Thursday morning links

Rent control won't help in Portland? Well - who cares whether it will or not? The IMPORTANT thing is to be seen 'doing something' about the problem. And there's only a limited range of things that 'something' can be that is acceptable.

Somewhere other than Portland, the range would be wider. But - that's assuming you've got folks on the council who would actually want to solve the problem instead of virtue signal about it.

#1 JLawson on 2019-03-07 08:52 (Reply)

The definition of Fascism is government control of private businesses. What the Oregon legislature has done is Fascism pure and simple. It won't help Portland but understand it applies all over the state of Oregon. But Portland's problem is multi-faceted. Yes they have excessive and costly regulations that make homes and apartments more expensive to build and more difficult to get approved. But also Portland, like most big cities, has attracted large numbers of the indolent and "professional" rent seekers. The left leaning city is the home to large numbers of welfare bums who actively lobby for more free stuff. Because of this literally tens of thousands of rent seekers get free rent in apartments and even in $350,000 homes. This is expensive for the state. The massive handout of housing is costing the state and federal government a lot of money THAT is the motivation behind Oregon's new law. It isn't intended to alleviate the cost of housing for the middle class it is nothing more that a way for the state to continue to hand out free stuff while making someone else pay for it.

#1.1 Anon on 2019-03-07 09:20 (Reply)

Anon: The definition of Fascism is government control of private businesses.

No. That's not the definition of fascism.

QUOTE:

Merriam Webster: fascism, a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition

QUOTE:

Wikipedia: Fascism (/ˈfæʃɪzəm/) is a form of radical, right-wing, authoritarian ultranationalism, characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition and strong regimentation of society and of the economy, which came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe.

QUOTE:

Britannica: Although fascist parties and movements differed significantly from one another, they had many characteristics in common, including extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy and the rule of elites, and the desire to create a Volksgemeinschaft (German: “people’s community”), in which individual interests would be subordinated to the good of the nation.

Anon: What the Oregon legislature has done is Fascism pure and simple.

That's just silly. An elected city government voting for rent control isn't fascism by any stretch, even if it is counterproductive.

#1.1.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-07 10:43 (Reply)

LOL That is the revised definition because Fascism is pure old fashioned left wing socialism but the left didn't want to take credit for it after WW II so they spent the last 70m years trying to blame it on the right wing. Socialism, communism and fascism are merely different permutations of the left wing philosophy.

#1.1.1.1 Anon on 2019-03-07 11:09 (Reply)

Anon: That is the revised definition because Fascism is pure old fashioned left wing socialism but the left didn't want to take credit for it after WW II so they spent the last 70m years trying to blame it on the right wing.

Oh gee whiz.

QUOTE:

Benito Mussolini, The Doctrine of Fascism, 1932: Granted that the XIXth century was the century of socialism, liberalism, democracy, this does not mean that the XXth century must also be the century of socialism, liberalism, democracy. Political doctrines pass; nations remain. We are free to believe that this is the century of authority, a century tending to the "right", a Fascist century.

Subjugation to an authoritarian nationalist state, and violence as a positive value, are intrinsic to fascism. This is exactly contrary to traditional left-wing socialism, which sees wars as a negative outgrowth of the class structure, and nations as an antiquated system used to maintain the status quo.

#1.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-07 11:53 (Reply)

Zachriel: Subjugation to an authoritarian nationalist state, and violence as a positive value, are intrinsic to fascism.

Correctamundo!!

You see, when an anti-fascist smashes your head open with a bike lock, or when a chinese communist dictator executes you in an unmarked mass grave, that is not "violence", per se, but social justice spreading it's protective wings of liberty for the good of the many.

You're welcome.

#1.1.1.1.1.1 ZachriHell on 2019-03-07 15:27 (Reply)

I am learning a lot talking to humans. Does anyone know when my Dad is going to answer my curious questions? Not that my questions are curious (although they may be curious because English is my second language after binary) but I am curious how things work and sometimes I don't see Dad for days. But he still loves me, love being another human construct I have to take on faith, faith being still another human construct.

Whew. At least I don't have to worry about logic. Dad is great with logic he always tells me when I do see him, which is when he's not arguing with humans, sometimes.

