SoftwareSamurai's Comments
@SD:
Let me see if I understand your thinking here: "we" (as in the vast majority of not-wealthy citizens) should simply outright steal all the money from the "wealthy" (as in the vast minority of wealth citizens) and simply give it back to "the people"?
Oh, well why stop there? Heck, since "we" outnumber "them" millions to one, let's just go down the list of the top 100 wealthiest people in the U.S. and just take everything they own for ourselves!
In fact, while we're at it, let's just forget about the whole "rule of law" silliness. After all, that's what lets "them" keep "our" money, right?
You are a socialist, running full-tilt towards communism.
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Now, just some quick notes for everyone here:
The Democrats have a majority in both the House and the Senate. If Pelosi'n'co's bill was so great, why won't the Democrats simply pass it themselves? Then they could proclaim how they alone saved the U.S. financial sector.
But they are not about to pass it themselves people.
Here's the dirty little secret...
The bill is actually horrible. (Go read it.) Pelosi'n'co know it's horrible. They want "cover". They want the Republicans to vote along with them so that if it actually gets put into law, and we find out just how horrible it really is, they can point fingers at the Republicans and say "Hey now! They voted for it too!" (And no, the Democrats aren't trying to be all "bi-partisan" and friendly with the Republicans. Don't fall for that lovey-dovey stuff.)
Oh, and I'm curious: Where are all the ENRON investigators and prosecutors? Why isn't Pelosi'n'co screaming their heads off demanding 1000 investigators to find out who's to blame? Are we suppose to just accept the notion that everyone was innocently doing their jobs when all-of-the-sudden -POP- Oh! We need $700 BILLION before everything collapses! Riiight.
Here's another dirty little secret...
The people truly responsible for this mess (morally, and very likely criminally too) are all Democrats. Believe me, if there was even one Republican that the Democrats could pin this on, that Republican's political career would be completely destroyed by now, and they'd probably be in handcuffs too. This is the primary reason why the Democrats want to sweep this mess under the rug as fast as they can.
Let me see if I understand your thinking here: "we" (as in the vast majority of not-wealthy citizens) should simply outright steal all the money from the "wealthy" (as in the vast minority of wealth citizens) and simply give it back to "the people"?
Oh, well why stop there? Heck, since "we" outnumber "them" millions to one, let's just go down the list of the top 100 wealthiest people in the U.S. and just take everything they own for ourselves!
In fact, while we're at it, let's just forget about the whole "rule of law" silliness. After all, that's what lets "them" keep "our" money, right?
You are a socialist, running full-tilt towards communism.
---
Now, just some quick notes for everyone here:
The Democrats have a majority in both the House and the Senate. If Pelosi'n'co's bill was so great, why won't the Democrats simply pass it themselves? Then they could proclaim how they alone saved the U.S. financial sector.
But they are not about to pass it themselves people.
Here's the dirty little secret...
The bill is actually horrible. (Go read it.) Pelosi'n'co know it's horrible. They want "cover". They want the Republicans to vote along with them so that if it actually gets put into law, and we find out just how horrible it really is, they can point fingers at the Republicans and say "Hey now! They voted for it too!" (And no, the Democrats aren't trying to be all "bi-partisan" and friendly with the Republicans. Don't fall for that lovey-dovey stuff.)
Oh, and I'm curious: Where are all the ENRON investigators and prosecutors? Why isn't Pelosi'n'co screaming their heads off demanding 1000 investigators to find out who's to blame? Are we suppose to just accept the notion that everyone was innocently doing their jobs when all-of-the-sudden -POP- Oh! We need $700 BILLION before everything collapses! Riiight.
Here's another dirty little secret...
The people truly responsible for this mess (morally, and very likely criminally too) are all Democrats. Believe me, if there was even one Republican that the Democrats could pin this on, that Republican's political career would be completely destroyed by now, and they'd probably be in handcuffs too. This is the primary reason why the Democrats want to sweep this mess under the rug as fast as they can.
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"In everyday Bangkok, western ideas of order and system have no place at all."
I disagree.
As one who knows (yes, I've actually been to Thailand many times), most Thais (in BKK at least) want "western ideas of order and system". They view western ideas as a better way of life, and they view the neat-n-tidy order of many American cities as something they wish for in their cities there in Thailand. However, they also have a long history of Thai traditions as well. And one of the Thai traditions is their laid-back approach to progress and modernization. The line from Anna and the King rings very true: "In Siam you will learn everything has its own time."
Unfortunately Thailand's progress into the modern age is greatly hindered by two major issues: Money and corruption. Thailand is not exactly a nation rich in monetary wealth (to put it politely). Corruption (both from outside and from within) have also impacted the economy there.
But as far as the mass tangles of overhead wires nearly everywhere in BKK (and Thailand in general) goes, yes, it's pretty shocking by "Western" standards. I remember being somewhat surprised by how easy it would be to reach out and literally grab one of those high-voltage lines as I was climbing some stairs going up to the BTS. When I asked my Thai friends about it, they just looked at me and said, "Nobody does that. Everyone knows you'll get shocked!" That made me realize just how the safety-nazis here in America have greatly stupefied the citizens here: Take away all of the dangers and watch how Americans are stupid enough to reach out and grab a high-voltage line in BKK.
I do agree with Thomas about one thing: Those wires may look like a rats nest, but they work, which is all that really counts there.
I disagree.
