Category Archives: Discussion

Ongoing discussion of the ideas advocated by the book Principles for a Self-Directed Society by Jesse Smith and published by Basementia Publications, available online at www.basementiapublications.com

Hope in a Time of Cynicism

My neighbor’s car has a bumper sticker that says, “How’s that whole hopey-changey thing goin’ for ya?”   This moronic expression is not only annoying because it reads like it was meant to be a Sarah Palin quote. It is … Continue reading

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Kill the Filibuster

The filibuster, simply put, is the practice of talking proposed legislation to death. Presently, in the Senate, a three-fifths majority vote is required to end a filibuster: a high standard that aims toward consensus instead of mere majority rule. Back … Continue reading

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Amended: Why the Vaccine Debate is a Legitimate Debate

[UPDATE: Please note that I have conceded this point, and no longer back the arguments I made below.  I wrote this post several years ago, in 2009, based on the information that was available to me at the time.  In … Continue reading

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The Hubris of Conservative Christianity

This is priceless… the funniest thing I have heard all day is not a joke! (Thanks to Huffington Post for bringing this to my attention.) The Conservative Bible Project is literally re-writing the Bible. What is all this about? How … Continue reading

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Jingoism

Today’s word of the day is jingoism. Given its prevalence in modern American society, this word is severely under-utilized. Jingoism: noun. The spirit, policy, or practice of bellicose chauvinism; professing patriotism loudly and excessively, favoring vigilant preparedness for war and … Continue reading

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The Party of Big Government

I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the part of Big Government. Yes, I am speaking of the American political party that ran up the largest budget deficit in our history after inheriting a budget surplus from their … Continue reading

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Reforming Health Insurance

Of course I agree with the sentiments expressed by President Obama in his op-ed piece in the New York Times.  While more rallying cry than technical discussion, the President’s piece insists that health insurance reform is necessary, and he names … Continue reading

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Eliminating the F-22 Raptor: Exactly What I’m Talking About

President Obama has submitted his budget proposal and it is no surprise that the uproar was instantaneous.  These are contentious times and he has had to make difficult decisions. One item that has caught a lot of attention is his … Continue reading

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A Prescription for Peace: The United Territories of Israel-Palestine

In the book, I offered two possible solutions for the conflict between Israel and Palestine.  One possibility I suggested was the complete social and political unification of the entire territory of Israel and Palestine; and the other was the much … Continue reading

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Transition Time

All of us over here at selfdirectedsociety.com were just delighted beyond words at the election of Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States of America. His election not only shattered barriers of racial preconception; it restored … Continue reading

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