Politics

Isn't Christmas being a nationally recognized and respected holiday a contradiction to the first amendment? Is lying to children for benign reasons worth the distrust that the parent earns after the child learns the truth? Is it wrong to assume that a child who is not lied to by their parent is probably going to have more trust and respect for that parent? (Santa Claus, for those of you who don't understand the relevance.) At least I'm adamant enough with these thoughts to think about them when Christmas is nowhere near. Any opinions are appreciated.

What are some idea's to help prevent the use of excessive force by police, from minor police brutality to fatal shootings. Thank You

I am delighted that finally an EU law will force phone manufacturers to provide a standardized charger that works with all phones. Earlier attempts with a letter of intent (.pdf warning), which was drafted in 2009, and was supposed to lead to a standardized charger by 2013, lead to absolutely nothing, since there were no consequences to a failure to comply. The new law may simply make it illegal to sell phones without standardized charger. Nowadays, phone chargers can cost as much as 40 euro if a replacement is needed... which is quite a lot of money considering I have a drawer full of obsolete chargers. I think this is a great example how you sometimes have to r…

Government is suppose to regulate, and distribute funds. However there has been cases of embezzlement and over all a lot of corruption in governments for all areas of the world at one point and time and its still happening today. People are far too corruptible to give this much power. Very few have the correct mindset to be put in such positions. I think the regulation of funds should be calculated by a giant machine. The decisions will be based on data. It will than decide what is the most productive distribution of the funds will be. It will have programmed into it casualties, funds taken in, costs, and overall benefit or society. Now for laws like "legalizing gay marri…

I'll just post Dr. Lewandowsky's own articles: The Subterranean War The Role of Conspiracist Ideation and Worldviews in Predicting Rejection of Science Recursive Fury Goes Recursive And this one from DeSmogBlog: http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/03/20/science-journal-retracts-paper-showing-how-climate-change-sceptics-were-conspiracy-theorists-after-sceptics-shout You can read the man's accusations for yourselves. You keep closing the threads if I quote from the links. It's also about time to mention again that Michael Mann seems to be steamrolling so far in his lawsuit; he's gotten past the standard attempt to dismiss, and is now in the process of…

In the Crimea, the Russian population is a majority, even though it is part of the Ukraine. It seems that these Russians wish to become part of Russia. Gunmen seized the Crimean government buildings. Both Ukraine and Russia are using strong words that they won't tolerate any 'violations'. The Ukrainian interim president, who is in power only for a few days now after the recolution last weekend, said that Russian military movements would be seen as agression, while Russia has put 150,000 troops on high alert near the Ukrainian borderm including jet fighters and navy, to 'defend' the Russian interests in the Crimea. What do you think it gonna happen? I think there is a…

Evidence: http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/03/21/the-paper-they-dont-want-you-to-read/ Quote from the paper author: This is a qualified psychologist. The long version: http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/03/20/science-journal-retracts-paper-showing-how-climate-change-sceptics-were-conspiracy-theorists-after-sceptics-shout#comment-730141 Looks pretty much like what happened to me on this forum. Not very "scientific."

Watch the video, research a little more to get a better understanding. Then click the bottom link and write to your state representative about how this topic makes you feel. http://www.savetheinternet.com/net-neutrality-101 http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Governors.shtml I feel that this is a crime against our societies to allow these corporations to take advantage of their capabilaties in such a manner for mere monetary gain. I do welcome anyones opinion on this matter, I'm sorry I didn't present the issue with a little less bias.

I believe that politicians probably have some of their investments in pharmaceutical companies, and therefore will have an interest in that companies growth. I also suspect that pharmaceutical companies will use that influence to persuade these politicians to make laws that unjustifiably allow there company to prohibit certain drugs as well as inhibit certain drugs. Of course little to no evidence will support these thoughts because one entity controls the legislation which defines what is illegal and the other entity would be protected by that fore-mentioned legislative entity, that does not seem to make the idea any less substantial though. Do you think pharmaceutical…

In this age of advanced communications and GPS it seems stupid that airliner black boxes are so ineffective, as seen in the disappearance of flight 370. So make them smarter. There should be a dozen or more on every airliner, attached to the OUTSIDE of the plane, and nobody connected to the plane can turn them off. When these smart black boxes (SBB) detect any kind of catastrophic motion, they go into action. They should eject from the plane upon impact, inflate, and give off signals so the location of the crash can be quickly discovered. I'm sure any engineer can think of better SBB than I can.

Suppose the US leads international economic sanctions on Russia and certain wealthy Russians, can Russia retaliate by placing sanctions on the US, US Corporations, or wealthy Americans?

