Comments on: The death of a taboo http://drunkcyclist.com/2008/09/05/the-death-of-a-taboo/ Two Wheels. One Dark Lord. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:42:01 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: butthead http://drunkcyclist.com/2008/09/05/the-death-of-a-taboo/comment-page-1/#comment-20108 butthead Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:32:42 +0000 http://drunkcyclist.com/wordpress/?p=3137#comment-20108 Tax dollars out to bomb infrastructure in other cuntries. Tax dollars out to rebuild infrastructure in those countires. Tax Dollars into private american corporations to do the work in those countries. What is worng with tax dollars into private american corporations to rebuild american infrastructure? Tax dollars out to bomb infrastructure in other cuntries. Tax dollars out to rebuild infrastructure in those countires. Tax Dollars into private american corporations to do the work in those countries.

What is worng with tax dollars into private american corporations to rebuild american infrastructure?

]]> By: Ass Clown http://drunkcyclist.com/2008/09/05/the-death-of-a-taboo/comment-page-1/#comment-20095 Ass Clown Fri, 12 Sep 2008 02:11:22 +0000 http://drunkcyclist.com/wordpress/?p=3137#comment-20095 Of course our taxes are going up - a certain party keeps "forgeting" to pay the bills... Of course our taxes are going up – a certain party keeps “forgeting” to pay the bills…

]]> By: Mikey http://drunkcyclist.com/2008/09/05/the-death-of-a-taboo/comment-page-1/#comment-19972 Mikey Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:13:23 +0000 http://drunkcyclist.com/wordpress/?p=3137#comment-19972 "Why should the children of rich parents never have to pay taxes on their income? How is it that income from work is fair game, but income from just being lucky in your birth is not?" Jason- I pay income taxes in the mid-20 per cent range, THEN invest and pay 28% on gains, then pay again when I die. Taxes will crush the middle class. "It is morally reprehensible that the Republicans are using 9/11 for political purposes. " el jefe- Why? Because you're not a republican? The terrorist attack of September of 2001 is perhaps the most significant POLITICAL event in the lifetimes of young American voters. It SHOULD be remembered and it SHOULD be discussed as national politics. The current crop of repmocrats (GWB et al) are an embarrassment to republicans. Tax-and-spend should be the exclusive domain of the Dempublicans, and the current don't-tax-and-spend paradigm is just plain stoopid. Hear that tinkling sound? It's the sound of our urine falling on our children's heads. It's bewildering to me that people feel so polarized, when the repmocrats and dempublicans are so nearly identical. Here is Mikey's bold prediction: taxes are going up and the environment is going to hell. Welcome to the nanny state. Enjoy your pablum. Jared Diamond is right: we're facing a centuries-long slide into a Blade Runner-like future. Mikey “Why should the children of rich parents never have to pay taxes on their income? How is it that income from work is fair game, but income from just being lucky in your birth is not?”

Jason-

I pay income taxes in the mid-20 per cent range, THEN invest and pay 28% on gains, then pay again when I die. Taxes will crush the middle class.

“It is morally reprehensible that the Republicans are using 9/11 for political purposes. ”

el jefe-

Why? Because you’re not a republican? The terrorist attack of September of 2001 is perhaps the most significant POLITICAL event in the lifetimes of young American voters. It SHOULD be remembered and it SHOULD be discussed as national politics.

The current crop of repmocrats (GWB et al) are an embarrassment to republicans. Tax-and-spend should be the exclusive domain of the Dempublicans, and the current don’t-tax-and-spend paradigm is just plain stoopid. Hear that tinkling sound? It’s the sound of our urine falling on our children’s heads.

It’s bewildering to me that people feel so polarized, when the repmocrats and dempublicans are so nearly identical. Here is Mikey’s bold prediction: taxes are going up and the environment is going to hell. Welcome to the nanny state. Enjoy your pablum. Jared Diamond is right: we’re facing a centuries-long slide into a Blade Runner-like future.

