Where is modern civilization heading?

As a society are we heading in the same direction as the ancient Romans? If so the question becomes.......

Are our leaders fiddling while civilization burns?

While we ponder the question I will post my personal thoughts on this blog. Often I will focus on current events that catch my interest, however I am not and do not pretend to be a news organization. I'm simply a guy with his own thoughts on issues that I believe affect our country and society.

Be forewarned, I have been accused of being a right wing thinker and if that is offensive please move on. Remember, this is my blog and my opinions, and unlike many facets of our already over-governed modern society they are not being forced on anyone.


However, please feel free to leave your comments, good, bad or indifferent, after all this is a free society we live in (at least for now).

Free Speech Stupidity, Classic Examples

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, even the simple minded or misinformed. After all, we live in a democracy that prides itself on free speech, and free speech is an absolute, black or white, there is no "grey area". A society either has the ability to speak freely or it doesn't. Believe me, I would want it no other way!

Visit the following links at your own risk,
as stupidity can be contagious!
Don't say I didn't warn you!
However free speech comes with a price, often we find that there are some that exercise this right that are so ignorant, misinformed, misled or just plain stupid that our initial reaction is that it would be in everyone's best interest if they were simply muzzled. However, there is "no grey area", so they get their say.

Once in a while (who am I kidding, I should say frequently) I come across classic examples of just how simple or misinformed an individual can be. Some spew hatred, some stupidity, and some are probably good people who are just misinformed. So I am compiling a list of the "best" of these, with the intention that it allows the rest of us to thank whatever deity we worship for endowing us with the common sense to see through the trash they promote. Here they are, read and weep, or just feel sorry for these poor misguided souls, the choice is yours.

By the way, if you want to view some of the websites I enjoy they are available...Right Here

(Update: 11/3012 I was contacted by one of the blogs listed below with a request to kindly remove them from my list on this page as they don't feel the promote trash. However that is the beauty of free speech, I feel they belong on this page. By the same token they are more than welcome to list me on their blog under a title that they feel is derogatory from their point of view, say. "Blogs that the use Actual Facts")

The Liming Liberal Democrat - This is a classic example of a left minded individual who is short on facts, ignores reality, and continually bashes anything that does not perfectly sync with his own beliefs. He's a big government guy, a strong supporter of wealth redistribution, and I suspect he has never met a Republican or Conservative he didn't hate. However he is prolific writer and continuously cranks out material that although short on facts can best be described as one ongoing rant, put it this way, he believes that Obama "walks on water". If you visit his blog out of a sense of morbid curiosity don't bother attempting to post a conflicting comment, he simply will not publish it, trust me I have tried. Need I say more.....

Occupy Wallstreet - Not much if anything to say about this one. The stupidity is self explanatory

Blue Heart Chronicles  - Another blog by the author of The Liming Liberal Democrat, new title same old rhetoric. If memory serves me right this is about the third time the author has relaunched his blog,  each time under a new title. I think he does this when he realizes people are getting tired of his continuous rants where he actually says very little, but spews out hatred towards anything and anyone who doesn't agree with his personal belief of self-entitlement. Actually, it's a bit sad to see an individual of his maturity so embittered with life, who knows, maybe he has had a rough ride over the years. However we are all entitled to our opinion.

23 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. You said: "...and free speech is an absolute, black or white, there is no "grey area".

    Wrong! Dead Wrong!

    The Constitution only forbids the Congress and some state legislatures from restricting free speech. There are plenty of places and circumstances where the Constitutional Guarantee does not apply.

    For example: Some employers may post rules that prohibit employees from mouthing off about their political or religious view and they have the legal right to make and enforce these rules and no one who falls afoul of them can complain that their Constitutional rights were violated.

    Some Internet Providers have what are called "Terms Of Service" where certain kinds of speech are absolutely forbidden and they have every legal right to make those rules even though some users of these services may see the rules as violation of free speech under the Constitution.

    Free Speech probably SHOULD be absolute, but it most certainly is NOT!

    Check out a site on the Internet that you can access by typing into a search window on a browser, "Things Not In The Constitution."

    Lots of big surprises await.

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  3. My man, you have taken my comment totally out of context, (as usual) if you take the time to reread it you will note that at no time do I suggest that the Constitution is the end all be all in guaranteeing free speech. In fact I do not even mention it in my post.

    My reference to free speech was simply as a definition, in simplest terms you do not have free speech if you censor speech. In other words you either have it or you don't, thus no grey area. When I referred to free speech it was as a concept and in the fashion that most people think of it, basically as the right of the individual to state their personal opinion. Do we as a society truly have free speech, absolutely not. Society has rules in place to prevent individuals from harming others thru speech, probably more so here in Canada than America (hate laws and such).

    If you are still having difficulty with the concept I will see if I can find the time to lay it out in a diagram, or in simpler terms draw you a picture. Let me know if you require this.

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  4. Dear Joe,

    It has been a long and eventful time together but I guess someone over there finally got the message and deleted all my stuff entirely which is a good thing as far as I am concerned.

    I am free at last!

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  5. Dear John,
    The reality is that you are indeed free, free from other peoples opinions and scrutiny of your blog, obviously you are the type of political pundit that wants to spew his opinions while ignoring everyone else's.

    Apparently you are a legend in you own mind, and having someone question your thoughts does not sit well with you. Just as well that you dropped off The Jefferson Tree, your attitude would not have sat well with its namesake.

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    1. But I bet they will miss my monthly subscription fee - - -I hope you have made up the difference for them...That would be most considerate of you.

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  6. John,
    Maybe that is how you view things, that your paying a subscription fee somehow gives your opinions worth. However, as far as I am aware no one (least of all me) ever asked you to leave. That was a chice made entirely by you and no one else, based entirely from what I could see on the fact that you don't like having your rants questioned or commented on unless it is in support.

