"Even though Steve Ballmer does his monkey dance every time we say it, this is the SETI@home forum for BOINC users only!"

Misattribution.

You're welcome.

And here's the video.

I have no idea what you're talking about. It's copied from your disclaimer. And the video link I provide works just fine.

The disclaimer is a brushed-up version of the intro and outro to "Car Talk", and you were attributed with the quote which you borrowed from my obfuscation...

Pay no attention to the man behind the green curtain.

---

Pay no attention to the man behind the green curtain.

I like green.

---

me@rescam.org

I am surprised that no one took up this discussion?? I am not American, but you don't need to be American to discuss some of the points raised....

I HAVE A PLAN TO DESTROY AMERICA
Richard D. Lamm
Governor of Colorado, 1975-1987

I. We must first make America a bilingual-bicultural country. History shows, in my opinion, that no nation can survive the tension, conflict, and antagonism of two competing languages and cultures. It is a blessing for an individual to be bilingual; it is a curse for a society to be bilingual. One scholar, Seymour Martin Lipset, put it this way:

The histories of bilingual and bicultural societies that do not assimilate are histories of turmoil, tension, and tragedy. Canada, Belgium, Malaysia, and Lebanon-all face crises of national existence in which minorities press for autonomy, if not independence. Pakistan and Cyprus have divided. Nigeria suppressed an ethnic rebellion. France faces difficulties with its Basques, Bretons, and Corsicans.

Some people will think that Switzerland is an example of a bilingual country that works. Don't disabuse them of this idea. Let them think that! Don't for a minute point out to them that Switzerland divided their country into three distinct mono-linguistic areas, German, French, and Roma. Let them ignore Emmanuel Kant's warning that “language is the great divider” of human history.

Multilingual societies can function quite harmoniously, however when we are talking about "culture" it is more of a problem when religion enters the picture. In the above example, lets look at Malaysia 60% Islamic (malay), 30% Bhudist/Christian (Chinese) and 10% Hindu (Indian). There are no less than 30 spoken languages or dialects of Malay, Chinese and Indian in Malaysia. The problem is a little more complex that simply "language".

Historically, civil unrest in Malaysia was from economic inequalities (the minority was more affuluent that the majority ethnic group!).

However i will say that multilingual societies face greater challenges in terms of social and economic development because of confusion and misuderstandings that the various languages cause. Many people cannot communciate effectively because they do not have a strong common tongue! (English is often the bridge, i could write a lot here but i wont). In a few words, the overall education process is cumbersome, three types of schools and school systems (Malay, Chinese and International [for the wealthy]) books in different languages etc etc.

II. Next, I would then invent “multiculturalism” and encourage immigrants to maintain their own culture. I would make it an article of belief that all cultures are equal: that there are no cultural differences that are important. I would declare it an article of faith that the Black and Hispanic dropout rate is only due to prejudice and discrimination by the majority. Every other explanation is out-of-bounds.

III. We can make the United States a "Hispanic Quebec" without much effort. The key is to celebrate diversity rather than unity. As Benjamin Schwarz said in the Atlantic monthly recently:

...The apparent success of our own multiethnic and multicultural experiment might have been achieved not by tolerance but by hegemony. Without the dominance that once dictated ethnocentrically, and what it meant to be an American, we are left with only tolerance and pluralism to hold us together.

I would encourage all immigrants to keep their own language and culture. I would replace the melting pot metaphor with a salad bowl metaphor. It is important to [ensure] that we have various cultural sub-groups living in America reinforcing their differences rather than Americans, emphasizing their similarities.

Could this be done, even if 'they' wanted to? If people wish to retain or relinquish their native culture they will choose accordingly.

IV. Having done all this, I would make our fastest growing demographic group the least educated - I would add a second underclass, unassimilated, undereducated, and antagonistic to the majority population. I would allow our immigration patterns to take 50% of our immigrant stream from Spanish speaking countries. I would have this new second underclass have a 50% drop out rate from school. I would radicalize them with dreams of “Atzlan” and re-conquering the American Southwest.

I dont have any stats on this, so i cannot comment. But i will say this, who ever is the most poorly educated and impoverished demographic within a society is most likely to

a. Easily be controlled
b. Attack the affluent or middle-class/middle-upper-class.

V. I would then get the big foundations and big business to give these efforts lots of money. I would invest in ethnic identity, and I would establish the cult of victimlogy. I would get all minorities to think their lack of success was all the fault of the majority - I would start a grievance industry blaming all minority failure on the majority population.

What's in it for the "big foundations and big business"? The root of the problem here again, is education and distribution of wealth.