Mikey

]]> By: dentext http://drunkcyclist.com/2008/09/05/the-death-of-a-taboo/comment-page-1/#comment-19948 dentext Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:12:19 +0000 http://drunkcyclist.com/wordpress/?p=3137#comment-19948 oh jesus stop it. frick....frick frick frick. No, frack i say, frack frack frack. Now I know I'm correct, sane (ish) and educated. and those who disagree with me are incorrect, nuts, and ignorant. and nobody cares. Has any blue convinced any red of anything? Has a red got one blue to change a mind? someone watches a newsmodel announce some BS, and occasionally an opinion will change. But the rational power of persuasion? forget it, the greeks are long gone. the socratic method is now...quaint. discourse and cable news. bueno. oh jesus stop it. frick….frick frick frick.
No, frack i say, frack frack frack.

Now I know I’m correct, sane (ish) and educated. and those who disagree with me are incorrect, nuts, and ignorant. and nobody cares.
Has any blue convinced any red of anything? Has a red got one blue to change a mind?
someone watches a newsmodel announce some BS, and occasionally an opinion will change.
But the rational power of persuasion?
forget it, the greeks are long gone.
the socratic method is now…quaint.
discourse and cable news.
bueno.

]]> By: el jefe http://drunkcyclist.com/2008/09/05/the-death-of-a-taboo/comment-page-1/#comment-19940 el jefe Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:56:34 +0000 http://drunkcyclist.com/wordpress/?p=3137#comment-19940 The theory presented in The Chilling Stars is potentially intriguing, but really in it's infancy and not very well supported. The book is sensationalist popular literature. To see how the actual science behind the theory was accepted, I skimmed the primary literature. The authors haven't published much more than notes or comments in the scientific fields (on this topic), and much of it has been in smaller journals. There have been a couple of papers debunking the theory in Nature and PNAS. The biggest problems with the theory are that there has been no discernible trend in either cosmic rays or solar intensity since 1950 (the time in which there has been the largest increase in CO2, and largest increase in global mean temperature); their modeling doesn't fit the observed trends anywhere near as well as that based on green-house gasses; and they can't identify a physical mechanism whereby it actually works. They want to use single factor modeling and a lack of statistical power to claim that their theory explains all the trends. Could cosmic rays or solar rays have an effect? Conceptually, sure, but they are a long ways from having any sort of well supported model. Maybe someday that info will be added into our other models, but for now, green-house gasses are the best supported cause of global climate change. One of the biggest flaws in their cloud nuclei formation is that it doesn't work in the levels of the atmosphere which most effect warming/cooling trends. Maybe someday we'll come up with some additional theories. That's the thing about science. There really is only so long that you can hold onto a flawed theory. They tried that resisting plate tectonics and evolution. I know it's uncomfortable to accept that we are changing something as large as the entire earth's atmosphere, but that's the case. Sorry. The theory presented in The Chilling Stars is potentially intriguing, but really in it’s infancy and not very well supported. The book is sensationalist popular literature. To see how the actual science behind the theory was accepted, I skimmed the primary literature. The authors haven’t published much more than notes or comments in the scientific fields (on this topic), and much of it has been in smaller journals. There have been a couple of papers debunking the theory in Nature and PNAS. The biggest problems with the theory are that there has been no discernible trend in either cosmic rays or solar intensity since 1950 (the time in which there has been the largest increase in CO2, and largest increase in global mean temperature); their modeling doesn’t fit the observed trends anywhere near as well as that based on green-house gasses; and they can’t identify a physical mechanism whereby it actually works. They want to use single factor modeling and a lack of statistical power to claim that their theory explains all the trends. Could cosmic rays or solar rays have an effect? Conceptually, sure, but they are a long ways from having any sort of well supported model. Maybe someday that info will be added into our other models, but for now, green-house gasses are the best supported cause of global climate change. One of the biggest flaws in their cloud nuclei formation is that it doesn’t work in the levels of the atmosphere which most effect warming/cooling trends. Maybe someday we’ll come up with some additional theories. That’s the thing about science. There really is only so long that you can hold onto a flawed theory. They tried that resisting plate tectonics and evolution.

