Politics

When a country supplies aid, like weapons/war equipment... to a troubled country; the cost of such materials is paid to the equipment manufacturers turning the money printing machine on; or the recipient country pays in goods like petroleum ?

From the BBC Condemnation is automatic, necessary, and yet essentially futile. We must stand together; it is only if we hope and work in the belief that a determination to preserve freedom of speech, human rights, and the tolerance through the ideals, existence and maintenance of the democratic pluralistic state will eventually win through.

Recently there aired on History Channel a few new documentaries, including “Lee H. Oswald – 48 Hours to Live”. It was very interesting to hear the few things Oswald said, and see a re-enactment of what he did after shooting JFK. Little is known of him except his living in Russia and his contacting the Soviet, and Cuban, embassies in Mexico City shortly before the assassination. Did he tell them what he was planning? Did they encourage him and promise to help him escape? If Oswald was not killed by Jack Ruby, would it have come out that Russia and/or Cuba was behind the assassination? History is often a record of delusional actions by actors. Hitler’s strat…

Even the democratic political systems resort to implicit violence at its core, no less than any other forms of governments. The reason is simple, violence is a universal language that is understood by biological entities. This is a common denominator. It is also the ultimate evolution/competition force. So violence deserves its central role in shaping human history and political systems. It is somewhat obvious but carefully disguised by all political establishments. Today we denounce violence employed by 'terrorists'. We should. But on the other hand unfortunately we have to put it in the context discussed above.

I guess we should step in and save the whip and buggy makers from competition from those upstart automobiles. And the photo industry from digital competition. And the video tape rental people from digital downloads. Western Union from text messaging. IOW, so what?

Hi everyone I had absolutely no idea where to post this, since I cannot find the answer anywhere and this forum section is the best possible area to ask it. In Belgium, we have a television program which makes parodies on the speech of this funny little guy: Does anyone have any idea who it is? I'd just like to know because he seems a (religious leader) of something, for which he is quite young. Aside of that, he looks dangerous. Here's a video of his speech (don't mind the parody subtitles): Thanks! F.

This was raised in another thread. Want to explore it here. I'm asking specifically about whether voting is best considered a right or a privilege within a representative democracy or constitutional republic such as the system implemented and operating in the US. Assume this is a forced choice and wishy-washer middle of the road answers are not allowed. A right? A privilege? An inherent requirement? What say you?

Saw this article http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/us-use-of-shannon-airport-makes-ireland-a-target-anjem-choudary-1.2060258and was not impressed. My advice would be if he would prefer us to appear more neutral then you shouldn't kill our citizens

Have you all been following the controversy of "The Interview"? Well, I just found out they released it online, on Youtube, although I suspect it might be available from other places as well. Four days ago.

Since 2007, the Aldabra Banded Snail (Rhachistia aldabrae) has been the chief poster mollusc of climate alarmists across the globe. That's because - according to a peer-reviewed paper published by an "expert" in the field, Justin Gerlach, it was the first extinction directly attributable to climate change. It has been found alive and well - and living where it always has for the past 80,000 - on the Indian Ocean atoll of Aldabra. Oops, that should be mollusk! Sorry about that!! Did you happen to read the November 25, 2013 Canadian weekly magazine Macleans cover story? Adds more fuel to the climate alarmist fire. But, since you rightly insist that a single event …

[...] When I first saw that someone [in the USA] was spotted with ebola, I thought to myself that the workers were seriously ignorant. Personally, I think the National Security Agency should step in, put things on lock down, and quarentine issues until this problem is solved. Am I right or wrong? Yeah, maybe some civil rights would be violated, but at least it won't be a plague. It looks like the issue is getting worse from what I'm seeing on the news.

This was my Grandmother's injunction every election day and I believe it has its origins in Ireland; it certainly has that wonderful unbalancing effect of many Irish aphorisms - you are not sure where the humour finishes and the seriousness begins. Real reason for post was tag a couple of pretty disturbing articles concerning tomorrow's Election. For those not in USA - it is midterm elections for all of the house (likely to remain Rep) and enough of the senate to change from Dem to Rep. Here is a beeb jokey article about midterms and here is the wikipedia page Here is a pretty chilling article summarizing some of the recent legal changes (Citizens United and ne…

I am really not sure of the validity of the conclusions - really posting because of the beauty of the construction and breadth of the project's ambition http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/30/middle-east-explained_n_6056786.html?utm_hp_ref=world

I've seen this in (computer) gaming. Large companies buy more and more of there smaller competition, consolidating into one. Until one huge and several "small" organisations remain, with few employees, and very strong ideologies, which is why they never sold out, making more profit than the large companies because the large companies are so broken and attract no talent, only now being able to exploit and disgust customers again and again. I don't see this as being sustainable and at some point the large organisations operating like this will collapse, theres no such thing as "too big to fail". However even if this doesn't happen, it's already worked to fun…

