You said you found my posts unpleasant. I just don't get why you read them if you find them so unappealing. Of course you are free to do what you want, but if you find my posts so particularly heinous and yet you continue to read and respnd to them, your issues are more serious than I originally thought.

Amoral Relativsim
 

No. I don't. I believe morals are unique to different countries, cultures, etc.

Shades, my man. Life is all about shades. There are very few absolutes out there, particularly in an area like geopolitics. Trying to compartmentalize everything into black and white is a fool's errand.

You follow this algebraic "If X = y and Y = Z, then..." simplistic approach to an area of life to which formulas can't be applied.

And add an insult or two. We are here for entertainment, not preaching.

Do I have issues, too? I read all of Hank's posts.

When I reply to your posts, I do so for my own amusement. Sometimes Hank or Shifter may find them funny also. I am not generally replying for your edification. My one post this morning was the exception that proves the rule.

Amoral Relativsim
 

You just directly contradicted yourself. I was responding to an earlier post of yours where you said might is right. How are we supposed to take you seriously when you can't even keep your own opinions straight?

Amoral Relativsim
 

When did I say might is right?

I said in an Amoral world might is right. But I don't believe we live in an Amoral world.

With out a doubt

How come you don't refer more to Star Trek episodes to back up your political arguments?

I had to bite my tongue to keep from mentioning the Prime Directive in regard to our relations with Cuba.

While my avatar does come from Star Trek, I am not a trekkie. Inispiration for my moniker comes from here: http://www.davidicke.com/icke/temp/reptconn.html I thought the Star Trek creature (called the Gorn) provided a pretty good representation of a reptilian humanoid. Now I'm sort of attached to it, after the tattoo and all.

Still think I have issues?

None that some heavy gauge speaker wire and a fifth of tequila won't cure.


ETFS

My sister talks about the Lizard people a lot.

Didn't you know that the Prime Directive becomes moot when another advanced civilization infects the planet in question. Didn't you see the Trek episode where the Klingons started arming the village people. So the Federation started arming the hill people (they had been peaceful with eachother before). Bones said this is crazy, but Kirk and Spock pointed out that they did not have any other choice. Once the Klingons got invovled and started arming one side we had to help the other. I think Gene was trying to tell us something about the Cold War.

Amoral Relativsim
 

So then you are saying we live in a moral world? What is our morality? By "our" I mean the world's morality.

Okay, now who has issues?

This is for penske:

http://www.davidicke.com/icke/articl...s/aniclint.gif

Amoral Relativsim
 

I don't think it is to hard to discern if elections are free and fair. It is also not hard to determine if an economy is growing (through practical experience we now know what macroeconomic policies work and which ones don't).

The more prosperous democracys there are in the world, the more stable and peaceful it becomes. We should do what we can to see that as many counties in this world become developed democracys. Thankfully most world leaders now understand what it takes to create growth and prosperity. The vast majority of countrys are now focusing on growth and are growing. Does not matter if they have historically been socialist, like India, or are headed by so called socialists, like Brazil, they are all instituting pro-growth economic reforms (obviously some more successfully than other). Inda, China, Russia, Brazil, Indonesia are all experience strong growth. In my view the future is looking pretty bright but there are a few bad eggs that could ruin things for everyone.

I think we should do whatever we can to promote democracy and responsible government in these few bad eggs.

Bad Eggs = Burma, Cuba, North Korea, Belarus and a bunch of Subsaharan Countrys. Subsaharan Africa is a sticky wicket, but I don't think it is that hard to figure out what needs to happen everywhere else. These bad eggs need regime change or they ain't going to get any better and will continue to cause problems.

Amoral Relativsim
 

The international convention on human rights is a good place to start.

You forgot to mention how Ickes gave Michael Moore the first 30 minutes of Farenheit 911. Ickes got the fat guy a seat next to an-ex President for goodness sakes,.

Amoral Relativsim
 

Here we go again . . .

Amoral Relativsim
 

To what extent do you think a country's refusal to ratify a human rights treaty demonstrates that the country's government is less moral than those that have ratified the treaty?

Amoral Relativsim
 

I smell a trap. Nicely played.

