The Political Discussion Thread

[Chaka-Z0]

This is so woefully wrong as to be a joke.
YES, the "left" pushes higher education BECAUSE the people with the tenacity to stay with it get paid 3-5 times what you do, they want people to "be best". You just want to drag people down to your level.

Yep. Or simply put, the work environment requires specialized workers with specific degrees. Can't be a jack of all trades anymore. Even those that are competent in certain fields won't get the job without the degree.

I never understood what's up with those rightist conservative folks, it feels like when they're in power society takes a step back, only to be realigned when a new administration comes in with fresh ideas.

[SoulReaver]

What exactly is wrong with a child inheriting from his parents?

yo, put back those goalposts

nothing illegal about it but what's wrong is calling it "success"

[Annoyed]

Same issue than taxes, if you increase yours they will leave for another country that lowered theirs ((USA) i.e.: Dellaware). That is the conundrum with capitalism in an open market, you can't have major reforms without economic repercussions involved. All you can do is prevent illegalities / tax evasion via watchdogs, or regulate to a minimal extent as long as it doesn't tip the balance to the ''screw this country, let's go elsewhere'' side. If the regulations involve costs, they are usually swooped back to the customers via cost increase.

That sounds remarkably like my argument as to why NY and other high tax hellholes have to cut their spending and thereby cut their taxes so as to remain competitive with other states.

This is why NY and other tax hellholes are so upset about the tax reform; without being able to soften the impact of those taxes with federal deductions, wealthy people are just leaving those states. If the state lowers its taxes to competitive levels, they wouldn't have the incentive to leave.

And yes, going back to Amazon; Amazon was offered a crapload of tax breaks to locate in NYC, but many in that region didn't like the idea of the richest company getting all those breaks(quite properly so, ideally, they shouldn't have been given those breaks); Combined with union demands, it was enough so that Amazon told NY to go do something physically impossible with itself. But if NY's taxes weren't so high to begin with, they wouldn't have needed to offer them tax breaks; cut spending and lower taxes for EVERYBODY and NY would be competitive.

Recent textbook case

Spoiler:

MonSanto, I'm sure you all know this monopoly. A whistle-blower from our Provincial Govt recently disclosed confidential reports which proves beyond the shred of a doubt that Glyphosate, the main herbicide used in agriculture, actually doesn't improve the yield at all. Those reports also show that simple irrigation and oxygenation of the soil techniques are far superior than using those MonSanto seeds
Even worse, it was also disclosed that the board which supervises which products are to be recommended in agriculture is made of... 50% of Corps representatives which clearly have biaised interests, basically lobbyists in a position of authority.

Spoiler:

Monsanto has had their arse in govt. slings for decades; I seem to remember reading stories about them in the 1970's. Nothing new there.

No. That is YOUR definition, not THE definition. You know concepts evolve through the ages.

Definition
Bully:seek to harm, intimidate, or coerce (someone perceived as vulnerable).

I'll say it again though, I do think the society has gone somewhat soft. Violence doesn't solve problems, but it is in certain circumstances necessary. First year of high school, this guy twice my size picks on me, but I quickly turned around and hit him in the stomach, guy was on the ground crying ''mooommaaaa''. Guess what, never been bullied after that. You think if I had asked nicely he would've stopped? Or, Cthulhu forbids, I had complained to my moms about him?

The difference nowadays is that cyber-bullying happens online, obviously, and unless the kid openly shares his account or is forced to with his parents, nobody knows but him. Then one day he has enough and kill himself.

And in days past, your definition was PHYSICAL harm, intimidation or coercion via the threat of physical force; social media did not yet exist. And yes, you were bullied, and you chose the proper way to deal with it. As did I back in those days.
But it was PHYSICAL FORCE.

What we have on social media these days is merely name-calling. The modern equivalent of students writing "Susie is a slut" or whatever on the desks in a classroom or on the walls in the bathroom stalls. Mean, nasty, hurtful and a host of other things, but it is NOT bullying because no physical force is possible. It simply name calling.

So, we have a new technology being used to carry out activity that has been going on for ages. It's the same damned thing, just with new tech. That doesn't mean it is now bullying, it is still name calling, nothing more.

[Chaka-Z0]

yo, put back those goalposts

nothing illegal about it but what's wrong is calling it "success"

But but... it was just a small loan of one million dollars! It IS an achievement! The casino thing was just bad luck.

So, we have a new technology being used to carry out activity that has been going on for ages. It's the same damned thing, just with new tech. That doesn't mean it is now bullying, it is still name calling, nothing more.

And name calling fits the description of ''intimidate''. Words can hit harder than punches for some.

Anyways I think we've gone around the subject long enough, call it whatever you want.

[Womble]

And in days past, your definition was PHYSICAL harm, intimidation or coercion via the threat of physical force; social media did not yet exist. And yes, you were bullied, and you chose the proper way to deal with it. As did I back in those days.
But it was PHYSICAL FORCE.

