Tue 21 Jul 2009
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of our moon landings, NASA is releasing (in September) some higher resolution tapes of the Apollo 11 mission. Though the originals are lost, these new tapes (found in Australia) are of much better quality and should help silence some of the annoying we-didn’t-land-on-the-moon proponents. Which leads me to our next feature:
You might not be a genius if:
1- You believe Apollo 11 was faked– that NASA didn’t land astronauts on the moon in 1969
2- You believe 9/11 was planned and perpetrated by the US gover’ment
3- You think you catch a cold from being cold (bundle up!)
4- You think there really is a seven-second okay rule for food falling on the floor
5- You wipe off your silverware at a restaurant with a napkin to clean it
6- You don’t vaccinate your kids because vaccination is an evil plot to give your kids autism
7- You believe cops “protect and serve”
Yes, I’ve ranted about conspiracy theories before…
Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin punches annoying interviewer who calls Buzz a coward and a liar:
Everyone knows it’s 5 seconds, not 7!
Everyone knows it’s 3 seconds, not 5!
I know someone who believes the Canadian Government is trying to kill off the middle class with inferior health care. They believe it quite passionately.
I, however, don’t credit the government with enough intelligence to pull that off. Except perhaps by accident…
Three seconds. Faugh. It’s seventeen.
I like cops (in America — other countries is another discussion). I wonder if RB’s antipathy stems from police adhering to the hidden rules of the middle class, that all should be treated according to deeds, independent of ability or connection. Or maybe the pigs just keep pullin’ him over…
RB’s antipathy, nah utter hatred, of our police forces stems from their mass corruption (who polices the police? (answer: no one), functionary-based-thinking (no exceptions to the rule, ever), mis-prioritization (focus on traffic violations while the state leads the nation in meth use), and aggressive bullying and civilian violence (e.g. tasering).
Atrocities like the my lai massacre are the product of self-selected, uneducated, violent groups of armed police forces.
i’ll protect myself, thank you.
Could be worse; many nations use the military as the domestic police force, which invites widespread abuse. The U.S. military may not act as the domestic police, excepting specific ad hoc dispensations such as declaration of martial law.
As for functionary-based thinking, many complain about this in any government bureaucracy (think DMV). While onerous, a strict application of the law by government officials is absolutely necessary because we govern by rule of law, otherwise patronage comes right back into play. For example, once that mousy DMV bureaucrat lets you slide by on your driving test for *whatever* reason, now you are more privileged than the person standing in line. This opens the door for bribes, unethical trade of services, and favoritism. Same with the police, a government entity.
Now, there is something known as officer’s discretion, which the run-of-the-mill gov’t bureaucrat does not possess. This gives them more leeway, which is needed to deal with conditions “on the ground.” He or she may use judgment in context of the situation. I’ve ticketed for speeding, and I’ve also been let off for warnings in similar situations. So while the officer must apply the law fairly regardless of some patronage factor (e.g., bribes, nepotism), there is enough wiggle room for wisdom.
That is not to say there is no corruption, powerblindness, or lack of wisdom amongst police officers. But I feel most of them do the best they can with an appropriate amount of power given.
My understanding is that My Lai was committed by U.S. soldiers and M.P.s, which are not the same as a domestic police force. Not that any atrocities are anything but, no matter the culprit.
RB asks, “Who polices the police?” Answer: ME. Its part of my job description. In fact, I tell cops where to go and how to get there.
[...] I’m not saying these signs individually make you crazy, but if you checked more than 3, CRAZYTOWN is your home. A related post: How to know that you’re not a genius. [...]