Amoral Relativsim
 

You started reeling the line in before I had the hook fully set. Now the slippery bastard will get away.

Amoral Relativsim
 

Is this like a Politics version of whiff?

Ain't That America
 

For a man who seems to hint at belief in a natural law, you sure seem ignorant of the concept of Social Darwinism (which is the most easily proven natural laws out there).

Its like John Cougar wisely sang, "There's winners, and there's lo-hoo-sers." Somebody's gotta be down for somebody to be up. Its the human condition. What you're espousing - a rising tide lifting all boats to the same level - is called socialism.

Amoral Relativsim
 

No. Whiff is sooooo 2003. It's like schtick, something else I don't do.

Amoral Relativsim
 

Are you saying that you don't whiff, or that you don't say whiff when others do? Because if you are suggesting that I whiffed here, that's just patently ridiculous.

Amoral Relativsim
 

No, it's wonk. He's still catching up and he's now up to 2003.

wonk Politics Spoiler:

Bush wins

I want a t-shirt that says "Free Gavrilo Princip"
 

Point of Clarification. When you said "social cripple" I thought you were being mean to those who cannot walk in the way God intended.

I want a t-shirt that says "Free Gavrilo Princip"
 

Uh oh, he is busting out the Ignore List. I invented that.

And, I cannot ignore Megalo's post, whichi s grossly unjust but part of his despotic polityical prisoner system.

I want a t-shirt that says "Free Gavrilo Princip"
 

Perhaps the U.S. will invade. The Insurgency doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

I want a t-shirt that says "Free Gavrilo Princip"
 

An olive branch of tribute, maybe?

Ain't That America
 

John Cougar has never said a wise thing in his life. And when did he and Huey Lewis and the News become Classic Rock? Don't have you to be good before you can be considered a Classic?

Amoral Relativsim
 

Depends on their reasons for not ratifying.

Ain't That America
 

John Melloncamp has said a lot of wise things including for example "I need a lover who won't drive me crazy." "Will you marry me" to Elaine Irwin, "Lets do Farm Aid", and "Its a lonely old night. can i put my arms around you?". And he put out one of my alltime favorite albums, The Lonesome Jubilee. Paper and Fire is some good shit.

ANd he is my father.


Can someone else handle the Huey Lewis part? Is Patrick Bateman in the house?

ETA: My apologies in advance if I have open the door to a farm subsidies debate. I am firmly against corn syrup and the Fats that it grows.

Ain't That America
 

The entire catalog is genius.

Huey is to 80's music revivals as chips/salsa are to the quality of a Mexican restaurant. They are all that really matters.

Ain't That America
 

Huh. I thought the lyric called out Motley Crue.

Ain't That America
 

I wonder what sebby thinks about John C Melloncamp's use of non traditional musical instruments (well they are traditinoal , but not to music of its era) in Paper in Fire? I bet he agrees with me it was well done.

Sebby. Crowes are in town this weekend. Thanks again for the NYC hookup. Well worth it.

Ain't That America
 

First, thanks for the corn syrup/J. Cougar posts. The funniest thing in the last month.

I like John Cougar. He incorps the alternative instruments perfectly. Underrated. Pink Houses is a better slice of Americana than the Boss could write in 100 albums.

Crowes played Atl City last weekend. Couldn't get tix.

You're welcome, of course. Glad to help.

Ain't That America
 

For the love of God - isn't there anyone else on this board who wretches every time they hear Mr. Mellancamp? These people not only like John Cougar but they admit it openly. Isn't that the first sign of the apocolypse or something?

Ain't That America
 

How I knew PLF was riffing on us was when his top 5 all time albums had ZERO JC/M on it. Have you ever been to his flat? Its like a shrine, or I guess is one. the first time he masturbated was to the Jack and Diane video.

Anyone?
 

No, his illegitimacy is based, not on how he grabbed power, but on how he retains it. Legitimacy is a concept rooted in the belief that power is derived from the governed, not the governing, and Castro derives next to nothing from his people. He is the new Lenin, the older Pol Pot, the original banana-republican. People who express admiration for Castro are the same people who deplore unfairness while pushing socialism, and, if that doesn't cause logical clashes within your brain, well, stay way over there, please.