Another installment of "we R doomed"

It's just another day in paradise (I mean, Detroit). Here is a news story about-- you guessed it-- a drug-addicted, single mother, "living" with two toddlers, two cats, a dog, drug needles, a TV (gotta have one of those), and a space heater... in a SHED in the middle of winter.

It fills me with great sadness that a mother puts drugs ahead of her kids, and that the kids are born with little hope of a viable future.

Best & Brightest continued

The genius psych major deleted her FB posts. For a good laugh I cut & pasted them below.

She reminds me of Laurence Vance's axiom, "If [govt proponents] could spell correctly, use punctuation, and write worth a darn then maybe we would take them a little more seriously." Honestly, I feel sorry for her.



Forwarded conversation
Subject: Helga B. commented on Daniel W. Livingston's status.
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From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 7:43 PM

Helga wrote: "David-you are the prototype of someone who is headed for danger. The anxiety/depression sufferer who juggles numbers all day; stuck in a monotonous life so he fills it with grandiose imaginings. nothin incoherent about my post, even if it was filled with errors, the message is quite clear to you I'm sure. you need a good therapist. STAT. I have a degree in Psychology and 10+ yrs working with ppl of all abilities and limitations. your kind, the most dangerous because their is an imflated ego that is tough to get past. I hope you do. Peace be with you."

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From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 7:47 PM

Helga wrote: "I agree...one killing at a time would not be as big a news, but if it were to this scale with non-politicians...YES IT WOULD BE...the college capmus shooting did not involve politicans and they were covered just as much. when large numbers of ppl are involved in things,they make the news ....even the miners being resuced did...and it wasn't even in the US. I watched every one of them lifted up. Anyhow David...you need help. your thinking way way out; don't hold yourself in higher esteem because of it. you know darn well gov is needed...bet you'd call the cops (gov funded and run) if you needed them...you know your fantasy anarchy world can not exist. get yourself straightened out."

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From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 7:54 PM

Helga wrote: "so funny...a guy who makes his living processing papers to be turned into the gov (taxes)...with anti-gov rhetoric. how ironic."

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From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 8:02 PM

Helga wrote: ""govt is legalized violence" yes, police may shoot back if threatened...everything else about gov is aimed at stopping violence. Domestic violence laws; elder abuse laws; Adult Protective Services. I am anti-war because I beleive in this day and age there are other ways to deal (stop trading with enemies; stop buying their products) with enemies that sending our young to die...aside from war....I do not see how gov is legalized violence. you are way out there David and it is that kind of BS that makes someone who is probably intelligent a waste...A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE. Put your efforts to good use if you claim to be a Christian. There are laws upheld throughout the bible. Why be another loose cannon in society?"

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From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 8:03 PM

Helga wrote: "what a crock of sht"

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From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 8:10 PM

Helga wrote: "read Walden Two David...or perhaps you have already...and then close the book and be doen with the fantasy, because such a place will never exist. it did not in biblical times, it will never. Gov regulates everything; if a doctor ever saves you life or that of a loved one, thabk your gov because it set standards for that doctor to get his license...stop with the mindless anarchy crap. put effort into good governing rather than the idea of no governing. or are you going to just handle the entire country for everyone (good grief)"

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From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 9:02 PM

Helga wrote: "The media covered the college campus shootings and no gov employees were harmed there. The media covers things when they are on such a grand scale. The anti-gov stance is BS. Gov is not legalized violence; it sets domestic violence laws; elder abuse laws; police may only use force as a last resort; it serves and protects. Don't be a nutbag; a mind is a terrible thing to waste. What a waste of effort...read Walden Two (a governmentless utopia) I studied it extensively when I studied Social Psychology (my BA is in Psych), infact I kept the book bcs I enjoyed it and still have the A paper I wrote on it....but then close the book David; close the book on the fantasy because such a place has never existed and never will."

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From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 9:44 PM

Helga wrote: "I'm not a psychologist; I work with adults with disabilites and have for over ten yrs. I deleted those post, but am glad you read them. Why delete them? bcs it saddens me that ppl like you exist and I have realized it is near impossible to get through to your type. Your issues are clear and I certainly hope you get help for them...such an incredbile waste of a mind. The number cruncher type like you often see thing in balck and white and can't see shades of grey. The best thing for you would probably to volunteer in some sort of social service organization funded by the gov so you can see the other side of the coin. I have no need to defend myself to you and ...if you know psychologists, I wish you would have opened yourself to their services....very inflated ego for you to suggest psychs are "messed up"...in what capacity have you encountered them? Or are you just trying to insult me...I dedicate my life to the wellbeing of ppl with disabilites David. I'm tough...no muber cruncher can penetrate that on some fb posts. Get help. It is obvious you suffer w anxiety and depression issues, but your success wil be didcated by your willingness to be trreated; highly unlikely from what I can tell."

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From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 9:47 PM

Helga wrote: ""muber cruncher"....hahaha yeah, I type very fast so typos abound.. I'm sure it's legible though. Ppl anti-authority are the most dangerous type in any and all societies."