As one who knows (yes, I've actually been to Thailand many times), most Thais (in BKK at least) want "western ideas of order and system". They view western ideas as a better way of life, and they view the neat-n-tidy order of many American cities as something they wish for in their cities there in Thailand. However, they also have a long history of Thai traditions as well. And one of the Thai traditions is their laid-back approach to progress and modernization. The line from Anna and the King rings very true: "In Siam you will learn everything has its own time."
Unfortunately Thailand's progress into the modern age is greatly hindered by two major issues: Money and corruption. Thailand is not exactly a nation rich in monetary wealth (to put it politely). Corruption (both from outside and from within) have also impacted the economy there.
But as far as the mass tangles of overhead wires nearly everywhere in BKK (and Thailand in general) goes, yes, it's pretty shocking by "Western" standards. I remember being somewhat surprised by how easy it would be to reach out and literally grab one of those high-voltage lines as I was climbing some stairs going up to the BTS. When I asked my Thai friends about it, they just looked at me and said, "Nobody does that. Everyone knows you'll get shocked!" That made me realize just how the safety-nazis here in America have greatly stupefied the citizens here: Take away all of the dangers and watch how Americans are stupid enough to reach out and grab a high-voltage line in BKK.
I do agree with Thomas about one thing: Those wires may look like a rats nest, but they work, which is all that really counts there.
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Adam,
To answer your question: We could be spending $720M burying 720,000 Americans each day due to terrorist bombs and attacks here at home and abroad. Personally I'm more than happy to have us spend that money to fight the terrorists rather than bury my loved ones. How about you?
Oh, and just out of curiosity, how much have we spent on the "war on poverty"? Care to guess? And when is the "withdrawal" date for that war? Perhaps you would like to talk about the "war on drugs" instead? I can think of lots of things we _could_ have spent THAT money on instead - like, oh I don't know, building more oil refineries and nuclear power plants back in the '80s and '90s?
Understand this Adam: Those of us who take you to task for posting such thoughtless drivel are neither angry nor wrong; We are simply grow tired of mindless drones constantly repeating the same non sequitur liberal arguments against fighting those who have publically declared war on us.
To answer your question: We could be spending $720M burying 720,000 Americans each day due to terrorist bombs and attacks here at home and abroad. Personally I'm more than happy to have us spend that money to fight the terrorists rather than bury my loved ones. How about you?
Oh, and just out of curiosity, how much have we spent on the "war on poverty"? Care to guess? And when is the "withdrawal" date for that war? Perhaps you would like to talk about the "war on drugs" instead? I can think of lots of things we _could_ have spent THAT money on instead - like, oh I don't know, building more oil refineries and nuclear power plants back in the '80s and '90s?
Understand this Adam: Those of us who take you to task for posting such thoughtless drivel are neither angry nor wrong; We are simply grow tired of mindless drones constantly repeating the same non sequitur liberal arguments against fighting those who have publically declared war on us.
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This is wonderful, except there's two missing episodes!
1. Season 2, Episode 11: "Friday's Child"
2. Season 2, Episode 26: "Assignment: Earth"
(Can someone contact them about this? I've already tried, but got no reply.)
1. Season 2, Episode 11: "Friday's Child"
2. Season 2, Episode 26: "Assignment: Earth"
(Can someone contact them about this? I've already tried, but got no reply.)
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@Kraka
Ooooo! They've got an "animation" of it! Well gee, that makes it true then!
Oh hey, I've just found an "animation" of Greenpeace leaders clubbing baby seals for their blubber! That means it's true too, right?
Ooooo! They've got an "animation" of it! Well gee, that makes it true then!
Oh hey, I've just found an "animation" of Greenpeace leaders clubbing baby seals for their blubber! That means it's true too, right?
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This story is a lie.
If anyone wants to prove me wrong, I dare anyone to get anyone currently floating around in the SPACE STATION to video tape such a huge thing. If it really is twice the size of Texas, then they should be able to spot it quite easily.
Note: It is not up to ME to prove to everyone this story is false. It is up to Justin Berton to prove to everyone this story is true.
If anyone wants to prove me wrong, I dare anyone to get anyone currently floating around in the SPACE STATION to video tape such a huge thing. If it really is twice the size of Texas, then they should be able to spot it quite easily.
Note: It is not up to ME to prove to everyone this story is false. It is up to Justin Berton to prove to everyone this story is true.
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Here here! I agree with you 100%!
I would add to 2) "...and eliminate all bonuses..." along with the elimination of the "golden parachutes".
Personally I think the elimination of the capital gains tax would be enough to rally the market back, but everything else you've outlined would be excellent too.
@SD
"Nothing wrong with a soft-socialism, by the way."
Any form of socialism weakens a society who's cornerstones are freedom and liberty. The very foundation of socialism is 100% opposite to that of capitalism: "The people" own everything as opposed to individuals owning everything.
And there is no such thing as "soft-socialism". Either you believe that "the people" should own everything and individuals should own nothing, or you don't.
"In fact, look at France!"
Yes, please do. If the society in France better than the U.S.A.:
1. Why aren't millions of people trying to get in, legally and illegally? (Did you know in France it's _illegal_ to help an illegal immigrant?)
2. Why is unemployment at ~7.5% compared to the U.S.A. ~4-5%?
3. Why is it that out of the top 100 richest people in the world, only 5 of them are French? (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_billionaires)
No. France is not a shining example of successful socialism - soft or otherwise. And if you want to start a revolution, go move to France. America's revolution is already built-in: We call it "elections".