VI. I would establish dual citizenship and promote divided loyalties. I would “celebrate diversity.” “Diversity” is a wonderfully seductive word. It stresses differences rather than commonalities. Diverse people worldwide are mostly engaged in hating each other-that is, when they are not killing each other. A “diverse,” peaceful, or stable society is against most historical precedent. People undervalue the unity it takes to keep a nation together, and we can take advantage of this myopia. Look at the ancient Greeks. Dorf's World History tells us:

The Greeks believed that they belonged to the same race; they possessed a common language and literature; and they worshiped the same gods. All Greece took part in the Olympic games in honor of Zeus and all Greeks venerated the shrine of Apollo at Delphi. A common enemy Persia threatened their liberty. Yet, all of these bonds together were not strong enough to overcome two factors . . . (local patriotism and geographical conditions that nurtured political divisions . . .)


If we can put the emphasis on the “pluribus,” instead of the “unum,” we can balkanize America as surely as Kosovo.

No comment, similar to the language argument.

VII. Then I would place all these sensitive subjects off limits - make it taboo to talk about. I would find a word similar to “heretic” in the 16th century - that stopped discussion and paralyzed thinking. Words like “racist”, “xenophobe” that [halt] argument and conversation.

Having made America a bilingual-bicultural country, having established multiculturalism, having the large foundations fund the doctrine of “victimlogy”, I would next make it impossible to enforce our immigration laws. I would develop a mantra - “that because immigration has been good for America, it must always be good.” I would make every individual immigrant sympatric and ignore the cumulative impact.

Again, well educated, balanced individuals with sufficient resources (economically speaking) can discuss/debate and reason. If these elements are removed then you wont need words like "heretic".

VIII. Finally, I would get America accustomed to living on borrowed money. Debt is economic cocaine; it become addicting. I would start borrowing money, and slowly I would begin building up public and private debt. Debt will be the precipitating factor that will allow us to successfully overthrow the United State government. Look at the progress my generation quietly made in undercutting America's economic strength. I graduated from high school in 1953 and I inherited from my parents a small federal debt and the world's largest creditor nation. I am leaving to my children a staggering federal debt and the world's largest debtor nation.

This is happening now. Just take a look at the U.S. national debt, along with its 5 year trend. When this catches up, it could get very ugly and i dont think 25 basis points (of interest rate increase) every year for the next 5 years will fix this!! (clearly it is not working).

I inherited an exporting nation with a high savings rate and I'm leaving my children an importing nation with the industrial world's lowest saving rate. I inherited a nation that produced more than it consumed and I'm leaving my kids a nation that consumes more than it produces. My generation invented the credit card, and the average American now has over six credit cards and daily adds to the consumer debt. We have successfully built a debt bomb ready to explode. Remember, debt at some indeterminable point of ceaseless borrowing creates economic chaos, and economic collapse preceded Hitler's Germany, Mussolini's Italy, and Lenin's Russia.

How can it be that the government is not responsible for its own balance sheet? If they dont start looking at it, i think we will have another Enron/ Worldcom! Or is the rest of the world going to pay of the lifestyle of US Citizens!

---

Belief gets in the way of learning

Or is the rest of the world going to pay of the lifestyle of US Citizens!

They pay now. And have been for YEARS.

The funny part is that they think their health care or whatnot is "free."

---

Cordially,
Rush

elrushbo2@theobviousgmail.com
Remove the obvious...

They pay now. And have been for YEARS.

The funny part is that they think their health care or whatnot is "free."

Most things in life are not free.
The question is: is it worth the price and how is cost/payment determined and arranged, both at the level of society/state and at the level of the individual.

---

Join TeamACC

Sometimes I think we are alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we are not. In either case the idea is quite staggering.

---

Account frozen...

Or is the rest of the world going to pay of the lifestyle of US Citizens!

They pay now. And have been for YEARS.

The funny part is that they think their health care or whatnot is "free."

So who is going to bail out the U.S. when their economy collapses?

United States National Debt (Historical)

or

US Debt Clock

The next few generations are going to be real happy about this, but they may not understand the implications so 'its okay'.

Perhaps they will have to change the world-wide banking rules a "financial amnesty for all" ...LOL....

Lets just keep issuing those T-bills, too bad if Europe and Asia stop buying.

---

Belief gets in the way of learning

What's scary is that on CNN today there was a report about birdflue. Gist of it was that if it were to become a medium sized pandemic it would kill maybe 2 million in the US and put %40 of the workforce out with sickness.

---

Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data!
I did NOT authorize this belly writing!

Lets just keep issuing those T-bills, too bad if Europe and Asia stop buying.

Uhh... hello? Those T-Bills (now known as "Patriot Bills" or some similar jingoistic nomenclature) are adding to the problem, not solving it.

If you really want to cut the debt, recall all the outstanding bonds. What's driving the economy further and further into the red is the interest, and not the principal.

---

---

Account frozen...

And yet another conservative imitator...



What we have learned over the last five years is that Republican porkers feeding at the public trough are perfectly capable of being even worse than Democratic porkers feeding at the public trough.

We are at the point where real conservatives must choose whether they are more concerned about the actual objective of "Limited Government" as opposed to mindless loyalty to a party that no longer stands for anything.

Republican vs. Democrat is a false choice.
Divided vs. Undivided Government is the real choice.

---

- Skeptic - "... and there is no intelligent life in Washington D.C. either."

