Mcafee's Hike
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5
I did Mcafees alone today. I'm a bit sore, and it's a bit sooner than usual. Getting old ROCKS! Deb & I are watching "Lost in Translation" with Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansen. She is cute, almost too cute to be sexy. I think I'm a Bill Murray fan. To me, he's very "real". The movie has inspired a bit of "writer's block" for me. I should be writing for my site, Pringle.be, but I can't think of anything. I am building the site for a class, I'd like to make the site one that I can develop my business "skills" with. What do other "one man shows" write on their wanna be websites? I guess that would be a good start. I should be looking for sites to use as inspiration.

Californication
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5
In all of my political debates, I have never had anyone give a good explanation of how Liberally run states (like California, New York, Illinois, and Michigan) are always in such dire straights, financially speaking or why their way of thinking is best for the nation.

Scratch an itch (when your head feels tight)
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5
I am inclined to think that Americans are just simple minded, and not actively stupid. Obama's win was not because Americans wanted Socialism, it was because we respond to slick marketing. I seriously doubt if five in ten "Believers" can accurately describe what he is going to do to "fix" the economy. Of those who can, I doubt if any of them can reasonably describe (or even understand) the position of the opposition. As everyone knows, Weez is an artist, so we have a lot of friends that are pretty far left in their thinking. I noticed something about them some years ago, and it's pretty disturbing, because many of them see themselves as being highly knowledgeable. In my many conversations with them through the years, I noticed that many of them are perfectly willing to shut out any information that does not fit into the template that they have set up in their minds.
I'll give an example. One night, at a "Open Minded Liberal Celebration", I got sick of listening to the mindless chatter about The Simpson's and all the other drivel that polite people yap about when their heads feel tight, so I brought the conversation around to politics. I had been doing a bit of research on a particular issue, so I was content to let the conversation stay focused on that issue. I noticed that information given to them was rarely acknowledged, and they were never responded to in a satisfactory manner. I decided that their heads were like clam shells, slamming shut to prevent the unauthorized entry of information, and that conversations with them were less about the exchange of information, and more about trying to prove how "witty" we are. I think it's impossible to have honest conversations with them, because they are entirely focused on the avoidance of honest conversation.

Obama’s Economic Stimulus Plan Mapped Out
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5
http://www.creditloan.com/infographics/obamas-economic-stimulus-plan-mapped-out/

The "tax cuts" are incorrectly labeled. A real "Tax cut" means that people who pay taxes get to keep more of what they earn. In this scenario, the people who get the "tax cuts" don't actually pay taxes. That's the elephant in the room. If he can get more of the population to depend on the Government for their daily bread, he can ensure Democrat electability by threatening to take away the handouts. Money corrupts flowing into and out of Washington. Also, the Republicans are not in control. He doesn't need them to pass this Pork. He wants their support to ensure that the Democrats who voted for it don't become poster children for what's wrong in America when the next election rolls around. The same thing happened in Bill Clinton's first term. It was a party line vote, and the Democrats voted like they always do, to screw the working people. When the next election came around, they lost seats in the House and Senate. I think that what this "graphic" really illustrates is how out of touch most Americans are with what is going on in Washington. Conservatives are opposing this bailout because we don't want to have to support businesses that make bad decisions. We oppose it because, by using tax dollars and debt to "stimulate" the economies of his cronies, he enslaves the workers (more) and devalues the dollar. In my experience, most Liberals lack the ability to grasp simple economics. If you can't comprehend anything I have said so far, remember this, "No government can dictate the value of the effort and maintain the value of the currency".

