Explain to Me Why Socialism Is So Very Bad Again

Colour me unsurprised* that American health care is killing Americans.

Americans die sooner than citizens of a dozen other developed nations and the usual suspects -- obesity, traffic accidents and a high murder rate -- are not to blame, researchers reported Thursday.

Instead, poor health care may be to blame, the team at Columbia University in New York reported.

They found that 15-year survival rates for men and women aged 45 to 65 have fallen in the United States relative to the other 12 countries over the past 30 years.

. . .

"But what really surprised us was that all of the usual suspects -- smoking, obesity, traffic accidents, and homicides -- are not the culprits," Meunnig said in a statement.

"The U.S. doesn't stand out as doing any worse in these areas than any of the other countries we studied, leading us to believe that failings in the U.S. health care system, such as costly specialized and fragmented care, are likely playing a large role in this relatively poor performance on improvements in life expectancy."

In June, the Commonwealth Fund, which advocates on and does research focusing on health care reform, reported that Americans spend twice as much on health care as residents of other developed countries -- $7,290 per person -- but get lower quality and less efficiency.

Muennig and Sherry Glied compared the United States to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.

Yeah, that socialism. It's awful. It allows people to live longer and better. How terrible! Seriously, tell me again why we're so opposed to socialism? Yeah, yeah, yeah higher taxes- and better health. Isn't that worth higher taxes?

Between 1975 and 2005, medical costs went up in all the countries, as did life expectancy.

But costs went up far more in the United States and life expectancy increased to a far lower degree.

Glied and Meunnig do not believe obesity accounts for the differences. While more Americans are obese, overall the populations in all the nations have been getting fatter, they said.

"For obesity to explain the decline in U.S. life expectancy or the increase in health spending relative to the 12 comparison countries, Americans would have to be becoming obese at a faster rate than people in the comparison nations over time," they wrote. But this has not been happening.

Americans are less likely to smoke, and while Americans are more likely to die in car crashes or be murdered, again these rates do not explain the lower life expectancy, the Columbia team said.

Wait, we can't blame the fatties? Well, now that is unAmerican.

So, how bad is the problem?

"In 1950, the United States was fifth among the leading industrialized nations with respect to female life expectancy at birth, surpassed only by Sweden, Norway, Australia, and the Netherlands," they wrote. At last count, the United States was 46th in female life expectancy; 49th for both sexes.

Wow, from 5 to 46. I'd ask how that capitalism is working out for everyone, but clearly, it's not.

*It's a shade of puce, in case you were wondering.

And lo, Jesus gave unto them an AK-47 . . .

The Light of the World . . . will be seen through a hole in your head.

The US Military is providing to its troops guns inscribed with bible verses. Just the fact that there are soldiers, US soldiers, wandering around with guns inscribed with bible verses is disturbing, however what's truly weird is the verse shown on the rifle above: John 8:12.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life

This is the end of the incident in which Jesus saves an adulterous woman from being stoned to death under the law.

I can't decide if this is some sort of high irony, or just the stupidest thing I've ever seen. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone . . . and shoot that motherfucker between the eyes!"

When Chuck Norris Jumps into a Lake

flag, obama. chuck norris, 912 project, patriotism, US, america, socialism,

Chuck Norris, the famous guy with a house not in foreclosure, a big bank account and health care, would like you to stop treading on him.

What I loved about the 9/12 idea is that it was a nonpolitical, nonpartisan movement. The 9-12 Project was designed to bring Americans back to the place where we were Sept. 12, 2001 -- the day after America was attacked by terrorists. We were not concerned then with red states, blue states or political parties. We were united as Americans, standing together to protect our nation.

That's completely absurd. The 9/12 thing is nonpolitical and nonpartisan? On what planet? I would also like to reiterate that I, like most people, felt sad, sick and scared on 9/12. The man who wants you to stay sad, sick and scared the rest of your life does not have your best interests at heart.

