Image of Nationalize email to the US Postal Service - are you fucking kidding me?
Nationalize email to the US Postal Service - are you fucking kidding me?
editorial posted by in braincrave
From the "you can't make this shit up" files... Statists have plenty of bad ideas: going to war for oil, setting up regulatory agencies that don't do their jobs, molesting people in the name of se...
Image of How to get decent people to do terrible things - put them in positions of power
How to get decent people to do terrible things - put them in positions of power
editorial posted by in braincrave
Einstein once wrote that "our conscious acts spring from our desires and our fears." Many agree. For example, David Hume suggested in A Treatise of Human Nature that humans are prone to letting emoti...
Image of Be afraid - be very, very afraid
Be afraid - be very, very afraid
editorial posted by in braincrave
Meanwhile, as Bradley Manning (aka "unappreciated hero #1") languishes in jail and is tortured by Obama's administration... There's an adage that goes "give to a good man all the powers he requests t...
What you're missing
editorial posted by in braincrave
I was reading an article from a Libertarian today that suggested that people will never change their mindset (i.e., of supporting the government) by talking to them about principles and the philosoph...
Image of Scary - facts don't change our minds
Scary - facts don't change our minds
editorial posted by in braincrave
"Facts don't necessarily have the power to change our minds. In fact, quite the opposite." Before you read this article to determine where that conclusion came from, ponder that quote for a moment...
Image of The myths of income equality
The myths of income equality
editorial posted by in braincrave
Capitalism gets a bad rap, often claimed to be the destroyer of everything good. One argument made is that capitalism creates class warfare - the rich against the poor. So-called "social crusaders,"...
Image of Protecting the environment
Protecting the environment
editorial posted by in braincrave
Over the last week, we've had a few discussions come up around how the government protects the environment. Though I didn't know it until I did some research, I wasn't surprised… FTA: "Who's the gr...
Image of Ethical double-standards
Ethical double-standards
editorial posted by in braincrave
What's the difference between being a slave and a serf? When slavery was common hundreds of years ago, your master kept 100% of what you earned. Now they take about 50%. Masters used to keep you in l...
Image of Aligning social policy and incentives
Aligning social policy and incentives
editorial posted by in braincrave
Regardless or whether you agree or disagree with specific social programs, we can generally agree that government wastes much money as it tries to engineer social outcomes (50% by some estimates). Th...
Image of None of the above
None of the above
editorial posted by in braincrave
In On The Duty of Civil Disobedience, Henry David Thoreau wrote "How does it become a man to behave toward this American government to-day? I answer that he cannot without disgrace be associated with...
$1 billion for 100 educators
editorial posted by in braincrave
I went to a high school in this district many years ago. FTA: "Make sure you notice 'Codell, Neil C.' who is 4th from the top of the list. Career pension of $26,661,604. That's almost $27 million...
Image of Politics - a zero-sum game
Politics - a zero-sum game
editorial posted by in braincrave
In politics, it seems that everything is an issue. Why? Because everything that politicians do is based on wealth redistribution - taking from one person and giving to another. As a result, politics...
Image of Government spending
Government spending
editorial posted by in braincrave
Government spending now accounts for 52% of UK's economy. FTA: "A public sector that swallows more than half of GDP is doing more than wrecking our economy: it is devouring our national character and...
Image of Stop feeding the homeless
Stop feeding the homeless
editorial posted by in braincrave
Ron Paul has a sign in his office that says "Don't steal. The government hates competition." Did you know that applies to feeding the homeless as well? "Why" indeed. What do you think? FTA: "The N...
Image of DNA collection
DNA collection
editorial posted by in braincrave
Will wonders never cease? California now has mandatory DNA collection from anyone arrested for a felony, whether or not they are ever charged or convicted. Instead of being limited to serious, violen...
Image of The right to health care
The right to health care
editorial posted by in braincrave
Here's the backdrop: in 2005, the US Supreme Court ruled in Castle Rock v. Gonzales that a person does not have a constitutional right to police protection, even in the presence of a restraining orde...
Image of To the men and women of the mind - go on strike
To the men and women of the mind - go on strike
editorial posted by in braincrave
Making generalizations always comes with challenges. After all, just because a claim is oftentimes true doesn't make it fact in all cases. Although intellectual dishonesty abounds, I generally catego...