    Frankly it is probably best that someone as yourself with such a fragile ego and such a need for approval stick to an arena where ther an censor comments.

    Again I wish you the best of luck in your future endevours.

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  7. He's baaaack! Speaking of fragile egos, have you ever noticed how quickly some of the Right Wing radio talk show hosts will slam the telephone and disconnect from someone who disagrees with them on their shows?

    I guess they suffer from fragile ego and a need for approval also.

    My stuff is back on the site again.

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  8. It's good to see you with your head out of the sand, frankly running from the truth never changes anything.

    As for your thoughts about Right Wing radio talk show hosts, yes I have often heard them disconnect from someone who disagrees with them. However I am not sure what point you are attempting to make with this reference. Are you suggesting that doing so is a sure indication that they have fragile ego's?

    If so I guess I should remind you that refusing to listen to a differing opinion than ones own is not unique to them alone, as I recall the last few times I attempted to write a comment on your own blog that disagreed with your writing you simply did not approve or publish my comment. How would that differ from a talk show host hanging up on a caller to their radio program?

    So by your own definition that would make you the proud owner of a "fragile ego". Again, you have my sympathy. But never fear, my own sense of ego is quite stable so post as many comments as you wish on Dwindling Empire. The bottom line is I relish differing opinions and the opportunity to aid individuals in finding the "Right" path.

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  9. I love running from the truth because it is fun and it causes some people to have fits of anxiety and other paranoid reactions.

    I don't mind listening to differing opinions... I just refuse to listen when they are calling me names or inferring that I am stupid or mental or all the other troll crap that some of them try to pull when answering me.

    That is a level of disrespect that I will not tolerate.

    I will always publish any comments on my blog as long as they do not contain personal attacks or become nasty and disrespectful toward me personally.

    Comments that stay on point and do not resort to preaching the Conservative Gospel will always be welcomed on my blog but I will not be a platform for Rightist Propagandizing.

    The key is to write a sensible rebuttal giving the supporting arguments without indulging in negativity toward me on my own blog. Is that too much to ask?

    I admire your goal of helping individuals find the "Right" path - - - maybe you should consider helping them find the "Righteous" path at the same time. They are definitely not the same.

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  10. I too have commented on his blog, each time with carefully researched facts. They were never posted.

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    1. I too have commented on his blog and I let him know in no uncertain terms what a fool and a blithering idiot I thought he was and I let him know that he wouldn't know a fact if one bit him in the A$$ and can you believe it? Even though I presented my case in company with incontrovertible facts from well known and reputable sources, the S.O.B. absolutely ignored my comment and never did post them. Go figure! I think totally obvious Commie Comrade Sympathizers like that one should be totally banned from the web.

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    2. Well the beauty of the web is that it is still one of the last bastions of free speech, so we take the good with the bad.Unfortunately there is no "grey" area with free speech, you either have it or you don't. however there is hope for poor John, he has actually responded positively on a few of my comments recently. I have a sneaky suspicion that his love affair with Mr Obama is mot on such solid ground as of late now that one of the entitlements that John holds dear is at risk, Social Security. Unfortunately in the real world numbers don't lie, when the money runs out the programs will end and individuals like John will suffer and realize they put they faith in the wrong individuals. Too little, too late, I'm afraid.

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  11. I think he has an allergy to facts, or at least a phobia towards them.

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  12. Hey Joe, how's things?

    I was surfing and found the comment where you mention that I have responded a little more positively to some of your more recent comments.

    I have changed political positions from die hard Liberal to a more "Independent" (Centrist) position from which I can scream and yell at all sides of the fence instead of just one.

    The blog has been overhauled to reflect the new outlook.

    Now I can freely post my factless rants against anything that I do not agree with regardless of which side of the political fence it comes from.

    Joy unspeakable!

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  13. John,
    I have never been a big fan of Partisan politics, they tend to limit an individuals viewpoint. Left, Central, or Right , no political philosophy has a monopoly on either common sense or stupidity.

    All one can do is listen to all opinions and use what is learned to form their own opinion I prefer to base mine on facts, others have a different basis for their own beliefs.

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  14. It is good to see that you are still giving my blog a lot of free promotion on your own. Thank you for that. I am sure it helps to drive some of the curious to "American Liberal Times." In the meantime, I am back on "The Jefferson Tree" site with more of my usual factless rants that I think you like so well...Well, gotta go now! See ya around!

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  15. Soooo - - - have you stopped posting? Haven't seen you around in a while.

    Stop by and visit me on my - - new - - blog if you wish:

    http://progressiveliberaldemocrat.blogspot.com/

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  16. Unfortunately real life took precedence as I have been extremely busy with business.

    "ProgressiveLiberalDemocrat", a bit redundant isn't it. I have heard of the incorrect use of a 'double negative" in the English language, but a triple?

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  17. Extremely Redundant - - Yes!

    That is good!

    I am one of the first to use a "Triple Negative."

    I think that is swell, don't you?

    Gee - -

    I hope business is going well.

    But "Dwindling Empire" is also a lot of fun.

    I hope you can find the time to get back to it soon and come on over when you can find the time.

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  18. So . . . you haven't posted anything since 2013? Is the Empire Dwindling a little bit?
    http://americanliberaltimes.com

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Here at Dwindling Empire we welcome your comments. Although we ask that you refrain from profanity, sexist, racist, or comments of a sexual nature.

However you can poke fun at Frustrated Joe all you want, but we warn you if your going to disagree with him try to do so with some facts, this will garner you a lot more respect from everyone.
Greatly Appreciated