What they've done is more like redefining the blinking warning light as being the normal indication.

You must be a Trekkie.

OK. I'll burn some karma.

"It works fairly well, but it should apply a little more taxation on the truly rich. Not giving money to the poor directly, but not forcing the poor to pay the rich person's prices."
the top 0.1% of taxpayers by income pay 17.4% of federal income taxes (earning 9.1% of the income), the top 1% with gross income of $328,049 or more pay 36.9% (earning 19%), the top 5% with gross income of $137,056 or more pay 57.1% (earning 33.4%), and the bottom 50% with gross income of $30,122 or less pay 3.3% (earning 13.4%). US Tax Distribution

The "truly rich" pay their fair share of taxes already considering most of the poor pay NO federal income tax.

"The government in the U.S. would do well by subsidizing more things: farming is well subsidized; education needs a whole hell of a lot more money; alternative fuel research and implementation would help drive down gas prices as well as provide more economic means of transportation."

Yeah, more subsidizing is what we need. We already pay "farmers" to NOT grow food. That's subsidies in action.
We have increased funding to schools year after year and our test scores do not show a direct link to the amount of money spent. What we need is to get the teacher unions under control and overhaul the public school system. Teachers should be accountable for how well their students perform.
Yes, implementation of an alternative fuel that is actually an effective substitute for oil-based fuels would be wonderful. Let me know when we find one. We could be using nuclear power much more, but the far-left tree-huggers won't let that happen.

"Tweak the market" is your code for more governmental regulatory control or subsidies. Either way, the general public will suffer.

You obviously have no clue what you are talking about. Keep drinking the Kool-Aid that the socialist far-left keeps dishing out.

One can only speculate that all of the nicotine isn't absorbed in the user's lungs.

There. Fixed that for you.

You know what happens when one assumes?

Oh, the tyranny!!!

Here's a wild idea: Plan ahead and buy your booze on Saturday!!

What a novel concept!

"~1,000,000 unnecessary civilian deaths"

Really?? I would sure like to see your source for that casualty count that can be directly linked to U.S. military action.

That number is well above any figure I can find and the ones I find include all "violent deaths" whether they directly relate to the U.S. presence or not.

As though the U.S. is responsible for every murder committed in Iraq or Afghanistan just because we're there.

In addition, to suggest that the Iraq or Afghanistan war compares in any way to "the holocaust, the soviet gulags, or pol pots killing fields" shows how much of a douche bag you are.

virtual mod point for you. well said.

You apparently don't know what you're talking about.

This looks a lot like a gun. If you were to just reach and grab the pistol-grip handle without looking, you could definitely mistake this for a gun or vise versa.

"But again Apple has only been really unpredictable with what they have allowed - not with what they have denied"

WTF??? Did you actually read what you typed???

You are saying the same thing as the AC only in a different way, but telling him he's wrong.

Is the glass half full or half empty?

Same meaning, different wording.

If you flame them, they will come.

"In context, yes, Beck is a liar for saying the guy's a communist."

Seriously???

The text you quote does nothing to denounce Jones as a communist. In fact, the first section of text only states that he saw others (not self-proclaimed communists) making better progress on their goals than he (a self-proclaimed communist) and his buddies. This prompted him to change his tactics not necessarily his philosophy.

The second section of text only shows he embraces "eco-entrepreneurs" and "green business leaders" to ensure "our success and survival as a species." Anything other than these necessary eco-technologies is where the "nonprofit voluntary, cooperative, and community-based solutions" come in.

In summary, Jones saw he was not achieving his goals with protest signs, so he changed his methods not his goals. He is also willing to accept capitalism in a limited and focused capacity, but has not denounced his socialist agenda for the "important roles" in society.

I'm not sure where you get health care is a right. What entity bestowed that right upon all humanity?

The only societal rights that Americans possess are the rights laid out by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I am unaware of any portion of those documents that gives a citizen the right to health care.

You may argue that it is a moral obligation to provide health care to all, but it is no more a right than it is your right to eat farm produce.

Those in the health care profession at this time did not go to college, medical school, internships and residencies over a period of years to then work in a job where they are bound by restrictive government mandates.

Right now, the market tells them how much they are going to earn for a given procedure. While there are definitely areas for improvement and reform within the health care and insurance industries, I don't think the government running things is going to provide that in a positive and efficient way.

There will always be health care professionals, but at what level of proficiency and skill? I think we will definitely see a drop off in these areas if they are not compensated properly and allowed to perform their jobs without overbearing government control.

First of all, you know what happens when you assume...

Secondly, if I go to a hotel restaurant and they assume I am a guest and only charge me the guest rate, am I stealing? I don't think so. If I falsified documentation to pass myself off as a hotel guest, then I am actively committing a fraudulent act.

Apple does not require the consumer to show proof of Mac ownership when purchasing the software, so you are not fraudulent in acquiring the software nor are you stealing. You are just making a retail purchase. Your argument does not hold up.

I think Batman is a prime example of what can be accomplished with a dead franchise.

After the first two movies, each movie got worse and worse with the climax of crap that was Clooney and Schwartzenneger. However, with the last two movies, they have rejuvenated a character that I had lost hope in seeing properly realized on screen. The Bale Batman movies aren't perfect, but are definitely the most authentic and true to form of all the movies. I personally loved Ledger's Joker.

If someone can successfully turn Batman around, then there is hope that Terminator could fall in good hands as well.

I took a quick look at Talking Points Memo to see what you describe as a "good web news site".

1. In their description, they classify themselves as "Commentary on political events from a politically left perspective". Great! At least they are up front about their bias.

2. They seem to do no more than comment on the reporting of others.

3. They use sources like "The Daily Show" (I know that's what many young Americans believe is real news these days) and twitter posts from other reporters.

While all news outlets reference previously reported stories in some of their stories and follow-ups, they also provide some original content. These are stories broke by their reporters and investigators. If the mainstream media dies off, who is going to break these stories? The bloggers?? doubtful. Bloggers may be great for a different perspective that provides a fresh look at a story or possibly finding a hidden truth, but in general they don't have the resources nor the access to break the stories.