Comments for Beyond the Flock

Comment on Digital Blue Digital Movie Creator disassembly by cory

cory — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 04:18:33 +0000

Cool! And I helped.

Comment on Why some beliefs need not be examined by Basic News

Basic News — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:45:22 +0000

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Comment on About Beyond the Flock by beyondtheflock

beyondtheflock — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:53:33 +0000

Yeah… She comes around every now and then to yell at me. Quite amusing.

Comment on About Beyond the Flock by DCBSupafly

DCBSupafly — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:50:33 +0000

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Comment on Why I am an atheist, part two by beyondtheflock

beyondtheflock — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:47:14 +0000

Hmmm… Good point, but I don’t think it’s overly important. My claim was that we shouldn’t believe in things that are completely unjustified and/or have unnecessary explanatory effects (i.e., believing in creationism when evolution is empirically backed, elegant, and explanatorily sufficient). As such, a more vaguely defined “creative force” is still unnecessary and empirically unjustified, so belief in such makes me profoundly uncomfortable.

Comment on Why I am an atheist, part two by TitforTat

TitforTat — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:02:39 +0000

Doesnt it depend on what you believe the idea of G-d could be? Belief in a creative starting point doesnt have to be solely based on a religious concept. So arent you ranting more about religion rather than the idea of a Creative force?

Comment on Four Reasons Why Our Political System Sucks by beyondtheflock

beyondtheflock — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:40:57 +0000

Bush did indeed win the 2000 election, though as I have argued, the election system is flawed.

Bush also won the 2004 election, and although we could argue about possible fraud in Ohio, I’ll leave that issue aside.

Your map does not accurately represent the results of the election. Most of the vast swaths of red pictured are areas that have very low population densities, whereas the blue ones are heavily populated. I’d encourage you to take a look at this page. The author takes maps of election results and changes the sizes of areas of the US to represent not their geographical size but their population density. It’s pretty clear from the maps that it was a very close election, and that the large number of red counties on traditional maps is misleading.

Next, you say that I “seem to be indicating that only ‘the educated’ or ‘informed’ should be allowed to vote.” That’s not what I’m saying. Universal suffrage is essential. If anything, I’m only lamenting the fact that the vast majority of people probably aren’t thinking enough about who they’re voting for. As I said, I don’t know how to improve the current system, but setting a minimum IQ for voters probably isn’t it.

Thanks for the excellent comments.

Comment on Four Reasons Why Our Political System Sucks by Michael L.

Michael L. — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 02:50:04 +0000

My last post for the night,,, well,, I disagree with some premises. Bush won the election. It was not given to him. Al gore did win the popular vote, granted. He did not win the electoral vote. Though he tried to steal it. But, Bush did win both popular and electoral in 2004.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/countymap2000.htm
Here is a link, may not work, might have to copy and paste,,, that shows elections of 2000 and 2004. the breakdown is by county. it gives a different perspective,, especially for 2000. Al Gore won the pop. vote,, by winning a few blue islands amid a Sea of red. All Presidents campaign for the electoral vote. If the situation had been reversed, I am sure Al Gore would not have withdrawn his win.
but,, that is another story,,, just quickly,, you seem to be indicating that only “the educated” or “informed” should be allowed to vote. That is an elitist attitude. Rich or poor, educated or not,, all have a say in government in this country. There are lots of other countries where it is not true. there was a time when only property owners or the rich,, or those of royal blood had a say. And then, of course, you can have a king or dictator. But,, that is why America was formed. to flee that kind of thing.
So it is true,, we all can run for office, we all can vote. Though the farmer or mechanic may not know a great deal as they cast their vote,,neither do a lot of college profs, rich elites and celebrity types. Just because one has a title, a degree and a mansion on a hill,, doesn’t mean they have character, compassion or know how to run a nation.

Comment on Four Reasons Why Our Political System Sucks by beyondtheflock

beyondtheflock — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 01:59:16 +0000

True. My claim was that both democracy and the electoral college are monumentally unsatisfactory. Democracy, because misinformed, ignorant people get just as much say as informed, intelligent people, and the electoral college because it skews elections. Pure democracy wouldn’t be great, but a lot better better than skewered democracy.

You claim that without the electoral college, “A few cities would have the power to shape and enslave.” As it is now, the states of Florida and Ohio essentially have the same power. I live in a staunchly red state, and as a democrat, I essentially have no say in the outcome of an election. Although I live in a major city, I can recall no visits by a major presidential candidate to my area.

More people wanted Gore to be president in the 2000 election. How is the fact of those peoples’ uneven distribution throughout the US justification for giving W. the presidency?

As to freedom… Of course. Freedom is good. No argument there. In fact, I’m not entirely sure how this relates to the argument at hand. As I said, I have no idea what the answer is here, but I agree that it certainly shouldn’t infringe on freedom.

Comment on Four Reasons Why Our Political System Sucks by Michael L.

Michael L. — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:20:36 +0000

We live in a Republic,, not a Democracy.
Well, you have contradicted yourself,, you say Democracy sucks,, and then you criticize the electoral college,, the one device that protects us from pure Democracy.
The reason for the electoral college is this, it forces presidential candidates to cross the country during a campaign,, instead of just a few large cities. Without the college, a candidate would only have to campaign in, say New York, LA, Philadelphia, Chicago,, because the majority of the US population lives in large cities. A few cities would have the power to shape and enslave,, the entire nation. The electoral college gives balance to the vote. It strengthens the voice of small states. It distributes the power of the vote more evenly throughout the nation,, instead of placing all that power in just a few cities with the highest populations. In a way,, it is similar to the power of given to each state through the Senate. Delaware Senators have just as much power as California Senators. Though the populations are much different, each state has only 2 Senators.
There is a reason people have flocked to this nation. it is called freedom. When there is freedom,, that means people are also free to make bad choices. Liberty means responsibility. That is why some people hate it so.
I appreciate discussion and debate. Want you to know I love a good discussion. Never afraid of differing opinions.