quote for the day

"A CEO, a TeaParty activist, and a Union member sit at a table. In the middle of the table is a plate of a dozen warm, delicious cookies. The CEO takes 11, then whispers to the teapartier, "look out, that socialist guy wants to take a big piece of your cookie!"

David Brin

tuesday is video time!

Quothe David Brin: "Hayek was correct that limited knowledge and personal bias stymie any small group from allocating well over the long run... though his followers seem to think this lesson applies only to government bureaucrats and not to a few hundred conniving oligarchic golf buddies engaged in cheating, interlocking directorates and insider trading! Keynes under-rated savings. But when you need him you need him. And he was right more often than not."

quote for the day

"I do not fear Satan half so much as I fear those who fear him"

St. Teresa of Avila

sunday funny

Zach Weiner is wise.

quote for the generation, apparently

Holy crap, I just came across this in one of my old blog posts:

There's more, of course, but we all know how the script goes these days, dont we? There'll be lots of hand-wringing from "Democratic" leaders, a few "incendiary" comments from real liberals, some near accusations of treason from Republicans, some actual accusations of treason from a "conservative" pundit or two, and then, once more, King George will get his way, and America will slide a little bit farther down into that ditch we used to call fascism, but now have rebranded as Patriotism™.

This is from 2007.
Nothing has changed, except the name of the President.
Nothing.

class warfare

It's already been happening.

Guess who's winning?

oh goodie

More millionaires.

I guess the GOP's recovery plan is going splendidly after all.

I suppose it would be unamerican of me to ask that they give back a bit to the country that has given them so much, wouldnt it?

A question for those of the faith:

has it occurred to you that those who you are "less fortunate" than you are are not so because they are less deserving, but rather to test whether you are.

the next bubble to burst?

Watch for every sector where corporate interests intersect public policy. Look for the big rush to strip social programs and create a desperate and profitable low-cost work force. Keep an eye out for budget-busting measures that will force states and municipalities to sell off public assets. Be on guard for anything that will give corporations and billionaires a massive return on investment from their minions and their message.

They are about to cash in.

There's more here. It's not a terribly well-written article, but it does contain some ideas worth considering (or, rather, some warnings worth heeding).

t-shirt

Buy this shirt for a teacher you know, so they can wear it next time some asshole complains about teachers being overpaid.

another question for conservatives

I'm trying, off the top of my head, to think of a place in the world where there is little to no "Big Government" that is still a good place to live, but I cant seem to come up with any. Europe doesnt qualify, being all socialisty and stuff. Mexico? Somalia? Russia? Seriously, can anyone give me one place where less government makes life better?

for my anniversary

oh, Spock...

via Samurai Frog

quote for the day

"Maybe you're testing us, checking to see if we, your constituents, are really paying attention, really listening," she continued. "I hope that's what's going on, because the alternative involves me losing faith in representative government, in democracy and in you, the elected officials."

Kelley McDaniel, testifying before the Maine legislature.

Question: When did we decide that Robin Hood was the villain, and Prince John the Hero?

a thought

Republicans express a desire to "starve the beast", which they stand on the verge of actually accomplishing. They might do well to remember that a starving beast is a cranky beast. They might do even better to remember that "the beast" in America is Of The People, and when the Beast is hungry enough, it will turn it's attention to those who are denying it sustenance.