If we lived in a automobile-less society (or one where cars were all steered by computers), then I'm all for legalized pot and alcohol. As is, I'd prefer neither be legal since it jeopardizes my own safety.
I am all for severe penalties and crackdowns on impaired driving for any reason (including being an idiot while taking on a cellphone). But that shouldn't prevent someone from consuming their vice of choice in their own home and never going anywhere near a vehicle or infringing on anyone else's rights. There are numerous ways to be impaired, and I don't think the right tack is to try to make them all illegal (should Nyquil be illegal?). Make the harmful act itself illegal, no matter how the impairment occurred. If someone can impair themselves and not harm or infringe upon someone else, let them be. There's no reason for that to be illegal IMO.
On a side note, I apologize that I am not a sufficiet replacement for Robroy. I actually enjoy discussing issues as opposed to just arguing, because I might actually learn something or be presented a counterpoint I had not considered -- i.e. I am open to the idea I might be wrong and enjoy the opportunity.
If it will help, I can try to randomly call people Nazis, develop a persecution complex and/or make wildly optimistic predictions ( but I'd have to disappear after they fail to materialize).
If it will help, I can try to randomly call people Nazis, develop a persecution complex and/or make wildly optimistic predictions ( but I'd have to disappear after they fail to materialize).
There's an appropriate place for posts like this, and it's on the Robroy Nazi Countdown thread. That said, even what you have offered to provide would not be a sufficient replacement. Here's what else you must provide -
1. You would also need to be patronizing about the superiority of your position with an emphasis on how long you held to said position unchanged regardless of evidence to the contrary.
2. It helps if you can find a multitude of essentially off-topic YouTube videos and post them as if they stand alone with comments like "what about that" or "see".
3. Finally, if you want to truly replace the venerable Robroy you must promise to never respond directly to anything anyone else posts unless it provides an excuse to bring up Rather-gate.
Not to get off on a tangent here but I haven't seen any compelling evidence for marijuana to be illegal -- at least no more so than tobacco, alcohol, caffeiine, etc -- and the libertarian in me says things should be legal until justified otherwise, not the other way around. So based on that, my position is it should be legal. But it's not an issue I care very strongly about. Things like warrantless wiretapping, national security letters, and free speech zones are much higher on my libertarian concern list.
Alcohol is far more dangerous - to the consumer, to those close to him/her, and to society - but is an integral part of our culture.
$7-8B/year to arrest, prosecute, house marijuana "criminals", plus societal costs which weren't included (inability of convicted felons to find work after serving time, etc). $2.4B lost sales tax revenue, potential for many billions more in sin tax revenue. Washington could probably balance their budget with a statewide legalization, and $20-50/oz sin tax. Throw in revenues from licensing growers, distributors, etc... lots of money there. And even with a $50/oz sin tax, it'd probably be cheaper for the end user.
Those who profit from keeping marijuana illegal have strong lobbying forces... pro marijuana legalization groups tend to be... lazy stoners.
If it will help, I can try to randomly call people Nazis, develop a persecution complex and/or make wildly optimistic predictions ( but I'd have to disappear after they fail to materialize).
There's an appropriate place for posts like this, and it's on the Robroy Nazi Countdown thread. That said, even what you have offered to provide would not be a sufficient replacement. Here's what else you must provide -
1. You would also need to be patronizing about the superiority of your position with an emphasis on how long you held to said position unchanged regardless of evidence to the contrary.
2. It helps if you can find a multitude of essentially off-topic YouTube videos and post them as if they stand alone with comments like "what about that" or "see".
3. Finally, if you want to truly replace the venerable Robroy you must promise to never respond directly to anything anyone else posts unless it provides an excuse to bring up Rather-gate.
4. Repeatedly point out that everyone in your circle agrees with you, even (especially?) when it is counter to all rational thought.
If it will help, I can try to randomly call people Nazis, develop a persecution complex and/or make wildly optimistic predictions ( but I'd have to disappear after they fail to materialize).
There's an appropriate place for posts like this, and it's on the Robroy Nazi Countdown thread. That said, even what you have offered to provide would not be a sufficient replacement. Here's what else you must provide -
1. You would also need to be patronizing about the superiority of your position with an emphasis on how long you held to said position unchanged regardless of evidence to the contrary.
2. It helps if you can find a multitude of essentially off-topic YouTube videos and post them as if they stand alone with comments like "what about that" or "see".
3. Finally, if you want to truly replace the venerable Robroy you must promise to never respond directly to anything anyone else posts unless it provides an excuse to bring up Rather-gate.
4. Repeatedly point out that everyone in your circle agrees with you, even (especially?) when it is counter to all rational thoughtRepeated argue your point from consensus based on the fact that everyone you know agrees with you, and that your friends cross a wide swath of the political spectrum. Then prove it by referencing only articles produced by whack-jobs..
They quickly came up with an explanation: The certificate was forged. Anonymous digital image experts with handles like Techdude and Polarik sprung from the woodwork to prove (shades of Rathergate!) that pixels, spacing, and indentation on the form indicated that the Obama campaign had created the certificate with Adobe Photoshop. The state of Hawaii's official statement that the certificate was legitimate didn't make a dent—after all, who is Registrar of Vital Statistics Alvin Onaka to argue with Techdude?
They quickly came up with an explanation: The certificate was forged. Anonymous digital image experts with handles like Techdude and Polarik sprung from the woodwork to prove (shades of Rathergate!) that pixels, spacing, and indentation on the form indicated that the Obama campaign had created the certificate with Adobe Photoshop. The state of Hawaii's official statement that the certificate was legitimate didn't make a dent—after all, who is Registrar of Vital Statistics Alvin Onaka to argue with Techdude?