On Guantanimo Bay
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5
With 61 out of 420 (13%) detainees being recaptured, I would say that it is a future "fumble" to close the base without first deciding on where to send the rest of them. Listening to Obama signing the Executive Order, he didn't even know if there was a plan for what to do with the rest of them. It is a fumble because, no matter who was in charge when the detainees were released, they were recaptured on the battle field. A 13% failure rate is cause for concern, especially when considering that fact that on September 11th, 19 people were responsible for the deaths of thousands. You discount the effectiveness of the enemy, if you consider them enemies. If you don't, let me know, and the conversation need not continue. For this not to be a "fumble", there would have to be no information suggesting that the decision could be a mistake. Are you thinking that it could only be a mistake because Obama was not involved in the decision process? Was it a mistake to release the recaptured detainees only because Bush was the president when the decision was made? Jenny, it sounds like you are using circular logic. [We should try them on American soil because if we don't, it proves that they are innocent]. Is that what you are saying? Will closing the facility prevent the capture of "innocent" people? Will keeping it open disallow the detainment of those who are "guilty"? The decision to try them on American soil would not be in accordance with what we have been doing so far, so what is the reason for the change? During the Clinton administration, we initiated the rendition program, which is FAR more "cruel" and secretive than keeping someone at Guantanamo bay. I think that you are saying Guantanamo bay is bad/wrong/evil because it came to the forefront during the Bush administration, even though the Guantanamo bay facility has been in use on and off since the 1970s. Are you using the same logic to "create" innocence with the detainees? Scott, Going back to the "change" mantra, I have nothing against vapid platitudes and "politispeech", but I think that governments should be run on something more substantial, like results. Let's get six sigma with the 13% failure rate… FAIL! Going back to my initial assertion, this decision will prove to be a "fumble" because closing the base does not solve the problem of what to do with the detainees. With a 13% failure rate, this course of action does not even make sense on its surface. I am judging actions, and commenting on what I think the results will be. There is a strong tendency here to judge the president on some criteria other than the wisdom of his decisions, and I won't justify it with an acknowledgement. Hope and change are unmeasured, immeasurable abstractions. We have a Democrat president, and a Democrat Congress. With that being the case, the ball is in their court, and the responsibility (or credit) lies with them. If I am to willfully put away my ability to objectively (or critically, for that matter) consider the actions of my government, let me know, and let me know why. Something that I would like to know from both of you is what is the line of demarcation? During the Clinton administration, we had the following "terrorist" attacks * 1993 - The first World Trade Center bombing * 1995 - Attempted crashing of plane on White House * 1995 - Oklahoma City bombing * 1996 - Khobar Towers bombing - Saudi Arabia * 1998 - U.S. Embassy bombings Kenya/Tanzania * 2000 - USS Cole Bombing – Yemen That is the short list, I know there were more, even if you exclude the non Al Qaeda attacks. Even still, it seems like you assume the attacks came because of Bush, and will go away because he is gone. Are you only considering terrorism a problem for the Bush era, or are you thinking that Obama can overcome obsessive hatred with a charming smile?

Reality Is the Antedote to Media Worship
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5
Commentary » Blog Archive » Reality Is the Antedote to Media Worship:

I think it is absurd to expect the same lack of logic employed by the main stream media thus far to suddenly turn around and start honest assessments of their messiah and his actions. Most Liberals I know lack the ability to evaluate objectively. Try this one for example. During Bush, we had 9-11, which was planned during the Clinton administration. After that, no successful attacks on American soil, and thousands of Terrorists captured or killed around the globe, including Iraq. To them, that means, Bush caused 9-11, we are no safer, and there were no Terrorists in Iraq. By the same token, if 8 years of Obama gives us 8 attacks (like the Clinton years), it will not mean that we are less safe, it will mean Obama was handed a quagmire by Bush. I will also mention that they do not equate Clinton’s inability (unwillingness) to deal with Bin Laden as handing Bush a “quagmire”. Modern Liberalism relies upon the selective application of logic.

Living the life
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5

As a Conservative, I see politics to be a part of life. Politics are not my life. If I had never talked politics with a close friend, I wouldn't discount them as an individual. I would simply think that they are who they are, and we disagree about this or that subject. I have noticed something about the liberals I have met. When they find out that I am a Conservative, it is important that they characterize me because of my opinions. While I refer to myself as an "Objectivist", I see that as a part of who I am. It does not define me, it represents me (to an extent.). I think Liberals see "Liberalism" as more of a major component when it comes to who they are. That is odd to me, because they constantly have to change who they are. Liberals have been referring to themselves as "progressives" for a few years now. When they are called "Liberals" they frequently bring up some side conversation about why we have to use labels. I think that this is a red herring. I won't get into it now. I just saw an interview with Jeanine Garofilo about her part on the cable TV series 24. The interviewer said to her [I know you are progressive, and I want to know if you had any conflict starring on a show that supports torture]. For a Conservative, the question wouldn't need to be asked. I think a Conservative would think, "I am an actor, this is a job. While I don't agree with his (the writer's) politics, he has a profession and I do. He has opinions, as do I. We are not the same." For a Liberal, the fact that 24 does not represent their own opinions is an obstacle. For a Liberal, different opinions are not to be evaluated. Anyone with different opinions is to be silenced, not considered. More importantly, the arguments, conclusions and evidence that they present is not to be considered. I think that Revelations (mark of the beast), Atlas Shrugged, Brave New World, and 1984 have something in common. They are the future. This concept has multiple sources. The Bible is a religious text. Ayn Rand was a devout Atheist. I think that all stories represent life under Liberalism.


