Damned Texans

[The Grand Nudger]

Well, -you- might end up as a serf...but I have potable water, arable land, agricultural and military experience... and a modest armory.  I'll be angling for vassal status come capitalapocolypse.

Sir Rhythm, Little Lord of Big Hollar

[Imaginaryfriendless]

Basically I find that explaining things in terms of non-equilibrium thermodynamics to be more enlightening. Central to any form of government is how effectively it uses the available energy in order to maximise entropy. 

I LOVE that. In fact, although you may or may not agree with my take-away, I have used a very similar argument to justify space exploration- I believe capitalism is the best form of government our species is currently capable of maintaining, and if you accept that, then we must expand or die. 

I'd personally love to put every member of the royal family to the guillotine, face up so they see the blade come down. 

You aren't the first Brit I've heard THIS from!


 

Your own personal values determine whether a particular country works for you or not. 

Yes, of course. While I love experiencing other cultures and seeing alternate methods of achieving goals, I value freedom above all else, even security. I want the freedom to do what I want, as long as I don't harm anyone else- again, I could care less if someone's feelings get hurt- actual harm. I want you to have the same freedoms, and I will fight and die to assure that you do. That is my Nirvana. Texas is close.

I never expressed an impression of the US. I will reveal though that my impression of the US is that it is a very harsh society if you are not rich and that this does not fit in with my own personal values.

I didn't go back to look, something about the crazy gun problems we have here...?

I don't feel that way at all...my life is pretty laid back, as is everyone I know. Other than in some areas of the country- no offense, but those with the strongest British ties, like the New England states- I don't even see or feel a class system. You may be poorer than dirt, but you have the same rights as anyone else- certainly, there is occasional corruption, like anywhere else in the world. Celebrities who get a slap on the wrist where you or I would go to prison, sure...but I don't see that at all, other than in the tabloids. I was a deputy sheriff for 8 years, and I can tell you with all honesty that, at least here in Texas, police abuse is very rare. I never saw any officer treat a poor person differently...well, sometimes he would do more for them if the could, I guess. I did. 

I'm not rich...I have a masters in Herpetology but barely worked in the field. I flew airplanes all my life. I made a good living, I own a small ranch and everything I have is paid for, but I started from just a middle class normal family. I'm very happy that I managed to retire at 46.

I think your impression of the US is off base, by a lot. There is nothing harsh about life here, if anything we have it too easy. People chase money because they want to, not because they need to, and they certainly are not the majority. Most folks just want enough money to enjoy the freedom our country gives us.

I find life in the UK somewhat daunting. You have so many rules, so many things are forbidden...you take them for granted I'm sure, but for me...my reaction is "F*CK OFF, you can't tell me what to do, jackass". The way they have the fee system set up on the roads in London, with the fee for driving while it's congested and different fees depending on what kind of car you drive and...wow. You guys are smarter than us, I could never figure all of that out. You have disarmed everyone, including the police other than special units, and people are stabbed and shot in London all the time, no one can defend themselves against these thugs, and yet you claim all is well. For an American, particularly a Texan...all is NOT well. The liberals I have thus far encountered on this site make it sound like Texas is alone in it's gun loving craziness...but research how many concealed carry permits have been issued nationwide, and where they are. Americans, more often than not, love their guns.


I put qualifiers in, just for you.



I'm curious, knowing something of your views...what is your take on the "Muslim Invasion" of the UK?

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Well, -you- might end up as a serf...but I have potable water, arable land, agricultural and military experience... and a modest armory.  I'll be angling for vassal status come capitalapocolypse.

Sir Rhythm, Little Lord of Big Hollar

LOL...If we talked longer you'd probably throw me out of the southern liberal's club. I know what google says about liberals, buy I also know what liberals in office actually do. Grrr...

I know what you mean, I have a ranch that is self-sustaining if need be, a not-so-modest armory, military experience, police experience, and I can fly the box any aircraft came in. Bring on the apocalypse, baby! If I didn't know what it was actually like to get shot at, I'd be shouting for revolution about now. I'm not happy with this government and I don't see things changing until congress does...and they won't do it voluntarily. So seek peace and prepare for war.

[popeyespappy]

Capitalism isn't a form of government. It is a justification for exploiting the environment including people.

[Imaginaryfriendless]

Capitalism isn't a form of government. It is a justification for exploiting the environment including people.

cap·i·tal·ism
ˈkapədlˌizəm/
noun

1. an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.
   

Lazy people, of course , despise capitalism. The idea of having to earn your way! Preposterous!

[I_am_not_mafia]

Basically I find that explaining things in terms of non-equilibrium thermodynamics to be more enlightening. Central to any form of government is how effectively it uses the available energy in order to maximise entropy. 

I LOVE that. In fact, although you may or may not agree with my take-away, I have used a very similar argument to justify space exploration- I believe capitalism is the best form of government our species is currently capable of maintaining, and if you accept that, then we must expand or die. 

I agree. I think space exploration is the key to our future, specifically asteroid mining. Things will turn very ugly if we don't crack that now the Long emergency is taking place. Fusion power is unlikely to work, at least on Earth. Doing it in space might be a different matter. Capitalism is the form of government most suited to the very nature of life, that is to consume resources and to expand. Not that I want unfettered capitalism that privatises the rewards and socialises the risks. I actually see corporations as a higher form of life. In the same way that a single cell is made up of different bacteria that were consumed many generations ago (e.g. mitochondia) and each cell is alive, or a brain is made up of many different neural cells, each one being a live. A corporation is made up of people. Companies can breed and spawn off new companies, consume other companies. They use energy and create waste products. I consider myself a cancer cell.

You have disarmed everyone, including the police other than special units, and people are stabbed and shot in London all the time, no one can defend themselves against these thugs, and yet you claim all is well. For an American, particularly a Texan...all is NOT well. The liberals I have thus far encountered on this site make it sound like Texas is alone in it's gun loving craziness...but research how many concealed carry permits have been issued nationwide, and where they are. Americans, more often than not, love their guns.

The comedian Doug Stanhope made an interesting observation about violence in the UK. Because we don't have many guns but we do have free health care, it's far less risky to actually just slug it out. In Glasgow for example, owning a gun is a sign of weakness. I think there's a similar attitude to using knives. It's certainly not a wise thing to do bringing a knife around with you because if the police stop and search you and find you carrying a knife then the consequences are quite severe. Also a knife can just as easily be used against you. I personally used to learn a whole load of martial arts. My favourite being Thai boxing. But before that I used to carry a pot of pepper with me that I could throw in someone's face. The only time I used it on someone, they had just been released from jail the previous day having served time for violent assault. He was with a group of mates and were trying to rip up my parent's conifers. That's when I realised that the pepper should be fresh. We didn't start the fight though. My granddad threw the first punch.

I put qualifiers in, just for you.

Thank you

I'm curious, knowing something of your views...what is your take on the "Muslim Invasion" of the UK?

I'm not particularly fearful. The UK has a long history of accepting other cultures as a result of going out and conquering most of the world. I don't like Islam, or any Abrahamic faith but I distinguish between that and the majority of people who just want to get on with life. We've successfully neutralised Christianity here in the UK, the same will happen with Islam. If you have a decent education system and an open dialogue then it just takes time. But I do worry that the far right and the militant Islamists will feed off each other and cause problems. This won't happen in Scotland though because the Scots naturally want to distinguish themselves from the English by doing the opposite. So the more the English become xenophobic, the more the Scots will welcome others.

[Thumpalumpacus]

So do you gig at all or just play for self/friends? I have an embarrassingly large guitar collection, I'll let you know next time we're having a jam session, in case you'd like to come by. I think you're an hour away or less. We just have fun, no rules, no plans, just music and hanging out.

Cheers!

Yeah, I lived in SoCal when hair metal exploded. I was and am a huge Rush fan, and the metal that I like was more Maiden and Sabbath than the peroxide crap, so getting into bands was sometimes pretty tough. I was denim and leather, they wanted spangles and mascara, a lot of the time, it seemed. I gigged enough but never in a band that caught a large following, so it was a series of bands ranging from thrash to blues to bass in a Hendrix tribute band. Last paying gig was about five years ago. I do the occasional open-mic here at Poodie's, a roadhouse opened by Willie Nelson's late road manager.

Always up for a jam ... bought an Epiphone Valve Jr yesterday used at GC yesterday, first amp I've owned in years. Just to tide me over until I pick up an Egnater.

[I_am_not_mafia]

Capitalism isn't a form of government. It is a justification for exploiting the environment including people.

I don't disagree. I could have phrased it better.

[I_am_not_mafia]

Yeah, I lived in SoCal when hair metal exploded. I was and am a huge Rush fan, and the metal that I like was more Maiden and Sabbath than the peroxide crap. I gigged enough but never in a band that caught a large following, so it was a series of bands ranging from thrash to blues to bass in a Hendrix tribute band.

Always up for a jam ... bought an Epiphone Valve Jr yesterday used at GC yesterday, first amp I've owned in years. Just to tide me over until I pick up an Egnater.

I used to be a metaller. I had a Fender HM strat and a JCM 900 (still do). In the early naughties decided to buy a Fender Champ amp and came away instead with a Japanese 62 reissue Fender Strat and a really old hand wired amp that only had a single volume control but was probably a precursor to a Vox AC30 (although not a Vox). I then met my husband who also had two 62 reissue Japanese Strats. Between us we have three pink strats. I enjoyed home recording and would love to do that again.

I gave up playing the guitar many years ago. I moved on with my life and playing the guitar is kind of tinged with sadness for me because of what I was going through when I used to play extensively. I sometimes pick up my acoustic when I go back to Germany on holiday though. Back in the early 90's I started to listening to classical music instead of heavy rock, particularly Russian classical. But I actually like playing very natural celtic folk instruments which you can jam around a camp fire, so an Irish flute, mandolin, violin etc. Something you can still play after civilisation has ended. I'm considering starting some percussion lessons sometime I suppose. I enjoy hitting things.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Liberals have a hilarious idea of what Texans believe, as well. Maybe if we could all find it hilarious instead of a personal affront, this would be a happier place.

I don't think the stereotypes about Texans are based on political leanings, myself. I think that out in California, the stereotype of Texans (held by folks across the political spectrum) is based more on the superiority complex many of them seem to have.

Stereotypes and generalizations are fuckin' irksome no matter which direction they flow. I've already had this conversation with Mathilda regarding her preconceptions about Texans, so I'll just say to you that when you lump everyone from any group together, you are inherently making an error. Period, full stop.

[I_am_not_mafia]

Stereotypes and generalizations are fuckin' irksome no matter which direction they flow. I've already had this conversation with Mathilda regarding her preconceptions about Texans, so I'll just say to you that when you lump everyone from any group together, you are inherently making an error. Period, full stop.

And it was a bit of a slap in the face for me to realise that I had done that. I was just tired of reading about yet another southern state American politician spewing bigotry and hatred that it had completely narrowed my focus when writing.