John Roberts and SCROTUS: America's Festering Hemorrhoid

Our Supreme Court has dissolved into a pathetic catastrophe.

Yesterday's blatantly CORRUPT decision regarding CORRUPTION was another abomination from a Court I have entirely lost faith in.

John Roberts' writing of the decision was reminiscent of the graven messages left by the “Lipstick Killer,” William Heirens.

Heirens had a compulsion to kill, that he couldn't control.  He was given the nickname “The Lipstick Killer,” by leaving messages on the walls of his victims' bedrooms written in lipstick, reading “For heaven's sake catch me before I kill more.  I cannot control myself.”

Here's what I mean by that...

John Roberts wrote the decision HIMSELF.  In it, he basically said that in order to prove corruption or bribery, you have to PHYSICALLY CATCH money changing hands ON VIDEO, in order for it to be confirmed as corruption.

“Justice” Roberts, though, must have gotten this little tip from the Koch brothers, when he spoke at one of their anal-tongue-cleansing seminars (loosely billed as “conferences”).  He would have NEEDED that tip to deal with a guilty conscience, seeing as how he was about to make SEVERAL decisions in their favor, while completely ignoring the Constitution.

Let's be honest, though... there are more people in SCROTUS than JUST Roberts, who is actually SMALL POTATOES when you compare his corruption to that of “Justice” Uncle Thomas.

We should have known this guy would be an insufferable, worthless douchebag during the Anita Hill hearings... but the problem is, we have too many other insufferable, worthless misogynists in America, who decided that she must have been lying because she's a woman.  Honestly, that's the ONLY reason he was confirmed.  He's a misogynist, and he appealed to all the other American misogynists.

Before becoming a “Justice,” Thomas was a Corporate Lawyer for Monsanto.  Since then, he has never recused himself from judging a Monsanto case, and has found in their favor EVERY FUCKING TIME!!!  I should say, though... what do you expect from the company that used to make AGENT ORANGE for use in Viet Nam?  Obviously, they have no conscience; and neither does Thomas.

Thomas' wife, Ginny, is very politically active in the Tea Party, takes some of her paychecks from the KOCH BROTHERS and other billionaires, who her husband conveniently finds in favor of every time one of them appears before their court.

Thomas has also been caught cheating on his taxes... not reporting all of his income... not reporting parts of his wife's income... more evidence that he doesn't want to get caught being corrupt!

I would take a stab and say that “Justice” Thomas is THE SINGLE MOST CORRUPT SUPREME COURT “JUSTICE” IN AMERICAN HISTORY!  Furthermore, I would argue that there is plenty of evidence to back up that claim.

If the Supreme Court were “Alice in Wonderland,” “Justices” Alito and Scalia would be Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.  I've always seen these two failures of American Education as interchangable.  I've never known them to disagree with each other, and they have the common sense of DRYER LINT, whilst maintaining the intellectual consistency of RUNNY SNOT!

Basically, these two are Theocrats masquerading as “Justices”.  They only believe that ONE religion exists, and that ONLY THAT RELIGION should be granted protection under the law; and that NO other religion matters, because it's not a “real religion,” because it's not what THEY believe.

They are BOTH Creationists, who, as we all know, are absolute fucking morons, with no critical thinking ability whatsoever!

Great... two Creationists sitting on the SUPREME FUCKING COURT... yeah... THAT'S what we need... people with an absolute absence of intellectual integrity... THAT'LL do this country good...

Creationists are archaic, moronic IDIOTS, who have NO BUSINESS being ANYWHERE NEAR law... but we have TWO of them on our HIGHEST COURT (and more than a few on the CONGRESSIONAL SCIENCE COMMITTEE... but that's another rant)!!!



So, here's my question...

Brode's New Bill of Rights

Friends, allow me to make a suggestion... one that goes back to two specific points in our history as a Nation; the writing of the Bill of Rights, and the Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The history of our planet has shown that when money stays in one family for a few generations, they start to think that they're BETTER than everyone else!  When they get this bullshit, inflated sense of superiority (otherwise known as "Affluenza"), they get it in their heads that they can just buy the government out from underneath us, because they're somehow more deserving of rights than the rest of us clods.

We saw it during Slavery... we saw it during the robber-baron era... we saw it during the Great Depression... and we've seen it at it's worst in the last 40 years.  

With the levels of corruption that we've seen at all these times, the time has come to say "Enough is enough" and realize that this is a cycle that will only continue, unless it's addressed as the human rights issue that it is!

Therefore, without further ado, here is my solution to the problem of the tyranny of the wealthy!

I hope you agree, and that you take this to heart as a way to improve our Nation.

If they won't play nice, then we have to MAKE THEM play nice!

text:

WE THE PEOPLE of the United States, having formed a great union, deem these Amendments to the Constitution to be necessary.  As the first Bill of Rights addressed the right to be free from tyranny by the government, it has since shown necessary to also address the tyranny of the wealthy upon the poor.