Defenders of Freedom
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5
Just as I dstinguish myself from the Liberals and Democrats for the constant attacks on true freedom, I stand apart from the Republicans and modern day "Conservatives" over the unwillingness to defend freedom. Apparently, this is not a new phenomenon. I have read in Ayn Rand's writings about the ineptitude of the "right" when it comes to right minded thinking. She established Objectivism to circumvent the uselessness that was passing for Conservatism a long time ago. It took me a long time to catch on. I fear that the rest of the "free" world will never get it. Actually, I don't care. I can't control the actions of others. I am doing well to manage myself.

The road ahead
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5
What is to happen with the future of Conservative thought? I think we need a marketing plan. I listen to other logical individuals talk about the matter. they seem to think that Conservatives need to keep the same message, and keep it solid. I don't think that we will win in the end with that thinking. I do agree that Conservatism is Conservatism, and that the message shouldn't change. I also think that the marketing absolutely MUST change. I am 34 years old. As I recall, My stepfather is around fifty-something years old. My younger brother and stepson are about 19 years old. If I were marketing a product, say widgets, I would not ever even consider using the same marketing campaign to reach all of us. The thought would never even cross my mind. Unlike widgets, conservatism is a concept. With widgets, everyone is getting the same thing. Even still, you have to target the product to the buyer. What's more, the marketing done for one demographic could be problematic for the marketing done for another demographic. Imagine if Marlboro were to suddenly try to get black smokers. What if Newport was to go for the cowboy buyer? These products are successful with these groups because they are marketed to these groups. It is not by accident, and it is not because there is anything in the products that the groups respond to. Let's apply the same thinking to Conservatism. As a conservative, the essence of the ideal has to do with personal freedom and responsibility. These are concepts that resound with all of humanity. If I were to find 100 random people from my own demographic (black male, 35 years old, living in the 22801 ZIP code), I doubt if 10 of them would be able to accurately articulate the ideals of conservatism. This is because Conservatism has been defined for them already. It has been defined by non conservatives. The successful maligning of conservatism was possible only because conservatives refuse to market, themselves. Conservatism refuses to evangelize. In my opinion, there are a few major factors that allowed Obama to win the election. First of all, there was ACORN. A little fraud goes a long way. We have seen the same tactics put Al Franken in Office over Norm Coleman. Second, there was the brilliant marketing campaign. If there is one thing about Obama that I respect, it is his ability to empty himself of all personal content and allow himself to become the screen upon which the viewer projects their vision of what they want him to be. He becomes the marketing campaign. Last but not least, there is the fact that John McCain is himself, a Liberal. Looking back, I think that I must have been fooling myself to think that the country would elect a Liberal Republican when they could elect a Socialist Democrat. McCain gave Republicans a reason to stay home. Obama's marketing gave Democrats a reason to rally.

http://www.micropersuasion.com/2009/01/obama-social-media-tools.html

Chuck and Larry
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5

Gay marriage?

My grandmother is an old black woman. She goes to a small church that brings in very little money. The other members are mostly a lot of other old black people. Many of the women are raising their granddaughters, and they rely heavily on their shared concept of God to give them strength to manage the task. I think it would be safe to say that in the course of their lives, none of them has ever gone out to bash gays. I think it would be safe to say that in the course of a year, none of them even thinks about gays. Gay marriage, as I understand it, means that the people in this small church could be taken to court for not performing gay marriage ceremonies. My concern comes primarily from the precedence set by the case with the Boy Scouts. The Boy Scouts is a private (not taking tax dollars) organization that was taken to court over the inclusion of Homosexuals. To me, this is not like refusing to sell someone Gasoline at a convenience store, because the organization exists to promote its values (like the NAACP, NARAL, or the KKK) and form fellowship among its members. Before you start calling me a racist homophobe, please take into account the fact that I am a Black man who has had gay and Lesbian roommates. The decisions of the court are backed by the government. The decisions of the court are backed by men with guns. Sometimes, it seems like the gays fantasize that everyone who is not gay either loves or hates them. In truth, most of us generally go through our lives trying to live comfortably, keep a little money after taxes, and make it to Wal*Mart before the sale ends. We are pretty focused on ourselves, we understand the "Virtue of Selfishness". With that in mind, I wholeheartedly resist and reject the notion that the government should send men with guns to force churches that do not believe in gay marriage to perform gay marriage ceremonies, just as I would oppose the government forcing the NAACP to allow members of the Ku Klux Klan to attend. Does that sound like hate to you?


