tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post8834369795421813546..comments2023-06-21T00:36:40.840-07:00Comments on Plead Ignorance: Let Them Eat CakeRobert the Skeptichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-21577657395976517022011-04-24T09:20:16.028-07:002011-04-24T09:20:16.028-07:00SecretAgent Point taken - that is certainly "...<b>SecretAgent</b> Point taken - that is certainly "a horse of a different color".Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-54215268759106562602011-04-23T16:23:07.452-07:002011-04-23T16:23:07.452-07:00I know, and yet many, many people believe that fro...I know, and yet many, many people believe that frogs really will allow themselves to be lulled into boiling. Might be time for a new metaphor? ("Until pigs fly" actually makes sense because they are unlikely to ever do so, except on airplanes. And "Hell freezes over" I can also accept because its an imaginary place believed to be eternally fiery.)secret agent womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03763879283931347382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-67312122619594092812011-04-23T10:31:58.747-07:002011-04-23T10:31:58.747-07:00History has pointed out time and time again that n...History has pointed out time and time again that nations fall after a period of supremacy and the time for this seems to be approaching. Within the country there's not enough work and too many people. To balance this seems out of reach now. And the corporations have a huge financial control on every transaction the people make by way of banks, utilities, transportation, taxes,health care etc. and all because of digital technology. The control is somewhere in a virtual world that we can no longer see.Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16174142810114806410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-36931817901684309042011-04-20T09:39:16.380-07:002011-04-20T09:39:16.380-07:00Gutsy You are spot-on. The most glaring weakness o...<b>Gutsy</b> You are spot-on. The most glaring weakness of the American conscience is our ambivalence. We may want change but we want someone else to do it for us.Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-20873293005897808272011-04-19T21:17:26.706-07:002011-04-19T21:17:26.706-07:00I lived in Paris for 15 years and have said to my ...I lived in Paris for 15 years and have said to my husband, "I wonder how much more Americans will put up with before they're out on the streets rebelling. I've never known a more tolerant nation than this one. Prices go up, wages go down, benefits disappear, and people stay calm. We either have to go one way or the other, but trying to do a little of this and that, won't make anything work.Gutsy Livinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02226653890127738115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-63580201820907280692011-04-18T20:03:46.140-07:002011-04-18T20:03:46.140-07:00You could always convert to Mormonism, they stockp...<b></b> You could always convert to Mormonism, they stockpile food for just such eventualities. Of course, they will redefine the country as a theocratic state... you know, kind-a like the evangelicals are trying to do now. <br /><br />All kidding aside, a revolution in this country where the population reveres the 2nd Amendment so fervently... it makes me very uneasy.Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-61378722711577387842011-04-18T19:50:03.151-07:002011-04-18T19:50:03.151-07:00When the revolution does happen, I don't want ...When the revolution does happen, I don't want to be here. I think it will come. In watching the aftermath of Katrina, it was obvious, that this country is approximately 2 weeks from total and complete chaos. I suppose that means that the crazies win-those with the biggest guns and the shelters stocked with food. <br />I am worried for my grandchildren. And you know me, I worry!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-75733999121923264182011-04-18T18:58:57.570-07:002011-04-18T18:58:57.570-07:00SecretAgent If you read it on a blog of a skeptic,...<b>SecretAgent</b> If you read it on a blog of a skeptic, you can pretty well assume I'm using the term as a "metaphor"... you know, sorta like to make a point! <br /><br />And I expect to keep using idioms for emphasis until <i>"pigs fly"</i> or <i>"hell freezes over."</i> *grin*Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-88557421224942639202011-04-18T17:06:27.528-07:002011-04-18T17:06:27.528-07:00Can I make a comment that is a little (actually a ...Can I make a comment that is a little (actually a lot) off-topic? The frog metaphor always struck me as counter-intuitive and so I looked it up. In fact, frogs will work hard to escape water as it increases in temperature. <br />http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/frogboil.aspsecret agent womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03763879283931347382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-51171184288887161932011-04-18T15:33:50.135-07:002011-04-18T15:33:50.135-07:00Billy You are probably right, many of the Captains...<b>Billy</b> You are probably right, many of the Captains of Industry even own their own islands. I'll bet the local authorties don't question their wishes much either. <br /><br /><b>Kay</b> Having followed your blog for a bit I know you are very active in participating in the political fight; I commend and admire you. <br /><br /><b>Nance</b> Yes, they want to throw out the "Washington Insider" who is replaced by a new face who then becomes the new "Insider". There's no logic to it.<br /><br />Again you may be right, the seeds of potential revolution may be a scant generation or two behind us.Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-8648678173263396002011-04-18T13:50:47.112-07:002011-04-18T13:50:47.112-07:00Love the boiled frog image; that's long been o...Love the boiled frog image; that's long been one of my favorite cautionary tales.