How many updates on facebook do I make about politics? How do you not see me poking fun? 
EDIT: Think I did 2 supporting Gary Johnson.
I get that you’re having fun. And maybe the nuance is lost in the text conversation. But comments you make to me, as well as in this thread, come across as confusing. Drive-by, snarky trolling does not contribute to a dialogue—which some people, including myself enjoy. Calling people names (“sheep”) does not facilitate conversation. In fact, thy come off as ‘smug’, the very term that you criticize others as being.
Bah…enough of all that.
I just wish the conversations were more about governing and policy, than about politics.
^What are you confused about? Im voting for Gary Johnson and I think that people that just follow party lines are sheep (sorry you take that so hard). I think I layed it out pretty clear on how I feel.
I’d say your fault is in making a pretty large assumptions. One that says that if a voter sees strengths in a candidate and thinks they are the one for the job, then they go along with the entire party line (sheep). That somehow an independent person would never be able to say one candidate is better than the other (out of the two realistic people running).
You also seem to fall prey to another ill-conceived assumption. That calling BS on someone automatically reads as an endorsement of “the other” guy. When did pulling for the truth become a partisan or sheepish endeavour?
But again, this isn’t about you, or me.
Carry on.
Anyway…I watched the third party debate last night (missed it because I was at Trey). What a clusterfuck… Still voting for Gary though. 
Folks, I think we’ve done a good job of not making this personal. I sure as hell don’t take it personally…
I could be wrong, but I think Keith tends to be a sports driven dude and maybe he likes a little of the competitive aspect of this, which is all good, even though that’s not really where it’s at for some of us. And FB usually brings out the worst in any situation, so I can see how things might not be going well over on that silly site… I tend to stay away from there anyways.
In reality, I think most people vote according to their actual beliefs and not because of some inherent evil within them or inability to think for themselves. I looked into GJ and Jill Stein quite seriously. But, in the end, neither of them are worth throwing my vote at. I agree with B.O. on 89% of issues, as opposed to 93% for Jill Stein and 60% for Johnson and I even donated to Johnson at one point… But, after watching Stein and Johnson actually articulate their stances, I am very confident that Obama is the best candidate for me-- and we all know that anyone who decides to vote Johnson or Stein won’t be changing the 2 party system with that vote. So, in the end, words like “melts” “smug” “sheep”, etc… probably don’t help anyone’s cause. We’re all a little smug, a little sheepish and I’m sure we all “melt” from time to time-- hopefully due to some awesome guitar shredding or some dank weed. But, chances are we’re also mostly decent people who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and who will not experience the end of the world if the “other guy” happens to win.
For those of you who are statistically inclined (which I am not) or who understand things likes stocks (which I do not), what do you make of analysis by people like Nate Silver or the “futures” market? I am told these indicators tend to be fairly accurate, as they focus only on the science of numbers and stats?
Nate Silver:
fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/
“Futures” Obama prediction:
intrade.com/v4/markets/contr … tId=743474
“Futures” Romney prediction:
intrade.com/v4/markets/contr … tId=743475
Just food for thought, since we’ve been talking about polls so much.
^Holy shit…a bookie for politics.
Well this thread took an unexpected turn. right turn clyde.
But i approve this or that message… for real. A few comments on the passing scene…
Polls suck donkey nuts.
Obama smells hairy sheep balls… and likes it.
Romney is a stud.
Paul Ryan can blow down Big Mommas House.
Biden is a ::_______::
I vote based on philosophy.
Interesting exchange last night on the Howie Carr show… he set-up a debate between opposing views regarding Article whatever… being voted on in Mass… the medical maryjane item. The proponent for didn’t show up… stoner probably forgot zing! But the interesting part was the opposition… who was a family doctor. He was saying Pot is not, has not, will not ever be classified as a “medicine”. Its an herb… like st john wort, valerian, saw palmetto… the point is doctors don’t prescribe herbs. they can suggest herbs and if the patient finds relief good! If such and such compound in pot can be isolated, controlled, regulated and is shown thru trials, FDA regs, etc that it is a medicine for specific health conditions then it can be classified as a medicine and doctors can prescribe it. Otherwise the whole thing of “medicinal pot” is a freaking sham and i think we all know it. Its just a loop hole for pot smokers to partake in their favorite herb. I’m not denying people don’t derive benefit from it just like any other herb, thats obvious… but what you end up with is a doctor “prescribing” dope for any chronic condition… and the list is endless… its whatever the patient says it is. i have a bunion, pot helps, prescription please. and in many cases the prescription is valid for life and can start at the age of 13. Thats just stupid imo.
What really needs to happen, which was basically mentioned already, is national decriminalization… not this wimpy way out with the “medicinal marijuana” its a joke.
btw this post is largely tongue-in-cheek… but i found the opposition to medical marijuana a very interesting take.
I agree that decriminalization is what needs to happen.
But it’s ignorant to buy into the loophole/excuse-to-use rhetoric; it does actually help people.
I admit I’m one of the ignorant too, because I couldn’t really see myself believing its medicinal application as legit until I learned of a case involving someone close to me, and very recently that made me realize it’s true.
