The Republican Front Runners As Imagined By The Simpsons **IMAGE HEAVY**

[Panacea]

In all fairness to Mr. Santorum (whom I otherwise agree is a nut), for some families who've suffered a peri natal loss, these kinds of behaviors are actually healing for the family. It recognizes that the baby existed, was wanted and loved, and allows the parents to gain closure.

Santorum went a bit over board by bringing the fetus home, and keeping a picture on his desk. Usually, it is the mothers who struggle the most. It is common practice to take photographs and keep a "memory box," and hospitals encourage this to help healing. I've done this myself for patients.

In Santorum's case, his behavior was so extreme and publicly so, that I question whether or not this were simply a political show. But it might not have been.

[Gravekeeper]

In all fairness to Mr. Santorum (whom I otherwise agree is a nut), for some families who've suffered a peri natal loss, these kinds of behaviors are actually healing for the family. It recognizes that the baby existed, was wanted and loved, and allows the parents to gain closure.

I would give parents a pass on this sort of thing within reason. But making your 4 year old kiss the corpse ( nevermind a 20 week old fetus ) cannot be mentally or emotionally healthy in any way shape or form:

"In it, she writes that the couple brought the deceased infant home from the hospital and introduced the dead child to their living children as "your brother Gabriel" and slept with the body overnight before returning it to the hospital."

I should point out that she ( his wife ) also writes children's books and all of his kids are homeschooled. ( Reality has a liberal bias I assume ). >.>

In Santorum's case, his behavior was so extreme and publicly so, that I question whether or not this were simply a political show. But it might not have been.

I'm pretty sure the crazy is genuine. -.-

[Panacea]

I would give parents a pass on this sort of thing within reason. But making your 4 year old kiss the corpse ( nevermind a 20 week old fetus ) cannot be mentally or emotionally healthy in any way shape or form:

I'm pretty sure the crazy is genuine. -.-

Well, it depends. If the four year old wanted to see the fetus, wanted to touch it, and kissed it spontaneously then that is actually healthy behavior that will not scar the psyche.

If the parents forced the child to do this, then I agree this is unhealthy behavior and you are likely correct in this could have long term negative repercussions down the road for the 4 year old.

Since I wasn't there, I'm not privy to what actually happened.

Children are curious about death at that age . . . they really don't understand it.

[protege]

The gold standard would completely devalue our current currency.

Probably no more than the government constantly printing money But, seriously, the problem with the gold standard, is that there probably isn't enough gold on the *planet* to back all of the money that's currently in circulation in the US.

[Panacea]

Probably no more than the government constantly printing money But, seriously, the problem with the gold standard, is that there probably isn't enough gold on the *planet* to back all of the money that's currently in circulation in the US.

Actually, all the currency we have out there is indeed backed by gold.

The gold reserves are actually worth quite a bit more than they used to be since the price of gold has been sky rocketing.

Fiat money has advantages in financial crises if you believe in Keynesian economics.

[Rapscallion]

Something I just realised about the gold standard. Currency is backed by gold, but gold is defined ... in units of currency? Anything seem a bit incestuous to anyone else about that?

No? Just me then.

Rapscallion

[Panacea]

Something I just realised about the gold standard. Currency is backed by gold, but gold is defined ... in units of currency? Anything seem a bit incestuous to anyone else about that?

No? Just me then.

Rapscallion

Gold is usually traded in dollars, as is oil and many other commodities because the dollar is a stable well valued currency. That could change if the currency becomes unstable. The rock solid credit rating of the US government (in spite of the downgrade from AAA to AA) is why.

China's yuan, otoh, is pegged to the dollar, greatly distorting its true value. No one invests based on the yuan.

[Gravekeeper]

Well, it depends. If the four year old wanted to see the fetus, wanted to touch it, and kissed it spontaneously then that is actually healthy behavior that will not scar the psyche.

I highly doubt any of them wanted to spontaneously kiss what would frankly look like a translucent dead lizard. The very fact they brought a dead fetus home to a trio of children not old enough to understand, and went "This is your brother, cuddle time!" is warped enough.

On top of that, apparently the fetus wasn't viable to begin with and was endangering the mother's life. But pro-life lunatics and all that. Risk your life and leaving your children without a mother over a pregnancy you can't carry to term? Sound decision.

Children are curious about death at that age . . . they really don't understand it.

Hence the problem. Thats the sort of thing you end up telling a therapist 10 years later after you do understand it. >.>

Probably no more than the government constantly printing money But, seriously, the problem with the gold standard, is that there probably isn't enough gold on the *planet* to back all of the money that's currently in circulation in the US.

Bingo:

"The total amount of gold that has ever been mined has been estimated at around 142,000 metric tons. This is less than the value of circulating money in the U.S. alone, where more than $8.3 trillion is in circulation or in deposit."

[Panacea]

I highly doubt any of them wanted to spontaneously kiss what would frankly look like a translucent dead lizard. The very fact they brought a dead fetus home to a trio of children not old enough to understand, and went "This is your brother, cuddle time!" is warped enough.

On top of that, apparently the fetus wasn't viable to begin with and was endangering the mother's life. But pro-life lunatics and all that. Risk your life and leaving your children without a mother over a pregnancy you can't carry to term? Sound decision.

You'd be amazed at what some people will accept without question, even children. For a four year old to want to kiss a fetus is not all surprising to me; I've seen stranger things. That the parents would offer the opportunity is not strange at all; I've seen that, though not in a home setting. People react to death differently.

We are in agreement over viability issues and the wisdom of trying to carry an unhealthy pregnancy, however.

Bingo:

"The total amount of gold that has ever been mined has been estimated at around 142,000 metric tons. This is less than the value of circulating money in the U.S. alone, where more than $8.3 trillion is in circulation or in deposit."

I stand corrected

[HYHYBT]

If I understand correctly, though, even on a gold standard there's more money counting deposits than there is gold, because the deposits are lent back out again.

[Nyoibo]

Probably no more than the government constantly printing money But, seriously, the problem with the gold standard, is that there probably isn't enough gold on the *planet* to back all of the money that's currently in circulation in the US.

Bingo:

"The total amount of gold that has ever been mined has been estimated at around 142,000 metric tons. This is less than the value of circulating money in the U.S. alone, where more than $8.3 trillion is in circulation or in deposit."

Yes and no, if you're talking about money in circulation as actual physical currency, there's enough, if you're talking about money that has and only ever will exist electronically, no, thank banks for that.