Wednesday, April 1, 2009

"Mysteries of Logical Reasoning"

(1) Anyone who favors marijuana legalization just wants to get high without being hassled, and anyone who favors drug decriminalization generally is or wants to be a drug user.

(2) Anyone who opposes a return to alcohol prohibition is almost certainly an out-of-control drunk.

(3) Anyone who cares about gay marriage or advocates for equal rights for gay couples is a closet homosexual who just wants to have sex with people of the same gender. The only reason anyone would care about that issue is if one wants to have gay sex.

(4) Anyone who believes in free speech rights for Communists obviously opposes private property ownership and craves Stalinism. Anyone who believes in free assembly rights for neo-Nazis secretly admires Hitler.

(5) Anyone who believes abortion should be legal just wants to have reckless sex without consequences.

(6) Anyone who advocates habeas corpus rights for accused terrorists or who opposes torture harbors sympathy for Islamic extremism and approves of indiscriminate violence against civilians.

(7) Anyone who opposes unrestrained government surveillance must be doing bad things in private that they want to hide.

(8) Anyone who believes in the freedom to practice a certain religion is probably an adherent of that religion and is motivated by a desire to practice it without interference.

Why is most everyone capable of understanding the egregious, illogical stupidity of propositions (2)-(8) -- based on the bleedingly obvious premise that one can advocate the freedom to do X for reasons other than a desire to do X -- while so many people embrace the equally illogical and stupid reasoning of proposition (1) as though it so self-evidently true that it requires no discussion? -- Glenn Greenwald

16 comments:

gone said...

Hmm. I have to admit, I have selfish reasons for #1... But ideological ones as well. Heehee.

Still, when you have a population that's fookin' stupid as boxes of rockses, wtf do you expect. Even with the new job loss numbers, 750K, I believe, things still aren't hurting enough to want to make radical changes. They just want Obama to fix shit so they can go on doing what they've always done - keep up with the Joneses. Oh well.

Seven of Six said...

They just want Obama to fix shit so they can go on doing what they've always done - keep up with the Joneses.

I guess I should advocate for #9: While Obama wants to move forward, too many people are going to get away without having to suffer any consequences for their misbehavior... I am truly impatient on this issue.

Seven of Six said...

OT, I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy at the Phoenix VA Hospital later this month... should I go through with it or wait 6-12 months until things get better at the VA Hospitals nationwide? It's routine exam and I'm not having any related complications... tell me what you think?

gone said...

Why are they scheduling you for one? I'm not sure that things will have improved much in a year, anyhow. Things move awfully slow, don't they?

Anjha said...

I think that you should get it over with. Besides, you are of the ....ahem... age where you need to get them regularly, are you not?

I hates me some colonoscopies. I fell apart after my last one in November...remember, I got pneumonia that lasted 2 months and am still not back on my feet.

Blech.

However, strong people like you should recover no problem and only be down for a day or two, so I say, get it over with.

Besides, if they find anything you will have to repeat in a year and can go back when the VA gets all good and shit.

Seven of Six said...

Anjha, You are aware of the news/problems the VA has encountered with colonscopies, right? Or am I just making excuses?

Seven of Six said...

Why are they scheduling you for one?

Simply routine and I haven't had one in about 5 years. I just turned 52 a couple of days ago, so...

Before, I was able to get everything covered by my wifes insurance but not now. I wouldn't have a problem with the procedure if it was done by a doctor/hospital other than the VA. With all the VA problems lately, I'm suspect.

gone said...

I hadn't heard about troubles with colonoscopies at the VA - what trouble? Still, I'd be making excuses, too. Not a fun procedure.

And dang it! Howcum we didn't know it was your birthday? Ida made a cake! Mmmm cake...

Seven of Six said...

Just google VA colonoscopies. Huge news... as far as the VA is concerned.

Anjha said...

POSTPONE

Or bring your own endoscope. Holy crap.

I had not heard SoS. That is nasty.

Seven of Six said...

POSTPONE

LOL!!

Now you know what I was talking about... some kinda Veteran care, eh?

gone said...

Yeah, I think I'd postpone, too. Hadn't heard anything about that! I can see it, though. We sell medical stuff for urology and I know there are people re-using stuff meant for one patient, stuff that really can't be sterilized. And we sell lots to VA Hospitals, though the ones re-using are very likely docs from foreign countries. But geez. This is insane!

Seven of Six said...

...though the ones re-using are very likely docs from foreign countries.

You might be right.
I'll make sure to check the female Indian doctor's gloves next time. I go in for back spasms... she immediately puts the gloves on and wants to put a finger up my ass... talk about spasin' out... I'm getting suspicious!

gone said...

Unfortunately, we don't sell gloves, we sell catheters...ugh!

Judith said...

Have it done, but not in a VA Hospital.

Judith said...

Try to have a conversation with anyone who embraces what Greenwald wrote. That's one of many reasons my Brother and I never speak. I've fought people who think like this all my life. Good to keep "A Guide to Rational Living" next to the bed to remind me I am not crazy.