1. Every man and woman of working age has a right to a job that pays them a living wage.

2. Every man, woman, and child has a right to health care, a home, healthy food and clean water.

3. No executive position shall pay more than one-hundred times the annual salary of the lowest-paid position under their charge.  Executive wage increases must be voted on by the workforce.

4. No corporate entity may use legal representation of greater expense than that of the person suing them.

5.  All workers have a right to arbitration for unjust firings.

6.  Privately-run enterprises that are deemed to be “predatory” can be shut down and their assets seized by the United States Government.

7.  The right of the people to be free from persecution by their employers for what they say and express themselves in their private lives.

8.  The right of the people to know what information is gathered about them by corporate or non-profit entities.

9.  The right of the people to be free from Corporate Monopolism.

10.  The top twenty percent of the wealthiest individuals and businesses may not lobby Government at any level.

Well, there you go... was it everything you were hoping for?  Does this look like 10 things that will address the problems that we currently face?  Is this radical enough?  Is this TOO radical?  You tell me...

Don't Forget About the Stupid People

“The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.”

-John Steinbeck

I don't want to come off as a pessimist, but here's the thing...

I'm frustrated. I'm pissed off. I feel disenfranchised. I feel ignored.

… and here's why...

I've written letter after letter to politicians, and more than a few to political parties. I keep telling them one thing. In a nutshell, it can be boiled down to this:

Don't forget about the stupid people.

… and here's what I mean by that...

The great George Carlin once said, “Imagine how stupid the average person is... now, realize that half the people are even dumber than that!” I've found this philosophy very useful in understanding the reasons that things are so bad right now.

You've got a bunch of evil, rich douchebags (like the Koch brothers) who understand how stupid people are, and have a subordinate organization (the Republican Party) to push their agenda and make it sound reasonable to said “stupid people”.

On the other side, you've got a bunch of people (the Democratic Party) who are so smart, they're stupid as well. These people, however, aren't stupid in the same way. Unlike the Republican stupid people, they possess the ability of CRITICAL THINKING! Unfortunately, that means that they think EVERYONE possesses the ability of critical thinking. As a result, they expect that the Republicans will have a sudden bout of rationality.

The fact of the matter is, if they are not able to think critically, then they will NEVER have that much-desired bout of rationality! The Democratic Party wants to give the stupid people the “benefit of the doubt.” They think that people will suddenly just "wake up."  They also, unfortunately, think that talking down to people is rude.

It's not “talking down” to people, though, if you're talking to them in a manner that they can relate to. If you talk over too many people's heads, they'll be more offended. They're more likely to think you're calling them stupid if you say things they are incapable of understanding, than if you HUMBLE yourself to speak to them in a way they can actually fucking relate to.

Remember during the 2008 elections, Republicans were referring to Democrats as “elitist?”

That's what they meant. “Elitism” means something different to Republicans than it does to Democrats.

Democrats see “elitism” as wealthy people talking down about poor people, as rich "Affluenza cases" are want to do, and have been increasingly verbal about.

Republicans see “elitism” as people who talk over their heads. Don't forget... these are people who OPPOSE education! Remember this?:

They think that education is “Liberal Indoctrination,” so they REJECT education readily! Therefore, when someone is more intelligent than them, they must be talking down to them like a snob! On top of that, if someone is more educated than them, they must be a filthy, stinkin', no good, Socialist, Fascist Liberal!

LET'S STOP THERE FOR A MOMENT, AND I'LL POINT SOMETHING OUT:

Most people WANT intelligent people leading them, don't they? After all, aren't smart people going to make better decisions? You'd think so... right?

Most of US would make that distinction, but when you see intelligence as the ENEMY, you're not going to vote for intelligent people; you're going to vote for people you believe to be more on YOUR level.

Let this serve as evidence of my previously posed assertion as to the lack of critical thinking skills of the people in the Republican Party. You or I READILY see the blatant failure of logic in abject hatred of intelligent people. Why do you think so many “facepalm” memes are floating around social media?

Consider Ken Ham, curator of the “Creation Museum.” He will never abandon his beliefs, because he has absolutely NO way to weigh one set of facts against another. Ergo, it really did nothing for Bill Nye to debate him, other than giving people more ammunition to laugh at the Creationists with. Very few positions will change.

NOW LET ME STOP AGAIN AND POINT SOMETHING ELSE OUT:

This is a perfect example of the stupidity of intelligent people. The notion that debating indoctrinated people who completely lack reason might actually accomplish something, depicts the inability of intelligent people to realize HOW STUPID the stupid people are, and the lack of understanding as to why.

How often do you hear people ask, “Why don't they learn?” or “Why aren't they getting this?”

