Ricky, I don't argue with people that automatically require their base statements to be taken at face value.
I contest basically every position you start at, because I think the only way to rationalize those positions are if you already know the outcome you are looking to come to.
things that have influenced my perspective on teh world are the matrix, star wars, chris hedges, ralph nader, chomsky, howard zinn, RATM, SOAD, PE, NWA, not to mention common sense and just experiencing things. im not afraid of the truth unlike most people on the forum. i think US economic ideology has largely been determined by fear.