It's getting harder and harder to accept living on this planet - especially in light of recent revelations of the audacity of our federal government. I'm 60 years old now, so I've seen some chit, but I can remember when we, the American people, felt pride in being American - but not any more. We've elected some of the most vile, corrupt people to positions of authority in the past few decades that I dare say there are no - not a one - morally honest politicians left; they've been assimilated into a vast network of good 'ol boy cliques. Truly disgusting.
I, personally, believe that it is coming to a point where we are in dire need of a total, political enema - an American Spring, if you will, that reestablishes the American people's rightful ownership of our country. Get rid of these asshats who think they have the right to do whatever they want - bring back the lynch mobs and throw them in prison, tarred and feathered; bring back the days where we held high standards and ran these turds out of town.
So, basically, anyone can 'create' a religion. Were there Rules for Religions when Hubbard opened shop, or maybe a Religion for Dummies-style of guide? Shouldn't there be a litmus test for religious credibility? I mean, wouldn't someone have to have x-amount of followers to qualify...or a special, currently-not-in-use extraterrestial entity to adulate...or maybe a golden calf? Hold up, that one's been done. Seriously, how can reasonably intelligent, first-world people fall for such snake oil? Alien spirits? And this qualifies as a religion? Seriously?
Oh, GOD, the irony! I'm too old now to give a damn about what anyone thinks of what I believe; but, I have to say, I had a bad feeling about this guy when he was stumping for the presidency - something just felt wrong, almost malevolent in a way - a feeling I've never before felt emanating from any previous, presidential candidate. Anyway, personally, I haven't seen one thing this wank has done so far that was in the best interest of the American public - it's all been narrowly focused on how best to benefit big business and government and, ultimately, himself. I've never really been a joiner of causes; I've always preferred to stand afar and judge silently that everyone is F@#*ing idiot. However, of late, I've decided that I don't have a lot of time left on this mudball to remain aloof and separate from that which is going on around me, hidden from scrutiny - inasmuch as a cockroach scurries in the dark, hoping not to be seen going about its disgusting livelihood. We're in such a serious need of a political enema that it transcends any life-threatening bout of diarrhea.
This is the real root of the problem, politicians constantly stumping for more "...'donations' to remain in politics..." The fact that Follyhood, MPAA, RIAA, and every major corporation out there who shuttle their little money bots off to Washington on a daily basis isn't so much the problem - they're just so many ticks in the woods that should be treated with pesticides - it's the politicians who spurt their phermorones out into the wind to lure them into their offices that are the real issue.
If it were illegal to "make donations," politicians would be forced to yield to the will of their constituents, those people who voted to give these morally-corrupt politicians the opportunity to serve their voters. . . and not themselves.
I've always thought, maybe naievly, that to minimize, if not altogether eliminate the influence of the deep-pocketed corporations on our politicians, we need term limits. Let no person serve in a political position for more than two years, and mandate that no person accept graft, or donations, if you will. Too many people get into a position of power where greed eventually comes knocking on their door - and they can't say no, because everyone else is doing it. Repeal this enormous farce that a corporation can be treated as a person - seriously, this is just too stupid to be even considered, let alone made into law. OK, rant over; my brain is too full of wtf.
This...this is beautifully written. I've had a mental orgasm, one that I shall never forget. I can only hope that these slimey aholeios bite the big one! Karma, thy name will always be upon our lips!
I'm just in awe of our government. They take a novel and turn it into a game plan - and it's working for them. The hardest part of it all is realizing that citizens from all walks of life are involved, either directly or indirectly, in this, our own subjugation; and for what? Money.
It's always about the money; whether it appears in the form of a well-paying job with a government agency - and the benefits that come with it, or huge contract with said government that makes a business owner suddenly stupid-rich. And then, we have the political route to wealth, and the power it can command; which, in turn, creates more money. Even though they creep everywhere, the twisted roots of greed go way deep in the political garden.
Voltaire's quote, "To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize." seems especially poignant in view of the increasing demands by various government officials wanting to quash - viciously, in many cases, any challenge to their actions.
