COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Monday, January 08, 2018

Consequentialism is the class of normative ethical theories holding that the consequences of one's conduct are the ultimate basis for any judgment about the rightness or wrongness of that conduct

60 comments:

  1. Trump is a political genius.

    He breaks all the normal rules of politics espoused by the Doctrinario who claim Trump is stupid, a disaster, mentally ill, gets nothing right and yet Trump keeps winning.

    I have watched Trump since we were both in our early thirties. He has succeeded where the vast majority fail, time after time after time. I do not know how many times over that period that I heard that Trump is finished. Trump is a blue collar billionaire. He has street cred on steroids and knows how to play the smart guys, wise guys, good guys and bad guys in language they understand or badly and lately learn bigly.

    I knew the smart bastard would win the election and gave my reasons prior to him shocking all those smart guys that knew he wasn't.



    ...The ominous fact is that Trump is undeniably one of the greatest intuitive political geniuses in history. Think about it: A wealthy businessman with no political experience at all takes on more than a dozen experienced politicians and manages to prevail, winning the presidential nomination of a major party. He then runs what an army of experts and analysts consider to be a train wreck of a general-election campaign and nonetheless manages to prevail to become the president-elect of the most powerful nation on Earth. It's an astonishing accomplishment.

    Keep snickering, bigly.

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  2. It is wrong to engage JACK HAWKINS because the consequences of that are endless lies profanity distortions and twisted statements not fit for family or any other viewing.

    BOYCOTT JACK HAWKINS

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    1. Then ignore him.

      Anyone that puts up something libelous, I take it down. If two or more want to go toe to toe bitch slapping each other and I see any entertainment value in it, I leave it up.

      Your call.

      Delete
  3. Relax. Listen to Mark Knopfler play the guitar.

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  4. FOR A GREAT NEW USSD OR RENTAL CAR

    Go to:

    QUIRK BUICK

    Manchester
    New Hampshire

    Check out Quirk'S PERSONAL WEBPAGE FOR A TOUR OF ALL THE GREAT DEALS $!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. FOR VOLKSVAGONS GO TO:

      QUIRKVOLKSVAGON@NH

      Delete
    2. "I will make you a steal of a deal"

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    4. Meanwhile ...

      Trump Aide Stephen Miller Gets Kicked Off CNN As White House Continues Railing Against Michael Wolff's Book

      CNN host Jake Tapper abruptly ended a contentious interview with the senior White House policy advisor, saying Miller had "wasted enough of my viewers' time."


      Boyxcotting "All the President's Men".
      Kelly Anne Conway 86'd from the Joe Starbuck Show and now Mr Miller is bounced from CNN.

      We'll all just be on "Pins and Needles" until the DoJ finishes the Mueller probe and exonerates Mr Trump Sr.
      Junior, they're gonna crack him open, like an egg, in NY State court.
      Jared ... He is now under a new and seperate SEC investigation for peddling immigrant visas.

      The fruit not falling far from the tree.

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    5. .

      CNN

      There are few of Trump's aides I find acceptable, competent or anything else but apologists and enablers for him. Miller falls into the last group.

      That said, CNN has gone completely off the rails. All but one or two of the hosts there seem to feel that there only job is to challenge any guest that supports Trump or the GOP. They have become activists instead of journalists. Tapper has fallen into that trap.

      It makes you think that it's the way they think is the only way to progress on the station. The more outrageously confrontational the better.

      Many FOX hosts do the same thing but not with the same heat as at CNN.

      .

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  5. The way the Indian media views the current Show in DC ...

    Trump and Bannon were like two overweight men trying to share a sleeping bag

    Trump is prone to taking out his frustrations on others – he is never to blame for his failures – and inevitably these landed on Bannon, who bragged more than was good for him about his power in the White House and asserted more than he should have


    http://m.hindustantimes.com/opinion/trump-and-bannon-were-like-two-overweight-men-trying-to-share-a-sleeping-bag/story-wocuHWKTdQeTqoXQKoVcCK.html

    Yeppers, the US is sure "Winning" in SW Asia. Why at this rate we'll be out of Afghanistan by ....

