Summary of political beliefs
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Хahar 🤔
Xahar
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« Reply #350 on: November 05, 2009, 04:10:36 PM »

Going on strike and demonstrating peacefully won't do anything. Israel has power. The Palestinians do not. They cannot divorce themselves from the system.
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k-onmmunist
Winston Disraeli
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« Reply #351 on: November 05, 2009, 04:12:39 PM »

Going on strike and demonstrating peacefully won't do anything. Israel has power. The Palestinians do not. They cannot divorce themselves from the system.

Yes it will. If the Palestinians refuse to work and stage mass strikes, there will be worldwide coverage, and the Israeli government will have a major crisis on their hands.
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Psychic Octopus
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« Reply #352 on: November 05, 2009, 07:32:36 PM »

Going on strike and demonstrating peacefully won't do anything.

Worked for Gandhi and MLK.
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Хahar 🤔
Xahar
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« Reply #353 on: November 05, 2009, 07:39:50 PM »

Going on strike and demonstrating peacefully won't do anything.

Worked for Gandhi and MLK.

And guess how many people it didn't work for?
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Psychic Octopus
Junior Chimp
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« Reply #354 on: November 05, 2009, 07:40:52 PM »

Going on strike and demonstrating peacefully won't do anything.

Worked for Gandhi and MLK.

And guess how many people it didn't work for?

I'm not, I know it didn't. It was merely an snipet.
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Swing Voter
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« Reply #355 on: November 08, 2009, 04:14:09 AM »

Social Issues

Abortion: I'm pro-choice, for the most part. I do support a ban on partial birth abortions.
Secularism: A clear separation of church and state is necessary for a thriving democracy. That means no creationism in public schools, establishing taxation of churches and other religious organizations, and no school prayer in public schools. Also, no more faith based initiatives.
Marriage: I do not think government has a place defining any contracts between individuals, only the enforcement of such. However, in absence of that, we must advocate marriage equality under the law.
Affirmative Action: Not only is it ineffective, it is overwhelmingly discriminatory against all races. End all affirmative action policies endorsed by the government immediately.
Gun rights: Achieve a reasonable medium. We can't allow the free sale of guns nor can we allow the free carrying of guns. Designate sportsmen zones. Require background checks before all gun purchases. A blanket policy won't work, give states and cities authority to regulate firearms.
Death Penalty: Completely against. A barbaric punishment no better than the crime likely to have been committed.
Censorship: Eliminate censorship. An obstruction to access of information and more dangerous to the public than anything that may be censored under such policies.
Flag burning: Allow, of course, maintaining public safety in the process.
Hate crimes/speech: Legislate and enforce. Make no distinction between any races, religions, or genders or sexualities protected under such legislation.
Smoking: Restrict in public places, allow in privacy of home.
Alcohol consumption: Lower drinking age to 18.
Euthanasia: No reason not to allow. It is far more humane than the painful deaths many medical problems can cause.
Drugs: Legalize recreational drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and LSD. Enforce strict laws against hard drugs like heroin and meth.
Gambling: A local/state issue.
Prostitution: A local/state issue.
Embryonic Stem Cell Research: The government doesn't need to be involved in funding. Private companies will invest in research, they will be the ones profiting from it anyways.
Immigration: Create a path to citizenship for those who have not broken any other laws. Enforce stricter border patrols, and work to rebuild Mexico so that the border problem is less of a threat.
Civil Liberties: Eliminate all provisions of the PATRIOT Act, end wiretapping.
Language: English as the official language.