I know it’s uncomfortable to accept that we are changing something as large as the entire earth’s atmosphere, but that’s the case. Sorry.

]]> By: cyclonecross http://drunkcyclist.com/2008/09/05/the-death-of-a-taboo/comment-page-1/#comment-19939 cyclonecross Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:28:39 +0000 http://drunkcyclist.com/wordpress/?p=3137#comment-19939 sommerfliesby- You <b>boldly predict</b> that IL is going to rapidly go to the bottom of the list of economic indicators. Well I have news for you pal, the fact that it's not there now speaks volumes. Have a looksy <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/16/real_estate/suprime_and_crime/index.htm" rel="nofollow">here</a>. I live 3.5 miles from the Cleveland zip code with the highest rate of foreclosure for 2007Q3. My sister and her husband live outside of Detroit, another area that <b>currently</b> has some <i>really strong</i> economic indicators. These areas are suffering <b>NOW</b>! KJ- You may say that the US is not in or headed for a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recession#United_States" rel="nofollow">recession</a>, which is debatable. I read the WSJ <i>OPINION piece</i> you linked to, and I would recommend others read it as well just to understand how twisted some people's views are. I'll give a couple of quotes from the link you posted: "The cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has been largely absorbed in a relatively small increase in the defense budget (to 4.1% of GDP in 2006 from 3.8% in 1995). A much higher proportion of U.S. income was devoted to the military during World War II and the Korean War." I can't even comprehend comparing the current conflicts with WWII and Korea (although I think it's pretty ironic that a comparison wasn't made to Vietnam). What is made to sound like a measily 7.3 increase in military spending by taking it against the <a href="http://www.bea.gov/national/nipaweb/TableView.asp?SelectedTable=5&ViewSeries=NO&Java=no&Request3Place=N&3Place=N&FromView=YES&Freq=Year&FirstYear=1995&LastYear=2008&3Place=N&Update=Update&JavaBox=no#Mid" rel="nofollow">GDP</a>, is in reality closer to a increase of 150billion dollars anually or a 34.5% increase in spending. Those numbers don't sound as rosey, do they. "The U.S. unemployment rate averaged 4.7% from 2001-2007. This compares with a 5.2% average rate during President Clinton's term of office, and is well below the euro zone average of 8.3% since 2000." Now read this: <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122061757763903639.html" rel="nofollow">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122061757763903639.html</a> "A jump in the unemployment rate to 6.1% in August, the highest in nearly five years, underscored the economy's fragility and deepened political debate over whether a second stimulus package is needed. The jobless-rate jump, from 5.7% in July, was larger than anticipated, reflecting how energy prices and problems in the housing and financial sectors have radiated outward to slow overall economic activity." I am sorry to say that I supported Bush & Dick in '04, largely because I didn't think Kerry could lead during a time of war. Well banging the 9/11 drum will not fool me again. Heck if for some reason McCain does get elected, will the GOP bang that drum in '12??? sommerfliesby- You boldly predict that IL is going to rapidly go to the bottom of the list of economic indicators. Well I have news for you pal, the fact that it’s not there now speaks volumes. Have a looksy here. I live 3.5 miles from the Cleveland zip code with the highest rate of foreclosure for 2007Q3. My sister and her husband live outside of Detroit, another area that currently has some really strong economic indicators. These areas are suffering NOW!

KJ- You may say that the US is not in or headed for a recession, which is debatable. I read the WSJ OPINION piece you linked to, and I would recommend others read it as well just to understand how twisted some people’s views are. I’ll give a couple of quotes from the link you posted:

“The cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has been largely absorbed in a relatively small increase in the defense budget (to 4.1% of GDP in 2006 from 3.8% in 1995). A much higher proportion of U.S. income was devoted to the military during World War II and the Korean War.”