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  6. A third of Mr Trump's time has been spent on the golf course. Now he is scheduling more "off time" during the normal work week

    President Trump is starting his official workday later and spending more time in the mornings watching TV and tweeting, Axios reported Sunday.

    Trump’s day is now starting around 11 a.m. and he is also holding far fewer meetings during his workday, Axios reported after viewing copies of Trump’s private schedule

    The first part of Trump’s day is known as “Executive Time.” According to the schedule, it takes place in the Oval Office, but officials told Axios it actually takes place in the White House residence and consists of Trump watching TV and tweeting


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    1. News about "Corrupt Kushner" from Israel.

      http://m.jpost.com/American-Politics/Conflict-of-interest-concerns-over-Kushner-ties-to-Israeli-real-estate-533077

      WINNING

      Mr Trump was correct ...
      It is so, so tiring.

      Delete
  8. More news about all the soon to be ILLEGAL migrant workers from India.


    Will 750,000 Indians on H-1B be ‘self-deported’ from the United States? The answer is no


    https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2018/01/07/are-750000-indians-h-1b-workers-facing-self-deportion-431820/

    It will be so soul satisfying to see those 750,000 jobs go to Americans.

    Good, high paying jobs they are, too

    No need for immigrants to have those jobs when unemployment among black Americans is over 6%.

    SEND 'EM BACK!!

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  9. .

    BobMon Jan 08, 01:01:00 AM EST
    Yes yes Quirk a minor disturbance .
    .The old ways die hard. Look at detroit

    Now read the Indian Constitution and AND about affirmative action programs for shalits something you knew nothing of before.



    Damn, Bob, you are isolated in your own little dream world and you ignore anything that would disturb it. As noted in the article, the caste system has been around for 2,000 years. I saw an article in the Guardian within the last two weeks arguing that it now has continued in the UK among Indians there.

    Constitution? The constitution doesn't mean shit if the authorities don't enforce the laws. Modi comes from one of the biggest provinces (if that's what they call them) in India. It is also the center for most of the attacks, rapes and other physical attacks, on the Dalits. It is also where most of the killings of Muslims and Christians are taking place because the nationalist Hindu thugs are trying to push them out of the country. It's were they have the cow patrols for god's sake, bands of vigilantes who go out at night and attack people accused of killing cows or eating meat.

    One of the major criticisms of Modi is that he talks a good game on supporting the constitution but does nothing. And it's not just the lower caste Indians complaining. Human rights groups around the world complain of the same thing.

    Try reading something other than Geller and Spencer.

    Ask your friend what caste she is.

    Shallits? You're the faux farmer, isn't that some kind of onion. You are an embarrassment.

    .

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    1. Don't have to ask her, and never would.

      She is in THE TOP 1% OF THE ENTIRE WORLD, THE REAL 1%, FIVE LANGUAGES, PH.D IN INFORMATION FLOWS IN THE NOGGIN, BEAUTIFUL AS WELL, HUMOROUS, JOYFULL

      Look Quirko its an ancient country and old ways die hard. We had Jim Crow for 100 years, and according to many reports are still racist as hell.

      Live your own life righteously lad, then you have done well.

      What's the lowest price you can give me on one of your QUIRKVAGONS by the way.

      I might be in the market.

      Always looking out for you.....

      Delete
    2. And India does have affirmative active for the untouchables. Look it up if you don't believe me.

      They had affirmative action before the USA.

      Maybe we got the idea from them ?

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    3. .

      Right an maybe pigs can fly.

      In Bob-world.

      .

      Delete
  10. .

    Trump: Genius or Psychopath?

    Trump is a political genius.

    He breaks all the normal rules of politics espoused by the Doctrinario who claim Trump is stupid, a disaster, mentally ill, gets nothing right and yet Trump keeps winning.


    No one denies Trump is clever. He knows the rules and how to stretch them. He is a life long con man who sell high priced snake oil. There will always be some buyers.

    Genius?

    Hmmm.

    Well, it's easy to see why a narcissist like Trump would consider himself a genius. Others? Well, if you consider financial and political success as a sign of 'genius', I guess it makes some kind of sense.

    Psychopath?