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From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 10:03 PM

Helga wrote: ""Proving once again that govt work attracts the best and brightest of society is this Facebook post. Internet forums, especially one like Facebook, aren't the best media for in-depth rational discourse, but still." SO THIS IS WHAT YOU DO HUH DAVID...YOU TAKE PPLS comments out of context on fb and post them to your anarchy blog page? I'm not a gov employee you a**..I work for a nonprofit that helps ppl who are living with severe limitations. You think you have me pegged somehow huh? You are a disgrace to America."

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From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 10:09 PM

Helga wrote: "You certainly are a " Slippery Pencil" alright David. If you want to post something post a link to this entire dialogue..so ppl can read YOUR part...like how you posted "The shooting of a few govt employees is far from a national tragedy, it's blowback.""

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Hey genius, I did post a link to the entire dialog. However, since you deleted your 11 idiotic posts, it's not really the entire dialog you desire.

Govt Employees - The Best & Brightest of Society

Proving once again that govt work attracts the best and brightest of society is this Facebook post.  Internet forums, especially one like Facebook, aren't the best media for in-depth rational discourse, but still. 

Helga B.: wtf??? The is no utopia like in Walden Two...I SURE AM GLAD I LIVE IN A LAND WITH GOV AND LAWS. ppl need boudaries. "force and coercion" whatever the F you want to call it. visit a prison and learn what kind of heinous crimes go on even wit...h boundaries. consider places with less of them..nations in Africa, for ex, where women are mutilated because their are no laws protecting them..who wants to think of their mother, sister, daughter's parts sewn shut by some crazy villagers...anarchy. that is some wicked twisted thinking. noting more immoral than someone who knows nothing about the human psyche preaching F'in anarchy. sick sick sick. FIND WHERE ON EARTH THAT TWISTED SHIT WORKS AND MOVE THERE PLEASE. I've been in social work for 10+ yrs and known parents to beat their mentally ill childen thinking they can BEAT mental illness out of their child...until DYFS stepped in....gov law boundaries...Social Workers like me ALL A VITAL NECESSITY.....see a therapist please..before you go wacko on us. (http://www.facebook.com/BacchusA2/posts/188990977794597)

 These people are scary.

But they give us insurance for that now.

In July, I spent 3 days in the hospital.  A bill hasn't arrived, but a few days ago I received an "Explanation of Benefits" from my insurance company.  The charges from the hospital were $24,103 (this doesn't include charges from the emergency room's physician and anesthesiologist, physical therapy, follow up doctor visits, etc.).  The insurance provider discount for being in the network was $9,265 for a net balance paid to the hospital from my insurance of $14,838.  The first item on the insurance summary is "Accommodations - Room & Board" of $3,900.  $2400 after the provider discount.

I've read numerous stories of people born in the 1940s, 50s, & 60s finding the hospital bill from when they were born.  After a week long stay in the hospital with no insurance, their parents paid cash in the $50 to $60 range.  Adjusted for inflation that is less than $1000 to as low as $370 ($60 in 1940 to $50 in 1960).

I mentioned the above info to a friend to help illustrate how everything the govt does ends up leaving us worse off.  She stated, "yeah, but they give us insurance for that now so we are better off".

Some days it is hard to be thankful.  Happy Thanksgiving anyway!

How can you feel violated by airport security?

A friend's facebook status update and comments (I also know those who wrote the first three responses, the fifth response is mine):

I haven't flown recently, but I don't understand why people are so upset about the pat downs and body scanners at the airport. It's for safety! If you've ever had a gynecological or prostate exam, how can you feel violated by airport security? Is there anybody out there who's been through it that can explain?

• I don't get what the big deal is either. I was scanned twice in the last week and it took about 5 seconds. I didn't feel violated.
• agreed...
• ~ I get scanned AND the pat down EVERY time I fly becauseI have metal in my body...I just wish that I had my choice of people to pat me down - like maybe a cute marine...
• I agree with you, Jen. Actually, I feel worse for the people DOING the pat-downs than the ones GETTING them!! Yuck!!

•      Anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of security knows that anything the TSA does is not for security, it is for control.
  

       Anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of common decency or God given human rights would be concerned over either procedure.

This country is a lost cause.

We Are Doomed - Feb 5th edition

My nephew, a freshman at U of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, recently joined the facebook event 3.3.10 Spread The Word To End The Word.  Spread the Word is a campaign by the Special Olympics to end the "hate speech" of people using the word "retarded".  I left the following comment including the wikipedia link showing the futility of this campaign:

If you spent your time and energy on something less politically correct you'd end up having a bigger impact on the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphemism#Words_describing_disability.2Fhandicap

He responded:

um...end the rword has a huge impact on the world you have no idea waht your talking about and i no about idiot and moron and stuff thats not the point the point is "retarded" dosent mean mentally disabled it means slow what we are trying to do it remind people that the things we say can be extremely hurtful to others...and y wud anyone WANT to hurt someone? and why y anyone WANT to down on someone trying to prevent others from getting hurt?

Ill spend my time as i please thx

I refrained from replying, "You write like a retard" even though that reply made me laugh.  The kid isn't a great student, but he's not an idiot (in spite of what the writing sample above indicates).  I believe this country is doomed.