Got a crazy forwarded political email from your family? Post them here.

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Dr Christmas: Apr 24, 2010; Berninating the one percent,
Berninating the Wall St.
Berninating all the people
In their high rise penthouses!
🔥😱🔥🔫👴🏻

JohnClark posted:

Another gem from facebook, attributed to a person I've never heard of and who google reveals nothing about.

I'm tempted to reply with, "literally everything in this post is wrong", but can anyone come up with something more substantive?

Can we blame Bush for letting 9/11 happen on his watch?

EFB.

Seriously though, how many Bengazis happened during the Iraq war?

# ? Oct 25, 2012 03:43

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# ? May 24, 2024 02:58

Nth Doctor: Sep 7, 2010; Darkrai used Dream Eater!
It's super effective!

myron cope posted:

In Michigan there's a ballot proposal (Prop 5) that will require 2/3s of the legislature (or a statewide referendum, ) to increase (statewide) taxes on anything in any way ("in order for the State of Michigan to impose new or additional taxes on taxpayers or expand the base of taxation or increasing the rate of taxation.") It sounds horrifying but I can see it passing because of MY TAXES SHOULD BE LOWER

gently caress Matty Moroun forever. I'm quite worried he will have literally bought two amendments to the state constitution this election cycle.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 04:23

DarkHorse: Dec 13, 2006; Nap Ghost

vyelkin posted:

1. The American citizens who asked for added security were in Tripoli, not Benghazi.
2. Requests for added security were denied in part because a Republican congress voted to slash spending for embassy and consulate security.
3. Asking for help during the attack didn't accomplish anything not because people didn't care but because it happened quickly enough that no one would have been able to respond in time. In fact, a number of Libyans did take action trying to protect the consulate and, afterwards, trying to get injured Americans to a hospital, but again, the attack happened quickly enough the four Americans died anyway.
4. If you honestly think that the President of the United States, the American military, or the U.S. government in general would 'turn away' from a diplomat 'begging for help' rather than trying to assist them with whatever tools they had available as soon as they could, I don't know what to tell you. It's a tragic attack but the people you should be blaming for it are the terrorists who committed it, not the president who happened to preside over it. Do you blame George W. Bush for 9/11?

Those are my initial reactions, but I'm unsure on a lot of the details relating to Benghazi so you may want to wait for someone else.

I've also heard that the images of the bloodied ambassador from the consulate were from Libyans trying to get him to a hospital, too. This same ambassador that had lived through the Libyan civil war and was doing important outreach to the civilians, possibly the same ones that were trying to help him. It's also probably why he didn't want more than the token number of Marines there, and only to protect confidential information.

That's at least my understanding of the situation.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 04:32

Uncle Wemus: Mar 4, 2004

Ive noticed a strange rise in posts on facebook saying that America isnt a democracy but rather a constitutional republic. Is this supposed to mean something? Like we shouldnt allow people to vote?

# ? Oct 25, 2012 04:39

XyloJW: Jul 23, 2007

myron cope posted:

In Michigan there's a ballot proposal (Prop 5) that will require 2/3s of the legislature (or a statewide referendum, ) to increase (statewide) taxes on anything in any way ("in order for the State of Michigan to impose new or additional taxes on taxpayers or expand the base of taxation or increasing the rate of taxation.") It sounds horrifying but I can see it passing because of MY TAXES SHOULD BE LOWER

That's the law California passed in the 70's, and in 40 years, they haven't raised taxes. And that law does not apply to spending, either, I bet. So, congratulations, your state just sold itself into debt for the next century.

Seriously, ask every person you meet if that "no new taxes" thing applies to spending. Then ask if they think Democrats will stop spending. I know, it's not really true, but they believe that. Pitting one preconception of theirs against another is the only way to save your state.

vyelkin posted:

Not even. If it's a penny on the dollar, it's $1 for a $100 purchase. And I bet you that doesn't apply to most daily essentials, because sales taxes usually don't. Consumption taxes as a rule apply most heavily to the wealthy, especially in a recession, because they're the ones who are buying new cars every year and paying actually large amounts of sales taxes on their consumption. For those of us who spend most of our money on rent and food (almost all food is excluded here in Canada, don't know about the US), we end up paying much less sales tax on each dollar of our disposable income than the wealthy do.

