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[Blader]

1.) But what do you mean by "change"? Change occurs all the time and I don't see why Obama won't bring "change". It just matters on what you mean by it

End the war, make the economy great, lower gas prices, etc.

2.) Is a lack of experience a weakness politically? Yes. Is it a weakness on how one will governor? Not really

See what I mean? How can you delude yourself into thinking a lack of experience is a good leadership quality?

Incidentally, people harped on Bush back in 2000 for his lack of gravitas. Yet for Obama, that's a strength?

3.) Radical people Obama has associated himself with? If there has been one non-issue that has been overblown this election, it is that one.

On the issue of Wright, I agree. But the fact that Obama's relationship with someone like William Ayers hasn't raised any eyebrows is, frankly, disturbing.

4.) The Democratic congress has done alot since getting elected. It just depends on what your expectations were.

I don't know how can you say that when the country has only gotten significantly worse under their watch.

 

[Blader]

It doesn't prove anything. Your post only proves that you a) don't know what the current Congress has done and b) you take Internet hyperbole at face value.

Kind of hard to accuse me of taking Internet hyperbole at face value when there are tens of thousands of people screaming "Yes we can."

 

[Tamanon]

On the issue of Wright, I agree. But the fact that Obama's relationship with someone like William Ayers hasn't raised any eyebrows is, frankly, disturbing.

What relationship?

 

[Gaborn]

Well is was including that under the "political" part. Experience does effect how voters view a candidate and their concern. But after a certain threshold there doesn't seem to be any actual correlation between experience and quality of the governor, likely due to the uniqueness of Presidency in this case.

That's true, the Presidency is a unique indication, and I agree a person can be completely successful or not regardless of experience. However, I still say that more experience is probably better than less, (for the record, this should NOT be considered a knock on Obama in my view, he's got a huge amount of life experience that goes pretty wildly outside the norm for most Americans, in many ways his unique perspective makes him more experienced than many past Presidential candidates who were governors or more experienced in political machines) both in terms of perception, but establishing what a candidate will do by what they've done.

 

[Blader]

What relationship?

Do you really not know or is that sarcasm?

 

[Tamanon]

All I want from my President is someone that won't ruin the US's world image and won't start any unnecessary wars. That's pretty much all you have to do to get a gold star from me. Mainly because stuff like the economy and whatnot isn't directly impacted by them at all.

Blader: I know of the relationship, but I want to know why it's an issue to you.

 

[Blader]

That's true, the Presidency is a unique indication, and I agree a person can be completely successful or not regardless of experience. However, I still say that more experience is probably better than less, (for the record, this should NOT be considered a knock on Obama in my view, he's got a huge amount of life experience that goes pretty wildly outside the norm for most Americans, in many ways his unique perspective makes him more experienced than many past Presidential candidates who were governors or more experienced in political machines) both in terms of perception, but establishing what a candidate will do by what they've done.

This particular presidency is itself a unique case, because it comes at a time when the country is fighting two wars while also trying to keep its own economy afloat. A lack of experience is not a good thing for this election.

 

[alr1ght]

On the issue of Wright, I agree. But the fact that Obama's relationship with someone like William Ayers hasn't raised any eyebrows is, frankly, disturbing.

Hey look, Sean Hannity posts on GAF.

 

[grandjedi6]

End the war, make the economy great, lower gas prices, etc.

-Ending the War is possible. Now removing all the troops while keeping the middle east in its delicate balance is a larger question
-The Presidency can only effect the economy so much. It would be out of any President's power to simply make the economy horrible or wonderful by themselves.
-I doubt anyone can lower the gas prices at this point. The future is only up

See what I mean? How can you delude yourself into thinking a lack of experience is a good leadership quality?

Incidentally, people harped on Bush back in 2000 for his lack of gravitas. Yet for Obama, that's a strength?

A lack of experience is not a good leadership quality. But neither does experience lead to good leadership. History has not shown any direct correlation between the experience and quality of the President

On the issue of Wright, I agree. But the fact that Obama's relationship with someone like William Ayers hasn't raised any eyebrows is, frankly, disturbing.