Image of Cloning - playing God
Cloning - playing God
editorial posted by in braincrave
In 1996, Dolly the sheep made headlines around the world as the first mammal to be successfully cloned. As a result of the experiment, President Clinton ordered research into the legal and ethical is...
Image of Military manipulation
Military manipulation
editorial posted by in braincrave
Government - they are experts at manipulating people. They even have a scary-sounding name for it: "psy-ops." What happens when they turn against their own? The psychological thriller The Manchurian...
Image of The examples adults set for children
The examples adults set for children
editorial posted by in braincrave
Why are so many children familiar with the adage "do as I say, not as I do?" The answer should be obvious - because we, as adults, often do things that we don't want our children doing. Let's face it...
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American Conspiracies
editorial posted by in braincrave
FTA: "People prefer to be lied to ably, than be told the truth, boldly. We prefer a colorful and clever story to a documentary filled with sharp and damning evidence; we prefer gossip to investigatio...
Image of The BP oil spill - it's sickening
The BP oil spill - it's sickening
editorial posted by in braincrave
A fellow Braincraver wants to alert us, and we should take heed of his warning. He lives in Florida on the coast. Over this past month, his health has been deteriorating significantly. He's getting h...
Image of Putting kids to work
Putting kids to work
editorial posted by in braincrave
The economy is in dire straits. Many adults can't find jobs. The government is lying about employment figures. So why would some politician try to repeal an existing law that would bring more people...
Image of Desires are not rights
Desires are not rights
editorial posted by in braincrave
All economic goods must be produced by someone. They aren't gifts of nature or something that can be conjured up by waiving a magic wand. Somehow, people have gotten the false idea that it is governm...
Image of Arrested for shooting grass
Arrested for shooting grass
editorial posted by in braincrave
Here's the scenario: there's a gang of thugs outside your house threatening you and your family. Your wife is calling the police while you grab your gun. You fire 4 shots into the grass to scare them...
Image of Drug prohibition doesn't work
Drug prohibition doesn't work
editorial posted by in braincrave
We know marijuana is "the most widely used illicit substance in the world" (which may be why "arrests are at a near-record high"). We know drug decriminalization works. Yet we still allow the governm...
Image of Our Most Dangerous Pandemic
Our Most Dangerous Pandemic
editorial posted by in braincrave
Every act of communication - or non-communication - is a choice of influence. The essayist is confronted with a peculiar difficulty: he will have time to consider how he wants to influence others - w...
Image of Environmental suicide
Environmental suicide
editorial posted by in braincrave
Contrary to what the United Nations does, Mother Earth doesn't have a conscience. She can't tell us which of her resources she wants us to save, which to take care of, and which to use. Ergo, how we...
Image of Make heroin and cocaine legal
Make heroin and cocaine legal
editorial posted by in braincrave
Randolph Bourne warned us that "war is the health of the state." So how does the state keep healthy? By declaring wars on everything. The war in Afghanistan is a disaster. The war in Iraq is a disast...
Image of People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
editorial posted by in braincrave
The US government consists of a bunch of hypocrites. I know, tell you something you don't know, right? Recently, Hillary Clinton and her lackeys at the US State Department released the Country Re...
Image of The Great Hoax of Equality
The Great Hoax of Equality
editorial posted by in braincrave
History repeats itself. Men have constantly fought and died in the war for equality throughout the centuries. However, not all of them had in mind the same idea of equality when they gave their lives...
Image of Vive La Revolution!
Vive La Revolution!
editorial posted by in braincrave
France is well-known for its protests, one of its most famous being the French Revolution and the storming of the Bastille. There was violence. There was bloodshed. The king was executed. The French...
Image of Old enough to fight, old enough to vote, but no influence
Old enough to fight, old enough to vote, but no influence
editorial posted by in braincrave
"No taxation without representation" was a popular slogan that summarized a major grievance the British colonists had with England. The idea is simple enough to understand: if I don't get any substan...
Image of Minorities
Minorities
editorial posted by in braincrave
The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities. - Ayn Rand DISCUSS! Original posting by Braincrave Second Life sta...