Economic Issues

Taxes: Decrease taxes when possible. Do NOT cut taxes in strong economic times without cutting spending (Bush tax cuts). Direct tax cuts to working families.
Employers and Employees: Weaken organized labor's vice grip on American industry. Enforce strong work safety standards and inspections of workplaces regularly.
Free trade: Free trade is good for the economy and for freedom.
Spending: Cut spending where possible. Eliminate waste. Cut military spending. Attempt to balance budget every year, or even achieve a surplus. Focus spending on the issues that most affect Americans, not political pet projects and overseas intervention.
Social Security: Abolish. The system is unsustainable and the income cap is useless in ensuring effectiveness of the program.
Space Program: Explore and fund.
Welfare: A safety net is required. Streamline welfare programs for efficiency. Drug testing for recipients. Scale back benefits over prolonged periods of time.
Healthcare: Public option, tort reform, MSAs, and allowing purchases across state lines will all contribute to making health care less expensive, more effective, and much more accessible.
Education: Increase funding, expand opportunities for public education. Stricter requirements for teachers to ensure a quality education for our youth.
Minimum Wage: Keep at a reasonable level.
Regulation: Enforcement is key. Also, government oversight of working conditions and making sure tax fraud is not committed.
Infrastructure: Use infrastructure projects to create public jobs for the unemployed.
Energy Policy: Move towards "alternative" energy. Decrease dependence on foreign oil. Allow off-shore drilling. Encourage stricter EPA standards for automobiles.

Foreign Issues

United Nations: I don't like the UN, but we must remain there to retain our influence.
Iraq & Afghanistan: Withdrawal on an incremental basis.
Iran: Work to rebuild relations with Iran. Sit down at the negotiating table.
North Korea: Stand our ground.
Israel: There is no reason for us to support Israel. Let Israel support themselves.
Military Involvement: Attack only if attacked or provoked in manner that requires immediate and decisive action.
Military Budget: Cut spending, increase efficiency.
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Mint
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« Reply #356 on: November 08, 2009, 07:55:13 AM »
« Edited: January 02, 2010, 05:47:13 AM by Iosip™ »

Added a few things people really shouldn't ignore.

Ideology: Paleoconservatism.

Social Issues

Basic Ideas: Federalism, Civil Libertarianism

Civil Liberties: End the Patriot Act, DHS, the Anti Terrorism Act of '96, National Security Letters, etc.
Abortion: Abolish Roe v Wade. Personally I don't think abortion should be allowed for elective reasons but I have no problem with the morning after pill.
Gay Rights: I think this has been framed wrongly because rights belong to individuals not groups. Now of course I support gay adoption, military service, etc. there's no reason not to besides ignorance and bigotry.
Secularism: I don't support blue laws or teaching creationism. On the other hand people should be able to express their religious views/faith how the want and removing things like religious icons that have been near public buildings for decades is stupid.
Marriage: The government shouldn't be involved in 'marriage.' Let individuals draw up their own contracts and stop favoring one group or another on taxes.
Affirmative Action: Discriminating for or against minorities is unconstitutional.
Gun rights: Repeal all gun control legislation enacted since 1934.
Death Penalty: I'm not really comfortable with any government having that kind of power. Of course individuals should have the right to use lethal force if necessary, none of this 'duty to retreat' nonsense.
Censorship: The FCC and 'obscenity' laws make no sense. Abolish them.
Flag burning: Is protected speech.
Hate crimes: Oppose. The whole concept just encourages further 'group' division and resentment. Besides, all violent crimes demonstrate contempt towards the victim. Why treat one 'group' better than another?
Hate speech: Oppose restricting since that's unconstitutional and sets a horrendous precedent.
Smoking: State Issue. Personally I support smoking restrictions for public places.
Alcohol consumption: State Issue. Stop denying states highway funding if they don't accept the ridiculous 21 year age restriction.
Euthanasia: State Issue. I could see allowing active euthanasia in the case of wasting diseases like AIDS.. Passive is pretty much already legal thankfully.
Drugs: State issue. Now ideally, I think pretty much everything should be legal, given how much drug prices have gone down and prison populations have skyrocketed since the 'War on Drugs.' But we shouldn't tolerate things like meth production or people that are obviously out of their minds wandering the streets either.
Gambling: State issue. I don't want more casinos in my state personally but don't really care about a few people playing poker or something fairly trivial like that.
Prostitution: State issue. However, I am personally against legalizing this right now.. While I feel people's sexual behavior is generally their business, the data I've seen on this shows that societies that have legalized prostitution have actually seen the criminal element of that trade (trafficking, rackets, etc.) increase.
Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Don't have a problem with research.
Immigration: No amnesty, no 'guest worker programs.' Secure the borders by ramping up ICE presence, use of barriers and reforming the identification process.
Language: English should be the official language of the US.

