Every day I visit tons of website, forums, and social networks for all types of topics, most of which are technology based in some sort of form. This election cycle has really brought out the best of the liberal “group think” mentality regarding Obama. On just about every social network Obama is praised as “the one” and any hint of disagreement with his policies or ideals is immediately responded with accusations of racism, or just plain insults. Anybody who wants to claim that liberals are tolerant to others, please give me a shout because I can quickly debunk that. Even here on our network of sites, there have been insults tossed at the slightest hint of either supporting McCain, or being against Obama. I’m certainly not saying conservatives don’t dish out their fair share, but the mentality of liberals has once again bordered on the insane and hateful.
It’s tough being a proud conservative, as I will say what I think regardless of what the group and mob mentality is. The real shame is so many people, especially bloggers in the tech area, are afraid to do the same. I have received so many private notes and comments in support of standing up for conservatism, it’s almost crazy. The best comparison I can make is how conservative actors in Hollywood are often ridiculed or turned down for roles because of their conservative beliefs, and the same mentality is going on right now in the blogosphere. Conservative bloggers, some of which can be considered A-list are having to remain silent about their thoughts on Obama and McCain, simply because they are afraid of retribution from their employers or just not being able to pickup work from other sites. It’s a shame, and it’s more telling about liberals than it is anything.
I am a conservative, I don’t like Obama, and I will never let anyone intimidate me because of that.
So John, does that mean your not a Pulitzer prize wining retired astronaut living on your own private island? The fantasy...it is ruined.
I do have my own private bathroom
Sorry...35% of your bathroom belongs to China. Hope they don't try to "collect".
Jafo built his ....
Hmmm....I thought that was where the 35% went when I flushed!
i thot this was going to die
All your Bases is Us.
And comes back to you as "Milk Products", "Pet Food" and "Children's Toys". All can be found at Wal-Mart ... and just about everywhere else.
Noop. We're all trying to morph into something more ridiculous than it's predecessor. It's all part of "Continuous Quality Improvement".
Wow, what was this article about again? And how does a bathroom fit into all of this?
The Chinese are coming to take my bathroom I just remodeled. Little do they know, I installed a steel door and bars on the window because I knew they were coming. I need to stock up on bullets!
You have it backwards. When liberals start walking the walk, you can claim the above. Until such time, they are the me me me - with your money (if you are earning any).
I guess you missed the second part where I blew it outof thewater that AMericans had done it? But you dont seem to read even what you quote. "We the People" (if you are referring to the pre-amble) is not the historical people, but the current population of the US. It is clear to all but Chicago democrats that dead people have no rights.
And you have empirical data to back up your fantasies? Dont state your opinions as facts.
No, it is a tax increase period. I have $1000 today. Next year, I will not. My disposable income went down by the amount my taxes went up. That is a tax increase.
Your only delusion is that you appear (note not a statement of fact, just an opinion) to think that all monies are the governments and what they graciously allow us to keep is a gift. That is patently wrong and so far absurd.
Yes, we can forget the Twin towers in 1993, Sudan, The African Embasies, the Cole, Sudan, Afghanistan, even Iraq and Kosovo! And of course Bush created the dot com bust 2 years before he took office! YOu sling slogans without thinking about what you are saying, and have no retort for when you are called upon them.
I assume nothing. He is not even president yet, and already has his first to date. His err and umms are an annoyance and one that most people will see as not of a smart man (perception, not reality is playing a role here) but of a very indecisive president that is a few quarts short of a bushell. I dont have to assume, you just have to excuse.
YOur ignorance is again showing. Your opinion is not fact. Better re-read what she beleived and did, and stop trying to spin Obama Gaffs (already appologized for - you dont appologize unless you are WRONG).
Hey Genius! Using Astrology is not holding seances. Of is making a speech in the Greek Parthenon, having a toga party? Your logic would dictate it was.
I think you assume too much there.
On economics, there are certainly many different philosophies but a lot of what you say absolutely seems to me to show a very narrow view of economics. And I don't say that meaning any disrespect but just that your views sound very much like the views of most people who don't have a lot of experience dealing with business economics.
