Politics

My last foray into politics didn't seem to go down very well so here is a more light hearted one

We haven't had a good political discussion in a while, and I miss butting heads with INow, Zapatos, Peterkin, and Phi. New Zealand recently passed a law that makes it illegal to buy or sell sigarettes to anyone born after 2008. New Zealand passes legislation banning cigarettes for future generations - BBC News Now I think this is a valiant effort to combat the smoking problem and its related health and societal issues, but I don't like the method used. The ban currently affects minors, but in 4 or 7 years ( depending on age of majority ), those minors will be adults. Adults who have one less 'right' than any other adult who is a year or more older. …

Idle thought really: Would it be possible to bar politicians from setting policy on the mechanisms and procedures of government from their real job of governing their country and constituents? I envisage a separate pathway and committees for the maintenance of the government machine. The latter would be staffed by experts in the field. Candidates with nefarious intent wouldn't be able to twiddle with the levers of government to move the goalposts if they get elected. I'm particularly thinking of voting procedures within government chambers and outside of it in public elections.

It's just started today. Here it is on YT. For the UK it looks like it starts at 1am and will last a few weeks.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-63813122 This article has a good few examples for how the Chinese people are getting around the censor in the aftermath of the recent death of their former President. I wonder who will come out on top? The censors or the censorees? It has been ,I think accepted wisdom that the censor fights a losing battle ,rather like poor King Canute but the Chinese CP seems to be game for the fight Can it win ?

Young, strong, energetic people dropping like flies. This is happening all over the world not just in the United States but people refuse to believe the fact that COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous. This has to be the most wet behind the ears generation of people in the history of mankind. The democrats are counting on us to get dumber and dumber by the minute. It's very easy to brainwash and control people who are not well-informed. You say?

Reports are coming out that Russian missiles have landed in Poland and killed at least two people. Is this enough to allow attacks on Russian soil? Should retaliation be swift or should we hump up and take this as Ukraine has done?

I am not startled the China virus. This is nothing new to me. Bill Gates, who is very passionate about world depopulation, spoke clearly to a large audience in 2013 about the coming killer virus. He knew about COVID-19 then and the aftermath of vaccines and boosters. By the way, I am not a fan of Bill Gates, George Soros and other billionaires who are selfishly thinking about reducing population for their own sick and perverted pleasure.

What say thee?

After WWII, the West did 6 things. 1) If you talk about the real GDP - the buying power, China is No 1, India will be No 2, the USA will be No. 3. 2) If you talk about the real GDP - the buying power, the top 5 will be China, India, the USA, Japan/Indonesia. There will be 0 European country. 3) England will be a second country. 4) The rest of the world consider Australia as Nothing. --The Malaysian PM Dr Mahathir said "Australia is a small country, and should act as a small country." --Australia has been described as “gum stuck to the bottom of China’s shoe.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/28/australia-called-gum-stuc…

How's it looking from the US side of the Atlantic?

Trump let loose a huge Freudian slip when he said this to Judge Jeanine Pirro on Sunday, March 13, in regard to Putin waging war on Ukraine. This is from the Newsweek story and would love to find the actual interview on Youtube, anyone know? Trump's word salad with Russian dressing, about Putin waging war on Ukraine: "You say, what's the purpose of this? They had a country. You could see it was a country where there was a lot of love and we're doing it because, you know, somebody wants to make his country larger or he wants to put it back the way it was when actually it didn't work very well," Trump said. Trump Says 'Lot of Love' Behind Putin Wanting to 'Make Hi…

Is steadily lowering their yield making them more likely to be used? Is there a case for specifying a minimum yield in a treaty between adversaries?

A leaked draft of the majority opinion shows that in SCOTUS is set to overturn Row vs. Wade, which was a landmark decision which effectively allowed abortions. Effectively conservative states are poised to make abortions impossible, which is like going to cause a significant public health problem.

