Fact or Fiction: Recent Comments

Comment on One Decision Changed the Election

2009-12-04T03:30:39Z

Here's the answer:

http://factorfictionblog.com/2009/11/20/does-warm-water-really-freeze-faster-than-cold-water.aspx

Comment on Red sky at night: sailor’s delight…Red sky in the morning: sailors take warning

2009-12-02T18:00:19Z

This saying is actually in the bible-
Matthew 16: 2,3

Comment on One Decision Changed the Election

2009-03-02T02:14:21Z

does warm or hot water freeze faster then cold water?

Comment on Deer Crossings and Driver Safety

2008-11-05T21:05:30Z

I kept readin g the article on deer crossings, hoping to find the trick we always used in Colorado, when I was a lad...too many years ago. Deer will,
invariably look towards your headlights
much the same as a person would when
suddenly met in the dark. The thing is
deer eyes show up red at night, in your headlights, so, we just drove no more than the speed limit--a good practice, especially at night, and watched the side of the road for those tell-tale red pinpoints--deer eyes.

Comment on My Campaign Announcement

2008-10-06T21:54:33Z

That was quick:

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2008/10/06/pirok_wont_seek_re-election_to_champaign_council_seat

Comment on Public Transit: Do People Really Ride the Bus?

2008-09-12T04:43:58Z

Here's more evidence from the AP and the News Gazette:

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2008/09/11/gas_prices_driving_more_people_onto_buses_locally_nationwide

Comment on Free Enterprise Socialism

2008-08-08T16:18:44Z

Okay, I won't try to convince you. But I will say that Cuba's Government is not one of and/or by the people, as ours is. The only major corruption in Cuba is that of the brothers, Castro, and their cronies (which include the people with whom THEY do business). Corruption in the U.S. is widespread and by the people (and, by design, the people's government).

Comment on Free Enterprise Socialism

2008-08-04T16:04:41Z

I agree that neither system is absolutely perfect and that our capitalist system still exhibits greed and corruption. But, it's the best alternative available.

You won't convince me that socialist countries and Cuba, specifically, don't beat us in the corruption business.

In the United States, you don't have to ask anyone permission to apply for a job or start a business (or to have a phone or travel where you need to go). You don't have to bribe anyone to get hired or to buy products, set up a store, or get customers.

Greed and crime are largely a function of lack of economic opportunity. This is true in any economic or political system.

The less economic opportunity available, the more that greed and corruption are inevitable.

Comment on Dear Keith Olbermann,

2008-08-03T16:53:50Z

The real difference between Keith Olberman and Bill O'Reilly is the Keith Olberman gives the facts.

Comment on Free Enterprise Socialism

2008-08-03T06:46:40Z

You don't know how anyone can argue that the Cuban system may NOT be more corrupt than ours?

While I'm not trying to argue the point with my first post,I do have to ask now: Is it the downtrodden, oppressed Cuban public that is corrupt and greedy, or just the top-level dictator and his cronies?

By and large, any capitalist (or want-to-be capitalist) society is bound to be more corrupt, over all, than a socialist one. The point here is that it isn't the "socialism" that is corrupt or begets corruption, it's (certainly in the case of Cuba) criminal leadership. Lord Acton said, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Corruption is not a given based upon socialism, it is a feature of socialist societies led by despots. It also happens to be a feature of any other kind of society that worships the acquisition of wealth.

Greed, on the other hand, is universal and always distasteful(which I suspect is why it enjoys the label, "sin").

While it is inherently leaned toward it, capitalism certainly doesn't have the greed market cornered, and is hardly less corrupt than socialism--at least in their purest forms.

Having played the devil's advocate, I want to make it clear that I would much rather live in the U.S., with all our flaws, than in Cuba, with its lack of freedom. But corruption and greed, even among average citizens, go with the territory, here. Criminal deviance is the coping strategy that is employed when legitimate means are not EQUALLY available to everyone in their search for CULTURALLY-DEFINED goals, like those intrinsic to the American Dream.

It's an interesting subject, and I certainly appreciate the thought you put into the original post and your response to my comments. If I sound a little too eager to argue the point, it's because these issues are important in my field (research criminology), and I find myself engaged in similar discussions on a regular basis.