Obama's relationship with Ayers? Using that guideline, half of Chicago has a "relationship" with Ayers. And even then why does it matter if Obama himself does not share the same views?

I don't know how can you say that when the country has only gotten significantly worse under their watch.

How has it gotten worse? What has congress done to make it worse? What could congress have done to not make it worse? Details

 

[Blader]

Blader: I know of the relationship, but I want to know why it's an issue to you.

Because Ayers was a domestic terrorist?

Obviously, I'm not saying Obama endorses terrorism, nor do I consider it a make-or-break issue, but the fact that he associated with him both before and after those bombings is troubling.

 

[Tamanon]

Because Ayers was a domestic terrorist?

Obviously, I'm not saying Obama endorses terrorism, nor do I consider it a make-or-break issue, but the fact that he associated with him both before and after those bombings is troubling.

But Ayers is also a productive member of society now. Are you saying that he should be shunned by everyone and not allowed to hold a job or be on a charity board?

And....um....Obama didn't associate with Ayers before those bombings.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Related note: Obama is polling better with women than Kerry in 2004. There's always going to be evidence of Obama's race/gender "problems", but most data has him doing quite well.

There's been much written and You-Tubed about supporters of Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton who are having trouble making the switch to presumptive nominee Barack Obama -- and say they may never. Or may never unless he puts Clinton on the ticket with him as vice president.

Are women a big problem for Obama? Maybe not. At least one poll shows rapid recent movement to Obama overall among Democrats, including women.

Pollster Scott Rasmussen says that as of today, based on 3,000 automated telephone surveys over the past three nights, Obama gets support from 52% of the women in his national tracking poll compared with 40% for presumptive Republican nominee John McCain. He says that's better than Democrat John Kerry did with women against President Bush in 2004.

Scott attributes Obama's performance to unification within the Democratic Party over the past few days. "Before last Tuesday, Obama routinely earned around 70% of vote from Democrats," he tells us in an e-mail. "He's up to 81% today. Clearly the party has been coming together."

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2008/06/are-women-shunn.html

 

[grandjedi6]

Because Ayers was a domestic terrorist?

Obviously, I'm not saying Obama endorses terrorism, nor do I consider it a make-or-break issue, but the fact that he associated with him both before and after those bombings is troubling.

False. Obama hadn't even graduated high school or moved to Chicago by the time Ayers stopped doing shit

 

[Tamanon]

To pretend that the economic policies of the president and Congress have no impact on the economy is a little silly, don't you think?

Obama has had about as much experience as Abraham Lincoln did (half a dozen years in the Illinois state legislature, two years in Congress) and is facing far less pressing problems. Besides, his staff picks will have more to do with White House policy than with his own experience.

I never said they had no impact, but the President himself has almost no direct impact.

 

[Blader]

Hey look, Sean Hannity posts on GAF.

This is exactly the kind of stupidity that is alarming me.

-Ending the War is possible. Now removing all the troops while keeping the middle east in its delicate balance is a larger question
-The Presidency can only effect the economy so much. It would be out of any President's power to simply make the economy horrible or wonderful by themselves.
-I doubt anyone can lower the gas prices at this point. The future is only up

This is exactly my point, though. People have fooled themselves into thinking that if Obama is elected then all of these things will magically get better. They won't, and that's certainly not why I (may) vote for Obama in November.

A lack of experience is not a good leadership quality. But neither does experience lead to good leadership. History has not shown any direct correlation between the experience and quality of the President

Like I said, with the unique situation the US is currently in both at home and abroad, I want a more experienced leader than a less experienced one. Not that I'm saying I'll vote McCain over Obama, but it's certainly a strike on Obama's part.

How has it gotten worse? What has congress done to make it worse? What could congress have done to not make it worse? Details

How has it gotten worse? I trust that's not a serious question. All I'm saying is that despite Pelosi's promises for those first 100 days, nothing has gotten better and everything has gotten worse. Personally speaking, my life doesn't even feel livable right now.

