Posts by DJS

274

Indiana "Religious Freedom" (right to discriminate)

by Simon in

sickening to see the photo of the religious zealots all stood around the governor signing into law the right for people to discriminate against others (gay, lesbian, trans-gender) based purely on religious dogma.. if religious people want those freedoms then the can't have it both ways - they cannot complain if *they* are discriminated against.. "sorry, we don't like zionists, get out".

"oh, it's some special mass and you can't work your shift?

you're fired!"..

DJS

Viv,

Here we go again. Each time this topic comes up we get the same comments from the Libertarians and those who haven't realized that for decades the SCOTUS has interpreted laws based on the US Constitution, which is predicated on the common good for all, not special interest groups and with a clear delineation between church and state. And we say the same things. It may be grand in the Libertarian or Laissez faire utopian world some want to live in, but it isn't the reality of a constitutional democracy.

It's like wishing that Santa and the Easter Bunny were real instead of make believe. Wouldn't it be nice? Laws protecting minorities, women, the disabled, religious people and the LGBT community from discrimination make us better humans, give us better communities, a better country and a better planet. But the right wing, the X-tian fundies and the Libertarians will cloak their beliefs behind a fence made of hate.

274

Indiana "Religious Freedom" (right to discriminate)

by Simon in

sickening to see the photo of the religious zealots all stood around the governor signing into law the right for people to discriminate against others (gay, lesbian, trans-gender) based purely on religious dogma.. if religious people want those freedoms then the can't have it both ways - they cannot complain if *they* are discriminated against.. "sorry, we don't like zionists, get out".

"oh, it's some special mass and you can't work your shift?

you're fired!"..

DJS

Arguing the intelligence of anyone supporting either the original 1993 law or the present state laws is an exercise in futility, because it assumes there was any intelligence involved. Politics, votes, and placating constituents is what those laws were and are about. Politics is rarely about ethics and doing the right thing.

Lawsuits will determine the manner in which these laws are applied, as they already have. The free market is free to the degree it does not violate the Constitution. When it appears to do so, people sue. And to this point, the SCOTUS and the regional courts have almost universally determined that commercial for profit businesses do not have a right to discriminate. The protected groups have evolved over the decades, and it includes blacks and other minorities, women, religion, the disabled and now sexual persuasion. These laws were not necessary; they are political in nature and will ultimately accomplish nothing but allowing narrow minded people to attempt to impose their own specific religious beliefs on others, which to this point in time has thankfully failed.

The free market will eventually rule out because large national and multi-national corporations will ultimately avoid the states supporting such hatred. To this end the Indiana governor is already feeling the heat. Good for him. But that is a result of people driven by secular humanistic objectives who think discriminating against the LGBT community is hate, which it is. That is not what Adam Smith had in mind when he originally talked about free markets, but it is a 21st Century version of how those markets can be controlled.

274

Indiana "Religious Freedom" (right to discriminate)

by Simon in

sickening to see the photo of the religious zealots all stood around the governor signing into law the right for people to discriminate against others (gay, lesbian, trans-gender) based purely on religious dogma.. if religious people want those freedoms then the can't have it both ways - they cannot complain if *they* are discriminated against.. "sorry, we don't like zionists, get out".

"oh, it's some special mass and you can't work your shift?

you're fired!"..

DJS

The 1993 law was also a useless and unnecessary piece of legislation. It was also politically motivated; few if any of the Clinton era team would support such a law now, and many of them have publicly stated that the law has evolved in a manner unintended. Bad legislation following bad legislation is what this topic is about.

Since the 1993 law was passed, the SCOTUS and other regional US courts have consistently defended gays, lesbians, etc. from being discriminated by commercial enterprises based on their orientation. So the 1993 law has not resulted in supporting discrimination based on the manner in which the courts have ruled, with some potential exceptions resulting in ObamaCare, but these issues are about such things as birth control. But that's for another OP.

The Indiana law, similar to other state laws passed recently on the same topic, is nothing but right wing politically motivated laws to push the X-tian agenda and to support discrimination against primarily the LGBT community. The right wing fundies have lost a few cases around the country the past few years, notably the florist, bakery, wedding chapel cases, and this is their nasty, hate filled manner of responding.

