Free Republic

"Non-stupid people always underestimate the damaging power of stupid individuals. In particular non-stupid people constantly forget that at all times and places and under any circumstances to deal and/or associate with stupid people always turns out to be a costly mistake." Carlo Cipolla In the 1970s, an economic historian called Carlo Cipolla wrote a provocative article titled "The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity". This week's episode is about his theory of the destructiveness of stupid behaviour and why it is so underestimated and misunderstood.

Democratic presidential hopefuls condemned the US airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani on Thursday night, with Joe Biden calling the attack “a hugely escalatory move” in the region. The former vice president, in a statement, conceded that the leader of Iran’s elite Quds Force deserved to face justice, but warned, “President Trump just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox.” “He deserved to be brought to justice for his crimes against American troops and thousands of innocents throughout the region. He supported terror and sowed chaos,” Biden said of Soleimani, who was killed in the strike at Baghdad’s...

Those Knightscope security robots may not be so great at their jobs. When a woman in a park near Los Angeles saw people fighting and tried to summon help via a police robot patrolling nearby, the robot merely told her to "step out of the way" and continued along its pre-determined route, according to NBC News. No help came until the spectators called 911 directly, raising the question of what, if any, function these robots are actually supposed to serve. It turns out that the robot, a K5 model named "HP RoboCop", patrols the park on behalf of the police...

As the headline states, I'm looking to buy a very basic home stereo system with speakers, fm/am radio, and CD ability. I'm not tech savy, nor all that interested in delving into it, but I may not have a choice anymore. Most stereo systems sold today are intermeshed with Bluetooth. I have budgeted up to $250. for it, but hope I needn't go that high. The model I own right now is that way, but I am able to use the CD player and the radio without going through a lot of intricate hooking up. I only plan to change...

(WXYZ) - Governor Rick Snyder has vetoed gun legislation that would have allowed concealed weapons in churches, schools and daycares. He vetoed Senate Bill 59 Tuesday after stating that he would give the legislation extra consideration following tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. The bill drew widespread criticism in the wake of the school massacre in Newtown where 26 people were killed - including 20 children. Under the proposed law, concealed weapons would have been allowed in schools and churches. “This type of violence often leaves society with more questions than answers,” Snyder said. “The reasons for such appalling acts usually are...

"The victim's legs were fused to the chair and her legs had to be physically separated from the foot rest portion of the chair leaving behind yellowish skin tissue," Independence police detectives said in an affidavit."

A few weeks ago, I bought a book of front pages of newspapers from World War II. I have been reading it avidly ever since. The news is terrifying and uplifting, of course. But it is the sense of Western resolve against the Axis powers that is so powerful. There is a purpose in the stories of the whole nations of the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union joined to fight the Nazi and Japanese war machines. Fighting, producing, rationing, restraining, cheering, mourning, all done with a will to win.

This is merely me venting, but I would appreciate any support or feedback you can give. This relys heavily on my current knowledge of history, and as I am only 18 years old, I have much to learn. My question is this: Supposing that Obama finishes this four-year term, and continues his disastrous policy, will we have another Reagan to fix this? We went through this kind of thing with Carter, but it was on a much smaller scale. A man like Reagan doesn't come along that often, so despairingly I ask you, who can fix this? The current officials...

There are a lot of good threads about this topic (see below) and I wouldn't want to step on their great comments, but this is not just about seniors. This is about every person of any age with a life threatening illness. If you are a thirty year old woman and you develop a non-chemo sensitive tumor and have the genes that predispose you to breast cancer your life expectancy with treatment is only about 30% over 5 years. YOU WOULDN’T QUALIFY FOR TREATMENT BECAUSE OF THE COST VS LIFE EXPECTANCY RATIO THE BOARD WILL USE. And who is going...

Congress approves Internet gambling ban bill By Peter Kaplan Reuters Saturday, September 30, 2006; 12:52 AM WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most forms of Internet gambling would be banned under a bill that received final U.S. congressional approval early Saturday. The House of Representatives and Senate approved the measure and sent it to President George W. Bush to sign into law. The bill, a compromise between earlier versions passed by the two chambers, would make it illegal for banks and credit card companies to make payments to online gambling sites. Democrats had accused Republicans of pushing the bill to placate its conservative...

