The Binary Circumstance

John Stossel hosted a special edition of 20/20 last night where he discussed ten examples of Myths, Lies and Nasty Behavior.

The countdown was as follows:

10. Nasty Behavior: Littering

9. Nasty Behavior: Extra Cell Phone Fees

8. Nasty Behavior: Noise

7. Myth: Gas Prices are Higher than Ever

6. Nasty Behavior: Congress’ Pork Barrel Spending

5. Nasty Behavior: Welfare for Farmers

4. Myth: Outsourcing is Bad for American Workers

3. Myth: Public Schools for Poor Kids, Not Politicians’ Kids

2. Myth: Urban Sprawl is Ruining America

1. Myth: Sharing Would Make the World a Better Place

Read the entire article for the gory details.

It’s amazing how much the government is increasing the cost of your cell phone with all the federal and state taxes that are being added onto the bill.

It’s sickening to see how politicians spend money taken through the use of force (taxes)  on their pet projects which are no doubt being run by their buddies.

Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, is a good example. Years ago Congress gave money to the little tourist town of Ketchikan, with only 14,000 residents, for an airport on a nearby island. Ketchikan International has six to eight flights a day, and people get there by taking a short ferry ride — which they love. The scenic ride takes 500 air travelers a day to or from the airport in just seven minutes.

Alaska resident Mike Sallee likes the ferry ride. He said, "I think our existing ferry system is just dandy and it doesn’t cost $200 million."

The $200 million refers to the fact that Young recently persuaded legislators that Ketchikan needs a bridge to the airport. And Young doesn’t want just any bridge. He wants a $200 million bridge — one higher than the Brooklyn Bridge and almost as long as the Golden Gate. Some people here say, why not. They say the ferry schedule’s inconvenient, so why not spend everyone else’s tax dollars on us?

"Whether it’s a bridge here or a new interstate connection in Dallas, it’s gonna be spent somewhere," said one resident.

Young used to complain when the Democrats wasted your money. But now that his party is in power, he’s pretty good at spending it too.

I’m just wondering when Americans are going to wake up.

Early documents written by our founding fathers show that they did not create the United States out of religious beliefs, other than the belief that every individual is allowed to practice his own beliefs or non-beliefs.

If you want to understand just how far back into the dark ages George W. Bush and his fellow fundamentalist Christians are trying to take our country, read this page.

Consider Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli, signed by President John Adams:

"As the Government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

The entire article is a great summary of the beliefs of some of the most important men who founded our country.

The 123rd edition of the Carnival of the Vanities is now posted at The Raving Atheist.

Yours truly got a mention in there.

My article Ayn Rand: The Roots of War was also cited in this post at the SOLO HQ Forum.

Thanks, Anthony, for calling it a "genius piece."  I think I’ll let that go to my head.