The Good Post Gallery

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

I'm a Christian, not an atheist, but I'd like to butt in on defense of atheists and atheism here.  Stalin doesn't give his belief system a bad name, because unlike the other options, his actions are not the result of atheism - there is no atheist doctrine, commandments, or anything.  Just like golfers follow the rules of golf, an a-sportsperson (an analogous made up term for someone who doesn't play sports) has no actions that are reflected by the concept of the rules of sports.

What he did was in spite of atheism - it wasn't his atheism that had any effect on his actions (this is functionally impossible, seeing as atheism isn't a spiritual belief system as much as just a term for having a lack of one).  His "belief system" that influenced his actions was the Leninist bolshevik interpretation of Marx and Engel's writings on economics and the organization of the working class (or, in my opinion, organization of the bureaucratic class).

So to put Stalin on here without clarifying it's Leninism that is his belief system of contribution, and not atheism (which is not a belief system)  - is, in my opinion, misleading and not representative of the reality of it.  And I only infer this poll as referring to his atheism because numerous times in the media I've seen Stalin as a critique back at atheists (which is intellectually dishonest) when they bring up religious extremists.  But certainly correct me if I misinterpreted the poll.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Arguing that Communist repression of religious practice and organisation had nothing to do with the personal atheism of Communist leaders is actively and openly absurd.

I would argue they would have repressed religion regardless.  It was incompatible with the "ideal" they were striving for.  The atheism was not to blame, the Marxism/Leninism was.  Plus, is it's hard to argue that that the Communist leadership was ALL atheist.  

I think the main thing I liked about that post was that he was trying to point out that communism is not the idealistic implementation of atheist thought.  I'm an atheist, yet surely what you would call a capitalist when you really get to the core of my views.  Often times, this view is not shared by many Americans who worship money, and you can see how they wind up getting to this conclusion. 

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Maher seems to like him, so he can't be that bad.

Bill Maher liking somebody is a liability, not an asset.

If someone can provide me with a reason not to like Bill Maher other than "he's an a-hole", I'd love to here it.  He's insanely rational and logical and tends to come out on the right side of every issue. 

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Maher seems to like him, so he can't be that bad.

Bill Maher liking somebody is a liability, not an asset.

If someone can provide me with a reason not to like Bill Maher other than "he's an a-hole", I'd love to here it.  He's insanely rational and logical and tends to come out on the right side of every issue. 

He's on the board of PETA, he supports racial profiling at airports, he supports social security privatization, he supported SOPA, if he could he would be the Jerry Falwell of atheism, he has an incredibly over-inflated sense of self-importance, he's like a left-leaning Sean Hannity (except he's funny instead of angry), and he's an all around rotten guy.  How's that?

PETA - merely irritating.  Yea we get annoyed when they whine about a cockroach getting killed in a movie, but aren't they just stupid stoners when it comes down to it?

Racial profiling at airports - we should scrutinize EVERYBODY at the airport, but a vast majority of people who pose a threat are Middle Eastern, this is undeniable.  Sad truth, yes, but I think when it comes to airport security you have to take any measures necessary (the frisking and groping is not so let's not get into that)

SS privatization - since when?  I never heard him say this.  

SOPA - I'll give you this one

Jerry Falwell of atheism - he's absolutely right on every count about religion, but he IS an a-hole about it... I frankly don't care

left leaning Hannity and rotten guy - I would put these into category of "he's an a-hole"

I can certainly understand why people dislike him, but to me he's just incredibly funny and his politics are awesome.  

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Maher seems to like him, so he can't be that bad.

Bill Maher liking somebody is a liability, not an asset.

If someone can provide me with a reason not to like Bill Maher other than "he's an a-hole", I'd love to here it.  He's insanely rational and logical and tends to come out on the right side of every issue. 

Believing that vaccines cause autism is neither rational nor logical.

Vaccines have been shown to cause health problems in small percentages of the population.  Small, yes, but it happens.  Autism?  I would need to look into that more. 

Jesus christ, should have said nearly every issue... relentless you people are.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

click for ze context

Massive FOs in theory and in practice. The shortcomings of unions, both private and public, tend to deal with the fact that they're operating in environments hostile to their existence 99.9% of the time, at least in the United States. And even so, the worst of the worst in terms of corruption or lawbreaking (which, it should be noted are both very rare) are nothing compared to the organized money power that corrupts and controls American political and economic life.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

I generally go to xvideos or xnxx or xhamster.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

xhamster is great.

