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myphilosophy

I know i'm a bit late on this, mainly because i only watched the countdown podcast this evening. I've tried to maintain an interest in US politics, but its difficult to do when you are on the other side of the ocean. After coming here i've tried to make up for lost time, but even then my first real exposure to John McCain was in the Iowa debate. I saw someone who made my skin crawl, he honestly struck me as someone "scary beyond all reason", and when he finally rose to the republican leadership i found my inital gut reaction confirmed time and again. But i didn't have the historical depth to know enough about his history, beyond his status as a Viet-Cong prisoner of war and his rather slimy entry into US politics. Comments like a hundred years in iraq, and lack of any knowledge about the world outside his bedroom, his attitudes to people who disagree with him, all helped confirmed my feeling that this is the president we were warned about. The one that would be so insane as to press the button. Then came the "its not important" comment, and after all the attempts to defend the indefensible, Keith Olbermann delivered this commentary. Part 2 Honestly, countdown can at best be called infotainment, it would not be considered news anywhere in Europe, but Keith Olbermann does sometimes channel the person he attempts to emulate. He may not be Edward R. Munrrow, and the republican party is far more calculating and intelligent than Joe McCarthy, but if enough people listen to him, they might start thinking again.

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I have to say, i find the idea of enforced political loyalty despicable since it goes against the idea of a representative democracy. I do believe that stem cell research should be allowed to continue unhindered, but i also think that people in general should be informed about it, rather than being given directives from on high. If the sitting government cannot convince their own party to vote their way, then as is proper in british politics a vote of no confidence should be called on the leadership and the country can decide. The current top down politics has been shown to be arrogant, corrupt, and guilty of many crimes including incompetence, crimes against humanity, violation of international principles, and also moving the United Kingdom towards a police state. The fact of the continual labour victories should be taken in context with the woefully weak opposition parties, while Mr Cameron may have some intelligent ministers, he honestly has no ability to win an election, and my feelings on the liberal leadership, are of mild despair, tinged with faint hope. I'm a believer in direct democracy, or as near as possible so i feel that no matter how much i feel aligned with the lib dems, i would like to see them, and both other parties broken up into far smaller parties, partially locale based, and partially belief based. It may not be the most efficient system at all times, but the Israeli parliament seems able to function with coalitions of myriad different parties working in cooperation.

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I think its time for a paranoid, racist, sexist, homophobic nutjob with all the intellectual capacity of a small concussed bee to be replaced by a man who might actually shake up the dead political landscape of this country. Stephen Colbert, even in his Colbért state would make a better president that the one at the moment. But either way if Barack Obama doesn't get the Democratic Nomination, i think its time to say goodnight to the Democratic party. Admittedly as an undesirable alien, i don't get to vote (yet), however i can see how the intelligent educated masses of America (all you out there stop hiding) are fed up with the Democrats, and would rather declare affiliation with Ron Paul (someone less qualified to be President than Bush...) than vote for a Republican. So i think a joke candidate with some integrity would actually have a chance of taking a significant portion of the vote, even if he almost certainly wouldn't win, maybe it'll be enough to put a decent stake in the heart of the democratic party.

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I was reading in the Daily Mail this morning that a young woman died as a result of refusing blood transfusions post birth due to her Jehovah's Witness beliefs. Initially i was thinking what I would have done if i'd been the attending doctor. If the woman had been conscious, i'd have probably tried to get a court order to get her declared clinically insane (or trying to commit suicide). Once she'd lapsed into unconsciousness, i would have tried to arrest the family for acting against their charge's interests. However now i'm wondering how i'd feel, if someone tried give me a procedure i didn't ethically agree with, even if it was to my own benefit. Blood transfusions are a very moral consequence free treatment, since the person who gives the blood is not harmed, and it has huge benefits, wearas organ transplants can have serious or even fatal consequences for the donors. I suppose the closest example for me would be a treatment developed by either higher primate or human experimentation. I believe we have no place experimenting on higher primates (or possibly lower primates) for our own selfish benefit. That said its a bit of an ethical dilemma for me whether use of such knowledge garnered from such in-human activities is justifiable. I think i would probably claim a form of moral superiority, because my example is actually a relevant ethical question, while the Jehovah's Witness's prohibition is based on a questionable interpretation of the bible that was written thousands of years before the possibility of blood transfusions existed. It is an act of extreme selfishness to ask doctors to stand by and do nothing while someone is dying. For the time of medicine, doctors have wrestled with "Do Not Resuscitate", and most have found this to be fair, because there are certain situations where more medical intervention is just prolonged suffering. However this was not like this, it was a young woman dying because a procedure could save her life was refused on very questionable grounds. It is barbaric to force medical staff to do nothing because of a belief, if you don't want medical help, then stay away from a hospital, because doctor's have to go through too much to have to put up with people committing senseless suicide in front of them.