THESE ARE THE SENATORS WHO VOTED TO GIVE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS TO ILLEGAL ALIENS REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY, THESE POLITICIANS NEED TO BE DEFEATED IN 2006, 2008 OR 2010, WHENEVER THEY NEXT COME UP FOR OFFICE. SEND THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW; THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION -- THAT IS, UNLESS THEY DO NOT MIND SHARING THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY WITH FOREIGN WORKERS WHO NEVER PAID INTO IT AND AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE BEING LEFT OUT. Grouped by Home State Alabama: Alaska: Stevens (R-AK), Yea Arizona: McCain (R-AZ), Yea Arkansas: Lincoln (D-AR), Yea Pryor (D-AR),...

I am curious why none of the media covers the most important aspect of the Malvo shootings. If you look at Newspapers on the dates when the shootings are underway you discover something I find quite interesting. The shootings begin to dominate the news the day before the debate on the Iraq war starts and they catch them the day after the declaration of war??? If you ask most people "do you remember the debate about starting the second Iraq war", they will all answer "yes of course". But if you followup with the question "name one point in the...

I recently received a reply to a post that stated: "This should be beneath a "freeper". Sad." So I asked.. what is it that makes a FReeper? My reply (and I will admit was tasteless) was also questioning. It stirred controversy and was removed? Why Moderators? Can you not tell me? Did it not meet with your "FReeper" mentality? According to all posted guidelines it should be listed but no, you chose to delete it. Yes.. I'm the first one IBTZ, I'm sure you'll nick me for speaking up..

In this war freedom should come first not after! In New Hampshire the Motto is Live free or Die! I don't need Bush spying on law abiding americans and taking our freedoms. Anyone who surrenders a square inch of freedom to the government in the name of saftey is a traitor and should be treated like one! Let the Bush Fashists all drop dead! Filthy Commys! LET FREEDOM RING!

Fellow Americans, there comes a time every mans life when we must give up ourselves before we are worthy to recieve. There comes a time in this war on terror when in order to protect liberty, we have to give it up in the mean time for safty. That's right folks. Today, Americans have forsaken the creator for the creation and have decided that they would value our "civil liberties" than protecting western civilization and rich white people from the tender mercies of radical Islamic terrorists. Selfish liberals insist and whine that Bush has no right to spy on Americans...

Yaa, you repukes are not doing so well, huh? Imagine, you repukes control the presidency, both houses of Congress, and appointed 7 of the 9 Supreme Court justices. Yet the Supreme Court thre out sodomy laws in all 50 states and recognized the right of government to seize land for any reason. And you couldn't pass your Social Security changes could you? Sorry, that was your last shot. Come November, we're going to start seeing more Democratic faces in the House. It's the end for you guys. You guys are celebrating when Bush's numbers go *up* to 45%. Then Faux...

Bush’s giant Right Wing Noise Machine (RWNM) loves to preach about the Bush economic miracle. In fact, the RWNM’s current thinking is Bush doesn’t spend enough time talking about his economic triumphs. If only he did, then everyone would fall in line and believe in the great Bush economic miracle. There is one problem with this argument: it’s a lie. Any way you look at the Bush economy, it comes up short. Today, I want to compare Bush’s job creation record with other economic recoveries. As usual, Bush comes up way short. The national Bureau of Economic Research has identified...

Why does anybody support George w Bush as President? He is clearly the worst President I have ever seen -- a complete disaster. And before you say anything, I have been a registered Republican for 25 years.

After reading all of the crap that people have been saying regarding Adult Private Social Clubs, I felt that I had to post an article and give my opinion. I am sick and tired of all the religous groups that are saying that there are drugs, prostitution, minors, non-consenting people, and just immoral people at these clubs! First of all, who do these people think they are to decide what is morally right or wrong for me? I believe that I have a good set of morals. I am a law abiding, tax paying citizen, I work full time and...