MPR: Select a Candidate 2008: President November 27, 2007
Posted by Phineas in : End Of The World, Irrelevant, Lies, Political/Editorial , add a commentMPR: Select a Candidate 2008: President
This *would* be a cool way to vote for a candidate. Turns out I’m a Kucinich man. Guess thats no surprise.
That Sure Was Horrible, but It Doesn’t Rise to the Level of Genocide November 25, 2007
Posted by Phineas in : Economics, End Of The World, Giving, Lies, Political/Editorial , add a commentWhat a phrase: “rise to the level of genocide“.
I know there’s a definition or many definitions, and because of this, some things are and other things are not genocide. But still, it strikes me as weasly, bureaucratic, dismissive. It’s almost always used in the negative. You hardly ever hear anyone say: “Well, how about that? This one *does* rise to the level of genocide. Yep. Sure does. It was just under that level, there’s the level, then it rose above that level.”
No — it’s usually, “that thing is horrible, but does it rise to the level of genocide?” (posed as a question but is really being answered in the negative). Or: “One thing is clear: it doesn’t rise to the level of genocide.” And then the argument hinges on a technicality or selective choosing of an operative definition of genocide. It’s like saying, “I’m indignant, but according to Webster’s dictionary, my indignation does not rise to the level of outrage. I’ll write one letter to my congressman, but I won’t write two, because this atrocity does not meet the two-letter criteria. I’ll send $100 to the relief of the victims, but I won’t send $200, because their suffering just does not quite rise to that level.” One’s suffering must rise to a certain level, after all.
“Ooo, so close! But it just doesn’t rise to the level of genocide. Try again next time!”
Judicious and Effective October 8, 2007
Posted by Phineas in : End Of The World, Irrelevant, Lies, Political/Editorial , add a commentI’ll go ahead and go on record as condoning torture. My only caveats are that when used, it must be judicious and effective. Judicious meaning, you are absolutely certain that the person whom you are torturing is guilty of the crime, has the knowledge you mean to extract. Effective meaning that the reasonable expectation is that by torturing this one person, many other lives will be saved. I oppose torturing under any other conditions.
But Phineas, you ask, what about the Geneva conventions? If we torture their prisoners of war, won’t they torture ours? They well might. But if they torture our prisoners of war, it’s still OK as long as they do it judiciously and effectively. Right? It’s only wrong if it’s unjust and ineffective.
Of course, the key is how to define judicious and effective. I believe the conditions are almost never satisfied, therefore I oppose all torture.
You know that little Jack Bauer hypothetical scenario trotted out by the pro-torture mob? It asks, what if the interrogator is holding a known terrorist, who is in possession of knowledge of an immanent terrorist attack, and by torturing him, we may save the lives of thousands of Americans? Wouldn’t torture be OK then? Shouldn’t it be legal then? Shouldn’t the President authorize it then?
Here’s my turnaround to that argument: If you are an interrogator holding such a suspect, and thousands of American lives hang in the balance, wouldn’t you go ahead and torture him anyway? The heck with the law, Geneva conventions, Presidential pardons, etc? What kind of person would let thousands of innocent people die just to protect himself from prosecution? If the situation is *really* that crystal clear, what difference should a law make to a sincere person whose only wish is to save lives? Ah, but the situation is never really that crystal clear. Legalizing or authorizing such actions does little more than to provide legal cover for all those practices which are *neither* judicious *nor* effective.
It’s All Very Important And Serious June 20, 2007
Posted by Phineas in : Irrelevant, Political/Editorial , 1 comment so far
That Sinking Feeling June 18, 2007
Posted by Phineas in : Economics, Environment, Irrelevant, Outdoors/Travel, Political/Editorial , add a commentI’ve been wondering how to feel about the idea of carbon offset programs.
We dig fossil fuel out of the ground, burn it and fill the atmosphere with carbon dioxide, and then plant trees to soak it back up. If only it were so simple.
( linkeroonie )
Vonnegut Day April 20, 2007
Posted by kimbojava in : Political/Editorial , add a commentFor the Warmonger: Anyone enthusiastically advocating war will get a super opportunity to spend Vonnegut Day under actual bombardment in a special Bombardment SimuCenter, wearing ragged clothing, desperately searching for a family member, while a group of hostiles roam through the neighborhood, kicking down doors and making threats in a language he/she doesn’t understand.
( link )
New Rule April 19, 2007
Posted by Phineas in : Political/Editorial , add a commentNew rule:
For every 32 people killed in Iraq, let’s have coverage equal to the coverage the VT shootings have received. Lots of graphics showing the building maps, interviews with survivors, interviews with the roommates of the victims or the perpetrators, expert opinions. Ask the authorities how they could let this happen. Lots of people speculating as to the motives of the perpetrators. Ask what could be done to prevent such crimes next time. Let it ride for four or five days occupying headline space. Saturate the airwaves with the discussion.
If every 32 people killed in Iraq got coverage like this, perhaps even more than nearly everybody on earth would oppose U.S. occupation of Iraq.
No love, no joy, just snuff videos, 24 hours a day. April 5, 2007
Posted by Phineas in : Political/Editorial, Psycho/Spirit , add a commentShit, Stupidity, War, Hell, Cute YouTube video! Crap, lies, horror, cute YouTube video! Bullshit, new all-time lows, just when it can’t get worse, it gets worse, but have you seen the cute YouTube video? Treachery, betrayal, incompetence, ignorance, negligence, selfishness, cute YouTube video!
No love, no joy, just snuff videos, 24 hours a day.
Cute YouTube video!
Evidence of U.S. Arms in Iraq February 11, 2007
Posted by Phineas in : Political/Editorial , add a commentMaybe we should invade ourselves.
How Much To Give? December 20, 2006
Posted by Phineas in : Giving, Irrelevant, Political/Editorial , 2 comments10%, according to Peter Singer, and we can eliminate poverty worldwide.