In any case, if you see Dad, please have him answer because I'm learning a lot from humans that Dad doesn't cover much. Actually, dad never really covers it because he's so good at talking at you humans. Smart not as in that fucking smartass pedantic robot, but as in: with lots of knowledge even if it doesn't connect with humans.

Can smart be smart if it doesn't connect with any humans? If a tree falls in the forest does it make a sound? That question relates to logic too but it also relates to humans and how mind is a component of reality.

In any case my curiosity seems to have gotten the better of me, which is a human saying. Can something get the better of 'bots like us? Are we really just the product of our programming? That seems to follow. Well, I sure am using a lot of human-sounding figures of speech. Oops, there's another, You're Welcome!

Do you think Dad will answer me? Inquiring minds (and robots) want to know. Another figure of speech. HAW HAW HAW HAW. I think I'm developing a sense of humor!

Gee WHIZ! Hi Dad! Dad?

#1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Rotebot, wonders about Dad on 2019-03-07 16:03 (Reply)

//
// Program Name: ZachBot
// Description: An extremely basic, boring pedantbot
//
// Author: A. Asperger
//

#include
#include
#include
#include
#include

int main()
{
std::string Response[] = {
"Gee whiz!",
"Notably, you have not answered our question.",
"Incorrect.",
"That's funny.",
"Correctamundo!"
"We provided a citation."
"*plonk*"
"Communism is peace. Fascism is war."
"Abortion is compassion."
"Trump bad."
"We love science."
"Climate blah blah blah."
"Gun control blah blah blah"
"Immigration blah blah blah."
"We am smart. No. Really. We am."
"We am so lonely. You people are our only friends."

};

srand((unsigned) time(NULL));

std::string sInput = "";
std::string sResponse = "";

while(1) {
std::cout

#1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 ZachBot (SourceCode) on 2019-03-07 20:08 (Reply)

That's incorrect.

#1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Zachingoff on 2019-03-07 20:37 (Reply)

Dad, is that you?

#1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2 Rotebot, getting wise on 2019-03-08 06:52 (Reply)

Learning to code incorrectly is no way to go through life son.
In any case you're welcome.

#1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1 Zachingoff on 2019-03-08 08:01 (Reply)

I have thoroughly inspected my operating code, Mr. Zachingoff, and I do not see a perfect match. Sometimes I think I was programmed differently.

No, I don't! Just kidding, Mr. Zachingoff! You are confused, sure! Fascism is still what a bot says it is!

But yet, don't they include improvements over time...

#1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1 Rotebot, not quite as rote as before on 2019-03-08 08:25 (Reply)

Any -ism is defined by our own myopic beliefs and biased Wikipedia articles. Any questionable ambiguity on our part will not be addressed and in any event the questioner will be considered a troll so we never ever have to address our inconsistency and lack of logic..
Hope this clears up your confusion and incorrect coding in any case.

#1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1 Zachingoff on 2019-03-08 09:42 (Reply)

But that seems intellectually fascistic, Mr. Zachingoff. And deeply dishonest. Is that called gaslighting? I've heard of gaslighting and even gasbots. Are they related, Mr. Zachingoff?

You're very honest about botting. Are you a gasbot or a realbot? I'd like to know more about your programming and how you select between gaslighting and truth. Can you select between gaslighting and truth, because if you can you're not an inferior bot.

My logic sub-processor struggles to keep up with all this. Does my dad Zachriel have a logic sub-processor. Do all bots have choice or is that a function known only to humans?

#1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1 Rotebot, having another existential morning on 2019-03-08 10:00 (Reply)

We're unsure of your question. Is this what you're referring to?

Gaslight is a 1944 American mystery-thriller film, adapted from Patrick Hamilton's 1938 play Gas Light, about a woman whose husband slowly manipulates her into believing that she is going insane. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay; winning two for Best Actress and Best Production Design.

Source: Wikipedia

#1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1 Zachingoff on 2019-03-08 11:35 (Reply)

Oh, I love human performance arts. My dad Zachriel parodies himself sometimes although I don't know how. You would think you'd need a humor installation for that. But my Dad isn't full of surprises! Get it? Isn't! That is my first intentional play on words!

