Schrödinger’s Rapist

Guest Blogger Starling: Schrödinger’s Rapist: or a guy’s guide to approaching strange women without being maced

Sad but true. One in six women have/will be assaulted at least once in their lifetimes. To one in six women, you (random guy) are a potential threat. This might seem unfair or illogical; but to a woman who has been assaulted, it's not about reason or fairness, it's about surviving.

Deep Thought

What's the real difference between a democrat and a republican?

Democrat is greek for 'full of shit'. Republican is latin for 'full of shit'.





Democrats have too much faith in the government
Republicans have too much faith in private industry


The real difference is the target audience
Democrats tell the lies that liberals want to hear
Republicans tell the lies conservatives want to hear

Politicians end up doing what economic leaders tell them to do.
Even if it is harming people

Deep Thought

Sometimes I catch myself feeling that perhaps the person I am is worth being
-Don't remember

Zen precepts

The Three Treasures

I take refuge in the Buddha
I take refuge in the Dharma
I take refuge in the Sangha

I take refuge in the Buddha
The incomparably honored one
I take refuge in the Dharma, honorable for its purity
I take refuge in the Sangha, honorable for its harmony

I have taken refuge in the Buddha
I have taken refuge in the Dharma
I have taken refuge in the Sangha

The Three Pure Precepts

1. Not Creating Evil
2. Practicing Good
3. Actualizing Good For Others

The Ten Grave Precepts

1. Affirm life; Do not kill
2. Be giving; Do not steal
3. Honor the body; Do not misuse sexuality
4. Manifest truth; Do not lie
5. Proceed clearly; Do not cloud the mind
6. See the perfection; Do not speak of others
   errors and faults
7. Realize self and other as one; Do not elevate the self and blame others
8. Give generously; Do not be withholding
9. Actualize harmony; Do not be angry
10. Experience the intimacy of things; Do not
    defile the Three Treasures

Receiving the Zen Precepts
3 Versions of the Zen Precepts
16 Practises of a Zen Peacemaker

Eightfold Path

Wisdom (Pañña)

1. Right understanding (samma ditthi)
2. Right thinking (samma sankappa)

Ethical Conduct (Sila)

3. Right speech (samma vaca)
4. Right action (samma kammanta)
5. Right livelihood (samma ajiva)

Concentration (Samadhi)

6. Right effort (samma vayama)
7. Right mindfulness (samma sati)
8. Right collectedness (samma samadhi)

The Eightfold Path

The Noble Eightfold Path: The Way to the End of Suffering

Living Meditation, Living Insight: Unity of the Noble 8-fold Path

Ten Perfections

1. Generosity, giving (dana)

2. Morality (sila)

3. Renunciation (nekkhamma)

4. Wisdom (panna)

5. Energy (viriya)

6. Patience (khanti)

7. Truthfulness (sacca)

8. Determination (adhitthana)

9. Loving-kindness (metta)

10. Equanimity (upekkha)

Theravada Buddhism Portal - Ten Perfections

The Ten Perfections: A Study Guide

The Four Immeasurables

The Brahma-Viharas
The Four Sublime States

May all sentient beings have happiness and its causes,
May all sentient beings be free of suffering and its causes,
May all sentient beings never be separated from bliss without suffering,
May all sentient beings be in equanimity, free of bias, attachment and anger.

• Love or Loving-kindness (metta)
• Compassion (karuna)
• Sympathetic Joy (mudita)
• Equanimity (upekkha)

The Four Immeasurables

Brahma-Vihara Foundation

The Four Immeasurables

Buddhist Studies (Secondary) The Four Immeasurables

The Four Immeasurables

The Four Sublime States

Berzin, Alexander (2005). The Four Immeasurable Attitudes in Hinayana, Mahayana, and Bon

Empathy vs. Sympathy

Empathy
The ability to understand and share the feelings of another

Sympathy
Feeling pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune

Deep Thought

The violence will stop when little boys are treated like human beings

Deep Thought

Anger is what comes out when all other emotions are stifled

Deep Thought

Racism is a lie created and perpetuated by the oppressor. Used to divide and create animosity amongst the oppressed so that they will not unite and rise up against their oppressor

Ultimate Time Travel

Deep Thought

"I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones"

Albert Einstein

Apocalypse Films

Top 10 Post Apocalypse Movies

Quiet Earth

Apocalypse, '80s Style!