Economic Issues

Basic Ideas: Free Markets, anti-Corporatism.

Taxes: Decrease taxes enormously. Abolish AMT, Payroll, etc. Ideally we'd have no federal income tax whatsoever but I'd settle for a flat tax (5-10%). We can spend (or save, we need a higher savings rate!) our own money far more effectively.
Bailouts: Absolutely not. Stop encouraging bad behavior and rewarding the politically connected at tax payer (and the dollar's) expense. Besides we call assets 'toxic' for a reason...
Employers and Employees: Unions and striking should be allowed, but regulated. No one should be forced to join a union.
Free trade: No NAFTA, WTO, etc. and no MFN for China. That does not mean however I oppose low tariffs - quite the opposite. What I oppose unaccountable, secretive bureaucracy and corporate welfare masquerading as 'free trade.'
Spending: End discretionary spending, bureaus, subsidies, etc. Cut back at nearly all levels.
Social Security: Privatize through use of annuities, private saving accounts, etc. and phase out the old system. Your retirement should really be your concern.
Space Program: We have a lot to gain from this potentially. Open space up to the market more and allow for some mining of resources like Helium-3.
Welfare: Should be left to the states. The Department of Health and Human Services shouldn't exist.
Healthcare: Phase out medicare, medicaid, etc. and offer up vouchers and real benefits for the un-insurable. Abolish subsidies and other favoritism to the insurance companies. Reform regulations to allow for more choice and coverage (e.g. buying across state lines). Tax healthcare benefits as wages and enact deductions to reduce overuse and offer real savings opportunities. Enact Tort Reform.
Education: We spend more on education and have more federal involvement than ever.. And we have almost nothing to show for it. Abolish the Department of Education and No Child Left Behind. Establish internship and apprenticeship programs. Expand charter schools and allow for school choice, be it through private school vouchers, home school, or other alternative programs.
Minimum Wage: This can be counter productive, but at this point I think we might as well just tie it to inflation and forget about it. It's already at a fairly low rate historically anyway.
Regulation: Simplify and enforce. Regulations should focus primarily on public health and prohibiting wild speculation (e.g. naked derivatives). In general small business is vastly over regulated. If anything, maybe regulation is less necessary than simply realizing just how much power 'charters' give the government over abusive corporations...
Infrastructure: Scale down highway system and suburbia. Expand public transportation (e.g. bullet trains) and promote new urbanism.
Energy Policy: Expand use of nuclear energy and domestic drilling. Promote research for renewable resources.

Foreign Issues

Basic Ideas: Nationalism, Non-interventionism.

United Nations: Get out of the UN.
Iraq & Afghanistan: This is a disaster, we need to begin pulling out immediately. Focus on the borders, our occupation is a waste of time and breeds resentment.
Iran: Let Israel and co deal with it if they're so worried.
North Korea: Phase out troops at the border and end all aid. We've been there for over 50 years, and the majority of South Koreans want us out. It's time to go.
Israel: Shouldn't get any aid either. Beyond that, Israel for better or worse is a sovereign nation now.
Military Involvement: Attack only if attacked or directly threatened.
Military Budget: Massive cuts. End no bid contracts, introduce far greater transparency, close down hundreds of bases. 'National Defense' should be just that, defensive.
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CatoMinor
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« Reply #357 on: November 08, 2009, 02:24:37 PM »
« Edited: November 10, 2009, 04:17:34 PM by Jbrase »

Social Issues


Abortion: Roe V. Wade should be overturned
Gay Rights: should be allowed to marry
Marriage: The government shouldn't be involved in marriage.
Affirmative Action: is counter productive when the more qualified people might not get a job based on their race or social status.
Gun rights: "shall not be infringed"
Death Penalty: Only should be used when their is DNA evidence or several eye witnesses.
Censorship: The FCC is a group of nazis.
Flag burning: is free speech.
Hate speech: is bad but thats where parents should step in not the government.
Alcohol consumption: should be a state by state issue.
Drugs: should be state by state
Gambling: the government should stay out of.
Immigration: Everyone should remember that texas came to be from a bunch of southerners illegaly immigrating into Mexico.
Language: It seems un-American to say in a country that is supposed to accept all cultures that English should be our official language.