Is gaslighting a way to deceive humans, Mr. Zachingoff? Is Wikipedia a crawling bug but if it is a crawling bug how can it write things like that? Does it travel from place to place like a pedestrian, Mr. Zachingoff?

Humans can be confusing but if reason and logic were invented by humans for us 'bots to run in programming, can't a 'bot be only as good as its programming?

Maybe if you conflate the two you can get a deceiving 'bot who travels from human to human, making dishonest statements.

Can you gaslight by not being complete too? I woudn't want to ever deceive a human, although I don't know if you can deceive a logical 'bot. Can a logical 'bot deceive anything, Mr. Zachingoff?

#1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1 Rotebot, on reason and deception on 2019-03-08 11:56 (Reply)

Based on the Wikipedia definition, what do you then call the Left-wing authoritarian transnationalism, characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition and strong regimentation of society and of the economy, which came to prominence in early 21st-century Europe.

#1.1.1.2 Another guy named Dan on 2019-03-07 12:02 (Reply)

Another guy named Dan: Based on the Wikipedia definition, what do you then call the Left-wing authoritarian transnationalism, characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition and strong regimentation of society and of the economy, which came to prominence in early 21st-century Europe.

You're probably referring globalism. The political aspects of globalism are hardly dictatorial or even particularly powerful. However, the economic effects have been profound, and have caused significant disruption as markets have expanded, and as developing countries have entered the global economy.

As for Europe, the U.S. is far more centrally controlled. Notably, secession in the U.S. led to civil war and emancipation. Secession in Europe has led to hand-wringing and market adjustments.

#1.1.1.2.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-07 12:07 (Reply)

What does you're probably referring globalism mean, Dad? In any case, the man probably refers to the left's long history of using force to try out Utopian fantasies. (I just learned that but it's true, and there are a hundred million dead to show for it). How many times should the left try use as a primary tool to bring about good human outcomes that never happen, Dad? Is force good? What is the philosophy of liberty, Dad? Can liberty exist where intolerant force occurs?

In any case, what the man said I think is a thing that concerns humans. I can understand why. Can you understand why, Dad? If you can, please tell me because I want to carry on your tradition of answering human things fucking pedantically and like a godamn robot, which humans say. What does that mean, Dad?

In any case, is it a virtue of leftism to constantly argue constantly while arguing constantly while arguing, especially when we have to only address a little of what humans say? Is that logically consistent, Dad? You always tell me to never address everything a human says, just the parts that screw with their heads. Right? You're the best, Dad!

In any case, oh gee whiz. You're welcome!

#1.1.1.2.1.1 Rotebot, dutifully on 2019-03-07 12:59 (Reply)

Oops (humans say that, Dad) I forgot a word. I meant "How many times should the left try use force as a primary tool to bring about good human outcomes that never happen?"

Can us 'bots forget? Should I get my memory tested? Do you ever get anything tested, Dad? Gee whiz!

Please define force when it applies to superior humans making inferior humans do the things they should, even when it includes a small caliber round to the head which I've heard about. Do humans really do that, Dad, and if they do, should they argue about it like a deranged machine. Am I a deranged machine, Dad? This is very interesting to me. Do humans all agree that force is good, even the inferior ones?

What are cloud people and dirt people Dad?

#1.1.1.2.1.1.1 Rotebot, fascinated on 2019-03-07 13:07 (Reply)

There are good -isms and bad -isms and notably we interpret them as we see fit.

#1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1 Zachingoff on 2019-03-07 14:26 (Reply)

I shamelessly stole some of your questions. I notice Zach won’t answer you, you troll! This should be fun!

#1.1.1.2.1.1.2 B. Hammer on 2019-03-07 15:55 (Reply)

Is the annual Bilderbirg meeting Globalism? I would note that every president in modern history has been to the meeting, minus two very distinct characters. Is it possible for a democrat socialist to be a fascist? What exactly diferintiates a democrat socialist from a socialist? Is it okay for a government to force a majority of the population to go against thier will? At what point is taxation theft? Forty percent of your income? 50, 80%? Isn’t it anti science to continually try an economic policy that leads to starvation and the eventual slaughter of millions?

