tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post5433644790487854799..comments2024-03-20T12:34:55.100-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: An Open Letter To The Idiot NationJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger326125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-34880590264547247232015-12-23T01:40:48.892-06:002015-12-23T01:40:48.892-06:00The reason is simple, skills atrophy via disuse. T...The reason is simple, skills atrophy via disuse. They stopped analyzing things after retirement and now forget how to do so.Wzrd1https://www.blogger.com/profile/11709454392659584792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-40043554356813315872015-12-19T07:06:43.033-06:002015-12-19T07:06:43.033-06:00Real critical thinking isn't *that* hard, for ...Real critical thinking isn't *that* hard, for crying out loud, now we have Google, Snopes and all manner of other resources to sort the fantasy from reality.<br />I've blasted buddies with both barrels for the same crap, providing citations that documented their buying in on nonsense and admonishing them for willingly making themselves tools for those who desire no good, but only power.<br /><br />One enormous help is turning off Fox News, if you want news, go to Al Jazeera. They do their homework and they will *not* spare your feelings or bias. They even took a bite at the Emir of Qatar, who founded the organization. Fortunately, the old fellow wasn't a dictator and actually changed his policy.<br />*That* is a news organization, unlike what we have here, selling the hyperbole and nonsense.Wzrd1https://www.blogger.com/profile/11709454392659584792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-52568959287640868732013-08-25T19:36:50.506-05:002013-08-25T19:36:50.506-05:00Not sure if you read all the rules. Am sure you f...Not sure if you read all the rules. Am sure you feel strongly about our country as do I. But this post sort of reminds me of the ones you are talking about that I delete and don't read. A lot wordy and just aittle to much your beleifs and not allowing for much response. Most often read and enjoy your posts. But this was a bit over the top. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-27708499677250166912013-07-26T18:25:59.263-05:002013-07-26T18:25:59.263-05:00Sir,
You are brilliant, you rock, any and all comp...Sir,<br />You are brilliant, you rock, any and all complimentary phrases current and passe. I missed the hullabaloo because I shut the computer down over the weekend of the 4th. <br />Thank you for your eloquence, patience, and perseverance.<br />Salute,<br />AmyKitten99https://www.blogger.com/profile/03724363655604351069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-70724137614412227812013-07-25T12:17:59.781-05:002013-07-25T12:17:59.781-05:00I think you mean "Buchwald-ian", don'...I think you mean "Buchwald-ian", don't you? Regardles, I agree 100%. Carry on. Meister Eckharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14638555048190397833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-31896452367288338182013-07-25T12:10:01.198-05:002013-07-25T12:10:01.198-05:00Very good piece, although I disagree 100% about So...Very good piece, although I disagree 100% about Social Security- it is absolutely not a cause of the national debt. The income cap needs to be raised or abolished, and problem with SS funding solved. <br />Otherwise, I join the many here who have had to cut ties with not only friends, but family members who have swallowed the lies and abandoned whatever critical thinking skills they may once have had. In my case it hasn't been that difficult, but I can imagine that, for many, it has been quite painful. Bravo, in any event. Meister Eckharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14638555048190397833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-87665904338628909572013-07-20T12:18:34.534-05:002013-07-20T12:18:34.534-05:00Wow. Loved the rant, then found that the comments...Wow. Loved the rant, then found that the comments were just as entertaining. Great blog!<br /><br />What frustrates me is that the folks who need to read your essay will be put off by the length (Am I the only one who has crafted thoughtful well researched replies to misinformation only to hear back 'LOL!'?), or stop reading as soon as they detect that your thinking is from outside of their bubble. Outrage and misinformation digest easily into sound bite, but nuanced ideas and research.....don't.