Politics

Interesting story on a unique card Texas can play, out of the 1845 Annexation Agreement, that could possibly work. So what does that mean? Well, Texas could field another 8 senators if they divided themselves into 5 states. That would tip the balance of power to republicans, maybe for perpetuity with that kind of edge, if one can assume Texas states would stay red. And according to Tom Delay: That's 8 new senators, Tom, you already have 2. I'm quite sure most would dismiss Texas as redneck whiny brats, but I think that's oversimplifying and a bit flippant since this is an old streak of theirs. Thirsting for independence shouldn't be disparage…

Huxley seems to have been more prescient than Orwell. We are not being controlled by an overarching and forceful government that decides what and when we think. Instead we are being made complacent by our technology and toys... Distracting and desensitizing ourselves with 24 hour news cycles, self selection and extreme filtering of our sources of information, and ready made context lacking bite sized snippets of gossip and garbage that get fed to us by the latest social media. It's sad that during the Age of Information truth itself has become such a casualty. Short memories in the United States are killing us. Do you agree?

Thiere was a study I found from Stanford is comparing how different regions attain economic growth. In the middle of the report, they mention that lowering population growth is a contributing factor to increasing standard of living. Even though this seems obvious to many people, there are still many who cling to the belief that more humans are necessary for a country's well being, while in fact the opposite is true. Even though lightly populated areas do experience economic growth with population growth, eventually a large population becomes a burden that is too difficult to feed, house and employ, and educate as we are beginning to learn in this country. It's partic…

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So, I stood in line in the rain at 6:10 this morning to make sure I could get in and out when the polls opened at 7 am. Presented my drivers license to the lady at the voting desk, they scanned it and told me I had to fill out a provisional ballot. So I go to the next desk to fill out the provisional ballet where they inform me that my United States Citizenship is in question! The guy at the provisional desk actually already had a piece of paper in front of him with my name on it, before he knew who I was, that stated my citizenship was in question. Born in the USA, lived here all my life, but they don't think I am a citizen. I have never had this issue, ever! …

Interesting analysis http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2012/10/eight-causes-of-deficit-fiscal-cliff.html I like how he crystalizes the analysis: we had a budget surplus under Clinton. So we need to look at what changed. The 2009 budget, Bush's last, had a deficit projection of $400 million, but a revenue shortfall of $600 million, for a $1 trillion total, adding to the debt from various actions that were not paid for: wars, Medicare part D, and tax cuts. The actual deficit came in higher; there are appropriations that happened during the year. But that's the baseline for the deficit that Obama inherited. There's also the interesting observation that pa…

Even FOX "news" is now saying Obama won. Good job. Other big wins: Elizabeth Warren won, Todd Akin got legitimately raped in the polls, and Colorado became the first state to legalize marijuana. Also, Maine legalized gay marriage. Man, are some conservatives going to be PISSED about this election.

For those of you who do not already know about it, "The Silent Scream" was a classic pro-life video where a medical doctor explains in detail the procedures used in abortion. By today's standards it is a really slow and boring film (nearly a half hour long), but it was well made, and is still often referred to amongst pro-life activists. Abortion is a silent injustice. What is the true cost of a woman being "liberated" ? Sometimes I wonder just how many little human fetuses have to be sacrificed on the altar of women's rights. So sit back and enjoy the videos comments welcome. Perhaps these old videos will stimulate some good debate.

There is, of course, more than one way to read the consequences of the re-election of Barack Obama. As one who found reasons to favor his defeat, even while agreeing that Romney and his party are not an acceptable alternative, I am at this point considering whether, and if so, how, to broach this subject here. My argument has to be addressed to those who see Obama's re-election as either entirely salutary or at least the best of all practical possibilities and who see few or no negatives attending it. That is because it's now clear that, without some successful work on recapturing a now-lost-segment of the electorate, there can be no recovery of anything "to the Left…

Here's a video explaining how our budget got how it is now. How is it that Obama is responsible for the debt, again?

