Politics

I'm especially interested in how those outside the US view the tea party movement.

The US is incredibly divided. The US political landscape has a grand canyon running straight through it. You're either a loyal republican or a loyal democrat... but it's impossible for the two sides to reason with each other. And I get the feeling that it has polarized over the last decade. The political discussions - especially the presidential campaigns - are fought with a ferocity that I can only call it propaganda. Presidential campaigns, I am sure both sides know quite well, have little to do with facts, and a lot with emotions. From my outsider's point of view, the discussion between democrats and republicans has almost become religious. People who believe…

Worldwide, why are so many rape crimes commited men as opposed to by women? There was statistic somewhere saying that 95% of rape crimes in the US are commited by men. That presumably only leaves about 5% by women. Could this in anyway suggest that men have a higher libido than say, women? Or... are other reasons more likely for this alarming statistic? What does everyone think?

Matriarchy is tied to the subject of rape, because rape is tied to personal power or lack of it. Sites objecting to the treatment of males charged with rape, warn the US is becoming a matriarchy, which I find very funny, but in some areas of our lives females have gained power and males have lost power. A matriarchy is a female dominated society, and a patriarchy is male dominated. Can you imagine how the reaction to rape might be different if a society that is female verses male dominated? For sure the warning that the US is becoming a matriarchy, is an expressed concern about males loosing power. I remember when my daughter was in high school and I was ask…

This is getting a lot of views from Oz. Reporters should really read the background of people they are interviewing. And he was so polite too.

Would the USA like to join the European Union ?

Will FOX survive the fall of Murdoch's media empire?

Hey, what does everyone think about this old guy called Jacque Fresco? I am unfamiliar with his background/credentials but in a nutshell he's proposing for a global resource based economy to be implemented instead of the current monetary system. He's been labelled as a 'genius' and also as an 'idealist'. But what does everyone think? Is this actually possible? Should we hate him, love him or oppose him? Is he too idealistic? Is he crazy? Anybody heard of him and what do you guys think about his ideas/followers? The Venus Project: Zeitgeist Addendum Zeitgeist Moving Forward Website: http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com/

What does everyone think?

The percent of unmarried couples in the US has been steadily increasing for years. IMO, this is due to the fact that some newer laws and private funds/organizations have begun to discourage marriage. What I mean by this is that, in my family at least, my dad worked 5 days a week, and my mom 1 day. If they weren't officially married, my dad, (if he had no morals), could have bought a vacation apartment in a different state, live there for a couple weeks each year (with us), and claim residency there. However, he could really live with my mom, who would claim residency in our true state. Then, the money that my mom made, being a small sum, would qualify for many forms of w…

The founders built two major checks on populism into the original constitution. These were the federal courts and the United States Senate. Judges serve for life and their salary cannot be lowered while they are on the bench. This design was intended to make it possible for judges to make principled but unpopular decisions without fear of repercussions. Additionally, federal judges are appointed, rather than elected, as some state judges are. This was intended to insulate them somewhat from the riffraff of politics. Similarly, senators serve staggered six year terms, unlike representatives’ two year terms. This was done so that no matter how far public opinion swings, on…

If the West is to help the East; the East should pay the Gas. There are two basic ways, and two basic ways only, to conquer a nation; force of arms or by economic control. At present, the West is spending much of it’s wealth in helping the Eastern revolutionary forces stabilize, organize and rid itself of the old political ways. At the same time, the East is attacking the West on the economic front, and preventing the West from helping it’s own Eastern political transition in a swifter fashion. IOW, the East is shooting itself in the foot by shooting the West in the foot. The East should recognize that it is hard for the West to put the hammer down when it is too …

Where I live, it is illegal to talk on the cellphone while driving if you are not using a hands-free device. Is this a good law? Curious to see what you think.

A Genderless school in Sweden http://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/the-other-side/pc-preschool-bans-words-him-and-her/story-e6frfhk6-1226082516997 has banned the use of him/her. What's your opinion of this?

