[MD] Knots

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Platt]
the delusions S-O critical thinking can so easily create...

[Arlo]
"Critical thinking" has nothing to do with "S/O", as such a 
metaphysical position means one that defines the first division of 
reality into "subject" and "objects". Pirsig deployed "critical 
thinking" to develop a MOQ, where the first division of "reality" is 
"Dynamic/Static".

[Platt]
The evidence of its shortcomings are everywhere, most recently in 
yesterday's U.S. election

[Arlo]
The election merely repeats a historical trend. Nearly ever President 
since 1934 has seen his party lose seats in the House, indeed since 
1934 only 3 times has a sitting President seen his party gain seats 
in the House. George Bush lost 30 House seats for Republicans during 
his second term (and gave Dems a House majority). Ronald Reagan lost 
26 seats for Republicans during his first term (at a time when Dems 
already held the majority).

All this proves that whichever party holds the Executive office is 
blamed for whatever ills the population feels and this results in 
near predictable turnover for the Legislature. So when Vegas calls 
and asks whether the Republicans will gain or lose seats during the 
next Republican presidential midterms, if you want to make some 
profit bet "lose", although with such predictability the odds won't 
net you much profit.

[Platt]
most notably in a highly educated Germany populace electing a Adolf Hitler.

[Arlo]
A highly education populace knows that Hitler was never elected, he 
was appointed by President Hindenburg. In the 1932 elections, 70% of 
the population voted AGAINST Hitler (Hindenburg won, although they 
had to hold a second election (which Hitler lost too) because 
Hindenburg had failed to achieve a majority (Duesterberg, with the 
least votes, was eliminated from the second ballot)).

Hitler's appointment came after the Legislative victories for the 
NSP, when it became the largest represented party in the Reichstag. 
Even after a second round of legislative election in 1932 saw the NSP 
lose members, it was still the largest party. When Chancellor 
Schleicher was unable to form a majority coalition within the 
Reichstag, he resigned and Hindenburg appointed Hitler the 
Chancellorship in 1933.