I must be masochistic, because checking out Techdirt always ends up with me talking to the monitor and wondering if there are any honest, morally-incorruptable souls left on Earth.
I agree with this statement. However, in practice, I've found it quite difficult to accomplish when faced with a highly motivated, fanatical mindset (think of our esteemed Westboro Baptist Church). While it is more-than-likely true, hate-speech mongers feed on being recognized and at the center of attention, which is why they're called attention-whores.
Ignoring them and hoping they will go away hasn't seemed to work as well as hoped for - they just get more vocal and creative in pushing their agenda. In some cases, laws have curbed the brazen, in-your-face, confrontational excesses - but they've not extinguished the underlying motivation(s).
We all know the old adage that "money is the root of all evil" - or something to that effect. Figuring out how to squeeze every last drop of blood (money) as possible, without considering the benefits of humanitarianism ("...which is an ethic of kindness, benevolence, and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings...") simply has to have it roots in greed; and greed, in its simplest form, has no room for anyone else other than those it directly benefits. I tend to view such people, and/or corporations, as evil and greedy beyond belief. It is one thing to yearn to make a decent living, by offering to sell your services or wares; it is entirely another to devise methodologies, such as outlined here, to squeeze more money out of something that has already been sold.
It was back in 2009 that I put together a photo montage of my brother's Boss Hoss that I'd done a lot of metalwork/fabrication on. The two songs I chose to incorporate into that video were perfect for the feel and tempo of it. Unfortunately, as soon as I uploaded it to Youtube, I was met with the message that the music would be muted because of copyright issues. Well, crap. So, I DID NOT UPLOAD IT to Youtube because of that - I just couldn't find any other music that was close to the original two from Youtube's free collection.
Anyway, almost two years later, while perusing Youtube for Boss Hoss videos, I CAME ACROSS MY OWN VIDEO, WITH THE ORIGINAL TWO SONGS ON IT!!! The information on the video said there was a standard Youtube license applied. While I am happier-n-chit over seeing the video out there, what interests me is how did that happen, and who put it out there? I never uploaded the video!
Non-commercial use of a song for home-made videos, regardless of whether they're put out there on the web or used for home viewing (as in weddings, funerals,or immortalizing a child's accomplishments), shouldn't be subject to greedy monetizing. Greedy monetizing efforts should be contained within the context of commercialization, period. My two cents.
This should really be a red flag to anyone with even half a brain. No individual word, letter, or symbol should be ever be allowed to be monopolized, by anyone. I can't believe this is even being considered valid or right by this douche company. @eggs?!
What if the fence around a field was a 10-foot-tall, privacy fence? Obviously, such a fence would create the expectation of privacy. I'm not seeing where the 'field' in question was really a field, by definition. A field, by its very nature is an open area, generally surrounded by trees, brush, or fencing. How does one enter an open field and set up multiple cameras? Tripods? Duck blinds?
I would think the next step for these fellows would be to put up a high voltage containment fence and their own surveillence cameras.
This kind of crap from 'civil servants', aka politicians, is what happens when they are allowed to hold onto a position for more than two years, especially those that have their hand in making laws. Don't they realize that they, themselves, will be subject to the very laws they're making - at the behest of special-interest groups, and corporations, who's only interest is in their bottom line?
Greed. . .it all boils down to greed and money. Evil is alive and well in the world.
This has everything to do with grandstanding and simply having nothing better to do but kowtow to industry. These people do not care about anything, or anybody - especially children; they're here to satisfy their own political agenda. Those who are pushing this from behind the veneer of political discourse are simply trying to gain more credibility in their industry. Think about it: if you, as an industry shill or insider, can pass this, then it would give you immense credibility as being someone to reckon with, and at the same time allow you to be 'compensated' generously.
These are people who are trying to justify their existence, period.
