Freethought & Rationalism Archive

never been there · 06-28-2002, 06:24 PM

You can't beat the attraction of taking an unconstitutional position for a politician. Even in the Great Bland North we have a party whose candidates love to advocate execution without trial or something like that so that they can be closer to "public opinion" than the thoughtful and honest politician who replies "Yes, but Paragraph 3 clause (c) sub-clause (ii) of the Revised Statutes of Canada states that...blah blah blah".

A constitution is a valuable safeguard for our rights, but it also is a parachute for populist assholes who can count on the courts to save themselves as well as us from their catering to the least common denominator.

HRG · 06-28-2002, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by never been there:
<strong>You can't beat the attraction of taking an unconstitutional position for a politician. Even in the Great Bland North we have a party whose candidates love to advocate execution without trial or something like that so that they can be closer to "public opinion" than the thoughtful and honest politician who replies "Yes, but Paragraph 3 clause (c) sub-clause (ii) of the Revised Statutes of Canada states that...blah blah blah".

A constitution is a valuable safeguard for our rights, but it also is a parachute for populist assholes who can count on the courts to save themselves as well as us from their catering to the least common denominator.</strong>

Sad to say, you describe a world-wide phenomenon. We had to watch our (in-)famous Mr.Haider foaming at the mouth over a decision of our Constitutional Court which decreed bilingual signs in some areas as a protection of our Slovenian minorities.

Regards,
HRG.

S2Focus · 06-29-2002, 06:08 AM

What *I* find amazing about this whole "under god" controversy is how it has completely overshadowed the huge financial scandal involving the second-largest telecom company in America, namely WorldCom. Corporate robber-barons are basically caught stealing billions of dollars, much of that from their own employees' retirement accounts, and what does the US Congress do? They spend a whole damned day having themselves filmed reciting the pledge of allegiance!!

And all the recent talk-radio chatter has been centered on the pledge controversy. In the past couple of days, I haven't heard a single outraged rant against the Worldcom thieves. It's all been "under god" this, and "under god" that. That's why it's so easy for robber-barons (and their paid help in Congress) to plunder the country. The general public is just too easily distracted by trivial issues, and never seems to pay attention to the really important stuff.

[edited to change the focus of this post a bit]

[ June 29, 2002: Message edited by: S2Focus ]</p>

Spazmatic · 06-29-2002, 12:35 PM

Washington and Oregon have the highest percentages of free thinkers. Look how badly represented we were. Geez. My district has probably the highest concentration of free thinkers in Washington, and my bitch rep voted for. Geez.

Faun_Otter · 06-29-2002, 05:59 PM

Pete Stark is a good dude. He was one of the tiny group of ethical congress people to vote against accepting the installed puppet as pResident. I sent him an 'attaboy' card then - I think I will send each of these decent folk a thanks card for taking this politically risky but morally (and legally) correct course of action.

Faun

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06-28-2002, 06:24 PM	#11
never been there Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 2,144	You can't beat the attraction of taking an unconstitutional position for a politician. Even in the Great Bland North we have a party whose candidates love to advocate execution without trial or something like that so that they can be closer to "public opinion" than the thoughtful and honest politician who replies "Yes, but Paragraph 3 clause (c) sub-clause (ii) of the Revised Statutes of Canada states that...blah blah blah". A constitution is a valuable safeguard for our rights, but it also is a parachute for populist assholes who can count on the courts to save themselves as well as us from their catering to the least common denominator.

06-29-2002, 06:08 AM	#13
S2Focus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: 1162 easy freeway minutes from the new ICR in TX Posts: 896	What I find amazing about this whole "under god" controversy is how it has completely overshadowed the huge financial scandal involving the second-largest telecom company in America, namely WorldCom. Corporate robber-barons are basically caught stealing billions of dollars, much of that from their own employees' retirement accounts, and what does the US Congress do? They spend a whole damned day having themselves filmed reciting the pledge of allegiance!! And all the recent talk-radio chatter has been centered on the pledge controversy. In the past couple of days, I haven't heard a single outraged rant against the Worldcom thieves. It's all been "under god" this, and "under god" that. That's why it's so easy for robber-barons (and their paid help in Congress) to plunder the country. The general public is just too easily distracted by trivial issues, and never seems to pay attention to the really important stuff. [edited to change the focus of this post a bit] [ June 29, 2002: Message edited by: S2Focus ]</p>

06-29-2002, 12:35 PM	#14
Spazmatic Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Washington Posts: 55	Washington and Oregon have the highest percentages of free thinkers. Look how badly represented we were. Geez. My district has probably the highest concentration of free thinkers in Washington, and my bitch rep voted for. Geez.

06-29-2002, 05:59 PM	#15
Faun_Otter Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 6	Pete Stark is a good dude. He was one of the tiny group of ethical congress people to vote against accepting the installed puppet as pResident. I sent him an 'attaboy' card then - I think I will send each of these decent folk a thanks card for taking this politically risky but morally (and legally) correct course of action. Faun

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