There is an draught here in California. I wonder when will it get so critical that the price of water actually starts to go up significantly? I recall seeing on my water bill the water cost for me is about two gallons of water for one PENNY. Water cost seems to stay the same no matter how low our supply is. Some big water users may be wasting water and not bothering to fix leaks because water cost is low. Local govt encourages people to save water and replace lawns with local draught-resistant plants. Do you think that in the future there will be a "big" tax on water, like a 100% tax? Maybe just in California, or other states as well? Maybe other countries mig…

I'm wondering, what exactly would our plan be? Critique my idea, share yours if you want. I would propose a defensive standpoint. Try to work with Canada and Mexico as much as possible on defensive relations. Have a fleet of a few hundred nuclear submarines located around the gulf of mexico and Pacific Ocean. An outline of NMD's over our border. Rally more national gaurdsmen and raise bases on coastlines. Launch lots of neighborhood watch satellites and make regular inspections with drones. I doubt that a WW3 incident could climax anytime soon atleast. Still think it's neat to ponder at what we would do. I like generals and strategy

Thoughts and opinions please. I think the coordinated groups involved in prohibition cause more violence and harm to people than the individuals who use drugs would. Yes drug users have a potential to harm people and themselves. Thus if drugs were not prohibited the hospitalization for harm to users would increase. More children would need to be fostered. More people would be hindered from drug abusers. At the same time, I think that the coordinated actions of law enforcement detain more innocent people than drug users would harm. I also think the cartels harm more people than drug abusers would. I think that with education of drug abuse and treating people as if they…

I'm starting this thread for a debate about why and how humans form governmental systems. This seems like a fairly interesting idea to discuss. Note, too, that even before humans evolved, primitive caste systems were used by the more advanced organisms (e.g. Gorillas, ants are a prime example of a complex organisational system). This is not a thread about anarchy.

Anyone here know about nuclear reactors using Thorium? I just did some research on and an interview of someone who collects radioactive antiques. He fell across a Wired article Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors - and did got enthused by what they purport to offer - clean energy that's nearly impossible to be weaponized. I did some reading as well and came across a couple of mentions about how the US had started testing Thorium in the 1950s-1960s but abandoned this in favor of Uranium reactors due to the showdown ability of weaponized Uranium, potential deterrents against the Soviets. Does anyone here know who would be the person / persons responsible for making t…

Hey there, I'm sorry to post something so stupid here, but there's an aspect of this that I'd like to get a clear, concise answer to if at all possible. It's regarding this supposed patent on the "EboBun" variant. The patent information cited in the the whacko page below.... http://www.choiceandtruth.com/2014/09/alternative-news/ebola-and-the-rapid-vaccine-response-the-u-s-government-patented-ebola-in-2009-now-owns-all-victims-blood/ Is here: https://www.google.com/patents/CA2741523A1 The particular whacko who's posting this junk says: "This is not the exact strain that is currently infecting people but they [the US gov] are stating that any form of th…

Supposedly there was old legislation lying around declaring war with Denmark in 1666 that never got changed which is to be scrapped. Sorry about that.

I, as an Englishman, think an independent Scotland would diminish both Scotland and the rest of the UK. As this is an international community I’m hoping for a more dispassionate perspective, how do you think independence would affect the world, if at all?

Hello I'm from Switzerland There is something I don't understand. Why US-Americans have only the possibility to vote for two parties(democrats or republicans)? Here in Switzerland we have many different parties in the parlament we can vote for. So in all other wester democraties,too. Only in the USA you only vote for two parties? And this two parites very often don't compromise rather go in conflict with each other!? That's not democracy. Democracy means to compromise and to talk with each other. And anyway the USA only has a representative democracy! Here in Switzerland we have a semi direct democracy. As a Swiss I believe the only two countries which are democra…

If this should be in the religion forum, please move. If too impacting, please delete. ----> http://www.hoax-slayer.com/muslim-protest-london.shtml

This group is a national priority for the USA and many other nations. Why are we not discussing this here? ISIS is accumulating great wealth from sympathetic wealthy donors from Saudi Arabia and other gulf states. How do you decapitate ISIS? Air strikes in Syria. Will Asad object if a coalition destroys his enemy? Not likely. After the head of ISIS is cut off in Syria we can worry about Asad. Why do I never hear of an effort at INFILTRATION against ISIS? Hundreds of jihadi yahoos from all over the world are joining with apparent ease, why can't some anti-ISIS Muslims also slip in unnoticed? I never hear about it so I suppose there is only a SECRET CIA …