Inside the mind of an everyday

[dutch508]

A new twist for the bouncy tails...(for you furries) tales for the rest of us 'normals'.

 

flamin lib  (1000+ posts)       Fri Apr-25-08 02:56 PM
Original message http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3207578
Inside the mind of an everyday "libertarian"
 Advertisements [?]It's crowded.

I had a honey bee hive attached to my house and called the local beekeeper’s association to have it removed. The guy who showed up didn’t strike me as the sharpest knife in the drawer but what the hey, he says he’ll do everything he can to move the hive.

Somewhere along the line he tossed out a throw-away line about liberals—can’t even remember what it was, but I responded that he’d best know I’m a Yellow Dog Democrat. He says it’s incredibly stupid to base your vote on party affiliation instead of the candidate. I say, “Look, every candidate swears to support the party platform, so if I agree with 80% of the Dem platform and disagree with 80% of the Repub I have no reason to even consider a Republican.” Thus began about two hours of back and forth, all in a friendly though spirited manner.

He says he’s a libertarian (small L variety ‘cause he doesn’t like their platform either) but everything he says comes straight off the RNC talking point memo. I think he’s like a lot of “independents” and “libertarians” who voted for Bush twice and now have serious buyer’s remorse.

Anyway, a few highlights of the conversation:

Him: If you raise minimum wage, businesses won’t hire as many people.

Me: Demonstrably untrue. The Bureau of Labor statistics says that every time the Min Wage goes up unemployment goes down. Look it up for yourself.

Him: Well it doesn’t make any difference because minimum wage increases cause inflation, which immediately eats up the increase.

Me: Again, not true. The GAO reports that no increase in consumer costs can be attributed to an increase in minimum wage. Check it out yourself at GAO.gov, don’t take my word for it.

We move on . . .

Him: Tax cuts pay for themselves, they stimulate the economy so businesses can hire people.

Me: The GAO analyzed Bush’s tax cuts and found that the best case was a 30% return, meaning we lose 70 cents of every dollar in tax cuts. Businesses hire based on need, not some incentive in the form of tax cuts, at least that’s what the Bureau of labor statistics found out.

We move on. . .

Him: Social Security is a bad deal, the Stock market returns 10% and I should be able to invest that money myself.

Me: Great, how’s that stock portfolio doing?

Him: I don’t have any stocks because the Government is taking my SS taxes.

Me: So, because of the 7% SS tax you can’t afford to invest? If you had that 7% how much would you actually put into investments?

Him: I don’t really make enough to invest. (Can’t fault him on honesty)

Me: So without Social Security there is no safety net for you at all?

We move on . . .

Him: Liberals think it’s okay to bash Christians, they hate religion.

Me: Would you agree that the country is pretty evenly split between Liberals and Conservatives? (Yes) Polls show that only about 5% of Americans are not Christians, so it seems that if ALL liberals were in the 5%, 95% of them are Christian, right? (Okay) So does it make sense for Christians to bash Christians?

We move on . . .

Him: I want maximum freedom. Freedom of speech. If I want to shout “******” I should be able to and if I’m dumb enough to do it in front of African Americans they should be able to kick my ass.

Me: Well, there are no laws against you calling people names. While you’re at it how about Kike, Spick, Slope and the rest. As for people beating you up, that’s against the law. It’s called Assault and Battery and even idiots deserve equal protection under the law.

We moved on . . .

Him: I’ve been unemployed and never had to use the unemployment benefits. I don’t like handouts from the government, so I borrowed from my parents and sister.

Me: Those benefits are paid for by your employer and are yours just like insurance. If you hurt yourself on the job, isn’t it alright to use your company insurance to get treatment?

Him: But the government takes that money at the point of a gun, my family gives it out of love.

Me: Your sister could no more refuse your needs than fly. What would everybody say about her if she refused? The only difference is who holds that metaphorical gun.

We also talked about the “liberal media”, health care and the whole concept of taxes. He finally admitted that he had no concern for anyone but himself and that he has a very low opinion of humanity as a whole. He sees mankind as greedy, stingy, without dignity and motivated to be lazy and un-productive. From what I learned about his life story I think he has some very serious self-worth issues. He left just as convinced that the world was wrong and only he had any sense of right, justice and personal responsibility.
Oh, the bees proved to be too aggressive to be suitable for a commercial hive so they had to be destroyed.
 

THEY KILLED THE FREEKING BEES!!!!

NeedleCast  (1000+ posts)      Fri Apr-25-08 03:02 PM
Response to Original message
1. Polls show that only about 5% of Americans are not Christians
 I don't think that's even close to correct.

NeedleCast  (1000+ posts)      Fri Apr-25-08 03:12 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. According to US 2000 Census Report 
 (Which I have in front of me), about 75% of American's identify as Christian with about 50% of those identifying as some sort of protestant, 25% catholic and 25% "other" Christian.

About 5 million of 281 million (and change) who reported in the 2000 census identified as atheist/agnostic.

Not trying to rip on you or anything, just supplying the facts.

 

flamin lib  (1000+ posts)       Fri Apr-25-08 03:32 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. Next time I have a conversation with a stranger I met on the sidewalk
 I'll be sure to have my laptop and wi-fi cranked up so I can dazzle them with minutia and accuracy.

"Oh, hold that thought while I pour through the Census Report--give me a fes minutes and I'll have accurate facts for you."

It's nice to have the absolute facts and positively indisputable evidence for every conversation, but it isn't conducive to talking to real people under real conditions an is an absolute dinner party killer.

[jukin]

Clearly the OP has proved to me that communism is the only way out.

[Chris_]

1, 2, 3, bouncy

[Chris_]

1 bong for the dead bees.

The rest was clearly a very big time hallucination. 

[dandi]

Points deducted for no appreciative onlookers or conversions. Points awarded for allegedly coming out on top of every talking point. I'll go a solid 4 bongs, but no more.

[dutch508]

only a couple of updates on the Bee somebody story. First libshitter is pissed people are ragging on her/him/it.

flamin lib  (1000+ posts)       Fri Apr-25-08 04:18 PM
Response to Reply #10 Edited on Fri Apr-25-08 04:22 PM by flamin lib
13. I guess, like Mr. Spock, we shouldn't make any statement that isn't absolutely correct to at least the first digit. Only 1.7% of people don't believe in any god. My bad, so my comments and the point I made with them are completely and utterly absurd and without merit of consideration. Hyperbole be damned. Accuracy is all that matters. Never make a comment or address a point of conversation unless you actually have the 2000 Census "in front of you".

Sorry, Slick, but picayune critiques based on minutia from after-the-fact research as if it were part of everyday common knowledge just irritate the shit out of me. Which means that here on DU with the accuracy police hiding behind every thread I'm completely shitless.
Edit to add:
On further review I must admit that except for the few hours just before a colonoscopy no one is ever completely shitless. My bad. Comment corrected for accuracy.

personally, I think you are full of shit.

Iris (1000+ posts)       Fri Apr-25-08 03:32 PM
Response to Original message
5. So, if you are disabled or unemployed and have no one to love you and give you money "out of love," 
 then, what? You're just shit out of luck?

flamin lib  (1000+ posts)       Fri Apr-25-08 03:34 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. Basically, yes. At one point in the conversation he expressed exactly that sentiment. Whatever happens to you is YOUR FAULT. 

I thought they believes in Kharma?

JoDog (565 posts)      Fri Apr-25-08 03:55 PM
Response to Original message
11. Too bad the bees
 had to be destroyed. Saw one outside my apartment a few days ago. Never thought I would be so happy to see a bumblebee.