stevendedalus

Birthday gift to a sister and a nation's thanks in Politics JoeUser Forums

On my sister’s birthday, December 13th, she got an extra kick to celebration by the capture of Saddam Hussein. It was particularly joyous to her because her granddaughter had served in Iraq. Seeing this once feared tyrant so disheveled and disoriented was a moment devoutly wished. Here was a man who sent his sons to go out in “glory” while he cowered in a living tomb. Over the months, in hearing the Democratic candidates criticizing Bush for his failure to find bin Laden and Saddam,

Addendum in Politics JoeUser Forums

In the old days — dating myself here — the Hearst columnist Westbrook Pegler, whom I read only to get my juices going over his unmitigated hatred of Eleanor, Franklin, and Harry, I at least was apprised of the irrational opposition to the New and Fair Deals. So, too, with Bill O’Reilly, though not to the same extent since I’m much older and heard it all before, but he is more intense over current culture is why I read him once in a while; and now I could not resist an addendum to my “Why Li

Reply to Impulse Weekly Top 10 in Press Room JoeUser Forums

The jury is indeed out--and not coming back.

Reply to Impulse Weekly Top 10 in Press Room JoeUser Forums

Because of its lack of depth, there's not much to know about the R party.

Why Liberals Are Strongly Disliked — putting it mildly in Politics JoeUser Forums

Those that see in black and white and ignore the grays make for far easier problem-solving. It is no mystery the Bush ‘03 State of The Union offers to “confound the designs of evil men...our calling,... a blessed country is to make the world better.” It is far simpler to accept the statement at face value than to delve into its grays. A pesky liberal, however, is driven by some weird “noble discontent” and expects clarification: Is evil confined to al Qaeda or to all evil men in the “a

Reply to “Unpaid” Labor Is Capital in History JoeUser Forums

Indeed, post your views on "living wage." We need this kind of sensitivity in behalf of the little guy and gal.

The Myth of Productivity in Politics JoeUser Forums

I heard on C-span concerning the depletion of manufacturing jobs as analogous to the loss of agricultural jobs during the first half of the last century. The productivity level of agricultural products was so enhanced that small farms became almost obsolete. The analogy, however, is flawed because the massive shift to the industrial cities was absorbed by manufacturing jobs. Even the increased productivity of manufacturing by virtue of robotic assembly lines in the latter half of the last

Shortcomings of Design in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Intelligent Design may well be a sub-element of the universe, but it is terribly inefficient; or possibly, more like Plato’s Demiurge working feverishly to rectify the sprawling mistakes of itself, which relegates so much of the universe’s labor to chance and apparent necessity working in mysteriously destructive ways. Why could not the Big Bang be an Instant Epiphany wherein consciousness took hold of its own direction, rather than being left to disorderly debris on chance of evolving into

Christmas Relief in Misc JoeUser Forums

The late inning — here again Whence spirit’s bullpen Treads the player “J” To close the disarray Human errors cause By blinding hurrahs, And zeros on the board So wilfully ignored. Copyright © 2003 Richard R. Kennedy All rights reserved. Revised: December 10, 2003 .

Reply to Prepare Ye The Way of The Lord in Misc JoeUser Forums

Thanks loads!

“Unpaid” Labor Is Capital in History JoeUser Forums

A guy called Adam owned a button factory. He estimated his cost of production [the actual labor involved] was eight dollars per thousand units. The commodity yielded him $10. Here is how he arrived at this cost: Raw Material: $2 payment for total labor costs of production of the source. Plant Equipment and Maintenance: $1 Rent: 50¢ Delivery: 50¢ Labor: $4 representing the individual labor of end product. Adam reasoned that though t

THE DIALECTIC OF SELF AND ALIENATION in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Alienation is a teleological principle of materialism: the presupposition that there is a world out there necessitates alienation of human endeavor — I am, therefore I think about. The nonrational animal extends its activity no farther than the limitations of its species truncating surplus labor — with the exception of some hoarding instincts — yet the input of its life is cruelly disproportionate to the use value of its output. A good share of its labor is wasteful, competitive, futile an

Reply to Legitimate Alternatives in Politics JoeUser Forums

Touché, my figures are from 2000.

