The Political Discussion Thread

[Falcon Horus]

In Belgium, political parties may receive gifts and donations from business companies or people, but it's usually avoided as much as possible.

But there's never been a big uproar about it.

[Annoyed]

Hey is political donations from corporates a hot topic in other countries?

Seems to have raised a few headlines over here with the huge hypocrissy that it's OK for the sitting govt. or its members to take donations but not ok if you are in the opposition party. So much FUD every time this topic comes up.

Well, of course it's ok for the party/group in power. They make the rules, after all.
Yes, I know, that sounds like a smart-@$$ answer, but in a very real, practical sense, it's the way things are.

[Coco Pops]

Well, of course it's ok for the party/group in power. They make the rules, after all.
Yes, I know, that sounds like a smart-@$$ answer, but in a very real, practical sense, it's the way things are.

It is a real shame that things have to be this way....

[Ian-S]

This is the -danger- of that way of thinking.
"Go to the Country, clean air, no pollution, how can people think we are affecting the whole environment when just 50km from the city everything is fine"
It's dangerous, lazy thinking. I think of climate change more like cancer. There are hotspots where the mutation (pollution) is obvious, and others where everything is fine -until- that cancer goes into overdrive and rapidly spreads and destroys everything. We had a 15 year "lull" in climate change, great, awesome. Did we do anything differently before then? Well, we converted to unleaded petrol and we ditched CFC's in refridgeration, but surely that would have no effect as we can't affect global climate............

You've misunderstood what I said or perhaps I could have put it better, i.e. I used to be in the climate change myth camp but not anymore since going camping has highlighted to me that man is having a huge impact on air quality in built up areas and as you say, it's only a matter of time before the entire ecosystem collapses under the strain of these 'pockets'.

I'm most certainly not saying "the air is great in the Country so there isn't a problem".

[Ian-S]

No greenery? Have you seen how many parks are in downtown london??
You have Hide park, Green park, Kensington park, Holland park, St james park, Buckingham palace park..

LOL pull up Google and look at a Satellite image that encompasses all those parks, then compare that to the non-green areas, you sure those tiny pockets are enough to sustain all the concrete jungles surrounding them?

[garhkal]

Biologically speaking I classify as female.

As far as gender identity goes -- fluctuating between male and female, and leaning towards male.
.

So you are a hermaphroditic eunuch..

Hey is political donations from corporates a hot topic in other countries?

Seems to have raised a few headlines over here with the huge hypocrissy that it's OK for the sitting govt. or its members to take donations but not ok if you are in the opposition party. So much FUD every time this topic comes up.

To me it is, especially when one of hte candidates makes waves about how bad 'corporate America is'. BUT is the one doing (or seeming to) the most taking from said corporate America..

LOL pull up Google and look at a Satellite image that encompasses all those parks, then compare that to the non-green areas, you sure those tiny pockets are enough to sustain all the concrete jungles surrounding them?

Being that the whole Kensington/green/hyde park grouping allows one to run a 10k, i would say its close to it..

[Falcon Horus]

So you are a hermaphroditic eunuch..

[Annoyed]

To me it is, especially when one of hte candidates makes waves about how bad 'corporate America is'. BUT is the one doing (or seeming to) the most taking from said corporate America..

Now, now, mustn't forget the 1st law of liberals. "Do as I say, not as I do, I'm better than you and deserve it"

[Gatefan1976]

Now, now, mustn't forget the 1st law of liberals. "Do as I say, not as I do, I'm better than you and deserve it"

Except, Coco bought up the topic in relation to Australia, and ATM the party in power is more akin to the Republican party.

[aretood2]

Except, Coco bought up the topic in relation to Australia, and ATM the party in power is more akin to the Republican party.

It must be Obama's fault though.

[Annoyed]

Except, Coco bought up the topic in relation to Australia, and ATM the party in power is more akin to the Republican party.

Huh? Clinton is running in the down under too?
I was responding to garhkal's comment about Hillary.

[Gatefan1976]

Huh? Clinton is running in the down under too?
I was responding to garhkal's comment about Hillary.

Who was G-man responding to?

[Gatefan1976]

You've misunderstood what I said or perhaps I could have put it better, i.e. I used to be in the climate change myth camp but not anymore since going camping has highlighted to me that man is having a huge impact on air quality in built up areas and as you say, it's only a matter of time before the entire ecosystem collapses under the strain of these 'pockets'.

I'm most certainly not saying "the air is great in the Country so there isn't a problem".

Nonono, I did not mean -you- personally Ian-S, I was just pointing out that -that- kind of thinking leads to crap like people holding snowballs in congress and saying "look, it's not real".
A misunderstanding is all.

[aretood2]

Nonono, I did not mean -you- personally Ian-S, I was just pointing out that -that- kind of thinking leads to crap like people holding snowballs in congress and saying "look, it's not real".
A misunderstanding is all.

That too, is Obama's fault.

[Gatefan1976]

That too, is Obama's fault.

Damn him, Damn him to HELL!!
*shakes fist at an uncaring sky*