Just disagreeing with some of your assumptions.

We broke it. We own it.

Doesn't that conflict with what you said above? Don't the Afghan people get a choice in that? These are people, not property.

And by self determination, I don't mean will power. If you had to pick one people with demonstrated will power over the centuries, the Afghans would be near the top of the list.

By self determination I mean the ability to make viable choices on one's behalf with minimal outside interference. I don't consider having the option of kissing the ass of warlord A or warlord B viable options (Pashtun, Tajik, US or otherwise). And naturally if you country has been devastated by war, your wells destroyed and your orchards gone, and no access to markets, your choices will be limited.

And sadly you are right to question our current commitment to literacy. Let's say that we used to value it highly and now some of us don't. But I'm going to stick with my guns on what I see as the drawbacks of the oral tradition in religious education. Not that it won't prevent fundamentalism, as you have pointed it out. We have plenty of that here. But it does help to slow it down.

I agree that a moral case can be made. A strong one. But that's not my point. My point is that is not enough. We are going to spend billions of dollars and have our people kill or be killed over there. What is the best way to fulfill our obligation?

We need some type of plan that makes sense to both us and the Afghans. Enough of the Afghans. Just sending over more troops doesn't cut it. We've been through this civil war stuff before.

I’m curious about one thing-is anyone here age 49-64? How do you feel about paying 4 or 5x the price for your insurance?

Ages:

35-49 42%

50+ 43%

http://www.quantcast.com/salon.com

And yes, I'm concerned that the cure will be worse than the disease as far this bill is concerned.

[...] certain rational, necessary suggestions made by the Republicans [...]

Would you care to enumerate any of these rational, necessary suggestions? There are over 500 amendments to the finance committee bill alone. I'm interested in how the bills could be improved and I'm less than impressed at the moment.

In general, I like my foregone conclusions with a little foreplay. Builds up the sense of inevitability.

Indeed. I give it an 8.5. Grock45 and haufenmist should take notes. If they can't provide any facts then at least we should be entertained.

Longer answer

faux zen modality: You cup is already overflowing.

Dude answer: You're really full of yourself and your ideas and preconceptions to the point of blindness. There's nothing to discuss or disagree with. I'm glad you decided to be huffy and stalk off.

You didn't like my trashing of your trashing Stephanie's article? Maybe that was the point.

Finally, if I want snark (oh, so hip and trendy a word) I read Wonkette.

If you're mostly meeting guys where the two main objectives are drinking and screwing, then it's no surprise that is mostly what happens and little else.

Find a place where you can meet a man that shares your interests. It could be the beach, snowboarding, the library, or any number of places. You just have to honestly like it. It may take longer, but it's more likely you'll find somebody that you can develop a lasting connection with.

Would you pass the Turing Test? Looking doubtful at the moment.

I think you're proving my point, at least to me.

We're all trapped inside our little bubbles. You in yours, Stephanie in hers. Me in mine.

Nowhere did I state anything about Stephanie Zacharek employing zero or more sets of aesthetics, nor did I imply a sense of refinement, or lack thereof in any of her work. Apparently my little joke about implicit unseen world views a-priori defining reality fell a little flat.

Don't you think you are bringing a lot of stuff to the party?

And I think she liked it because I've read quite a bit of her work, and while I don't always agree, I think we may share some ... aesthetics.

My non-definitive wiki

Aesthetics (also spelled æsthetics or esthetics) is commonly known as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste.[1] More broadly, scholars in the field define aesthetics as "critical reflection on art, culture and nature."[2][3] Aesthetics is a subdiscipline of axiology, a branch of philosophy, and is closely associated with the philosophy of art.[4] Aesthetics studies new ways of seeing and of perceiving the world.[5]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesthetics

In the future, all literary and film criticism, must begin with one of the two following approved openings:

1) This flick [sic] is so fucking cool. You've got to go see it.

2) I nearly puked my guts out after ten minutes of watching this disaster.

Reference to any sense of aesthetics beyond the unconscious self absorbed is prohibited at all times.

Hey AJ, long time no see.

I'm with you. I'm going to take my stack of quarters elsewhere if this bill turns out to be the goat-**** it's shaping up to be.

What's with you guys?