Probably, Collapsing soviet union shows the more right structure of any government is the in side of the designing that answer the above question, by replying back:"People". Seemingly any designing is a balance among, the worldwide situation, the local situation and cultural points of that society and to consider that "in order a government be able to support his people, that is people in first step which should support the government". It is why we need Ngo s and universities. This institutions could be destructive in the same time, specially in societies that are in progress.So, it is why they need to be conservative . Usually a mixture of university people and…

Smart move, why don't the other "drug stores" do this? How about remove alcoholic drinks, junk foods and sugar drinks? Because that is mostly what drug stores have to offer people to eat and drink, in the food deserts, and everywhere else. Then folks can also buy the medicines they need to take AFTER and WHILE they screw up their health by a life-time of poor eating habits. For most of human history, food has been a scarcity, until now. It is still scare in many poor nations, but here in the good old USA we have plenty of processed foods with a long shelf life, junk food and drinks available for most people. So eat a lot and enjoy your FREEDOM to frequent cu…

As the internet continues to grow exponentially would citizens of the world organize themselves into cybernations administered by cybergovernments? May be this could be the dawn of a new form of more inclusive governance (and maybe more just?). Please advise.

An e-petition has been started to get the British Parliament to name the August Bank Holiday after Alan Turing (as apposed to Margaret Thatcher) With respect to the enormous contribution Turing made to computing as well as his part in the second world war can I please ask members to consider signing the petition. http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/59421

http://bigthink.com/neurobonkers/us-government-shuts-down-access-to-online-courses-from-syria-sudan-iran-and-cuba In a time when education is one of the most important things one can have the US government has screwed over people trying to better themselves. I have no idea how this move makes sense, nothing taught in university courses is a big secret. Anybody have any other feelings on this than disgust?

Has anyone ever thought of this? Maybe money that is wasted, by people using food stamps to purchase the wrong kinds of foods, and thus stay unhealthy and need health care MORE because of it, would be better spent on free, or very cheep, local healthy meals in public mess halls. Is a better society one in which POOR health is more wide-spread and thus many more people are in need of health care, AND they are taken care of at great tax-payer's expense, or is it better for GOOD health to be more common and therefore less need for expensive health care? More economic activity is not the ends, when one industry exists to deal with the ills caused by another industry. T…

With all the recent news of terrorist threats, I'm thinking back to London 2012, Canada 2010, and China 2008. Why did it seem like these events never had so much of an issue with security? Was I just unaware of pre-game news for these places, or are there particular reasons that Sochi, Russia is a target? I'm thinking it has to do more with Russia itself?

What should matter in government? Being productive or being weighted? The issues with most government set ups is that they are either a complete mess, easily taken over by corruption, or weighted to one side. government will be more beneficial for the poor, one more beneficial for the rich, one easier for business men or all only beneficial to a small group of people. Such as kingdoms and emperors which is most beneficial to the royalty and those in charge since they seemingly cant do any wrong. In school our teacher asked us to make a utopia. This was a long time ago I was like 14. Mine was based on a logical set up which was equally beneficial to all people and wo…

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/chris_christie_bridge_scandal_some_praise_his_response_others_skeptical.html Chris Christie, NJ governor is in the middle of a political scandal that could end his career. If no further links are found between him and the freeway jam for payback, I actually think this can help him. Christie is a mixture of establishment with out of the beltway maverick thrown in. Moderate democrats and independants could embrace him. His weakness is with the right evangelical/tea party types. I think many of them will find his abrasiveness towards "enemies" appealing. He did a great job of taking responsibility, but not the bla…

I guess this is a question stirring up recently. I'm leaning towards a yes actually, but as I have stated in a previous thread, my ideal scientocracy would be one that uses statistics rather than the voting system. The fact of the matter is that, and I might be a little biased in saying this because I do consider myself a scientist, I do believe that we are living in a scientocracy, however, I do not believe that we are using statistics to the ideal extent. In this video, Improving Democracy- Fast Economic Growth- Scientocracy, Dr. Carlos Sabillon lobbies Scientocracy as the answer to economic disaster, and he's a very open vocalist about it as well (talking about it …

This is a prescription that doctors hand out regardless of civil standing, however, sending them to different facilities where they are deliberately separated from those who are similar depending on the quantitative method of measuring vice. If the significance level of vice is high, then separate them in correlation with the significance. Significance is determined by priority. Things that are low priority get further separated until they integrate or achieve equilibrium (in significance). This method will maximize our knowledge. Especially if it was integrated globally (best simultaneously). But you can test it individually and amongst peers prematurely. I mig…

I believe something one individual can do to make a difference is to have an ethical business and create good jobs. Anyone have any silver bullets or even a good lead one. Thanks

Why did the Russians choose Sochi as the location for the Winter Olympics? Judging by two main criteria, their choice is rather poor: Climate Russia is known for its harsh winters. They have never hosted a winter olympics ever, so you'd assume they have all of Russia to choose from. And yet they choose a sub-tropical humid location, which has a warmer climate than any previous winter olympics, ever. It is also one of the most southern locations in all of Russia. Political Sochi's Olympic park is located merely 4-5 km from the border with Georgia (Google maps), with whom the Russians have fought a short war as recently as 2008. It is also located merely a couple…

Well, I didn't think it would be possible to despise Boris Johnson any more than I already did, and then he goes and says this: The IQ statistics are fact but we ought to be helping all, irrespective of intellectual ability, to mesh into society by contributing to the human endaevour in a role to which they are suited and contented. People ought not be disrespected just because they score in the lower range of an IQ test. Boardroom greed leads to the inefficient allocation of resources and the over-resourcing of some at the expense of others. Greed leads to inequality and numerous academic studies have shown that socioeconomic inequality is a driving f…