Reply to Legitimate Alternatives in Politics JoeUser Forums

One small step for humanity and world citizenship.

Reply to Legitimate Alternatives in Politics JoeUser Forums

The "sneer" quote is simply an echo of so many talking heads that use the precise term--and flantingly.

Reply to Legitimate Alternatives in Politics JoeUser Forums

Aye, economic determinism always seems to underly foreign policy. The Phillipines kicked us out, though it was considered a strategic base, yet they have invited us back to help fight terrorism there. How do you figure this crazy world?

Reply to Liberal Conspiracy Theorists in Politics JoeUser Forums

There is no need to worry about an overthrow--any longer--it has already happened,thanks to the zeal of the religious right.

Prepare Ye The Way of The Lord in Misc JoeUser Forums

Copyright © 1999 Richard R. Kennedy All rights reserved. Revised: November 9, 2003 Santa seemed on every block. Life, color, light were everywhere belying the evening's dark, heavy sky. Caroling floated on snow flakes. Smiling shoppers were eying decorated windows as children were pressing against panes flaunting busy toys. Last minute shoppers were rushing into stores while others were rushing out on the way to the many things left to do at home. A thin you

Reply to John Dvorak: Blogging revolution is co-opted by big media in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Right on Dragonol. Very interesting and provocative article. I did frown, however, with your reference to the left wing dominating the media, which I suppose means blogging is for the right[?]

Crime Costs in Current Events JoeUser Forums

Until such unlikely time that the sinister chemical of crime is removed from the brain, or the DNA of criminal orientation is discovered, society is plagued with the high cost of penal codes in carrying them out. What with the fiscal crunch of the fifty states, the trend has been “early release” without little back up insuring against recidivism, including drug and alcohol related behavior. Though shortsighted the trend does free up crowded prisons and reduces state budgets on an avera

Reply to Hello? in Politics JoeUser Forums

How true! Seventy virgins awaiting the suicide bomber is distraction to the nth degree. If those 9/11 nuts had simply faced up to reality and did something positive about improving conditions in the mideast, that in itself would be the greatest reward.

A Peek at a Novel in Misc JoeUser Forums

[sample; available in full] Copyright © 1993 Richard R. Kennedy Prologue Long ago was unrecorded distant land by the sea. Its southern terrain was mostly rolling hills and dales while a smaller section to the north was mountainous. The tallest mountain loomed high above a cliff along the shore. On the other side it faced a vast valley rich with vegetation. At the base of this mountain, the top of which was partially blown off before the dawn of man

Reply to Continue to Battle the Khaak in X3: Reunion in Press Room JoeUser Forums

Relativism is not quite the anarchy you propose; rather, it is conditional. Abortion is in the eyes of some an absolute taboo; on the other hand, it is to others essential when a condition calls for it, such as age, emotional stress, and simply inconvenience. Utilitarianism does recognize absolutes in the sense of general happiness and what's best for the common good, yet recognizes the degree of difficulty in obtaining goals to suit all.

Reply to A Blogger's Dilemma in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Thanks. I'm new to this, as you can clearly see. You're right I should have linked it directly to Jill's article but wasn't sure how to do it. I found Html link helpful.

Gun Control in Politics JoeUser Forums

With all the violence rampant in the nation, I find it hard to understand why so many people object to gun control. After all, it has nothing to do with the farm lad or lass shooting down crows over a cornfield, but it does target the criminal mind or the ballistic hunter who wants military firepower. I doubt anyone would object to banning over-the-shoulder missiles to shoot down the bald headed eagle! Do we really want to go back to the mentality of slaughtering buffaloes? C’mon,