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Thread: Oklahoma Shariah Ban Is Blocked

  1. #61
    Quote Originally Posted by ']['ear View Post
    As Cain frequently pointed out, that is the flaw of representative democracy. The voters are actually quite ignorant. Heck, most of humanity is quite ignorant. It can reasonably said that a tiny fraction of humanity talent-wise has dragged the rest forward all this while.
    Elitist. Though I commend you for speaking truly on how you view the world. If only more liberals would speak that way to the American people! It would fantastic to actually have a conservative government.

  2. #62
    The light that once I thought compassion still casting shadows in your action
    The words you shared were cold transactions that bring me to curse what you've done
    When you're up there absorbed in greatness with such success you've grown complacent
    I hope you scorch your many faces when you fly too close to the sun

  3. #63
    Senior Member Evidently Supermarioman's Avatar
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    You can disagree with Lewk, but responding with inane comics does nothing more than prove his point.
    Last edited by Supermarioman; 11-13-2010 at 05:22 PM.
    I enjoy blank walls.

  4. #64

  5. #65
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lewkowski View Post
    Elitist. Though I commend you for speaking truly on how you view the world. If only more liberals would speak that way to the American people! It would fantastic to actually have a conservative government.
    Elitist is just as empty a phrase as 'smaller government'. As a matter of fact I'd wonder who you'd have running the country if not the best (which is what elite means). To be good at something shouldn't make you suspect and unfit to govern. Also, the 'elite' doesn't really consist of left leaning liberals only. And if you think me wrong on that, you really need to open your eyes.
    Congratulations America

  6. #66
    Quote Originally Posted by Lewkowski View Post
    Elitist. Though I commend you for speaking truly on how you view the world. If only more liberals would speak that way to the American people! It would fantastic to actually have a conservative government.
    You'd prefer false modesty? Maybe I should post like an ignorant noob with an IQ of 90, who didn't finish high school? Horse shit. That's ass kissing false modesty. I'm a helluva lot smarter and better educated than vast majority of humanity. Pretending to be a bit simple and dropping the Gs off of the end of my words would just be crass manipulation, a trait which you apparently prefer to actual talent.

  7. #67
    Quote Originally Posted by Lewkowski View Post
    Elitist. Though I commend you for speaking truly on how you view the world. If only more liberals would speak that way to the American people! It would fantastic to actually have a conservative government.
    Its quite apparent that I don't know everything there is to know, and it appears to be the same for everyone else, so yes, people are ignorant about certain things. Ignorance is an objective term for a lack of knowledge, not intelligence. Can you honestly say that you were 100% informed and knowledgeable about every issue and person you voted for in the recent election? Do you think the majority of American voters were?
    . . .

  8. #68
    Quote Originally Posted by Hazir View Post
    Elitist is just as empty a phrase as 'smaller government'. As a matter of fact I'd wonder who you'd have running the country if not the best (which is what elite means). To be good at something shouldn't make you suspect and unfit to govern. Also, the 'elite' doesn't really consist of left leaning liberals only. And if you think me wrong on that, you really need to open your eyes.
    Elite != Elitist.

    For example one can be a Navy Seal - an elite special forces unit. One can be a CEO of a fortune 500 company, part of the business elite. Just being elite means nothing about your attitude. You can be part of the "elite" (in whatever category you want) and still be humble, still be gracious and believe you are not entitled to force other people to listen to you and follow your collective whims.

    Elitists are the ones who look down on others. Who think they should make the "right" choice for other people.

    Liberals are often elitist. They believe in things like banning fast food for kids because they are "better" then the kids parents in choosing how to pick their meals. They believe in government mandating what people can and can not do for their own good. This arrogance that they know better then others is the driving factor when I use the term elitist.

    You are correct that not only liberals act this way. There is a level of snobbery among conservatives too. Heck in all walks of life their will be people who find ways to being elitist jerks. I find it most often with liberals though.

  9. #69
    Quote Originally Posted by ']['ear View Post
    You'd prefer false modesty? Maybe I should post like an ignorant noob with an IQ of 90, who didn't finish high school? Horse shit. That's ass kissing false modesty. I'm a helluva lot smarter and better educated than vast majority of humanity. Pretending to be a bit simple and dropping the Gs off of the end of my words would just be crass manipulation, a trait which you apparently prefer to actual talent.
    I sure wish more liberals were as honest as you. Sadly we only get brief peeks at their massive egos and elitist views. Such as when Obama talked about people "clinging" to their guns and religion, we saw briefly into the contempt he has for Americans, imagine how the election would have gone if he always talked that way?

