More? God, the arguments I've heard are more convincing.

I would leave it to the individual. If you've had Christmas all year long and are in debt, maybe you should consider letting it go. My family has been very fortunate in that we have no debt and have had "cash Christmas" as far back as I can remember.

I think this takes wisdom on the part of the individual though, and should not be something forced from the outside.

Representative "democratic" republic, but maybe that is what you meant.

Being an American, I just wanted to be clear. ;)

I'm not clear also on your point about the method being unconstitutional. Can you elaborate?

No thank you. Life is too short. I'd rather read a book.

I agree that Linux will eventually take over.

The only thing holding back Mac software is the absence of a strong Open Source community.

The only reason Windows software is more popular is because if something goes wrong, someone has an open source solution. Who goes to Microsoft for help?

The best solution to a prank caller is to stop answering the phone. If you lash out at them and try to force them into "behaving like rational people" you will just get frustrated.

I know you can do it.

There is also a separation between public and private. Making your private wants a public issue is an abuse of government. If you don't want your morals policed keep them where everyone else keeps them. Private.

If I wanted to get a tattoo, a perfectly legal decision on my part, and then had a public debate on the values of getting tattoos, do you think I should be surprised if some people disagreed with me? And then, should I cry out that the government is abusing its power?

No. I think the impact of viral videos is decreasing. While this video makes a good presentation of McCain's ignorance, it says the viewer is even more ignorant. Unless the video was intended for 9 year-olds...

Historically speaking, there have been successful dictatorships. Rome immediately comes to mind. As to the points you made, I would respond the following:

+"So I ask, in the absence of government would you go out and kill and steal?"

The average person might not initiate it, but in anarchy they would see it as a viable option for justice. The violence of the French Revolution started small and grew popular with the public. The Holocaust of WWII was generally accepted by Germans. Road-rage is a good modern day example. People don't just become violent, but they respond violently to keep someone from getting away with something.

+ "Take away government and you take away their power to harm others."

I disagree, there will always be a way for a power-hungry person to create their own power, in their tribe for example, where the rest of society is chaotic.

You're right. The original estimate was that 75% are alive. But a good guess is 5.8%, so only 1 in 20 people who have ever been born have died.