M1 Garands, Lee-Enfields, SAWs, RPGs. . .the list is endless. What we really need is a jihad against the entertainment/news media. I'm doing my part by never going to the theater any more, never buying another music album/cd, or movie, and I've cancelled my newspaper. These power-hungry control freaks need to understand that WE are the ones in control of THEIR money; and we can collectively hurt their asses a lot by doing that alone. Really, though, these power-hungry control freaks just simply need to be taken out. Here and now, I am going out on a limb and advocating assassinations. I, among millions of others, are sick and tired of these greedy, corrupt, dickbreath a-holes buying our already corrupt officials through 'contributions' to pass laws that only benefit themselves. No law should ever be passed without a majority constituant approval - and that means to me, in particular, no bill be brought up for consideration that wasn't supported by a majority of the voting public from the affected state of the bill's proponent.
I've sent this same message to a number of my representatives, with the added note that should their name ever appear on a bill that supports this level of insanity, their name goes to the top of the list for recall, impeachment, or whatever it takes to remove their sorry ass from a job that they promised to uphold with integrity.
Seriously, if it wasn't for the masochist in me, I probably wouldn't be visiting Techdirt any longer because it just totally flames me out seeing all this crap being done in secret, behind our collective backs, with damn-near impunity. God, I wish I had the power to strike all these idiots dead in their tracks.
Ok, rant over. . .for now, the migraine is becoming unbearable - until the next time.
Typically, when there is an apparent symbiotic relationship, removing one will cause the demise of either. With the advent of declaring corporations 'individual entities', our government effectively declared its willingness to be bought by these deep-pocketed 'citizens'.
Personally, I really, really hate politicians - first, and foremost, because of their inherent self-serving greed and corruptness; and coming in a fast second, they quickly forget who put them in office in the first place - we, the voters. We, who trusted them to go forth and help run our country in a sane and honest manner, are invariably left with a bad taste in our mouths as we discover that we were simply pawns in a game of deceit, a game of power and money. I will never trust a politician, at any level, to be honest and stand up for the benefit of their constituents.
What is truly needed here is a law that would make it illegal for a politician to accept 'donations' - of any kind, from anyone. Let them stump about on their own dime if they want to reach the voters with their chosen platform of lies and deceptions. It would be my desire to see every politician's time at bat limited to four years - and no more, ever. Once you've completed your 'public service' in office, you're out and someone else gets their turn. Never should we have people in an elected position for any longer - it begs to be corrupted. Never should we have politicians sponsoring laws that would only benefit a group, a class, or an industry to the detriment of the whole. Laws should only be made to prevent evil, at whatever level, and to promote the greater good for all.
I just watched a YouTube video that I thought I'd share: Stop SOPA by Michael Mozart. It is worth the watch.
We have voted into office some of the most technologically-ignorant, self-serving, corrupt people imaginable – who are easily influenced by bogus, spin-doctored numbers and large wads of campaign money – and we’re now getting a whiff of the awful stench they’ve been brewing with the big media/content industries.
I, for one, will be doing my best to never knowingly give ‘them’ another dime of my money by NOT buying newspapers, going to the theaters, or anything else I find connected to ‘them’.
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by Grover.
Up in arms
I, personally, believe that it is coming to a point where we are in dire need of a total, political enema - an American Spring, if you will, that reestablishes the American people's rightful ownership of our country. Get rid of these asshats who think they have the right to do whatever they want - bring back the lynch mobs and throw them in prison, tarred and feathered; bring back the days where we held high standards and ran these turds out of town.
Ok, rant over - I need aspirin now.
Creating Religion
Re: Did you notice the quote at the Petitions.WhiteHouse.gov front page?
Re: Scope
Re: relying on donations
If it were illegal to "make donations," politicians would be forced to yield to the will of their constituents, those people who voted to give these morally-corrupt politicians the opportunity to serve their voters. . . and not themselves.
I've always thought, maybe naievly, that to minimize, if not altogether eliminate the influence of the deep-pocketed corporations on our politicians, we need term limits. Let no person serve in a political position for more than two years, and mandate that no person accept graft, or donations, if you will. Too many people get into a position of power where greed eventually comes knocking on their door - and they can't say no, because everyone else is doing it. Repeal this enormous farce that a corporation can be treated as a person - seriously, this is just too stupid to be even considered, let alone made into law. OK, rant over; my brain is too full of wtf.