On Sept. 12, 2001, we sought to protect our nation against terrorists from without. Beginning on Sept. 12, 2009, we are seeking to protect our nation against enemies of our republic from within. Many of us are protesting the present political direction of Washington. Outrageous borrowing, excessive bailouts, massive spending, speedball stimulus plans, universal hell care and swings toward socialism are just a few of the things that were protested that day. Of course, economics is far from America's only problem, as large as it appears to loom.

McCarthyism; borrowing, bailouts, spending and stimulus that started under Bush (didn't hear you complaining about that, did I, Chuck?); universal hell care- he's so clever!; and, of course, socialism. Teh Oolitmat Evul.

I want to emphasize: This revolutionary movement is not solely an independent, Republican or Democratic fight. It represents patriots who are fed up against modernists who seek to overturn almost every principle and tenet laid down by our country's Founding Fathers at the inception of our republic. From the East Coast to the "Left Coast," America seems to be moving farther and farther from its Founders' vision and government.

I can't decide what is more absurd in the above paragraph: referring to the 9/12 thing as possibly being a Democratic fight, or insisting that the 9/12 thing is nonpartisan and then refusing to use the geographically correct term "West Coast" in favor of the you're-all-evil-socialists term "Left Coast".

John Adams declared, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people." Yet we've bastardized the First Amendment, reinterpreted America's religious history, denied our Christian heritage, and secularized our society, and now we ooze skepticism and circumvent religion on every level of public and private life.

Atheism: It's oozy!

Chuck has a solution to all the socialists and oozing atheists: a new flag. Well, actually an old flag.

As 9/12 concluded, we all heard many ways to keep this revolutionary movement going. But I was sitting back thinking there's one way we can take a daily stand and declare that as for me and my house, we will serve God and the republic as the Founders did.

If that describes you, then I suggest you fly some revolutionary flag in lieu of your 50-star flag over the next year. Post the 13-star Betsy Ross flag, Navy Jack or Gadsden flag ("Don't Tread on Me") or any representation that tells the story of Old Glory and makes a stand for our Founders' vision of America.

Of course, patriots know that the 50-star flag truly represents one nation under God and our Founders' republic, but modernists simply don't get it. So what do you say we make a statement by flying a different flag and educate our neighbors when they ask us, "Why are you flying that flag instead of the contemporary Stars and Stripes?" (If you insist on posting a modern USA flag, too, then get one that is tea-stained to show your solidarity with our Founders.)

I don't get what the flag means? Because I've never been through elementary school, you jackass? Honestly. And if you're going to insist on using the flag that actually represents our country, defile it with stains. According to the Flag Code, one is not to allow the flag to be stained or dirtied, nor is one allowed to change the colors of the flag. Mutilation of a flag is a crime. And Chuck? "Under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954, in response to McCarthyism.

Oh, and not related to Chuck's post, but remember the brouhaha at the beginning of the election over the fact that McCain for a flag lapel pin and Obama did not? Turns out, Obama was correct. According to the Flag Code §901(b)

Individuals Entitled To Display Service Lapel Button.— A service lapel button approved by the Secretary may be worn by members of the immediate family of an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged.

Anyway.

Portugal: A Case Study in Drug Decriminalization

drug, war, treatment, addiction, portugal, US, america,
Oddly, the Netherlands is not the European country with the most liberal drug laws: Portugal, which in 2001 became the first European country to officially abolish all criminal penalties for personal possession of drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, is.

How has that worked out for Portugal? (Keep in mind, about 1 out of 4 people in jail right now in the US are imprisoned for nonviolent drug charges. The US has 5% of the world's drug users, but 25% of the world's drug related prisoners.)

Really well. (from Time.com)

Compared to the European Union and the U.S., Portugal's drug use numbers are impressive. Following decriminalization, Portugal had the lowest rate of lifetime marijuana use in people over 15 in the E.U.: 10%. The most comparable figure in America is in people over 12: 39.8%. Proportionally, more Americans have used cocaine than Portuguese have used marijuana.

