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Comment: Re: This is the AP Comp Sci exam (Score 0) 489

by readin (#45936577) Attached to: Tech's Gender and Race Gap Starts In High School

the race gap is definitely a cultural thing, what else could it be?

I used to think the same way - mostly as a act of faith or dogma. But as I get older, learn more about history, the world, and science, I find myself doubting my earlier faith.

On an individual leverl, discrimination remains both stupid and wrong. Men are taller than women in general, but if you need something off the top shelf you don't ask Danny Devito instead of Geena Davis just because Danny Devito is a man.

However for social policy we may have to come to terms with differences. Perhaps the liberals when they insist on affirmative action aren't being racist, they're just being realistic about how unfair advantage is the only way to let some groups succeed. It may be that conservatives are wrong to think that if we treat everyone equally the achievements of racial groups will even out over time. And if equality between groups is necessary for social stability - maybe we have to discriminate.

It's scary to think that racial differences may be significant because of the social questions it raises. But we may have to stop burying our heads and look at the statistics with an open mind.

Comment: Re:That media is really on top of things (Score 1) 266

by readin (#45926373) Attached to: How Chris Christie Could Use the NSA Playbook
Don't be so hard on the media. It took them a year to break the IRS scandal news, and then they forgot about it once the President had some up with a barely plausible denial. It only took them 5 months to catch on to the bridge thing, and you can be they'll be talking about it until Christie has a serious conservative opponent.

So based on those two data points we have a press that is getting faster at recognizing scandals and is focusing on them longer. That's good, right?

Comment: Re:beacon of freedom (Score 2) 266

by readin (#45926349) Attached to: How Chris Christie Could Use the NSA Playbook
If I had made that list it would focus on two events
* The closing of national parks, blocking of scenic overlooks, etc. that were often unnecessary and in fact more expensive than not doing them during the government shutdown. The President was attempting to blame Republicans for pain he was inflicting.
. * The IRS targeting of conservative groups that effectively prevented them from having a strong effect during the 2012 election.

Comment: Re:beacon of freedom (Score 1, Insightful) 266

by readin (#45926327) Attached to: How Chris Christie Could Use the NSA Playbook

It is really telling that your entire list refers to a certain Democratic president, and mixes in things that (in your opinion) are bad policy.

You're right. Maybe we should do something about that guy.

But we won't. When Nixon did similar stuff, the Republican senators went to him and told him it was time to go. He resigned in disgrace. The Republican senators and representatives were punished mercilessly for it and lost many seats in Congress. The Democrats have learned the lesson well - in this age of widespread ignorance their political fortunes depend more on the popularity of their president or presidential candidate than it does on their individual actions. The demonstrated in with Clinton that they will defend their guy no matter what (even when he lies under oath - that used to be a big deal). They certainly won't go after Obama.

Comment: Re:beacon of freedom (Score 3, Insightful) 266

by readin (#45926283) Attached to: How Chris Christie Could Use the NSA Playbook
So you use a bunch of left-wing websites to "debunk" the news?

I don't have time to go into everything, and in fact most of the list doesn't interest me that much.

But the IRS scandal wasn't hatched a couple days before the national press finally noticed. The IRS behavior was being noticed and complained about for many many months before it became widespread knowledge. You probably heard about the IRS being used as a political weapon in spring of 2013.

From July of 2012, "Even worse, the IRS has responded to dozens of tax-exemption applications by tea-party groups with astonishingly intrusive document demands, seeking not only donor lists but also lists of volunteers." http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/310384/obama-s-sunshine-policy-david-french

Mr. French is referring to a DailyCaller article from February 2012, http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/22/congressional-investigations-sought-over-irs-assault-on-tea-party-groups/

Yes it's true that these are all conservative websites, but who else was going to cover news at that time that was negative to President Obama and wasn't already high profile?

Anyway, here is a non-conservative site debunking your debunking http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/05/14/irs-tea-party-progressive-groups/2158831/

Comment: Re:three responses (Score 2, Insightful) 562


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