[talaniman]

And republicans who don't have a clue about the constitution, or history, or anything else but their own skewed idea of reality.

[smoothy]

What republicans have called for denying anyone their constitutional rights as SPECIFICALLY enumerated in the bill of rights ? We can name a lot of Democrats.

[talaniman]

All the repubs call for separate but unequal application of the laws under the constitution.

[smoothy]

That's a Democrat Platform.. not republican. As evidenced by the current IRS Investigation as only one example of many. The Current Form Gov McDonnel trial is another.....when obamas quid pro quo with Solyndra is completely ignored .

[talaniman]

Same hollering over, and over, and its still just NOISE! That seems to be the repub platform.

[smoothy]

Hate it when DNC propaganda is disproven by cold hard facts?

[talaniman]

Hollering is not a fact it's NOISE. Repeated hollering from the RNC isn't a fact either, its annoying noise. A cold hard fact is that you guys are noisey, but have produced NOTHING else but NOISE.

A cold hard fact is national rejection of your noise. You actually have to produce something besides noise, old noise at that.

[smoothy]

Tal, you are starting to sound like NK when he's caught... repeating the same things.

[talaniman]

If you can do it, so can anyone else.

[NeedKarma]

by cold hard facts?

Where are these facts?

[paraclete]

It's a fact there are no facts just rhetoric

[ebaines]

Based on the previous 30 responses I think we have good proof that the species is getting dumber. To get back to the subject of this post, which believe it or not is not about gun rights, Castro, or US invasions....

From the theory of evolution we know that traits that lead to higher procreation and ultimately a greater number of children who themselves grow up to have children are the traits that are more likely to spread throughout the population. In olden days when having high intelligence meant being more likely to succeed in hunting and avoid starvation or being eaten by a saber tooth tiger, to survive long enough grow up and have children, it seems logical that the species gained in intelligence over time. But with advances in technology and medicine the probability of a person having children is less a factor of IQ than before. Therefore the average IQ of the species would be expected to decline over time - statistically it's called "regression to the mean." So while I am skeptical that one could determine the IQ of people who weren't even alive when the IQ test was first invented, the theory seems plausible.

On the other hand this article, like many of its ilk, confuses intelligence with knowledge. Knowing such trivia as how many amendments have been made to the US constitution doesn't make you more intelligent. Being able to take facts and reach conclusions about what is going on around you is what intelligence is about.

[paraclete]

So your theory is intelligence is about what you are taught, critical thinking is something that can be taught rather than repitition of facts

[cdad]

Actually there are many theories out there. Im going to present yet another one that does has some basis in fact.

Health Risks

Fluoride ingestion has been associated with adverse health effects such as IQ deficits in children, depression, weight gain and heart disease. The "Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics" reports that "high fluoride intake has a damaging effect on intellectual ability," and human studies from China, India, Iran and Mexico found that elevated levels of fluoride in children resulted in reduced performance and impaired development of intelligence. The U.S. National Research Council has also found that fluoride affects normal endocrine function, which may contribute to hypothyroidism, or reduced activity of the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism can lead to fatigue, depression, weight gain, hair loss, muscle pains and heart disease.

Ref:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/13...ects-fluoride/

[paraclete]

Oh Please, I expect you will tell us next innocculations impairs intellectual ability. I will conceed that the survival of the less viable individuals, those more susceptiable to disease means a general lowering of healthy individuals and the survival of some with intellectual disabilities, which may lower observed averages, but the survival of those with higher intellectual abilities over recent centuries has led to a flowering of civilisation. If I read your expose' correctly flouridation is the reason for the explosion of obesity, when really it is due to greater availabily and security of the food supply. I think you should apply your skills to greater depth in your research

[cdad]

So I guess real science is out of the question when it doesnt seem to fit your framing of the question ?

Here is more evidence from the real world.

HUMAN STUDIES

Cognitive Effects

Several studies from China have reported the effects of fluoride in drinking water on cognitive capacities (X. Li et al. 1995; Zhao et al. 1996; Lu et al. 2000; Xiang et al. 2003a,b). Among the studies, the one by Xiang et al. (2003a) had the strongest design. This study compared the intelligence of 512 children (ages 8-13) living in two villages with different fluoride concentrations in the water. The IQ test was administered in a double-blind manner.


Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA's Standards




Feel free to read about it yourself. But it appears to be a reputable study. And the results do not appear to be made up.

[paraclete]

The article you provided doesn't allow any conculsions to be drawn.

I think you should look wider a field than China for scientific research most of the articles I've accessed are positive

[earl237]

There are still people who actually believe that Fluoride has health risks! Smarten up people, Jenny McCarthy is not a doctor.

[paraclete]

I can tell you from personal experience that the absence of floride equals dental cavities. Excess taking of any substance has health risks