 

[Dan]

Reposting this from a previous thread:

Given that your House of Representatives is elected every two years, every second year is an election year. That accusation can be made of virtually any decision made by either party at any time.

Shit the Democrats promised they would do:
- Lobbyist reform. Passed.
- Pay-as-you-go. Passed.
- 9/11 Report recommendations. Passed; delayed ~6 months to resolve Senate/House differences.
- Raise federal minimum wage. Passed.
- Stem cell research. Passed, vetoed.
- Direct negotiation with pharmaceutical companies. Passed.
- Cut student loan interest rates. Passed.
- End some tax subsidies for oil companies. Passed.
- Try to end the War in Iraq. Tried multiple times; mix of failing, vetoes, veto threats.
- Investigate Bush administration corruption; Stonewalled multiple times, but Waxman among others has done a fabulous job.

I think it's very naive to say that the Democrats haven't got anything done. They've done their best to undo six years of foolishness. They've done their best to enact a legislative agenda at complete odds with the President. They've done their best to solidify their gains and gain further in future elections. They've done their best to prevent Bush administration abuses and corruption in the civil service. On the balance, they've succeeded.

Now imagine what we can do with the presidency and larger majorities in both houses of congress. I'm missing the part where Obama's supporters shouldn't believe we can get things done.

Kind of hard to accuse me of taking Internet hyperbole at face value when there are tens of thousands of people screaming "Yes we can."

Yup, a hopeful and optimistic campaign cheer is evidence of mass delusion. If you wanted to talk about Hillary's "yes we will", then maybe. Otherwise, you're being deliberately stupid.

 

[Blader]

But Ayers is also a productive member of society now. Are you saying that he should be shunned by everyone and not allowed to hold a job or be on a charity board?

Well, that's kind of a different debate, but I personally don't find treason all that forgivable of a crime, especially when he hasn't even really repented for it.

 

[thekad]

Aw, icarus brought up Lincoln's "experience" before I could. Damn slow browser.

 

[Mr.Squirrel]

I think everyone has to put this in context Clinton DOMINATED the black vote early on in the primaries. Black folk were not coming out for him in any sort of numbers until after Iowa. The guy had a 0% chance early on. Blacks didn't think he was Black enough, they didn't think he had the experience, didn't think he could win against Clinton, they didn't think he could get anywhere with that name. I love the selective memory when it comes to Obama, just like every other vote that he got he earned it by being the better candidate. Iowa had more to do with Obama getting the Black vote in other states than SC did.

What worked for Obama is that he never really focused on race and I don't think that was a pander issue but, probably as a bi-racial person he has learned from hard knocks to be dismissive and deflective on race related issues. That worked in his favor, even if every Black person in America voted for him it wouldn't do much.

why the hell do people keep saying that? ive never met a black person that didnt think obama wasnt black enough. thats some bullshit the media came up with. i was in class and the professor brought that shit up, so i raised my hand and asked if any other black student in the class agreed and none of us did. i dont know why white people keep assuming they know what "being black" means more than a black person.

im still waiting on the day i meet a black person who didnt think obama was black enough

 

[Blader]

People who support Obama are gullible.

People who don't are racist.

I know who I'd rather hang out with.

Posts like these only reassure me that I'm right. Thanks.

 

[grandjedi6]

This is exactly my point, though. People have fooled themselves into thinking that if Obama is elected then all of these things will magically get better. They won't, and that's certainly not why I (may) vote for Obama in November.

From my own experience I have not seen many obama supporters who have been "fooled" into believing Obama will magically fix all 3 of those things.

Like I said, with the unique situation the US is currently in both at home and abroad, I want a more experienced leader than a less experienced one. Not that I'm saying I'll vote McCain over Obama, but it's certainly a strike on Obama's part.

Unique situation? America is always in a "unique situation", and history has not shown that more experience leads to a better President. I'm not saying more experience is bad, but it certainly doesn't seem to be a good guage of quality.

How has it gotten worse? I trust that's not a serious question. All I'm saying is that despite Pelosi's promises for those first 100 days, nothing has gotten better and everything has gotten worse. Personally speaking, my life doesn't even feel livable right now.