These questions often accompany facial expressions of pure confusion. The people asking these questions (usually news commentators) sit there, DUMBFOUNDED to the stupidity of things people say or do, never realizing that they're reporting on people who have NO ABILITY to change at this point!

ON A DAILY BASIS, I see or hear a talk show host, or a journalist, or another intellectual type person PULLING THEIR HAIR OUT because the person they're debating simply has no ability to challenge their knowledge or understanding, and the host completely fails to understand this fact about them. It should be noted, however, that in the case of politicians, they may be saying these things because they're PAID to say these things, regardless of what they truly believe.

On social media, if they feel they're being forced to challenge their beliefs, they talk over the person they're debating, attempt to change the topic, and ultimately resort to insults; many of which make no sense, as the person using them has no concept as to their meaning, but they've been told that these are BIG, BAD, DIRTY, LOW-DOWN things to call people, like “Socialist,” “Marxist,” “Maoist,” “Fascist,” and “Liberal.”

Think about it... haven't you noticed these things, yourself? Haven't you encountered people that are both incredibly stupid and incredibly hard-headed? Haven't you encountered REALLY stupid people who believe whole-heartedly that they're smarter than everyone else?

Too many people are either too stupid to know they're stupid, or so smart, they're stupid.

A Conundrum for the Ages

I realize I haven't written for a while.  I've been trying to branch out my talents and techniques, to encompass a broader variety of mediums.  I hope you've enjoyed my recent offerings.

So, dusting off the ol' cobwebs, I thought I'd share the most recent mental query loop I've been stuck in.  

I'm often very frustrated and conflicted between my beliefs, my thoughts, and reality. Sure, I realize that EVERYONE has these conflicts... that's what makes up half of our existence on this planet! Through a series of questions, I will demonstrate my current prevailing enigma... then, maybe someone ELSE can contemplate it as well, and I don't have to suffer this alone.

Question #1:

Is it ever ok to advocate for the death of someone (this includes capital punishment and/or murder)?

Question #2:

There are LEGITIMATE threats to society, due to lack of Psychological and/or Psychiatric treatment. Sometimes, they snap and shoot up movie theaters, malls, or schools. These people will never be re-introduced into society, and will likely only go on to kill more people in prison. Is their life as precious as yours or mine, if they are going to spend their life taking your life or mine?

Question #3:

Some of the most mentally deranged people are also the WEALTHIEST people. They use their money to ensure that the rest of the “unwashed masses” never see a dime. This is one of the effects of the recently coined term, “Affluenza.” These people are entirely destructive to society, and likely have no chance at rehabilitation. This is something that they WILL pass on to their children, further contributing to the problem. What should be done with them?

Question #4:

Given the political power these wealthy people have, it's likely that they will never see a courtroom for their crimes. If they DO somehow see a courtroom, they'll just pay a fine and continue to do what they are doing. This does NOTHING to solve the problem. If our Government and courts have been so deeply corrupted by the neutering money of the wealthy, how can we trust them to hold the wealthy to any kind of accountability for what they have done to us?

Question #5:

Given the level of corruption of governments (notice the plural) and destruction to society and the environment, which threatens us all, is this a matter that the World Court should take on as “Crimes Against Humanity”?

Question #6:

If our governments CAN'T act, and the World Court WON'T act to hold these people accountable for their crimes, including slavery, treason, global wealth theft, racketeering, bribery, extortion, and class genocide (their unwillingness to allow the poor the dignity of medical assistance, food, or basic needs by actively fighting against it while seeking greater wealth from the governments for themselves, IS a genocide of the poor!), at what point does it fall upon the duty of the PEOPLE OF THE WORLD to exact their justice from these people?

Question #7:

If the people were to do such a thing, what would justice be? Some form of “People's Court”? A tribunal held by the MASSES, rather than the courts they've corrupted? What good would that do, if we have to go through the Government and Courts to uphold any verdict?

Question #8:

Even if “the people” find these corrupt bastards guilty, their banks still have to be garnished. There would be no way to hold them accountable. What then?

Question #9:

Consider Bastielle day... the French Revolutionaries stormed the Bastielle, freed their friends and families who had been unfairly imprisoned, and then raided the Aristocracy and beheaded every rich asshole they could find; after which balance was restored to the distribution of wealth. But consider this... there were no BANKS back then! Everything was handled through precious metals!

Given the prevalence of banks in today's world, beheading the wealthy ruling elite really wouldn't accomplish anything more than kicking their fortunes down to their Affluenzic, worthless blueblood kids, and we face the same problem again. The only difference would be, the wealthy would protect themselves better, because they can afford better walls and landmines.

Result: nothing gained; problem potentially escalated. Wealthy get worse and more indignant. Hunger Games is created to give poor people SOME hope.

So, if our Governments CAN'T act, the World Court WON'T act, our own tribunal would accomplish NOTHING, and assassinations would only make things WORSE...

What should we do?