I'll illustrate what I mean more below but I want to address a couple things you wrote first.
The most famous company I was senior staff/key man for grossed $100+ million annually and had a valuation of just under $1 billion 8 years ago. It's a household name founded by household names. At the time I left to form my own company, it had a staff of 2,000.
The last PROJECT I headed up (earlier this year, and why I can afford to take the rest of this year off) was as the Director/Writer/Producer of the digital animation centerpiece of a $2 billion entertainment complex. I built a company larger than Stardock in November just to complete this one project. And I did it in two weeks, pulling some of the top talent from all over the world to do it. This was done on my word and reputation alone.
I have been fortunate enough in my life to have creatively contributed to FIVE different billion dollar franchises and have collaborated with the most famous and successful people in the world. Again, without violating my personal privacy here, I can say that one of them is Star Wars. The other four are just as well known.
And, odds are, it's safe to say that you or your family own products related to ALL of these franchises.
In short, Brad, no, I don't think small business. I have been talking the economics of how billionaires see the world, because that's the calibre of men I have worked with. So, it's no wonder you don't get it or me. And it's also why I'm always talking about the BIG picture here, the movers and the shakers.
But none of what you say implies you have any understanding of economics.
For example, let's say you're heavily involved in the entertainment industry where a given project involves the formation of lots of LLCs.
When they make a Star Wars movie (for instance) they form numerous companies to produce it. Many of these companies are disolved after the project is completed. Each of these companies, on paper, make many millions of dollars and employ lots of people.
And technically, they ARE companies. But they are one-project companies.
Similarly, Hollywood actors and producers form companies all the time, companies worth many millions of dollars and employing lots of people in order to accomplish some specific objective.
Outside of Hollywood, there are companies formed that manage the investment portfolios of wealthy clients. These companies may employ many people and manage millions, if not billions, of dollars of capital.
Closer to home, many game companies will turn each project into its own corporation with the producer in charge of it. I know of some extremely well known game studios that are set up like this. But the general managers and such of these companies don't necessarily have familiarty with economics or business.
But none of these examples imply that the people who run these organizations, projects, etc. have any serious understanding of economics. It is often that these companies are set up where the talent and/or project lead is also the "owner" of the business. That doesn't make them qualified to speak on macro economics.
So when I use my experience as evidence that I know something on this. It's not just that I have run a successful business that makes N millions of dollars a year. It is that my personal talent is not that heavily involved in what the company produces but rather my talent is my ability to run the business and it's a business I started from nothing and built by making products and services over a long period of time. The emphasis being that it's the same business over many years dealing with the production of a wide variety of products and services, managing budgets, etc.
In fact, you outright say the smallest company you've ever run is a 10 million dollar company with 60 employees. This outright implies that you've only been involved in the types of companies I mention above. And there's nothing wrong with that. It just doesn't serve as evidence that you're familiar with business economics.
Now, I'm not saying you don't know how to do any of that. It is only that the things you say don't jive with an understanding of business economics. (which again, I'll talk about below).
I am not sure how I'm being insecure. I don't think you're sounding egotistical because you say you have lots of money or whatever. I do think you sound egotistical because you strongly imply that those who disagree with your political views are somehow greedy, selfish "me me me me" types (and by imply, I really mean you outright say these things).
Now, you say you want to talk about issues, that's fine, but you keep ignoring them choosing to focus only only personal things so I'll bring up some of the things I mentioned that you ignored:
I would think that the President Elect has much to learn.
http://www.drudgereport.com/flashbol.htm
I would think too, but every time I do I realize just how retarded this country is. I therefore have abstained from all rational thought and am doing quite well because of it ^.^
So Brad,
If I understood correctly what you are, in a way, trying to point out, you are basically saying that while Excalpius may claim to have worked for several companies that made lots of money, that does not necessarily mean he has the knowledge of how the economics part worked.