Sorry, nope! In fact, many states have specific extra taxes on groceries. I'm not aware of any state that exempts food from sales taxes.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 04:48

myron cope: Apr 21, 2009

Nth Doctor posted:

gently caress Matty Moroun forever. I'm quite worried he will have literally bought two amendments to the state constitution this election cycle.

I agree. That's why I voted no on 6 just because he wants people to vote yes (also because I think there should be another bridge and that putting it to a vote means we'll never get one). Didn't he give money to another one too?

# ? Oct 25, 2012 04:50

OAquinas: Jan 27, 2008; Biden has sat immobile on the Iron Throne of America. He is the Master of Malarkey by the will of the gods, and master of a million votes by the might of his inexhaustible calamari.

Uncle Wemus posted:

Ive noticed a strange rise in posts on facebook saying that America isnt a democracy but rather a constitutional republic. Is this supposed to mean something? Like we shouldnt allow people to vote?

Most likely softening a blow for another EC victory but a PV loss. Which is possible, though unlikely, for both candidates at this point.

Edit: VVVV That too, but I think my theory gets the spirit behinds the words more. vOv

# ? Oct 25, 2012 04:51

sicarius: Dec 12, 2002; In brightest day,
In blackest night,
My smugface makes,
women wet....

That's how it goes, right?

Uncle Wemus posted:

Ive noticed a strange rise in posts on facebook saying that America isnt a democracy but rather a constitutional republic. Is this supposed to mean something? Like we shouldnt allow people to vote?

No. It's people who don't know the meaning of words. America is - theoretically - a democratic representative republic. The "constitutional" part is meaningless in the modern world since basically every nation-state in existence has some form of constitution.

What they're trying to insinuate is that we, as individuals, don't "theoretically" have a right to vote (specifically for President). They're twisting words. We are a democracy - we're not a pure democracy (like say, Ancient Greece) - but we are democratic. This poo poo has been happening for years and it espoused by people who don't actually know what the words mean in political science.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 04:51

Mitchicon: Nov 3, 2006

sicarius posted:

No. It's people who don't know the meaning of words. America is - theoretically - a democratic representative republic. The "constitutional" part is meaningless in the modern world since basically every nation-state in existence has some form of constitution.

What they're trying to insinuate is that we, as individuals, don't "theoretically" have a right to vote (specifically for President). They're twisting words. We are a democracy - we're not a pure democracy (like say, Ancient Greece) - but we are democratic. This poo poo has been happening for years and it espoused by people who don't actually know what the words mean in political science.

What separates us from a pure democracy? The electoral college?

# ? Oct 25, 2012 04:53

OAquinas: Jan 27, 2008; Biden has sat immobile on the Iron Throne of America. He is the Master of Malarkey by the will of the gods, and master of a million votes by the might of his inexhaustible calamari.

Mitchicon posted:

What separates us from a pure democracy? The electoral college?

Direct votes on every action to be taken by the country/state/city government. Its not a terribly efficient system of government. Sucks, really.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 04:54

XyloJW: Jul 23, 2007

Mitchicon posted:

What separates us from a pure democracy? The electoral college?

Yeah, that we elect anyone at all is what separates us from pure Democracy. It basically only worked when you're dealing with a few hundred people. Even a single city gets too big for it (Athens). Representative government makes us a Republic, and because we vote for those representatives, we're a Democratic Republic.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 04:59

Doctor Spaceman: Jul 6, 2010; "Everyone's entitled to their point of view, but that's seriously a weird one."

XyloJW posted:

Yeah, that we elect anyone at all is what separates us from pure Democracy. It basically only worked when you're dealing with a few hundred people. Even a single city gets too big for it (Athens). Representative government makes us a Republic, and because we vote for those representatives, we're a Democratic Republic.

Representative government doesn't make you a republic; look at Canada, Britain or Australia for examples of the former that aren't the latter.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:05

Nth Doctor: Sep 7, 2010; Darkrai used Dream Eater!
It's super effective!

myron cope posted:

I agree. That's why I voted no on 6 just because he wants people to vote yes (also because I think there should be another bridge and that putting it to a vote means we'll never get one). Didn't he give money to another one too?