I can’t even comprehend comparing the current conflicts with WWII and Korea (although I think it’s pretty ironic that a comparison wasn’t made to Vietnam). What is made to sound like a measily 7.3 increase in military spending by taking it against the GDP, is in reality closer to a increase of 150billion dollars anually or a 34.5% increase in spending. Those numbers don’t sound as rosey, do they.

“The U.S. unemployment rate averaged 4.7% from 2001-2007. This compares with a 5.2% average rate during President Clinton’s term of office, and is well below the euro zone average of 8.3% since 2000.”

Now read this: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122061757763903639.html

“A jump in the unemployment rate to 6.1% in August, the highest in nearly five years, underscored the economy’s fragility and deepened political debate over whether a second stimulus package is needed.

The jobless-rate jump, from 5.7% in July, was larger than anticipated, reflecting how energy prices and problems in the housing and financial sectors have radiated outward to slow overall economic activity.”

I am sorry to say that I supported Bush & Dick in ‘04, largely because I didn’t think Kerry could lead during a time of war. Well banging the 9/11 drum will not fool me again. Heck if for some reason McCain does get elected, will the GOP bang that drum in ‘12???

]]> By: cyclonecross http://drunkcyclist.com/2008/09/05/the-death-of-a-taboo/comment-page-1/#comment-19938 cyclonecross Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:26:23 +0000 http://drunkcyclist.com/wordpress/?p=3137#comment-19938 sommerfliesby- You <b>boldly predict</b> that IL is going to rapidly go to the bottom of the list of economic indicators. Well I have news for you pal, the fact that it's not there now speaks volumes. Have a looksy <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/16/real_estate/suprime_and_crime/index.htm" rel="nofollow">here</a>. I live 3.5 miles from the Cleveland zip code with the highest rate of foreclosure for 2007Q3. My sister and her husband live outside of Detroit, another area that <b>currently</b> has some <i>really strong</i> economic indicators. These areas are suffering <b>NOW</b>! KJ- You may say that the US is not in or headed for a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recession#United_States" rel="nofollow">recession</a>, which is debatable. I read the WSJ <i>OPINION piece</i> you linked to, and I would recommend others read it as well just to understand how twisted some people's views are. I'll give a couple of quotes from the link you posted: "The cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has been largely absorbed in a relatively small increase in the defense budget (to 4.1% of GDP in 2006 from 3.8% in 1995). A much higher proportion of U.S. income was devoted to the military during World War II and the Korean War." I can't even comprehend comparing the current conflicts with WWII and Korea (although I think it's pretty ironic that a comparison wasn't made to Vietnam). What is made to sound like a measly 7.3% increase in military spending by taking it against the <a href="http://www.bea.gov/national/nipaweb/TableView.asp?SelectedTable=5&ViewSeries=NO&Java=no&Request3Place=N&3Place=N&FromView=YES&Freq=Year&FirstYear=1995&LastYear=2008&3Place=N&Update=Update&JavaBox=no#Mid" rel="nofollow">GDP</a>, is in reality closer to a increase of 150billion dollars anually or a 34.5% increase in spending. Those numbers don't sound as rosey, do they? "The U.S. unemployment rate averaged 4.7% from 2001-2007. This compares with a 5.2% average rate during President Clinton's term of office, and is well below the euro zone average of 8.3% since 2000." Now read this: <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122061757763903639.html" rel="nofollow">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122061757763903639.html</a> "A jump in the unemployment rate to 6.1% in August, the highest in nearly five years, underscored the economy's fragility and deepened political debate over whether a second stimulus package is needed. The jobless-rate jump, from 5.7% in July, was larger than anticipated, reflecting how energy prices and problems in the housing and financial sectors have radiated outward to slow overall economic activity." I am sorry to say that I supported Bush & Dick in '04, largely because I didn't think Kerry could lead during a time of war. Well banging the 9/11 drum will not fool me again. Heck if for some reason McCain does get elected, will the GOP bang that drum in '12??? sommerfliesby- You boldly predict that IL is going to rapidly go to the bottom of the list of economic indicators. Well I have news for you pal, the fact that it’s not there now speaks volumes. Have a looksy here. I live 3.5 miles from the Cleveland zip code with the highest rate of foreclosure for 2007Q3. My sister and her husband live outside of Detroit, another area that currently has some really strong economic indicators. These areas are suffering NOW!