Mike. . .
THEY LIVE!
George Orwell's 1984 playing out
It's always about the money; whether it appears in the form of a well-paying job with a government agency - and the benefits that come with it, or huge contract with said government that makes a business owner suddenly stupid-rich. And then, we have the political route to wealth, and the power it can command; which, in turn, creates more money. Even though they creep everywhere, the twisted roots of greed go way deep in the political garden.
Voltaire's quote, "To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize." seems especially poignant in view of the increasing demands by various government officials wanting to quash - viciously, in many cases, any challenge to their actions.
I must be masochistic, because checking out Techdirt always ends up with me talking to the monitor and wondering if there are any honest, morally-incorruptable souls left on Earth.
Re: As wisely noted,
Ignoring them and hoping they will go away hasn't seemed to work as well as hoped for - they just get more vocal and creative in pushing their agenda. In some cases, laws have curbed the brazen, in-your-face, confrontational excesses - but they've not extinguished the underlying motivation(s).
Evil is as evil does
Music licensing
Anyway, almost two years later, while perusing Youtube for Boss Hoss videos, I CAME ACROSS MY OWN VIDEO, WITH THE ORIGINAL TWO SONGS ON IT!!! The information on the video said there was a standard Youtube license applied. While I am happier-n-chit over seeing the video out there, what interests me is how did that happen, and who put it out there? I never uploaded the video!
Non-commercial use of a song for home-made videos, regardless of whether they're put out there on the web or used for home viewing (as in weddings, funerals,or immortalizing a child's accomplishments), shouldn't be subject to greedy monetizing. Greedy monetizing efforts should be contained within the context of commercialization, period. My two cents.
Words
Re:
Fences
I would think the next step for these fellows would be to put up a high voltage containment fence and their own surveillence cameras.
Term limits
Greed. . .it all boils down to greed and money. Evil is alive and well in the world.
This has nothing to do with 'protecting children'
These are people who are trying to justify their existence, period.
JIHAD
I've sent this same message to a number of my representatives, with the added note that should their name ever appear on a bill that supports this level of insanity, their name goes to the top of the list for recall, impeachment, or whatever it takes to remove their sorry ass from a job that they promised to uphold with integrity.
Seriously, if it wasn't for the masochist in me, I probably wouldn't be visiting Techdirt any longer because it just totally flames me out seeing all this crap being done in secret, behind our collective backs, with damn-near impunity. God, I wish I had the power to strike all these idiots dead in their tracks.
Ok, rant over. . .for now, the migraine is becoming unbearable - until the next time.
Kill them all
Symbiosis
Personally, I really, really hate politicians - first, and foremost, because of their inherent self-serving greed and corruptness; and coming in a fast second, they quickly forget who put them in office in the first place - we, the voters. We, who trusted them to go forth and help run our country in a sane and honest manner, are invariably left with a bad taste in our mouths as we discover that we were simply pawns in a game of deceit, a game of power and money. I will never trust a politician, at any level, to be honest and stand up for the benefit of their constituents.
What is truly needed here is a law that would make it illegal for a politician to accept 'donations' - of any kind, from anyone. Let them stump about on their own dime if they want to reach the voters with their chosen platform of lies and deceptions. It would be my desire to see every politician's time at bat limited to four years - and no more, ever. Once you've completed your 'public service' in office, you're out and someone else gets their turn. Never should we have people in an elected position for any longer - it begs to be corrupted. Never should we have politicians sponsoring laws that would only benefit a group, a class, or an industry to the detriment of the whole. Laws should only be made to prevent evil, at whatever level, and to promote the greater good for all.
(untitled comment)
We have voted into office some of the most technologically-ignorant, self-serving, corrupt people imaginable – who are easily influenced by bogus, spin-doctored numbers and large wads of campaign money – and we’re now getting a whiff of the awful stench they’ve been brewing with the big media/content industries.
I, for one, will be doing my best to never knowingly give ‘them’ another dime of my money by NOT buying newspapers, going to the theaters, or anything else I find connected to ‘them’.
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by Grover.
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