You’ve seen their aircraft carrier.
Who knows if their ICBMs could actually hit anything?
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Fair enough.
Btw, glad you’re around these parts. Enjoy and appreciate your input.
No, I don’t assume that it does reflect some sort of underlying natural order. To me, race is simply a group of people with a set of genetic commonalities. We can’t rule out that those genetic commonalities correlate with many things in many ways that we don’t yet understand. Some of them may make people of certain races more likely to be better at certain things. Unless you blinding assume that isn’t the case (as many in our society do), there really isn’t evidence to disprove it. Thus, trying to make all groups reflect demographics at large is likely an uphill battle.
Your point about Jews in the 30s is a rather obvious logical fallacy. The fact that someone else was wrong about something similar means nothing about whether or not I am wrong.
As to whether or not race actually exists biologically, that is really the only place it can exist. Your conclusion on the subject of genetic basis is premature considering that the most advanced science cannot fully explain the entire genome. However, considering the heritability of physical characteristics associated with races, I have to assume that those physical characteristics have some genetic origin. Now, of course you will find individuals whose physical complexion, facial structure, etc. might leave some doubt as to which racial group they fit into. But that doesn’t mean that races don’t exist. That would be like saying blonde and brown hair aren’t distinct concepts because some people have hair that is marginal between them. I can’t believe that visually we can tell what race is person is with a high degree of accuracy and agreement while a proper and complete understanding of the genome of that person wouldn’t lead to a similar conclusion.
Of course, as I said in my previous post, variation among members of a single race might be large and overlap with the variation of members of another race in many characteristics. That makes judging individuals based on their race likely to lead to wrong conclusions. But it still doesn’t mean that all races should have equal average outcomes in all respects.
I think my case can rest solely upon the strategy hammered out at the infamous Inauguration Night 2009 meeting among GOP leaders. (Frankly, it could probably rest solely on the fact that such a meeting took place at all.)
Can you provide a (reasonably nonpartisan) link that addresses attempts by the GOP to cooperate with the stimulus bill, and how they were thwarted/spurned by Obama? (Sincere request for info; not a swipe at you or your sources.)
Thank you sir. I’m enjoying the discussion.
Thanks to some amazing input; what this thread is revealing to me is that the basic premise I had from the start was correct; President Obama did some good things; screwed up others; and did “okay” with others…(but certainly could have done better).
In my study of Presidents; history will refine that view; and will most certainly define the Congress that he had to work with.
One thing is for sure; he will be written about; (both positive and negative). It will be up to the eventual reader; (at least the ones who don’t already have their inherent and deeply seeded opinions about the man); to draw their own conclusions.
Anthony Bourdain has a good assessment of the election and why Trump won.
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Trump’s National Security Advisor and some guy named Vladimir, with whom the former likes to dine a lot. The latter arranged for some paid appearances on Russian state TV through Flynn’s consulting firm, but that’s probably just a coincidence (sarcasm).
Also, the Order of Friendship Recipient aka future Secretary of State has numerous business ties with Vladimir’s oligarch pals, notably some join companies in tax havens.
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Geneticists disagree that human genetics parse in a way consistent with the construct of ‘race.’ In other words, your lay-opinion is not shared by experts in the field.
There’s no need to “rule out that those genetic commonalities correlate with many things,” as that is not how science works. Rather, the burden is on you to demonstrate that these putative correlations 1) exist, and 2) are causal in nature. In other words, your assumption regarding such correlations needs to be ruled in, not assumed to be true until ruled out.
Again, see above concerning ruling in vs ruling out.
As I did not offer the example as proof of anything, there is nothing about what I wrote that can be considered ‘fallacious.’ That said, it’s painfully obvious to me that you’re making the same mistake made back then. If you can’t see the parallel between what they did and what you’re doing, all I can do is shrug my shoulders and say ‘OK.’
You need to take this up with the extant genetics-science community, not me. I will only say that I’m at a loss as to why you feel your opinion on the subject is more valid than theirs.
Since you brought the subject up…Just for fun, ask yourself this: Why don’t we divvy races up as a function of hair color? Why aren’t blondes all lumped together as the same race, all brunettes as the same race, all redheads, etc? On what basis is skin tone prioritized–raised to the level of a biologic imperative with all sorts of implications–but hair tone is utterly irrelevant?
Consider: You are explaining the concept of ‘race’ to an extraterrestrial. It doesn’t understand why skin tone matters, but hair tone doesn’t. How would you explain why it is that whites and blacks are different ‘races,’ but blondes and brunettes are not?
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And the conclusion you draw from this is?
Okay; I am trying to understand this latest Putin FanBoy tweet.
What is it that FOX “gets”…that CNN and NBC do not?
(I tend to watch CBSNews…but I am guessing that they don’t “get it” either…)
This is also something I don’t get about the President Elect.
He is much…and I mean MUCH more critical of American Institutions (including our Intelligence Agencies) than he is of Putin.
He seems to even go out if his way to praise the man.
Does he actually feel that American and Russian interest and ambitions are the same?
I really am trying to understand all of this.
I’m sorry, but that statement is not entirely correct, as Trump hasn’t said anything but praise about Putin without a hint of criticism.
Search his tweets and you’ll see he’s been constantly repeating the “Putin is so much better than you” mantra, whether he was referring to Hillary, Obama or even Jeb and Rubio for that matter.
The Russians are stroking his ego with ridiculous flattery.
Just today on Russian State TV “only 21 days until an alpha male whom the women want (cue pictures of miss universe contestants) takes over from (racial slur) Obama and his (racial slur) wife from (offensive term)”
US institutions deserve great criticism.
Simple guess: He wants long term peace with Russia while the Democrats have been stoking the flames for war.
Watching too much Russian youtube channels, haven’t you?
Try making an argument for once
Please, PLEASE tell me you were “making a funny”, raj.
“Stoking the flames of war?” What the hell has Putin been doing in the Baltics; Georgia; Syria; the Crimea; in the Cyber Sphere; and among Russians who disagree with him?
(Al Capone would be proud).
Conservatives and the GOP have “lead the charge” against Russia for as long as I can remember.
Now they are not?
Reagan truly IS turning over in his grave.
By the way:
I am SURE Putin is creating havoc in more places than I have mentioned.
How many American lives are you willing to sacrifice to prevent Putin?
None.
Next question.