American democracy is greedy, and that's a good thing

I've just had a moment of profound clarity that need to be shared with the world. Democracy is inherently greedy.

American Democracy is Democracy as viewed by the American people., which focuses on the power of the individual. The phrase laissez fair (literally meaning "let do" in French) was attributed to describing American economics in the 18th century, which essentially meant that businesses should act in their own self interest and allow the "invisible hand" of the market to work itself out. This view of economics rose from the political jargon of the American Revolution.

How is American Democracy greedy?

American Democracy is greedy because it promotes the welfare of the individual instead of promoting the welfare of the masses. The American people are all crying out, "I want what is best for ME."

How is this good?

In economics, this principal generally works itself out. As every business fights to become the best it can be individually, many companies inherently must fail. When businesses close in America, it is a kind of modern Darwinism, in which only the strongest survive. This leads to the United States becoming one of the most powerful countries in the world.

On a societal level, this causes what many people hate about the American attitude -- pride. Everyone in America is told by his or her surrounding society to become the best. Theoretically, this creates competitive job markets, challenging educational systems, and higher quality of life overall for the society. Like Darwinism, the weak die off leaving only the strong. Theoretically, that is.

Why is America no longer an American Democracy?

In the past 100 years, America has started down a new path. The Civil Rights movement, the fight for Women's rights, and the newly emerging fights for immigration rights and sexual rights are changing the focus of American politics. While these movements were and are unarguably important in the fight for justice and equality, they have also changed what Americans view as acceptable.

Instead of protecting the welfare of the individual, the American people are attempting to protect the welfare of the group. People have become overly sympathetic toward the weak in our society who have traditionally faded away. Because of this new struggle to save the weak, the American way of social Darwinism begins to fail.

Why is that a problem?

If the weak cannot die off, American Democracy fails. Therefor, America fails.

For example, lets look at the average American's quality of life. To find the average of this data, we must consider and weigh the best against the worst quality of life that people are living with. If we allow the worst to disappear, the nation has a higher overall average. If we preserve the worst, the average quality of life dips.

This can be seen in a very real life situation -- the "No Child Left Behind" act. Because parents hate to see their students fail, schools are now being forced to lower their standards to allow almost every student to eventually pass. Contrary to how beneficial it may initially seem, this has the overall effect of lowering test scores on a national level, and slowing down the talented students.

It is the struggle to succeed that makes America America. If we take away that struggle, we take away what made America great.


What is the solution?

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer. Simply put, there needs to be a balance between the fight for social welfare and individual welfare.

If our nation went all the way toward social welfare, we would be living under socialism. Unfortunately, people are instinctively greedy, and history has shown that socialism in most cases leads to corruption and fails. If somehow we managed to achieve socialism without corruption, our country would loose its global power and become average in terms of overall prosperity. The preservation of the weak means a decrease in overall power.

Alternatively, if America focused only on the promotion of individual welfare, our country would prosper as a whole, but certain individuals would suffer horribly. Children in school that could not live up to the challenge of our highly demanding public education systems would have to take lower level jobs with bare minimum wages, far below current minimum wage. There would no social security, only private businesses that offered competitively priced insurance plans. The US government would only serve to deal with what the market could not.

The ultimate solution would have to balance between these two concepts, leaning more toward individual welfare to preserve what is America. In this ideal country, the government would exist to function as a preserver of justice and manager of foreign affairs. Churches, charities, and non-profit organizations would exist to distribute social welfare, while the government would manage the greedy, self-serving world that businesses and individuals competed in.

WAIT A MINUTE... That sounds like... Separation of church and state?

Think about it.

~Jw

P.S. Comments on this are more than welcome. What is your opinion?

7 Cures for Cancer

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UPDATE: For those of you who are accessing this blog for the first time via this article, I would like to clarify that this blog is NOT a news blog or a science blog, but the personal blog of a college student. All cures listed below have their sources linked beneath their descriptions.
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As medical technology becomes more and more advanced, its a wonder human life expectancy has yet to reach 100. Today, we find ourselves one step closer to living in the triple digits with these seven, yes SEVEN cures for cancer!

1. Kanzius Machine

This machine was invented by a former businessman and radio technician named John Kanzius. The concept behind this machine seems pretty complicated, but apparently its pretty successful. Here's the formula: Gold + Radio waves = no more cancer. Apparently, by injecting nanoparticles of gold into the blood system, the metal would then bond with the cancer cells while ignoring healthy cells. After this bond has occurred, shooting radio waves at the patient would destroy anything with gold nanoparticles in it. Goodbye, cancer! Non-invasive and successful!

