Sunday, September 26, 2010

Political dialog litmus test.

[The following is adapted and revised from a previous blog.]


This shouldn't be necessary. But it has come to this.

Before engaging in any political discussion, you should acknowledge the following as truths beyond debate:

  • Global climate change is real.
  • The Theory of Evolution is a fact.
  • President Obama is not Hitler, a Fascist, a Muslim, a Communist or a Socialist.
  • No one in the US government has advocated anything resembling euthanasia as a part of health insurance reform.
  • The moon is not made of cheese.
  • Iraq had nothing to do with the attacks of 9/11.
  • A Czar is a media-created name for a government official who has a legal job to do and reports through normal administrative organization structures.
  • Torture is wrong and is a violation of US and international laws.
  • The attacks of 9/11 were planned and carried out by foreign terrorists with no involvement by anyone connected to the US government.
  • Fascism is an extreme RIGHT-wing ideology.
  • The Nazi's, despite their party name (National Socialist Party), were right wing and fascists, not socialists or liberals.
  • Any use of the Confederate flag is incompatible with claims of patriotism.
  • Tax cuts do in fact reduce revenue for the government and therefor contribute to deficits unless offset by spending cuts.
If a person can't agree to these statements they have lost touch with reality and are not worthy of a debate. I think that should set the bare minimum for some sane discourse. Or at least it will weed out the true loons.


These are real things.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

The Big Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives

The Big Ten conference was not officially called the Big Ten until 1987.  Prior to that it was officially called the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives.


This is a real thing.