    Psychopathic Personality Inventory

    Original subscales[edit]

    The items used in the original version of the PPI were based on a number of conceptual constructs theorized (by previous researchers such as Hervey Cleckley and Robert D. Hare) to be related to psychopathy. It consists of a series of statements to which subjects respond on how accurately the statement describes them using a 4-point Likert scale ("False, "Mostly False", "Mostly True", "True").

    Factor Analysis of the initial 160 items revealed 8 factors:[1]

    Machiavellian Egocentricity: A lack of empathy and sense of detachment from others for the sake of achieving one's own goals

    Social Potency: The ability to charm and influence others

    Coldheartedness: A distinct lack of emotion, guilt, or regard for others' feelings

    Carefree Nonplanfulness: Difficulty in planning ahead and considering the consequences of one's actions

    Fearlessness: An eagerness for risk-seeking behaviors, as well as a lack of the fear that normally goes with them

    Blame Externalization: Inability to take responsibility for one's actions, instead blaming others or rationalizing one's behavior

    Impulsive Nonconformity: A disregard for social norms and culturally acceptable behaviors

    Stress Immunity: A lack of typical marked reactions to traumatic or otherwise stress-inducing events

    Additionally, the PPI also included two special validity scales designed to detect participants who were giving random, inconsistent, or insincere answers. This was to avoid attempts at malingering, and to eliminate subjects who seemed to have difficulty understanding multiple items.


    Just saying. Among occupation, studies show psychopathic tendencies are most observant in CEO's

    .

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    1. .

      I guess there are geniuses and then there are geniuses.

      The WaPo recently wrote of the nearly 2,000 lies and misrepresentations Trump offered up in 2017.

      Politifact estimates that Trump tells the whole truth only about 16% of the time.

      Most realize that GOP leaders who have insulted Trump and been insulted by him will still support him if they think it is in their own self-interest. It's what politicians do.

      On the other hand, there have been numerous stories of how foreign leaders distrust Trump and what he says something that doesn't really advance diplomacy.

      It appears Trump's base is unmoved by his dishonesty even when it involves the promises he has made and broken to them. This is really an interesting case of social masochism but it remains to be seen how long it will last.

      2018 won't really be good test for how Trump is viewed in the country though it will provide some definite clues. However, 2020 will tell the tale.

      I have gone on record as saying I believe Trump will be a one-term president. The question remains will he actually run for a second term.

      Reasons he might not run...

      1. Legal problems. He is forced out of office through impeachment, invocation of the 25th amendment, or criminal prosecutions. Probability? Highly unlikely. The only reason I don't say 'none' is that we don't know what else if anything will surface.

      2. Illness: Probability? More likely. Even though he plays golf every other day, he still leads an unhealthy lifestyle, junk food, erratic sleep habits, overweight, age (71). A lot could go wrong in the next 3 years.

      3. He quits 'while he's ahead'. According to Trump, he has done more than any other president in American (or universe) history. Why push his luck? It would be easy for him to rationalize the move (well, in his own head).

      4. Short attention span. He just gets tired of the gig. Possible but not likely.

      Reasons he might lose if he runs...

      1. His popularity remains in the tank. (The big 'if' here is the economy. The economy, not just in the US but worldwide, is humming along swimmingly. It's hard to predict when the cycle in the US will change direction.)

      2. The economy. It does shift proving that trickle down economics don't work. Or, companies fail to invest or increase wages with the money they were just gifted by Trump and the GOP. The spread between rich and poor continues to grow exponentially at the same time the national debt does the same thing.

      3. The GOP is forced to cut welfare, SS, Medicare, or Medicaid because of declining revenue and rising debt.

      4. Regulations. The effects of Trump's savaging of regulations come home to roost. Farmers like the loosening of regulations but some are already pointing out that clean water is even more important. The effects of his deemphasizing (ignoring?) clean air and water and health and safety could raise concerns among even his base.

      5. His base. Trump's support among his base remains surprisingly strong. It remains to be seen if three years from now it will remain as strong. He has already seen some of it disappear (white women and independents). If he follows through on his threats on NAFTA he could anger important parts of his base, agriculture and auto workers. Finally, though they support him now even though he hasn't provided the jobs he promised will those coal miners in West Virginia and the manufacturing workers in the rust belt still support him when they are still out of work 3 years from now.

      obviously, I could be wrong but taking everything into account I think the chances of Trump being our president in 2021 are small.

