# Stupid Political Idea of the Day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 29, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773 "2015-04-29T03:31:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/21 "2015-04-29T19:26:52Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Fuck’s a “pon”? Half a distress signal. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/22 "2015-04-29T19:41:11Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their font, but by the content of their post. It makes no difference to **Miss Spaulding**. She loses either way. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/23 "2015-04-29T20:42:13Z")
Perhaps you could switch your text color to all white. It would make it much easier for us to see all the parts that we really want to see. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/24 "2015-04-29T20:49:10Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Fuck’s a “pon”? Ask [her](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzC4hFK5P3g), she seems to know. Or just sit there in a hypnotic daze watching this video over and over in befuddled incomprehension. That’s totally normal upon first exposure. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/25 "2015-04-29T20:49:11Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Fuck’s a “pon”? Fuck’s a pon a time, there were three little pigs… ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/26 "2015-04-30T07:23:49Z")
Ask [Rihanna.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEauWw9ZGrA) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/27 "2015-04-30T12:32:52Z")
> [@Miss\_Spaulding](#): > > . . . the unfortunate pons. Pons: the part of the brainstem that links the medulla oblongata and the thalamus. And yours is rather unfortunate. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/28 "2015-04-30T13:59:56Z")
Crunchy!!! How fun. Where are the other crunchy people?? ---
**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:** [April 30, 2015, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/29 "2015-04-30T14:02:30Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their font, but by the content of their post. > > 😉 What if the content of their post IS the color of their font? ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/30 "2015-04-30T15:05:04Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > What if the content of their post IS the color of their font? Marshall McLuhan refines his ideas… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/31 "2015-04-30T15:10:04Z")
I’m more of a Fleischmann. ---
**Author:** ![Stravinsk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@Stravinsk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stravinsk)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/32 "2015-06-15T06:13:56Z")
> [@Miss\_Spaulding](#): > > This is for you, random citizen, yes…you. You know who you are. No need to raise your hand or make a statement like those other Democrats and Republicans in the other two threads. You know who you are, where you stand, why you stand there, and who you stand with politically…which is probably nobody if you’re in this thread. Why? Because you’re that man or woman who has pulled their head out of their butt and chosen to be informed, and being informed you’ve ultimately realized just how few politicians there are whom you can truly trust. > > You’re that crunchy guy or gal who suddenly woke up and went, “Hey! I have a brain! By golly, I’m going to actually use it!” and did so. Give yourself a pat on the back, and then contribute to this thread dedicated solely to you and your outrage over the latest stupid political idea (or action) of the day that probably nobody else is paying attention to because they’re too busy calling the opposing Party a pooh-head or something childish like that. > > Government is game, politicians are the players, and ‘we the people’ are the unfortunate pons. …You understand this. So here’s to you for getting it and fleeing your angry pon-hehind off the game board. This is your thread. > > And remember, in the words of Mikey - **“Goonies never say die.”** …\<— that literally makes no sense and is completely irrelevant to this thread but I thought it sounded good. Hey…I do what I want. > > Ready. Set. Go. 🆒 Hello Miss Spaulding. Do you still post here? Nice to see someone familiar. A great deal of politics and political maneuvering is not much more than a horse and pony show, imo. Combination of entertainment and reinforcement of a strong illusion - the illusion of choice. This is exemplified in nation states where the people are taught that their freedoms are granted rather than innate, and concede to government intervention “when necessary” to protect those freedoms. ``` Unfortunately, "when necessary" is completely subjective, often agenda based, and used over and over to reinforce the idea that freedoms are granted rather than innate. All for the common good, of course. One of the things I like about Natural Law is that it is immutable. It doesn't even matter if democracy or majority rule seeks to change it for what they believe is a better society, while politicians sniff the wind trying to balance the desires of their big campaign contributors to what hot button item they think will win the most votes of the people. As for real change in society - I believe that has to come from grass roots movements, dissemination of real and accurate information, action on those ideas and most of all - care enough TO act and not delegate personal responsibility solely to the ballot box. ``` Too many people are waiting for some version of a Government Messiah to make everything perfect. That could never happen, but even if it could, the best person for the job would not be recognized by the masses. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/33 "2015-06-15T11:07:57Z")