My outrage is only surpassed by my laughter at how insane some people are.
The big deal was that he was hiding the fact that he was Muslim, and once elected would come out in the open and declare Sharia law or some such nonsense... FUD.
I believe the favorite term was "Secret" Muslim. I do actually recall now Robroy saying something like how when you're Muslim and doing crazy terrorist stuff it's OK to do whatever you want in order to not give away that you are actually Muslim. Because apparently being a Muslim Terrorist is kind of like being in the CIA.
So with Robroy gone, how am I supposed to know the latest conspiracy theory I'm supposed to follow, or even what the latest right-wing nickname is for Obama? Surely the secret Muslim thing isn't the latest. There's got to be something with Blagojevich or something. I guess I need to find a freeper to keep me updated on what I'm supposed to be afraid of these days.
Well, yesterday you were supposed to be afraid of a violent eruption at Yellowstone, decimating food production, killing millions. But I'm not sure what's on the plate for today.
I do actually recall now Robroy saying something like how when you're Muslim and doing crazy terrorist stuff it's OK to do whatever you want in order to not give away that you are actually Muslim.
About the only thing politically interesting the last couple weeks has been the Minnesota re-re-re-re-recount and Bill Richardson turning down his nomination.
Actually, I sorta wish RobRoy was still around. I'd love to have read the right wing conspiracy articles on Blagojavich (or however you spell it).
Yeah, seriously. I need a direct filter. I try going to freerepublic myself, but it's just such a gawdawful mess to try to sift thru everything on that website. I need someone to filter to me the important talking points.
I don't comment on politics much, but now that inauguration day is here I have to say this:
Thank god Bush is gone!
Since I am an atheist, I hope you'll appreciate how much it takes for me to say that.
I have hesitant optimism about Obama, and I hope it turns out as well as I hope it does. He's the most impressive Presidential candidate I've seen in my lifetime, but the proof is in the pudding. Fingers crossed.
We need RobRoy to parse the conspiracy theories about Roberts and Obama flubbing the order of the oath of office, and as a result, Obama not actually being president.
I know. I've been reading some of those. They're awesome. They are of course right next to the stories about how he was born in Kenya and isn't really eligible to become president anyway.
Comments
Heh. I actually had "(too late?)" in my original post but deleted it. 8)
I am all for severe penalties and crackdowns on impaired driving for any reason (including being an idiot while taking on a cellphone). But that shouldn't prevent someone from consuming their vice of choice in their own home and never going anywhere near a vehicle or infringing on anyone else's rights. There are numerous ways to be impaired, and I don't think the right tack is to try to make them all illegal (should Nyquil be illegal?). Make the harmful act itself illegal, no matter how the impairment occurred. If someone can impair themselves and not harm or infringe upon someone else, let them be. There's no reason for that to be illegal IMO.
If it will help, I can try to randomly call people Nazis, develop a persecution complex and/or make wildly optimistic predictions ( but I'd have to disappear after they fail to materialize).
There's an appropriate place for posts like this, and it's on the Robroy Nazi Countdown thread. That said, even what you have offered to provide would not be a sufficient replacement. Here's what else you must provide -
1. You would also need to be patronizing about the superiority of your position with an emphasis on how long you held to said position unchanged regardless of evidence to the contrary.
2. It helps if you can find a multitude of essentially off-topic YouTube videos and post them as if they stand alone with comments like "what about that" or "see".
3. Finally, if you want to truly replace the venerable Robroy you must promise to never respond directly to anything anyone else posts unless it provides an excuse to bring up Rather-gate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrlYRWD_tnA
(Tried to get all three in one...)
Alcohol is far more dangerous - to the consumer, to those close to him/her, and to society - but is an integral part of our culture.
From: http://www.prohibitioncosts.org/endorsers.html
$7-8B/year to arrest, prosecute, house marijuana "criminals", plus societal costs which weren't included (inability of convicted felons to find work after serving time, etc). $2.4B lost sales tax revenue, potential for many billions more in sin tax revenue. Washington could probably balance their budget with a statewide legalization, and $20-50/oz sin tax. Throw in revenues from licensing growers, distributors, etc... lots of money there. And even with a $50/oz sin tax, it'd probably be cheaper for the end user.
Those who profit from keeping marijuana illegal have strong lobbying forces... pro marijuana legalization groups tend to be... lazy stoners.
Revised it. I hope you don't mind.
My outrage is only surpassed by my laughter at how insane some people are.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/2 ... 53200.html
WWRRSAT? (What Would Rob Roy Say About This?)
No.
The big deal was that he was hiding the fact that he was Muslim, and once elected would come out in the open and declare Sharia law or some such nonsense... FUD.
This is not true?
I was actually under impression that Microsoft owns a lot of them...<snicker>
Actually, I sorta wish RobRoy was still around. I'd love to have read the right wing conspiracy articles on Blagojavich (or however you spell it).
Thank god Bush is gone!
Since I am an atheist, I hope you'll appreciate how much it takes for me to say that.
I have hesitant optimism about Obama, and I hope it turns out as well as I hope it does. He's the most impressive Presidential candidate I've seen in my lifetime, but the proof is in the pudding. Fingers crossed.
BTW, here is the BEST....WEBSITE.....UPDATE....EVER: http://www.whitehouse.gov/