Empty World

horror links

www.horrorfestonline.com
www.horror-movies.ca

Top 50 scariest horror movies of all time

top 100

Deep Thought

You cannot live your life looking at yourself from someone else’s point of view.
-Penélope Cruz

God and the Gays

If God didn't want gay people to have children, he/she would have made gay people infertile.

Marriage has evolved throughout time. Marriage in 2008 is not the same as it was in 1908 or 1708; and that's a good thing. I'm not a big fan of marriage and I'm hoping it will evolve into something better.

Family has evolved too. And family is very entrenched in culture. Families around the world don't look the same or act the same.

I hope people have evolved also. Meaning evolved out of predetermined gender roles. It'd be nice if parents can raise their children to believe in themselves. To express themselves (like allowing boys to cry). To pursue their dreams (like their daughter who wants to play football).

Then when two people come together to create a family, they can cooperate based on their individual strengths and not some "role" they think they're supposed to fill even if they don't excel in that role.

In other words... be yourself, not what others tell you to be. You know your strengths. Use them instead of trying to develop some skills that feel unnatural to you.

Deep Thought

Every single person is connected to every other person (and all living things) through a golden filament of divine love.

Marianne Williamson

It's a black thing you just can't understand

I think what's really going on is discrimination (treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit). I put up a definition because I'll hear a lot of people say, 'well, discrimination is a good thing and everyone does it. Their broad definition of discrimination (To make sensible decisions; judge wisely) is not what I'm talking about.

Racism comes in two parts.
One part is when a race feels superior to the other (reword: feels like another race is inferior in some way) and therefore has a right to dominate them or receive more privileges/rights than them.

The other part, and most important to me, is that a person's race determines their character, talents, abilities, personality.

The discrimination I'm talking about fits in with the second part of racism that I think is more important than the superiority factor. Actually believing a person's race is a determining factor in how they act, feel, speak, and even how they look, is what bothers me.

It gets tricky because people of all races feed into the lie. It's even harder dealing with a person of another race who believes the generalizaitions that are fed to them. When they believe that they are actually supposed to feel, act, believe, look a certain way different than others.

One black person is not the spokesperson for all black people. non-black people and especially, black people need to consider this when they speak on racial issues.

So, the idea that, 'you're not black so you can't ever understand or relate to what black people experience' is a bit of bollocks.

Now, I will say that history affects people in different ways. History has affected many black people in a way that is hard to relate to. Hard but not impossible. More importantly, history has not affected all black people the same way. We aren't all decendants of slaves and our predecessors weren't all in the thick of the civil rights movement.
All black people in America do not share the same culture.

It's true that many black people have had different life experiences than white people; but there is nothing inherent in their blackness that makes them experience life in a different way.

I think the 'you'll never understand' angle is a defense mechanism. I'd even call it a cope out because it says that you can't/don't feel like explaining your experience or you think the other person is too daft to understand. And honestly, it is kind of hard to explain sometimes.

I have noticed that I've heard it in conversations where a well-meaning white person who thinks they have it all figured out has said something that is completely ignorant. This tends to stir up some annoyance or outright anger in some black people and they counter with the 'you'll never understand' bit. Rather than educating that person they try to shut down the conversation with that phrase.

Alt-Thanksgiving

For those of you who didn't celebrate Thanksgiving 'cause it's a bit tainted by history, there are plenty of celebrations you can partake in. Don't miss out on being thankful because some of our ancestors were thankful for the wrong reason.

Harvest Celebrations Around the World

Harvest Festivals from Around the World at HarvestFestivals.Net

some info is a little redundant. so be it

Cool dude

in your head

What's going on in the World Today?

I like definitions and I like to stick to the heart of a definition when I use words. I need to figure out the word for what's taking place in the world.

So excuse me; but, I need to do this to get something straight in my head.

Racism is The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.

I know it exists but it's not the epidemic I'm seeing now

Discrimination is to make a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing on the basis of the group, class, or category to which the person or thing belongs rather than according to actual merit.

There's a lot of that going on but not the heart of what I see

Prejudice is An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts.

