Politics

Seems the Politics forum has 'stalled'. I know ranger and JC will appreciate this, but I'm hoping the larger group finds it interesting. A gas pipeline has been approved for northern BC, with agreements signed by the ELECTED Native tribal chiefs of the affected lands. The HEREDITARY chiefs, however are opposed. https://www.ecowatch.com/pipeline-protests-canada-indigenous-2645171362.html?rebelltitem=2#rebelltitem2 Protests by natives, and sympathizers have been going on for quite some time and have spread across the country. The main form of protest has been the disruption of transportation, mostly rail, as far as eastern Ontario. Our Government ref…

"According to a 1990 Vanity Fair interview, Ivana Trump once told her lawyer Michael Kennedy that her husband, real-estate mogul Donald Trump, now a leading Republican presidential candidate, kept a book of Hitler's speeches near his bed. "Last April, perhaps in a surge of Czech nationalism, Ivana Trump told her lawyer Michael Kennedy that from time to time her husband reads a book of Hitler's collected speeches, My New Order, which he keeps in a cabinet by his bed ... Hitler's speeches, from his earliest days up through the Phony War of 1939, reveal his extraordinary ability as a master propagandist," Marie Brenner wrote. ... Brenner added that Davis did a…

While alleviating certain rules may have been necessary in an emergency, this looks like a blanket waiver which can lead to rather unfortunate issues down the road. The EPA contests that it is a blanket waiver and reserves the right to interfere to save human lives. Though it says nothing about e.g. about ongoing issues that can cost human lives in the future (which, I think, is often the bigger issue than acute dangers). https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/489753-epa-suspends-enforcement-of-environmental-laws-amid-coronavirus

Are governments going to start declaring martial law in reaction to the Coronavirus Crisis? It is a perfect excuse to seize power by declaring martial law. Trump is already calling himself a "wartime president" in a "war" against the virus. He doesn't want to leave office because then he can be prosecuted for obstruction of justice and congress. He must stay in office, so is there a chance he may declare martial law, cancel the November elections and stay in office? He believes the "tough" people are on his side. In riots over cancelled elections, Trump has the military, the police, and the bikers to battle against protesters.

In another thread someone implied that gun ownership was an indicator of "Right Wing" politics. While I recognize that more guns are probably owned by people on the Right than on the Left, I didn't really think that gun ownership was an attribute of a conservative political viewpoint, so much as an attribute of living a more rural lifestyle. That is, living in rural areas might make you more conservative AND more friendly to guns, but the friendliness to guns didn't come from being conservative, it came from being in a location where a gun can be a tool (hunting, varmint control, etc.) I would suspect conservatives who live in urban areas tend to not have guns, where libe…

Why are leading politicians and nations in denial of global warming and climate change?

Here is some important info from our president to help us through the Coronavirus crisis: "Everybody that needs a [Coronavirus] test, gets a test. They have the tests. And the tests are beautiful. The tests are all perfect. Like the letter was perfect. The transcription was perfect. This was not as perfect as that, but pretty good...." “I like this stuff. You know, my uncle was a great person. He was at MIT. He taught at MIT for like a record number of years. He was a great super-genius, Dr. John Trump. I like this stuff. I really get it. People are surprised I understand it. Every one of these doctors said ‘how do you know so much about this…

I haven't heard about this in the news, but think about it. A team of 10 terrorists, voluntarily (or not), get Coronavirus. Then they go to the country they hate and sneak around spreading their virus everywhere DISCREETLY. Also, what about "misery likes company?" When some unhinged person gets the Coronavirus, they think "Well I have it, now everybody else should suffer thru this with me." Therefore that one person, who hates society in general, does their best to spread Coronavirus everywhere ! Is anyone starting to think Stephen Hawking was right that humanity (in the normal sense) has about 100 years left?

All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception and the Spirit of I.F. Stone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_cKC0_sGu0 The death penalty in the United States only condemns poor and black people. The death penalty must be abolished forever. The tax belongs to the people, so it must go back to the people in the form of benefits: school, hospitals and universities (public and with quality). Washington D.C. prefers to burn the tax with NASA and military (to dominate the planet). The role of United States is ONLY the technological development of planet. There is a relation between Washington D.C. and Russia in attacks against Syria. Think: after the Islamic Stat…

While rebutting some ignorant memes about the nature of socialism from friends and family on social media, I suggested that we in the US already offer socialistic programs in parallel with our capitalistic ones. My stance is that the conversation is mostly about where to strike that balance between them, but that we'll always be a hybrid of the two. In support of my position that we already have socialistic elements, I referenced the obvious programs like Medicare and Social Security, but added that our military is also a perfect example of socialistic program. I suggested that the only difference with the military as an example from others like medicare for all…

There have been numerous cases of Joe Biden showing signs of cognitive decline. The compilation video below (courtesy of Walker Bragman) shows recent examples of this. It's a troubling thought considering that Trump has already shown ample evidence of cognitive impairment and early dementia. Having a President of sound mind should not be a question of politics, and considering that Biden is the establishment's choice for the Democratic nominee, there is little chance that the mainstream press will draw attention to it. Fox has already begun their attacks, however, and surely these attacks will intensify if Biden becomes the nominee. https://twitter.com/WalkerBr…

What is this the news I hear they are saying repo or injecting billion dollars into the market? Is the stock market not doing well and the government is injecting billions into the market every day to keep the stock market up. Where is this money going and is profiting from it. Is is stock market not doing well now and could crash and that why feds are popping money into every day.