Image of The makings of a good apology - act like a changed person
The makings of a good apology - act like a changed person
editorial posted by in braincrave
Paris Hilton did it to Lindsay Lohan. Tiger Woods did it. American Idol did it. Couples do it. Sometimes we even do it to ourselves. Politicians do it as well, but they do it badly (just like everyth...
Image of The case against marriage
The case against marriage
editorial posted by in braincrave
Are men and women happier in marriage? Are children better off when parents are married? Do young people want their parent's marriage? Do the benefits of marriage outweigh the risks (i.e., the destru...
Image of Why get married
Why get married
editorial posted by in braincrave
Another one in honor of V-day tomorrow: What is the purpose of getting married anymore? Why can't you just be in a monogamous relationships with someone that you love? Why do you need a piece of ...
Image of Ethical journalism drives reform
Ethical journalism drives reform
editorial posted by in braincrave
According to the Society of Professional Journalists, journalism is about providing "information in an accurate, comprehensive, timely and understandable manner." Sadly, in the mainstream media, jour...
Image of Big Brother is watching you
Big Brother is watching you
editorial posted by in braincrave
The statist argument is always the same: "If you have nothing to hide, why do you care?" The government can attach a GPS device to your car and monitor your movements, and it's perfectly legal. And n...
Image of Suppressed war crimes
Suppressed war crimes
editorial posted by in braincrave
The cover-up of the Iraq war is significant. Whereas many of us suspected it, WikiLeaks has provided the facts to support the truth. And the truth is - the US government has been lying to everyone (a...
Image of Taking down the internet
Taking down the internet
editorial posted by in braincrave
Put on your tinfoil hats for this one. We recently saw that a country's government can easily and quickly shut down the internet. In a classic rope-a-dope, as Hillary Clinton babbles propaganda about...
Image of Teaching kids about big brother
Teaching kids about big brother
editorial posted by in braincrave
More and more, schools are adopting zero-tolerance policies. High schools are now filled with armed police, metal detectors, and drug-sniffing dogs. Is that the environment in which children can pro...
What is it going to take to get the planet back on course?
editorial posted by in braincrave
The problem really is crime, isn't it? It doesn't matter whether it's legal crime, as committed by government agents, or whether it's crimes committed by communal garden scumbags. Before we can enjoy...
Image of The right to deprive liberty
The right to deprive liberty
editorial posted by in braincrave
Is it ironic that this is published in a UK newspaper? Not so long ago, police used to be called "peace officers." Keeping the peace and initiating violence are contradictions. Wasn't police abuse in...
Image of Iraq - the 20-year war (and counting)
Iraq - the 20-year war (and counting)
editorial posted by in braincrave
Seven years after the second invasion of Iraq, Iraq's capital Baghdad, home to more than six million people, hardly gets one hour of non-interrupted electricity supplies every 24 hours. Soldiers with...
Image of Immoral professions
Immoral professions
editorial posted by in braincrave
H.L. Mencken once said "A judge is a law student who marks his own examination papers." I'm not sure who is more morally corrupt - a judge, a lawyer, or a politician. What I do know is that, collecti...
Image of Other people are not your property
Other people are not your property
editorial posted by in braincrave
Ron Paul has entered the US presidential race for the third time as a Republican. But he's not really a Republican - he's a Libertarian. Ron Paul, like all Libertarians, is always talking about limit...
Image of When what you're doing in economics doesn't work, just do more of it
When what you're doing in economics doesn't work, just do more of it
editorial posted by in braincrave
You can call a fish a duck, but that doesn't make it so. Does anyone else find it funny that people claiming to be anarchists - which is, by definition, being against government - are rioting in su...
Image of Eviscerating global warming
Eviscerating global warming
editorial posted by in braincrave
You don't say? Hey Al Gore, what do you think? FTA: "A cross examination of global warming science conducted by the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Law and Economics has concluded tha...
Image of One nation, under God, and undereducated
One nation, under God, and undereducated
editorial posted by in braincrave
For the most part, public education in the US is a disaster. Where the blame lies will be forever debated, but to claim otherwise is to sleep undisturbed in a fantasy world with "stark wake-up calls"...