  10. #70
    Why shouldn't we look down on people who are stupid, again? For example, every time I read one of your posts, I look down on you because you're an idiot. Does this make me an elitist?

    ps. I'm looking down my nose at you right now.
    The light that once I thought compassion still casting shadows in your action
    The words you shared were cold transactions that bring me to curse what you've done
    When you're up there absorbed in greatness with such success you've grown complacent
    I hope you scorch your many faces when you fly too close to the sun

  11. #71
    I think the problem with "elitists" is that often times they're just as ignorant as the people they feel superior to, the only difference being that the elitists are the "elite" in some unrelated field (i.e. someone's a good artist, therefore they think they're superior to uneducated people when it comes to political beliefs).
    Hope is the denial of reality

  12. #72
    Why is that a 'problem'? Sure, those people are irritating but you can just tell them to shut up, I fail to see what actual harm they cause. What is a problem is a culture that celebrates ignorance and (often willful) stupidity, and is suspicious of knowledge and expertise.
    The light that once I thought compassion still casting shadows in your action
    The words you shared were cold transactions that bring me to curse what you've done
    When you're up there absorbed in greatness with such success you've grown complacent
    I hope you scorch your many faces when you fly too close to the sun

  13. #73
    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    Why is that a 'problem'? Sure, those people are irritating but you can just tell them to shut up, I fail to see what actual harm they cause. What is a problem is a culture that celebrates ignorance and (often willful) stupidity, and is suspicious of knowledge and expertise.
    It is a problem when that mentality breeds the attitude that people need to be forced to follow the guidance of the "elites." Ie slavery via government regulation and control.

  14. #74
    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    Why is that a 'problem'? Sure, those people are irritating but you can just tell them to shut up, I fail to see what actual harm they cause. What is a problem is a culture that celebrates ignorance and (often willful) stupidity, and is suspicious of knowledge and expertise.
    Because they then vote to impose their own misguided beliefs upon others.
    Hope is the denial of reality

  15. #75
    Quote Originally Posted by Lewkowski View Post
    It is a problem when that mentality breeds the attitude that people need to be forced to follow the guidance of the "elites." Ie slavery via government regulation and control.
    Stripped of the emotive language, your post actually says "hurgle burgle gooh-gah freedom". I am continuing to look down my nose at you.
    The light that once I thought compassion still casting shadows in your action
    The words you shared were cold transactions that bring me to curse what you've done
    When you're up there absorbed in greatness with such success you've grown complacent
    I hope you scorch your many faces when you fly too close to the sun

  16. #76
    Quote Originally Posted by Loki View Post
    Because they then vote to impose their own misguided beliefs upon others.
    Them and everyone else in the voting population.

    While I agree that people who don't know shit are a problem for a functioning democracy, I'd ask you who are the bigger problem:

    a) Those who think they know stuff, but actually don't know shit.
    b) Those who know they don't know shit, and are proud of it.
    The light that once I thought compassion still casting shadows in your action
    The words you shared were cold transactions that bring me to curse what you've done
    When you're up there absorbed in greatness with such success you've grown complacent
    I hope you scorch your many faces when you fly too close to the sun

  17. #77
    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    Them and everyone else in the voting population.

    While I agree that people who don't know shit are a problem for a functioning democracy, I'd ask you who are the bigger problem:

    a) Those who think they know stuff, but actually don't know shit.
    b) Those who know they don't know shit, and are proud of it.
    I prefer people who are dumb but don't try to force their ways upon others than people who are smart imposing their beliefs.
    Hope is the denial of reality

  18. #78
    By imposing their beliefs, you mean "voting"?
    The light that once I thought compassion still casting shadows in your action
    The words you shared were cold transactions that bring me to curse what you've done
    When you're up there absorbed in greatness with such success you've grown complacent
    I hope you scorch your many faces when you fly too close to the sun

  19. #79
    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    By imposing their beliefs, you mean "voting"?
    Believe it or not, one can vote for politicians who don't promise to "persuade" other people how to act, how to spend their money, what to eat, what to drive, where to work, what to buy, etc.
    Hope is the denial of reality

  20. #80
    You have a problem with people voting for politicians who want to pass laws? Or only laws that you disapprove of? If you're complaining about politicians who want to legislate morality, either conservatives passing laws about who you can marry or sleep with, or leftists ('liberal' hardly seems appropriate in this context) passing nanny state legislation* then I'm against either but I don't regard them as any less of a legitimate outcome of the democratic process than any other policy I might happen to disagree with.