Details. What exactly has congress not lived up to? What exactly has Congress not done?

And if Congress can make you personally feel that your life isn't livable then Congress has a whole lot more power than anyone ever imagined

 

[typhonsentra]

I'll take the bait Blader: What does their relationship mean?

 

[grandjedi6]

why the hell do people keep saying that? ive never met a black person that didnt think obama wasnt black enough. thats some bullshit the media came up with. i was in class and the professor brought that shit up, so i raised my hand and asked if any other black student in the class agreed and none of us did. i dont know why white people keep assuming they know what "being black" means more than a black person.

im still waiting on the day i meet a black person who didnt think obama was black enough

Alot of it originates from Obama's 2000 run for the House of Reps. Then when Hillary was outperforming Obama among blacks at first the jokes gained a national foothold

 

[Tamanon]

Well, that's kind of a different debate, but I personally don't find treason all that forgivable of a crime, especially when he hasn't even really repented for it.

But on the other side of things, he was never charged or convicted. While I have no doubt that he did it, the fact is that he is clean in the eyes of the law, and thus there's no reason for isolation from society.

 

[Kunan]

True, but the statistics speak for themselves. The white folk have tended not to vote for him by startling margins and vice-versa, even though they're only been freaking Democrats so far (generally). Just wait 'til independents and Republicans get into the mix: you'll see the racial divide in much greater contrast.

So there's no white male democrats anymore? Cause they sure don't vote for Hilary. I cannot believe how many times I have heard white guys say they won't vote for Hilary cause she would "PMS in office" or "she's a woman, she doesn't have control over her emotions".

People bring up racism all the time during these primaries, but sexism seems to have played just as big, if not larger role. Just that the racist term gets thrown at people who don't like Obama VASTLY more than the sexist term gets thrown the other way. Not to mention that the media has barely criticized Obama up to this point, and downplayed Florida and Michigan's situation.

I don't like Obama, as all he does is preach and play up a perfect utopian America he'll never make. But I will still vote for him sinceHilary is now gone, and I cannot for the life of me side with McCain.

 

[Gaborn]

People who support Obama are gullible.

People who don't are racist.

I know who I'd rather hang out with.

wow, just wow, jackass

Spoiler

yes, I know you're joking. That's still an over used meme and doesn't help discussion at all.

 

[Tamanon]

wow, just wow, jackass

Spoiler

yes, I know you're joking. That's still an over used meme and doesn't help discussion at all.

Yes, because the "Obama supporters are cultists" is a fresh and new meme. He said it because they're both overused and wrong. Don't be such a ninny.

 

[gkryhewy]

This particular presidency is itself a unique case, because it comes at a time when the country is fighting two wars while also trying to keep its own economy afloat. A lack of experience is not a good thing for this election.

Because John McCain's judgement on Iraq has been spot-on so far, and because his economic experience is nothing short of Nobel-grade? :lol

John McCain proposed the gas tax holiday. I mean, Jesus.

 

[ronito]

People who support Obama are gullible.

People who don't are racist.

I know who I'd rather hang out with.

I find the gullible racists are the best.

 

[Gaborn]

Yes, because the "Obama supporters are cultists" is a fresh and new meme. He said it because they're both overused and wrong. Don't be such a ninny.

Well I was obviously mostly being sarcastic, but still, calling Obama a cult of personality IS overused, but calling someone a racist is MUCH MUCH more of a socially charged statement and it has a much bigger negative connotation. It stifles debate because by the nature of the accusation (even delivered in a joking manner) it makes it seem like any opposition to the candidate is met with accusations of a racial motivation.

 

[Blader]

From my own experience I have not seen many obama supporters who have been "fooled" into believing Obama will magically fix all 3 of those things.

Just the opposite in my experience, and that includes the collective masturbation in PoliGAF threads to whenever Obama makes a speech.

Unique situation? America is always in a "unique situation", and history has not shown that more experience leads to a better President. I'm not saying more experience is bad, but it certainly doesn't seem to be a good guage of quality.

