.593-08:002017-02-12T21:39:27.593-08:00George: "Many poor parents no doubt regard t...George: <i>"Many poor parents no doubt regard their children as investments of a sort, and are terrified that they will move way and not be in the locality to care for them when they need it in their old age."</i><br /><br />I took your point, and was trying to link an answer to a different question - if most rural people experience cities as 'the place they lose their kids to' - why should they be attracted to racially loaded language? What other fears are at work, and how do they link together?<br /><br />I reject a premise that rural Americans are more or less racist than urban Americans (at least, without some stronger evidence than I've seen). Seems more likely that there are fear pathways that are already activated - consciousness of mortality - which are easily turned towards various sorts of fears...add in a media outlet that profits from manufacturing fear, and they'll find targets to direct it at...suddenly, murderers and rapists are flooding America, we must build a wall to keep them out.<br />donzelionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991849781932619746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-61431529368243276722017-02-12T20:38:29.057-08:002017-02-12T20:38:29.057-08:00donzel there are some science fiction clubs in the...donzel there are some science fiction clubs in the LA/Orange area. The biggest is LASFS.<br /><br />Till recently they owned a house in LA, just sold it. See: http://www.lasfs.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9&Itemid=357<br /><br />I recommend being near a university and getting on the mailing list of all the department seminars and clubs. Good luck.<br /><br />"For them, when they hear "IS is evil - IS is Wahhabi - Wahhabism comes from Saudi - Saudis created IS" - they follow the same logic that made it possible for a number of U.S. oil interests (and land owners in a handful of red states) to justify invading Iraq "to protect us from the imminent threat." <br /><br />Sorry, that's a huge leap. The Bushes took us to war to protect their masters from Saddam. We were basically rented mercenaries in 91. Then Junior got it into his head to go after Saddam... and yes, Bush-Cheney companies were the biggest winners from all that. But no one (except me) expected the #2 winner to be Iran. Least of all the Saudis, who W thought he was helping, by toppling Saddam.<br /><br />Sorry, I do not see anyone doing your scenario. Take Iran offline? Sure, the present gang around DT are all mullah-baiters. See my next blog! But Although the Kremlin is now the main puppet master, replacing the Saudis, the latter still have hugely powerful friends in the GOP.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.com