# Hey dumbfucks on SD. Learn what Congress' job is. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 21, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832 "2013-10-21T16:27:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/61 "2013-10-22T01:20:47Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Said they were criminally incompetent, not that what they were doing was criminal. And we don’t know which action he thinks is traitorous–there’s no reason to assume it means the attempt to defund Obamacare and not threatening a shutdown. > > Plus, by now, every Doper should know that the guy always exaggerates. The thread was about his opinion, so he used inflammatory words as he always has an inflammatory opinion. > > Not about the defunding of Obamacare, but about congresspeople encouraging default on the national debt. Unlike the defunding or shutdown, there is an argument that this is sedition, even if you disagree. > > He says it “borders on treason,” as in comes right next to it but doesn’t quite cross the line. He also specifically points out that this is his opinion, not a factual statement. > > Argued that said action _should be_ illegal, even pointing out that the Constitution would need to be amended for this to be so. > > Said he couldn’t understand why it didn’t count as treason, not that it actually did. Just because it happens all the time doesn’t mean he can’t think it is wrong. > > Clearly talking about the shutdown, not the attempted defunding. How in the world could defunding itself count as blackmail? > > Never even mentions the defunding. Clearly talking about the shutdown, combined with defaulting. He’s saying that, if that happens, and the House still will not fix the problem, we will have a crisis of government, and may actually have to disband the current government. At no point does he even argue that this is a legal thing to do–in fact, despite his title, he seems to be saying the opposite–that the law doesn’t have a way to deal with this situation, and is wondering about extralegal solutions. > > * * * > > So, um, do you have anybody (besides _maybe_ **Der Trihs** ) who legitimately believes that that defunding Obamacare actually is illegal? Now I’m going to start a third list with just your name on it: it’s the venn diagram where pedantry (represented in this circle by 97% of the SDMB’s membership) meets stupid (represented in the other circle by 99% of Yahoo Answers). Congratulations, you’re one in a billion. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/62 "2013-10-22T01:45:54Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Sedition is “the crime of saying, writing, or doing something that encourages people to disobey their government.” And what rules our government? The Constitution. And what does our Constitution say? “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.” > > So you have actual congresspeople advocating that we disobey the Constitution they swore to uphold. What’s stupid is saying that someone could not argue that this is sedition, whether you agree or not. Umm, the OP was talking about the shutdown, not the threat to fail to raise the debt limit. These are two different things. However, given the way the House GOP blended the two together, an argument can be made that the OP is cutting it a bit fine by Pitting those who verbally attacked the House Republicans for the shutdown in terms that might have had ground to stand on if applied to a forced default. ---
**Author:** ![cornopean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cornopean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornopean)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/63 "2013-10-22T01:55:36Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No; we’d be dead or wishing we were. Failed states are not fun places to be. I think this would be a success state if we could get rid of 80% of the federal govt. Roaring 20s anyone? you need libertarian minded presidents to bring that kind of economic growth. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/64 "2013-10-22T02:11:46Z")
> [@cornopean](#): > > I think this would be a success state if we could get rid of 80% of the federal govt. Roaring 20s anyone? you need libertarian minded presidents to bring that kind of economic growth. Whic led to -----------------the GREAT DEPRESSION!. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/65 "2013-10-22T02:25:00Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Whic led to -----------------the GREAT DEPRESSION!. And was also the tail end of what’s known as the Gilded Age; not a pleasant time to live for most people. ---
**Author:** ![cornopean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cornopean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornopean)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/66 "2013-10-22T02:27:45Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Whic led to -----------------the GREAT DEPRESSION!. Nice try. Harding & Coolidge gave us the roaring 20s. Hoover and FDR gave us the Great depression. ---
**Author:** ![cornopean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cornopean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornopean)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/67 "2013-10-22T02:28:45Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > And was also the tail end of what’s known as the Gilded Age; not a pleasant time to live for most people. Yes that is why noone wanted to immigrate to the US during this time period. they were much happier in socialist Germany and Marxist Russia. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/68 "2013-10-22T02:31:38Z")
> [@cornopean](#): > > Yes that is why noone wanted to immigrate to the US during this time period. they were much happier in socialist Germany and Marxist Russia. It was an unpleasant time all over the world. And we certainly worked hard to make those immigrants unhappy about being here. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/69 "2013-10-22T02:42:19Z")