When America acts like a democracy rather than a democratic republic, we get things like equality and recreational use. It is almost enough to restore some faith in humanity.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/puerto-rico-votes-on-whether-to-change-relationship-with-us-elects-governor-and-legislators/2012/11/06/d87278ae-288b-11e2-aaa5-ac786110c486_story.html Honestly, I think this is probably bigger news than Obama getting re-elected. Puerto Rico has long been a US territory but has been deserving of statehood for some time and it seems as though the popular vote has finally swung that way as well. Obviously the measure has to be submitted and approved by congress before statehood is granted and internal politics will no doubt slow things down. I wonder if they'll be any opposition at here. Probably many Americans don't even reali…

What are your thoughts about the Supreme Court decision to give corporations the rights of People? For reference, it's known as Citizens United v Federal Election Commission. I feel that it's an atrocity, and according to most polls, nearly 80% of the American public agree with me. Yet the ruling persists, and it's going to profoundly affect the presidential elections this year in ways that can never be appreciated by the real People in this country. For those who feel this is a partisan issue, the ruling basically overturned the federal Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, sponsored jointly by Democrat Senator Russ Feingold and Republican Senator (and former presiden…

If Obama's family bought the voting machines in swing states, there wouldn't be enough court times in the next 10 years for all of the lawsuits and it would be all that is on FOX all the time. Tagg Romney is buying up polling machine companies that service swing states. Because THAT's the integrity of the Romney campaign.

I'm quite young and was just a kid when 9.11. happened and my knowledge of the context of the attack and the subsequent military actions is quite sketchy. I know the context goes back at least to the 50s. Is there a documentary that covers these subjects (or multiple documentaries)?

I've taken quite a bit of flack because of my inability to answer questions asked of me for statements or questions I myself have made or asked. But in almost all instances questions as such are much more easily asked than answered. This topic alone should get the ground shaking. Being little more than borderline lower middle class citizen myself you might question my reasoning for a leaning to the right. It's simple, I just don't sympathize with socialism bordering on communism. Not to say that a true "ism" in any respect is wrong, it's only that none of them have seemed to turn out right. So, if this Romney-Ryan is a winning ticket, will it bring us a better future or m…

The human species cannot go on reproducing forever. Eventually it will place a strain on the available land and resources, and will likely lead to deforestation and pollution. Sustainable ways of living are possible, but I fear by the time human societies finally recognise that they have to become sustainable, there will exist far many more people than can be supported by a sustainable way of living, since sustainable sources of resources and energy cannot support as high population densities. In fact, I suspect that overpopulation will become a problem even before this happens, because human society operates within an economic system (which is not perfectly efficient) an…

Last year, Romney said FEMA was "immoral". You should let that sink in when you watch the news and remember it next week. He wants FEMA to be completely disbanded and all functions given to private companies. Question: If everything someone owns and their only source of income are under water, how exactly are they going to pay the privatized responders?

Vote to see who is the favorite of the people on SFN, I know it will have little meaning statistically but it would be interesting. If you want you can add why you are going to vote the way you are but if you do keep it short and factual.

This one made me chuckle a little. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/wp/2012/10/15/charity-president-unhappy-about-paul-ryan-soup-kitchen-photo-op/?print=1 The soup kitchen to launch a new slogan, "You didn't wash that!"

Evolution Is A Lie From Hell! (Republican Rep. Paul Broun) Everytime I start thinking about it might be possible for fundy theists and reasonable people to live together this stuff pops up. This guy is truly deluded or at the very least he knows which lies to tell which audience and he serves on the science and technology committee. I see less and less reason to be tolerant of theist fundies and every reason to begin the atheist revolution! Yes with the forces of hell behind us how can we lose... Stupidity strikes every .0005 seconds...

Don't you think that newspapers nowadays focus much less on Science articles and more on politics. Shouldn't the public be more educated about recent breakthroughs.

What is Romney's stance on pay equality? In the debate, his "answer" was to tell a story which launched a thousand "binder" memes. Internet jokes aside, not only does it not indicate he is in favor of pay equality for women, that his story was a lie may indicate the opposite. It turns out that his "binders full of women" were created by a bipartisan commission before he even took office and was then pushed on him. While he did use the binders forced on him to hire women, none of the major positions were filled by women. I don't see how anyone can vote for Romney; there's literally no way to know what his position is from day to day.

The American Family Association has come out condemning a day set aside to fight bullying as Gay indoctrination. They claim the idea of suggesting that students spend a day hanging out with someone they normally do not spend time with is an effort to indoctrinate our children into homosexuality.

Why is it all or nothing when it comes to closing tax loopholes? Keep the home mortgage interest deduction, but put a limit on it. Duuuhhhhhh! So the average American takes a loan of $100,000 to $300,000, for example, to buy a home. For bigger loans for rich people, only allow the interest deduction for a $300,000 loan.