The political drama continues with Dan. I sort of decided to use the time to reply late at night over the weekend to work the brain and practice the writing skills.

I’ve definitely been having more of this self reflection and outwardly contemplation time lately and the entire thread with Dan basically plays into it. There was also this chat I had with Chad the other day at work about Dawkins and being a “militant atheist” that I’ve been thinking about as well. I’m definitely generalizing things a bit and being argumentative about the entire “radical religious right”.

If you missed the first or second parts be sure to check those out before reading on.

From: Corey Gouker
Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 11:08 AM
To: JACKIE/DAN ROBINSON
Cc: John Gouker
Subject: RE: FW: PHOTO TO THINK ABOUT

I’m sure in 2 years things will look quite a bit different, though you’ll still be the same and will have your next crazy thing to be forwarding about.

Yes I’ve used a government run health system. I lived in England for a year where I used their National Health Services. It was fantastic. There was a doctor seemingly on every corner. My doctor was around the block, I called, next day walked in sat down and was taken care of. I needed a prescription, I walked next door paid the equivalent of $12 if I remember right and was given both prescriptions (having had them in the US, they would’ve cost over $90 here).

The government already runs a health system here it’s called Medicare. The government already runs a lot of Socialist services, unemployment services, your Military, the Education system, your highway system, etc. Of course no system is perfect there’s flaws everywhere, typically the flaws are human based though.

Not sure what Indian reservations have to do with anything. I’ve not had a chance to read up on them, but my understanding is that they’re on sovereign soil.

It’s funny that you mention serving our country. In a previous email you talked about blindly following. I think this is kind of ironic since I don’t think there’s been a single war since World War II where America’s interests have been at stake, where American freedom has been at stake. If you can name one I’d love to hear know, 9/11 doesn’t count either because it was a terrorist attack and completely unrelated to the Iraq war.

I’m assuming you went to Nam; ever stop and wonder why you even went, why America went? Maybe that’s why you’re so jaded now, because you were fucked then and you’re afraid of being fucked now. You certainly weren’t fighting for our country then, you were fighting for people in power so they could have more control and more wealth. It’s extremely unfortunate that Americans had to fight and die in battles that they should’ve never been in.

With that said, I certainly don’t equate intelligence with being in the military or having served in any Government capacity.

Frankly, I don’t think you should be the one to tell me I’m uneducated in history.

• The reason EVERYTHING is made outside of our borders is all the folks that whined about the air quality due to steel mills than “acid rain” remember that?
  • Excuse me? Provide some data here that backs up your statements. So everything America imports is made out of steel in other countries?
  • We import goods from other countries because they’re either produced more, can be produced for less, or America simply doesn’t have the ability to produce them.

• Then it was the coal fired power plants, now it’s we can fix EVERYTHING in a few months with out reading any of the bills and tax the crap out of EVERYONE (yes you also) if “cap & trade” gets passed ,everything will go up, you don’t think for a second the power company’s will let the profit drop do you?
  • There’s really no argument here, reads to me like a sentence from Palin. I’ll just refer to this article about Goldman Sachs and cap and trade that I sent a while ago. Guessing you didn’t read any of it then?

See, I respect those who have served in battle. I respect them for the courage that it takes to be part of that. With that being said, I certainly don’t need to join and blindly follow. Just because you served in Nam and witnessed some fucked up shit doesn’t give you any special rights to tell anyone they don’t know life or haven’t lived it. Not me or your son.

I quit school at 13, worked ever since, went to England for a year, have travelled to a few other countries, had a pretty fucking good time ever since. I’ve also had the fear of dying or killing too when some fuck tried to mug me. It doesn’t take military service to know what living is.

It’s advisors and czars, the only people complaining are those that haven’t done their research and those who have something to gain by negatively portraying the fact that Obama has been picking people to advise him in matters that he needs advising. What’s not normal about this? Or do you forget that George W. Bush had 26 czars and appointed more than Obama?

Quit being a fucking idiot and lecturing me on doing my research when you clearly haven’t. Most of them suck huh? Well give me an example, give me some data.

• But Everyone that has been in power for the 65 years has had a lot of faults but this administration sure seams to have more than the normal what ever that is.
  • As soon as you figure that one out do share. Why is it that when people like you are uncertain of something you fall back on some generalized faith based assumption that has no merits?

Yeah, you’re right, American life was probably better for you in 1950. I mean just think, Obama would’ve been sitting at the back of the bus just where you’d like him to be. Plus you got to enjoy LSD and listen to Elvis while freaking out about that Russian nuke that never came.

FYI, I still don’t lock my front door or the car.

Keep living that American dream, old man.

Another reply after realizing Snopes updated their post:

From: Corey Gouker
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 12:17 PM
To: JACKIE/DAN ROBINSON
Cc: John Gouker
Subject: RE: FW: PHOTO TO THINK ABOUT

Oh and Dan… You might want to check out Snopes again:

“However, the characterization of the pictured book as “a Muslim’s view of a defeated America” is erroneous: The book does not posit a “defeated America,” nor does it express a Muslim point of view.”

See, that’s the beautiful thing about a world based in fact and science. New facts come out, people admit they were wrong, and then things progress from there, with the new facts as the basis for future thinking.

I think I must’ve worn down Dan’s attention span since all I got in return was this one line response:

From: JACKIE/DAN ROBINSON
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 12:40 PM
To: Corey Gouker

Subject: Re: FW: PHOTO TO THINK ABOUT
Thanks I will,this is one of the Great things in our nation the chance to exchange ideas !

LMAO… Pretty sure that’s short for “man, it’s good thing you’re not standing in front of me otherwise I’d kick your ass and give you a taste of my first amendment rights”. We’ll see if I get anything more noteworthy soon enough.