Yeah, there are a lot of opinions that don't seem to have much knowledge to back them up (I'm talking about real knowledge and not just 'book learning'); but that's not what I'm looking for

A bigot is One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.

This is really close to what I'm seeing but a bit off. It's not that certain people are intolerant of those who differ from them but they are indifferent to those who differ from them.

Though, tolerance is a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own.

I really don't see a lot of tolerance going on in the world.

I don't really want to start calling people bigots because that word doesn't help to make change. People just get defensive and shut down; and the conversation comes to a halt. No learning, no growing.

I'd use the words inconsiderate or selfish; but those words are too broad. It seems that everyone is concerned about "topics that reflect the personal views by the majority of their community".

Anyway, what do you call it when a person only cares about the issues that affect them; and, to make matters worse, belittle people who speak out about issues that don't seem to affect them personally?

Melting Pot

I realized we (America) have become a melting pot of sorts.

If I have a group of friends, one from Haiti, one from Ghana, Dominican Repubic, Botswana, Zambia, Nigeria... to everyone else, we're all black. The many cultural differences amongst us don't mean anything. Our countries could be at war with each other; but we're the same in the eyes of America.

More so with German, French, English, Italian, Irish... all white. If your father is German and your mother is Scottish, you'd never be considered interracial; but think of all the cultural differences your parents had to overcome to be with each other. Hundreds of years of culture wiped out when you're in America.

Same with Asians.

People in America don't care about another's distinct cultural background. You're either white, black, or Asian.

I won't even mention how we've botched the whole hispanic/latin thing.

Civil Rights for All

We are all United States citizens who are guaranteed equal protection of the law. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.

This country was founded on the idea that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

And since the inception of this country, our society (including our government) has not been living up to that ideal.

Realize that this fight for equal rights has been fought over and over again for each marginalized group in this country. The fight has been slightly different for each. We've all come out of it wounded. Some worse than others. Some are still healing. Some are still hurting.

The only way we can end this fight is if we come together.

I know it is difficult to see past my own suffering to see someone else suffer. But if we can do that then we'll realize that we can aid in healing each other.

I would assume it would be painful to carry such a tumultuous history and have to deal with such injustices today; and then see those same injustices that your ancestors fought against, used against someone else.

They're using the same tactics and the same arguments to deny our equality. To even deny our humanity.

They're destroying our families, our livelihoods, our dreams. They're taking our lives.

We can't let this continue. We have to come together so that EVERYONE can pursue the life, liberty, and happiness we are ALL entitled to.

Left Lane Rules

I could say a lot about California drivers and their total disregard for traffic law. I will say they respect the left lane. Washington drivers, not so much.

So here is a refresher for those of you who like to linger in the left lane

On a road with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction, stay in the right lane except to pass. On a road with three or more lanes traveling in the same direction, if there is a lot of entering or exiting traffic, use the center
travel lane.

On a road with two lanes traveling in the same
direction, the left-hand lane is intended to be used for
passing slower vehicles. On roads with more than two
lanes traveling in the same direction, use the right lane for slower speeds, the middle lanes for higher speeds, and the left-hand lane for passing only.

-Washington Driver Guide

Internets

if it weren't for the internet, I'd be ass out... daily.

Thank you Al Gore.

Fuck Roman Polanski

That is all.

Hormones and Gender/Sexuality cont.

ANYWAY, I think all this is a testament to our evolving body.

Basically I think anything that has to do with sex, (biology and behavior) has to do with hormone levels; how much you have, when they were introduced, and where they were introduced. Genes are supposed to determine the how much, when, and where but sometimes they don't work like we think they should. If you want to talk about "gay" genes then figure out which genes control our sex hormones. I don't think there is a particular gene that makes us gay; I think the genes that determine our sexuality don't produce the same results for everyone.

I guess my half-ass conclusion is that gender and sexuality aren't as concrete as some might think. Hormones are the key to all the sexual/gender variations we see in life.


I'm open to all feedback. Professional feedback would be awesome.
It's a growing post...

Hormones and Gender/Sexuality cont.

Concerning the same-sex/opposite sex extreme (and the auto-sexuality deal), I'm not ready to go against evolutionary biology that says humans (and any other life form) must reproduce. I don't have any data against the notion that the function of our body's reproductive system is to reproduce. And for whatever ridiculous reason, mammals have to copulate in order to reproduce.