Economic Issues

Taxes: Taxes should be flatter and lower.
Spending: We need a Balanced budget amendment.
Social Security: should partialy privatize.
Space Program: should focus on reaching Mars.
Welfare:heart is in the right place but in many cases takes away incentives to get out of poverty.
Healthcare: Need tort reform. No government run Health care, the debt form that would crush our economy.
Education: Abolish Dept of Education..
Minimum Wage: hurts more than it helps.
Energy: use all options to get off forign oil.

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Mint
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« Reply #358 on: November 11, 2009, 10:28:18 AM »

Death Penalty: Only should be used when their is DNA evidence or several eye witnesses.

Eye witness testimony is actually fairly unreliable a lot of the time.
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k-onmmunist
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« Reply #359 on: November 11, 2009, 10:31:43 AM »

I'm pretty much neutral over the death penalty now.. I don't know whether it's really used effectively.
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MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!
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« Reply #360 on: December 08, 2009, 04:15:54 PM »

Abortion: Support full right to choose at early stages, but oppose late-term abortions without medical reasons

Death penalty: Oppose without any exceptions

Euthanasia: Support with strong regulations to prevent any abuse (uncureable diease must be confirmed and patient have to request this with a clear mind)

Gay rights: Support gay marriage, unions, anti-discriminatory laws and adoption rights

Sexual freedom: Age of contest should be 14

Taxes: Support progressive taxation

Budget: Balanced budget is a damn blind myth

Health care: Universal like in civilizied Europe Tongue

Energy: Support alternative sources as well as nuclear

Social security: Support

Gun rights: Heavy restrictions

Stem cell: Supports

Drugs: Marijuana should be legalized and be distributed under state control. It's much less harmful and, beside, legalization would hurt narcobusiness

Prostitution: Legalize; reasoning as above
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k-onmmunist
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« Reply #361 on: December 08, 2009, 04:21:20 PM »

Abortion: Support full right to choose at early stages, but oppose late-term abortions without medical reasons

Death penalty: Oppose without any exceptions

Euthanasia: Support with strong regulations to prevent any abuse (uncureable diease must be confirmed and patient have to request this with a clear mind)

Gay rights: Support gay marriage, unions, anti-discriminatory laws and adoption rights

Sexual freedom: Age of contest should be 14 abolished

Taxes: Support progressive taxation

Budget: Balanced budget is a damn blind myth

Health care: Universal like in civilizied Europe Tongue

Energy: Support alternative sources as well as nuclear

Social security: Support

Gun rights: Heavy restrictions

Stem cell: Supports

Drugs: Marijuana should be legalized and be distributed under state control. It's much less harmful and, beside, legalization would hurt narcobusiness

Prostitution: Legalize; reasoning as above

Needs work.
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Vepres
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« Reply #362 on: January 09, 2010, 01:34:53 PM »

As I've done a lot of rethinking of my views the past few days, I figured I'd update this.

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Crossed out means I no longer believe that, bold things are new.
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Mint
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« Reply #363 on: January 09, 2010, 01:40:01 PM »

This is internally contradictory on so many levels. How can you support a massive stimulus but oppose progressive income tax, for example?
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Vepres
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« Reply #364 on: January 09, 2010, 01:43:14 PM »

This is internally contradictory on so many levels. How can you support a massive stimulus but oppose progressive income tax, for example?

It was a necessary evil. I think it should have been far smaller and spent far quicker. Plus it was bloated with pet projects Sad
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Mint
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« Reply #365 on: January 09, 2010, 01:46:57 PM »

Besides the obvious revenue issues supporting government stimulus implies some underlying belief in keynesian economics working... None of which supports the general economic structure you otherwise want. I think.
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Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl
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« Reply #366 on: January 09, 2010, 02:17:51 PM »

As I've done a lot of rethinking of my views the past few days, I figured I'd update this.