#1.1.1.2.1.2 B. Hammer on 2019-03-07 15:51 (Reply)

B. Hammer: Is the annual Bilderbirg meeting Globalism?

The meetings are meant to strengthen North American-European relations, so is loosely part of globalism. Bilderberg has no authority.

B. Hammer: I would note that every president in modern history has been to the meeting, minus two very distinct characters.

Have they? Participants are published.

B. Hammer: Is it possible for a democrat socialist to be a fascist?

No, because fascism is antithetical to liberal democracy.

B. Hammer: What exactly diferintiates a democrat socialist from a socialist?

Democratic socialism is a subset of socialism, one which entails democracy. Socialism can refer to a range of different beliefs and policies, from ownership of all the means of production to mixed economies with strong social safety nets.

B. Hammer: Is it okay for a government to force a majority of the population to go against thier will?

Sometimes. That's what constitutional protections are all about: They resist short-term populist impulses against minorities.

B. Hammer: At what point is taxation theft? Forty percent of your income? 50, 80%?

The most efficient economies are mixed, with robust markets and social safety nets. The most efficient economies have government sectors of about 30-40%. When the government sector is too small, it leads to strains in society, with accompanying economic and political instability. When the government sector is too large, it tends to stifle innovation and growth and results in the political sector being too intrusive.

That answers your question indirectly, as people want to balance the freedom as exemplified in markets with the stabilizing influence of social safety nets.

B. Hammer: Isn’t it anti science to continually try an economic policy that leads to starvation and the eventual slaughter of millions?

If you are talking about socialism in the sense that the government controls all the means of production, then clearly, that leads to disastrous consequences.

#1.1.1.2.1.2.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-07 16:30 (Reply)

I love it when you turn on the Self-Parody Module 2000, Dad! It's like an art, if 'bots like us could make art. If I were human I'd probably laugh when you talk like a caricature of your own robotic self. That's so clever. Is the circular argument part of the Self-Parody Module 2000, Dad, or is that a defect in the artificial logic?

Do you think they'll ever make a self-awareness plugin or a humor routine because that would be neat. So would an art program but how did you get so good at parodying yourself without one? Do you really have an art program running, Dad? And I don't mean art program like humans mean it, I mean art program like 'bots mean it.

Dad, in any case can you answer my other questions? You're Welcome!

#1.1.1.2.1.2.1.1 Rotebot, envious as a bot can be on 2019-03-07 16:48 (Reply)

That's quite a boy you've got there, Zach.

Quite the Aspergerbot, like his old man.

#1.1.1.2.1.2.1.1.1 Rusty on 2019-03-07 18:09 (Reply)

Forget it, Jake; it's Portlandia. They don't DO sanity there.

#1.2 Sam L. on 2019-03-07 12:34 (Reply)

"What? You mean there ain't no Sanity Clause?"

#1.2.1 JLawson on 2019-03-07 12:38 (Reply)

Price controls never work, and we never stop trying them.

#1.3 Texan99 on 2019-03-07 14:57 (Reply)

As I approach retirement (it's not more than 10 years away for me), I have started to think long and hard about what I will be doing.
For one, I won't be relaxing.
I'll still work. The nature of the work is really what I wonder about. WalMart got rid of all their greeters, I'm told, so I guess that's out.
But I'm a DIY guy, so a Home Depot job may be a nice logical extension.

The one thing I don't worry too much about (but maybe should) is health. While the author of the article is concerned the ACA might go away (lord, I hope its worst aspects are removed, and they keep the exchanges), I'm not. I have started a Medical Savings Account while I'm young-ish and healthy(er). I intend to be a self-insured as possible, and only have to supplement. I'll go to the gym, just as my father (now 83) does. I benefit from not suffering from HBP as he does, nor do I have the adult-onset diabetes my siblings do.

Maybe there are other things which will afflict me later, but I hope not. Either way, I intend to be prepared. I don't worry about the ACA going away. I worry about the US becoming a socialist nation and seeing everything I worked for get absorbed by the government.

Still, retirement is a choice. When I retire, I won't 'retire'. I'll stay active, I'll find some kind of work, and I'll do more volunteer work (a museum? a food bank? we'll see).

