DreamTheaterForums.org Dream Theater Fan Site
General => Archive => Political and Religious => Topic started by: El JoNNo on October 18, 2011, 09:51:45 PM
-
https://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/10/why_even_bother_consulting_the.php (https://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/10/why_even_bother_consulting_the.php)
https://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/14/rick-perry-texas-censorship-environment-report?CMP=twt_gu (https://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/14/rick-perry-texas-censorship-environment-report?CMP=twt_gu)
A group of scientists have done the right thing: they authored an environmental report, and are now publicizing the changes the Texas state administration tried to impose on it. This is going to backfire on the politicians: rather than hiding away the science that conflicts with their ideology, the censorship is highlighting the corruption and denialism.
Officials in Rick Perry's home state of Texas have set off a scientists' revolt after purging mentions of climate change and sea-level rise from what was supposed to be a landmark environmental report. The scientists said they were disowning the report on the state of Galveston Bay because of political interference and censorship from Perry appointees at the state's environmental agency.
By academic standards, the protest amounts to the beginnings of a rebellion: every single scientist associated with the 200-page report has demanded their names be struck from the document. "None of us can be party to scientific censorship so we would all have our names removed," said Jim Lester, a co-author of the report and vice-president of the Houston Advanced Research Centre.
Mother Jones has gone through the report line by line. Rick Perry's mindless zombies didn't just prune out contentious interpretations of the evidence — they cut out statements of confirmed, measurable fact, like measaurements of sea level rise in Galveston Bay. When reality conflicts with your delusions, what do you do? Rethink your delusions, or try to edit the facts?
We know what choice Perry would make.
This type of stuff is not good for the U.S.
-
At this point, the Republican party is run like the Vatican. There's a canon you have to believe in, and if you deviate, you are excommunicated.
rumborak
-
This boggles my mind that people are letting the US digress in scientific progress.
-
Lol what the hell is wrong with these people? Why do politicians have power to edit a scientific report?
-
Because they want to get their grubby little fingers on every possible amount of control they can have in the average peon's life. Politicians are a lying bunch. They're the clique from high school that did all they could to separate themselves from those less well off than them, and to show everybody how much better they were than everybody else. I would venture that there's only a scant few politicians that you could truly say are decent, honest people, who truly give a shit about the people they represent.
-
Lol what the hell is wrong with these people? Why do politicians have power to edit a scientific report?
Just like the IPCC has done for years to get its research grants. Two sides of the same coin.
-
lol
-
This should come as no surprise at all in a state like Texas where they are also editing history books to provide a conservative narrative of United States history.
Texas is pretty much the anti-intellect capital of the United States and the Republican Party is at the head of the whole anti-intellectualism movement.
-
This should come as no surprise at all in a state like Texas where they are also editing history books to provide a conservative narrative of United States history.
Texas is pretty much the anti-intellect capital of the United States and the Republican Party is at the head of the whole anti-intellectualism movement.
I don't get why Conservative and Intellectual have to be such opposite words? Like Science and Religion. There are no reasons why they can't work harmoniously with each other.
Barry, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but a lot of non-Conservatives on here shout out things as fact. Of course, many of us know what opinions are, but there are things said (what you said about Texas [not the textbooks, I'm fully aware of that]) that have nothing sourced and I'm supposed to take it as if it's true?
However, on many things you DO source and cite. I appreciate that very much.
-
This should come as no surprise at all in a state like Texas where they are also editing history books to provide a conservative narrative of United States history.
Texas is pretty much the anti-intellect capital of the United States and the Republican Party is at the head of the whole anti-intellectualism movement.
If only they read The Nation and regularly watched Kieth Olbermann, how life would truly blossom in Texas. Funny, I vaguely remember this same thing happening (https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/07/03/the_epa_silences_a_climate_skeptic__97290.html) just a couple of years ago. What I don't remember is a post from PZ Meyers expressing outrage at the evils of censorship in that instance. Odd.
-
This should come as no surprise at all in a state like Texas where they are also editing history books to provide a conservative narrative of United States history.
Texas is pretty much the anti-intellect capital of the United States and the Republican Party is at the head of the whole anti-intellectualism movement.