I heard rumblings he's behind the taxes one as well.
http://defendmidemocracy.com/the-supermajority-scheme/

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:06

Mitchicon: Nov 3, 2006

XyloJW posted:

Yeah, that we elect anyone at all is what separates us from pure Democracy. It basically only worked when you're dealing with a few hundred people. Even a single city gets too big for it (Athens). Representative government makes us a Republic, and because we vote for those representatives, we're a Democratic Republic.

Can you have a non-Democratic Republic? Is there a system where you have Representatives that you don't elect?

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:08

XyloJW: Jul 23, 2007

Doctor Spaceman posted:

Representative government doesn't make you a republic; look at Canada, Britain or Australia for examples of the former that aren't the latter.

I don't know things, Doctor Spaceman.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:11

sexpig by night: Sep 8, 2011; by Azathoth

Mitchicon posted:

Can you have a non-Democratic Republic? Is there a system where you have Representatives that you don't elect?

Yes, if you have a leader who appoints representatives.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:17

vyelkin: Jan 2, 2011

XyloJW posted:

Sorry, nope! In fact, many states have specific extra taxes on groceries. I'm not aware of any state that exempts food from sales taxes.

That's lovely, I feel bad for you guys.

Mitchicon posted:

Can you have a non-Democratic Republic? Is there a system where you have Representatives that you don't elect?

Yes to the first half of your question, sort of to the second. Any country not run by a monarch is technically a republic, so for example Qaddafi's regime in Libya was a republic despite being in no way a dictatorship. And in the sense that someone who is titled 'President' is a representative of the country or its population, they are part of a representative republic even if it's again in no way democratic. For example Mubarak was President of Egypt, making it a republic and him, in a way, its representative but not many people would say he got there through democratic means.

Alternately, you can have unelected representatives who are appointed, not necessarily by a monarch (as in Britain's House of Lords). For example, even though Canada is technically a monarchy we have a Senate appointed by our Prime Ministers. If for some reason we ditched the Queen but kept the Senate as is, we would be a republic where half our legislature was made up of unelected representatives.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:17

VideoTapir: Oct 18, 2005; He'll tire eventually.

Mitchicon posted:

Can you have a non-Democratic Republic? Is there a system where you have Representatives that you don't elect?

Does China count?

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:19

vyelkin: Jan 2, 2011

Incidentally, one of the stupidest political things I ever saw someone say/write was a U.S. Democrat who said something like "I don't understand how any can vote against the Democratic Party! I thought America was a democracy!!!" Well, yes. It's also a republic, so that point goes both ways, crazy lady.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:20

nsaP: May 4, 2004; alright?

There are a lot of states that exempt groceries from sales tax, my state of Kentucky being one of them.

Just to the north, Ohio exempts sales tax on fast food so long as you're taking it away. If you eat in you pay.

edit: poo poo up until a few years ago alcohol used to be exempt from it.

nsaP fucked around with this message at 05:23 on Oct 25, 2012

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:21

Quabzor: Oct 17, 2010; My whole life just flashed before my eyes! Dude, I sleep a lot.

"XyloJW" posted:

Sorry, nope! In fact, many states have specific extra taxes on groceries. I'm not aware of any state that exempts food from sales taxes.

Nope, WI doesnt tax groceries(beer/alcohol is taxed though).

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:25

blackmet: Aug 5, 2006; I believe there is a universal Truth to the process of doing things right (Not that I have any idea what that actually means).

XyloJW posted:

Sorry, nope! In fact, many states have specific extra taxes on groceries. I'm not aware of any state that exempts food from sales taxes.

Colorado has no state tax on groceries, but many localities tax it.

And if that bill passes, much like TABOR in Colorado, you won't have TAXES increase. But FEES will go through the roof. Hope you enjoy paying 3X what you do now to register a car at the same time that going to the DMV turns into a 5 hour ordeal.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:27

XyloJW: Jul 23, 2007

To head off further people reporting in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_taxes_in_the_United_States#By_jurisdiction A state by state breakdown.

Surprise, I'm from the South, gently caress your medicine and food, pay up!

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:30

TinTower: Apr 21, 2010; You don't have to 8e a good person to 8e a hero.

VideoTapir posted:

Does China count?

One of my favourite parts of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea is that it's none of those things.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:36

Mitchicon: Nov 3, 2006

TinTower posted:

One of my favourite parts of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea is that it's none of those things.

