Politics

This one speaks for itself. What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Any ideas to improve the situation?

Mitt Romney told Obama Now is it just me or is that comedy gold coming from a man with his tendency of holding on to his own reality. Not to mention his Vice President.

Who do you think won the debate and why?

I am a Master's Student at Leiden University, the Netherlands and I need your opinion. I am conducting a survey on the perception of large nations' status and power by people around the world, to use the findings in my thesis. The survey consists of 10 multiple choice questions and will take about 5 minutes to complete. I will give you 5 good reasons to complete this survey: - Such a survey does not appear to have been done already; - The first hand opinions of people from all around the world will add value to my thesis; - If you are interested in the results of this survey I will gladly send them to participants; - If you have a survey you want me to comple…

With the increasing industrialisation of both China and India, do Western powers have good reason to be sceptical about reducing their ecological footprint? What are today's major barriers for sustainable development in a non-destructive manner?

Rep Paul Broun has been videotaped giving his ideas on the validity of some of our major scientific theories - personally I find it extraordinary that a Congressman could hold such regressive views, and I am flabbergasted to find that he has a science degree, a medical degree, and is a member of the influential Science, Space and Technology Committee http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-paul-broun-evolution-hell-20121007,0,4628858.story

After a number of unfortunate remarks from Romney (e.g. insulting 47% of the voters), this latest remark surprised me a lot. Why would Romney risk so much by making remarks about airplane design? Does he really think he knows better than numerous safety engineers in the aircraft industry? Or is he just not particularly concerned with making any sense? I know that the Republicans take on the scientific ideas, and prefer their own, less scientific explanations. But really, take on the aviation industry? I hope he makes it a law to have windows that open on jetliners. It would certainly make flying an "experience" again. I would expect any person above 18…

I think we need a practical, legal definition of life, something that can put to rest all the moral wheel-spinning over issues like abortion. We've been side-tracked for too long politically on this issue and the resources we've spent on it are desperately needed elsewhere. Btw, if you're looking for a more biological discussion about the definition of life, there is a current one here. I have big problems with life legally beginning at conception. It opens a Pandora's Box of ramifications for both women and men with respect to negligence. Is it homicide if a woman gets the news of being 3 weeks pregnant but then miscarries because she worked out strenuously at t…

It is predicted that by 2050, 1/3 of all species will become extinct. What is being done about this and are there anyways to preserve the endangered species we have now? What policies would you implement if you were part of the political elite in your respective countries?

I hate that we get labeled conservative OR liberal as people. It just allows other people to assume they know everything about you, and I think most people are a blend of perspectives, depending on the issue and the context. First, I'd like to hear how you define liberal, and how you define conservative. It seems like these definitions are usually skewed, and that's why people don't seem to mind being labeled ("Conservatives are stable and consistent, not like those loony, reckless liberals", or "Liberals are forward-thinking intellectuals, not like those fearful, stuck-in-the-past conservatives"). Then, I'd like to hear about some issues where you're firmly left…

This will not effect me since I haven't made enough money in the past twenty years to be taxed that high. But will it effect you? Should we listen to this guy, or brush him aside as bigoted right wing nut case? I believe his name is Dick Morris.

The US embassy made a very inept statement regarding the attack on the compound on the 11th anniversary of 9/11. They have removed the statement from their website. I took a screenshot hours before.

Any historians about who would care summarises Israeli-Iranian relations for me? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19424097 There is fear that war between the two countries could be close now (more so than previously). Let's hope not. I've looked into their history but it's complicated and I am still confused about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRF7d9ydQf8&feature=related Was Sadddam beaten and tortured by the US? What do most Americans make of this?

Why are lies generally accepted as OK in politics? No where else in our society, other than possibly religion, are lies the accepted means to an end. In politics sometimes it actually seems like the bigger the lie the better the result even when the people know it's a lie. Why does hearing what you want to believe seem to be more important than the truth?

Squatter’s rights dismissed... a triumph for landlords? Or a draconian Law, that marks the beginning of the end of a decent society?

What does freedom mean to you, as a member of your society? Are government controls necessary to preserve it or do they stifle it?

14 science and technology questions answered by the two men competing to be our next POTUS, I think it's reasonable to ask if these are the questions that need to be answered as well as considering the answers they give to the questions that were asked. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=obama-romney-science-debate&WT.mc_id=SA_DD_20120905 Personally I think the questions were too easy not controversial enough to really give us a clue as to what they are really endorsing. Romney has publicly said he doesn't believe in evolution, his party endorses the teaching of YEC in science class. At some point the hard questions need to be answered or at l…

Richer countries have higher suicide rates? What are some plausible psychological explanations for this?

As I understand it, one of the results of Western colonial power was the exploitation of many developing countries from spices and minerals to human slaves. Do you believe Western countries owe something to those they ruled? If so, when will Western countries pay this debt back that they have stolen from the less well-off? Or is it the colonized countries which owe something? What is your opinion?

While the topic might start a war it isn't actually intended as such. And as an Aussie I don't have a dog in the US election fight. Compared to Bush II there simply isn't as much about Obama in the MSM outside the US. (Or at least not down under) This leaves one with the impression that he's rather lack lustre and colourless with no real convictions. It also seems that in the early part of his term the Democrats had the Congress, Senate and Presidency and still couldn't achieve anything really earth shaking or worthwhile. Is that an accurate impression? Note I'm not asking about a comparison to his opponents later in the year as it's getting more and more obvious …

First SOPA then PIPA, ACTA, CISPA, and now TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership). TPP has cleverly been disguised as a free trade agreement, but yet again has snuck in corporate 'privacy' laws; which benefit nothing but corporate interests and restrict everyone else. When (if ever) do you think this madness will come to an end, i.e. when will the American government stop trying to pass this law with different names? Which the people have opposed again and again and again. Perhaps more relevantly, what will it take to bring a stop to it? http://www.guardian....free-trade-deal

In my personal opinion I don't think its right and they should not exist. What are your opinions?

A 26 year old combat veteran is taken into custody by local, state and federal authorities for psychiatric evaluation after voicing some pretty wild accusations on Facebook. While no arrest was made, he Raub; is going to be detained for a month while the testing is conducted. Why, when we have cooks running all over the place threatening mayhem here in this nation? Just the other day I watched as three or four Black Panthers in uniform, were interviewed on a TV news cast. They were very adamate in conveying their thoughts that all whites should be killed. Are any of them locked away somewhere for a months evaluation? No! But aren't we on one hell of a slippery slope when …

Since I can't possibly attest this sqeezed up and margionalized version of Jefferson's Bio, I suggest you read it with tongue in cheek and give it some thought. Thomas Jefferson; Read it in its entirety. Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped. At 5, began studying under his cousin's tutor. At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French. At 14, studied classical literature and additional languages. At 16, entered the College of William and Mary. At 19, studied Law for 5 years starting under George Wythe. At 23, started his own law practice. At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. …