As Britain prepares to select its third PM in just over 6 weeks, attention is being drawn to the curious nature of UK Conservative Party membership rules, and the critical role that members play in selecting a new PM. https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/10/21/2130404/-How-did-the-UK-get-Truss-the-UK-may-be-able-to-blame-us-or-someone-else If a British PM voluntarily steps down from office, it does not trigger a general election. Instead a two-part internal leadership election process begins. First, a slate of candidates is chosen in a ballot by Conservative Party MPs at Westminster. The final selection is then settled by a vote of ordinary members of the Conse…

I am beginning to hear serious concerns about the possible use of nuclear weapons by Russia in it's invasion of Ukraine. Is this a serious threat or is it just more war mongering by Russia in it's desperation to take over Ukraine? Some people whom I respect seem to think this is a likely endgame for Putin others seem to think nukes would not make much of a difference at this point since the troops are so widely dispersed. This would seem to put a target on cities if they were used at all. Russia seems to be in chaos after the drafting of civilians was instituted with hundreds of thousands of men leaving the country. Are nukes and the threat of nukes Putin's last cha…

One could pen an entire encyclopedia on the 1000s of people and the spider's web of resources needed to enable an anarchist to enjoy their day at a protest. From the global logistics and manufacturing required to produce everything they are wearing to the manufacture of his flares and spray paint cans, and the diesel required to power the train he arrives on. The list would be so extensive that one could write an entire encyclopedia about his day at the protest. My conclusion is that "Anarchism only works because the majority of people aren't anarchists.

I am listening to someone singing "We shall not be moved" Very moving and my first inclination is to suppose that the moral and physical strength of that oppressed group was the overriding factor in the changes that brought an end to slavery in Europe and the USA. On reflection I am wondering if I was naive and whether there were other factors that brought about those changes. Can anyone say what they think might have been the main factors? It wasn't a case of economic change that made the practice less profitable,was it? Or the new communication technologies that shone a light on what was happening? It does…

Across the world right now, and perhaps always, there is a battle over how we the people… the orc hordes through the mothers of dragons… shall be governed. The debate is especially intense with shifting power and economic dynamics, shifting technological might, a rapidly warming cancerous climate full of droughts and floods, wars, starvation… migration… more fights not just for resources, but for lives and tribes. Some find the strongmen and authoritarian gang leaders appealing. Others find anarchy and the chaos of every man for themselves appealing. Most, however, say they want something more orderly in between. Something where we’re both free and connect…

Hey Ho the Democrats have won the election (just about). But in Sweden the Democrats are a right wing party. How cool is that ? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62908902

A lot of European countries seem to be considering freezing energy prices below market prices, and to use government money to pay for the difference. The UK has already announced a two year freeze plan. (possibly costing taxpayers £150 billion) I'm not sure it's a good option. I'm not against intervention and support for domestic bill payers, but I have my doubts if this is the best way, or the right scale. The obvious problem with it is the cost, which is absolutely huge. Someone will have to pay it, and that someone is tax payers. No matter how you smoothe it out, the tax payer will pay. If you do nothing, the users pay for what they use. Which is the general…

Why China, Vietnam, North Korea support Russia? China, Vietnam, North Korea all called Russia as big brother. Mao called Satin as big boss. Chinese Called Stain as Kind father, "cifu". Chinese President Dr Sun Yat-sen said "Russia is our teacher." The West laughs at Russia lost a war to Japan, which Japan lost more soldiers. The West must forget the battle of Singapore, and the battle of Indonesia.

I seem to be seeing a number of influences who are rejecting the science for climate change on economical grounds whilst at the same time arguing that those who understand the science are "brainwashed". With recent laws being passed in our government requiring a minimum 48% reduction i believe in greenhouse gasses by 2050. I know the target should be 2030 however i believe now there is a direction we will probably be able to hit a higher target quicker. the argument is that the economical hit that will have due to our low contribution to the total around 1.5%. that being said because our (Australia) low population it puts us up near the top of the list with greenhous…

Why does, it seems, everything have to go to court before a legislature can execute policy in the US? It seems to me the Judges are more powerful than the politicians and it's they, due to their accepted expressed political bias, de facto run the country?

How concerned should we be about the upcoming potential of mass strike action in the UK? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62706769 Just getting the thoughts of people on this.