Pack93z
  • Pack93z
  • Select Member Topic Starter
12 years ago

I would HATE to be the President who flips the internet kill switch. I almost guarantee they will not be re-elected. Has there ever been something similar done before?

The internet fuels THOUSANDS of businesses ... wow ... just the thought of the uproar is borderline frightening.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 



Ask yourself this.. have they ever had the ability before?

Can't use what isn't there.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Wade
  • Wade
  • Veteran Member
12 years ago

Wade - so please advise how we change that?

Internet kill switch, bans on peaceful protests. The withering of our constitutional rights by both parties over the past couple of decades.

Lesser of the two evils approach has failed.. neither is interested in the betterment of this country as a primary objective.

Have become slaves to the two parties?

Originally Posted by: Pack93z 



I am increasingly convinced that there are only three possible routes to change:

1. Actual revolution, violence and all. Frankly, I think this is more likely than the other two. But, unfortunately, because we're a nation of ignoramuses/zombies, that route will follow the French example rather than the American -- which means we're in for several generations of revolutions, autocrats, feudal-style oligarchs, Committees for Public Safety, etc. That is, the American experiment will end, and won't be repeated in our lifetime.

2. Constitutional convention. This is where I thought the Tea Party might have headed at some point, had it not been co-opted by the GOP and the usual suspects of PACs, PR departments, influence peddlers, and the like. Add in the fact that the only discussions of constitutional conventions in the last 20 years or so has come from one-issue ideologues (e.g., pro-lifers of a particular sort), and the 3-gens-of-ignorance, and the chance of this reduces to virtually nil. Constitutional convention will either be co-opted by those same influence-peddling power-mongering cynics, made still-born by the know-nothing media labelling them as fringe wackos, or degenerate into revolution of form #1.

3. A significant fraction of the votes cast in national elections go to neither GOP nor DEM candidates. I'm thinking a minimum of 10% and probably needs to be closer to 20 percent. Those other votes don't have to win the election, but they have to be big enough to deny real "democratic" legitimacy to the winners. Only half (or less of eligible voters) are voting now, but as it stands, the winners can always claim close enough to 50% of the votes cast to claim a "mandate" for this year's version of more-of-the-same-shit.

But if the two main candidates are splitting 80% of 50% of the eligible electorate, that means the winner is only going to be able to claim the support of one-fifth of the adult population.

That will do two things. First, it will drive home the completely undemocratic nature of the system we're operating under. Second, it will make it easier for people to run/participate in political life in opposition to both parties. The ending argument "third candidates" always get is "you can't compete with the two big gorillas" to get enough of the vote. But this would allow those third party candidates to say, "sure, if the goal is to get 50 percent of the vote. But I don't have to get 50 percent of the vote, only 20.1 percent. Because that's all your so-called big gorillas can control.

This third to me offers the only real hope for meaningful change without revolution. And that hope is pretty slim.

If I had any meaningful financial assets to invest, and wanted to maximize my possible wealth 10-40 years out, I'd split them half and half. And then I'd put one half into investments that will prosper during a revolution, and the other half into the companies/organizations who I think are most likely to be headed by the controlling after-the-fall oligarchs.

And, no, I don't know what those investments are. Maybe whoever youI expect to win in the current Google v. Apple v. Amazon v. Facebook battle; more likely whoever wins in the next bloodletting battle between giant enterprises AFTER that first megabattle is resolved. And I'm betting most of them are going to be located outside the boundaries of the USA and Western Europe, and I wouldn't be surprised if they are outside the usual China suspects, too.

I still believe that this era offers unprecedented economic opportunity because the primary constraint is the supply of human ingenuity, and there's a lot -- a lot of a lot -- of that around if we could only realized it and put it into play. And I absolutely believe that the American Experiment, even with its federalist bent, is the greatest single political innovation in human history.

Where I despair is that we simply don't have the intelligence/understanding to follow our founder's wisdom. Because we don't even remember or recognize anymore what that wisdom was.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
Wade
  • Wade
  • Veteran Member
12 years ago

I would HATE to be the President who flips the internet kill switch. I almost guarantee they will not be re-elected. Has there ever been something similar done before?

The internet fuels THOUSANDS of businesses ... wow ... just the thought of the uproar is borderline frightening.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 



The internet actually fuels millions of businesses, not thousands.

But that is, IMO, largely irrelevant. Because the politicians atop the two major parties aren't determined by whether those millions of businesses (most of them "small") are pissed off or not. The big ones they can simply bail out a la the banks and GM. And the small ones they can ignore.