If only they read The Nation and regularly watched Kieth Olbermann, how life would truly blossom in Texas. Funny, I vaguely remember this same thing happening (https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/07/03/the_epa_silences_a_climate_skeptic__97290.html) just a couple of years ago. What I don't remember is a post from PZ Meyers expressing outrage at the evils of censorship in that instance. Odd.
You owe me a new keyboard! :rollin
Texas is doing just fine. The economy is booming and it's the best place for people who practice self-sufficiency. I'm in the process of moving there and buying some land with a nice, big house.
THERE WILL BE STEAK!
-
I hope you enjoy moving into a desert.
-
The economy is great in Texas if you want to make minimum wage :lol
Look, the Texas myth is just that, a myth.
They have no sales tax there, so do you think the state just goes without that revenue? Guess again. They have the third highest property tax rate (https://dallasdirt.dmagazine.com/2010/10/05/texas-property-taxes-third-highest-in-nation-percentage-of-median-value/) in the country, and they also have more "fees" than many other states.
Texas also has one of the biggest gaps (they're amount the three highest (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/income-gap-widens-census-_n_741386.html) here too) between the rich and poor in the entire country
And it has THE HIGHES (https://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-13/perry-s-texas-had-highest-uninsured-rate-census-data-show.html)T uninsured rate in the entire country.
-
The economy is great in Texas if you want to make minimum wage :lol
Look, the Texas myth is just that, a myth.
They have no sales tax there, so do you think the state just goes without that revenue? Guess again. They have the third highest property tax rate (https://dallasdirt.dmagazine.com/2010/10/05/texas-property-taxes-third-highest-in-nation-percentage-of-median-value/) in the country, and they also have more "fees" than many other states.
Texas also has one of the biggest gaps (they're amount the three highest (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/income-gap-widens-census-_n_741386.html) here too) between the rich and poor in the entire country
And it has THE HIGHES (https://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-13/perry-s-texas-had-highest-uninsured-rate-census-data-show.html)T uninsured rate in the entire country.
The cost of living there is very low and you can live there on minimum wage much easier than in a state like NJ. Not my problem though, my east coast salary transfers.
The rich-poor gap is irrelevant to me. I will be in an affluent area in northern TX. I'll make sure any riff-raff stay away.
As for the uninsured? Most of them are illegal aliens, so I couldn't care less. TX also introduced tort reform (loser-pays legislation), so premiums are much lower than here in the north east.
The only two problems in TX are the July/August heat and illegal aliens.
-
The economy is great in Texas if you want to make minimum wage :lol
Look, the Texas myth is just that, a myth.
They have no sales tax there, so do you think the state just goes without that revenue? Guess again. They have the third highest property tax rate (https://dallasdirt.dmagazine.com/2010/10/05/texas-property-taxes-third-highest-in-nation-percentage-of-median-value/) in the country, and they also have more "fees" than many other states.
Texas also has one of the biggest gaps (they're amount the three highest (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/income-gap-widens-census-_n_741386.html) here too) between the rich and poor in the entire country
And it has THE HIGHES (https://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-13/perry-s-texas-had-highest-uninsured-rate-census-data-show.html)T uninsured rate in the entire country.
The rich-poor gap is irrelevant to me. I will be in an affluent area in northern TX. I'll make sure any riff-raff stay away.
lol
-
Actually, the riff-raff are mostly in Houston (Katrina rejects) which is hours away. Add in TX's Castle Doctrine, class 3 firearms, and a big dog, and life will be just fine and dandy.
-
Until their budget gap becomes more of an issue, their economy starts to suffer from the increasing desert conditions; and we'll see what happens with all the Federal money in Texas.
-
Until their budget gap becomes more of an issue, their economy starts to suffer from the increasing desert conditions; and we'll see what happens with all the Federal money in Texas.
TX has a balanced-budget amendment in their state Constitution. Their economy will stay fine because of oil and natural gas (which is causing a huge BOOM in North Dakota too). There are also cities in TX that house many corporate headquarters. Companies are flocking to the state, and so are people (typically Conservatives from California that can't take it any more).