Unit 4: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Research of Psychopathology - Discussion
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5

Unit 4: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Research of Psychopathology - Discussion

Mental illness in young children (1 of 2)

This unit’s reading, Younger children diagnosed with personality disorders, discusses the concept of preschool children being diagnosed with psychological disorders previously thought to be in adolescents and adults exclusively. Using critical thinking, what is your opinion on treatment at the earliest signs of mental distress in children? Support your ideas with specific references to the article and the text book

I think that is a catch 22. What sensible parent, given the knowledge that their child could have a psychological disorder, would not act to correct matter immediately? How long does it take a “normal” child to realize that they are being treated differently from their peers? Children live for attention, and they are very aware of the kind of attention they get, always comparing it to the kind of attention given to them with the attention given to those around them. If we start early enough, I am somewhat convinced that we can establish any disorder in any child. This, of course, does not negate the possibility that disorders can arise early on in life. I am merely pointing out the fact that conditioned response can arise at any time in life. Going back to a point I made earlier in the semester, the thing that makes brain science particularly difficult to try and trust is the brain itself. Among the researchers and the children in a study of this sort, I would be just as inclined to suspect a 'conditioned response' scenario among the researchers as the researched. If discovery of personality disorders were to have a negative effect on the researchers (A loss in pay, or perhaps a mild electric shock?), would they find as many children with personality disorders?

It's odd how quick we are to tamper with the mind. I noticed a drug on TV the other day for smoking. While the commercial was upbeat and positive, they mentioned suicidal tendencies as a possible side effect. I would love to know how many people died before they made that connection. I wouldn’t be the one to say “never medicate”, but I think we in the U.S. engage in too much overmedication.

It may sound cynical, but I wonder how long these disorders would last if there were no profit to be made in selling the cure. According to the CDC, Americans are overmedicated. If advertisements are any indication, the trend is growing. The effects of this overmedication affect our health, and our finances. America’s prescription drug addiction claims about one hundred twenty five thousand lives annually. To me, it sounds like the “war on drugs” has been fighting on the wrong front. It’s one thing die purchasing and using illegal narcotics, but these are people who die from using doctor prescribed medications, which are controlled substances to begin with. I am not questioning or complaining about the fact that elderly people take drugs to prolong the lives, and the quality of the time they have here. I am questioning the fact that drugs are marketed directly to the public, making “pit stop” by the doctors’ offices, as a legal formality.

CDC Says Americans Fatally Overmedicated. Available at: http://awurl.com/NnDvUqVuX [Accessed November 14, 2008].

 

Personality tests (2 of 2)

Although the short personality test you participated in was not as in-depth as those that are given by psychologists, it gives you a very good idea of the types of questions that are on the formal tests, as well as the personality profiles. Many employers require that their potential employees complete a personality profile before they are hired. What are some of the benefits a company would gain by requiring a personality profile of applicants? What are some potentially negative aspects of employers requiring a personality profile of applicants?

Personality profiles allow the company to establish a “baseline” of reference for the employee attitudes. The personality test may not tell you directly that a customer service agent is going to have a habit of getting short with elderly people, but the fact that everyone starts out with the same personality test may provide some additional metrics. The baseline score can be compared with actual performance. This sort of data mining can give evaluators an idea of what type of scores they want to look for in new hires. For example, you might find that potential hires that get short with the elderly have a lower amount of time spent with grandparents living nearby than hires who deal well with them. I am not inclined to think that a personality test alone can tell us a whole lot about an individual. Using that personality test, and comparing it to the results of others and observations in real life can tell us something about how similarities express themselves. By the same token, a personality test is only a test, and is nowhere near being infallible. One could argue that additional test data tells us more about the test than it does about the individual respondents. I would not recommend using Personality tests as the only determinant of whether or not to make a hire. Most people would rather be judged on individual abilities, not personalities. That’s why people frequently respond to nosy questions by saying “that’s personal”.