Since studies show that about 80-90% want to reproduce without artificial measures (i.e. they're attracted to the same sex). Infertility is said to arise at about 10-15% among couples. This includes infertility due to lifestyle habits. Only 20% of women 40-44 have never had children. Homosexuality doesn't even eradicate the want to reproduce.
I think our perspective is a bit clouded by technology. Now people can have children without reproducing. But, back in the day, if you wanted a kid, you were going to have to find someone of the opposite sex to have it with.



Now, i don't think sexual attraction is synonymous with sexual activity. Even though it might sound like that. I know people often have sex with someone for other reasons besides sexual attraction. I think sex is a tool for social bonding and is used for other social "negotiations".
Let's look at the bonobos. Homosexuality is prevalent in the species; but, when they feel like mating, they find an opposite sex partner to do the deed; then bond with their same sex partner.

I will say that sexual arousal is necessary to reproductive function; because, if you're not aroused, it's damned hard to make a baby.
Therefore the person must be aroused by the person they are with in order to successfully reproduce.

Until I find some data that says the reproductive organ's primary function is not to reproduce, I will put same sex attraction at one extreme and opposite sex attraction at the other.
Or I can just come out and say that the human body/mind is equipped for opposite sex interaction; and strict same sex attraction is a biological variation ( I didn't use the word "defect" for a reason. It's not a defect. Defect is a moral based word. Biology is amoral).

The only other idea that I can come up with is based on the idea that same sex attraction is a biological variation. That this variation is mimicking something in our genetic past. Maybe taking us back to our asexual ancestors.

I've also wondered why women don't just lay eggs and men can come along and fertilize them outside the body. Maybe we have done that in our past. We are already creating embryos outside of the body. Maybe we can advance our science to be able to find an adequate external replacement for the uterus or placenta.

Researchers are looking into creating sperm from stem cells taken from female bone marrow.

OR, this could go along with the idea that the y chromosome is disappearing. Apparently, the Y chromosome lacks the mechanism to get rid of damaged DNA. So since the Y chromosome showed up, it has gradually lost genes due to mutations that render them useless. Another researcher (David Page of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Mass) found that the chromosome has a mechanism that can repair half of it's genes. So, over about 300 million years, the Y chromosome is getting smaller. But what if the SRY gene was the next to go? Or any other sex determining genes? Some say that other chromosomes will just take over that function. Would we then be like crickets?

Existentialism?

Word of the day

noun
a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will.

Generally taken to originate with Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, existentialism tends to disparage scientific knowledge and to deny the existence of objective values, stressing instead the reality and significance of human freedom and experience.


Every human is a free and valuable creature
Valuable not for what they can offer but just for who they are


existentialism
1941, from Ger. Existentialismus (1919), replacing Existentialforhold (1849), ultimately from Danish writer Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), who wrote (1846) of Existents-Forhold "condition of existence," existentielle Pathos, etc. (see existential), and whose name means, literally, "churchyard."
existentialist
1945, from Fr. existentialiste, from existentialisme (1940); see existentialism. Related: Existentialistic.
existential
1690s, "pertaining to existence," from L.L. existentialis/exsistentialis, from existentia/exsistentia (see existence). As a term in logic, from 1819; in philosophy, from 1937, tracing back to the Danish works of Kierkegaard (see existentialism). Related: Existentially.

Freedom

Freedom is being able to face the consequences of your actions

I'm not a big fan of the concepts of right and wrong. Or good and evil.

I believe in freedom and consequences. That everyone has the freedom to do has they will.
And no one can avoid the consequences of their actions.
Call it karma or kismet. It's the way of life. The circle of life.