What we have on social media these days is merely name-calling. The modern equivalent of students writing "Susie is a slut" or whatever on the desks in a classroom or on the walls in the bathroom stalls. Mean, nasty, hurtful and a host of other things, but it is NOT bullying because no physical force is possible. It simply name calling.

So, we have a new technology being used to carry out activity that has been going on for ages. It's the same damned thing, just with new tech. That doesn't mean it is now bullying, it is still name calling, nothing more.

That is flat out false. The definition of bullying - and mobbing, since bullying implies more one-on-one intimidation - always included forms of coercion other than physical violence. Blackmail, boycott/isolation, humiliation etc. The Internet lends itself to all of that and greatly magnifies the effects.

"Susie is a slut" was never harmless, by the way, especially in societies with harsh view on women's sexuality. It caused a great number of suicides and made many girls vulnerable to sexual predators.

[Annoyed]

That is flat out false. The definition of bullying - and mobbing, since bullying implies more one-on-one intimidation - always included forms of coercion other than physical violence. Blackmail, boycott/isolation, humiliation etc. The Internet lends itself to all of that and greatly magnifies the effects.

"Susie is a slut" was never harmless, by the way, especially in societies with harsh view on women's sexuality. It caused a great number of suicides and made many girls vulnerable to sexual predators.

Never said it as harmless. It's cruel, mean spirited and should be punished.

That doesn't mean it's bullying.

What about the situation of the social outcast, who is is shunned and ostracized by her peer group for whatever reason? I've seen such situation where people say that the outcast is being bullied, and no one is even paying attention to them. People have the right to associate with whom they choose to. No one has the right to say that "cool kids clique 00001" has to invite shy nerdy kid with pimples and thick glasses to sit with them in the cafeteria. That is considered bullying nowdays, too.

Maybe the real solution is to prevent minors from accessing social networking because they aren't mature enough to handle it yet?

[SoulReaver]

so now porKim Jong's outside his turf hopefully someone can put a bullet in his head
this would solve a lot of problems

[Annoyed]

so now porKim Jong's outside his turf hopefully someone can put a bullet in his head
this would solve a lot of problems

You better keep an eye out for those black helicopters.

[Gatefan1976]

Never said it as harmless. It's cruel, mean spirited and should be punished.

Yes you did.

That doesn't mean it's bullying.

And you just said it again.

What about the situation of the social outcast, who is is shunned and ostracized by her peer group for whatever reason? I've seen such situation where people say that the outcast is being bullied, and no one is even paying attention to them. People have the right to associate with whom they choose to. No one has the right to say that "cool kids clique 00001" has to invite shy nerdy kid with pimples and thick glasses to sit with them in the cafeteria. That is considered bullying nowdays, too.

It ALWAYS was bullying, it never has not been. I was a geek at school and back then, being a geek was not cool. Knowing your marvel hero's was not cool, reading comic books was not cool.
How is this, we don't need your ignorant, self important attitude in this world anymore and perhaps every person here should put you on their ignore list, it's not bullying you, it's just that your words and points have no value. Why don't you just go away?

What happens if in your social circle, be it online or in real life, just continually attack you?
The terms of gateworld prevent people from really having a go at anyone, and that's a good thing, for everyone.
What world do you want to live in? the world where thuggery gets promoted, or the world where it's not allowed?
Free speech has a limit, sorry but it is true.

Maybe the real solution is to prevent minors from accessing social networking because they aren't mature enough to handle it yet?

Get off the computer, child. You are not old enough to handle it.

[Chaka-Z0]

It ALWAYS was bullying, it never has not been.

It just saddens me to think about how many kids AND adults could've been saved for those unlucky enough to have their entourage thinking the same thing about "name calling". They couldnt talk to anybody. They ended their life, gone, we can't bring em back and they died alone.

[Gatefan1976]

It just saddens me to think about how many kids AND adults could've been saved for those unlucky enough to have their entourage thinking the same thing about "name calling". They couldnt talk to anybody. They ended their life, gone, we can't bring em back and they died alone.

Yet "late term abortion" is an issue. (even though it's not and has never been an issue).

[Gatefan1976]

Yes, this is how a "kindergartener" works under the worlds spotlight:

[Chaka-Z0]

Yes, this is how a "kindergartener" works under the worlds spotlight:

A kindergartner who actually had relevant questions instead of slender. She will not rest until he's 6 feet under, a passionate woman indeed.

Also, let us not forget the deal of the century going on in Vietnam right now. Donald must be furious he got overtaken by events.

[Gatefan1976]

A kindergartner who actually had relevant questions instead of slender. She will not rest until he's 6 feet under, a passionate woman indeed.

Also, let us not forget the deal of the century going on in Vietnam right now. Donald must be furious he got overtaken by events.

It failed, I'm shocked.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47398974

[Annoyed]

Yes, this is how a "kindergartener" works under the worlds spotlight:

I really don't care what she says, she's already demonstrated how much value whatever she says should be given.. None.

But the fact that the media and the Democrats are now hanging their hopes to take Trump down speaks volumes.

That's the best they got? A man who has already been convicted of lying to congress, who is trying to get a lighter sentence?