"People Like Us"

Off the subject of politricks for a moment...

Sometimes life is just so darn funny. My husband and I really do, and always have run with a particularly off crowd of people. Its always the fringe element for us. I have a fascination and massive soft spot for Skinheads (NON racist skins), as well as Punks, Rude boys and gals, Youth Crews, Oi folks, Hardcore...even Metal heads. My husband and I had been friends for more than a decade before getting together, and over the years have gained and lost many friends individually and together, most if not all were mutual friends.

The folks we like tend to scare the hell out of people. We're the group out on a Saturday night that part crowds like the Red Sea (OK, not including me because I'm the pipsqueak of the group). We look mean, intimidating, dangerous, up to no good...you name it. We look like the type of people who party non stop, live in squalor and have absolutely zero responsibility.

So on Sundays, I like to get together for a late lunch/early dinner with a couple who we've been friends with for a while now. They're great people, top notch friends who are very understanding, kind and generous. They too however, are the "scary group" LOL. Tattoos and punk or metal clothing you know the drill. So anyway...we began talking about "People Like Us". To look at us, from the outside one would never ever guess or understand what or who we truly are. Or how normal we really are.

So here we are, enjoying fine home made and home-cooked food, made mainly from foods we grew ourselves, on fine china hand collected by my great grandmother pre WWII, complete with a fine Chianti, strong coffee, and fantastic cigars. (Smoked outside, due to kiddo). We are discussing such "punk rock" topics as potty training, homeschooling, cooking and baking tips, hair care tips, and catching up on what all the other "irresponsible" punks are doing and how well their kids are potty training or sleeping through the night. Who's kids are playing with whom, who's in daycare, playgroup etiquette and the like.

When we realized that the people we shied away from due to irresponsible behavior with their children (and other issues) were the very people most considered "normal".

Who'd a thunk it? We are a kind and generous and responsible crowd after all - regardless of looks, religious beliefs or political affiliations. Sitting around thoroughly enjoying our afternoon we contemplated the shock that the average person might endure if they walked in and saw the scene laid out, so nicely on fine linens....

And had ourselves a good, solid chuckle.

What do you know about blogging Battles?

When bloggers battles bloggers in a puddle with a paddle its called a... Sorry, that was a Fox in Socks moment...

Since there has been some blog bashing going on, I thought I would go on over to Time's blog and bring the argument, and some of my own questions, right on over to the horse's mouth. Normally I stay out of stuff like this, but sometimes I can't help myself, and his or her antics were actually starting to get on my nerves. I can't stand when blanket or unjustified accusations are made, or generalities are painted with a broad brush. If nothing else, he or she will take their argumentative nature to a blog where it is accepted a bit better. I am nowhere near as kind and patient as Enigma - which in my opinion means I'm more than happy to take on an argument and hash it out until its old news. With all of Time's cries of fascist censorship on other blogs I will be interested to see if my comment is even posted on Time, as comment moderation has been enabled (go figure ;)) If it is never posted, this is what I said:

I'm sorry, but could you please prove, with provided links and examples of their speech and posts, that any of these posters are promoting hate, fascism and overall dishonesty with regards to their opinions and current events? Because I haven't seen it, and I have been reading carefully. And don't even go on about the comment moderation, because I see you have it on as well.

What I see are people making connections between Bush and cronies and Nazi Germany, the socio-economic climate, political regressions, restrictions and abuse of power in government, occupations of foreign countries, the scapegoating of other races/nationalities and cultures. Which are all eerily reminiscent of Germany just prior and up to the time period that most people refer to as "Nazi Germany". As well as economic tactics and mistakes that are reminiscent of pre Great Depression in the states, right around the same time period.

What I don't see are people (on these blogs in particular) saying that Bush, the person, is a carbon copy of Hitler, the person. His politics however, are right in line with Hitler's.

History is indeed repeating itself, and Bush and Cronies have indeed trampled on the Constitution far more than Nixon ever did. Nixon didn't dare overturn the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 - enabling the government to occupy its own country like an enemy state if the "Decider" so chooses to use such force. That in and of itself should scare the wits out of everyone - because that is a move directly in lock step with any fascist dictator, including Hitler.

But here, if you don't think there are similarities, or you're still not sure what people are talking about go to:

Fascist America in 10 Easy Steps by Naomi Wolf - then follow the leads and look for yourself.

But for goodness sake, is it at all possible for you to let the rest of us have our opinions, as they are, without constantly posting profanity and insults? if you don't like what people are saying, its your right to not listen. If you want to debate, then fine - but your points have gone from fairly decent (as seen on your blog) to ad hominem abusives, which typically don't fly and get deleted.

Lets see what unfold, shall we?

Just for laughs

Resume for George W Bush courtesy of Adam Kokesh.

Some thoughts about Politics, Patterns and Blink

{Click the title to go to an explanation of the book Blink}

After reading Anon-Paranoids blog post today Some Random Thoughts I had a few random thoughts of my own.

Thoughts about patterns in behavior, similarities to historical events, and why there are people out there who can't seem to make the connection between what is happening today, what has happened in the past, and what it means for our future. I have heard so many times - too many to count now - the outcry about the Bush/ Nazi Germany comparison. Too many people say "Where are the concentration camps?" Or, "If this was Nazi Germany you would have been killed already for writing you blog posts." Etc. (The same ideas are also spewed with regards to comparisons or cries of fascism.) I think to myself "Can't you see it? Why aren't you getting it? Are you that blind, or just stupid?"

But I don't think these people are either. Not really anyway. Thee is a book called Blink, and its main focus is rapid cognition - that is to say the snap judgments we make. See the link above for more details. However, this idea comes into play a great deal when talking about politics. It explains a lot when a person can't or seemingly refuses to look at the pattern of behavior and go for a ride on the Logic Train.

Some people "get it" right away, others may never "get it" no matter how many times they look it over. I keep repeating the word "pattern" here very purposefully. Patterns play a huge role in cognitive skills, in fact we routinely test our children on their ability to recognize a series of items as a pattern, and then test them to see if they can logically deduce what item, if any, will come next.

That plays well into the pattern of politics, doesn't it? Just take a look at the blogs being posted on a daily basis. People are starting to say "Wait a minute...." they are beginning to realize that if the President does A,B and C then its possible for him to do D,E,F and G, and that leaves the door wide open for X,Y and Z to be the end result.

Unfortunately in this case, X, Y and Z are not going to end with "Won't you come and play with me?"

So if you have been debating back and forth with someone who seems to refuse the idea that we have many bumps in the road coming at us in the future, and you feel like you're talking to a refrigerator, don't worry. The fact is, The light will go on, the light will go off, but they won't do anything beyond whats already built into them. You can tie it all back to cognitive abilities plus a dash of upbringing and ostrich syndrome.

As for the naysayers about Bush Nazi comparisons, if I hear "Where are the concentration camps?" one more time I'll scream. Why?

Because Hitler's Nazi Germany didn't spring up over night you dolts. There was a period of time, much like in this country, where people slowly and unknowingly lost rights and powers and freedoms, and by the time they realized it, it was too late and then the concentration camps began springing up. The German people didn't go to sleep happy and free only to wake up in a camp the very next day.

Those are my thoughts for the day. Take 'em or leave 'em.