Lets just keep issuing those T-bills, too bad if Europe and Asia stop buying.

Uhh... hello? Those T-Bills (now known as "Patriot Bills" or some similar jingoistic nomenclature) are adding to the problem, not solving it.

I'm sorry, i forgot to add <SARCASM> in my post.....

As i said, Asia and Europe just keep on buying (those debt instruments.....)

If you really want to cut the debt, recall all the outstanding bonds. What's driving the economy further and further into the red is the interest, and not the principal.

Okay, so when you recall the bonds, what are you going to pay the principle with?? GOLD or 'cash' (what the hell, just print some more!).

Perhaps a reduction in the 420 Billion dollar military budget would help??

Or

An increase in civil savings by a reduction in spending (consumerism?).

---

Belief gets in the way of learning

Ahhh, Cato institute is one of my favorites. 'Conservatives' have largely been suffering from an identity/principle crisis for 4 decades now. When conservatives figure out what it is they are actually trying to conserve I hope they let us all know. I'm not holding my breath...

I believe their problem is their acceptance of the ethic of their rivals albeit wrapped in different paper, usually religion. Which party TRULY believes that we belong to ourselves and that our rights are inherent to our nature? The typical conservative believes our rights are a gift from God and they are willing to be the ones who interpret what those rights are. The liberal believes rights are a gift from the state and can be taken away on any whim because they're really only a privelege.

Give me libertarianism any day. (small 'l' libertarianism)

ps Skeptic, you may be interested in my small team as you have none.

---

Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data!
I did NOT authorize this belly writing!

"Give me libertarianism any day. (small 'l' libertarianism)" - RB

Yes ... while I am philosophically aligned with libertarian ideas, I find the LP to be an exercise in futility. Third parties are only effective in a negative way- they have to pull primarily from one of the major parties to have an impact. Bush(41) loses to Clinton becasue Perot pulls from Republicans. Gore loses to Bush(43) because Nader pulls from Democrats. Libertarian party pulls from both parties, so it has no effect. CATO Institute has at least had success introducing libertarian ideas into mainstream politics. Love those guys.

"Skeptic, you may be interested in my small team as you have none." RB

Indeed. I have thus far managed to avoid joining any teams, befitting my skeptic personna. I did once consider starting a Skeptic team, but never got around to it. I will give your offer due consideration. Thanks for the invite. - s

---

- Skeptic - "... and there is no intelligent life in Washington D.C. either."

Yes, the ideas are what matter and if they percolate into the other parties that is all we should care about. Occasionally I'm more optimistic than not. Think back to the price/wage freezes of Nixon. Inconceivable today. Othertimes I'm pessimistic; just look at how so many currently have not one iota of an understanding of the function of profits as related to the oil industry or any industry for that matter. Bill O'Reilly and his simple minded tirades against 'Big Oil' price gouging, etc.

Anyway, one of our team members has volunteered to establish a website for us complete with forums and fancy doo dads. Aiming for that to be setup in 2 mos time. Not everyone there is an Objectivist or libertarian. Some are just friends of other members so there's no 'litmus test' to joining.

---

Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data!
I did NOT authorize this belly writing!

"Think back to the price/wage freezes of Nixon. Inconceivable today." -RB

Oh, I wouldn't be so sure. "Action" is what is important to this president. I think he capable of almost anything without a lot of thought behind it. As Iran heats up ... look for trial balloons on reinstituting the DRAFT to be floated.

Anyway, one of our team members has volunteered to establish a website for us complete with forums and fancy doo dads. - RB

Excellent. Gives me two more months to dither. -s

---

- Skeptic - "... and there is no intelligent life in Washington D.C. either."

Skeptic, what do you think of the Fair Tax? I'm sure you're familiar with it but for those that aren't it is the proposal by congressman John Linder (R-GA) to eliminate entirely the income tax and move to a fixed %23 sales tax. Every person would receive a monthly rebate of about 250$ (+more for dependents) to compensate for 'necessities of life'. This would capture revenue from the black market, tourism, illegal aliens, etc. Most economists believe that it would not ultimately raise the price of goods and services because of the imbedded income taxes hidden in all prices. There's a book out now in paperback that is/was N.Y. Times besteller by Linder and libertarian talk show host Neal Boortz.

fair tax site

Neal Boortz website

---

Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data!
I did NOT authorize this belly writing!

So who is going to bail out the U.S. when their economy collapses?

The next few generations are going to be real happy about this, but they may not understand the implications so 'its okay'.

Perhaps they will have to change the world-wide banking rules a "financial amnesty for all" ...LOL....

Lets just keep issuing those T-bills, too bad if Europe and Asia stop buying.

If they stop buying, the ones they hold become worthless, the dollars they hold in reserve become worth substantially less.

While they are trending away from buying them, that's fine with me. Bankrupt the Federal Gov't and I'll be ecstatic.

---

Cordially,
Rush

elrushbo2@theobviousgmail.com
Remove the obvious...