Totally disagree. Seems like common sense that anyone with a greater sense of familiarity with a job would prove better than someone with lesser experience.

Details. What exactly has congress not lived up to? What exactly has Congress not done?

Jesus, again: housing, gas prices, employment, etc.

I wasn't saying that Congress has personally made my life harder, but despite all it's promises of change, it has done little to improve the quality of life for the average citizen, myself included. I've actually begun seriously contemplating dropping out of school for a year because my family is so close to being buried by this shitty economy.

But on the other side of things, he was never charged or convicted. While I have no doubt that he did it, the fact is that he is clean in the eyes of the law, and thus there's no reason for isolation from society.

Didn't he confess to it? I know he wasn't convicted, but I'm pretty sure he has admitted to being involved in the bombings. Which, I think, is reason enough to brand him a social leper, even though that's not legally possible.

 

[Blader]

Because John McCain's judgement on Iraq has been spot-on so far, and because his economic experience is nothing short of Nobel-grade? :lol

John McCain proposed the gas tax holiday. I mean, Jesus.

The gas tax holiday was criticized for being a quick fix and nothing permanent. Honestly, my family could use something like that right now.

 

[Tamanon]

Actually the gas tax holiday was criticized because it would take money out of the infrastructure fund, and it wouldn't even really happen. I mean look, gas prices went up 18 cents in a week or two, you actually think they'd lower prices?

Clinton at least had a plan to get the money for the infrastructure from somewhere else. McCain has nothing, he just says get rid of the tax for a few months, who cares about what it's used for.

Tax-and-spend versus borrow-and-spend. I guess the reason borrow-and-spend is so popular is that it's tough to actually convey that to Joe Schmoe.

 

[grandjedi6]

Just the opposite in my experience, and that includes the collective masturbation in PoliGAF threads to whenever Obama makes a speech.

Never use the internet as a basis for any kind of judgement. It always amplifies craziness. And PoliGAF is probably the worst example you could use since they are the least likely to be delusional about what Obama will/can do. Most of Poligaf is made of political wannabe pundits afterall

Totally disagree. Seems like common sense that anyone with a greater sense of familiarity with a job would prove better than someone with lesser experience.

The Presidency is unique to the point where no job truly prepares someone for it. And as I've states several times now there is no correlation between experience and quality of the President

Jesus, again: housing, gas prices, employment, etc.

I wasn't saying that Congress has personally made my life harder, but despite all it's promises of change, it has done little to improve the quality of life for the average citizen, myself included. I've actually begun seriously contemplating dropping out of school for a year because my family is so close to being buried by this shitty economy.

Congress controls any of that? The economy is shitty but there is only so much congress or the President can do about it, especially when they are on opposing sides.

Didn't he confess to it? I know he wasn't convicted, but I'm pretty sure he has admitted to being involved in the bombings. Which, I think, is reason enough to brand him a social leper, even though that's not legally possible.

Do you even know what Ayers did?

 

[Dan]

Totally disagree. Seems like common sense that anyone with a greater sense of familiarity with a job would prove better than someone with lesser experience.

I don't see how any job other than a military commander or Secretary of Defense directly preps you to wage two wars.

Obviously being a two-term governor of a large state doesn't mean anything.

 

[grandjedi6]

The gas tax holiday was criticized for being a quick fix and nothing permanent. Honestly, my family could use something like that right now.

No, no, no, no, no. That is not why the gas tax plan was criticized. The gas tax plan would have not lowered prices but only would have given more profits to the oil companies. Then when the gas tax went back into effect the prices would have suddenly jumped which would have greatly hurt less economicaly knowledgable consumers

 

[FDLink]

The gas tax holiday was criticized for being a quick fix and nothing permanent. Honestly, my family could use something like that right now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_incidence

 

[JzeroT1437]

The gas tax holiday was criticized for being a quick fix and nothing permanent. Honestly, my family could use something like that right now.

Bring the band-aids cause I'm scared as fuck of the stitches.