KJ- You may say that the US is not in or headed for a recession, which is debatable. I read the WSJ OPINION piece you linked to, and I would recommend others read it as well just to understand how twisted some people’s views are. I’ll give a couple of quotes from the link you posted:

“The cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has been largely absorbed in a relatively small increase in the defense budget (to 4.1% of GDP in 2006 from 3.8% in 1995). A much higher proportion of U.S. income was devoted to the military during World War II and the Korean War.”

I can’t even comprehend comparing the current conflicts with WWII and Korea (although I think it’s pretty ironic that a comparison wasn’t made to Vietnam). What is made to sound like a measly 7.3% increase in military spending by taking it against the GDP, is in reality closer to a increase of 150billion dollars anually or a 34.5% increase in spending. Those numbers don’t sound as rosey, do they?

“The U.S. unemployment rate averaged 4.7% from 2001-2007. This compares with a 5.2% average rate during President Clinton’s term of office, and is well below the euro zone average of 8.3% since 2000.”

Now read this: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122061757763903639.html

“A jump in the unemployment rate to 6.1% in August, the highest in nearly five years, underscored the economy’s fragility and deepened political debate over whether a second stimulus package is needed.

The jobless-rate jump, from 5.7% in July, was larger than anticipated, reflecting how energy prices and problems in the housing and financial sectors have radiated outward to slow overall economic activity.”

I am sorry to say that I supported Bush & Dick in ‘04, largely because I didn’t think Kerry could lead during a time of war. Well banging the 9/11 drum will not fool me again. Heck if for some reason McCain does get elected, will the GOP bang that drum in ‘12???

]]> By: Jason http://drunkcyclist.com/2008/09/05/the-death-of-a-taboo/comment-page-1/#comment-19937 Jason Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:15:28 +0000 http://drunkcyclist.com/wordpress/?p=3137#comment-19937 If my estate is worth more than $2 million even after estate planning then my kids can handle paying taxes on everything above that. (the exemption is scheduled to rise to $3.5 mil next year) Estates are composed of unrealized capital gains, and thus taxable. The estate tax is nothing but a red herring that affects less than 1% of estates. The fact remains that someone has to pay for the services of government. A higher percentage of that cost should be borne by those most able to pay, which is not the case today. Those that currently own the capital pay much less than those of us that work, since their top tax rate on capital gains is 15%. Most of us pay a bigger chunk in payroll tax than we do in income tax, and the payroll tax only applies to the first $100 k. If my estate is worth more than $2 million even after estate planning then my kids can handle paying taxes on everything above that. (the exemption is scheduled to rise to $3.5 mil next year) Estates are composed of unrealized capital gains, and thus taxable. The estate tax is nothing but a red herring that affects less than 1% of estates.

The fact remains that someone has to pay for the services of government. A higher percentage of that cost should be borne by those most able to pay, which is not the case today. Those that currently own the capital pay much less than those of us that work, since their top tax rate on capital gains is 15%. Most of us pay a bigger chunk in payroll tax than we do in income tax, and the payroll tax only applies to the first $100 k.

]]> By: sommerfliesby http://drunkcyclist.com/2008/09/05/the-death-of-a-taboo/comment-page-1/#comment-19935 sommerfliesby Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:33:49 +0000 http://drunkcyclist.com/wordpress/?p=3137#comment-19935 Jason...go over how many times you are taxed on every dollar you make. Do you enjoy this? Good to know that you'll be taxed even when you are dead, isn't it? Jason…go over how many times you are taxed on every dollar you make. Do you enjoy this? Good to know that you’ll be taxed even when you are dead, isn’t it?