What CAN we do?

Are we just completely, incurably fucked?

If They Come For Your Guns

Suppose, for just a moment, that someone actually DOES come to “take yer guns away”... what are you REALLY gonna do???

Are you going to have the presence of mind to wonder WHY they're taking your guns?

Or are you going to think that the big, evil, Totalitarian government is taking over... or will you consider the notion that maybe they ACTUALLY have a reason to pay a visit?

What if they have a warrant? What will you do then?

Do you REALLY want to be “that guy” on the news who barricades himself in his house with an arsenal, creating a three-day standoff with the police? I mean, when you see those guys, don't you think, “Yeah... that guy SHOULDN'T have guns...”

… but if YOU'RE on the other side of the camera, and YOU'RE the one who people are watching; all of whom are thinking the same thing about you that you thought about all those other people on the news, will you think, “Man... maybe I really SHOULDN'T have all those guns...” or are you going to think, “I WAS RIGHT!!! THE TYRANNICAL GOVERNMENT IS HERE!!!”

Your standoff won't be successful... the police can cut your power off... they can make sure you don't get food... they can hold out as long as it takes.  Even if you have a basement crammed full of MRE's and canned foods, you have to run out sooner or later... and they'll be ready for you, when you do.  So all the guns in the world won't make a lick of difference.  How long do you REALLY think you can hold out?  Furthermore, don't you think that they; being of much larger numbers than just you in your house; might have you out-numbered?

Let me be clear... "Rambo" was a MOVIE!  Nobody's going to successfully take on the police or the army with a survival knife and a bow and arrow; nor will they do it with a bunch of consumer-grade weaponry.  If you HONESTLY believe that you stand a chance, then you really ARE crazy or stupid... take your pick.

(Author's note: I realize that he took on the American government in "First Blood;" not "Rambo"... "Rambo" was in Vietnam... it's just the name that people recognize.)

Here's the truth... if you've made threats against the government, and you've said that you intend to use your guns against the government in a scenario you've been presented by the NRA (even if it has ZERO basis in reality), then don't you fit into the same category as all those crazy people you see on the news?

Do you REALLY want to come down on the side of dipshits like the Branch Davidian Cult and the “Sovereign Citizens?”

The Branch Davidian Cult was holding children hostage... they were every bit as crazy as the Manson Family... and they had a stockpile of guns that probably rivaled some small nations. We all know that they were BATSHIT CRAZY, and look where it got them...

As for the “Sovereign Citizens,” this is a movement that's founded in stupidity... it's the belief that one can renounce their citizenship, so they don't have to pay taxes or follow the laws of the big, evil, Totalitarian American government. They have been known to start shootouts with police when getting pulled over. 

I was behind someone at the Grocery Store one day, when one of these morons decided to start bitching when their receipt said that sales tax was included with their total.

“But, sir... we CAN'T take the tax off...”

“I TOLD YOU WHEN YOU WERE RINGING ME UP... I'M SOVEREIGN FROM THE OPPRESSIVE GOVERNMENT, AND I DON'T PAY TAXES!!! WHAT ABOUT THAT DON'T YOU FUCKING UNDERSTAND???”

(me) “Then don't take any of the roads or bike paths that THE REST OF US are paying for... fuck off and go home! Don't wanna live here? Move to fucking Somalia... Saudi Arabia... I don't give a fuck... just get out of OUR country!” (SOMEBODY had to say it... the checker couldn't... she was at work... she would have gotten fired... so she gave me a “thank you” smile)

The guy put his hand on his hip, exposing the handle of his handgun. “And what are you gonna DO about it?”

It sure was fun watching him get tazed by the police five minutes later, when he tried to pull his gun on them... I only wish I could have been there when he was sitting in the police department (that I paid for, but not him), making a phone call to his wife...

“DAMMITT, EDGAR!!! I TOLD YOU not to do that! Now look what it's got you!”

Noticing a theme, here? These people are DUMB AS ROCKS, and you want to side with THEM??? Where's the logic in that?

You like to try to throw some form of logic into your argument by saying “Well, Hitler took all the guns away, and look what happened... Holocaust!”

Again, you're falling victim to things you've been told that simply aren't true. The fact of the matter is, Hitler didn't take the guns away; the Treaty of Versailles did.

The Allies didn't want to see a repeat of WWI; which happened, in part, due to German Nationalistic Imperialism; and fueled by Germany's loose gun laws. SOME citizens were disarmed by the treaty, because (just like the Branch Davidian Cult) they posed a threat to the peaceful existence of the rest of the people of Europe.

Just like the morons back then, some of the morons now SHOULD have their guns taken away! You say, yourself, that some people shouldn't have guns... and that's what history shows, too. We all agree that the dividing line should be HOW the guns are used; whether they're used for oppression or crime; or they're used for hunting and sport. We can all agree that there are some things that guns SHOULDN'T be used for...

