Lies are better than the truth

[mickthinks]

Stop trying to be the centre of everybody’s attention.

[Gary Childress]

Stop trying to be the centre of everybody’s attention.

What makes you think I'm the "center" of everyone's attention? Are you suggesting that I stop posting?

[mickthinks]

Er … only a moron could think that “Stop trying to be the centre of everybody’s attention” entails “Stop posting”. Now, I know you are not a moron, Gary. Which leads me to conclude that you are pretending to be one in order to troll us.

Trolls are, of course, also attention whores

[Gary Childress]

Er … only a moron could think that “Stop trying to be the centre of everybody’s attention” entails “Stop posting”. Now, I know you are not a moron, Gary. Which leads me to conclude that you are pretending to be one in order to troll us.

Trolls are, of course, also attention whores

Then what would you like me to do differently or say differently? How does one not be an "attention whore", by begging for your leniency?

[mickthinks]

Okay, Gary, let me put it this way …

If you are too stupid to work it out for yourself, then there is no point even in your being here on the Philosophy Now forum and yes, I guess you should stop posting altogether.

[Dubious]

The only way religions can maintain themselves. It has long been the art of making truth the enemy and punishable if truth be told. Scripture guarantees the lies. The main reference for that is the bible itself. The final arbiter is not Judgement Day or any god but your conscience.

[Gary Childress]

Okay, Gary, let me put it this way …

If you are too stupid to work it out for yourself, then there is no point even in your being here on the Philosophy Now forum and yes, I guess you should stop posting altogether.

Fair enough. My bad. I'll try to be less of an "attention whore".

[popeye1945]

The world would obviously be a better place if everyone were theist and not anti-theist. Why? Because God created all that is and to be against God is to be against all that is. It's the very definition of evil itself to be opposed to something. It's evil by definition not to praise the creator of all that is. It doesn't matter what that creator created or how it works, but if you are against creation, then you are evil. Hence I am evil, because I think the world is a shit show and that if there is a God, God made as many mistakes as s/he/it did anything else. I'm evil. End of story.

What are you?

Gary,

Just consider the greater probability that creation should not be attributed to an anthropomorphic entity, give up the god of thunder as god's bowling night

[Gary Childress]

The world would obviously be a better place if everyone were theist and not anti-theist. Why? Because God created all that is and to be against God is to be against all that is. It's the very definition of evil itself to be opposed to something. It's evil by definition not to praise the creator of all that is. It doesn't matter what that creator created or how it works, but if you are against creation, then you are evil. Hence I am evil, because I think the world is a shit show and that if there is a God, God made as many mistakes as s/he/it did anything else. I'm evil. End of story.

What are you?

Gary,

Just consider the greater probability that creation should not be attributed to an anthropomorphic entity, give up the god of thunder as god's bowling night

It doesn't matter. The world is pretty much over. My leaders have once again made my country into the most despicable one on Earth. Chomsky told people not to vote for the Republicans, that they were even more evil than the Democrats. He tried to warn people not to vote for them. But they wouldn't listen. Now the Republicans have basically taken us all to hell. Many of us knew this was going to happen. We could see it coming from miles away, a reckless group wrecking everything. But there was nothing we could do to stop it. Once again, our hands are dripping red from another blood bath. The Republicans are a curse on this Earth. The best thing the Republicans can do for the world now is off themselves for what they've done to us. But they won't. They'll take us all with them.

[Dubious]

Last chance to redeem yourselves come November (if you haven't turned into a bona fide dictatorship by then) and turn Moronica back to America.

[Gary Childress]

Last chance to redeem yourselves come November (if you haven't turned into a bona fide dictatorship by then) and turn Moronica back to America.

With the nation mired in a war that may be of existential significance, It may be possible if enough people rally behind the Republicans that the Trump administration will be able to declare a national emergency and possibly suspend future elections for some time, if not indefinitely. We'll see what happens. The "Project 2025" playbook is mostly hidden from the public. So we don't know what's in store yet. The government seems to be out of the hands of the sane for now.

[Alexis Jacobi]

Then what would you like me to do differently or say differently? How does one not be an "attention whore", by begging for your leniency?

Hmmmm. I say remain an attention whore if need be. But, and it is an important but, make the choice to learn the Art of preparation of (genuine, fluffy) Matzo Ball Soup. Now, over time (and while using certain Yiddish mantras I can teach you), and of course the self-administered schmaltz-rubs, the simple process of slurping down a huge hot healthy bowlful of delicious healing soul will begin to subtly change your molecular structure! and within a guaranteed time-frame you will not even want dysfunctional attention. Gary, I have cured hundreds!

[Alexis Jacobi]

The "Project 2025" playbook is mostly hidden from the public.

Can you break it down into bullet points? What does it call for?

[Gary Childress]

The "Project 2025" playbook is mostly hidden from the public.

Can you break it down into bullet points?

Not if I don't know what's in it. All I've seen are some interviews with insiders by undercover investigative reporters. The insiders told the undercover reporters that some of the stuff was not for public consumption. So I'm not sure what's in it.

[Iwannaplato]

The "Project 2025" playbook is mostly hidden from the public.

Can you break it down into bullet points? What does it call for?

The biggest point is an increase in Presidential power and a reduction of the balance of power in relation to the President. Here's a bullet point list:
* Expand presidential control over the executive branch
* Reshape the federal government under a conservative framework
* Prepare a ready-to-implement governing plan for a future conservative administration
* Reduce independence of federal agencies such as the DOJ, FBI, and FTC - put them more under control of the President
* Reclassify large numbers of civil servants to make them easier to replace - which means the President can appoint them when he or she comes in.
* Build a pipeline of pre-vetted, ideologically aligned government staff
* Dismantle or significantly reduce certain federal agencies (e.g., Department of Education)
* Shrink the size and influence of the federal bureaucracy (“administrative state”)
* Shift authority from career officials to political appointees - more Presidential power.
* Cut corporate taxes
* Move toward a flat income tax system
* Reduce federal spending, including potential cuts to Medicare and Medicaid - wars never seem to be included in this
* Roll back business and financial regulations
* Reduce environmental regulations
* Expand fossil fuel production and energy independence
* Scale back climate change initiatives

It's truly hard to imagine them not screaming about this when a Democratic President uses these powers.
* Increase presidential influence over law enforcement priorities
* Emphasize stricter crime enforcement policies
* Expand immigration enforcement powers
* Implement large-scale deportation of undocumented immigrants
* Restrict asylum and immigration pathways
* Eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs
* Roll back or remove certain LGBTQ+ protections
* Promote traditional family and social values
* Realign scientific and health agencies with conservative policy priorities
* Reduce federal support for reproductive health programs
* Restrict abortion access, including medication abortion
* Limit or remove coverage for emergency contraception
* Reduce federal involvement in education policy
* Promote school choice and local control of education
* Remove or restrict curricula related to gender identity and DEI
* Expand interpretations of presidential authority under Article II
* Reduce regulatory protections across multiple sectors
* Limit perceived ideological bias in government and institutions - you can't have the administration appoint these people while limiting this perception (of the truth).
* Restrict or regulate pornography
* Reverse major policies from previous (especially Democratic) administrations
* Reorient federal priorities across climate, healthcare, labor, and civil rights
* Provide a detailed policy blueprint (900+ pages) for immediate use
* Maintain a database of vetted personnel for rapid government staffing
* Train political appointees through aligned programs and academies
* Prepare draft executive orders for rapid implementation