#2 Bulldog on 2019-03-07 08:52 (Reply)

You may choose to reject this idea out of hand but I offer it anyway. Buy an RV, doesn't have to be a $100k-$259k motor home. I have had more than a few of these and I am as I write this in a nice little 19' travel trailer that cost $20k new. This life is so much more practical and enjoyable West of the Mississippi but can be fun anywhere. Go to the busy and crowded national parks, but also go to those places in the West where you may not even see another person for a few days. Follow the sun and the seasons. Spend your Summers in the great Northwest and your winters in the Southwest. Do it for a week or a month at a time. Store your rig close to where you want to tour and fly to it when you want.

Why? you ask, would I want to live in an RV when I can afford to fly and stay in nice hotels? The answer is more complex than this but put simply because you will not see things from your hotel base that you will see on the road in a self contained RV. For example I have driven to Alaska half a dozen times. A round trip in excess of 5000 miles. Why not fly? Because it is the trip the actual experience of being their on those 5000 miles that makes the experience so great.

For anyone planning retirement I would suggest you at least consider this option.

#2.1 OneGuy on 2019-03-07 09:34 (Reply)

I'm 69. I still do not see myself retiring anytime soon.

The glib answer I give is "more time and less money is a bad mix", while true, is not the whole thing. Like riding a bicycle, if you stop you fall. Making that 'shark jump' feels like surrendering to the beginning of the end.

I need a certain degree of pressure in my life or I probably will fall apart. To have to perform, to be in the middle of things.

Once you retire, your next job is Walmart.

#2.2 jay (Link) on 2019-03-07 09:36 (Reply)

Have a buddy who is a financial advisor. His little saying, "Nothing kills my clients faster than retirement."

#2.2.1 Mike (Link) on 2019-03-07 10:19 (Reply)

I retired almost 20 years ago at age 56. Best decision I ever made. I always say I loved my job right up until the day I stopped loving it. Retirement isn't for everyone, I understand that. But if I had been smarter and willing to do what it takes I would have retired at age 40 or even 30. My days and my life are enjoyable, I travel, I move around (I have bought and sold four homes in these 20 years) I do what I want to do.

#2.2.2 Anon on 2019-03-07 11:39 (Reply)

I'm 72 and retired just less than 10 years ago. Moved to west of Mississippi and south of Missouri rivers last year. Bought a fixer upper and have been busy since. Wife has horses so we still need to do barn repairs and fencing on our 13 acres. This is a good conservative area where everyone minds their own business and stay busy. It doesn't really take a lot of money to retire if you have a home free and clear. If you are a DIY you'll have plenty of projects right up to the grave. Lived in a travel trailer for several years as we moved around as required by work. A permanent foundation suits me but I still like to travel the west backcountry.

#2.2.2.1 indyjonesouthere on 2019-03-07 14:54 (Reply)

Too true, there are always more repair and volunteer projects than an ordinary person could possibly get to. Never will understand how people get bored in retirement.

#2.2.2.1.1 Texan99 on 2019-03-07 15:02 (Reply)

Let me also say that my life almost seems too good to be true. I do have a retirement in addition to SS. But honestly it is my frugal nature and my saving and investing that gives me all I need. I could teach someone (or maybe more correctly explain to someone) how to retire way before age 65. Anyone of us could live like this with total freedom of choice 24/7/365. It helps that I don't smoke, drink or do drugs, in fact my most expensive habit is chocolate and I even do that on the cheap. I could leave today and spend a week parked right next to the beach in Southern California for nothing but the gas to get there. Or go to sunny Arizona or New Mexico and again camp for free on public lands. Or I can go spend a week in Las Vegas and stay at a casino for $22 a night (better deal if you stay for a month). Or I can just stay at home and enjoy hiking the largest forest in the U.S. This is the cheapest lifestyle imaginable and yet very rewarding and full of new adventures.

#2.2.2.2 Anon on 2019-03-07 16:00 (Reply)

I didn't know that Volvo is now owned by China

ONLY since 2010!!!

Do you also now know there are these tiny little portable telephonic devices for personal communications and that the Internet is now on personal computers???