 

Bibliography

Durand, V. M., & Barlow, D. (2007). Essentials of Abnormal Psychology. Thompson Wadsworth. Retrieved October 30, 2008, .

 


Washington Times - EXCLUSIVE: Agenda disappears from Obama Web site:
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5
Washington Times - EXCLUSIVE: Agenda disappears from Obama Web site:
Could it be that there never was an agenda in the first place? Of course not. There was only "change". He never promised us "good" changes, he only asked that we "believe" in him.

So Long, JuneTeenth
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5
In the past month, two cashiers at Kroger have asked me about the election. I never wear Ballyhoo, and I don't make a habit of talking to people in the self check-out lane. What's up with that? When people find out that I am not a Lib, they don't ask me about Government, they ask me about Science and Religion. When it comes to Science and Religion, I am probably more knowledgeable and less interested than most. My first love (before I realized I could build a computer) was religion. I consider myself a Monotheist of the Christian variety, but I am far from being a Zealot. I would not even call myself 'Devout', but I am working on it. Even still, upper-middle class whites LOVE to probe me on poverty, Religion, and Science. Usually, when they want to talk about these things, I want to talk about Government, and the role of it in our lives. As far as my brothers and sisters are concerned, it's JuneTeenth all over again. I have celebrated JuneTeenth every year since I was about fourteen, but I think I might sit this one out. People expect me to say that I am glad to have a black President even though he is a Communist, but I keep saying I am sad to have a Communist president, even though he is a Mulatto.

Class Discussion Bored
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5
The text discusses several ways that culture, gender or social factors influences our health and behavior.  Choose one of these factors and discuss how this particular influence could influence one�s behavior.  Be sure to provide specific references and support from the text and course material for your response.

"Spreading the Wealth" or The "Utopia" Myth
By Rahsaan Pringle
By separating expectations and results, large groups of people can be conditioned to continually behave in a manner that is inconsistent with their best interests. It was Khrushchev who said "We can't expect the American people to jump from capitalism to communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have communism". He was speaking about the New Deal. Khrushchev also pulled off his shoe and disrupted a meeting at the United Nations, shouting "We will bury you!". He was speaking to us. Since the New Deal, various cities and states in America have tried varying degrees of Communism, with little success. In some states, like New York, Louisiana, Michigan, and California, proponents of the New Deal have had unopposed power for many years. These states typically have the highest taxes, the highest disparity between rich and poor, the lowest employment, and the highest rates of people leaving the state. California and Michigan have recently undertaken advertisement campaigns in order to lure businesses and individuals to the state. In doing so, they have ignored their own part in the mass exodus that has occurred. Communism has been tried with little success through the world. The fall of the soviet Union came without a war. The Berlin Wall was constructed to prevent people who were living on the Communist side from crossing over, and escaping to freedom. During the construction of the Berlin Wall, guards that were assigned to stop escapees were known to abandon their post, opting instead to escape to freedom. A close examination of communism at its source makes it nearly indefensible, from a logical standpoint. The means of production are not the only factors that separate the Bourgeois and Proletarians. I do not have the means of production to create something as simple as an ink pen. If I were given access to an ink pen factory, I would not have the knowledge of production means necessary to produce a single unit. Division of Labor leads to a higher standard of living for all involved. The decline in agrarian society and the rise of the grocery store is a testament to that fact. The Communist manifesto refers to the relationship between lord and serf to be a "natural relationship", and to the willing exchange of values by free men to as "callous". Small businesses were thought of as a dying breed in the Manifesto. In America, today small businesses make up the majority of the businesses in operation, employing millions. The notion that personal wealth is measured in "exchange value" is derided in the Communist Manifesto. No governing body in existence has been able to both maintain the value of the currency, and manage the value of the effort that goes into attaining the currency. To illustrate this point, every few years, Congress raises the minimum wage, and prices go up in accordance. Marx saw no problem with the abolition of private property, freedom, education, individuality, family, and nationality. He saw it as a desirable and necessary goal. Despite the repeated failures and the known loss of freedom that must precede Communism, many of the American people are willing to give communism another try.
Bibliography
Ayn, R. (1957). Atlas Shrugged. Penguin Group. Retrieved from http://atlasshrugged.com/.
Bill Sizemore -- Compassionate Conservatism or Socialism? . Retrieved October 31, 2008, from http://www.newswithviews.com/Bill/sizemore29.htm.
Cliff, K. (2008, February 18). Obama's Communist Mentor. . Retrieved October 31, 2008, from http://www.aim.org/aim-column/print/obamas-communist-mentor/.
Karl, M., & Friedrich, E. (1848). The Communist Manifesto. Penguin Classics. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=yhOOvF61XKgC&dq=The+Communist+Manifesto&pg=PP1&ots=IEmWE0QZfv&source=bn&sig=svQyEgoy9pMaOzaRDdaqts7GuDM&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPP1,M1.
Nikita Khrushchev - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. . Retrieved October 31, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikita_Khrushchev.
Paul, K. (2008, October 10). American Thinker- Print Article. . Retrieved October 31, 2008, from http://www.americanthinker.com/printpage/?url=http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/10/why_obamas_communist_connectio.html.


