Intriguing Idea?

[Jenne]

[rubickspoop]

Where are you located in the US, again?  You sound like you don't know the Midwest and the South and those who dwell there very well...

I live in Fort Wayne, IN (Northwest IN, second largest city in the state!) In fact, I attended Depauw University in Greencastle, IN, for a semester and a half. This beautiful university is a training ground for neo-colonialist ass holes, where lesson #1 is how to "network." Doctors, lawyers, and small and mid-sized business owners from the rich white suburbs of Indy and Chicago send their children there. About 80% of the student body is in either a fraternity or sorority. Getting to know the future ruling class of the midwest, I have all the evidence before me that the future of America will be shitty. I choose to be blissfully and unreasonably optimistic about the future.

[rubickspoop]

The power of religion in western civ. has been waning since the protestant revolution.

I can't back this one up with factual information. You called my bullshit, as logical as it seems to me.

If marijuana is ever legalized in the US, the gov't won't be able to lock up social deviants as easily.

Drug prosecutions have comprised an increasing proportion of the federal criminal caseload -- from 21% of defendants during 1982 to 35% during 2004.
For drug offenses, prison sentences increased from an average of 71.3 months to 83.6 months [from 1988 to 2004]
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/dcf/ptrpa.htm

And if rich white people start buying kids, I think it will help prove how out of touch the ruling class is with the nature of reality for us schmucks.

I can't back this one up, either.

1/3. Sort of. And I could explain to you my thought process to come up with all three of these strongly stated opinions if you want to kick my ass in an arguement. But like a good game of dejarik, I think I'll let the wookie win this one.

[Cain]

Most political repression in the UK has been done with the use of anti-terrorism legislation.  Taking photos of cops, wearing t-shirts insulting the Prime Minster, protesting outside of Parliament (now repealed) and even being in certain designated zones when you shouldn't be have all been brought in as anti-terrorist measures, and have all been used to bring down truncheons on the heads of people whose major crime was to disagree vocally.

If they want to get you, they'll find a way.  Drug laws aren't even about controlling social deviants anymore, its about controlling access to the market and distribution.  Iran-Contra, remember?  Oh, and Vietnam.  Almost certainly Aghanistan and Kurdistan, as well.  If you make drugs illegal, you can bust competitors whose long term well being is not in the state's interest and let the CIA, DEA, DOJ or State Department give immunity to the guys you want to split the profits with.  Not so much marijuana, but cocaine, and heroin, for sure.

[rubickspoop]

With marijuana, it still seems to me that its mostly about locking up rebellious types. But yeah, coke and heroin are all about distribution rights.
Do you live in the U.K. Cain? If so, I'm sorry for your losses. I've heard from European college buddies about how authoritarian its gotten there, but I didn't know it stemmed from anti-terrorism legislation. The threat of terrorism has been way overblown to allow for taking away civil rights in America (Patriot Act), but not nearly as awful as it is in the UK. We also use terrorism to lend support to our colonization escapades in Iraq (they are now "loaning" their oil fields to American companies to pay for the infrastructure we bombed to hell).

[Jenne]

Where are you located in the US, again?  You sound like you don't know the Midwest and the South and those who dwell there very well...

I live in Fort Wayne, IN (Northwest IN, second largest city in the state!) In fact, I attended Depauw University in Greencastle, IN, for a semester and a half. This beautiful university is a training ground for neo-colonialist ass holes, where lesson #1 is how to "network." Doctors, lawyers, and small and mid-sized business owners from the rich white suburbs of Indy and Chicago send their children there. About 80% of the student body is in either a fraternity or sorority. Getting to know the future ruling class of the midwest, I have all the evidence before me that the future of America will be shitty. I choose to be blissfully and unreasonably optimistic about the future.

Ah.  PollyAnnic, then.  Well, I suppose that some of us have to go through that in order to get to the Horrible Tr00f(tm).  I hung out with the Greek set back in the day--they just reaffirmed my suspicions I was never destined for "greatness," and I've since had the pleasure of being RIGHT and GRATEFUL for that.

[Jenne]

With marijuana, it still seems to me that its mostly about locking up rebellious types. But yeah, coke and heroin are all about distribution rights.
Do you live in the U.K. Cain? If so, I'm sorry for your losses. I've heard from European college buddies about how authoritarian its gotten there, but I didn't know it stemmed from anti-terrorism legislation. The threat of terrorism has been way overblown to allow for taking away civil rights in America (Patriot Act), but not nearly as awful as it is in the UK. We also use terrorism to lend support to our colonization escapades in Iraq (they are now "loaning" their oil fields to American companies to pay for the infrastructure we bombed to hell).

Yeah, the War for Oil was forseeable...the shitty part of it is how weak the economy has been and will be fore decades, and how the SCOTUS here will do naught to change the tide of overweening powergrabbing by the Federal Government for decades, either.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

The power of religion in western civ. has been waning since the protestant revolution. If marijuana is ever legalized in the US, the gov't won't be able to lock up social deviants as easily. And if rich white people start buying kids, I think it will help prove how out of touch the ruling class is with the nature of reality for us schmucks.

They're so CUTE right before they see the Hideous Truth™.

[Thurnez Isa]

There is still people that believe they are witches

Im pretty sure even the most evangelical religion is quite safe

[Thurnez Isa]

There is still people that believe they are witches

Im pretty sure even the most evangelical religion is quite safe

besides the nutbars are the only ones that fucking care anymore

the rest of the public doesn't give two shits

except in small doses.

as soon as they're enthusiasm wanes take one wild guess who will be the largest motivated political group again

the rest will go back to eating Cheetos

[rubickspoop]

Well, that's the way it goes, and has always gone, isn't it?
I still retain the hopeless hope that MY generation is "better" ( ) and I/we can change things.
I deliberately choose to have faith in something I believe to be false.
It makes me feel good. And it provides motivation to mindfuck people (motivation #1 of course is because its fun).

[navkat]

Well, that's the way it goes, and has always gone, isn't it?
I still retain the hopeless hope that MY generation is "better" ( ) and I/we can change things.
I deliberately choose to have faith in something I believe to be false.
It makes me feel good. And it provides motivation to mindfuck people (motivation #1 of course is because its fun).

This is my problem too.

Deep down, I'm starting to realize we're all fucked though.

[Corvidia]

Hell, Madonna and Angelina Jolie et al go off baby shopping and are applauded for it already.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6NPU-wWfe4

Deep down, I'm starting to realize we're all fucked though.

Read Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins and you'll KNOW it. There's some controversy surrounding the book, but if even half the shit is true, it's horrifying.

[navkat]

Hell, Madonna and Angelina Jolie et al go off baby shopping and are applauded for it already.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6NPU-wWfe4

Deep down, I'm starting to realize we're all fucked though.

Read Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins and you'll KNOW it. There's some controversy surrounding the book, but if even half the shit is true, it's horrifying.

Oh god...I think I've heard about that book. I'm buying that tomorrow, I think.

[rubickspoop]

Yeah, its been recommended to me IRL.
I already "know" we're all fucked.
But I can't motivate myself to do anything but sit on my ass and eat cheetos unless I have hope.
My faith in the godess keeps me from being gray in the face.