Like the Holy Roman Empire?

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:38

Vorpal Cat: Mar 19, 2009; Oh god what did I just post?

Mitchicon posted:

Like the Holy Roman Empire?

Well semi-Secular Germanic Confederacy doesn't have the same ring to it.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:47

XyloJW: Jul 23, 2007

TinTower posted:

One of my favourite parts of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea is that it's none of those things.

It's North Korea alright. As noted above, Holy Roman Empire takes the cake for nisnomer.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 05:50

Aeka 2.0: Nov 16, 2000; Have you seen my apex seals? I seem to have lost them.; Dinosaur Gum

Ratmtattat posted:

On my Facebook feed I saw this gem

This came from "The Blacksphere"

I guess he has a shiny ear or something but man this is some stretching.

lighting is a helluva thing. All those ear lines are still the same in the normal and "earpiece" photos.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 06:07

Samfucius: Sep 8, 2010; And if you gaze long enough into a nest, the nest will gaze back into you.

One of my facebook friends (I've mentioned him before, arch-conservative, 'joked' that he was schizophrenic) posted that nice email about how socialism works with grades yadda yadda yadda, to which I replied with several relatively reasonable points. He replied with "I'm not trying to debate anyone here, just make them see the light" to which I challenged his unwillingness to discuss the subject while firing away at his (stupid) core argument. The reason I am paraphrasing and not posting a screencap is because after the third time I asked for a single example of real-world policy fitting his grade scenario, he defriended and blocked me after deleting all my posts.

I consider it a victory.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 06:09

TinTower: Apr 21, 2010; You don't have to 8e a good person to 8e a hero.

XyloJW posted:

It's North Korea alright. As noted above, Holy Roman Empire takes the cake for nisnomer.

Welp, the "North" shouldn't be there. Without it, it's wholly untrue. Not democratic, not of the people, not a republic (seriously, it's a quasi-Stalinist monarchy), and not encompassing all of Korea.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 06:27

Doctor Spaceman: Jul 6, 2010; "Everyone's entitled to their point of view, but that's seriously a weird one."

TinTower posted:

Welp, the "North" shouldn't be there. Without it, it's wholly untrue. Not democratic, not of the people, not a republic (seriously, it's a quasi-Stalinist monarchy), and not encompassing all of Korea.

The United States of America doesn't encompass all of America either.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 06:55

Dr. Arbitrary: Mar 15, 2006; Bleak Gremlin

I'm getting a lot of stuff from my family about the lybia attack and declassified cables requesting more protection. Anyone have a source on this where I can learn the details inside and out?

# ? Oct 25, 2012 07:14

Teriyaki Hairpiece: Dec 29, 2006; I'm nae the voice o' the darkened thistle, but th' darkened thistle cannae bear the sight o' our Bonnie Prince Bernie nae mair.

Rkelly posted:

Here enjoy a post from my facebook by a cousin of mine.
Leaving in spelling errors for factual-ness!

Look at a World History book man. After wwi Germany was in economic shambles and Hitler promised all these great changes and improvements if was elected chancellor. Well ya see how that turned out for Germany. Obama will break this country down and rebuild it to be completely dependant on what he decides to hand out to the people.

This is from the last page, and it's kind of a derail but is this crap ever going to go away? Hitler didn't come to power because of the post-WWI economic problems of the Weimar Republic. Germany got it's poo poo together in the late 20's and everything was better and the Nazis started to get less elected. If it hadn't been for the Great Depression, there would have been no Third Reich. I don't understand the persistence of this idea of WWI ---> bad economy in Germany ---> Nazi rule.

The main problem I have with this is that it makes the rise of the Nazis in Germany something that happened because of conditions that weren't present here. A beaten, humiliated nation, hyperinflation, etc. Hitler took over that country because of things that were also happening in the US, and it totally could have happened here the same way.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 10:21

Ghost of Reagan Past: Oct 7, 2003; rock and roll fun

Rkelly posted:

Here enjoy a post from my facebook by a cousin of mine.
Leaving in spelling errors for factual-ness!

I love ya but this country is still a lot better off than most and that's because we've never had a govt that has total rule over our everyday lives. Look at how miserable people like you and I are in N. Korea or in these other dictatorship or socialist ruled countries. Their citizens are completely dependant on government for basic needs such as food and water.