-
The economy is great in Texas if you want to make minimum wage :lol
Look, the Texas myth is just that, a myth.
They have no sales tax there, so do you think the state just goes without that revenue? Guess again. They have the third highest property tax rate (https://dallasdirt.dmagazine.com/2010/10/05/texas-property-taxes-third-highest-in-nation-percentage-of-median-value/) in the country, and they also have more "fees" than many other states.
Texas also has one of the biggest gaps (they're amount the three highest (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/income-gap-widens-census-_n_741386.html) here too) between the rich and poor in the entire country
And it has THE HIGHES (https://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-13/perry-s-texas-had-highest-uninsured-rate-census-data-show.html)T uninsured rate in the entire country.
The cost of living there is very low and you can live there on minimum wage much easier than in a state like NJ. Not my problem though, my east coast salary transfers.
As for the uninsured? Most of them are illegal aliens, so I couldn't care less. TX also introduced tort reform (loser-pays legislation), so premiums are much lower than here in the north east.
The only two problems in TX are the July/August heat and illegal aliens.
Well, it's a good thing your east coast salary is coming with you, because you're about to start paying the same property taxes that you'd pay if you lived in New Jersey or Connecticut (read: extremely high) and I guess it's good that they passed that Tort reform, because that prevented their health insurance premiums from going up more than 91% since 2000 (https://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/health/entries/2009/09/15/insurance_premiums_rose_916_pe.html) :|
Seriously, though, good luck with that. I think I'd probably kill myself before moving to Texas, but maybe you don't have a choice because of work? (I would quit my job before being forced to move)
Hey, in any case, look on the bright side, if you have kids they can get some of that awesome and totally objective, and well funded Texas education (https://bayareahouston.blogspot.com/2007/02/its-official-texas-worst-place-to-live.html)!
-
The economy is great in Texas if you want to make minimum wage :lol
Look, the Texas myth is just that, a myth.
They have no sales tax there, so do you think the state just goes without that revenue? Guess again. They have the third highest property tax rate (https://dallasdirt.dmagazine.com/2010/10/05/texas-property-taxes-third-highest-in-nation-percentage-of-median-value/) in the country, and they also have more "fees" than many other states.
Texas also has one of the biggest gaps (they're amount the three highest (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/income-gap-widens-census-_n_741386.html) here too) between the rich and poor in the entire country
And it has THE HIGHES (https://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-13/perry-s-texas-had-highest-uninsured-rate-census-data-show.html)T uninsured rate in the entire country.
The cost of living there is very low and you can live there on minimum wage much easier than in a state like NJ. Not my problem though, my east coast salary transfers.
As for the uninsured? Most of them are illegal aliens, so I couldn't care less. TX also introduced tort reform (loser-pays legislation), so premiums are much lower than here in the north east.
The only two problems in TX are the July/August heat and illegal aliens.
Well, it's a good thing your east coast salary is coming with you, because you're about to start paying the same property taxes that you'd pay if you lived in New Jersey or Connecticut (read: extremely high) and I guess it's good that they passed that Tort reform, because that prevented their health insurance premiums from going up more than 91% since 2000 (https://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/health/entries/2009/09/15/insurance_premiums_rose_916_pe.html) :|
Seriously, though, good luck with that. I think I'd probably kill myself before moving to Texas, but maybe you don't have a choice because of work? (I would quit my job before being forced to move)
Hey, in any case, look on the bright side, if you have kids they can get some of that awesome and totally objective, and well funded Texas education (https://bayareahouston.blogspot.com/2007/02/its-official-texas-worst-place-to-live.html)!
The property taxes on the property I am looking at are $4,000 a year.. compared to $9800/y in NJ... and the TX house is 2800 sq foot on a few acres vs the 2000sq ft NJ house on .20 acres.
This is a voluntary transfer. Dallas has the best public school in the country btw, but my future kids will go to private. With TX public schools, you have to pay higher property taxes for the better ones (obviously), but it's nothing like in NJ in terms of cost.