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Ken Livingstone has crossed the line, he is now defending the Met police over their execution of Charles de Menzies. Beyond the circumstances showing gross incompetence on the Police's part. Beyond the circumstances of killing a suicide bomber (who is perfectly capable of carrying a deadman's switch). It goes to the character of our police force. Not only did they try to cover up their mistake, they then tried to imply he was wearing a bulky jacket in summer, when he was wearing a light denim jacket. Finally at court, they tried to destroy his character in court to cover their asses. Sir Ian Blair aided and helped arrange this coverup, he needs to resign for criminal incompetence.

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...can't screw up so easily. Apparently the Metropolitan Police have said that if a prosecution is successful, they will be unable to do their jobs. So they are saying if they got caught wrongdoing, they wont be able to continue wrongdoing. Charles de Menezes was an innocent victim of the ever increasing incompetence and corruption of the British Police Forces, ever since they were politicised by the Labour Government. The detail watching the apartment block, went on a break, without arranging cover. This resulted in a knock on effect ending up with the armed response unit conducting a "Mafia Style" execution of an innocent man. Now the armed police may have been under extreme pressure, but their actions lack both wisdom and intelligence (wouldn't a suicide bomber take the care to have a deadman's switch). It would be bad enough if that was where the wrong ended, but in response to the truth coming out, there was a deliberate attempt by the Metropolitan Police to cover up their gross incompetence and brand Mr de Menezes as a likely terror subject, so they could be justified in executing him. The police needs to be brought to heel, since they don't seem to be capable of acting as civilised humans at the moment. For generations we have had a police force to be proud of, now it looks like we are trying to emulate the excuse for police that the US government employs.

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Apparently new guidelines have been approved in the uk that allow Doctors to opt out three procedure areas. Abortions, Contraceptive Services and Withdrawing life sustaining treatment. While initially i might have supported the later i have since changed my mind. A Doctor is someone with inordinate levels of knowledge and ability trusted to help people in the comunity. It is unreasonable for them to force their backwards views on others. Abortion may be viewed as wrong by some, but the vast majority have accepted it is a fundamental right of a woman to have control over her uterus. Contraception should never be refused when asked for. There is no civilised justification for withholding contraception. The ultimate duty of a doctor is to respect a patient's wishes and this includes ending treatment when asked by the patient. Each of these functions are within the purview of a Doctor's profession. I'm not asking Doctors to perform euthanasia, but i expect them to treat religion as is accepted in the UK, you leave it outside your office and act professionally. If a doctor does not wish to act like a doctor, then they should not be a doctor. We should not adjust our practices because of backwards and unethical views promoted by zealots.

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For those of you who don't know about the situation of women in Saudi Arabia, shame on you for being ignorant. For those of you who do, congratulations on being a passable attempt of a world citizen. For those women in Saudi Arabia, don't take no for an answer, its time to take to the open road, they don't have enough police to stop all of you at once!

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Its now approaching a day commemorated for peace. I'm sure some worry, as usual the weapon builders because of reduced sales, and the right wing christians due to world peace is a harbinger of the apocalypse to them...oh well. For the rest of you, even if you can't go to an event, it wouldn't hurt to meditate, muse, or even just think a bit extra about peace. If you are more interested please check out the website for the group behind the idea. Found via the http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/

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Okay technically this isn't the true smoking gun.. BUT this is still enough evidence to have this criminal dragged(by the legal system of course) from office and thrown in dark dank hole, or wherever else you throw war criminals? Bush Trial Evidence Piece 1 Admittedly in the UK you just have a vote of no confidence, he (or she), is removed from office, and at the same time criminal proceedings can be brought. You guys need to impeach him, and any of his friends who are protecting him (Nancy Pelosi for example) Now is your time America, give those soldiers who have been slaughtered, maimed and brutalised by this man's actions a sense of justice. Give the world a reason to believe you are a country of justice, of law, of idealism again. (Found via Stupid Evil Bastard)