    * though many people like to try and conflate laws passed to stop people harming themselves with laws passed to stop them harming other people, e.g. laws about smoking in public and drink driving laws. You have the right to endanger your own life and well being as you see fit, you have none to endanger the lives of people around you - some of our posters e.g. oldmunchkin and to a lesser extent Cain seem to have a problem with this distinction.
    The light that once I thought compassion still casting shadows in your action
    The words you shared were cold transactions that bring me to curse what you've done
    When you're up there absorbed in greatness with such success you've grown complacent
    I hope you scorch your many faces when you fly too close to the sun

  21. #81
    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    You have a problem with people voting for politicians who want to pass laws? Or only laws that you disapprove of? If you're complaining about politicians who want to legislate morality, either conservatives passing laws about who you can marry or sleep with, or leftists ('liberal' hardly seems appropriate in this context) passing nanny state legislation* then I'm against either but I don't regard them as any less of a legitimate outcome of the democratic process than any other policy I might happen to disagree with.
    Just because something is democratic doesn't mean we can't disapprove of it..

    * though many people like to try and conflate laws passed to stop people harming themselves with laws passed to stop them harming other people, e.g. laws about smoking in public and drink driving laws. You have the right to endanger your own life and well being as you see fit, you have none to endanger the lives of people around you - some of our posters e.g. oldmunchkin and to a lesser extent Cain seem to have a problem with this distinction.
    You also have the "right" to give up half your income, the "right" to pay higher prices for foreign products (i.e. due to tariffs), the "right" to pay higher prices for domestic products (i.e. due to minimum wage laws and numerous overly burdensome regulations), the "right" to give up a chunk of your income to people who can't be bothered to work, the "right" to pay more for foods that are unhealthy, the "right" to be bullied into joining a union, the "right" to be bullied into hiring unionized workers, and the "right" to have your savings lose half their value because of the government deciding to give money to everyone and their dog.
    Hope is the denial of reality

  22. #82
    Quote Originally Posted by Loki View Post
    Just because something is democratic doesn't mean we can't disapprove of it..
    Right, so we both agree that we don't like laws to be passed that we don't like, and we've even found a subcategory of laws that we both agree that we disagree with. What does this have to do with elitists, again?

    You also have the "right" to give up half your income, the "right" to pay higher prices for foreign products (i.e. due to tariffs), the "right" to pay higher prices for domestic products (i.e. due to minimum wage laws and numerous overly burdensome regulations), the "right" to give up a chunk of your income to people who can't be bothered to work, the "right" to pay more for foods that are unhealthy, the "right" to be bullied into joining a union, the "right" to be bullied into hiring unionized workers, and the "right" to have your savings lose half their value because of the government deciding to give money to everyone and their dog.
    Does this paragraph even have a point?
    The light that once I thought compassion still casting shadows in your action
    The words you shared were cold transactions that bring me to curse what you've done
    When you're up there absorbed in greatness with such success you've grown complacent
    I hope you scorch your many faces when you fly too close to the sun

  23. #83
    Because elitists want laws passed that not only affect every part of other people's lives, but also significantly limit the options available to those people. I don't see why that's better than a dumb person who votes for the government to leave them alone.
    Hope is the denial of reality

  24. #84
    I don't think we're actually talking about "elitists" here at all, are we?
    The light that once I thought compassion still casting shadows in your action
    The words you shared were cold transactions that bring me to curse what you've done
    When you're up there absorbed in greatness with such success you've grown complacent
    I hope you scorch your many faces when you fly too close to the sun

  25. #85
    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    I don't think we're actually talking about "elitists" here at all, are we?
    Those are the elitists Lewk was referring to...don't see why we should change the definition.
    Hope is the denial of reality

  26. #86
    It's Lewkowski and yourself who are trying to change the definition.
    The light that once I thought compassion still casting shadows in your action
    The words you shared were cold transactions that bring me to curse what you've done
    When you're up there absorbed in greatness with such success you've grown complacent
    I hope you scorch your many faces when you fly too close to the sun