So then, why are you so concerned that the government is coming for YOUR guns???

If they come with a warrant, and we BOTH know that very few warrants are issued for such a reason, then why would you think they're coming for your guns just to be oppressive dicks? Bear in mind, the Branch Davidian Cult felt the EXACT same way as you do; that their rights were being infringed; as do the “Sovereign Citizens;” as do all those crazy assholes who barricade themselves in their house and force standoffs...

Here's my recommendation... if you REALLY think that you're entitled to your weapons, then don't present yourself as looking like a paranoid schizophrenic! If you want your weapons, then don't suggest they should be used against the government, because we BOTH know (as I've presented in evidence) that the people who attempt to, always show that they're FUCKING NUTS; and they don't stand a chance, anyway!!!

Let me ask, has your delusion spread so far that you think you're different than the rest of the crazies in such a scenario? Because let me tell you, when you talk about taking on the government with your little arsenal, you sound JUST like them!

Definition of "Stupid" Expanded to Specifically Include North Carolina Legislature

In case you haven't heard, North Carolina has just found a new level of stupid to sink to. With this move, it appears that Mississippi has competition in their stampede towards “Idiocracy.” (Incidentally, I don't believe Mr. Judge intended that movie to be a suggestion.)

North Carolina's State Legislature is about to pass a bill that declares North Carolina to be above the rulings of the Federal Courts and the Constitution, with regards to the Separation of Church and State.

You see, North Carolina only has ONE religion that matters, and everyone who believes differently from them are simply unworthy of equal rights or representation. Therefore, they believe that this religion should be the OFFICIAL religion of North Carolina, and that for that reason, they deserve special advantages and privileges that are ignored to other religions... I mean, those religions aren't THAT religion, so they must be WRONG... they must be some kind of CULT... they simply don't matter...

… so that their schools can lead prayers...

… so that they can go to a “school voucher system” that excludes religions that they don't agree with, like other states have tried to do...

… so that they can use ONE RELIGION to govern (or rather, oppress) people...

… so that they can pass bills like Tennessee's law that makes it legal for Christians to bully gays...

Am I the only person who sees something WRONG here???

I mean, if North Carolina is declaring that they magically, for some reason, are above the courts and Federal Government, doesn't that look like an attempt to secede???

Following this logic, North Carlina can just as easily pass more measures regarding ways they feel “oppressed” by the Federal government... they can declare that their citizens don't have to pay Income Taxes, for example... or that their cops have the right to search and seize anything they damn well please; warrant or not... or that the Second Amendment says you can own tanks and F-18s... or that there is no such thing as a minimum wage... or they could even bring back slavery, if they wanted to (although, if they undo the minimum wage, it would do the same thing)...

In the articles I've read, they haven't stated where North Carolina believes they have the authority to do this, but I can assume that they believe it comes from the Tenth Amendment, which reads:

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Now, when most morons talk about the Tenth Amendment, they know they're talking about “State's Rights,” but most of them have NEVER READ THE FUCKING AMENDMENT!!!

If they had, they would understand that this basically says “if it doesn't say it here, then it's up to you to figure it out...”

What THEY think it means is, “States can do whatever the fuck they want; even if they want to eliminate parts of the Constitution to meet their own sick desires.”

If they didn't think that, then they wouldn't be attempting this legislative coup d'etat. That's the only rational reason I can conceive to explain their actions.

… but then again, it may not be entirely rational to attempt to understand the rantings of irrational people... I mean, sure, they're interesting and all... but only a Schizophrenic could follow what they call “logic.”

North Carolina, you may have just inspired me to create a “movement toward Idiocracy” timeline... while I'm thankful for the creative inspiration, I just have to ask... wouldn't you rather be known for doing something GOOD?

Of course, the problem runs deeper than just the legislators... I mean, SOMEBODY had to put them in office, right? They didn't just APPEAR there, magically. They didn't just walk in one day and start legislating... they were VOTED IN!

Now, what does that say about the voting populous of North Carolina? Well, given the fact that they voted for Obama twice, it's safe to say that the majority of the people only vote once every four years (which, by the way, is the case across THE ENTIRE COUNTRY).

The State Legislature, however, is obviously elected by an entirely un-informed electorate; nearly impervious to such things as “facts” or any understanding of the Constitution. The people who elect these morons only serve to further prove the hypotheses in my earlier post, “Cultivating the Stupid.”

Yes, as people get dumber, they elect dumber people, who do things that help to make people dumber; which only hurts the rest of us, because those of us who actually DO have the ability to think rationally have to constantly deal with the pure rivers of mental sludge that come from this segment of the population.

Watch out going through doors... they might close on your hands, with your knuckles dragging behind you like that...

Actually, Yes... You ARE a Bigot...