I have to admit I am no expert when it comes to socialist policies. However from what I can see countries like Holland and Germany. When someone loses their job the state will intervene and ensure that they are paid upto 75% of what they were earning. Does this not put a strain on the economy ?. Having to pay out such large sums of money to millions ?

Is anyone watching/following the Impeachment Hearings ? Seems the 'quid pro quo', or bribery as the rest of us call it, was pretty blatant. But I've been watching sporadically. I'm not familiar with the 'path' from hearings to actual Impeachment. What needs to happen to finally get rid of clown Donald ?

Hi! I'm one of those "Russian disinformation" "conspiracy theory" people you've heard about. I could debate the issues and defend my OWN and honestly derived findings and views as needed, start a general thread on it, etc. In due time. But for now, I have just one question that SHOULD be simple and scientific. But unfortunately it's been politicized so that many people won't even want to touch it. Since the politics affects the science or discussion of it, both might come up and it seems politics section of Science Forums is the place. Syria, Douma, 7 April 2018, deadly chlorine attack, the leaks and whistleblowers of the least year, and OPCW losing some credibility…

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/may/24/theresa-may-resignation-uk-prime-minister-politics-brexit-live-news Now we're in the shit... Can anyone see a scenario that doesn't end, badly?

In order to keep the various discussions on specific presidential candidate plans focused I would like to use this thread to allow for a broader and comparative discussion on college tuition. In this thread I would like to discuss the various models in circulation to make higher education more affordable, but also to discuss potential drivers of increasing college cost. For starters I would like to mention that a number of contributors have been identified, but studies are not entirely in agreement with each other. One issue that has been discussed is the so-called Baumol's cost disease. In traditional economics wage growth is related to productivity increase. Howeve…

Recently heard about a gentleman at one of E Warren's campaign stops questioning her about her plan to forgive student loans. A policy which had previously seemed attractive to me. He said that he had made many sacrifices to pay off his daughter's student loan, and could he have his money back ? She of course, said "No". Seems like a kick in the teeth to all the people who have worked hard and made sacrifices to repay their loans, while those who haven't are going to be rewarded with a disappeared obligation. They knew the choices they were making; a big pay-out from a well paying job. Now they complain that debt repayment takes a big chunk out of that well p…

“I’m automatically attracted to beautiful women — I just start kissing them, it’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything, grab 'em by the pussy." Trump was not only boasting of his sexual prowess to Billy Bush, but he was advocating this kind of behavior for "stars." “You [Billy Bush] can do anything when you’re a star.” Implying that Billy Bush could grab women, like Trump does, IF he is a star. “Are you important enough, a real star, to grab women by their private parts?” https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/trump-hot-mic-when-you-re-star-you-can-do-n662116 It is funny how Trum…

According to reports from Iranian officials, it sounds like they recognize a subtle "state of war" exists between Iran and the USA. The Iranians will retaliate somehow because of the US killing of their general Soleimani. They already destroyed a $100M drone, attacked shipping, and attacked Saudi oil production. Here is what Trump tweeted in 2012: "Polls are starting to look really bad for Obama. Looks like he'll have to start a war or major conflict to win. Don't put it past him!" https://heavy.com/news/2017/08/trump-twitter-obama-north-korea-war-poll-approval/ Is this insight into the mind of Trump? DOES HE BELIEVE that starting a war will help hi…

The process that I learned when I took government about a president that was accused of abuse of power is similar to what is happening now. There is supposed to be an article that prevents impeachment if we are in a state of emergency, so the act of impeachment cannot infringe on the protection of the US. The only card the house has against the senate and presidency if they both are seen to be corrupt is to hold the articles until they comply. It can potentially shut down the government if they hold on to them while not allowing any other bills to go through the house. Then the other branches have to comply if they wish to pass anything through the house. (It could b…

What are the current laws in different countries (particularly Canada, US) about remote car steering? Are there any plans to legalize it? It could be helpful to those people who cannot and do not want to drive themselves.

we got Brexit… survive, being the operative word...

Evidence..seems to be a talking point of yours. Well, let me share something with you as a student of the social sciences; when it comes to the study of all of man's social mechanisms there are no absolutes, no 'proofs'. All one can do is cite what we hold to be accurate dates and events of history or facts/extracts from texts- like the Constitution for example. Everything else is subjective, fleeting and subject to change based on change-like how public opinion can be readily changed by events, especially in the days of the 24 hour news cycle. As a American Government professor of mine liked to joke "the professor over there in the (hard) sciences…

We’re pretty off topic, and this could be interesting to pursue elsewhere as a separate thread, but I’m less concerned with apathy/lack of passion among the populace and far more concerned with passions rooted in misconceptions, falsehoods, and/or nationalism and cult-like mindsets. This is at odds with what the data shows. It’s the passionate margins that drive the action AND the discussion. Those temperate moderates just get carried along by the currents and waves generated by those margins. Again though... the topic here is impeachment. Please let’s focus on that and split other topics into their own threads.