<br /><br /><br /><br /> Nedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04589063825331972967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-18124986645498132632013-07-19T21:55:36.731-05:002013-07-19T21:55:36.731-05:00Sorry, Raven, but the USA is not paying down its d...Sorry, Raven, but the USA is not paying down its debt. It is increasing it by over a trillion dollars every year. It is also increasing unfunded future liabilities by several trillion dollars every year.<br /><br />There is a lot of good stuff in your post, but it leans heavily towards what is put out by the BLS, a government department which is subject to political pressure. If you, or any other readers of this excellent site, want to get another viewpoint on the very important issue of the economy, may I suggest you look at shadowstats.com to see the extent to which the official figures for GDP, inflation, (un)employment, etc. have been manipulated and distorted over time. Or do your own research, but always actively look for other points of view to avoid confirmation bias before making up your own mind.<br /><br />I'm not an American (can you guess?) and don't identify with either of your main political parties, which is possibly why I also disagree with your blaming of the conservatives. The problems your country, as well as mine and many others, are facing are due to there being more greedy individuals in positions of power than there are people with integrity. In my opinion, no references for this ;-)<br /><br />The debt is unlikely (impossible?) to be fixed and both our countries may go bankrupt unless something radical is done. SS etc. won't mean anything if that happens. I'm not happy about it, just sayin' is all...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-70314033537437630812013-07-19T18:23:43.176-05:002013-07-19T18:23:43.176-05:00Oh, for f*%#$'s sake!! Voter fraud?!?! Truly?!...Oh, for f*%#$'s sake!! Voter fraud?!?! Truly?!?! What, someone bring back the 'vote early and vote often' sentiment of old Chicago? Show me voter fraud in the last two elections. PROOF! I want dates, places etc. PROOF. <br />I don't mind having to show my ID when I go to vote; it's not a hardship. What bothers me is the number of elderly who no longer have a valid DL, and are being charged HUGE amounts to obtain state non-driving photo IDs.<br />We're losing a vast majority of voters due to age, and last I looked, voter rights don't expire because you're old. Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07800694916067947637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-1718526190046819762013-07-19T18:04:14.100-05:002013-07-19T18:04:14.100-05:00Holy hell, man, you sound like a male version of m...Holy hell, man, you sound like a male version of me!! I agree with you totally. I keep telling people the problem with this country is plain Bullshit. People say the damnedest things, then search out ways to make them sound plausible, instead of searching out the plausible first. If anyone would have checked out the Jeff Foxworthy thing, they would have known it was a fake. Foxworthy himself posted that HE hadn't written it, nor would he ever write such drivel.<br />Good for you for taking a side and making it stick. Maybe people who are outspoken are thought to be idiots as well...but at least we outspoken folks research and find the PROPER thing to post.<br />Thank you, Sir....and well said.<br /><br />PS: My daddy and uncle were Navy boys...and they, god rest 'em...would have been proud to be called your friend.Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07800694916067947637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-1144612845662060692013-07-19T13:51:14.134-05:002013-07-19T13:51:14.134-05:00Thank you, Jim Wright in Alaska, for posting such ...Thank you, Jim Wright in Alaska, for posting such an astute and reasoned reply to an idiotic email. And this reply concerning "real" Christians is a bonus. Cheers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-55451661248163743362013-07-18T19:01:44.633-05:002013-07-18T19:01:44.633-05:00No, not all liberals. But read Chris Mooney's...No, not all liberals. But read Chris Mooney's The Republican Brain. There is statistically proven, study after study demonstrated evidence that the facts are largely on one side, and the fairy tales largely on the other. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-72461403711145632332013-07-18T18:57:12.369-05:002013-07-18T18:57:12.369-05:00Oh yes. I think I'm in love.Oh yes. I think I'm in love. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-21690098092909791092013-07-18T12:38:57.437-05:002013-07-18T12:38:57.437-05:00Well said.