Sources: 1, 2, 3

2. HACE 1 - The Cancer Curing Gene

This one is still relatively new, and research is still in the works, but the concept is pretty amazing. It seems a research group in Canada called the B.C. Cancer Agency has found a gene that can stop cancer, called HACE 1. The Washington Post writes, "Cancerous cells form tumors when HACE 1 is inactive and tumor growth is extensive due to additional stress such as radiation. But activating HACE 1 prevented the formation of tumors, the researchers said." By simply activating this gene in the human body, our own body could turn on the cancer cells.

Sources: 1

3. Modified Rabies - The Anti-Cancer Virus

It may sound like a concept stolen from I am Legend, but this one is for real! Scientists from Yale University have found a way to inject mice inoperable brain tumors with a modified version of the Rabies virus that attacks the cancer instead of the mice. Other scientists from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have been researching a similar cure with the same virus.

Sources: 1, 2

4. Hot Peppers

Researchers from the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in collaboration with colleagues from UCLA have found that the same component used to make peppers hot can also turn prostate cancer against itself. Go figure!

Sources: 1

5. Dichloroacetate (DCA)

This drug is actually already on the market, but companies simply aren't selling it to cure cancer because it would not be profitable! Because the drug has no patent, anyone could produce it for almost nothing. No profit means no interest from drug companies. NewScience.com writes,

"Evangelos Michelakis of the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, and his colleagues tested DCA on human cells cultured outside the body and found that it killed lung, breast and brain cancer cells, but not healthy cells. Tumours in rats deliberately infected with human cancer also shrank drastically when they were fed DCA-laced water for several weeks."

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

6. Cancer stopping bacteria (Streptococcus pyogenes)

In 1890, a doctor named William B. Coley accidentally infected one of his patients with a common bacteria named Streptococcus pyogenes. DamnInteresting.com writer Matt Castle writes,

"The records showed that after the wound became infected with a commonplace bacterium, Streptococcus pyogenes, the patient went through several bouts of fever. With each attack of fever the tumor shrank until eventually it disappeared entirely, leaving only a large scar under the left ear. Coley surmised that the infection had stimulated the German’s immune system– as evidenced by the repeated fevers– and that it was this immune response that had caused the eradication of the cancer."

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

7. Synthetic Cancer Suicide Pills

A medicine being researched by Seoul National University and the National center for Toxicological Research have found a synthetic material called "procaspase activating compound one" (PAC-1), that causes cancer to destroy itself.

EurekaAltert.org writes, "Most living cells contain a protein called procaspase-3, which, when activated, changes into the executioner enzyme caspase-3 and initiates programmed cell death, called apoptosis. In cancer cells, however, the signaling pathway to procaspase-3 is broken. As a result, cancer cells escape destruction and grow into tumors."

This research was funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the University of Illinois.

Sources: 1,

UPDATE:

I found one more!

8. Masturbation

BBC News has recently written an article stating that regular masterbation for men could significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer! Now that's science.

Sources: 1

My Profound Statement of the Day

Sometimes when I'm peeing, I get scared that I might actually be dreaming and wetting my bed for the first time since I was five...

~jw

View Discretion Advised

Ever wonder why kids want to watch shows they're not suppose to? I made a (very) short video to show why. This was recorded before an episode of "House" on Fox. Check it out...



Makes sense, now, doesn't it?

~jw

The Deeper meaning of Pokemon

Recently, a poster to the website 4chan in the /a/ forum came to a starking revolution:
"Thanks to /a/, Pokemon is now the deepest, most profound and ultimately depressing anime in existence."

You can read the original post here (EDIT: THIS is the actual original link), but it is extremely long so below is the condensed version.

According to the theory, in the first episode (when Ash had a bike accident that left him temporarily unconscious) Ash actually slipped into a coma, kicking off the series of crazy events that became the series. That fact alone explains the repetition of common characters (such as Jenny and Nurse Joy) and give every character around him a symbolic meaning. The "bad guys" and several of the major events that occur in the Pokemon movies all symbolize inner conflict, changes in medication, and Ash's hate toward his father. Below is a brief rundown of the character's and their meaning.