Some topics are unavoidable when they're prominent in the news. Lately, one of these topics has been that of marriage equality. One common theme keeps popping up, and it BOTHERS THE SHIT OUT OF ME! One such discussion happened recently at a local bar. It went something like this...

“I'm not a bigot; I just don't think gays should marry...”

Actually, yes... you ARE a bigot.

“NO I'M NOT! I have friends who are gay...”

… and yet, you think they're less of a human than you are?

“Why would you say that?”

Well, you don't think that they deserve to have the same rights that you do. If we, as humans, are supposed to have equal rights, then why do you think they don't deserve the same rights you do, then that would suggest that you see them as less human.

“But the Bible says it's wrong...”

Actually, the OLD TESTAMENT says that, and a lot of other crazy things... you left your ex-wife after she cheated on you... did you slaughter a fatted calf after stoning her? CHRISTians are supposed to look to the words of CHRIST; and in Matthew 19:12, he says (in the language of his time) that some PEOPLE are born gay.

If they are, indeed, people, as Jesus said, then don't they deserve to live under the umbrella of the words “Love thy neighbor?”

It doesn't say:

“Love thy neighbor*”

*Unless they're gay

“But the Church opposes it...”

The First 10 words of the First Amendment read “Congress shall pass no law respecting an establishment of Religion.” The position of your Church is irrelevant. Religious doctrine can't become law.

“But the next part says 'nor abridging the free-exercise thereof.' Laws can't discriminate on my religion.”

If you don't support gay marriage, don't have one. Your religious beliefs aren't being oppressed. However, if you're telling other people, who believe differently than you; that marriage is about love, rather than gender; that their religious beliefs can't be expressed, just like your's, because of YOUR beliefs, then aren't their religious beliefs being oppressed by yours?

“So just because someone chooses to be gay, they should be allowed special laws?”

When did you choose to be straight? Furthermore, how is that a “special law?” It seems to me that more laws have been created to DENY people this right... simply removing those laws, to make the current laws apply to EVERYONE sounds more like we're REMOVING “special laws,” going the other way; just like the repeal of the 3/5 clause in the Constitution.

"I didn't choose to be straight.  I just know I am."

So I guess, then, it's outrageous to think that other people might be born different than you.  I guess, then, everybody must be born with brown hair and blue eyes.  I guess, then, everybody must need glasses.  I guess we're all just born the same?

"Well, no... obviously not... but..."

So then, it's perfectly possible that someone else might grow up KNOWING they're gay... glad we settled that...

“But marriage is a religious pact. If the Constitution can't tell us how to worship, how can marriages be regulated by law?”

Actually, marriage is a contractual agreement with the State and Federal government. If it weren't, marriage status wouldn't affect taxes. If marriage weren't a legal contract, then everybody would have to file taxes individually, rather than as a married couple.

“But it'll hurt the economy...”

How will more weddings hurt an economy? That means more officiants, more cakes and bakers and bartenders and caterers and limo drivers and dove handlers and event planners and event centers (which may need to be built or renovated) and more gift registries (which means more gift buying... stuff needs to be made when stuff is bought) and more traveling and more hotel stays and eating out and more flying and driving and Amtraking and Busing... that all sounds like MORE jobs to me, and a BETTER economy...

“Gay marriage will threaten traditional marriages...”

So, if gays are allowed to marry, would you leave your new wife for a man?

“No... I'm not gay...”

Then YOUR marriage won't be threatened. Why should it matter to you?

“Well, it doesn't matter to me, but it might affect other people...”

And why is that your business?

“Well, it's not...”

Then it shouldn't matter...

“But marriage has ALWAYS been between one man and one woman.”

No it hasn't. In Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, some Native American tribes, Mormons, and many Muslim current countries, marriage is between one man and SEVERAL women, or two people who love each other, regardless of gender. The Roman Emperor, Caligula, married his horse. Clearly, marriage has NOT always been between 'one man and one woman.'

“And Ancient Greece and Rome fell; the Native Americans don't have many people left; the Mormons abandoned polygamy; and the Muslims are... well... Muslims...”

Greece and Rome fell because their empires got too big to maintain, and they collapsed beneath their own decadence and arrogance. Gay marriage had nothing to do with it; furthermore, it's largely because of CHRISTIANS that there aren't many Native Americans left; and after your comment about Muslims, how can you say you're not a bigot?

“Well, I was talking about gays; not Muslims...”

Should Muslims be allowed to marry?

“Well, of course they should.”

So why is it ok for Muslims, but not gays?

“Muslims believe in a God, just like I do.”

So Atheists shouldn't be allowed to get married, either?

“I didn't say that...”

Yes, you did... you said that the reason Christians and Muslims should be allowed to marry, is because they believe in God. Alternately, if someone doesn't believe in God, they shouldn't be allowed to marry.

“I didn't say that. There's no reason Atheists shouldn't marry...”

… as long as they're not gay...

“Right...”