There are other states with similar outcomes, but I chose TX specifically for my current position. :D
-
Kill yourself before moving to Texas? I know you are exaggerating but, surely the state can't be that bad considering how many people actually live there. I've been there, its pretty nice around the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
-
Kill yourself before moving to Texas? I know you are exaggerating but, surely the state can't be that bad considering how many people actually live there. I've been there, its pretty nice around the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
That particular area is responsible for about half of the country's job growth the last decade!
-
Kill yourself before moving to Texas? I know you are exaggerating but, surely the state can't be that bad considering how many people actually live there. I've been there, its pretty nice around the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Of course I'm kidding. Kind of. :lol
I'd quit my job. I'm not moving to fucking Texas. I'd never move to Texas. Population doesn't determine the quality of life. By quite a few fairly objective criteria, the quality of life in Texas is reported as anything from bad to abysmal (https://www.theeagle.com/politics/Report-calls-quality-of-life-in-Texas--abysmal-).
Like anyplace else, I'm sure there are nice areas, but it's way, way too hot and why would I ever even consider moving 1900 miles from my family?
-
Kill yourself before moving to Texas? I know you are exaggerating but, surely the state can't be that bad considering how many people actually live there. I've been there, its pretty nice around the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
That particular area is responsible for about half of the country's job growth the last decade!
That's not the whole story, unfortunately. That's the spit-polished right-wing cherry picked version. This is a more objective view (https://money.cnn.com/2011/08/12/news/economy/perry_texas_jobs/index.htm), with actual data.
-
The property taxes on the property I am looking at are $4,000 a year.. compared to $9800/y in NJ... and the TX house is 2800 sq foot on a few acres vs the 2000sq ft NJ house on .20 acres.
This is a voluntary transfer. Dallas has the best public school in the country btw, but my future kids will go to private. With TX public schools, you have to pay higher property taxes for the better ones (obviously), but it's nothing like in NJ in terms of cost.
There are other states with similar outcomes, but I chose TX specifically for my current position. :D
I mean this sincerely, because you appear to be very happy about this: Congratulations. :biggrin:
-
Regardless, that is some pretty great growth going on. Why throw that point out just because of a small bump in the road when the recession hit. Regardless of that there are a lot of minimum wage jobs, its those jobs that keep kids off the street and give people a launching point to better themselves.
-
Regardless, that is some pretty great growth going on. Why throw that point out just because of a small bump in the road when the recession hit. Regardless of that there are a lot of minimum wage jobs, its those jobs that keep kids off the street and give people a launching point to better themselves.
The point is, yes, there's a lot of job growth there, but half a million of those jobs pay minimum wage or less. You want to raise a family on minimum wage? I know a job is a job, but at some point, working at McDonalds or busting your ass for $7.25 an hour out in some 110 degree heat all day ain't as great as some people may think.
And guess who is taking the vast majority of these low wage jobs? Hint: They're not from Texas
-
Regardless, that is some pretty great growth going on. Why throw that point out just because of a small bump in the road when the recession hit. Regardless of that there are a lot of minimum wage jobs, its those jobs that keep kids off the street and give people a launching point to better themselves.
The point is, yes, there's a lot of job growth there, but half a million of those jobs pay minimum wage or less. You want to raise a family on minimum wage? I know a job is a job, but at some point, working at McDonalds or busting your ass for $7.25 an hour out in some 110 degree heat all day ain't as great as some people may think.
And guess who is taking the vast majority of these low wage jobs? Hint: They're not from Texas
I'd rather have a state raise half a million minimum wage jobs than no jobs at all. Growth is growth regardless.
Think about it. You work minimum wage for a while. Save money up. Start taking night classes at some kind of vocational type school. Become a plumber or air conditioner tech. Boom now you are making some decent money for yourself. Thanks to that minimum wage job that you were able to get. No you should not be raising a family on minimum wage, that part should be common sense. Don't bash the minimum wage job for existing though.
-
Regardless, that is some pretty great growth going on. Why throw that point out just because of a small bump in the road when the recession hit. Regardless of that there are a lot of minimum wage jobs, its those jobs that keep kids off the street and give people a launching point to better themselves.
The point is, yes, there's a lot of job growth there, but half a million of those jobs pay minimum wage or less. You want to raise a family on minimum wage? I know a job is a job, but at some point, working at McDonalds or busting your ass for $7.25 an hour out in some 110 degree heat all day ain't as great as some people may think.