      .

      Delete
    2. Back to calling The Donald a psycho I see.

      You really hate his guts.

      Delete
    3. No Draft Dodger, you merely read the description, posted by Q, and KNOW in your heart of hearts that it fits Donald J Trump ...
      To a "T".

      A treasonous psychopath.

      If one "Connects the Dots
      And does not "Stovepipe" the intel concerning the President's current cranial capacity.

      The conclusions YOU came to Robert "Identity Thief" Peterson, are your own.

      Delete
    4. Now now don't go off your deep end again

      Delete
    5. I could be wrong but taking everything into account I think the chances of Trump being our president in 2021 are small.

      If he chooses to run, he will win.

      As to the charge that Trump is guilty of treason, I question that the person making the charge even has a rudimentary understanding of the word and a clue as to the legal definition without looking it up.

      Delete
    6. if the dems are down to Oprah it's a sad day for the USA.

      Delete
    7. Couldn't make it one day, Robert "Dra2 Dodger" Peterson.

      No self control.
      No self discipline
      No self.

      So sad for you.

      Delete
  11. Michael Wolff's book “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House” has quickly become a best-seller but also been met with scrutiny over a variety of its claims.

    In addition to a variety of negative insights, the author made worrisome comments about First Lady Melania Trump's behavior on election night.

    ...

    Wolff wrote that after 8 p.m. ET, when it became apparent Trump could win, “Melania was in tears — and not of joy.”

    However, a Page Six writer who was with the Trumps the night of the election revealed on Monday that it couldn't be further from the truth. Cindy Adams wrote:

    She was always supportive. She gave the race her imprimatur.

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  12. JUSTICE

    Former FBI Director James Comey’s decision to leak memos of his interactions with President Trump could come back to haunt him in a challenge to his New York bar membership.

    Ty Clevenger, a lawyer who filed a grievance against Mr. Comey, said in a letter Friday to the New York lawyers’ disciplinary committee that if the fired director ended up leaking classified information it should bolster the case against him.

    Earlier this week Sen. Charles E. Grassley revealed that Mr. Comey appears to have authored seven memos about his interactions with Mr. Trump. The government has deemed four of those seven memos to have classified information. Mr. Comey also leaked at least four memos to a law professor friend.

    Mr. Grassley says according to that math, at least one of the memos Mr. Comey leaked must have had classified information.
    Mr. Clevenger said that could run afoul of New York bar rules prohibiting a lawyer from engaging in “illegal conduct that adversely reflects on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer.”

    “If Mr. Comey deliberately leaked the documents, his breach of duty was analogous to willful breach of client confidentiality, and that reflects adversely on his ‘honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer,’” Mr. Clevenger wrote.

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    1. .

      Who is Mr. Clevenger saying Comey's 'client' is? Certainly not Trump. If he were asserting that it would reflect adversely on Mr. Clevenger's fitness as a lawyer.

      .

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    2. We will soon find out after Devin Nunes gets through the latest release of documents from the DOJ. We will be treated to some examples of illegal surveillance by the NSA, collusion and treason in Obama's DOJ and FBI.

      Delete
    3. .

      Illegal surveillance by NSA?

      Hilarious.

      That ship has sailed, son.

      .

      Delete
  13. CULTURAL ENRICHMENT

    Hungary's Orban tells Germany: 'You wanted the migrants, we didn't'

    In an interview with the German daily Bild, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban defended his country's refusal of an EU-wide refugee resettlement quota, saying that he believed refugees are "Muslim invaders."

    Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a populist leader known for his hardline anti-immigration stance, said that the European Union's migration policies threaten the "sovereignty and cultural identity" of Hungary, in an interview published Monday.

    "We don't see these people as Muslim refugees. We see them as Muslim invaders," he told the German daily Bild newspaper.

    Instead, he said the decision of thousands of migrants to journey to richer western European countries like Germany while passing through less wealthy "but stable" countries like Hungary was proof that they could not be classed as refugees, but rather "economic migrants in search of a better life."

    Orban also rejected the idea that Hungary should be open to accepting people from majority-Muslim countries, saying his country "doesn't want to be forced."

    "We believe that a large number of Muslims inevitably leads to parallel societies, because Christian and Muslim society will never unite," Orban told the paper.