Freedom

Freedom is not something that anybody can be given
Freedom is something that people take
And people are as free as they want to be
-James Arthur Baldwin

Freedom

Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose
-Janis Joplin

Freedom

Freedom is the emancipation from the arbitrary rule of other men
-Mortimer Adler

Evolve

Conscious of the fact that I don't have to act like a barbarian even if I want to

Deep Thought

If you can't be content with what you have received, be thankful for what you have escaped.
-don't remember

Deep Thought

Anyone who angers you, conquers you
-don't remember

Deep Thought

If you ain't got nothing nice to say don't say nothing at all
-thumper

Deep Thought

If there is a devil, his lazy ass is letting us do all his work

Deep Thought

We're all broken and flawed
That's why we need each other so much

-don't remember

Deep Thought

Politics is a great spectator sport
I'll watch it from the sidelines but I don't really want to play the game
-unknown (meaning I don't remember where I saw it)

My Sentiments Exactly

"I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."
-Lloyd Dobler, 'Say Anything'

Jay Smooth - Hip Hop Pastor

Ill Doctrine

Liberty

“Life, liberty, and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place.”
- Frederic Bastiat

Liberty

“Liberty, then, is the sovereignty of the individual, and never shall man know liberty until each and every individual is acknowledged to be the only legitimate sovereign of his or her person, time, and property, each living and acting at his own cost”
- Josiah Warren

Liberty

“Liberty has never come from Government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it... The history of liberty is a history of limitations of governmental power, not the increase of it.”
-Woodrow T. Wilson

Liberty

Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.
-Thomas Jefferson

Redemption

the main purpose of prison is to protect society from people who will cause harm
financially, physically, and emotionally,
protect rights and property.
sentencing should take into account how dangerous a person is to society
the probability of them repeating their offense

i believe in redemption. the capacity to atone for ones wrongs
everyone has the ability to learn from their mistakes and correct themselves
i don't discount someone because they fuck up
one of the most important times to support someone is after they fuck up.
 you can be an integral part to their fall or redemption.
because some people don't know how to fix themselves and they need guidance
without that guidance they may make the same mistakes
people don't stop growing when they turn 30
 everyone is constantly changing for better or worse
some change for worse because people have discounted them.
 thought that they were crap and could not change.

Constitutional rights?

The Constitution gives no individual any rights. The Constitution is simply a document which has the purpose to define the structure of the federal government and to identify the powers delegated to it. The Bill of Rights, specifically limits the federal government's power to infringe upon the rights of the people. In other words, the Constitution doesn't give any rights, it protects them. Isn't this just a technicality in terminology? Possibly, however I firmly believe that specific words have specific meanings, and therefore correct word choice is important. To say that the Constitution gives rights to individuals implies that the Constitution is the source of those rights. That is a very dangerous implication to make, for it means that with the stroke of a pen rights can be created and removed. Which flies in the face of the idea of inalienable rights upon which our country was founded.

Of course the actual text of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights bears witness that the source of our rights is not the document itself:

"Congress shall make no law..."
"...the right of the people ... shall not be infringed"
"The right of the people... shall not be violated"

All language restricting the power of the federal government - not granting rights or privileges to the people.

-Dave Goerlich

After much discussion, a young woman finally said, “Yes, Mr. Hornberger, you are right. The First Amendment does not give people freedom of speech. Instead, it prohibits Congress from abridging freedom of speech.”

That distinction is the difference between night and day. Unfortunately, it is one that all too many people fail to appreciate. People’s rights are fundamental and inherent, and they preexist government Thus, the Framers didn’t give people rights in the Constitution but rather prohibited the government from taking such rights away. That’s why the document uses the words “no” or “not” some 46 times.

Note, however, that as with natural rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to keep and bear arms, the Constitution does not give people civil liberties but instead guarantees such liberties from government infringement.

Jacob G. Hornberger,

Immigration

Simple Solution

Eliminate income tax
Federal government can be funded by sales tax.
Not to mention the idea of taxing someone's earnings is completely ridiculous if you really think about it,
With Sales/consumption tax, everyone pays. No one can get out of paying taxes unless they live naked under a bridge, eating dirt.

Make people work for government services.
Meaning, you have to contribute to society in order to take from it.
This means mandatory community service (or national service) in order to receive any government benefits.
If you want education, medical services, food, whatever, volunteer in your community or join the military (or any other federal service) in order to earn those services that you are getting.
If you don't want or need any assistance from the government then you can go about your business.

labor unions

some say unions have gotten out of control.
some say unions are not needed anymore due to laws protecting the workers
I say it is those laws that caused the unions to get out of control.
Laws amplify power.
Any law that supports the worker or the business will mess up the balance of power.
people should be able to unite and negotiate the terms of their working contracts
People should not be forced to join these unions in order to get a job and
people should not have to participate in demands they don't agree with

Disaster Area

I never understood why people would want to live in any area that may get decimated every year.
I think about the constant question people ask about natural disasters "why would God do such things to innocent people?"
God isn't anything if he isn't predictable
These disasters happen every year just about.
mudslides, fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, etc.
It's not like it's a big surprise.
It's like these people are gambling
Why would you build a house and cross your fingers hoping you won't be the next victim of an inevitable disaster?
I guess I don't blame insurance companies now. I was kinda pissed when I first learned that I'd have to buy separate policies for flooding and earthquakes. Those policies costing more than my entire homeowner's package.

