Author Archives: scottsoapbox

On Bumperstickers

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Here's something that everyone needs to understand:

"No position of value can be boiled down to a bumper sticker." – S. Kuban

Think about it.  The fact that you have to use ten words or less forces over-simplification.  The fact that it has to be witty or rhyme tends to degrade the content further.  The problem is that people often mistake being clever with being intelligent.  I've selected a few bumper stickers to flesh out the problem:

Save The Whales 

  • OK, how?
  • Uh, from what?
  • Why?

Jesus Loves You

  • Thanks.
  • Cool, then he won't send me to "hell",  right?
  • Realize that people "love" their dog, they "love" ice cream – these are not what was meant by "love thy neighbor"

No War In Iraq

  • Uh, yes there is.
  • Yeah, I wish there was no war, but the dang terrorists keep coming over from Syria and murdering civilians.

I could go on, but you get the idea. My real point, however, is beyond the value of the bumper sticker. If you are arguing about politics, life, or whatever – you NEED to do more than simply quoting the bumper sticker slogans from you side.  While they sound clever to you, they will do little to sway anyone to your side.  Furthermore anyone that actually understands the issue will quickly bore of discussing the subject with someone that is displaying their ignorance. Unfortunately, knowledge is not a prerequisite for passion on a subject. Here's a tip: When someone throws up their hands in disgust and walks away from you – you haven't won the argument, you've lost it.

Send A Message -er- Brick

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Well a grass effort to send a new kind of message to congress regarding illegal immigration and the need to secure our borders.  Send-A-Brick.com is rallying people to send bricks to Congress as a statement about sealing the borders.  Spokesmen for the organization say that they aren't necessarily desiring a huge brick wall – just a truely secure border.

 

You can send a brick to congress through their website for $11 or if you want to DIY: a brick stuffed in a priority mail envelope will cost you about $4 + the brick.

Evil Capitalists

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 Some perspective on Big Oil from guest writer: Jeff:

Can you believe this?! Time Warner made $1.46 billion profits in the first quarter. That’s a 60% increase over last year. And just who, you might ask, is a part of Time Warner? Well, those evil capitalist pigs CNN, and Time (among others) of course. Can you believe that they are making such obscene profits reporting the news? I mean, the news is an essential part of life. Asking people to go without news is like asking them to go without their catheter bags. Besides, reporting the news is supposed to be a noble profession, far above the evil influence of profits. How can this evil conglomerate continue to exist in America, when it is obviously gouging innocent citizens? Get this: the CEO made $16 million!  Here’s an idea: they should take those profits, and re-distribute them to the American people. Let’s see, $1.46 billion divided among 311 million gouged citizens (don’t worry, 11 million undocumented workers included), equals $4.70 a person! Send the checks today!

OR, the CEO could donate his pay to lower our cable TV bills: $16 million divided by 311 million people is $.05. I want MY nickel, how about YOU?

Why does the same rhetoric seem perfectly logical when applied to oil companies? I guess because we HAVE to keep driving? Well, are you going to turn off your cable (and maybe even go to the library)? Time Warner also owns the Atlanta Braves…

Tri 2 Update

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Another day, another ride… This one was cut a little short by the Sun calling it a day…

  • Bike 21.91miles – 1:37:01
  • 1002 Cal & 153 Ave BPM 

Immigration Flags

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So the big May Day protest has come and gone… and somehow we’re not all standing in the rubble of our economy…

The protest was basically a disappointment for it’s supporters. One of the reasons for this was the over-hyping of the event in the media – a million people doesn’t seem like much if you were promised 10 million.  Another was the abundance of such protests as of late – making this one seem like an “also ran”.  The biggest reason the mass protest has backfired is really the tone or intent of this protest.  Yelling with signs and bad slogans has always been allowed, if ignored, in this country and  the most ignorant of all protesters always end up on the news.  It is quite another thing to have as a STATED purpose of your rally to hurt America economically or otherwise.  We Americans tend to frown on such things.

Though it comes as no surprise that the economic impact of the “boycott” was minimal.  Just like the ridiculous emails that try to setup “don’t buy gas days” to stick it to Big Oil,  one day boycotts are useless.  You’re just going to buy the products the day before or after the boycott – so how are you “flexing your economic muscles”?  That’s like sticking it to the Telecoms by paying your phone bill a day late: ooooooooooh, scary.

 

And I’ve got to talk about the flags, because they ARE important. A lot of people are upset about all the non-US flags they keep seeing at these rallies — and with good reason.  Despite organizers attempts to pass out the stars and stripes, protesters keep missing the point.  Why because what the protesters want and what the organizers claim they want are two different things.  For all organizers talk of poor immigrants rights to become Americans, most protesters don’t want to be Americans they want the RIGHTS of an American without that troubling part about -uhm- becoming an American.  Legal immigrants wait for years, plough through mountains of bureaucracy to follow the law, and learn about the great USA – it’s history, flag, national athem (the real one)…  Then they swear allegience to our country and become naturalized citizens.  They then become positive and welcome additions to our country.  Illegals haven’t done any of these things and most of them have no interest in ever doing them.  No they just want American jobs, health care, social security, and even VOTING RIGHTS.  All the while staying loyal to the country of their origin. You could get quality telescoping flagpoles for sale and have your own flag too.

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