But they're irrelevant especially because those politicians in the end have designed themselves to appeal to the attention spans of gnats (i.e. the typical American consumer). And there are tens of millions of those.

You, and I, and those internet businesses, we're just a bunch of geeks. The parties are a group of oligarchs who treat geeks the way a sweatshop owner treats its employees.

Yeah, Google and Apple can mobilize things a time or two. But Google and Apple are just proto-oligarchs trying to control the battlefield for their particular monopolistic, oligarchic vision. Ask the Chinese whether those "voices of the internet" are part of the solution or part of the problem. Ask the Chinese whether they are a force truly willing to resist those who wish to control the internet. Or merely just a force to take that control for themselves.

Oligarchs worry about other oligarchs. They could care less about the peons. And most of us who are dependent on the internet. We're the definition of the best kind of peons. We are peons who think we actually matter to those at the top.

Hah.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
Zero2Cool
12 years ago

The internet actually fuels millions of businesses, not thousands.

Originally Posted by: Wade 


You do understand I know this probably better than most and being technical deviates from the point, right? Okay, thought so. [duh]

I'm going to plug my fingers in my ears and ignore the rest because obviously you think I'm a damn idiot.



(curls in corner with binkie)
UserPostedImage
Porforis
12 years ago

Brutally honest.. I don't want to vote this cycle. I literally want to do things, with recent law changes, that would get me arrested. lol. But honestly is there a candidate worth voting for? If so.. please advise why?

Originally Posted by: Pack93z 



If you don't like either candidate, why are you even considering not using your vote? A writein for "None of the Above" is just as valid as voting for a candidate with a chance to win if you're not interested in either candidate winning. If people would stop voting for people they really don't like just because he's not as terrible as the next guy and would instead choose to use their voice in a useful manner, both parties would snap to attention. They'd still be self-serving politicians, but they'd at least be more interested in pandering to YOU, and less to the extremes on either side.
Pack93z
  • Pack93z
  • Select Member Topic Starter
12 years ago
Ahhh... not wanting to and not are two very distinct differences. But thanks for the assumption. [grin1]

No worries mate.. just chewing the fat because I absolutely loathe the direction we as a country politically are heading. And I happen to believe the majority of the country is just going to vote either or. Hence the frustration.

Really the frustration is those that are towing the party lines just to tow it.The distinctions between the parties is just their visions on which policies will drive them to overspend and to be reelected.

We fight with each other on the behalves of parties that really aren't in it for us.. they are in it to be reelected and what policies help them in that cause.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Formo
12 years ago


We fight with each other on the behalves of parties that really aren't in it for us.. they are in it to be reelected and what policies help them in that cause.

Originally Posted by: Pack93z 



Yup. Truth.
UserPostedImage
Thanks to TheViking88 for the sig!!
Porforis
12 years ago

Ahhh... not wanting to and not are two very distinct differences. But thanks for the assumption. [grin1]

No worries mate.. just chewing the fat because I absolutely loathe the direction we as a country politically are heading. And I happen to believe the majority of the country is just going to vote either or. Hence the frustration.

Really the frustration is those that are towing the party lines just to tow it.The distinctions between the parties is just their visions on which policies will drive them to overspend and to be reelected.

We fight with each other on the behalves of parties that really aren't in it for us.. they are in it to be reelected and what policies help them in that cause.

Originally Posted by: Pack93z 



I definitely get the frustration, and I'm going to need to drag myself to the polls. But I'll do it, and I'll use my voice to express my opinion, rather than using it to say I support more mediocrity.

I've made predictions in the past regarding the election, that Obama would win by 5-8% of the popular vote. I think the recent fiascos in Cairo and Libya (specifically comments very early on condemning a no-name movie that was a ridiculous pretext to the attacks) will give Romney a bit of a bump, but unless this turns into utter insanity it's not going to be enough to save him. I just hope that there's enough country left by the time Americans pull their heads out of their asses to turn things around.
Wade
  • Wade
  • Veteran Member
12 years ago

You do understand I know this probably better than most and being technical deviates from the point, right? Okay, thought so. [duh]

I'm going to plug my fingers in my ears and ignore the rest because obviously you think I'm a damn idiot.



(curls in corner with binkie)

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 



Nah. I"m not sure how you got that from what I said.

Oh, I think you (and most everyone here, for that matter) are generally too often too willing to give the government/politicians the benefit of the doubt. I don't trust them to do what is right OR to do what makes sense. I'm shocked on the rare occasions they do get something right.

And as I've said before, I would prefer to think of and call said government actors/politicians idiots (because I think the alternative often would be that they are evil).