      I have read this so many times and I do not understand what this has to do with the question. Communism and capitalism are economic theories and two of your sources are opinion pieces about how the writers think Obama is a communist.

I have failed to explain my point. to summarize my thesis, I would say that "The current push towards a Communist canidate despite the bad track record of Communism is an example of how 'social' factors can be used to affect the behaviors of an individual, or a group of individuals" Capitalism is an economic theory, Communism requires more commitment than that. A quote from Mr. Ayers, who has guided Mr. Obama throughout his political career illustrates this fact. ''I don't regret setting bombs,'' Bill Ayers said. ''I feel we didn't do enough.''

Dinitia, S. (2001, September 11). No Regrets for a Love Of Explosives; In a Memoir of Sorts, a War Protester Talks of Life With the Weathermen - New York Times.  No Regrets for a Love Of Explosives; In a Memoir of Sorts, a War Protester Talks of Life With the Weathermen. News, . Retrieved November 6, 2008, from http://awurl.com/XcilNerpe.

I too have also read your post over and over, trying to link your opinion with the question we were asked.Obama was raised by his caucasian American mother and grandparents. Also educated in America, since when does that point to communism? What culture attributes does he have that shows that he wants our country to become a communist nation? I'm really trying to understand your point of view.

Are you joking? What does his (our) color have to do with Communism? I would SERIOUSLY like an answer to that, it's not just hypothetical. What does his education in America have to do with Communism? To ask that would imply that Communism is only favored by non Caucasions not educated or living in the United States. Is that a correct assesment of your position? If his alliances and policies were not enough to indict him of being a Communist, his desire to use the Government (read-men with guns) to redistribute "wealth" as he sees fit should be enough. The "cultural" aspect I was speaking of was the tendency of Americans to focus on non-factors. Factors like his race, his handsomeness, or his "Rhetorical Flourishes" strike me as a pretty good set of examples right now. Since the New Deal, we have been redistributing "wealth" without "value". That is why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The "lesson" does not need to be taught, because the examples are all around you. They might not be around you, but I am from Newark, NJ, and the "lesson" surrounds you as long as you are in the city. Every time I go back, I am glad I left. To reiterate my point, observations through the lens of society can easily become "reality", in the mind of the observer.