I keep reading about free trade. As I read more into it, I'm starting to get a bad vibe from all of it. One of things I keep thinking about is how would science be effected? Scientists exist all around the world. Many scientists work on similar things, but their funding sources differ. But what if free-trade were to exist? Would this mean only one country gets to specialize in a particular kind of science? Would that mean there would no longer be the ability for there to be an international effort to progress a particular field of science?

Is it time for NATO to disband ?

Right now some of the big guys are saying our economy will never return to what it was. Some are saying the problem is the masses don't have enough education, and for our economy to improve they must return to college and make themselves more job ready for our economy. Others are saying we must stop sending our jobs over seas, and need take steps to encourage our industry to stay in the states. There are some high tech. jobs that require a degree a physics or biology, but really how many of these jobs are in your neighborhood? There are not many of these jobs in Oregon. In fact most of Oregon has no high tech industry. Its economy was built on timber, agricul…

Hey, guys I heard that China and India may become superpower nations in the future... My question is, if they do how will this affect the US/European economy as well as our way of life? Are people anticipating any form of conflict to arise in the future due to the dominance of Asia? Furthermore would there be any increase in respectable science career/employment opportunities in the future for the US/Europeans in China or perhaps in India? Wherever you are do you see the rise of Asia as being a good thing?

Walmart had so much buying power, it caused brand name companies to close down factories in the US and move their operations to places like China. Why is not possible for our government to do the same regarding medical supplies? I use a CPAP machine, to manage sleep apena. The cheapest head gear I can find is $89. Now get this. The real cost of this stuff may be a couple of dollars. There are several different styles of head gear. Mine is a modeled soft plastic piece that fits in my nose, attached to two tubes, that look like the tubes for an aquarium pump, and a hard plastic piece that these tubes fit onto, connecting them with another tube, that leads to t…

In 2008, the Aegon insurance company sensed trouble, and asked for a bailout. They got 3 billion euro from the Dutch state. This helped the company, and they survived. Now, the company is healthier, and has finally paid back the last part of the bailout. And the interest. In addition, the Dutch news (in Dutch) reports that for 3 years, Aegon was not allowed to pay dividend to its shareholders. This was part of the agreement. In short: the state bailout came first, then dividend. So, if it works out well, bailouts help the economy (the company survived, jobs were secured) and it helps the tax payers, because the companies pay a hefty interest. Obviously, the…

Health-care spending is expected to shoot upward over the next 20 years, forcing Canadians to make big sacrifices to cure the ill effects of this "spending disease," according to a report released Wednesday by the C.D. Howe Institute. Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Report+warns+health+care+spending+disease/4572530/story.html#ixzz1Irf64bfo ====== What is your though on this? The health care is on life support now with long delays in ER and shortage of doctors and staff.

Nationalists have two primary goals: 1) policing of regional populations against 'foreigners.' 2) increasing the prosperity of the national economy for the benefit of citizens. Can these two goals ever be totally achieved in practice and, if not, will people ever stop using force to try?

When people express hate for a particular candidate or party, this hate has the potential of causing weak supporters or those who are undecided to avoid supporting or associated with the hated party because they don't want to be hated themselves. Does this make hate one of if not the most effective political tactics?

Differing Presidential Releases George W. Bushs speech after the capture of Saddam: The success of yesterday's mission is a tribute to our men and women now serving in Iraq. The operation was based on the superb work of intelligence analysts who found the dictator's footprints in a vast country. The operation was carried out with skill and precision by a brave fighting force. Our servicemen and women and our coalition allies have faced many dangers in the hunt for members of the fallen regime, and in their effort to bring hope and freedom to the Iraqi people. Their work continues, and so do the risks. Today, on behalf of the nation, I thank the members of our Arm…

hey guys I recall reading somewhere that it was Saudi men who were responsible for the september 11 attacks on US soil...yet immediately after the US attacked Iraq as "payback"? My question is, despte Saudi Arabia and the US being great allies, if the US were to wage war against Saudi Arabia for harbouring terrorists would they be able to do this without angering and involving the global Muslim population worldwide? Wouldn't future wars be impossible in Saudi Arabia as there are some senstive holy sites of worship there to Muslims? I have heard also that in the US religion/politics are tightly intertwined things? Could it be that USA is in fact at war with Islam? …