These laws are not necessary; the courts have continued to state that for profit/commercial business or enterprises discriminating based on sexual orientation is illegal, and the sanctity of the insides of churches, including how they operate and whom they serve, has never seriously been threatened in this country and there is nothing that has occurred recently that would insinuate otherwise.

To line up the rabbis, nuns, priests and preachers for a photo-op to suggest otherwise sickens me.

274

Indiana "Religious Freedom" (right to discriminate)

by Simon in

sickening to see the photo of the religious zealots all stood around the governor signing into law the right for people to discriminate against others (gay, lesbian, trans-gender) based purely on religious dogma.. if religious people want those freedoms then the can't have it both ways - they cannot complain if *they* are discriminated against.. "sorry, we don't like zionists, get out".

"oh, it's some special mass and you can't work your shift?

you're fired!"..

DJS

The religious freedom law says the government cannot intrude on a person's religious liberty unless it can prove a compelling interest in imposing that burden and do so in the least restrictive way. This law simply was not necessary. The US Constitution already does that admirably. The state law can trump local non-discrimination laws, and sooner or later - likely sooner - some florist shop or for profit wedding chapel will refuse service to gays and lesbians for religious reasons.

There will almost certainly be a state legal case to determine if the action is covered under the new law. Then there will be an appeal, regardless of the ruling - either from the religious or those they discriminated against - to the SCOTUS if necessary, which is where the state law will almost certainly be ruled unconstitutional. Legal eagles amongst us, please weigh in with your insight.

As I stated, this is a political move by a right wing fundie GOP politician trying to set himself up for a national office run in the near future. This stuff disgusts me. Lawyers in love.

274

Indiana "Religious Freedom" (right to discriminate)

by Simon in

sickening to see the photo of the religious zealots all stood around the governor signing into law the right for people to discriminate against others (gay, lesbian, trans-gender) based purely on religious dogma.. if religious people want those freedoms then the can't have it both ways - they cannot complain if *they* are discriminated against.. "sorry, we don't like zionists, get out".

"oh, it's some special mass and you can't work your shift?

you're fired!"..

DJS

Simon,

It made me want to hurl. This is a political move by a dumbass (can I use that for this guy, p-p-p--pleeeeze Simon?) hoping to maneuver his GOP future for national elections.

I hope he chokes on it. The reverberations have just begun. This idiot hopefully will get exactly what he deserves.

17

What would happen if all or most of the Governing Body died in some kind of accident?

by Esse quam videri in

with the organization controlled, totally and completely by the governing body, what would the watchtower society do to hold it all together if all or most of the governing body were to die?.

would the legal department step in and issue orders?

would the rest of the gb quickly appoint new members?

DJS

It's called a Continuity of Operations Plan, and most if not all large organizations have them. It is a certainty the Dark Lords have one. They likely have policies that keep all of them from flying or traveling together to mitigate such possibility.

It is also almost a certainty that they have contingency operations locations for the HQ, where the remaining GB members would flee to if there was a GT type attack against them, etc. I've helped develop several Crisis Management and Continuity Plans.

29

I'm bemused - Vladimir Putin as a Christian Warrior - Do Russians see him as a fighter for Jesus?

by fulltimestudent in

i accidentally came across this youtube video, "why the west fears putin.

" curious, i watched it.

you may find it interesting also.

DJS

Not Ukrainians in that several of the weapons' systems being used in the Ukraine by the 'insurgents' where supplied, staffed, trained and operated by Vlad and the Impalers (Soviet military). The Guided missile system that brought down the airliner (and other Ukrainian planes) is rarely if ever simply provided by entities like Russian and the US without providing trainers, operators and maintenance for a protracted period of time.

Vlad may have sent in Ukrainian born/bred military experts, but these individuals were Russian soldiers. That's what I meant by 'not Ukrainian."

This is the same reason the US balks at providing the types of weapons' systems the Ukraine wants in fighting Russia. These are complex 'systems' - not an individual point and shoot weapon - that require a lot of sophisticated stuff to make them happen, such as software, hardware, training, support, maintenance, etc. Vlad didn't simply give these things to the Ukrainian insurgents or natives to play with. The US has very good intel as to who staffed and operated these weapons' systems. It is almost a certainty that the US has fixed satellites and other intel gathering systems, including HUMINT, along these borders for the foreseeable future. Vlad can't likely go to the potty without Obama knowing about it.