Yeah seems to be the best one, but was blocked here in Thailand for years.. however sometimes it is unblocked for a few days, for whatever reason.. like today and yesterday.

opebo?  You would subject yourself to the laws of a society that would find it necessary block xhamster?  I would guess the availability of cheap Thai hookers would eliminate the need for porn to a degree, though.   

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

opebo?  You would subject yourself to the laws of a society that would find it necessary block xhamster?  I would guess the availability of cheap Thai hookers would eliminate the need for porn to a degree, though.    

Yeah, of course.  Not just cheap but much more appealing than back home.

More appealing than the Bunny Ranch girls?  To each his own, I assume. I certainly have a thing for Asians, though.  Must absolutely take a trip to the Eastern half of the globe.  

How much would one this good-looking run me?

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=167382

Disliking Romney States is indeed very good.

Even Louisiana?  : (

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

We would just stay in one of those motels along the beach in Cape May (the city itself).  I always looked forward to the skee-ball and the mini golf and the food (both highbrow and lowbrow) more than the beach itself.  Back then, politics was not exactly at the forefront of my mind, and neither was beer.

traininthedistance instantly became one of my favorite posters.  (describing what a childhood Jersey Shore trip was like for him)

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

I just don't get it.

Why do these people hate sex ed so much?

It empowers women.

Why beat around the bush or get bogged down in meaningless analysis?  Three words is all ya need.  Very nice, Lief. 

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

The problem Naso is that you're identifying a problem that has a cause itself... and you suggest a fix to the problem without looking at the cause.

What tears apart black families?  Poverty and lack of educational and financial betterment opportunities.

And what do torn apart families beget?  Even more poverty.

The answer isn't simply public services announcements about not getting pregnant or 'dealing with it' and forcing families back together.

The answer is to support both intact families AND torn apart families so that all have the opportunity to get out of the poverty trap.

One potential solution is by making some very tough decisions on reform in inner city or rural black belt schools (and this reform does not include gutting teachers' salaries, busting unions, or taking away drinking fountains)... this includes spending large amounts of money to hire people to keep kids occupied until such a time in the evening they can return home to a house with a parent in it.

What do poor black kids with single parents need?  STRUCTURE.  A loving, nuclear family isn't an option for most of these kids anymore.  So we have to help provide structure in a different way.  School is a great way to do this.  Longer school days, longer school years.. before and after school programs that are well funded and staffed by well trained people.

We also need to allow single parents to provide for their families and still afford them time to be at home WITH their children.  This is going to take welfare.  Oh, I know.. evil evil welfare... but if you set up the system right, you can make it effective without pulling people into the dependency trap.  For example, you could tie the welfare payments to the number of hours worked at any job up to, say, 30 hours a week.  Most single parents can work 30 hours a week and still have plenty of time at home with the kids.

So if a single black mother gets a job at McDonalds... making $8.50/hour.. but the government says "here.. we'll give you another $6/hour for each hour you work up to 30 hours/week"... then that becomes more livable while encouraging people to have stable employment.

For the unemployed, benefits should wind down slowly over time to provide incentive to get work... with a loophole for emergencies and times of national economic duress that results in jobs being very hard to find.

The other angle is that we need to reform our prison system.  Get the non-violent offenders out.  Set up programs for ex-prisoners to find work and enact legislation like "ban the box" so felons can have a chance at a face to face interview before you turn them down for being a felon.

This isn't going to be anything other than extremely messy, expensive, and difficult to do.  But it won't be much more expensive than housing, feeding, and locking up a massive population of people who shouldn't be locked up.

It will take a generation to see really great results from this kind of reform.. but you would begin to see positive results immediately.

And yes, public service announcements informing young women about the drawbacks of young pregnancies and having children at a young age SHOULD be a part of this solution.

Black men murdering others at such a high rate is not a root cause.. it is a symptom of the poverty trap with many layers of complex missteps behind it.  We've tried the tough love, lock 'em up approach.  It failed spectacularly.

It's time to throw money and resources and our hearts and goodwill at the issue.  And it's time for all Americans to say to the African American community "we're here to support you.  It's time you guys were invited to the party."

Just came here to post this.  Brilliant stuff from Snowy. 

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

The middle class thinks they're rich and the only thing holding them back is taxes and government regulations.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

I'll shop anywhere except Walmart, really.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

I'm a chauvinist for all things Northeastern and I prefer Krispy Kreme to Dunkin'.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Voted FC by accident. Awful, and part of the reason why the LA metro area sucks balls compared to its wonderful New York counterpart.