    "Multiculturalism is only an illusion," he added.

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    1. CZECH MATE

      Czech president Miloš Zeman warned the EU that "10 million refugees will flood our continent unless the EU changes its immigration policy."

      Zeman, known for his sharp opposition to entry of Muslim refugees to Europe, said in an interview that the flow of refugees from Africa and the Middle East threaten the European culture since their culture does not correspond to European culture.

      Delete
    2. Orban and Zeman have it right.

      Delete
  14. Lawyers for President Donald Trump have been in "preliminary and ongoing" talks with the FBI, exploring a range of options about whether the president himself might be interviewed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in the Russia investigation.

    ...

    "He's the president of the United States! So if he doesn't testify - the inference is - he's guilty," said former Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Ackerman.

    So far there is no comment from the White House.

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  15. Those that need to testify are those in the DOJ, including Comey, that filed for the FISA wiretapping approval.

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    1. Jeff Sessions seems to be on a different page.

      He has ALL the "Insider Knowledge". He really does know who met with the Russkis ...
      And why.

      The old school KGB hands played Junior and Jared for saps.
      And WON.

      Delete
  16. There is a new latency in the posting of comments. I wonder what Google is up to now?

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    1. .

      I've noticed it. I've also noticed it in other places.

      I would suggest the end of net neutrality but I thought they were still writing the new rules for it, that is. the lobbyists are writing the new rules for it.

      Someone said they didn't care if the rules were changed. We'll see.

      .

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  17. Deuce's man booed at college game - aawwwkward!

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    1. College know nothing punks.

      What else would one expect ?

      Delete
  18. .

    If he chooses to run, he will win.

    This won't help.

    Fans Boo Trump

    Tens of thousands of football fans hoping to view the Alabama/Georgia CFP title game were forced to stand around for over an hour in the rain waiting for the announcement, "Trump has entered the building".

    Someone used the word 'elitist' the other day.

    .

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    1. .

      warrenstjohn‏
      @warrenstjohn
      Follow
      Follow @warrenstjohn

      Interesting experience standing in the rain with tens of thousands of UGA/Bama fans who’ve been locked out of Mercedes Benz Stadium while we wait for @realDonaldTrump’s entry. They’re not psyched.


      .

      Delete
    2. I tried enhancing the sounds for the boos, but all i got was "USA!" "USA!" "USA!"

      Delete
    3. On a hunch, I looked up the tweeter "warrenstjohn", not being familiar with the lad.

      FYI

      Warren St. John has written for the New York Observer, The New Yorker, Wired and Slate, in addition to his work as a reporter for The New York Times. His first book, Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: A Journey into the Heart of Fan Mania ( 2004), was named one of Sports Illustrated's best books of the year, and ranked ...

      Delete
    4. Don't believe your lying ears. Please rely on the MSN article posted above by Dad.

      Delete
    5. :)

      That's pretty funny. Warren St. John.

      Delete
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    1. .

      College punks?

      What's wrong with you?

      Take a look at the picture in the article.

      Six days ago, tickets were welling on StubHub for around $2,000. On the 50 yard line, they were selling for over $13,000. If you want a seat in one of the suites, they were going for around $90,000.

      .

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  20. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. If it comes down to OPRAH v QUIRK I'm voting QUIRK.

      Delete
  21. “I just hope that Recy Taylor died knowing that her truth, like the truth of so many other women who were tormented in those years, and even now tormented, goes marching on,” said Winfrey. “It was somewhere in Rosa Parks’s heart almost 11 years later, when she made the decision to stay seated on that bus in Montgomery, and it’s here with every woman who chooses to say, ‘Me too.’

    ...

    As she concluded her speech, Winfrey shared an inspirational lesson from her incomparable career. “I’ve interviewed and portrayed people who’ve withstood some of the ugliest things life can throw at you,” she said, “but the one quality all of them seem to share is an ability to maintain hope for a brighter morning, even during our darkest nights.

    So I want all the girls watching here, now, to know that a new day is on the horizon! And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say, ‘Me too’ again.”

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  22. Oprah if she ran would have a real chance

    Trump even mentioned her as a possible VP for HIMSELF.

    ReplyDelete