Tell me again, how are you not a bigot?

“... uhhhhh...”

Cultivating the Stupid

… perhaps I spend too much time on social media...

… perhaps I read too much...

… perhaps I know too much...

… or maybe I'm just delusional...

… but I keep seeing something that bothers the living shit out of me...

I've been in a few “debates” with people who think public education should be eliminated because (paraphrasing their arguments) “education is liberal indoctrination.” It always comes from the same types of people... Fundamentalist Christians who either send their children to religious school or home-school them.

The bigger problem is, it's spreading. A simple Google search will reveal A SHITLOAD of articles that people have written to make people FEAR the education system! Does that make ANY sense at all???

… and that's just the beginning... barely scratching the surface of the problem...

Here's the thing... OBVIOUSLY, stupid people are easier to control and manipulate than people who are competent of the world around them.

There has even been a Presidential Primary Candidate who espoused these beliefs; Rick Santorum. Don't forget, he was also the guy who said, “We will never have the elite smart people on our side.”

Yes, there are LITERALLY people IN GOVERNMENT who are asking you to retain your ignorance... doesn't that just PISS YOU OFF???

Obviously, these people are too stupid to recognize a stupid idea when they hear it.

Is there any way we could declare willful stupidity a form of insanity??? I mean, that's completely antithetical to the PURPOSE of being alive... the purpose of life is to ADVANCE THE SPECIES for the lives of those who come after!

… and advancement doesn't mean breeding like rabbits... it means making a BETTER species; not a BIGGER species. If we're going to be the top of the food chain, it should be because we have the tools to survive and excel; not just because we have a large population!!!

So, when people reject something that SHOULD be the most BASIC form of rationality, shouldn't we be able to declare them to be a threat to themselves and society? I wouldn't say it, if it weren't true... I mean, they ARE a threat to themselves and society... just look at the House of Representatives... look at the gerrymandering... look at the Theocratic proposals... look at the denial of reality... all signs that their INSANITY has done great damage to society, and through their rejection of rationality, damage to themselves...

In jest, may I suggest that we re-instate the “3/5 Compromise” in the 14thAmendment; but relate it to indoctrinated morons instead of black people? Maybe then, they'll be forced to realize how stupid they are, and they'll be forced to look at what their stupidity has done to us...

… a man can dream, can't he?

Seriously... it's time we stopped letting the stupidest people make all the decisions for us!!! I mean, look at all the morons who buy into douchebags like Alex Jones (who may actually be a sign that evolution CAN go in reverse)...

...look at all the people who think Michele Bachmann is smart enough for government (I swear, there is just something WRONG with that woman... maybe her parents threw her on the “Tilt-A-Whirl” too early or something... or maybe she just liked taking “clothes dryer rides” when she was a kid)...

… look at all the people who think Glenn Beck knows what he's talking about...

Yes, these people are evidence that the “Dunning-Kruegger Effect” is alive and well; and that it's causing us MAJOR problems within our voting populous.

The Republicans have allowed a culture of stupidity to fester and spawn; and now that it's causing a problem, there's no turning back. They've allowed TOO MUCH stupid to fill their ranks, and now they're rapidly becoming an obsolete brand of Theocrats and indoctrinated fools.

I realize that this may be a little too harsh for some people's taste... personally, I don't give a shit...

I find ignorance to be OFFENSIVE... and when that ignorance is WILLFUL, that goes beyond offensive to despicable!

This trend can be traced back to Ricard Nixon's “Southern Strategy.” He needed votes, and he was desperate, so he decided to appeal to the Southern “Dixiecrats,” who were basically the former Democrats who were opposed to the direction that the party had taken with regards to Civil Rights (women's suffrage, voting rights, etc).

Now, we all know that bigots and misogynists are on the VERY BOTTOM of the intellectual scale, so we can start to see where this is heading.  By the time that Regan came along, the Plutocrats saw that all the dumbest people were packaged up in a nice, neat little box, so they knew they could easily control them with the fear and hate that already welled deeply within them. Furthermore, they knew that many of them had inseparable ties to their faith, which gave them another means of control.

… draw the conclusion that the whims of the rich are actually “Christian values,” and they'll follow you FOREVER!

So, when it worked for the bankers, then they knew it would work for the oil industry... and the pharmaceutical industry... and any douchebag employer who thinks their employees are lesser humans (I'm looking at YOU, Wal Mart)... and the tobacco industry...

Eventually, it became EASY for douchebags to deceive and control the dumbest among us... they had people like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly to do their bidding. They could convince people of anything they wanted.

… and then, along came the climate discussion...

Knowing that the base of the party was already prone to reject science in favor of their own beliefs, they knew that it would be easy to convince people that ecological studies are founded in “junk science,” so that they didn't have to worry about pesky agencies like the EPA...