]]> By: sommerfliesby http://drunkcyclist.com/2008/09/05/the-death-of-a-taboo/comment-page-1/#comment-19934 sommerfliesby Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:28:20 +0000 http://drunkcyclist.com/wordpress/?p=3137#comment-19934 Hostile- Ain't gonna do it. Bite me. No reason for all the name-calling...honestly, I come to this site because the discussions are usually well-spoken and informative. Excuse my misstatement on the climate change issue...I do believe something is happening, I DON'T believe there is a human cause...and I have read up on it...try reading "The Chilling Stars" and let me know what you conclude. I live in Illinois...the Republican party does not EXIST in this state...it is routinely laughed at in the Chicago area...and look for this state to be dropping RAPIDLY to the bottom of the list as far as economic indicators due precisely to this. Barack Obama (and need I remind you where he's from?????) ain't done SHIT, I'm glad you guys are so sure that he'll be able to do something, cuz all I see is a stuffed shirt. Cynical- you fucking BET I'm cynical! Cynical, jaded, and LOST. I don't see McCain as a solution either...what we need is a whole lot LESS government. As for the topic at hand...yup...taboo all the way and should've stayed that way...it's absolutely shameful. Hostile- Ain’t gonna do it. Bite me. No reason for all the name-calling…honestly, I come to this site because the discussions are usually well-spoken and informative. Excuse my misstatement on the climate change issue…I do believe something is happening, I DON’T believe there is a human cause…and I have read up on it…try reading “The Chilling Stars” and let me know what you conclude.

I live in Illinois…the Republican party does not EXIST in this state…it is routinely laughed at in the Chicago area…and look for this state to be dropping RAPIDLY to the bottom of the list as far as economic indicators due precisely to this. Barack Obama (and need I remind you where he’s from?????) ain’t done SHIT, I’m glad you guys are so sure that he’ll be able to do something, cuz all I see is a stuffed shirt.

Cynical- you fucking BET I’m cynical! Cynical, jaded, and LOST. I don’t see McCain as a solution either…what we need is a whole lot LESS government.

As for the topic at hand…yup…taboo all the way and should’ve stayed that way…it’s absolutely shameful.

]]> By: dentext http://drunkcyclist.com/2008/09/05/the-death-of-a-taboo/comment-page-1/#comment-19932 dentext Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:38:38 +0000 http://drunkcyclist.com/wordpress/?p=3137#comment-19932 taboo? wtf? giuliani, as far as I can tell, can do 2 things in his whole life. dress up in drag and quote 9.11 9/11 nine elelevin ni nalevin nina levin 911 september the leventh too thoosand one breaking a taboo? it's all they've done since 9/12 it's the logo on the bags of popcorn at all republican events. BTW, obama's news conf on fannie & freddie was spot on. it's gonna be weird to see what it's like to have a president again, and not just some guy in the top chair. taboo?
wtf?
giuliani, as far as I can tell, can do 2 things in his whole life.
dress up in drag and quote 9.11
9/11 nine elelevin ni nalevin nina levin 911 september the leventh too thoosand one
breaking a taboo?
it’s all they’ve done since 9/12
it’s the logo on the bags of popcorn at all republican events.

BTW, obama’s news conf on fannie & freddie was spot on.
it’s gonna be weird to see what it’s like to have a president again, and not just some guy in the top chair.

]]> By: the butthole again http://drunkcyclist.com/2008/09/05/the-death-of-a-taboo/comment-page-1/#comment-19931 the butthole again Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:01:58 +0000 http://drunkcyclist.com/wordpress/?p=3137#comment-19931 el jefe is right. This place has been crawling with goat fuckers up until about two years ago, a point at which they began choking on their own corrupt method of capitalism for capitlism's sake while being booted out of office. sommerfliesby-what a cynical ass. Try pulling that shit on the guy watching your back in the battlefield. el jefe is right. This place has been crawling with goat fuckers up until about two years ago, a point at which they began choking on their own corrupt method of capitalism for capitlism’s sake while being booted out of office.
sommerfliesby-what a cynical ass. Try pulling that shit on the guy watching your back in the battlefield.

]]>