Side Effects of Banning Politics From Board

[ls99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BunsGettingFirm I can see it would be nice to have a special pee in the corner of the pool area.

Easy there fella, peeing in the pool anywhere is still pee in the pool.

Now irrigating the flower bed next to the pool is a bit different.

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls99 Easy there fella, peeing in the pool anywhere is still pee in the pool. Now irrigating the flower bed next to the pool is a bit different.

This metaphor has a lot left to mangle!

"It still marks territory, kills off the flora, and leaves a stench that makes the gardeners grumpy..."

[ls99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nords This metaphor has a lot left to mangle! "It still marks territory, kills off the flora, and leaves a stench that makes the gardeners grumpy..."

All of that is true.

Well then, we can keep the gardeners happy by erecting a pi$$ing wall like the French used to have.

OTOH politics reminds me of old Singapore, with open sewers next to nice multi story apartment buildings. That was long before Singapore became a "fine city".

[yakers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaseInPoint That's probably accurate, Ha. At the same time, it looks like many forum members have gone back to the work force and don't have the time or motivation to visit here as often. .

Not back to work yet, retired Mar08 and too soon to tell how things will go. But as best I can remember I was on the board a lot more when I worked and was dreaming about ER than after I retired. Too busy now.

[FinanceDude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martha The election was a sexy topic and now it is over, I think some are suffering a bit of election withdrawal. But there are plenty of government policies to talk about, tax policy, economic recovery issues, health care, etc.

I am electing not to participate in the "FIRE-related" political topics because its an oxymoron. It looks like we are "allowed" to talk about the bill, but NOT tell how we feel about it. That defeats the purpose, it is a form of censorship............

It is interesting that the Soapbox was allowed to run RAMPANT, and then it was cut off at the very time that it was settling down and the flamebait posts were dropping exponentially. That seems quite convenient........

[REWahoo]

Dude, you must be having a bad day, eh?

[JPatrick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinanceDude I am electing not to participate in the "FIRE-related" political topics because its an oxymoron. It looks like we are "allowed" to talk about the bill, but NOT tell how we feel about it. That defeats the purpose, it is a form of censorship............ t........

And don't even think about mentioning names................

[ziggy29]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinanceDude I am electing not to participate in the "FIRE-related" political topics because its an oxymoron. It looks like we are "allowed" to talk about the bill, but NOT tell how we feel about it. That defeats the purpose, it is a form of censorship............

IMO, "censorship" is a loaded word because it can conjure up images of jackbooted government agents sending people off to reeducation camps and using the force of law to tell people what they can and can not say.

That sense of the word doesn't apply to private property, and I find it ludicrous to suggest that people should be required to allow any kind of speech or expression to be made on their property. Complaints about "censorship" on private property are like fingernails scratching a chalkboard to me, sorry.

Having said that, it's simply not true that you aren't "allowed" to say how you feel about it. What you're not allowed to do is turn it into a bashing session or partisan flamefest. You can say why you oppose a stimulus package, for example -- it doesn't work, it rewards the irresponsible, it's racking up more debt for our kids and grandkids, et cetera. What you can't do is turn it into partisan flamebait ("Obama and the stupid socialist Democrats are trying to kill this country" or "the obstructionist Repugs are trying to give everything away to Big Business as usual").

If someone can't see the difference between these, then it's probably best that they don't approach political discussion at all. And I should add that I'm speaking strictly for myself here.

[FinanceDude]

Removed......

[FinanceDude]

Removed......

[FinanceDude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Dude, you must be having a bad day, eh?

The further along this bogus "stimulus bill" gets to passing, the worse my day gets.......with the way we were headed, I would rather give $200 billion to the bankrupt Big Three than throw around taxpayer money at projects that will NOT stimulate anything but the size of government...........

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziggy29 That sense of the word doesn't apply to private property, and I find it ludicrous to suggest that people should be required to allow any kind of speech or expression to be made on their property. Complaints about "censorship" on private property are like fingernails scratching a chalkboard to me, sorry.

Your private property would be worth about as much as most internet boards without interesting people willing to post here for free.

The Golden Goose dies hard, but she can be killed.

Ha

[ziggy29]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha Your private property would be worth about as much as most internet boards without interesting people willing to post here for free. The Golden Goose dies hard, but she can be killed.

Well, that's true, presuming that a critical mass of people believes that the privilege of being able to argue anything-goes, full contact politics is the make-or-break issue with respect to their decision to participate.

A lot of people want to escape "politics everywhere" and the toxic atmosphere it can produce.

[haha]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, when do you think Phillip Morris will market vanilla-snus ice cream in the US? How many of us will like it?

Ha

[bbbamI]

Nah...I wanna talk about senior citizen's discounts again. That was waaaaaay more fun.....

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinanceDude The further along this bogus "stimulus bill" gets to passing, the worse my day gets.......with the way we were headed, I would rather give $200 billion to the bankrupt Big Three than throw around taxpayer money at projects that will NOT stimulate anything but the size of government...........

Give up, it's a done deal. The only thing they are wrestling with now is which sides pet projects get the most funding from our grandchildren...and their grandchildren...and...

[ls99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Give up, it's a done deal. The only thing they are wrestling with now is which sides pet projects get the most funding from our grandchildren...and their grandchildren...and...

Yup, and it is even more with the good senate's public servants addons. Over 900 billion. I can't comprehend that amount of money.

[FUEGO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls99 Yup, and it is even more with the good senate's public servants addons. Over 900 billion. I can't comprehend that amount of money.

900 Billion divided by 300 million people in the US = $3,000 for every man, woman, child, and baby in the entire US. My fairly average multi-person household of 4 would get $12,000. Why not just hand out $12,000 directly to my household and let me do with it as I wish?

[ziggy29]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUEGO Why not just hand out $12,000 directly to my household and let me do with it as I wish?

Because you'd probably do something stupid and irresponsible with it, like put it into savings or pay off debt.

[W2R]

They could give it to me on the condition that I would spend it. Make it some sort of coupon that would expire in 6 months. I'd take it!

Dreaming of a $3,000 coupon..., and...