The act of our leaders putting their hands over their ears going "LALALALA" to these grave problems is really the apathy of the US population crystalized. We, the people, are really who is responsible. No matter who is in power, there is always this voice of America that denies any responsibility of what our governement is doing, which must sound pretty retarded to the rest of the world, particularly in countries where people aren't allowed to elect their government officials. We as a nation are spoiled brats with very little concept of what our excesses really cost. Unless we wake up and realize that we will eventually have to pay for our excesses, and at the rate we are going we will be unable to foot the bill, nothing is really going to change. Playing the part of the whistleblower does very little to change things, but when you set aside all the grim events that shape our world and really just take a cold look at the heart of darkness, maybe you can change someone's mind. Look at what impact Conrad had on you! You won't get that kind of passion from listening to Joe Biden, that's for sure. Of course, it is hypocritical for me to even say this while typing on my expensive computer at my cushy job, but perhaps I can serve as just another tacit lesson in how we all are complicit in the crimes our nation commits in order to fulfil its excesses.

- Matty The Gent (SF, CA)

I'm becoming increasingly convinced there is nothing more dangerous than someone who "finds" himself as a result of waking up one morning and realizing he's wasted his life. Evangelical christians, right and left wing kooks, islamist militants, scientologists--these are all philosphies one tends to arrive at after hitting the perverbial rock bottom. What's worse is that the adoption of such a narrow minded perspective becomes an excuse for past behavior. Ann Coulter probably truly believes she has something significant to say about liberals, because, well, she used to be one. George W. Bush thinks he knows a thing or two about morality and values because he spent half his life in the complete absensce of such inconveniences. The truest test of character is not necessarily one's ability to change. To be sure, in some cases, like kicking a drug or alcohol problem, a change of lifestyle and/or philosophy is probably required. But in other cases, one's ability to stay the course, regardless of what society throws at him, is the truest test of character. For that reason, I hold the likes of Hunter S. Thompson way above fruitcakes like Ward Churchill and Anne Coulter. He may have lived his life decadently, offensively, and in a way that violates most common codes of decency. But he was true to his cause, and even capped it off with a big exclamation point in the end when he blew his brains out.

Nate (Oaktown CA)

!!! -k

You don't know s*** bout 50 Cent, flows, ho's, or any other damn thing about the hood one way or another. Look kid, stop the trifling and posing and be your own mack, know what I'm saying? You can't be that nigga who bites from the best of others. Seriously, Too Short bit from the Bishop and you biting from me cause I'm the originator, the foundation of root knowledge to bring forth mack imperial...for real, bitch. I'm gonna find your obviously white ass and smoke it black if you perpetrate again, cause you the problem like Martians in the plumbing, you read me kid? You feel that up in you?

Darius Bee (Santa Rosa)

The insane need they forum too. Ungh. - k

I like some of your content, but your site links to some of the worst drivel up on the web. Radical sites like World Net Daily do not need to be legitimized, they need to be taken down. It's too bad so many people give voice to entities who don't deserve it. Be more responsibile and pick a side. All opinions are not equal.

Anon (Location Unknown)

I'm thinking this came from a moveon.org supporter...just guessing. - k

Yeah, it's tough being a Lions fan, especially when there's no hockey being played to make us feel better, but you may be right. All my friends look at Roy Williams and Shaun Rogers and think, 'shit,' we may actually have something this time. Wait, I should take that back, positivity might jinx this.

from Kyle C (Waterford)

Nice piece on Communism. I never thought about it in terms of a right-wing backlash, but it makes sense. What we see these days, and for about fifty years now, is the result of trying to cram too much power into a centralized state. Out here we learned our lessons long ago, but trying to centralize power in the desert is like herding cats or marketing a raindance. Nice work.

from Ray (somewhere in Arizona)

You think this is all cute.

You will all fall in the ocean. You have turned your backs on the Almighty far too many times. Do you think it is a coincidents <sic> that all the vile kinds of people have gone to the West Coast. The Lord has a plan. He is drawing the unworthy to their dooms. Earthquakes are the least of your problems, because when you awful people are wiped away, you must still stand in judgement. What cute things will you say then?

from Bernard X (location unknown)

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