> [@black\_rabbit](#): > > Keep in mind that the OP is the former public school teacher who started a thread bitching about Obama after the Republican governor and legislature that he voted for passed a budget that slashed funds for his district, resulting in him losing his job. > > I doubt he’s qualified to teach civics to a houseplant, let alone anybody on the Dope. Except for ralph. If you had read that post, my pitting was against Democrats telling me how great it was that Obama was creating jobs on the same day I was laid off. And all I asked for was one day for them to STFU about how Obama was the great job creator. And I don’t get elbows’ point other than the fact that I denounced the members of my own party for the BS they’re pulling AND birthers but since I’m in the same party obviously anything I say should be discounted. So by elbows’ logic, no Democrat should be taken seriously because your party has crazy-ass Maxine Waters and House Bank fraudster Barbara Boxer - even if you disagree with them. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/70 "2013-10-22T03:31:42Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Ah. The “I get to be an asshole and no one gets to point out my hypocrisy, because I’m the one doing the pitting” defense. Brilliant. Has that ever worked before? :dubious: What hypocrisy? > [@](#): > > Thing is, I will freely admit that I may be wrong, and that my emotional and intellectual response to the situation weighs into it. Please find me a single Republican willing to do that. > > At this moment the Republicans, and especially the Tea Party Republicans, are morally and intellectually bankrupt. They couldn’t be honest if they were standing before God. Now having, pre-Obama, voted Republican about twice as often as I had ever voted Democrat, this greatly disturbs me, and I’m not willing to give any of you bastards a pass on it. > > So again, I say that if the situation were reversed, the Republicans would be screaming TREASON and SEDITION from the rooftops and trying to foment civil unrest. Given that, I think you can fucking live with having a few people mutter in the dark, you weak little precious snowflakes. So fucking what? Just because the other side would be just as stupid, or even more stupid, is no defense. Some of us don’t like it when either fucking side does that, so this isn’t about one side vs another side. This is about fighting ignorance. You’re just trying to rationalize spreading ignorance because “oh yeah, well the other side does it too!!” ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/71 "2013-10-22T03:37:51Z")
> [@cornopean](#): > > Nice try. Harding & Coolidge gave us the roaring 20s. Hoover and FDR gave us the Great depression. I’m sure that computer privileges are rationed at your facility. Don’t feel compelled to spend all of your minutes on little old us. There are lots of other places you might find interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/72 "2013-10-22T10:09:28Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > If you had read that post, my pitting was against Democrats telling me how great it was that Obama was creating jobs on the same day I was laid off. And all I asked for was one day for them to STFU about how Obama was the great job creator. So, people should stop liking Obama and the Democrats because your state’s Republican government fucked you over? The Federal Republicans worked very hard to fuck even more people over during the shut down and YOUR main concern is that some cranks on the internet used the wrong words to express their displeasure. You want to be clear that what they did (putting people out of work, taking money out of the economy, closing down important gov’t programs, etc) was not technically illegal, or treason, or sedition. Folks who used those words are “dumbfucks” and you’re angry at them. Maybe you should stop being angry at the people who think the Republicans are fucking everything up, and start being angry at the Republicans for fucking everything up. ---
**Author:** ![sylmar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@sylmar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sylmar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/73 "2013-10-22T10:22:30Z")
_snip_ > [@Ravenman](#): > > There’s plenty of stupid things that Republicans have said in the last few years, and that’s the best you come up with? Weeeeeeeak. And _ **just so’s you understand** _, since I think you’re implicitly accusing me of being a reactionary type, your powers of deduction are a dud, Sherlock. Weak ?? Dude… I’m with you on this. 🆒 _Totally_ got your back and Cad’s on this trail blazing bit of recreational outrage. If you guys can’t work up a froth over piddling things with misrepresentation and selective interpretation… How are you going to do us proud when your milk’s too hot or your bed’s too hard? But thanks for going the extra mile trying to explain your “special” take on matters, “justs so’s I understands”. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/74 "2013-10-22T11:43:51Z")