You might frown on using drugs recreationally, and I understand, but I think there’s two things going on. I think 1) there’s the decriminalization thing, which should probably happen but ISN’T, and maybe it’s partially because all the focus is on 2) how to regulate it as a medicine, which it is, also.
National decriminalization is coming and mostly because of the medicinal applications approved in the minority of states. The reason for this is THE MONEY, honey.
There are already organizations/companies that are raking in big bucks in California and Colorado, establishing production and distribution systems have and will pay off the lawmakers necessary to make it legal countrywide. As the ‘legal’ bankrolls generated by pot grow, it’s all just a matter of time before they buy the politicians. Great system, huh?
Speaking of bankrolls, the prediction is that both major candidates for president will together spend more than 2 BILLION dollars to get elected president. What chance does a third party candidate really have? Great system, huh?
I don’t know if they will completely decriminalize it. It’s a schedule 1 drug right now, and I could see them moving it down to like 2 to 4, but I don’t think it will come off the list. Morphine and Meth are actually Schedule 2 drugs if that makes any sense. But this is a good thing, the moving “down” of MJ on the list. The most important thing we wont have out jails full of people who were simply possessing the substance. MJ ruins peoples lives with the way the gov. is now. It sucks and shouldn’t be this way we all know that, so I really hope the Fed Gov realizes they can make a killing off selling it legally, at least medically for now, and drops the harsh ass charges on people.
There will never be 3rd parties, or uncorrupted government/elections until they put a cap on campaign spending and fundraising. This is the main way “Wall Street” has got into the governmental system. They back candidates with a ton of cash and then the bam, they get to pull strings for 4 years if he/she wins. This is pretty much how corruption works in our government right now…I’m sure there are many other ways but this is a big one 
I think some people are just beat down by it in general. It’s just not fun to discuss since it’s lies on both sides and there’s never any evidence that any of the “issues” will change based on who gets elected. A lot of folks check out of it and I don’t blame them…why dwell on something so depressing all the time? I don’t discuss it with anyone at work just because it’s too easy to piss someone off or have them take something the wrong way…some folks take it far too seriously. I like to get into the discussion here but I don’t think the election affects my life at all outside of a dollar here or there. I doubt I’ll be voting either way…I just don’t care enough.
I do support the trolling of folks who take it too seriously though. In fact I like trolling anyone who takes anything too seriously.
Yes, but this isn’t what the prez is about.
On the “polls” thing I just don’t pay attention. It’s too easy to manipulate data and news folks clearly point them in one direction or the other to influence votes. Not to mention, I think entire ethnic groups are usually left out of these polls…who’s calling the ghettos to get their opinion? Not to mention I still have a very wary opinion of anyone who actually participates in these polls…who does that?
Ug. There are many things that could be said about Romney but “stud” can’t possibly be that accurate. And do Conservatives really like him THAT much? I mean, I’m sure they want him in favor of Obama but is he really getting Reps THAT pumped up? I can’t believe that. It’s like when the Red Sox play the Yanks…we all want the Yanks to lose but were all kinda sick of the Red Sox too…elections feel like that every year.
And yeah, anyone who says MJ is an “herb” clearly hasn’t had a condition where no other drugs do anything for it…especially those with stuff that causes nausea…it’s shocking how there’s very little in the way of pills and such that help nausea which can brutal for some folks. Sounds like that opponent was just playing word games by referring to it by a lesser term to lessen the impact to the viewer.
Sadly it’s worse than ever with the recent Supreme Court ruling that allows companies to now provide support behind candidates and such. This leads to these “Super PAC” companies that are specifically created to support a candidate all while pretending to have no ties to that candidate. Hundreds of millions of dollars roll into these things, often by companies that are formed, make a donation, then are dissolved soon after. You’ve seen those commercials by “Restore Our Future”…just look at the past involving them…they couldn’t be more shady if they tried and no one does a thing…there’s even laws against it and folks raise a stink but nothing is ever done. If laws were passed against this stuff, would they even be enforced? Who are the campaign fund police?..They don’t exist.
Even worse, the media doesn’t want it to end…because who gets advertising dollars from the campaign spending?..that’s right…media sources. Plus they can all cling to the 1st Amendment by claiming it protects their right to support a candidate as “free speech.” It’s one of the many reasons I say things will never change…it’s so much worse than it used to be. In 1988, the candidates spent like 130 million total on campaigning…nowadays that’s how much has been spent on campaigning in Florida alone. It’s insane.
And yup…this is why big business owns govt. Cash, Cash, Cash. Who’s gonna stop them? They own the only folks who can make laws to stop them.
I understand why people don’t care to discuss it. I have total respect for that. The not voting thing, I can’t get on board with. I understand Fone’s feelings when he sees the 2 billion that’s been pumped into this race. But, as I’ve been saying all along… that’s like me complaining that my parents are way too materialistic to a girl that is homeless and has been forced into prostitution and who gets beaten beyond recognition when she doesn’t bring home enough money to pay for her 1 meal of stale bread and tap water. Tell the folks in China, Sudan, Venezuela, Iran, or a million other places throughout the world, how annoying all these political ads are and wait for their reaction. The fact is, the reason the billions are spent and the reason so many ads are shoved down our throats is because, in the end, an American cannot take the presidency without the permission of our citizens. It does take a crapload of advertising and marketing to persuade the American people… but that’s a hell of a lot better than not needing to consult the American people at all!
