Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Still don't get the occupation movement?


10 comments:

  1. The problem is that some of us do 'get it'.
    Actually, Mencken describes OWS and their proposed cure succinctly:
    "The world always makes the assumption that the exposure of an error is identical with the discovery of truth - that the error and truth are simply opposite. They are nothing of the sort. What the world turns to, when it is cured on one error, is usually simply another error, and maybe one worse than the first one."

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  2. Quoting Mencken would be your error. Mencken was a brilliant misanthrope. The quote you offer could as well describe Mencken as anyone else. He was a complex and somewhat fucked-up guy.

    What, exactly, is OWS doing wrong and why. If you can't answer that question then your opinion is worthless.

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  3. commie, nice job killing the messenger. Seems to be popular in these parts.
    Just to save time, why don't you give me your list of messengers you will kill if I quote them.

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  4. Anon, what you call 'killing the messenger' is discrediting your bogus data.

    If you can find some facts that stand up, you won't have that problem any longer.

    The problem isn't us, it's you.

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  5. Bogus data? It's a freakin quote by Mencken that the exposure of an error is not identical to the discovery of truth.
    What in the hell do you disagree with?

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  6. The phrase 'kill the messenger' has been used here too often, not just this most recent instance. As in:

    "commie, nice job killing the messenger. Seems to be popular in these parts.
    Just to save time, why don't you give me your list of messengers you will kill if I quote them."

    Do you know what the phrase actually means? I ask the question, because from the way you have been using it, it doesn't appear you do know.

    It has been inaccurate and not appropriate to the discussion. Facts have been challenged, most of them successfully. THAT is not killing the messenger, although it is arguably destroying the message as lacking value or applicable meaning.

    Ans appropo the Mencken quote, NO we do not assume error is the opposite of truth. I thnk we are clearly capable of more nuanced and complex thinking than that.

    We're just fairly good at identifying your error - as error. We go about identifying truth very differently. Although the process of elmination - in this case, eliminating error, or eliminating deception, does get closer to the truth.

    To quote Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, through his character Sherlock Holmes:
    "How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?". So yes, elimination of falsehood or inaccuracy through exposure of error is part of eliminating what is impossible. Getting rid of what isn't true, leaves what is true remaining.

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  7. "commie, nice job killing the messenger. Seems to be popular in these parts.
    Just to save time, why don't you give me your list of messengers you will kill if I quote them.

    November 2, 2011 2:22 AM

    IOW, Anymouse is saying, "I have no idea what the OWS movement is doing wrong, but Rushbo, Seanny Insanity and the rest of the reichwing's shriekingheads are upset and, by GOD, that's good enough for me!!"

    One cannot kill the messenger when no message has been delivered. What your first comment left was an aphorism.

    You say the "The problem is that some of us do 'get it'."; that is not apparent from either your original comment or the follow-up.

    You got nothin' except stern condemnation of something you apparently do not understand well enough to make a concise, logical case against.

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  8. I still don't understand why the occupation movement is protesting in New York and other places and not focusing their efforts on Washington DC. This is where the real problem is.

    The one video showed how corporations were making billions in profit, but paying close to nothing or nothing in taxes. They are only using the tax code to their benefit. This tax code was setup by those in Congress, to benefit themselves and their friends. Repeal the tax code and institute another type. But that is a discussion for another time on how to achieve that.

    If the people really want change, why do they not vote those in power out and elect someone else. If the new representatives do not pass laws, or change laws, etc to their satisfaction, then vote them out at the end of their term. They will get the message if they don't abide by the people's wishes, they will only last one term.

    I agree corporations can have an undue influence on congress by their lobbying efforts, but if the people would take the time to educate themselves on who donates to who, they could make a better informed decision and remove the offenders after one term.

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  9. "I still don't understand why the occupation movement is protesting in New York and other places and not focusing their efforts on Washington DC. This is where the real problem is."

    If they protested in D.C. they would be probably be declared a terrorist organization within 24 hours and the DoJ would be on them like white on rice.

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  10. Oh, there has been protesting in DC...

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