> [@cornopean](#): > > I rather wish 80 percent of our govt would be on permanent shutdown. We’d all be better off. Do you have a functional retardation? Inquiring minds wish to know. > [@cornopean](#): > > I think this would be a success state if we could get rid of 80% of the federal govt. Roaring 20s anyone? you need libertarian minded presidents to bring that kind of economic growth. Hey, I’ve got a great idea! Let’s take an insanely complex system and boil it down to _one variable_, for which the correlation is extremely bad and the mechanisms make no sense, ignoring literally everything else that had to do with it _as well as responses which previously pointed out how fucking wrong you are_. Jesus christ, are they _paying_ you to be this stupid, or did your mother introduce you to the family tradition of drinking lead paint earlier than your other relatives? > [@cornopean](#): > > Nice try. Harding & Coolidge gave us the roaring 20s. Hoover and FDR gave us the Great depression. Listen, I shoved this talking point up your ass in that other pit thread, upon which point you suddenly stopped responding. It’s one thing to be stupid. It’s another to be a disingenuous lying shitbag. Case in point: here’s you, [in post 178](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16778091&postcount=178), saying this: > [@](#): > > I guess I just someone anyone to explain to me why we had ten years of economic depression in the 30s with massive govt intervention and 1-2 years of depression in the 20s with virtually zero intervention. Still waiting… but somehow I still get accused of ignoring facts. Here’s me, [in post 129](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16773361&postcount=129), _directly explaining what was wrong with your idea_. > [@](#): > > No, because even your own fucking graph doesn’t make that claim. What’s more, this is your stupid, facile, brainless philosophy coming into play here, as you take an incredibly multifaceted problem (an economic recession) and boil it down to one component and one component alone! A component which may or may not even have had anything to do with the problem to begin with. You want to know the big difference between the recession of 1921 and the great depression? They were based on completely different problems! > > The recession of 1921 was your typical v-shaped “fed squeeze” recession: the fed put a squeeze on the economy to try to bring down inflation, and when inflation went back down, the fed stopped applying pressure and the economy recovered. This is a pretty common (same thing happened in 1981) and very easy to fix. 1921 also had the benefit of extremely low private debt (it having been eroded by inflation). > > So… How similar is this to the great depression? What differences can we find which might be more important in determining why one recession went badly and the other didn’t than “there was government intervention”? Well, the cause of the recession (money supply squeeze vs. bank runs, collapse of financial system and liquidity trap) might be just a little bit more important, dontcha think? Or maybe what that cause has for effects on the economy, eh? You’re fucking clueless, and I’d advise you to go get something in your head that isn’t shit on a bun before trying to talk about it! You’re not just a moron, you’re a fucking liar to boot! Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/75 "2013-10-22T14:42:24Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Maybe you should stop being angry at the people who think the Republicans are fucking everything up, and start being angry at the Republicans for fucking everything up. This reminds me of all the praise Sarah Palin got for pissing off liberals. No one mentioned what policy ideas she had or how she would help the country, it’s all about how liberals reacted to her. It’s as if the only qualification for a republican in government is how much they cause liberals to freak out. Sure, obnoxious people on internet forums are the ones you interact with everyday, and not people in congress. But it’s the people in congress who actually have power and influence, and when they say or do awful things, that really should be the focus of your attention. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/76 "2013-10-22T21:05:28Z")
> [@Yumblie](#): > > This reminds me of all the praise Sarah Palin got for pissing off liberals. No one mentioned what policy ideas she had or how she would help the country, it’s all about how liberals reacted to her. It wasn’t any of her policies that offended me, it was her massive lack of fucking brains - I kept wondering who she was fucking to get into office. She still pisses me off with her total lack of sense. She really thinks a rootin tootin hunting and fishing show will endear her to the more conservative members of the voting public, many of whom are into saving our ecology from the past governmental sponsored rapine…:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![sylmar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@sylmar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sylmar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/77 "2013-10-22T22:54:37Z")
_snip_ > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Maybe you should stop being angry at the people who think the Republicans are fucking everything up, and start being angry at the Republicans for fucking everything up. Now \*that’s \*just crazy talk… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832.md?page=3)