"Spreading the Wealth" or The "Utopia" Myth
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5
SS440-05AU: Abnormal Psychology
"Spreading the Wealth"
The "Utopia" Myth
By Rahsaan Pringle
By separating expectations and results, large groups of people can be conditioned to continually behave in a manner that is inconsistent with their best interests. It was Khrushchev who said "We can't expect the American people to jump from capitalism to communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have communism". He was speaking about the New Deal. Khrushchev also pulled off his shoe and disrupted a meeting at the United Nations, shouting "We will bury you!". He was speaking to us. Since the New Deal, various cities and states in America have tried varying degrees of Communism, with little success. In some states, like New York, Louisiana, Michigan, and California, proponents of the New Deal have had unopposed power for many years. These states typically have the highest taxes, the highest disparity between rich and poor, the lowest employment, and the highest rates of people leaving the state. California and Michigan have recently undertaken advertisement campaigns in order to lure businesses and individuals to the state. In doing so, they have ignored their own part in the mass exodus that has occurred. Communism has been tried with little success through the world. The fall of the soviet Union came without a war. The Berlin Wall was constructed to prevent people who were living on the Communist side from crossing over, and escaping to freedom. During the construction of the Berlin Wall, guards that were assigned to stop escapees were known to abandon their post, opting instead to escape to freedom. A close examination of communism at its source makes it nearly indefensible, from a logical standpoint. The means of production are not the only factors that separate the Bourgeois and Proletarians. I do not have the means of production to create something as simple as an ink pen. If I were given access to an ink pen factory, I would not have the knowledge of production means necessary to produce a single unit. Division of Labor leads to a higher standard of living for all involved. The decline in agrarian society and the rise of the grocery store is a testament to that fact. The Communist manifesto refers to the relationship between lord and serf to be a "natural relationship", and to the willing exchange of values by free men to as "callous". Small businesses were thought of as a dying breed in the Manifesto. In America, today small businesses make up the majority of the businesses in operation, employing millions. The notion that personal wealth is measured in "exchange value" is derided in the Communist Manifesto. No governing body in existence has been able to both maintain the value of the currency, and manage the value of the effort that goes into attaining the currency. To illustrate this point, every few years, Congress raises the minimum wage, and prices go up in accordance. Marx saw no problem with the abolition of private property, freedom, education, individuality, family, and nationality. He saw it as a desirable and necessary goal. Despite the repeated failures and the known loss of freedom that must precede Communism, many of the American people are willing to give communism another try.
Bibliography
Ayn, R. (1957). Atlas Shrugged. Penguin Group. Retrieved from http://atlasshrugged.com/.
Bill Sizemore -- Compassionate Conservatism or Socialism? . Retrieved October 31, 2008, from http://www.newswithviews.com/Bill/sizemore29.htm.
Cliff, K. (2008, February 18). Obama's Communist Mentor. . Retrieved October 31, 2008, from http://www.aim.org/aim-column/print/obamas-communist-mentor/.
Karl, M., & Friedrich, E. (1848). The Communist Manifesto. Penguin Classics. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=yhOOvF61XKgC&dq=The+Communist+Manifesto&pg=PP1&ots=IEmWE0QZfv&source=bn&sig=svQyEgoy9pMaOzaRDdaqts7GuDM&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPP1,M1.
Nikita Khrushchev - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. . Retrieved October 31, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikita_Khrushchev.
Paul, K. (2008, October 10). American Thinker- Print Article. . Retrieved October 31, 2008, from http://www.americanthinker.com/printpage/?url=http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/10/why_obamas_communist_connectio.html.

Closing Time
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5

This has been a great day. I went hiking when I left the office, and I made it back in time to eat and go study. At the coffee shop, I sat and studied, and as I was leaving, a guy compliments me on having the gonads to sport a McCain sticker on my auto. We started talking, and as it turns out, he's not only a conservative, he's also the husband of the owner. We sit and chat well into the night. Each of us was somehow refreshed by the fact that we were not the last of our kind. He's a history major, so his part of the conversation included a lot of stuff I didn't know. I seem to know more about history than many Liberals I know in conversation, but in my own assessment, I am far from being a scholar. In the end, I came to a conclusion that I am going to seek to have broken. My conclusion is as follows. I have never met a conservative that could not comprehend Liberalism. I have also never met a Liberal that could understand what it means to be a Conservative. That is why people always ask “when did you become a conservative?”


Power to the productive!
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5
This site really illustrates something that I have always loved about liberals. They are great at encapsulating ideas, even when the roots of the idea have only sand to grasp. For example. Recently, Obama went to Iraq in an effort to "make like a president". When he got there, he was talking with the Iraqis about extending the troop stay beyond the current timeline. Ask 10 Liberals about this, and they will all tell you that he will "pull out now". They have formed an entire religion based on the fact that they "want the troops out". In every instance, when I have asked Liberals "what next"(after a troop pullout), they can't think of an answer. Of course, the enemy has an answer. When we pull out, they will continue attacks on Americans. That means Americans in America. During the Klinton administration, they hit us 8 times. During the Bush administration, they got us one good time, and from then to now, we have been killing them there to avoid having them kill us here. On the other hand, we DO lose more Americans in America to illegal Immigrants yearly than we do in the war in Iraq. Maybe they are doing a good job of killing us here.