These sick rulers are living in palaces and castles while their people starve and die of diseases due to their own power hungry egos. Obama is just like these wackos. This country will fall apart at the seams if he is re elected. He will let it happen and then he will attempt to have the military ration out food and basic needs to us so that we are also completely dependant on him.

Look at a World History book man. After wwi Germany was in economic shambles and Hitler promised all these great changes and improvements if was elected chancellor. Well ya see how that turned out for Germany. Obama will break this country down and rebuild it to be completely dependant on what he decides to hand out to the people.

I fortunately will not know what its like to live like that because I will join a militia fighting his army and I will be dependant upon God and what he provides me just as the Hebrews did after they left Egypt. A nation that turns its back on God is destined to failure.

If history is not known and studied it will repeat itself. I love you cuz and this doesn't change the fact that as family we have to stick together no matter what.

How should I save my relations from this militia stuff?

The thing that gets me about all these crazy Obama stories is why. Why does Obama want to do this thing? For what end? And besides, don't they usually rail against government incompetence? Government can do nothing right, but it is all-powerful. And do they really think that if Obama does all this rationing bullshit the military would go along with it? I mean, if the military consists of patriotic heroes, but would destroy America if they were told to, what does that say about soldiers? It makes no sense. Or is it that they, the conservatives, see the light of truth, and everyone else is just too dumb to recognize the obviousness of Obama's nefarious scheme?

First person to quote Eco at me gets a cookie.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 12:17

B-Rock452: Jan 6, 2005

The best part of this election for me has been egging on my insane co-worker who is a hardcore republican. He's spent the past week praising Dick Morris and talking about how he is the smartest man in politics right now.

So far this election I have gotten him to agree that if you live in the city your vote should only count for 2/3rds since it's unfair to people in less population dense area and that Obama was acting uppity after the last debate. I've gotten him to agree to these things without a trace of irony on his part...

# ? Oct 25, 2012 12:32

Juffo-Wup: Jan 13, 2005; Pillbug

B-Rock452 posted:

The best part of this election for me has been egging on my insane co-worker who is a hardcore republican. He's spent the past week praising Dick Morris and talking about how he is the smartest man in politics right now.

So far this election I have gotten him to agree that if you live in the city your vote should only count for 2/3rds since it's unfair to people in less population dense area and that Obama was acting uppity after the last debate. I've gotten him to agree to these things without a trace of irony on his part...

You should have made it three fifths.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 16:31

Strudel Man: May 19, 2003; ROME DID NOT HAVE ROBOTS, FUCKWIT

Juffo-Wup posted:

You should have made it three fifths.

I always find this really incoherent as a zinger because the slaveholders were the ones who wanted the slaves to count as a full person. :/

# ? Oct 25, 2012 18:13

B-Rock452: Jan 6, 2005

Juffo-Wup posted:

You should have made it three fifths.

poo poo I have a minor in history and I can't believe I missed that. I feel like I have really let myself down

# ? Oct 25, 2012 18:50

800peepee51doodoo: Mar 1, 2001; Volute the swarth, trawl betwixt phonotic
Scoff the festune

sicarius posted:

No. It's people who don't know the meaning of words. America is - theoretically - a democratic representative republic. The "constitutional" part is meaningless in the modern world since basically every nation-state in existence has some form of constitution.

What they're trying to insinuate is that we, as individuals, don't "theoretically" have a right to vote (specifically for President). They're twisting words. We are a democracy - we're not a pure democracy (like say, Ancient Greece) - but we are democratic. This poo poo has been happening for years and it espoused by people who don't actually know what the words mean in political science.

In my experience, the only reason people bring up the "its a republic, not a democracy!!" thing is literally because republicans good democrats bad. That's it. It's that dumb.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 19:25

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# ? May 24, 2024 02:58

sexpig by night: Sep 8, 2011; by Azathoth

B-Rock452 posted:

poo poo I have a minor in history and I can't believe I missed that. I feel like I have really let myself down

No it's cool, 3/5th was an anti-slave owner thing. The owners wanted it to be 1 vote per slave and thus have a huge power boost, the racists would want that rather than 3/5ths.

# ? Oct 25, 2012 19:39

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Debate & Discussion > Got a crazy forwarded political email from your family? Post them here.

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