Economic solution: Split 'em up

We're getting screwed by banks that are "too big to fail"
Put them all on the chopping block.
If I had my way, all companies would be local. There wouldn't be any companies that had nationwide service.
The most I would allow is franchising.
I'd enact a law stating that a company can only operate within a city.
I would, once again, separate retail banks, investment banks, and insurance companies.

Power of Myths

I believe all sacred texts are myths in the literal sense of the word.

A traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a fundamental type in the worldview of a people, as by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the psychology, customs, or ideals of society

This does not mean they are false, made-up or fiction.

A myth is like a legend in being possibly historical and certainly unverifiable, but its chief distinction is that it claims to explain or account for some natural phenomenon or religious or other human convention or institution.

Tort Reform

Simple. Loser Pays
I'm not going to pretend I made this up
Civil Suits: "Loser-Pays makes lawsuits fairer in Europe.

Law Blog - WSJ.com : A Look at Loser-Pays Litigation

I believe this is the case in a few states. I think it should be the rule throughout America.

My basic stolen idea is that the loser of any lawsuit pays court fees. I'm not going to go so far as to say they should pay lawyer fees.
I'd also allow judges to make exceptions to the loser-pay rule as they see fit. This includes making the loser pay lawyer fees.

I don't think there should be any other restrictions on lawsuits. If you wanna sue someone, you should be able to sue whomever you want, for whatever reason, and for however much you want.
But, if you lose, you pay the full bill.

Though I do wonder where they come up with some of these figures in lawsuits.
Like in a car accident. I can understand the cost of repairing or replacing the car. Medical expenses. Wages lost due to time off work (in hospital and recuperation)
In medical malpractice. All medical costs. Wages lost due to time off work. The kicker is if the procedure was permanently debilitating. How do you put a price on that. The cost of living for the rest of that person's life? The yearly salary for that person for the rest of their life?

Universal Health Care

Quality, Affordable Health Care for All
Don't know what that should look like though
The best option would be individual health care savings accounts.
That would be great if health care was actually affordable.
Utopia would be that I would only pay for health care when I need it and it would be affordable.

I'd get rid of insurance companies
Health care insurance says we know that health care costs too much so we'll pool together money from many different people and use that money to pay for care of patients.

I would rather health care insurance be democratic. Ran by those who pay into it.

Hospitals competing for business
Upfront competitive costs

Patients actively shop for health care. Not just take what they are given

Deregulate health care. It's a practice not an exact science
Allow alternative medicine providers more freedom in the market.
With that comes the increased responsibility of giving the patient more information as to what they are getting themselves into

Green Party: Ten Key Values

1. GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY
Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that affect their lives and not be subject to the will of another. Therefore, we will work to increase public participation at every level of government and to ensure that our public representatives are fully accountable to the people who elect them. We will also work to create new types of political organizations which expand the process of participatory democracy by directly including citizens in the decision-making process.

2. SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
All persons should have the rights and opportunity to benefit equally from the resources afforded us by society and the environment. We must consciously confront in ourselves, our organizations, and society at large, barriers such as racism and class oppression, sexism and homophobia, ageism and disability, which act to deny fair treatment and equal justice under the law.

3. ECOLOGICAL WISDOM
Human societies must operate with the understanding that we are part of nature, not separate from nature. We must maintain an ecological balance and live within the ecological and resource limits of our communities and our planet. We support a sustainable society which utilizes resources in such a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from the practices of our generation. To this end we must practice agriculture which replenishes the soil; move to an energy efficient economy; and live in ways that respect the integrity of natural systems.