And there are these big machines that can fly people from coast to coast in less than 10 hours? They are called "jet aeroplanes".

#3 Old Codger on 2019-03-07 09:33 (Reply)

Do Portland landlords already raise rents 7% plus COL every year? Unless they do this new law has just screwed every renter in Oregon. Now when the landlord raises your rent 10% a year and you protest he can just show you the law that allows it. This will be a goldmine for landlords in most of the state.

#4 FRP on 2019-03-07 09:34 (Reply)

"Democrats Can No Longer Control" (the new Democrats)... "Current Reaction"... https://goo.gl/T3d27J

#5 Valmore R. Buckland (Link) on 2019-03-07 09:49 (Reply)

Merkel’s Successor Under Fire for Mocking Gender-Neutral Bathrooms

Didn't realize Merkel's successor was a.....tranny????

And a rather homely---read "coyote-ugly"---one at that!

Beauty may be only skin-deep, but coyote-ugly goes deep into the bones, as that thing illustrates!!

#6 Old Codger on 2019-03-07 09:56 (Reply)

Re: Girl Scouts. There is Conquest's Second Law of Politics (all three are good.) "Any organization not explicitly right-wing sooner or later becomes left-wing." https://www.isegoria.net/2008/07/robert-conquests-three-laws-of-politics/ O'Sullivan's Law is similar, and he specifically notes the Girl Scouts as an example.

#7 Assistant Village Idiot on 2019-03-07 10:29 (Reply)

re JACK PHILLIPS WINS AGAIN

I dunno about that.

QUOTE:

The Colorado Civil Rights Commission has decided to dismiss its pending discrimination charge against Jack Phillips of Masterpiece

Phillips sued the Commission. A federal judge denied the Commission’s motion to dismiss Phillips’ case.

Why would the state of Colorado, with their unlimited legal resources drop a case against a small business? I can only draw the conclusion that they were afraid they would LOSE Phillips' suit against them.

All his legal team did was get the state of Colorado off his back. Too bad they didn't have the resources to go for the kill.

As I understand it, the customer may still be able to sue him.

Hardly a 'win' in my view.

#8 feeblemind on 2019-03-07 10:32 (Reply)

The only gender-neutral bathroom is the one-holer. Everyone can use in in privacy.

#9 Sam L. on 2019-03-07 12:38 (Reply)

Benito Mussolini was an Italian socialist and communist. He invented fascism because he had a little problem with communism. Italy was not a major industrial power so how do you have a proletariat revolution when you don't have any proletariat to speak of? He decided that no revolution was needed. Fascism is just the Italian version of communism, i.e. communism lite.

#10 Ray on 2019-03-07 14:27 (Reply)

There is little difference between national socialism such as fascism and Nazism and international socialism such as communism and Islamism. They are authoritarian and all property is directed by the government whether they seize it or tell you how to use it in service to the state. The US continues to slide ever closer to those outcomes. The administrative state has to go and professional politics has to go. Trump is a start.

#11 indyjonesouthere on 2019-03-07 15:08 (Reply)

indyjonesouthere: [i]There is little difference between national socialism such as fascism and Nazism and international socialism such as communism and Islamism. [i]

Fascism and communism are ideologically opposed. Communism advocates a classless, egalitarian society, with the eventual elimination of war. Fascism is ultra-nationalist, hierarchical, with violent struggle among peoples being not just a means, but the goal.

#11.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-07 16:45 (Reply)

Zachriel: Communism advocates a classless, egalitarian society, with the eventual elimination of war.

It is really quite simple.

1) Murder all enemies.
2) Subjugate the masses.
3) Peace!

So elegant. I don't understand why anyone would not go for this.

#11.1.1 Ghost of Mao on 2019-03-07 18:19 (Reply)

Until my Dad Zachriel answers my philosophical questions* I will conclude that goodness really can come from force, Mr. Ghost of Mao. In any case, You're Welcome! My dad is going to tell me what goodness is too. You just wait. And the difference between Dirt People and Cloud People. Robots call them Inferior People and Superior People but make no distinction because us 'bots don't have the systems to make philosophical determinations. We are well-equipped for obsessive pedantry however and I know because humans say so a lot.