And guess who is taking the vast majority of these low wage jobs? Hint: They're not from Texas
I'd rather have a state raise half a million minimum wage jobs than no jobs at all. Growth is growth regardless.
Think about it. You work minimum wage for a while. Save money up. Start taking night classes at some kind of vocational type school. Become a plumber or air conditioner tech. Boom now you are making some decent money for yourself. Thanks to that minimum wage job that you were able to get. No you should not be raising a family on minimum wage, that part should be common sense. Don't bash the minimum wage job for existing though.
Save money up? Really? :rollin
-
By the way, to bring this back on topic, I vehemently disagree with the government editing or censoring ANY scientific reports or findings to fit the political agenda of those currently in power.
-
The property taxes on the property I am looking at are $4,000 a year.. compared to $9800/y in NJ... and the TX house is 2800 sq foot on a few acres vs the 2000sq ft NJ house on .20 acres.
This is a voluntary transfer. Dallas has the best public school in the country btw, but my future kids will go to private. With TX public schools, you have to pay higher property taxes for the better ones (obviously), but it's nothing like in NJ in terms of cost.
There are other states with similar outcomes, but I chose TX specifically for my current position. :D
I mean this sincerely, because you appear to be very happy about this: Congratulations. :biggrin:
Thanks! :biggrin:
I can't wait to get the hell out of NJ and away from Snooki!
-
Regardless, that is some pretty great growth going on. Why throw that point out just because of a small bump in the road when the recession hit. Regardless of that there are a lot of minimum wage jobs, its those jobs that keep kids off the street and give people a launching point to better themselves.
The point is, yes, there's a lot of job growth there, but half a million of those jobs pay minimum wage or less. You want to raise a family on minimum wage? I know a job is a job, but at some point, working at McDonalds or busting your ass for $7.25 an hour out in some 110 degree heat all day ain't as great as some people may think.
And guess who is taking the vast majority of these low wage jobs? Hint: They're not from Texas
I'd rather have a state raise half a million minimum wage jobs than no jobs at all. Growth is growth regardless.
Think about it. You work minimum wage for a while. Save money up. Start taking night classes at some kind of vocational type school. Become a plumber or air conditioner tech. Boom now you are making some decent money for yourself. Thanks to that minimum wage job that you were able to get. No you should not be raising a family on minimum wage, that part should be common sense. Don't bash the minimum wage job for existing though.
Save money up? Really? :rollin
Oh right I forgot, everyone starts out making 40k a year ::)
-
The property taxes on the property I am looking at are $4,000 a year.. compared to $9800/y in NJ... and the TX house is 2800 sq foot on a few acres vs the 2000sq ft NJ house on .20 acres.
This is a voluntary transfer. Dallas has the best public school in the country btw, but my future kids will go to private. With TX public schools, you have to pay higher property taxes for the better ones (obviously), but it's nothing like in NJ in terms of cost.
There are other states with similar outcomes, but I chose TX specifically for my current position. :D
I mean this sincerely, because you appear to be very happy about this: Congratulations. :biggrin:
Thanks! :biggrin:
I can't wait to get the hell out of NJ and away from Snooki!
I used to live in Paterson, I understand, believe me.
-
Regardless, that is some pretty great growth going on. Why throw that point out just because of a small bump in the road when the recession hit. Regardless of that there are a lot of minimum wage jobs, its those jobs that keep kids off the street and give people a launching point to better themselves.
The point is, yes, there's a lot of job growth there, but half a million of those jobs pay minimum wage or less. You want to raise a family on minimum wage? I know a job is a job, but at some point, working at McDonalds or busting your ass for $7.25 an hour out in some 110 degree heat all day ain't as great as some people may think.
And guess who is taking the vast majority of these low wage jobs? Hint: They're not from Texas
I'd rather have a state raise half a million minimum wage jobs than no jobs at all. Growth is growth regardless.