Tunnel Light?
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5
I am in the process of buying a house. In order for me to buy it without
eating rice and beans, I need renters, like Bullitt Ave. Tonight, "Deb
the Destroyer" and I were watching "The Dark Knight" and I was drinking
and thinking of how to make this business idea work. I am the same boy
you have always known (well, I guess I haven't grown). so I did a bit of
writing about the situation. Please take a moment to look over it,
critique it, and let me know how you are doing. I (we) am (are) doing
well, and we hope you are, too. Brother Butter, I don't like talking to
you on the phone. Don't txt me like that again. bad things happen when
you do. verify your email address. Sorry I missed you the other night. I
have an idea for us. It's legal, fun, and dangerous. Brother odd had a video, which I looted from his room. it's called "FLCL", I thought he might have been OK, but now, I wonder. It's Japanese. it's animation. it's disturbing.

Squeal like a piggy
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5
Tonight, I squealed like a piggy. Or a little girl. I am a big boy, 34 years old, shaped like a quarterback, barfly, or a soldier. I went outside with no shoes on, and stepped on a large slug. It squished and wiggled in between my toes. I let out an audible "Eew", like Myrtle in her teen years. After that, I hopped inside, washed my foot vigorously, like a prostitute washing the foot of Jesus, and dried it. I might decide to seek out a grief counselor about the incident.

The battle has begun
Raalnan5
[info]raalnan5

High end math and I have a spotty, sordid history. I had considered describing it like a torrid romance novel, but it would be more accurate to describe it like diarrhea, a menstrual cycle, or something more banal and sadistic. I'm stressed beyond all recognition right now. This would have been a good semester to have no distractions. I could take distractions with networking, database programming, or even coding GIS systems (which rely heavily upon Trigonometry), but not High end math. I don't actually believe in 'Learning Disabilities' as the term is commonly used. To suggest that one might be 'disabled' when it comes to something as basic as learning is to suggest that we all can learn everything with equal ability. Whenever I meet someone who claims to be 'intelligent' and 'well rounded', I listen closely. I know that, sooner or later, they will show that they are not one or the other, or neither, but not both. We all can be 'intelligent' in some areas, but who in our society can be intelligent in enough areas to be considered 'well rounded'. Schools don't even focus on the basics anymore. One could easily graduate knowing that it's OK for Jimmy to have two daddies, but do so without being able to read the book that tells the story. For me, a high math requirement might have prevented me from graduating high school. I barely scraped by with the mid level math, but in my spare time, I code systems that make use of high level math Even now, I could code an application to do my High end math easier than I could consistently do it. As with all code related projects, the coding and development would take more time than I have to do the work. This morning, someone I used to be close to called me and started saying a lot of stupid words about something that I got involved in when I might have been better off staying out of. Funny thing about stupid words is, once they start flowing, they rarely stop on their own. Of course, I am a comedian at heart, one who genuinely enjoys stupidity. It's a great form of entertainment. I also know that there are times when nothing you say will help a situation, but everything you say will hurt it. In these situations, it is wise fool who knows that it is best to change the situation. I also know that respect, once lost, takes a long time to regain. With that being said, I won't bother to go into the bit about all we really have in life is time. I trust that all of my readers know that by now. For those of you who don't know, all we have in life is time. The difference between the great, the small, and the weak often (usually) begin (and end) with the decisions of the individual. How we spend our time determines us more than race, sex, or origin. I used to have a bad habit (as if I had ever abandoned any of my bad habits). I would skate forties of booze down town in my book bag, and sit and drink with the bums after me and my friends had finished our all night binges and they had hopped into their cars, well sauced. In Roanoke, the bums were pretty benign, and I was always looking for trouble, so I never felt threatened. One night, one of them said something to me that I won't soon forget. I don't remember exactly how he put it, but I am sure that my interpretation is better, anyway. It goes like this:

One day, we will wake up and find that we live in a world where people are no longer judged on race, sex, or nationality. The sad fact is that we will still be judged. We will be judged on what we say, and what we do. God knows us by our hearts, but we only know each other by our words and our actions. If you were to wake up tomorrow and find that you lived in that world, the world that Martin Luther King dreamed of, would you start to think of yourself as an individual, or wish for a group identity to hide behind?

I didn't like what he was saying, at the time, but it makes more sense to me, now. I don't get wiser with age, just more observant. The basic processing doesn't change, but the ability to process new and old information does. Is it like that for everyone?


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