The Cato paper reports that between 2001 and 2006 in Portugal, rates of lifetime use of any illegal drug among seventh through ninth graders fell from 14.1% to 10.6%; drug use in older teens also declined. Lifetime heroin use among 16-to-18-year-olds fell from 2.5% to 1.8% (although there was a slight increase in marijuana use in that age group). New HIV infections in drug users fell by 17% between 1999 and 2003, and deaths related to heroin and similar drugs were cut by more than half. In addition, the number of people on methadone and buprenorphine treatment for drug addiction rose to 14,877 from 6,040, after decriminalization, and money saved on enforcement allowed for increased funding of drug-free treatment as well.

Amazing, when you stop criminalizing drug addiction, people actually get treated for it. Who could possibly have imagined that?

In God We Trust

treaty, tripoli, pledge, allegiance, god, christian, religion, US, united, states,
As far as I can tell, you only need to get about three people in front of a camera in order to have one of them assert that the US is a "Christian Nation". They cite as evidence anything that even mentions god, including such perennial favorites as "In God We Trust" on our money, "under god" in our pledge, and the mentions of god in the Declaration of Independence .

I thought I would mention the history of some of these "proofs" that the US is a Christian Nation.

In God We Trust:

The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was placed on United States coins in 1864 largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War. That would be 88 years after the founding of the United States.

The Pledge of Allegiance:

The Pledge of Allegiance did not have the words "under God" in it until 1954- 178 years after the founding of the United States.

The Treaty of Tripoli*:

Unequivocably states that the United States was not ever a "Christian nation".

With slightly over 75% of the US self identifying as christian, the US may well be a nation of christians, but we are not now, nor have we ever been, a christian nation.

*a treaty with pirates. muslim pirates.

Civil War Is Not Funny

civil war, american, US, united, states, revolution, tea party, teabag, teabagging, beck, chuck norris,
This whole Glenn Beck "let's start the revolution" bullshit is pissing me off. All these fucking morons calling for secession, fomenting revolution, committing what amounts to sedition and treason- over what?

News flash- you don't have taxation without representation. You have taxation with representation you don't particularly like. Boofuckinghoo. Welcome to the last eight years of my life.

You didn't see me throwing a box of Bigelow into a lake or running for president of Texas. You didn't see me suggesting that we commit treason or start a revolution.

You know why? Because it wouldn't be a revolution. It would be another Civil War. And people died during the American Civil War.

People DIED during the American Civil War.

600,000 people died during the American Civil War.

Those people weren't just soldiers, either. Noncombatants died of illness, injury and disease.

600,000 brothers and sons and fathers and husbands, mothers and sisters and daughters and wives, grandparents, grandchildren, the elderly and children and infants. They all died.

You still think this is a game?

Not a Christian Nation

christian, nation, christianity, religious, right, tripoli, treaty, us
The Religious Right is in love with the idea that the US is a "christian nation". Read any sufficiently fundamentalist blog/message board/"news" site, and you'll see that phrase more than once. In fact, you'll also see a great deal about "returning" the US to the "christian principals the country was founded upon".

The arguments are many, but mostly revolve around two ideas: (1) the Founding Fathers were Christians, and (2) many of the Ten Commandments are found in the US Criminal Code.

I could argue the above 2 points until somebody's cow comes home, but I don't need to. I have the US Treaty With Tripoli. Written in 1796, read aloud in its entirety to the Senate in 1797, and personally approved by John Adams, Article 11 clearly states:

As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion

So there you have it. We are not, nor were we ever, a "christian nation".

Chuck Norris Commits Treason

america, US, united, states, conservative, liberal, republican, democracy, democrat, obama, treason, chuck norris
I mean that in the literal sense, with no exaggeration. According to the Constitution of the United States of America, Article III, Section 3:

Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

Levying war against the United States of America is exactly what Chuck Norris is advocating:

During an appearance on the Glen Beck radio show he promised that if things get any worse from his point of view he may “run for president of Texas.” The martial artist/actor/activist claims that Texas was never formally a part of the United States in the first place and that if rebellion is to come through secession Texas would lead the way.