Image of Happy Secession Day
Happy Secession Day
editorial posted by in braincrave
On this July 4, when so many Americans are celebrating the so-called "Independence Day" by having picnics and shooting fireworks, there are others who think it's time to do it again. What do you thin...
Image of Astronomical economic numbers
Astronomical economic numbers
editorial posted by in braincrave
The Noble physicist Richard Feynman once said "There are 10^11 stars in the galaxy. That used to be a huge number. But it's only a hundred billion. It's less than the national deficit! We used to cal...
Image of Passing with lower standards
Passing with lower standards
editorial posted by in braincrave
In NY state, the exam to determine whether kids get to move to the next grade has been dumbed down by giving partial credit for very wrong answers. Go figure (pun intended). FTA: "A kid who answer...
Image of Women equal to men?
Women equal to men?
editorial posted by in braincrave
FTA: "The High Court's award of a £215,000 divorce payout to the former wife of a leading barrister - 25 years after the couple split - is a terrible blow to those who rightly believe that women are...
Image of No victim, no crime: medical marijuana
No victim, no crime: medical marijuana
editorial posted by in braincrave
Though I personally prefer Henry David Thoreau ("That government is best which governs not at all"), in honor of Martin Luther King, an advocate of non-violent civil disobedience... Here's a moral...
Image of Mind your own business
Mind your own business
editorial posted by in braincrave
To claim that the US supports freedom (i.e., the absence of physical coercion) is nonsensical. Everything the US government does is anti-freedom. Take the situation in Egypt, for example. American ad...
Image of Ron Paul in charge of Federal Reserve?
Ron Paul in charge of Federal Reserve?
editorial posted by in braincrave
More than any other politician by a Grand Canyon-wide margin, Ron Paul is a man of impeccable character when it comes to supporting the ideas of freedom and "is a force for good." (He easily won his...
Image of Government's taunt: "I know you are but what am I?"
Government's taunt: "I know you are but what am I?"
editorial posted by in braincrave
There's an old Russian political joke where an American and a Soviet car salesmen are arguing about who makes better cars. The American asks: "How many decades does an average Soviet man need to work...
Image of Giving away something you don't have
Giving away something you don't have
editorial posted by in braincrave
Through John Galt in Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand said: "The source of man's rights is not divine law or congressional law, but the law of identity. A is A - and Man is Man. Rights are conditions of exis...
Image of Could WikiLeaks have prevented 9/11?
Could WikiLeaks have prevented 9/11?
editorial posted by in braincrave
There is enough evidence now to implicate the US government of a massive cover-up of 9/11. At this point, it's ignorant to claim otherwise. Yet, the only ones who suffer from the terrible events of 9...
Image of Political correctness, sticks, and stones
Political correctness, sticks, and stones
editorial posted by in braincrave
It's interesting to trace the history of controversial subjects. Take political correctness for example. Political correctness, "used to describe language, ideas, policies, or behavior seen as seekin...
Image of The social contract defined and demolished in less than 5 minutes
The social contract defined and demolished in less than 5 minutes
editorial posted by in braincrave
By definition, a contract has to be an agreement. It's intellectually dishonest to call something a contract without an agreement. To paraphrase Lysander Spooner, a contract made hundreds of years ag...
Image of Climate change from a historical perspective
Climate change from a historical perspective
editorial posted by in braincrave
Politics destroys all things, it's latest casualty being scientific truth. When the global warming science fraud didn't work out, the propoganda artists changed the name to climate change. Here's a s...
Image of Waterboarding for dummies
Waterboarding for dummies
editorial posted by in braincrave
If this doesn't make you sick, you're not human. FTA: Internal CIA documents reveal a meticulous protocol that was far more brutal than Dick Cheney's "dunk in the water" Waterboarding for dummies:...
Image of Politicians lie (yawn)
Politicians lie (yawn)
editorial posted by in braincrave
As the adage goes: How do you know a politician is lying? His lips are moving. On Obama's White House website, he states: "My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of opennes...
Image of The reluctant anarchist
The reluctant anarchist
editorial posted by in braincrave
Tthe last election in which I voted was for Ross Perot for president in 1992. About 11 years later, I officially became an anarchist. In fact, even 8 years ago, I was arguing with an anarchist that,...