But I don't think you are an idiot. The notion that those idiots might try to flip the kill switchis frightening.

I can't think of a single situation where killing the internet makes sense. Maybe if there's potential for a massive power failure and its a choice between powering the internet and powering hospitals, traffic lights, and such. But other than that?

I can't think of a single economic or moral reason for doing so.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
Pack93z
  • Pack93z
  • Select Member Topic Starter
12 years ago



First, I think more Americans need to declare their independence from partisan politics on both sides. The more that Americans declare their independence, the more the parties will have to compete for their votes using reason rather than the hateful appeals. ~ John Avlon



"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (14-Feb) : Packers are hiring Luke Getsy as senior offensive assistant.
Martha Careful (12-Feb) : I would love to have them both, esp. Crosby, but either might be too expensive.
Zero2Cool (12-Feb) : Keisean Nixon is trying to get Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams lol
Mucky Tundra (11-Feb) : Yeah where did it go?
packerfanoutwest (11-Feb) : or did you resctrict access to that topic?
packerfanoutwest (11-Feb) : why did you remove the Playoff topic?
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Tua’s old DC won a Super Bowl Year 1 with Tua’s former backup
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : *winning MVP
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Funny observation I've heard: Carson Wentz was on the sideline for both Eagles Super Bowl wins w/guys supposed to be his back up winning
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : NFL thought it would get more attention week preceding Super Bowl.
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Yes, the Pro Bowl. It was played Sunday before Super Bowl from 2010-2022
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : pro bowl
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : From 2010 to 2022, it was played on the Sunday before the Super Bowl
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : They moved it to the BYE week before Super Bowl several years ago.
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : it was always after the SB.....
beast (10-Feb) : Though I stop following pro bowl years ago
beast (10-Feb) : I thought the pro game was before the Super Bowl?
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : ok now for the Pro Bowl Game in Hawaii
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : If I was Philly I would try to end it instead of punting it
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : VICTORY! We have (moral) victory!
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Hey they mentioned that we 3-peted
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : seems to me the 49ers should have traded Aiyuk when they had the chance
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : if the Eagles get it down to the 1, do they Tush Push or give it to Barkley?
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : 49ers have a money problem if they want to sign their QB
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Wait for real? Didn't he just get an extension two years ago?
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : 49ers gonna trade Deebo. Interesting
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Replays always never seem to show the holdings
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Great throw by Hurts
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Where Carter falls prey to bad off the field influences (to be clear, not saying he'd clip someone though)
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Had Carter not gone to Philly were they already had a lot of old college friends, he ends up in a similar spot to Aaron Hernandez
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : I think some of his coaches told scouts to stay away
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : the street racing incident+conditioning and motivation problems
beast (10-Feb) : Then Carter was street racing, where the other car crashed and people died... and other teams were scared to pick Carter for some reason
beast (10-Feb) : I think the Saints traded up, giving their next year 1st to the Eagles, and then they sucked and Eagles got the 10th overall pick
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : wtf Barkley?
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Getting Carter and Nolan Smith in the first round in 2023 was pretty darn good
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : for some reason i'm thinking of a draft where the Eagles where in the mid 20s and a top player fell all the way to them
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : I think so. I would need to look it up. Think it may have been Carolina's pick.
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : i'm not sure who i'm thinking of now
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : oh fuck me i messed that up
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Jordan Davis was 13th overall
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Carter was 9th overall
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Eagles had 15th and 10th selections, moved to 13 and 9 to get Davis and Carter back to back
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Eagles traded up for Carter, didn't they?
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Obviously he was a huge risk but getting a top 5 talent on the dline in the mid 20s is fortuitous
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Jalen Carter falling into their lap certainly helps
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : And we could only wish to have this type of D
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : It's not like Philly has had low draft picks, but has managed to get themselves a top notch pass rush. We spend so much draft capital of D
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : another crap halftime show
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : I think it is over, but then I think of Atlanta and want Philly to go in with the same intensity in the second half
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 3:25 PM
Vikings
Sunday, Jan 5 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Jan 12 @ 3:30 PM
Eagles
Recent Topics
6h / Around The NFL / beast

9h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

11h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

20h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

15-Feb / Around The NFL / beast

15-Feb / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

14-Feb / Green Bay Packers Talk / TheKanataThrilla

14-Feb / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

13-Feb / Random Babble / Mucky Tundra

10-Feb / Featured Content / Zero2Cool

10-Feb / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

9-Feb / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

9-Feb / Green Bay Packers Talk / dhazer

7-Feb / Around The NFL / Zero2Cool

4-Feb / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.