. . .

“That need may be a reality sooner than we think. If not me, someone someday may again be running for president of the Lone Star state, if the state of the union continues to turn into the enemy of the state.”

He continues; calling on a second American Revolution; “…we've bastardized the First Amendment, reinterpreted America's religious history and secularized our society until we ooze skepticism and circumvent religion on every level of public and private life.

How much more will Americans take? When will enough be enough? And, when that time comes, will our leaders finally listen or will history need to record a second American Revolution? We the people have the authority according to America's Declaration of Independence, which states: That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…”

Norris claims that; “Thousands of cell groups will be united around the country in solidarity over the concerns for our nation.” The right wing cells will meet during a live telecast, "We Surround Them," on Friday March 13 at 5 p.m.

He closes with the words of Sam Houston followed by a plug for his next martial arts event.

“We view ourselves on the eve of battle."

First of all, that would not be a second American Revolution: it would be a second Civil War. Mr. Norris isn't talking about growing a new country from the seed of a colony, he is advocating the overthrow of a liberal, and duly elected, government.

Secondly, what else comes organized in cells? You got: terrorists. Which isn't surprising considering how much the GOP seems to admire the Taliban.

Thirdly, what the fuck?! This is how conservatives act when they lose? They held the White House for 8 years, with one of the worst presidents in US history, and you didn't hear liberals calling for armed revolution. Now we have the White House and Chuck Norris is advising people to grab their guns and figure out which neighbors to shoot first.

That's not how democracy works, asshole! You don't like how things are going? Get out the vote. That simple. You get another chance every couple of years to change things, so wait your turn. Every conservative asshat's been talking about the new liberal-socialist-communist-facist-tyranny, but we're not the one's advocating a bloody civil war that will result in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of innocent people and plunge the world into an economic death spiral.

Good job, Chuck, you've bested Rush Limbaugh for sheer, unadulterated hatred and utter lack of compassion for your fellow man.

And now for a little extra dose of scary, here are a couple of choice comments to the above article:

waypasthadenough: Ignore the "Liberal" freaks who comment here and don't let their twisted lies affect you. They will get what's coming in "Liberal" season. Don't understand? Go to willowtowndotcom and scroll right and read the quotes page first. Then share and prepare. It will not be a short nor an easy fight and you must learn where your enemies down the street are and be ready to give them what they deserve.

Boss Hogg: When this country was formed, the system the Founders installed allowed only white men over the age of 21 who OWNED property to vote.Having every Tom, Dick and Sally casting their vote on issues they know nothing about is CRAP!That IS NOT how this country was meant to be run.Racist negros and liberal brainwashed college kids voting? And now we'll add millions of 3rd world indians from south-of-the-border to all that?Nope, that is not what the Founders had in mind when they created this Republic.And that's why this country is going into the toilet.

These people scare me.

Talibangelicals

american, democrat, insurgency, politics, republican, taliban, talibangelicals, US
So, Rep. Pete Sessions (R.-Texas) admitted that the Republicans are the US Taliban. Nice! (Props to Teddy Patridge for coining "talibangelicals".)

From Sessions' own mouth:

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said House Republicans -- who voted unanimously last week against the economic plan pushed by President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- will pitch a "positive, loyal opposition" to the proposal. The group, he added, should also "understand insurgency" in implementing efforts to offer alternatives.
"Insurgency, we understand perhaps a little bit more because of the Taliban," Sessions said during a meeting yesterday with Hotline editors. "And that is that they went about systematically understanding how to disrupt and change a person's entire processes. And these Taliban -- I'm not trying to say the Republican Party is the Taliban. No, that's not what we're saying. I'm saying an example of how you go about [sic] is to change a person from their messaging to their operations to their frontline message. And we need to understand that insurgency may be required when the other side, the House leadership, does not follow the same commands, which we entered the game with."

This is an insult to the Taliban, really, since they are capable of creating and maintaining infrastructure.