Does our system need to change in order to give normal people a better chance at elected office? Absolutely. But, seriously, let’s put our situation into perspective and understand just how lucky we are to live in the society we live in and to have the right to vote. To roll our eyes at that is like throwing a fit about not being able to have a fifth cookie for dessert.
And, remember… our officials start off much more normal than they are by the time they run for president. Barack Obama was not some wealthy dude who bought his way into politics. He was a normal guy that turned the heads of enough financial backers when he was a community organizer and congressman to get where he is now. But, he worked for it just like Bill Gates worked to get where he is. Of course, there are people like Romney that are born with everything they need financially… but even plenty of rich people can’t make it to the general election-- it takes more than money. Sure, the amount of money that goes into these things seems sickening… but, in the grand scheme of things, it’s just a reflection of a democratic, capitalistic, “American-dream” society that works a whole shitload better than most, though maybe not as well as some.
But, as I’ve said a million times, it only takes a few weeks in countries like China, Singapore and Oman to realize how damn lucky we are to have the freedom we have.
::eats bacon and smokes ganja::
Dooj for Prez!!!
We use zofran, phenergan other anti-emitics for nausea… zofran works wonders for nausea. Its prescription, not OTC and generally given IV… so you need to be an inpatient… but its prescribed in pill form too. The point the doctor was making is pot isn’t classified as a medicine, its classified as an herb. and again doctors don’t prescribe herbs. Its not in the scope of their practice, legally and i can see how a doctor would be ambivalent to prescribe it. All medications have gone through trials etc to identify the suggested doses, side effects and adverse effects… any nursing drug book explains all this. Again I’m not saying its not effective for whatever condition you say its effective for… for you its nausea, for dooj its anxiety or ADD, for me its depression, others boredom,… its the wonder drug right? wrong, its the wonder herb. Its less hypocritical for individual states to decriminalize personal use, then people can use it for whatever they want… to relieve nausea or recreationally… whatever. Seems “medical marijuana” came into play because it was the only slant people could come up with to use it legally.
Tell me this: would there be a need for medical dispensaries or any medical tag placed on pot at all if it was decriminalized? Maybe you’d advertise its medicinal qualities to boost sales or something… but in the corner there’d be the little disclaimer: *these claims have not been approved by the FDA. Most medicines are by prescription only because doses need to be regulated, side effects monitored… what is a dose for pot? What is its side effects and adverse effects? If if was really a med then why not isolate THC and give it in pill form for nausea or anxiety or to increase hunger? doesn’t work like that does it? Its an herb that when smoked produces an effect. Its very vague, the effect works differently on different people… some get happy, others paranoid, some relieve nausea, others relieve depression etc… I know you folks see what I’m getting at. The doctor made complete sense from his side.
I kinda side with the doctor on this because it places them in an uncomfortable situation… does the doctor suggest to some little old lady to smoke a joint to relive her arthritis symptoms? or the anxiety produced from the arthritis symptoms? I mean what would a doctor actually prescribe it for if a patient isn’t the one looking for it in the first place? Its all confusing to me. Is it a psychiatric drug? an anti-emetic? a pain reliever? an appetite stimulator? I think this is what places the medicinal marijuana proponents in a corner… it comes down to the FDA, who correctly classify it as an herb imo. I’ve been taking valerian lately… its for sleep, it depresses the central nervous system, its for anxiety… its like pot, an herb. In fact i think one of the main ingredients in an anti-seizure drug comes from a compound in this herb. So pot is a useful and helpful herb… a great herb, perhaps the best herb for many… i guess thats the rub… pot is useful but the fact people use it solely to get high is where it gets thrown into the schedule 1 drug category… even if we all agree its much better than any other schedule 1 drug.
Your bias clouds your vision. Is one unworthy if they were born wealthy? Are they not capable of working hard?
^You clipped my very next sentence, dude!
Jeez, brah… I definitely have nothing against people who were born wealthy. Trust me. My very point was that even those born with money have to work to succeed.
And I totally agree with you on the MMJ. Just frickin legalize pot. But, in the meantime, MMJ is a perfectly acceptable loophole around a law that shouldn’t exist.
They do this here in CA and in Canada.
What are you talking about??? How can you say people don’t derive benefit from pot? That’s crazy! Especially since I only quoted a tiny portion of your post and that’s not what you meant at all! 
Bwhaha, Its cool, man. When I first read it it came across as another place Obama on a pedestal, undermine Romney post… but I see what you’re getting at.
And i am aware they have isolated THC for whatever use in a pill… but that takes the whole medicinal pot, dispensaries question off the table… at that point all you need is a pharmacist… but we know that is not really what is going on here. The question being voted on in Mass has to do with smoking it medicinally and some 30+ dispensaries across the state. In any case I bet it passes.