Lessee, where to start? With Crossroads, first things first. I began reading your response with a great deal of anticipation and then with growing disappointment when I realized that you were quickly descending into an emotional rant.
So then, just a couple of points to prove a point. Churchill was the "only" great leader of the Greatest generation? Have you never heard of De Gaulle? What about Eisenhower? Roosevelt? Douglass MacArthur? And even though he was evil through-and-through, Hitler was one helluva a genius in his twisted evil leadership of his millions of Germans. And he proved much more than a match for your ineffective Stanley Baldwin, and your craven Neville Chamberlain put together.
Um, not to put too fine a point on it, but just because the word "police" is used adjacently does not mean there is some sort of conceptual connection there. Get yourself together and try again.
The U.S. is facist? The U.S. is a regime that "exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forceable suppression of opposition."? That's the U.S.? That's the best you can do?
While I respect your right to an opinion, Mr. Crossroads, I am under no obligation to debate such fanciful emotional nonsense as characterizes your entire response. Perhaps some other time, some other topic.
Philo - I don't agree there's ANY objective reality anywhere in the Kyoto Protocols. As noted previously, there is no agreement in the scientific community that global warming is a fact, any more than the "Little Ice Age" presaged any fact of global cooling several hundred years ago. The global warming chicken littles examine the hairs on the elephant's tail and pronounce them heating up.
And I don't care to explain away what 60 million Brits have themselves thrown away.
But really, Philo, the sarcasm in your first paragraph rendered the remainder of your response less than compelling as it put many viewpoints in my mouth that I never addressed. If you're going to hold forth with your own opinions, and then make up opinions which you attribute to me, then you hardly need me.
And yes, if we're going to be called upon to: produce the bulk of the planet's trade goods; act as leader of the free world; function as the world's policemen; be the protector of western style democracy while you all follow the siren call of socialism; show ourselves the "shining city on a hill" for the downtrodden masses of humanity groaning under the burden of a grasping collectivist state, then damn right we'll up our production of so-called greenhouse gases.
When science, SCIENCE, produces irrefutable evidence that global warming is a fact, and not an emotional reaction like the example of your interminable response, then I'd be willing to discuss it. But not likely with you. Too emotional. Oh, one more thing: it was sink-hole, not stink-hole. Big difference.
Englishman, thank you for your recognition that the "we saved your ass" types are in the minority. However, I do have a problem with your "no concerns for the sanctity of life" remark. Bush is the same guy whose regard for the sanctity of life is likely to get in the way of my personal desire to see stem cell research carried out to its fullest.
And executions? Didn't it ever get across the pond that the governor of Texas has absolutely NO LEGAL standing whatever to intervene in an execution. None. Nada. Zip. Nyet. Nein. Non. It's the law in Texas. You're condemning the man about an issue over which he has NO authority or control whatsoever.
You may not like Star Wars, but you say it like the world's in agreement with you. I kinda like the idea that Hussein won't be able to Sadamize us any damn time he pleases. Or rootin' tootin' Putin, either. When it rains, I like to get under an umbrella. If it were going to rain nukes, I'd like this other kinda umbrella to get under. I can understand why some don't like it; they won't be able to threaten us with their shit. I like that in a defense system.
Ah, JahH. The Soviets won 90% of the war? Come on, my man. That's something of a stretch. The Russian WINTER may have done quite a bit for them in Stalingrad, and Hitler's second front showed his evil genius was on holiday. But to credit the Russians with winning 90% of the war? Sir, one hundred percent of WWII wasn't fought in Europe. Maybe 50%. Believe me, I'm trying to see your argument but don't.
And as far as education is concerned, the education system in this country is run by the same breed of liberals who are in favor of things like the Kyoto Protocols. You won't get me to defend the education system in this country. I would enjoy indicting it from now 'till noon tomorrow. I frakly think this country is going to go straight down the tubes, and the lack of education in this country, especially in history and political science is the major thing that will kill it.
When the average man on the street thinks the U.S. Bill of Rights is a communist plot, we're in deep shit. When the average high school student can't locate Minnesota on a map, we're in deep shit. When high school graduates over here know how to screw, but don't connect it with child birth, we're in deep shit.
You folks don't have to worry about the goddamn Kyoto Protocols, this country isn't going to last long enough to harm the environment. We're going to cave in due to the sheer stupidity of our citizens who are "educated" in government schools by liberal "educators" following collectivist, politically correct lesson plans.
It's late. I'm tired. There's a bird stuck in my damn chimney that now I have to go get out or I won't be able to sleep thinking about the poor dumb fucker. More anon.
Francois.
Where it is a duty to worship the Sun you can be sure that a study of the laws of heat is a crime.