Think about it. You work minimum wage for a while. Save money up. Start taking night classes at some kind of vocational type school. Become a plumber or air conditioner tech. Boom now you are making some decent money for yourself. Thanks to that minimum wage job that you were able to get. No you should not be raising a family on minimum wage, that part should be common sense. Don't bash the minimum wage job for existing though.
Save money up? Really? :rollin
Oh right I forgot, everyone starts out making 40k a year ::)
Come on, you know what I mean. Saving money while making minimum wage or less? It's practically impossible. You can't even live on it, how are you supposed to save anything.
Those jobs are just attracting illegals...then again, Rick Perry gives them all college tuition so I guess it's all good :tup
-
This is really off topic for this thread so I apologize to everyone for all this stuff. I guess we should have a separate thread for the importance of minimum wage jobs.
But c'mon only attracting illegals? What about high school kids? Or kids who didn't go to college? People between jobs? Minimum wage jobs are a starting point. They are not the place where anyone should end up. How can you not see that? You need to crawl before you walk.
-
I tried to drag it back on topic.
-
This should come as no surprise at all in a state like Texas where they are also editing history books to provide a conservative narrative of United States history.
Texas is pretty much the anti-intellect capital of the United States and the Republican Party is at the head of the whole anti-intellectualism movement.
I don't get why Conservative and Intellectual have to be such opposite words? Like Science and Religion. There are no reasons why they can't work harmoniously with each other.
Wouldn't it be nice if that were true in Texas? But it's crap like this (https://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-18/opinion/czitrom.texas.textbooks_1_texas-board-history-textbook?_s=PM:OPINION) along with what's in the OP that gives conservatives a bad name when it comes to intellectualism.
I think part of the problem is when you head down the road of science, you inevitably encounter facts that are in evidence that fly directly in the face of religious belief, and while there are certainly plenty of people on the liberal side of the political spectrum who are "religious" to some extent, the political right in this country, especially the HARD political right is pretty much dominated by various sects of the "Christian" religion. Many of whom (note that I did not write ALL) have an agenda and no problem using whatever means to get that agenda into the mainstream. If that includes changing a scientific report to reflect the political views of the people currently in power, well, apparently that's OK with a lot of people in Texas.
-
This should come as no surprise at all in a state like Texas where they are also editing history books to provide a conservative narrative of United States history.
Texas is pretty much the anti-intellect capital of the United States and the Republican Party is at the head of the whole anti-intellectualism movement.
I don't get why Conservative and Intellectual have to be such opposite words? Like Science and Religion. There are no reasons why they can't work harmoniously with each other.
Wouldn't it be nice if that were true in Texas? But it's crap like this (https://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-18/opinion/czitrom.texas.textbooks_1_texas-board-history-textbook?_s=PM:OPINION) along with what's in the OP that gives conservatives a bad name when it comes to intellectualism.
I think part of the problem is when you head down the road of science, you inevitably encounter facts that are in evidence that fly directly in the face of religious belief, and while there are certainly plenty of people on the liberal side of the political spectrum who are "religious" to some extent, the political right in this country, especially the HARD political right is pretty much dominated by various sects of the "Christian" religion. Many of whom (note that I did not write ALL) have an agenda and no problem using whatever means to get that agenda into the mainstream. If that includes changing a scientific report to reflect the political views of the people currently in power, well, apparently that's OK with a lot of people in Texas.
I think it's one of those situations where people ought not to paint all Christians in the same light as the assholes who push an agenda. I find most Christians, while having very strong opinions/beliefs, generally do not give two honest shits about what is going on outside their lives (families, friends and such). I can buy into science not negating Christianity. Big Bang? There is just as much evidence for and against it as there is Creationism. I don't believe the world is an age anyone REALLY knows. I mean, we all have our best guess but, it's just that; a guess.
Yeah, I know about the political right being dominated by "Christians". Those people are assholes and I'd rather have nothing to do with them. Preaching and speaking following Christ is one thing. The way they cast judgement on others (see Westboro Baptist Church for extremes) and assert themselves as better and intolerant is completely different. If you're going to follow Christ, just shut up and do it. That's why I swear. My words mean nothing. What I do is more important.