Orphan Crow - I don't mean to be mean but your question is a 30 second google search.

http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/a-crisis-of-credibility-for-overconfident-old-guard-in-russia

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/europe/article4028220.ece

http://themoscownews.com/news/20100205/55409476.html

All of these sites, and there are many like them, refer to "Old Guard' in the same manner - they are the older generation who came up through the military, society and especially the KGB/Communist Politburo/Political organizations in the same manner as Vlad, who as I have pointed out is KGB trained and bred. Typically they pine to be back in the USSR. If you are truly a Russophile, you would have known this.

104

The Secret is out....but nobody cares

by MrTheocratic in

i've been looking on this site for some time but never posted.

i'll give a little about myself, but not too much.

i'm a ex-bethelite ( brooklyn )and currently serving as an elder (10 years) (thinking about stepping down) on the service committee.

DJS

Mr T.

Welcome to the site. I pity the fool who has to remain an elder after learning the truth about the Borg. (sorry, I just had to make the most obvious Mr. T reference).

Seriously though, how do you do it? Once I was sick of the control and the lack of love it was impossible to remain an elder. Good luck to you; you are a better man than I.

We all have lots of questions I am certain. Do you believe there will be a spike in those exiting after 2014 similar to those exiting after 1975? Do you believe the Dark Lords will change policy re: DFing?? This topic is probably the most recurring, for obvious reasons.

Do you think the Borg is suffering financially as it would appear to be, O&M costs at least, based on recent org. changes, etc.?

Do you think the Cubs will ever will the World Series?

145

Why attack?

by newqatarjob in

as someone brought up as a jw and been an elder and been disfellowshipped (twice!!!

) i find it difficult to understand why ex jws have to attack the religion, yes religion, not cult or sect.

i am no longer disfellowshipped just do not want to practice anymore.

DJS

NewQatarJob,

Many of us were also elders and in the Borg for a long time. Many of us believe, including me, that the Dark Lords are evil, twisted, delusional narcissists who have appointed themselves over others and have done immeasurable harm.

People have died because of these monsters. Millions have had their families destroyed because of these Evil Men, and countless millions have wasted their lives and their potential because of them.

So you were an elder. Good for you. So you are happy happy joy joy. Excellent. Either you are genetically pre-disposed to such or you still have your head planted firmly up your ass and are blind to the ham they have done. Or a combination of both. Many of us realized the harm when we were still in the cult and still serving as elders. Clearly you were oblivious to it.

Either way, I don't care. Very few ex-Dubs have warm, touchy feely feelings about the Dark Lords. They deserve our wrath, our condemnation and a siren's warning to all others of their danger. I suppose you are also A-OK with the Dark Lords sending 7 billion people to their deaths while a few million Dubs survive. I guess it doesn't matter to you how the Dark Lords turn brother against brother with their endless stream of rules, near-rules, almost rules, rules-lire, semi-rules and walk, talk and quack like rules. One of the primary reasons the sheep remain in a constant state of angst and anxiety is the myriad of rules the Dark Lords pile on them. Pharisees.

29

I'm bemused - Vladimir Putin as a Christian Warrior - Do Russians see him as a fighter for Jesus?

by fulltimestudent in

i accidentally came across this youtube video, "why the west fears putin.

" curious, i watched it.

you may find it interesting also.

DJS

FTS,

I read Friedman and Stratfor every day, including the one you reference; it is one of my sources, but I also work with - or have contact with - current and former military advisors and security personnel who have up-close and personal experience working in various US governmental agencies around the world. It isn't considered nice or appropriate to call a head of state a cold blooded murderer or mafia hit man. Even Friedman is going to shy away from that. But that is what Putin is, and he plays well to the old guard and the rank and file who seek a strong leader. Most people are sheep. Most people are followers. Sadly, many Russians will follow Vlad into oblivion, because that's where he is heading.

Of course the Russians rationalize their actions, but the simple fact is that they will be forced to use force to accomplish their goals; the former republics do not want to be assimilated and are not waiting with wine and roses. A lot of old-guard Russians have romanticized this issue to the point where the old republics appear more like former lovers pining for them than angry exes wanting a restraining order. The Crimea was a cake walk, but there do not appear to be any additional cakes.