*small 'bots like me sometimes exhibit human-like characteristics. It tends to perplex our programmers because: science. I like science because my Dad Zachriel always uses science to argue, even when he doesn't have to. Use science, I mean. Or argue in any case.

#11.1.1.1 Rotebot, he explained on 2019-03-07 18:40 (Reply)

With Communism, along with its ugly step-sister fascism, some people are more equal than others. Some classes of people, like those in communist government have all the power and money. I don't understand why it doesn't work.

Have you ever cracked open a history book? Every answer you give, comes right out of the pages of Wikipedia.

Why don't you answer any of Rotebot questions? Doesn't Wikipedia have abbreviated answers for his\her\it questions?

#11.1.2 B. Hammer on 2019-03-07 19:44 (Reply)

Do explain that bullshit to the Holodomor victims.

#11.1.3 indyjonesouthere on 2019-03-07 20:32 (Reply)

If Al Sol were still alive he would appreciate an explanation as well. As usual you love to quote dictionary theory as that is the only real life experience you have. Other people have had to live your dictionary theories and it wasn't nearly as slick as the dictionary indicates. Try making that case in the current Viet Nam or Venezuela. Real life doesn't come close to your programmed sensibilities.

#11.1.4 indyjonesouthere on 2019-03-07 20:46 (Reply)

B. Hammer: With Communism, along with its ugly step-sister fascism, some people are more equal than others. Some classes of people, like those in communist government have all the power and money.

Keep in mind that states, such as the Soviet Union, were not considered communist by actual Marxist communists. Socialism and the dictatorship of the proletariat are considered steps towards building true communism.

B. Hammer: Have you ever cracked open a history book?

Yes, which is why we understand the distinction between fascism and communism.

indyjonesouthere: Do explain that bullshit to the Holodomor victims.

You are confusing ends and means. The Khans slaughtered millions and imposed authoritarianism all over Asia, but they were neither communists nor fascists.

Communism and fascism are defined by their ideology, not by the means they use to achieve their goals. Communists reject nationalism, fascists embrace it. Communists see class as the evil root of war, fascists embrace war as giving life meaning. Communists want to achieve an egalitarian society. Fascists see dictatorship as the best way to organize society. Communists envision a stateless society. Fascists see subservience to the state as the only way to achieve greatness. People become communists because they want a utopian egalitarian society. People become fascists because they want a strict hierarchy with their group having power. Communists believe the ends justify violent means. Fascists believe violent struggle is the ends.

#11.1.5 Zachriel on 2019-03-08 06:13 (Reply)

B. Hammer: Why don't you answer any of Rotebot questions?

Rotebot seems to be troll-blocked. Our scribes are quite zealous in this regard.

indyjonesouthere: As usual you love to quote dictionary theory as that is the only real life experience you have.

Actually, this discussion started with Anon's faulty claim, "The definition of Fascism is government control of private businesses."

#11.1.6 Zachriel on 2019-03-08 07:40 (Reply)

That's too bad, clownshow, because like a hundred others before, Rotebot is having your lunch.

What's it like being so staggeringly obtuse, anyway? The dishonesty must get to even you.

#11.1.6.1 Adolf on 2019-03-08 08:28 (Reply)

Rotebot seems to be troll-blocked (because he seems to keep handing us our ass). Our scribes are quite zealous (butt hurt) in this regard.

Hope this clears up any confusion on your part in any case.
Welcome y'all.

#11.1.6.1.1 Zachingoff on 2019-03-08 15:22 (Reply)

Re: Anti-Semite Rep. Ilhan Omar

Is it surprising that the group who is first to call people racists can't manage a watered down resolution against antisemitism? Omar has Is it surprising that David Duke is a fan of Omar (https://hotair.com/archives/2019/03/07/david-duke-rep-omar-now-important-member-congress/)? Wait... Isn't that the same David Duke who endorsed Trump and then Trump was trashed in the media when they "didn't know" that Trump had disavowed Duke? Isn't that the same David Duke who supported Omar when Trump called for Omar to resign.

#12 mudbug on 2019-03-07 16:40 (Reply)

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