-
I can buy into science not negating Christianity. Big Bang? There is just as much evidence for and against it as there is Creationism. I don't believe the world is an age anyone REALLY knows. I mean, we all have our best guess but, it's just that; a guess.
:| Not sure if you're serious.
-
This should come as no surprise at all in a state like Texas where they are also editing history books to provide a conservative narrative of United States history.
Texas is pretty much the anti-intellect capital of the United States and the Republican Party is at the head of the whole anti-intellectualism movement.
I don't get why Conservative and Intellectual have to be such opposite words? Like Science and Religion. There are no reasons why they can't work harmoniously with each other.
Wouldn't it be nice if that were true in Texas? But it's crap like this (https://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-18/opinion/czitrom.texas.textbooks_1_texas-board-history-textbook?_s=PM:OPINION) along with what's in the OP that gives conservatives a bad name when it comes to intellectualism.
I think part of the problem is when you head down the road of science, you inevitably encounter facts that are in evidence that fly directly in the face of religious belief, and while there are certainly plenty of people on the liberal side of the political spectrum who are "religious" to some extent, the political right in this country, especially the HARD political right is pretty much dominated by various sects of the "Christian" religion. Many of whom (note that I did not write ALL) have an agenda and no problem using whatever means to get that agenda into the mainstream. If that includes changing a scientific report to reflect the political views of the people currently in power, well, apparently that's OK with a lot of people in Texas.
I think it's one of those situations where people ought not to paint all Christians in the same light as the assholes who push an agenda. I find most Christians, while having very strong opinions/beliefs, generally do not give two honest shits about what is going on outside their lives (families, friends and such). I can buy into science not negating Christianity. Big Bang? There is just as much evidence for and against it as there is Creationism.
uh, no offense, but there is ZERO evidence for "creationism" :|
-
Not to mention we're left with the question of which creation narrative (of which there is a not shred of evidence for) to use.
BTW, the Big Bang theory has nothing to say about first causes and only observes the expansion of the universe (way over simplification there).
-
Something had to come from something. Where did the Big Bang come from?
-
I've lived in every major city in Texas, as well as several big cities in other states. I don't consider myself a very "conservative" guy, but I really haven't encountered but a small handful of the vacuous, confederate flag-wearing, Sean Hannity disciple, militant Dubya apologists that people from other places seem to have in their head as the stereotype.
The supposed statistics regarding standard of living and the like are obviously skewed by the huge number of immigrants in the state, but cities like Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio do have high density areas of low-income populations. Just like every other metropolitan area in the country.
Texas has high property taxes, but no state income tax and the cost of living is low. The weather's a great reason not to come here though, for most people.
Most rational people agree stuff like the textbook thing is complete and total horse shit, but you wouldn't be able to live anywhere if you refused to go to a place where idiots try to further their agendas. And if you think public education anywhere else in the country is significantly better, you're delusional. As a whole, the state tends to perform poorly on standardized tests, but there are lots of Texas public school districts and schools that are very highly rated nationally. It's a very big state, and again, there are significant low-income areas and lots of disadvantaged immigrants heavily affecting the statistics.
Anyway, not sure why this nose hair guy seems to have such a personal vendetta against Texas. :lol It's not the proverbial Promised Land or anything, but I like it quite a bit better than most other places I've lived. :tup
-J
-
Something had to come from something. Where did the Big Bang come from?
If you want to make a thread about it, I'd encourage it. This thread isn't really the place.
-
Something had to come from something. Where did the Big Bang come from?
That's what the physicists are working on. I'm sure as soon as they have the evidence to make a supportable theory they'll let us know (or not, we may never know). In the meantime, it's not very helpful to say, "the FSM done it."
-
Something had to come from something. Where did the Big Bang come from?
That's what the physicists are working on. I'm sure as soon as they have the evidence to make a supportable theory they'll let us know (or not, we may never know). In the meantime, it's not very helpful to say, "the FSM done it."
:tup Gotcha.
I should stay away from these kinds of forums anyway. Nothing mean has been said to make me not want to be here, but they're like crack for me and I never end up explaining myself correctly. Pint night awaits!
-
Until their budget gap becomes more of an issue, their economy starts to suffer from the increasing desert conditions; and we'll see what happens with all the Federal money in Texas.