Image of The mind machine project
The mind machine project
editorial posted by in braincrave
In his prophetic novel 1984, George Orwell described a facecrime: "It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when you were in any public place or within range of a telescreen. The smalles...
Image of Teaching sex and terrorism to children
Teaching sex and terrorism to children
editorial posted by in braincrave
In 1991, John Taylor Gatto, New York City Teacher of the Year (1989, 1990, and 1991), New York State Teacher of the Year (1991), and author of The Underground History of American Education, wrote the...
The solution to the war problem
editorial posted by in braincrave
I have always been very concerned about the problems of war. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about how unfair it is for the many innocent victims. So, as an amateur videographer, I have tried...
Image of A culture of dependence
A culture of dependence
editorial posted by in braincrave
Have we become a culture of dependence? As far as we can see, the "producers" continue to support the "non-producers" instead of, say, "going on strike." Why do people generally think that they have...
Image of Divorce - follow the money
Divorce - follow the money
editorial posted by in braincrave
Among the New Year's resolutions made, it's likely that some have resolved to file for divorce this year. As always, the government is only too happy to help. Why? Any question about government start...
Image of Imagine... what a wonderful world it would be
Imagine... what a wonderful world it would be
editorial posted by in braincrave
Aristotle spoke of music as having "influence over the character and the soul." He noted that "Rhythm and melody supply imitations of anger and gentleness, and also of courage and temperance, and of...
Image of The essence of political definitions: what does it mean to be a liberal?
The essence of political definitions: what does it mean to be a liberal?
editorial posted by in braincrave
Ayn Rand once wrote that "Definitions are the guardians of rationality, the first line of defense against the chaos of mental disintegration." Perhaps that's one of the reasons politics always appear...
Image of The Obama Youth
The Obama Youth
editorial posted by in braincrave
How many of you learned about the Hitler Youth (aka HJ), the paramilitary group of the Nazis? Is the government building one for Obama? In Hitler's time, the stormtroopers were referred to as "brown...
Image of Abortion and rights
Abortion and rights
editorial posted by in braincrave
An embryo has no rights. Rights do not pertain to a potential, only to an actual being. A child cannot acquire any rights until it is born. The living take precedence over the not-yet-living (or the...
Image of Racism - just stop talking about it
Racism - just stop talking about it
editorial posted by in braincrave
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout says to Jem: ’Naw, Jem, I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks.’ With that in mind, has Morgan Freeman discovered the way to get rid of all racism...
Image of Teach a man to fish
Teach a man to fish
editorial posted by in braincrave
In group chat, we recently went on a tangent to discuss the effectiveness of charity. (To quote one of our Braincravers, "teach a man to fish and he'll stay drunk on a boat.") Benjamin Franklin obser...
Image of The government can
The government can
editorial posted by in braincrave
In honor of Obama's state of the union address, I bring you Tim Hawkins VERY VERY FUNNY 3-minute video The Government Can which summarizes hundreds of hours of hard economic study: https://w...
Image of What soldiers do
What soldiers do
editorial posted by in braincrave
OK, many of you know I don't support the military, though I know there are many here who do (and I also know we have at least one person who's in the military). I told you I that I don't like soldier...
Image of Racism
Racism
editorial posted by in braincrave
Recently, past Ku Klux Klan member and the US's longest-acting Senator Robert Byrd died. In 1944 (2 years before he went to work for the government), he wrote "I shall never fight in the armed forces...
Image of Objective truths and abortion
Objective truths and abortion
editorial posted by in braincrave
There's a new 5-day "morning-after" pill that's been tested for US approval (New 5-Day 'Morning-After' Pill Tested For U.S. Approval). Some people say the choice to abort is moral and use various...
Image of Conspiracy theory cynicism
Conspiracy theory cynicism
editorial posted by in braincrave
We are social beings. As a result, depending on how much you value the opinions of others, what someone says about you can matter. Often, you've likely heard people negatively labeled as fringe cons...
Image of Drug decriminalization works
Drug decriminalization works
editorial posted by in braincrave
The government knows better than you when it comes to most things, right? For example, they know what's best for your health, correct (putting aside for a moment their militaries and police that dest...
Image of Question everything
Question everything
editorial posted by in braincrave
"I believe there are three rules we must teach our children if we have any hope of humanity seeing freedom some day: 1. Question everything. 2. Never accept an answer just because it is presented by...
