I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE, WITH EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING

Imagine this: You are watching CNN. The host has two guests arguing about illegal immigration. The guests are touted as experts in their field and their credentials would prove that: one is a Harvard graduate; the other from Princeton. Both have the same degree. Yet somehow these two equals in their fields are able to have completely opposite views and argue them passionately. They both have the same data on the number of illegals in the country.

How is it then that when presented with the same data that two people can disagree while being so similar? It is simple. Normative vs. positive statements.

In economics (the most logical of all pursuits) breaks down all statements and ideas put forth into one of two categories: normative or positive. Understanding these will help to better understand what people are really arguing about.

A normative statement is one that is based on emotion and has no relation to numbers, facts, statistics, or data. It is a person’s statement on anything really that is based on their own thoughts and feelings. A normative statement cannot be quantified or studied. It cannot be correct in and of itself. It is generally not an acceptable way to support ones ideas either. An example of a normative statement: “There are too many illegals in this country”. Or “We should do more to help poor people”. Or this fun gem “The rent is too damn high!!” These statements are all based on a person’s individual beliefs. They cannot be proven nor disproven with numbers. How many is ‘too many’ illegals? How much is ‘do more’? How high is too high?

A positive statement is one that is solely based on numbers or quantifiable data. It is a statement that is correct regardless of opinion. Positive statements exists separate form any creed, color, gender, ethnicity, or political affiliation. Positive statements are what actually prove arguments and are useful in public and private discourse. Some examples are “1.2 million babies are aborted each year in the United States”, “The position of running back in the NFL is comprised of 99% black men”, or “The rent is 68% higher than the national average”. These statements ignore what is right and wrong. These statements actually inform others and are what we need more of.

So, how can our pretend Harvard and Princeton graduates have the same data and disagree so vehemently? Normative beliefs. One feels that illegals are hurting the country; the other feels we should do more to help them. Both can say that there are 12 million illegals in the U.S.

Why does any of this matter? Because the media uses these to make us react in the way that best sells air time or issues. We are told the normative statement and then given the positive statement that supports that feeling. This is a HUGE problem because numbers never lie but people do. And people can dig deep enough and long enough to find the positive statement they need to support their normative one.

It is important for us to be able to distinguish between a normative and a positive statement. Politicians use the normative to get your vote. They say sweet things to convince you that they can help. We like hearing sweet things. But the sweet things can’t be added, can’t be subtracted, or analyzed.

It is my humble hope that we we gather together to discuss and debate on what is going on and what needs to happen, we do so positively. Lets leave our heartfelt exclamations out of it. It is almost impossible for a human to remove their emotions from their words and actions, but for us to come together to really make things better, we need to bring our facts to the table and discuss the merits of those.

I know you really care about what you care about otherwise you wouldn't care.

 FREEEDOM!!!!!!!!

From the mouth of the Captain:

The accepted Lies

Truth.

   Some thoughts on the Gay Rights movement:

 

  My guiding principle on this issue is three fold: 1) I believe fully in liberty and justice for all. Isn't being free to decide one's destiny the whole point of being an American? 2) I will let anybody do their thing, as long as it doesn...'t affect me and my thing. Giving people the right to marry whom they choose doesn't really affect me or my thing. So we're good. You start telling me I have to be gay in order to support gay people and then we will have a problem. And 3) I try my best to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who, does not condone homosexuality, but, he also does not condone my less obvious sins either. He said love everyone. and so, that is what I will do. I don't agree that being homosexual is by any means acceptable. But I also believe that no one should be barred from making their own decisions. Tomorrow I could be forbidden from owning guns or practicing my religion, I wouldn't like that one bit. So I cant be a hypocrite and tell others what they can or cannot do. I support peoples right to marry whom they choose.

   Recently, some people have decided that they hate Orson Scott Card. The author of Ender's Game, a novel that has touched many lives throughout the years and inspired many imaginations, including my own.
Mr. Card is LDS and is morally and religiously opposed to same-sex marriage. He has exercised his Rights to free speech and made his position clear. Others in the opposition to Mr. Card have simi...larly made their position clear. Using very hateful and ignorant language to attack Mr. Card for his intolerance. If you see the profound irony in the above scenario, you are an intelligent person. Here is a sample of some comments:
Ben Plunket writes:" jeebus effinf christmas, wake the eff up people, its not his views, its the fact that he funnels large sums of money into organizations that actively try to take away gays rights, not just on marriage... i hear hitler wrote poetry, own any of his writings? Why not? His works has nothing to do with his views amirite?"
this guy got 16 likes at the time

John Cameron McClain writes: "He's written publicly that he believes marriage equality would lead to the "end of civilization," which means he knows a lot less about reality than he does Science Fiction."
this guy had 245 likes

Fantasy and Sci-Fi Rocks My World writes: "To be honest, the not buying books from someone who believed such things has a point. If he was a passive person who is afraid of homosexuality because he's just one more ignorant then I understand... but if he uses the money he makes to promote his views against homosexuality... which are absolutely horrible, then perhaps I support those who would relinquish his writings in order to stand for what they believe in"
6 likes

I have a sweet idea. How about we let bygones be bygones? How about we all just let each other live their own lives while we live ours? If Cards ignorance and intolerance connects him with Hitler, let history judge him. Don't make yourself a jackass by calling somebody a jackass.

He is "spreading intolerance" Huh? then what is this thread trying to do? Are you not attempting to discriminate against him because of his views/beliefs? You say that you want equality and tolerance for everyone, yet you are intolerant of everyone who disagrees with you. And the cycle of hatred continues. you so-called "progressives" are just as bad, just as closed minded as the so-called "conservatives" you oppose. Both of you only possess half of the tolerance equation, yet you insist that you corner the market. This type of blind insanity will continue to lead America to its downfall. Until you can finally figure out that equality and tolerance is a two-way street, and that it is necessary to love even the ones who hate you, you will continue to be a ignorant person.

I don't know why this is so hard for people to figure out: Tolerance and Equality are a TWO WAY STREET. You CANNOT claim you want equality and tolerance for all people, everyone treated the same, no respect to race, creed, sexual orientation, anything; Saying that everyone gets the same rights to do as they please, no discrimination, nothing; AND THEN TURN AROUND AND REFUSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION THAN YOU THE EXACT SAME PRIVILEGE YOU WANT FOR EVERYONE. There is a word for that in the dictionary: Hypocrisy.

I've been hearing it over and over again: "anyone who opposes same-sex marriage are terrible and shouldn't be allowed to vote" or "lets sign a petition to revoke Fox News' First Amendment Rights". It's shameful. And anything but "progressive"

BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD