When I worked as the constitutional consultant for the Florida House of Representatives, I was told a story about a certain Senator who threatened to call “General Revenue” as a witness after being told that “general revenue will not allow this appropriation.” Now, Senator Larcenia Bullard (D.-Miami) has topped that story by expressing alarm that women were marrying animals when “animal husbandry” was raised in legislation.
This irreplaceable moment came during a debate to outlaw bestiality in Florida, which appears to be perfectly legal at the current time. When an exception for animal husbandry was raised, State Senator Bullard was alarmed: “People are taking these animals as their husbands? What’s husbandry?”
Senate Chair Charlie Dean explained it refers to rearing and caring of animals, but that did not seem to help. Bullard responded by referring to the recent case of the women’s chimpanzee going nuts and being put down: “So that maybe have been the reason the lady was so upset about that monkey?”
Dean simply responded dryly: “I’m not familiar with that particular incident or case.”
Personally, my wife would see little difference between marrying a sloth on weekends excepts that a sloth eats less and doesn’t hog the clicker.
What is most striking is that Florida legislator would still presumably allow such marriages so long as the human and animal are different genders.
For the full story, click here.
No, what we need is more war criminals and traitors like the Bush Administration. You know. The ones who pushed for deregulating Wall St. in the first place. The problem isn’t red. The problem isn’t blue. It’s the green from Wall St. funneled through the graft merchants of K Street that are the problem. It affects everything – negatively. So instead of obsessing on “black” as the color of the root of all evil, which just paints you the racist, focus on the green. Unless you’re afraid the breadcrumbs will lead to the GOP door just as much or more than anyone else’s.
Another perfect example of the ignorant, uneducated fools, leading the mass of fools who elect this people. Obama proved it now State Senator Larcenia Bullard show another example that Affirmative Action doesn’t work! What an unfortunate turn of events that the people of America choose leaders on such shallow and unimportant reasons and issues. When you continue along this path you will get to learn first hand why Marxist / Socialism doesn’t work, when Marxist / Socialism runs out of other peoples money, it will collapse in on itself as it’s done every where it has been tried. We don’t need more government, we need real, effective and honest government, and a real leader. We don’t need ignorance and power hungry idiots in government either, which apparently the American liberals keep electing, Peloci, Read, Boxer, Feinstein, Kennedy, I could go on.
Deputy H.: I love your hat.
I don’t know whether Bullard is a product of the public school system, but she is a perpetrator- she is a former teacher and education consultant, and serves on three committees related to education.
Gyges,
I’d also point to the historical example of the repression of Gaelic by the English as a control mechanism and the treatment of dissident writers by both the Soviets and the Chinese.
Buddha and Clint,
Or for a less fictional example: look at the prohibitions on the translating religious texts throughout history. How long was the Catholic Church’s hold on Christianity complete because they were the only ones that could read the text of the Bible? That is, other than the nobility, who had their own reasons for keeping the Church in power.
Orwell was a wise enough man to base his theories on his own observations of history and humanity. If you want a little more involved study of his views on the importance of language check out some of his essays (“Politics and the English Language” “Politics vs. Literature: An Examination of Gulliver’s Travels” “Why I Write” “The Prevention of Literature,” etc.)
As far as Huxley goes, I think it’s a exactly backwards that “Brave New World” is touted as a classic and “Island” is virtually ignored.
Clint,
Read “1984” by George Orwell. Freedom and human rights are quite intertwined and impacted by the choice of language. Pay particular attention to Newspeak – a concerted effort to control thought by controlling language. War is peace? Double plus ungood. See also “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley and “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury for further literary examples. Linguistic manipulation is the core of propaganda.
Don’t tell me. Let me guess. This babbling exhibit “a” of ignorance is a product of the public school system and will vote for more government money for government education every time?
Cha Ching
Mespo,
Self-superiority seems far more destructive than stupidity. Centuries of slavery did not come from a lack of vocabulary.
Rafflaw:
Joe is much smarter.
Buddha:
Agreed as to all your comments.
And while I’m at it, here’s some more media stupidity.
Pot, meet kettle.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0309/Carlson_on_Stewart_a_partisan_demagogue.html
mespo,
Hear, hear! So true and so sad. But while we’re dishing out awards for stupidity and arrogance, let’s not give big corporations and the press a free pass either.
Katie Couric got an award for asking the probing question “What papers do you read?” of a woman she should have held over the fire about being associated with both an End of Time cult and a separatist movement. If you’ve read the news this week, it has been hard to miss that a COMEDIAN is a better reporter than anyone at CNBC.
Edward R. Murrow is spinning in his grave.
Stupidity isn’t just for government anymore. It’s for media.
And it’s stupidity bought and paid for lobbyists and big corporations so they can steal without challenge. Is it an “accident” that CNBC is owned by one of the world’s largest defense contractors, GE? No. It was a purchase made so that GE could control the spin on the news to supplement their lobby and market manipulation activities. Is it an accident that Rupert Murdoch used lobbyists to help circumvent local media ownership requirements that had helped preserve the integrity of the 4th Estate – further helping a FOREIGNER form the largest right-wing fascist propaganda machine seen since Goebbels ran the show for the Nazis? No. Is it an accident that schools across this nation now produce fewer actually educated people? Instead often acting as babysitters rather than teachers? No. Again a situation aggravated by lobbyists and corporate money trying to keep people stupid in the guise of fighting unions and setting results oriented objectives for teacher’s performance reviews. They know stupid people are easier to manipulate. Dumbing down is their mission. It has been done with corporate purpose and malice aforethought.
It’s a pattern. It’s a pattern that all traces back to greed and short-sightedness of the few at the expense of the many. That’s evil. Evil is stupid. Evil and stupid are the poison that big corporations would like you to swallow, preferably without complaint. That way they can steal and trample your rights without challenge. The needs of the many outweigh the desires of the few.
But if we are going to swing the stupid stick, let’s take a whack at ALL the piñatas – government, their corporate masters/lobbyist lackeys and the media outlets THEY own and control who try to mislead and disinform the citizenry (and I mean that in the technical sense of disinformation) instead of doing their job of reporting the facts.
They have it coming.
Mike,
Well said. Joe American is just as sharp as Joe the Plumber.
Actually, Mr. American, the reaction of all those old white guys is the same as yours. They thank God that they left the Democratic party during the civil rights years and are now happily Republican, where ignorance, hatred and racism are still appreciated and a woman doesn’t have to have a thought, as long as she can fix a mean moose stew.
“Arrogance is far more of a vice than illiteracy or mispronunciation.”
********
Joe American an out and out racist, but he is right that illiteracy in public office, and stupidity among our leaders is a disservice to us all. Arrogance may be more of a vice for one engaged in menial labor, but not for those charged with leading our fellow citizens, keeping safe the public trust, and making difficult policy choices during times of catastrophe that affect us all. Stupidity there is sometimes deadly. See Bush, George W and Katrina. You’re doing a heck of job there, Joe American!
Joe American,
“I always wonder what the traditional, white, intelligent, upstanding members of state senates think…”
If they are anything like the statements you made, they may be consumed with their own sense of superiority. Arrogance is far more of a vice than illiteracy or mispronunciation.
“I always wonder what the traditional, white, intelligent, upstanding members of state senates think…”
not like you, J.A.
J A, thanks for the editorial. “Me a racist,” you know yourself well.
Ignorance comes packaged in all sizes, shapes, and colors.