Image of Osama bin Laden is dead - long live Emmanuel Goldstein
Osama bin Laden is dead - long live Emmanuel Goldstein
editorial posted by in braincrave
In light of the claim that Osama bin Laden has now been killed, we thought it might be a good idea to remind everyone of George Orwell's famous character in the novel 1984: Emmanuel Goldstein....
Image of Political prejudices
Political prejudices
editorial posted by in braincrave
Liberals call conservatives names, claiming they are the bane of existence and the cause of all the problems in the world. Conservatives do the same to liberals. The hate spreads. The violence spread...
Image of Eliminate all corporations
Eliminate all corporations
editorial posted by in braincrave
One of the problems with democracy is that it leads to corporatism. "Corporatism is a system where businesses are nominally in private hands, but are in fact controlled by the government. In a corpor...
Image of Work: the anti-poverty tool
Work: the anti-poverty tool
editorial posted by in braincrave
Which is better for a poor person - to be paid $3.00/hour for working or to be unemployed where the minimum wage law is $6.00/hour? Unions love minimum wage laws, and they spend millions lobbying for...
Image of TIL 18 US veterans commit suicide every day and 1 million are in jail
TIL 18 US veterans commit suicide every day and 1 million are in jail
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I learned that 18 US veterans commit suicide every day and 1 million veterans are sitting in jail. When Staff Sgt. Brad Eifert, 36, finally made his way to the woods behind his house with...
Image of TIL about the Flying Spaghetti Monster
TIL about the Flying Spaghetti Monster
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I learned that the Flying Spaghetti Monster was a humorous protest against the government's decision to permit the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to evolution in public school...
Image of Is being a Libertarian hypocritical
Is being a Libertarian hypocritical
editorial posted by in braincrave
Libertarians and others who don't like government (e.g., anarchists) are always talking about limiting and shutting down government programs. Yet they continue to use the benefits of these programs....
Image of The choice between two progressives - Obama and Ron Paul?
The choice between two progressives - Obama and Ron Paul?
editorial posted by in braincrave
What a completely ridiculous statement, right? Calling Ron Paul a progressive? So why are some prominent progressives suggesting that Ron Paul is more progressive than Obama? Liberals and progress...
Image of Society and the meaning of individual actions
Society and the meaning of individual actions
editorial posted by in braincrave
Libertarians are often talking about freedom and liberty. Thomas Jefferson claimed in his magnum opus the Declaration of Independence that we all have a right to liberty. But freedom and liberty aren...
Image of TIL: Principles not based on majority vote
TIL: Principles not based on majority vote
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I Learned that moral principles are not determined by majority vote. FTA: "A majority vote is not an epistemological validation of an idea. Voting is merely a proper political device within...
Image of Ayn Rand vs. Mike Wallace - liberty vs. collectivism
Ayn Rand vs. Mike Wallace - liberty vs. collectivism
editorial posted by in braincrave
Ayn Rand warned us. She did it in her books such as Atlas Shrugged (and, to a certain extent, >The Fountainhead). She did it on TV such as in this famous interview between her and Mike Wallace on...
Image of Action --> Reaction
Action --> Reaction
editorial posted by in braincrave
Newton's Third Law suggests that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Is it morally proper for people to develop into militias to defend themselves and act in defiance of terrori...
Image of Forced balance in news
Forced balance in news
editorial posted by in braincrave
Ex-Harvard professor and now Obama's information czar Cass Sunstein previously wanted to "ban conspiracy theorizing" and "impose some kind of tax, financial or otherwise, on those who disseminate suc...
Image of Taxation is a fight between individualism and collectivism - which side are you on?
Taxation is a fight between individualism and collectivism - which side are you on?
editorial posted by in braincrave
When it comes to politics, it's difficult to say "liberals believe this" or "conservatives believe that." After all, within each political ideology, there are many views; sometimes even views that se...
Image of US admits Afghan atrocities
US admits Afghan atrocities
editorial posted by in braincrave
The US government and NATO forces are a bunch of murderers. Like Dick Cheney, who goes on national television to rub in our faces that he authorized and sanctioned torture of innocent people knowing...