Dem's Tet Offensive

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Wednesday February 09, 2005 · 2:00 PM PST

2005/02/09 · 14:00

We've won several important battles in the last two days. Gannon and Social Security. But these are merely the latest local excesses/overreachings of the cabal trying to bend America to its will.

How do we win the next battle? Inquiring minds want to know. Where are we gaining traction? Where are we losing traction? How do we, a relative larva in the mind-wars, pick our next battles?

What YOU'VE spent on the Iraq War

Ptah

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Thursday January 20, 2005 · 8:07 PM PST

2005/01/20 · 20:07

I think a good way to approach this is not the cost in human lives, but in monetary cost. $200B/300M Americans is $666.00 per person, $2,664 for a family of 4. Has it been worth it?

The annual cost is say $400/year... are YOU willing to pay another $400 in 2005 to support the Iraq War?

For the vast majority of Americans, $400 is not an amount to be casually discarded. $400 could buy:

groceries for 2 months
A year of cable
A completely new wardrobe
A major repair for a car
Lessons for a child

I welcome any additional analogies and am eager to hear where my figures might be wrong.

The Republican Recrudescence

Ptah

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Wednesday January 19, 2005 · 1:21 PM PST

2005/01/19 · 13:21

What you need to know to understand this diary:

1) the definition of recrudescence, second definition at dictionary.com

What I want to say:

Despite the recent election, the basic American tropes are 1) fair play 2) bullies suck, especially when they want you to suffer while they prosper 3) we're willing to sacrifice to keep old people off the streets. Read More

My KosGeekCode

Ptah

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Monday January 17, 2005 · 12:04 AM PST

2005/01/17 · 00:04

I am interested in developing a measure by which KosInes (long "O", long "I") can determine who knows what in given fields.

For a first approximation of this measure, I am expert in mathematics, statistics, economics, computer science, American history and (mostly) world political and economic history, and the history (historiography in the case of history) of each and all of these fields. I also know a fair bit about mass psychology, and about how individuals construct narratives to explain the behavior of the masses to which they belong. Are these useful filters for determining probability/possibility?

I welcome any and all input. Read More

The 11/2 Defense: My election absolves EVERYTHING

Ptah

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Sunday January 16, 2005 · 6:21 AM PST

2005/01/16 · 06:21

This is absolutely unFuckingBelievable. A perfect example of Bush's malignant narcissism and fundamental willingness to sacrifice all of us and the Constitution and basic human decency for his own gain. However, I have no faith that even this egregious display will be a tipping point of any sort.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12450-2005Jan15.html

Cui bono?

Ptah

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Thursday December 16, 2004 · 6:27 PM PST

2004/12/16 · 18:27

Who benefits... all our puerile analysis of policy is focused on 'who is hurt', not 'who benefits'. This diary is completely focused on 'who benefits'.

I have three analyses to share:

1) The neo-con agenda:
If the neo-cons win, all 300 million of us will be focussed on how to maintain 'American' superiority in the face of 20-1 odds (in the long run, we have 5% of the population of the planet... how do we maintain superiority (ref: all western powers, Greece, Rome, Venice, France, England, America)). This focus is futile, given its axioms. However, the people currently guiding neo-con policy benefit personally: if the dollar goes to a 1000:1 ratio, they will still be positioned to elevate their children far above the local norm.

that's enough for now. If there's a rational, psychologically aware and statistically aware response to my diary, I will respond with more....

A Statistical Perspective on American Power

Ptah

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Friday November 12, 2004 · 6:04 PM PST

2004/11/12 · 18:04

Now with new title goodness!

America has less than 5 percent of the current global population. Counting only Europe, China, and India, America has less than 15% of the current relevant population. We WILL NOT be able to impose our will on the rest of the world, and the pain we suffer will be in direct proportion to the attempts we make to achieve dominance.
It's time to gather our allies and understand what we can and cannot do.

A schoolyard bully is a standard American trope. And American fiction is rife with the downfall of bullies... those who dominate for a while but are eventually rendered irrelevant.

Can't we use this to educate people?

A statistical perspective

Ptah

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday November 12, 2004 · 5:57 PM PST

2004/11/12 · 17:57

It's time to gather our allies and understand what we can and cannot do.

A schoolyard bully is a standard American trope. And American fiction is rife with the downfall of bullies... those who dominate for a while but are eventually rendered irrelevant.

Can't we use this to educate people?

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