Most Americans are pretty ignorant, ill...Well said.<br />Most Americans are pretty ignorant, ill informed, and have little inclination to perform the homework to separate fact from fiction. And anyone who gets their information from Fox News, Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, or Rush Limbaugh is intellectually bankrupt. If you want to contribute to our country, keep-up on current events using a legitimate course of news, preferably more than one source, and reflect upon it with an open mind. Or you can elect to be manipulated by the far right.Research Chemist fatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887373012433061603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-12639392465521659232013-07-18T11:05:46.438-05:002013-07-18T11:05:46.438-05:00We may have been separated at birth, my friend. B...We may have been separated at birth, my friend. Both of us trying to find a way to preach logic and reason without becoming unreasonable. And both of us finding that facts are damned inconvenient when they don't fit the narrative.<br /><br />Hell, I could be you... if I had the restraint.Mojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03498213932233245032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-51869570109434653982013-07-18T10:59:11.778-05:002013-07-18T10:59:11.778-05:00Kudos to you sir, for telling it like it is, even ...Kudos to you sir, for telling it like it is, even if it does cost you the "friendship" of your sadly off-their-rocker veteran buddies. I think you hit the nail on the head. The Tea Party mindset of such folk is about looking back to a past that never was, towards a future that can not and should not, ever be allowed to happen. That is, not if we wish to remain real Americans. A Western Christian Taliban, maybe, neo fascists, for sure, but no longer from the same stock that created the spirit and intention of this country. America never has been an "ideal nation" - but it has always been a "nation of ideals." The problem with cantankerously crazy codgers as your ex-buds is that, in their bitterness at feeling old and left behind, they forgot the ideals they had once served and now just lazily regurgitate the tripe sold by the dodgy snake oil vendors of Fox News and radio talk shows. Why? Because, as you say, it is easier than thinking critically for themselves.gunnergozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02908570045553282422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-16086532844530930302013-07-18T03:50:37.307-05:002013-07-18T03:50:37.307-05:00I am so glad someone gave me the link to this. Tha...I am so glad someone gave me the link to this. Thank you for writing this. Not only did you make me laugh and cry, you renewed my faith in Alaska. I will be sharing this with others who I know will appreciate it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-91191882918939760572013-07-17T16:37:44.671-05:002013-07-17T16:37:44.671-05:00When I first saw that "...run by idiots"...When I first saw that "...run by idiots" story a few months ago, I thought it deserved a powerful response--an antidote to the epidemic of stupidity that is overrunning the country.<br />But you, sir, have put it so well in your article. Good work...and keep fighting the Good Fight!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15866465566174113895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-23644146865702526242013-07-16T14:55:51.254-05:002013-07-16T14:55:51.254-05:00The number one reason for the deficit and growth o...The number one reason for the deficit and growth of the debt is the republican Great Recession which was caused by conservative driven financial deregulation. The second biggest contributor was the tax cuts driven by conservative ideology. The third biggest contributor were the two unfunded wars also driven by conservative ideology. The growth in Medicare spending is due to the overall increase in health care costs from a privatized profit driven health care system. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-36138470808822050912013-07-16T10:44:00.407-05:002013-07-16T10:44:00.407-05:00oooh, i'll have to remember that! :-Doooh, i'll have to remember that! :-Dtesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04254045589639201707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-19977541064064606812013-07-16T10:00:24.742-05:002013-07-16T10:00:24.742-05:00:-) how does any vet side with Nugent? how does ...:-) how does any vet side with Nugent? how does any woman or black person look at the current Republican party and think it represents them? people constantly astonish me.tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04254045589639201707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-36779112944387840782013-07-16T09:07:51.687-05:002013-07-16T09:07:51.687-05:00this is my first visit to your site, and I WILL be...this is my first visit to your site, and I WILL be coming back. THIS is the reply I wish I could make to all the sour old pessimists (and one of them is my own son)....tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04254045589639201707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-64808874765319508352013-07-14T22:09:01.115-05:002013-07-14T22:09:01.115-05:00It took a lot of courage to call these guys out, e...It took a lot of courage to call these guys out, especially since they were once your mentors in a society of strong bonds. of course it is the right thing to do but still very hard to follow through. I applaud your courage and your point of view.<br />peacecambridgeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-63926425414209131942013-07-14T21:12:52.613-05:002013-07-14T21:12:52.613-05:00"I was just kidding, you have no sense of hum..."I was just kidding, you have no sense of humor," is the mantra of a**holes from time immemorial who have gotten caught saying something hateful, violent, or shameful. Rest assured, had everyone believed it and praised it, not one of them would have stood up and shouted "No no! Don't BELIEVE this! It was a JOKE. <br />You can line it up with the <br />"At least I'm honest" of the people who want to escape the consequences of being unpleasant.LadyMurasakihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10890815665001552052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-36016436702952999452013-07-14T21:01:36.860-05:002013-07-14T21:01:36.860-05:00Yes, what SJD said.Yes, what SJD said.LadyMurasakihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10890815665001552052noreply@blogger.com