<br /><br />Add to the reasons that we WON't be storming the barricades the illusion of the power of the vote. It's not that there's No power in One Man-One Vote; it's that the outcomes can be so easily diddled as to dilute the 1:1 ratio into powerlessness. And that the average voting member of the working class can siphon off some rage by threatening to vote any given SOB out of office next time. <br /><br />Reasons that we probably WILL be storming the barricades--and sooner rather than later--is the increase in the number of Americans who have at least two years of college and that the population growth and dwindling resources turn that pot of boiling water into a pressure cooker. <br /><br />Or, what billy pilgrim, that wily wordsmith, said.Nancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166865250789996825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-18033159306486591842011-04-18T11:39:29.717-07:002011-04-18T11:39:29.717-07:00I agree completely. Maybe it's my heritage bu...I agree completely. Maybe it's my heritage but I want to fight back and I'm slowly but surely becoming ready to fight in whatever way I can.Kay Dennisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02646717192332313215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-51250522175148732952011-04-17T16:43:17.775-07:002011-04-17T16:43:17.775-07:00Rain I could not agree more. Perhaps if Obama gets...<b>Rain</b> I could not agree more. Perhaps if Obama gets a second term, being a lame duck and not needing to worry about reelection, he will get the hard stuff done. But then who knows what Congress will look like in 2012?<br /><br /><b>Cryptos</b> I have heard non-scientific statements like when 20% of a population feels they have nothing left to lose, there is revolution. One US congressman (don't recall who) said that Americans are only 11 missed meals from revolution.<br /><br />People with moderate views generally don't take to the streets, I would surmise.Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-8616658492118771152011-04-17T16:39:49.505-07:002011-04-17T16:39:49.505-07:00as the watering hole gets smaller the animals get ...as the watering hole gets smaller the animals get meaner and they turn on each other rather than going after the guy emptying the water hole.<br /><br />if there was a revolution the captains of industry would shut down the economy and take a nice vacation whilst the poor learned their lesson.billy pilgrimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00128876723713271131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-64060834300501266862011-04-17T14:32:23.359-07:002011-04-17T14:32:23.359-07:00Succinct and to the point. That social revolutions...Succinct and to the point. That social revolutions were coming was predictable, but not when and where. I wonder what critical mass will have to be reached for it to occur.<br /><br />Many European countries take to the streets "en masse" for reduced work weeks or retirement age. Not something we see in America. Is there less cohesion? Fear?<br /><br />(Interesting work by Nobel winner Peter Diamond.)Antares Cryptoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12197876328401157462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-65037699558452514382011-04-17T08:52:26.911-07:002011-04-17T08:52:26.911-07:00It is as you said, an extremely disappointing time...It is as you said, an extremely disappointing time for those of us who wanted to think this country had a similar set of values. We elect democrats and it's our only choice at all but what does it really change? Disillusioning to say the least.Rain Trueaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07994628226501093880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-85084197140833698162011-04-17T07:41:17.438-07:002011-04-17T07:41:17.438-07:00DJan Interesting Pete predicted that 30 years ago;...<b>DJan</b> Interesting Pete predicted that 30 years ago; Carlin and others frequently invoke 30 years as the time span of when our country radically changed. Those were the Reagan years. No I don't expect to see any upheaval in my lifetime either. We are the lucky generation having lived in the best times this country had, and ever will have. We'll mercifully be gone by then. <br /><br /><b>Jerry</b> I like your term, "Ruling Class", it characterizes the situation quite well. China's economy is second in the world beneath ours; where are we headed and where are they? This country is indeed "history". <br /><br /><b>Dr. Mom</b> Quite so. As a former Welfare Worker, I was always surprised by how many of my clients had the mega-channel cable TV package.Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-28716181386384764782011-04-17T06:47:24.889-07:002011-04-17T06:47:24.889-07:00The same basic story goes way, way back. Ancient A...The same basic story goes way, way back. Ancient Athens had a peasant revolt.<br /><br />And ancient Rome was well known for entertainment that kept the masses happy and propaganda that kept the state foremost in their minds.The Motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15157821003454766570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-21838736808942807412011-04-17T06:05:47.523-07:002011-04-17T06:05:47.523-07:00This is one issue that has been plaguing my thinki...This is one issue that has been plaguing my thinking for a long time now. It seems seemingly inconceivable that we do now have a ruling class. It not only angers me, but saddens me greatly that we have evolved into what was once sneered at in history class.Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04278403041887060649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-13615455831724944402011-04-17T06:01:40.615-07:002011-04-17T06:01:40.615-07:00You have said it well, Robert. However, I do belie...You have said it well, Robert. However, I do believe given enough time, there will be a revolution here, too. I don't expect to be alive to see it, but my BIL Pete predicted it way back in the mid-1980s. Thank you for this thoughtful post.DJanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07152183871573797791noreply@blogger.com