Kinda like looking at the resumes of 2 people, 1 has several comapnies he worked for, major companies, with great reviews and the other has 1 or 2 with several years invested in each. The second guys sound better in my opinion. More stable, more knowledge.
Am I correct in my assumption?
To sum up economics in the U.S....The government and irresponsible big business digs the hole...and we...as in us and our next several generations are left to try and fill it in. Which is pretty much an exercise in futility since they just keep making the hole bigger and bigger since there isn't anyone stopping them. I think what we need is a private group of people that can take direct and immediate actions against this type of behavior. If your company goes belly up....sucks to be you. Especially these car makers that pay they're workers high wages to put out crappy cars in the first place. Let'em go under.
I think if you look back you will see that I have admitted I was in error at least twice when I have been corrected.
Then it would be my turn to stand corrected!
They can't do any worse with our money than the GOP has over the past 8 years. I believe they will handle it sanely with an eye on everyone's needs, not just their rich friends and patrons. And if they don't they I will be one to call them out. But based on what they do or don't do, not based on your fears of what they might do. That's just silly.
If you say so. I read everything and felt my response demonstrated quite clearly that you had missed the letter and spirit of what our founding fathers intended for this country.
After 80 years, no President or congress has done anything but tinker with the welfare state, clearly with the support of the majority of the American people. Except for some right wing nutjob pundits, no one even talks about repealing welfare anymore, except from the perspective of welfare REFORM...in the hopes of making it more effective. You can't seriously see large scale protests over welfare out there? There are NONE.
Actually, it appears to be your delusion that I said anything of the kind. Please stick to debating the actual points I am making. Putting words into my mouth and debating some phantom imaginary poster only discredits your position.
I have forgotten nothing. I lived through all of that.
The USS Cole, first towers bombing, etc. were standard terrorist fare. Nothing on the level of 9-11.
We had UN mandates to go into Kosovo and help/be the peacekeepers. We only maintained the no-fly zone during Clinton's administration as the first gulf war was during Bush Sr.'s administration. Not sure why you are bringing that up, as it's clear that there is again no comparison with either of the two Bush Iraq wars and we didn't spent a trillion dollars on preemptive invasion or lose 4,000+ soldiers in combat during those years.
Either way, THERE'S NO COMPARISON, objectively or relatively.
He's better than Bush for the past 8 years...period.
And again, you're saying I said things I didn't say.
And, for the record, holding seances is EQUALLY IGNORANT as consulting astrology. Period.
You also might want to proof-read better. It's getting hard to make sense of your point through the typos and insults.
Somewhat. What I am saying is that in many companies, the guy in charge is "the talent". Maybe he's a great designer or a great artist or an actor. But that doesn't mean he's a business person. At Stardock as well as in most businesses, I am in charge of running the company. I don't make the skins or design the skins or write the software. My value add is that I know a lot about a lot of things but I am not the key talent in any of the actual products.
For example, let's say someone is a famous visual effects artist who did worked on Titanic's special effects. That person could easily get investment capital and start an effects house with lots of employees and work making visual effects for movies. But that doesn't make the CEO good at business economics.
As a real world example, I work with Chris Taylor, founder and CEO of Gas Powered Games. Terrific guy. Genius. But he is the central talent that GPG is built around and he would be the first to tell you that his forte is not business economics.
Stardock's success, for instance, is not because I'm personally skilled at making skins or writing software or developing games. The people around me are not there to accentuate my existing capabilities at desktop enhancement coding or skinning. I've never written a line of code in any of our key desktop enhancement programs. I'm not an artist.
Most businesses are more along the lines of a Stardock than of the model in which the founder/CEO is the hyper-talent that the company revolves around.
Whether it is the government or a big company, we should always be wary of concentrations of power. The more power that the individual has in a society, the freeer and more prosperous we can become.
The fundamental problem with Republicans and Democrats is that they both back a concentration of power. The Democrats prefer the government and the Republicans prefer big business. Neither should be trusted.
BTW, for the record, it wasn't Nancy Reagan who did seances. It was Hillary Clinton.
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