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The way i see it, a human life (one born and self aware), is sacred, i don't know whether that means the same as holy, i just know that it is something not perhaps inviolate, but certainly something to be revered. I feel that executing someone is no different than murder, its just done in medically applied, doctor conducted, state sanctioned fashion. There are many arguments that are put forward for the death penalty (justice, deterrent, lack of burden on the state), but the one i feel actually stands up is revenge. This is not a punishment of justice, if it were a deterrent nobody would be on death row, and as far as burden on the state, how about the endless and near eternal appeals process, surely that is a greater burden... So if its about revenge, what does that mean... Despite rabbinical law having opposed the death penalty for almost 2000 years, states (and federal entities) that practice are condoning and participating in vengeance. For the better part of 2 millenia, we have been ruled by theocratic constraints based on the corrupted teachings of a man who said "Turn the other cheek", did we learn nothing about compassion, forgiveness and mercy from that time? I could never murder someone in cold blood, i couldn't make the same confirmation if it were a matter of life and death for me or someone i cared about, but when someone is locked in a prison cell, or in some other way prevented from causing harm, i am totally opposed to murder in the name of the state.

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I've just finished watching Sicko, by Michael Moore, and after feeling scared and worried about my impending job in the United States for most of the film, the ending left me feeling warm, fuzzy and full of hope. This was a typical "Michael Moore" investigation, admitedly he did leave out the fact that the French economy is in a state of collapse, that the British government seems adamant to destroy the NHS (and Primary Care Trusts do oppose treatments they think they can get away with not treating), and that in Canada the system is not as efficient as if you were a legacy trying to get into the Mayo Clinic. However, that said, i'm currently feeling very proud of the NHS, and i think we should be more proud, because we do have some very good doctors, nurses, consultants, secretaries, janitors, and even probably a couple of good mangers in the NHS. I watched Fahrenheit 911, and i wasn't hugely impressed, yes i did find out things i didn't know before, but it was preaching to the converted, i would have (if i were an American voter) voted for Dick Cheney for president before i voted for the dumb plank they have in power now. This film was about Michael being Michael, and what Michael does very well is make people feel bad about themselves for being bastards. The art of the political stunt to make a point is a very difficult one, and this time he is a past master, even down to the way he used homeland security to make themselves look foolish with their "hiding" of Guantanamo Bay's location. Nobody forced the politicians to not treat those volunteers, but by not doing right by their "heroes", it turned a good point, into an earth shattering point. Every country has its problems, and US of A has more than most. Its people, while passionate and even occasionally compassionate, are very good at missing chances for greatness. However i don't think this is one of those times. Now is the time for change, look at your leaders, your rulers, your masters, would you deny a man his life just to get another million dollar bonus? would you celebrate every failure in the principles on which healthcare is founded? would you be happy that the least among you cannot risk the cost of going to see the doctor they ...

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I have been hearing more about the crime against civilisation, known as honour killing... Should someone be convincted of honour killing then they should be treated as someone who has done the horrific crimes they have perpetraited.

• Brutal, senseless and justificationless crime
• Generally in the lead up to the death, the victim will have been savaged
• Systematic pyschological abuse and repression of the victim for their prior life
• Abuse of a position of trust as someone who is meant to care and protect the victim
• In the case of using pre-adult male family members, they have commited brainwashing on a minor, and convinced them to kill an innocent
• Harrassment and use of bounty hunters to hunt down the victim
• Acted as though their actions are noble, honourable and justifiable

These men (and occasionally women) have no place in our society, they are not suffering from any psychological distortion, or other miasma. I think if they commit such acts, then once they have completed life sentances, they should be flown to a deserted island, have their passport, birth certificate and any other identity documents shredded, and told to enjoy the lack of civilisation they clearly crave.

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Okay yes, i'm weird, freakish, and loopy, and down right happy about that. I don't know if Carl Sagan realised it but the ending for the novel Contact he opened worlds of thought and imagination. The idea of having a message encoded into pi itself, just makes my mind tingle with ideas and possiblities, its been ages since i read the book, but it had a profound impact on me then, and i was just talking about it and just reawakened thoughts in my mind. I'll admit sex is rather mindblowing at times, but the thought-high i'm on at the moment, different scale... Thats my slightly complex thought for now...

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Okay this may offend some, but if it does, for one time in my life i don't mind. Jerry Falwell was a misguided, evil and hurtful man who made the world a much worse place, i can only hope that whatever is in the next phase of his existance is more merciful than i feel, because if i had my way, ironic therapy would be the watchword. I wish i were a better person and that i could feel compassion for him, and in some ways i feel sorrow for his blindness, but i am still glad that this excuse of a christian cannot hurt any more people.

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