Brock - Represents Ash's repressed sexuality, since he fell into the coma a virgin, and needed an outlet for it. Since he can never experience it, Brock must never succeed.
Misty - Ash's feminine side. The side would obviously be upset at the womanizing side, which would keep a normal human being from acting like Brock. This is why she constantly batters him.
Joys and Jennys - two figures he looked up to in his hometown so he projected them everywhere.
Team rocket - Represent aspects of Ash's personality that he has deemed "bad." James implied homosexuality, and Jesse showed vanity. You'll remember that Meowth has the potential for rehabilitation, and doesn't want to be evil, so yet again this fits in with the conflicting personalities theory.
Pikachu - Represents ash's Humanity. In the episodes where they get separated, Ash wants desperately to find him, but for some reason cannot. Even team rocket is willing to set aside any differences to work together and find Pikachu. They want to steal Pikachu ( ash's humanity) and hand it over to his father. They will always be opposed because ash does not want to become anything like his father and no resolution can ever permanently be reached.
Gary oak - Represents what ash wants to be. He's wish fulfillment. he succeeded, and settled down to a normal life. Ash needs someone to succeed in his world or he won't be able to validate it and will start questioning why he's where he is.
Dawn - Represents Ash giving himself a chance to love. Because he already established Misty as someone he's not likely to go anywhere with, he created a new super female, one that was more like him, and less violent all the time.
Paul - Represents Ash's dark side, one that wants to push on even harder and harder, the part of him that will stop at nothing to escape this coma world.
Mr.Mime - He is actually a stand in for ash's father, one that can't abuse him or his mom, because he is a Pokemon, a peace loving creature that's oddly humanoid, but that can never hurt a human.

It actually all makes sense in a weird way. Now you'll never see Pokemon the same way again!

~Jw

EDIT: It seems that the actual post is here:
http://4chanarchive.org/brchive/dspl_thread.php5?thread_id=9938403
The previous link in the intro is still a good (but long) summary. Oh, and watch out for 4chan. It's usually NSFW.

People are like slinkies

I love this because it really brings out the cynicism in my eyes. :-p


~Jw

Bottled Water

For the record, I have never bought bottled water; I have only bought bottles that came with free water inside them.

~jw

Digg Douche

I was checking digg today, as usual, when I read this shout.


What a dick. (no pun intended)

~jw

An open response to a Bible thumper

So, today I was deleting my old notes off of Facebook when i came across a note I posted about a year ago. As a southern Christian, I was really offended by a dude giving a "hell and brim fire" speech at my college. Anyway, I gave him my own speech. I posted a copy of the story below. I'm not trying to impose my religion on anyone or anything, but its more of an effort to clarify what it is I believe.

Earlier this afternoon (3/7/07), I took my Bible, wrote down some verses, took my Megaphone, and delivered a little speech to Brother Micah at the Ferguson Center at the University of Alabama. For those of you who don't know this man, he is a Bible thumping traveling preacher who twists the word of God into his own sick translations. Want to see a video clip?

Here is the contents of my speech. The Bible verses quoted are from the New International Version (NIV).

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I am a sinner, but I am also a Christian. My name is John Wesley Mason-Smith and I have been born and raised a Methodist in Alabama. I have a few things I would like to say.

First:

Matthew 7.1-2, 5 Pg. 1264 – DO NOT JUDGE


"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judges and with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.

"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. "

I spoke to this man earlier and he claims he has no sin. He claims he has confessed his sin to Jesus and is now pure, quoting a story in the Bible about a woman caught in the act of Adultery. Jesus stated, "He who has no sin may cast the first stone." I would like to read the END of that story, which this man has chosen to ignore.

John 8.7,10-11 Pg. 1389 – JESUS FORGIVES AND DOES NOT THROW STONE

"When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

"Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'

"“No one, sir,” She said.

"'Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.'"

Jesus had ABSOLUTELY no sin, but even he did not throw a stone. He showed compassion and forgiveness. Even if this man WAS free of sin, if he is a Christian he would through no stones, deliver no insults, and hate his fellow man.

1 Corinthians 4.3-5 1477 – DO NOT JUDGE EVEN YOURSELF

"I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore, judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in the darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God."

This man cannot be judged, not even by himself, until he has lived out his entire life. Time is for the convenience of HUMANS and means nothing to God. He claims his sins are forgiven, but HE IS NOT INNOCENT.

2 Corinthians 11: 13-15 1504 – THOSE WHO DO ARE SATANS SERVANTS

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve."


If this man had claimed to be a Atheist and said the same things, he would not have been able to push as many people from the love of God. The God this man speaks of is not the caring, loving, MAGNIFICENT and FORGIVING God I have grown to fall in love with. This man speaks of a spiteful, angry, hating God. (This wasn't in my speech, but doesn't that sound like Satan?)
(He then claims I am not reading real scripture from the bible. I stated, "Read it yourself" and crumpled up the paper and threw it at him.)

Sir, I have one last thing to say to you.
GET BEHIND ME SATIN.

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After this, I walked away and didn't look back to see how he responded, but I heard him say that I must have been a Homosexual. Sorta made me laugh, actually. Was he really that desperate? Not only that, but I said at the beginning that I was a sinner, so being a Homosexual doesn't make a big difference. And I was on the way to my Girlfriend's dorm.

Now, after all that, I want you to know I am not mad at the guy, but I do feel sorry for him. I'd like to request that everyone who reads this would pray for this man, as I believe he is being used as a tool for Satan and needs all the help he can get. Clearly he has some very skewed theology....