  27. #87
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    Quote Originally Posted by Loki View Post
    Because elitists want laws passed that not only affect every part of other people's lives, but also significantly limit the options available to those people. I don't see why that's better than a dumb person who votes for the government to leave them alone.
    Excuse me? Where are these people that vote against 'elitists' in order for government to leave them alone? Very often the very same people who want the government to bud out of their wallet and gun rack, are the same people who want to inject the very same government into the bedroom and at the switches in hospitals. Never mind desiring bans on flag burnings or the like. Seems to me that it's only 'elitist' when it's the other side of the aile speaking.
    Congratulations America

  28. #88
    Quote Originally Posted by Loki View Post
    I think the problem with "elitists" is that often times they're just as ignorant as the people they feel superior to, the only difference being that the elitists are the "elite" in some unrelated field (i.e. someone's a good artist, therefore they think they're superior to uneducated people when it comes to political beliefs).
    When obviously we should all defer to political scientists, right?

    Yeah, I think I'm superior to some dumbass who can't even identify the relevant issues or the position of his candidates/party on those issues, or somebody who gets manipulated by transparent push polls or dirty politics. I'm superior to an asshole who can mouth pieties about being a "freedom voter" while denying the right of any two consenting and loving adults to marry and raise a family. I look down on hopelessly naive and ignorant voting based on a knee jerk stoked by some unscrupulous politician. I also look down on the educated people jerking their knees about this issue and that, because they're too fracking lazy to actually do some research and think hard about the complexities of an issue, in spite of having the blessing of brains to do so. Yes, here I'm looking at my well educated and intelligent mother, who has never been able to abide the least criticism of Israel "because of the Holocaust."

    But let's be clear: I don't look down on such donkeys because of their ignorance. I look down on them because they a) they are either too dumb, too gullible, or too lazy (or all three) to do the due dilligence, but b) will still trumpet their beliefs to the high heavens and parade around with offensive banners deemed clever by their dim little minds, spattering their neighbors with spittle as they scream slogans whose impacts they don't understand. Their ignorance is not their offense. Their offense is that they consider their opinions born of plain old ignorance to be worthy of public airing, and that they willfully inflict said opinions at the ballot box. There's a profound arrogance in that.

    And these days it is the GOP that excels at using this tactic. In a previous time it was the Democrats, which is why I, a child of the 70s, ardently opposed them earlier in my life. But the modern GOP has sold its soul to the devil by banking on this widespread American trait that I abhor. Example: they campaign on lower taxes, smaller government and balanced budgets, while they as a party have practically single-handedly created our massive debt. The GOP has attacked Obama for being a deficit builder while at the same time insisting that the grossly irresponsible Bush tax cuts be made permanent.

    No, I don't blame the ignorant out there for being ignorant. But I do blame people who can't see through the thinnest veil of smoke. It's like some dumbass is watching a magician who is openly holding a coin in one hand, then openly places it in the other. The people I look down on are the ones who gasp in amazement at the magic trick of making a coin appear.

  29. #89
    Quote Originally Posted by Hazir View Post
    Excuse me? Where are these people that vote against 'elitists' in order for government to leave them alone? Very often the very same people who want the government to bud out of their wallet and gun rack, are the same people who want to inject the very same government into the bedroom and at the switches in hospitals. Never mind desiring bans on flag burnings or the like. Seems to me that it's only 'elitist' when it's the other side of the aile speaking.
    Like I said there are some conservative elitists too. (These tend to be moral elitists as opposed to "intellectual" elitist but either way don't force people to conform - sure try to convince them but don't do it at the point of a gun) For the freedom folks out there both parties have their big brother nonsense. The Democrats IMO are worse since they are more all encompassing, money is a great medium for freedom because you can do so much with it, if you have less of it your options are choices become extremely limited.

  30. #90
    Quote Originally Posted by Lewkowski View Post
    Like I said there are some conservative elitists too. (These tend to be moral elitists as opposed to "intellectual" elitist but either way don't force people to conform - sure try to convince them but don't do it at the point of a gun) For the freedom folks out there both parties have their big brother nonsense. The Democrats IMO are worse since they are more all encompassing, money is a great medium for freedom because you can do so much with it, if you have less of it your options are choices become extremely limited.
    Then you are a conservative elitist? Because you want to see people thrown in jail, or shot, as a deterrent to crime.

    Yeah, those with less money (or economic freeeedom) might do stupid desperate things. Like lifting a tube of $2 toothpaste.

    You just have the notion of a Good Big Brother threatening jail, or Good Guns threatening harm or death.

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