 

[backbreaker65]

The gas tax holiday was criticized for being a quick fix and nothing permanent. Honestly, my family could use something like that right now.

how many people are in your family? and you're only getting about 30 dollars for 90 days and the money that they are going to use will take away from the transportation fund i.e. road infrastructure, which will also jeopardize jobs in that industry.

 

[Dan]

The gas tax holiday was criticized for being a quick fix and nothing permanent. Honestly, my family could use something like that right now.

You clearly don't know anything about this issue.

In brief, it would eliminate a tiny amount of money from gas sales that go to the federal government but offer no incentive for gas companies to actually lower the price and pass that to the consumer. Not when gas was selling perfectly well at the higher price. It'd just mean higher profits.

The gas tax holiday is nothing more than an ass-backwards political move.

 

[Gaborn]

They parallel one another rather nicely, in that there's not much you can do to argue against them.

"I [like/dislike] Obama!"

"Well of course you would say that. You're [gullible/racist]!"

"No I'm not!"

"Aha! That defensive response just proves my point."

The point was that both are stupid.

Is racism a more serious accusation, socially speaking? Sure. But that one's not being thrown around nearly as much as the "cult of personality" thing. Just look at the last page or two, where any sarcastic rejoinder brings a "lol this is exactly what I'm talking about" from a certain poster.

Obama's a charismatic and able speaker. This will sway some people to his side. He's also the Democratic candidate for the Presidency, which will sway exponentially more people to his side. Quite frankly, that my-team your-team mentality in American politics bothers me far more than a few people who will vote for someone just because he's charming.

Ok, I mostly agree with everything you say, and I appreciate the clarification greatly, though I do tend to perceive an undercurrent of a sense among some Obama supporters that his opponents "don't have a valid reason" to oppose him other than racism (often they reject simple ideological agreement) and I think you're underestimating the sense some people are operating under that if they go after Obama on substance people could be perceived as having a racial motive by some.

 

[Blader]

Never use the internet as a basis for any kind of judgement. It always amplifies craziness. And PoliGAF is probably the worst example you could use since they are the least likely to be delusional about what Obama will/can do. Most of Poligaf is made of political wannabe pundits afterall

Includes, but is not limited to.

Btw, I rarely frequent the Poligaf threads, though I did notice all of the "OBAMA FUCK YES"-type posts when he was making his big speech about how this moment would be remembered in history, etc. That's the kind of cultist personality I was referring to in my first post. But again, that includes GAF idiots, it is not limited to them at all.

Congress controls any of that? The economy is shitty but there is only so much congress or the President can do about it, especially when they are on opposing sides.

For fucking fuck's sake, didn't I just say that Congress hasn't personally made my and my family's financial situation worse? I know that there's a limit to what Congress can and can't do. My point was that despite those false promises of how the first 100 days, let alone the last two years, of this congress would "take back" the country, things have only gotten worse under their watch. I couldn't give two shits about lobbyist reform when gas is $4 a gallon--which, btw, is something that can be helped if the Democrats would stop opposing construction of new refineries.


And unfortunately, that's all I have time for. I'll have to bow out for now on account of: a) dinner, and b) resume search for a second job. Will I be able to balance two jobs and track practice to pull my family out of their financial coffin? Yes I can!

=\

 

[grandjedi6]

Includes, but is not limited to.

Btw, I rarely frequent the Poligaf threads, though I did notice all of the "OBAMA FUCK YES"-type posts when he was making his big speech about how this moment would be remembered in history, etc. That's the kind of cultist personality I was referring to in my first post. But again, that includes GAF idiots, it is not limited to them at all.

It's like a baseball game. At home you can logically debate the chances of your team making it to the play-offs but at the game itself you are cheering your team on anyway. Its not a cult of personality as the supporters can logically separate thought and emotion when needed

For fucking fuck's sake, didn't I just say that Congress hasn't personally made my and my family's financial situation worse? I know that there's a limit to what Congress can and can't do. My point was that despite those false promises of how the first 100 days, let alone the last two years, of this congress would "take back" the country, things have only gotten worse under their watch. I couldn't give two shits about lobbyist reform when gas is $4 a gallon--which, btw, is something that can be helped if the Democrats would stop opposing construction of new refineries.