… I mean, if it's science, then it MUST be against the Bible SHOMEHOW, right? God made this world PERFECT, so nothing man can do has the power to break it, right? If it's “God made,” then it must be flawless...

… seems legit...

Now, all these people have been so deceived that there may be no coming back from this. They've spent so much time “cultivating stupid” that there's not enough rationality left in the party to bring it back to the centrist level that it needs to be in order for our country to operate in the way that it needs to.

Translation: we're in for a few REALLY HARD decades... get your helmets on, because the repeated face-palms could, at some point, cause a concussion...

... because now, they haven't just “cultivated” the stupid... they've ELECTED it!

Once the stupid spreads far enough and seeps deep enough into the populous that enough people are willing to ELECT the stupid, then it's seeped into the foundation; which means the house has to be torn down and rebuilt from the base up...

There will, of course, be a period before the property is bought, in which the house just sits there...

… condemned...

...boarded-up...

… haunted by the demons of the past...

… who will have to be exercised in order for rebuilding to take place...

… but until then, you might want to wear waders in the basement, because the SHIT gets DEEP!!!

Well... That Explains EVERYTHING!!!

Such brilliance is rarely found in something so simple. Have you ever heard about the “Dunning-Kruegger Effect?”

I doubt it.

But in order to TRULY understand the problems we have today, it's ESSENTIAL to understand the “Dunning-Kruegger Effect.”

So, what is it?

Well, in their words,

“Acrossfour studies, the authors found that participants scoring in thebottom quartile on tests of humor, grammar, and logic grosslyoverestimated their test performance and ability. Although testscores put them in the 12th percentile, they estimated themselves tobe in the 62nd.”

… and here's what they said, in “you and me” talk...

Basically, the dumbest people don't have the ability to realize they're stupid. They consistently overestimate themselves, and underestimate everyone else. They BELIEVE they're smart, despite MOUNTAINS of evidence to the contrary.

… That's the BASICS of it...

Now consider what that ACTUALLY means, in the context of today's biggest problems, like the economy, education, and social issues...

Consider, also, the fact that Professors Dunning and Kruegger have stated that Creationism is a tangible example of their study... despite SOLID SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE, they cling to their book's claim that the world is between 6 and 10,000 years old; and insist that there is “science” to support their claim.

… but there's another side to the “Dunning-Kruegger Effect,” as well... the stupid people aren't the only ones who have a consistent problem... the intelligent people have a constant struggle, themselves...

You see, intelligent people understand that the more you learn, the less you know. They have the ability to question the things that they had previously believed to be true. As such, they believe that EVERYONE has this ability; which the stupid people do not.

The outcome is, intelligent people tend to overestimate stupid people; falsely believing that they have the ability to learn and adapt.

… doesn't that explain EVERYTHING about politics right now???

… the Republicans (by way of Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter, and the rest of their propagandists) have spent the last 30 years cultivating the stupid people... feeding them more and more stupid... providing them with news that makes them MORE stupid... and now... that's all they have...

… so that left the Democratic Party with the smart people... the people who consistently overestimate the intelligence of their opponents...

That's why our Congress has dissolved into the governmental equivalent of a Pre-School class. If we REALLY want “change,” we have to deal with each other on an intellectual level that people can UNDERSTAND!!!

That means that when we formulate our arguments to MORONS, we have to speak in short sentences, and use smaller words. Talking over their heads will just enrage them. Look at the tea party for an example... enraged by words they don't understand, like Socialism, Communism, Fascism, Dictator, Marxist, and “teabag”...

Those are words they heard, and thought they sounded bad, and they were TOLD that they were bad, so they started using them; without the knowledge of what they MEAN. Now, convincing them that their definitions of these words (and many, many more) are not what they believe them to be...

… and they've been presented with false history...

… and false representations of the Constitution...

… and lies about the poor...

… and lies about minorities...

… and lies about wars...

… and lies about religion...

… and lies about health care...

… and lies about voter fraud...

…and lies about immigrants...

… and they believe it all...

But when they were told these things, they were also told that anyinformation to the contrary is a lie.

So now, getting these people to understand the truth will be nearly impossible.

Not only that, but many of them are dumber than we think, and we have to find a “Sesame Street” kind of way to present it to them that appeals to the toddler in their intellect.

… and here, we find ourselves at a cross-roads...

How do we get the stupid people to accept the facts that they've been told are lies; and how do we get smart people to realize how stupid the stupid people are?

I believe it all starts with the smart people... the smart people are the ones who have the ability to adapt and learn from their mistakes, so they have to be the ones to learn how to deal with the stupid people on their own level.

Am I being too harsh?

Well, given the problems that we face as a result of the anti-intellectualism that's been allowed to fester, I don't think I am being too harsh...

… maybe this will snap some stupid people into realizing they're stupid...

… maybe this will snap some smart people into analyzing their mistakes from a different direction...

… a man can dream, can't he?