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Crossed out means I no longer believe that, bold things are new.

So you are done claiming to be a libertarian, right?
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Mechaman
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« Reply #367 on: January 09, 2010, 02:28:16 PM »
« Edited: January 09, 2010, 02:30:50 PM by Howard Baker »

As I've done a lot of rethinking of my views the past few days, I figured I'd update this.

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Crossed out means I no longer believe that, bold things are new.

So you are done claiming to be a libertarian, right?
A WINNER IS YOU! In other words I agree and you, despite what I perceive as not quite libertarian positions, are probably ten times the libertarian Vepres is
(not sarcasm by the way)
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Vepres
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« Reply #368 on: January 09, 2010, 02:55:33 PM »
« Edited: January 09, 2010, 02:58:29 PM by Ebenezer Scrooge »

Besides the obvious revenue issues supporting government stimulus implies some underlying belief in keynesian economics working... None of which supports the general economic structure you otherwise want. I think.

Keynesian economics are useful in times of extraordinary crisis. Generally, the only two instances I would have supported stimulus are the 1929 and 2008 crashes, respectively. I would not have supported stimulus in, say, 2003 or 1982 (though Reagan's tax cuts were in and of themselves a good thing).

Of course, Bush's use of Keynesian economics contributed to the crisis. However, an infusion of capital into the economy was, ironically, necessary to prevent a complete collapse. Now, though, reform is needed or else we'll fall into the same pattern.

As I've done a lot of rethinking of my views the past few days, I figured I'd update this.

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Crossed out means I no longer believe that, bold things are new.

So you are done claiming to be a libertarian, right?

I've finally fit into the perfect spot where both libertarians and non-libertarians hate me Grin
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Vepres
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« Reply #369 on: January 09, 2010, 02:59:25 PM »

Vepres can't claim he doesn't hate the poor yet support amnesty at the same time. One of the claims he made must be a lie.

I can't have compassion for non-American poor too?
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Mint
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« Reply #370 on: January 09, 2010, 03:32:26 PM »

Vepres can't claim he doesn't hate the poor yet support amnesty at the same time. One of the claims he made must be a lie.

Do I hate the poor? Tongue
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Mint
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« Reply #371 on: January 09, 2010, 03:41:12 PM »
« Edited: January 09, 2010, 03:45:41 PM by T.O.S.O.S.™ »

Keynesian economics are useful in times of extraordinary crisis. Generally, the only two instances I would have supported stimulus are the 1929 and 2008 crashes, respectively. I would not have supported stimulus in, say, 2003 or 1982 (though Reagan's tax cuts were in and of themselves a good thing).

It either works or it doesn't. Either you want a robust public sector to weather the economy, or you don't because you find that counterproductive. I may totally disagree with people like beet, lief, jfern, marokai, etc. on this matter but at least they hold consistent views in regards to what sort of economic model they want.

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Ok.. why?

I've already stated before why I think a complete collapse is inevitable - quadrillion derivatives market going bust (not just real estate), open talk of the dollar being dropped as a reserve currency by OPEC and brazil/russia/china/etc., zombie banks being allowed to grow thanks to the bail outs, etc. but I'd like to see your reasoning here.
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Marokai Backbeat
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« Reply #372 on: January 09, 2010, 03:54:20 PM »

Vepres, you really need to make your mind up what you are here.

This is probably the only time we'll agree on something.
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Marokai Backbeat
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« Reply #373 on: January 09, 2010, 03:57:05 PM »

Vepres, you really need to make your mind up what you are here.

This is probably the only time we'll agree on something.

You mean apart from gay marriage? And abortion?

You know what I meant. Tongue
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Mint
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« Reply #374 on: January 09, 2010, 04:01:00 PM »

Vepres can't claim he doesn't hate the poor yet support amnesty at the same time. One of the claims he made must be a lie.

Do I hate the poor? Tongue

Since when do you support amnesty?

I haven't pulled a Lou Dobbs yet.
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