And unfortunately, that's all I have time for. I'll have to bow out for now on account of: a) dinner, and b) resume search for a second job. Will I be able to balance two jobs and track practice to pull my family out of their financial coffin? Yes I can!

=\

Congress does not have the power that you think they do. Congress nor Bush can magically save the economy at this point, we all just have to ride it out. As for oil refrineries, it is very doubtful that opening it up would bring any meaningful help to the consumer. But if it makes you happy Congress has been diverting our emergency reserves to the market for a month now

 

[Tamanon]

I think I saw the figures, but wouldn't it actually take a couple years to get the oil reserves here online anyways?

It's not a supply issue, it's the stability of the supply. Unfortunately our foreign policy seems to be having the opposite effect of its intent.

 

[grandjedi6]

I think I saw the figures, but wouldn't it actually take a couple years to get the oil reserves here online anyways?

It's not a supply issue, it's the stability of the supply. Unfortunately our foreign policy seems to be having the opposite effect of its intent.

The costs of the gasoline (manufacturing, ect), demand and the local currency all play a part in gas prices. The problem with the US is that we use more gasoline then anyone else, and have a high demand. Yet we still pay lower prices then most other countries. So we really only have up to go (realistically gas prices are never going to go down in the US)

And people are freaking out now? When we actually start having a supply problem all hell's breakin lose

 

[Tamanon]

The costs of the gasoline (manufacturing, ect), demand and the local currency all play a part in gas prices. The problem with the US is that we use more gasoline then anyone else, and have a high demand. Yet we still pay lower prices then most other countries. So we really only have up to go (realistically gas prices are never going to go down in the US)

And people are freaking out now? When we actually start having a supply problem all hell's breakin lose

All true, but the stability of the supply is one of the things that fuels the speculation market. It's all rather complex and nothing we can simply change without drastically changing how we consume fuel.

 

[shibby]

There are people (in real life and on GAF) who perceive everything as having a racial motivation. I encountered plenty of them in college.

Idiot: "Haha, we've blocked Sather Gate to simulate an Israeli checkpoint. This is exactly what it's like for my Palestinian brethren!"

Me: "Get the hell out of my way, I don't give a shit about your retarded protest." [paraphrased to make me sound cooler]

Idiot: "Why do you hate Palestinians? You imperialist Zionist bastard!"

Come on now, Sather Gate is a never ending supply of entertainment.

It's especially fun to fuck with the La Rouche idiots. I managed to convince one that I was an economics professor.

 

[Gaborn]

There are people (in real life and on GAF) who perceive everything as having a racial motivation. I encountered plenty of them in college.

Idiot: "Haha, we've blocked Sather Gate to simulate an Israeli checkpoint. This is exactly what it's like for my Palestinian brethren!"

Me: "Get the hell out of my way, I don't give a shit about your retarded protest." [paraphrased to make me sound cooler]

Idiot: "Why do you hate Palestinians? You imperialist Zionist bastard!"

Absolutely, and that's why I reacted so strongly to your joke. I don't blame you, but I just don't like things to be tainted into taboo or untouchable subjects, and bringing race into it can often do that. Just to be clear, I DON'T blame you at all, I just strongly disagree with that particular meme and think it's worth discussing and stamping on a little when it's brought up so it doesn't gain a sense of political normalcy. On the other hand the "cult" meme with regards to Obama is also annoying and worth stamping on, but probably has a less chilling effect on debate, Obama really is a very charismatic man and it's easy to see how someone could be drawn to him (and then later support him or not based on his policies)

 

[shibby]

:lol Ok, that's awesome.

Honestly, I got enough wacky stories out of Sproul Plaza/Sather Gate to make all the hassle worth it.

The ipod use on campus is pretty disturbing in respect to this. Not nearly as many confrontations because everyone's either on their phone or listening to music.

My last year there, even Happy Happy man had moved.

 

[mj1108]

nm