So … not a big chess player, I take it. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/34 "2015-06-15T23:48:41Z")
> [@Stravinsk](#): > > A great deal of politics and political maneuvering is not much more than a horse and pony show, imo. Dog and pony shows are much more entertaining. Then you get a dog doing acrobatics on the pony’s back, which wouldn’t work with a horse and pony. > [@](#): > > One of the things I like about Natural Law is that it is immutable. Define “natural law” as you see it. Lots of definitions, of varying uselessness, out there. Better yet, try posting in Great Debates or IMHO, where we have to engage you on your ideas AND cannot make fun of you. The Pit is an unhappy place to start a serious discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Stravinsk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@Stravinsk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stravinsk)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/35 "2015-06-17T15:53:21Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Define “natural law” as you see it. Lots of definitions, of varying uselessness, out there. Better yet, try posting in Great Debates or IMHO, where we have to engage you on your ideas AND cannot make fun of you. The Pit is an unhappy place to start a serious discussion. Thanks for the heads up. I’m new to this forum and as such am relatively unacquainted with the various nuances of it. I don’t think I can define “natural law” (per my understanding, at this point in time) outside of listing natural laws (as having to do with society and interactions between us and our fellow man - though the things I do understand go beyond that) in any way except to say that by definition, a “natural law” is by definition not something that man decrees by act of proclamation, is not made relevant or irrelevant by being widely accepted or rejected, it is not made by man, only recognized, does not change and is testable through various means, including through other natural laws. ``` The term I understand cannot fit into a soundbite or short definition, but what I can do is give one example of one aspect of it. If I cannot, in my person, agree that violence initiated against myself is a right of any man or group of men, then it follows that I cannot claim the right to initiate violence myself, nor can I grant this right to any individual or group of individuals to exercise it on behalf of myself, or any other group, at the behest of the majority or supposed authority of any figurehead. This is but one example of natural law. ``` ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/36 "2015-06-18T22:09:15Z")
> [@Stravinsk](#): > > ``` > If I cannot, in my person, agree that violence initiated against myself is a right of any man or group of men, then it follows that I cannot claim the right to initiate violence myself, nor can I grant this right to any individual or group of individuals to exercise it on behalf of myself, or any other group, at the behest of the majority or supposed authority of any figurehead. > > This is but one example of natural law. > > ``` So, no police is Natural Lawtopia? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/37 "2015-06-18T23:56:50Z")
No, “natural law” is something like gravity and the laws of thermodynamics. The bullshit you are spouting is all man-made. Now, hie thine own damn self over to Great Debates, where the philosophers hang out. ---
**Author:** ![Stravinsk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@Stravinsk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stravinsk)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/38 "2015-06-19T03:05:18Z")
> [@kenetic](#): > > So, no police is Natural Lawtopia? Largely not. No imperialism nor soldiers to carry out their will on people of other lands, as well. Policemen in today’s world are bound to keep the law of the land (much of which is man’s made up law) and use the power of violence over others to enforce it. Consider the power of the police in Singapore to arrest an individual who chews gum (yes, it’s illegal there), or the power of police to commit violence against, imprison and/or fine someone who chooses to use a natural plant (such as Cannabis) for healing or recreation. ``` Two great examples of man made BS laws that have no tie or relation to nature at all, btw. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Stravinsk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@Stravinsk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stravinsk)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773/39 "2015-06-19T03:08:22Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > No, “natural law” is something like gravity and the laws of thermodynamics. Testable laws of the physical realm, the ones you mention are also included (in my understanding) of natural law, but are somewhat outside the scope of the thread or the side discussion, which pertains mostly to society. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-political-idea-of-the-day/718773.md?page=1)