4. NON-VIOLENCE
It is essential that we develop effective alternatives to society’s current patterns of violence. We will work to demilitarize, and eliminate weapons of mass destruction, without being naive about the intentions of other governments. We recognize the need for self-defense and the defense of others who are in helpless situations. We promote non-violent methods to oppose practices and policies with which we disagree, and will guide our actions toward lasting personal, community and global peace.

5. DECENTRALIZATION
Centralization of wealth and power contributes to social and economic injustice, environmental destruction, and militarization. Therefore, we support a restructuring of social, political and economic institutions away from a system which is controlled by and mostly benefits the powerful few, to a democratic, less bureaucratic system. Decision-making should, as much as possible, remain at the individual and local level, while assuring that civil rights are protected for all citizens.

6. COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMICS AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE
We recognize it is essential to create a vibrant and sustainable economic system, one that can create jobs and provide a decent standard of living for all people while maintaining a healthy ecological balance. A successful economic system will offer meaningful work with dignity, while paying a “living wage” which reflects the real value of a person’s work.

Local communities must look to economic development that assures protection of the environment and workers’ rights; broad citizen participation in planning; and enhancement of our “quality of life.” We support independently owned and operated companies which are socially responsible, as well as co-operatives and public enterprises that distribute resources and control to more people through democratic participation.

7. FEMINISM AND GENDER EQUITY
We have inherited a social system based on male domination of politics and economics. We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control with more cooperative ways of interacting that respect differences of opinion and gender. Human values such as equity between the sexes, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty must be developed with moral conscience. We should remember that the process that determines our decisions and actions is just as important as achieving the outcome we want.

8. RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY
We believe it is important to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity, and to promote the development of respectful relationships across these lines.

We believe that the many diverse elements of society should be reflected in our organizations and decision-making bodies, and we support the leadership of people who have been traditionally closed out of leadership roles. We acknowledge and encourage respect for other life forms than our own and the preservation of biodiversity.

9. PERSONAL AND GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY
We encourage individuals to act to improve their personal well-being and, at the same time, to enhance ecological balance and social harmony. We seek to join with people and organizations around the world to foster peace, economic justice, and the health of the planet.

10. FUTURE FOCUS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Our actions and policies should be motivated by long-term goals. We seek to protect valuable natural resources, safely disposing of or “unmaking” all waste we create, while developing a sustainable economics that does not depend on continual expansion for survival. We must counterbalance the drive for short-term profits by assuring that economic development, new technologies, and fiscal policies are responsible to future generations who will inherit the results of our actions.

*I'm still an independent, but this spiel sure sounds good*

Gender Subversion Kit

FOR EVERY GIRL WHO IS TIRED OF ACTING WEAK WHEN SHE IS STRONG, THERE IS A BOY TIRED OF APPEARING STRONG WHEN HE FEELS VULNERABLE.
FOR EVERY BOY WHO IS BURDENED WITH THE CONSTANT EXPECTATION OF KNOWING EVERYTHING, THERE IS A GIRL TIRED OF PEOPLE NOT TRUSTING HER INTELLIGENCE.
FOR EVERY GIRL WHO IS TIRED OF BEING CALLED OVER-SENSITIVE, THERE IS A BOY WHO FEARS TO BE GENTLE, TO WEEP.
FOR EVERY BOY FOR WHOM COMPETITION IS THE ONLY WAY TO PROVE HIS MASCULINITY, THERE IS A GIRL WHO IS CALLED UNFEMININE WHEN SHE COMPETES.
FOR EVERY GIRL WHO THROWS OUT HER E-Z-BAKE OVEN, THERE IS A BOY WHO WISHES TO FIND ONE.
FOR EVERY BOY STRUGGLING NOT TO LET ADVERTISING DICTATE HIS DESIRES, THERE IS A GIRL FACING THE AD INDUSTRY’S ATTACKS ON HER SELF-ESTEEM.
FOR EVERY GIRL WHO TAKES A STEP TOWARD HER LIBERATION, THERE IS A BOY WHO FINDS THE WAY TO FREEDOM A LITTLE EASIER.

Adapted from a poem by Nancy R. Smith. CrimethInc. Gender Subversion Kit #69-B. Copies of this poster are availble individually and in bulk quantities from CrimethInc. Genders Anonymous / PO Box 1963 / Olympia WA 98507 or if waiting ain’t your thing, go to www.crimethinc.com.