TX has a balanced-budget amendment in their state Constitution. Their economy will stay fine because of oil and natural gas (which is causing a huge BOOM in North Dakota too). There are also cities in TX that house many corporate headquarters. Companies are flocking to the state, and so are people (typically Conservatives from California that can't take it any more).
They keep a balanced budget through budget trickery, though. Don't be fooled, they have financial problems. Oil and natural gas will certainly be fine for the next few years, probably decade, but beyond that we get into more uncertainties regarding newer technologies.
-
Btw, even though it was a minor point... Texas DOES have sales tax (6.25%, although local taxes often increase it). They don't, on the other hand, have income tax.
-
Something had to come from something. Where did the Big Bang come from?
This explains it fairly well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ImvlS8PLIo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ImvlS8PLIo)
-
I don't get why Conservative and Intellectual have to be such opposite words?
Because most prominent Republicans perpetuate that.
-
I don't get why Conservative and Intellectual have to be such opposite words?
Because most prominent Republicans perpetuate that.
Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Which ones?
-
I don't get why Conservative and Intellectual have to be such opposite words?
Because most prominent Republicans perpetuate that.
Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Which ones?
This is an opinion piece, but I think it does a good job of illuminating WHY there is such a strong anti-intellectual contingent in today's Republican party.
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/opinion/10brooks.html
-
I don't get why Conservative and Intellectual have to be such opposite words?
Because most prominent Republicans perpetuate that.
Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Which ones?
This is an opinion piece, but I think it does a good job of illuminating WHY there is such a strong anti-intellectual contingent in today's Republican party.
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/opinion/10brooks.html
Interesting article; a few observations:
It's not necessarily the Republcians' embrace of good ole' 'merican values that drove away the intellectual vote. The people discussed in the article are a famously liberal demographic, and I think a more academic conservative candidate would piss them off just the same, if he held a typical small government platform. Brooks said that Republicans used to be much more thoughtful, but were they anymore convincing to the voters in question? I doubt it.
-
The people discussed in the article are a famously liberal demographic, and I think a more academic conservative candidate would piss them off just the same, if he held a typical small government platform.
Living myself in one of those "famously liberal" places, I can say that yes, while there is of course a certain percentage of uber-liberal people here, they are not the ones that make or break an election result. Massachusetts voted a Republican senator into office, frankly because the Democrat one was pure shit.
Up to the Palin nomination, quite a few friends of mine were favorable to McCain. Only when he played the divisive card too hard by nominating an affront to intelligence, did every moderate jump ship.
rumborak
-
The people discussed in the article are a famously liberal demographic, and I think a more academic conservative candidate would piss them off just the same, if he held a typical small government platform.
Living myself in one of those "famously liberal" places, I can say that yes, while there is of course a certain percentage of uber-liberal people here, they are not the ones that make or break an election result. Massachusetts voted a Republican senator into office, frankly because the Democrat one was pure shit.
Up to the Palin nomination, quite a few friends of mine were to McCain. Only when he played the divisive card too hard by nominating an affront to intelligence, did every moderate jump ship.
rumborak
But Scott Brown is a fairly moderate republican. Had he been a smooth talking, free market think-tank wonk, nothing could have won him the election. My guess is you would have held your nose and voted for the pure shit or just abstained from the voting booth.
-
I'm not sure I follow your point, WW. Of course the Northeast wouldn't have elected a free-market wonk, but barely anybody elects free-market wonks in the first place. There's no denying that the Northeast is more liberal than the heartland in general (duh!), but it's not as die-hard set in its voting scheme as you seemingly are trying to make it look like.
rumborak
-
I'm not sure I follow your point, WW. Of course the Northeast wouldn't have elected a free-market wonk, but barely anybody elects free-market wonks in the first place. There's no denying that the Northeast is more liberal than the heartland in general (duh!), but it's not as die-hard set in its voting scheme as you seemingly are trying to make it look like.
rumborak
I didn't mean to imply more rigidity than exists. I was just responding to the NYT piece, and I don't think it's a lack of kowtowing to intellectuals that hurts the Republicans. How in the hell do we talk past each other so much? :lol