The Political Discussion Thread

[Seastallion]

800px-U.S._Total_Deficits_vs._National_Debt_Increases_2001-2010.png

Notice the sudden jump in the deficit and debt since Obama took office... Even during the Bush years, the spending wasn't so high, and that was with a war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

If you want a second by second update of where the U.S. debt is at you can see the actual numbers in real time here... http://www.usdebtclock.org/

[Seastallion]

Considering the obscene amount of money that gets dumped into the American military-industrial complex without so much as a peep every year, I'd say that's a damn fine place to start.

A military that carries the Canadian armed forces around during joint operations. I know this first hand. I was stationed at Aviano AB, during the Kosovo Air War, and we carried the Canadians to battle then. Canada can afford to have a relatively small military because the U.S. pretty much stands guard for the entire Western Hemisphere.

In addition to that the U.S. is keeping the Pacific shipping lanes secure. There are plenty of Americans that think we should stop policing the world, and I'm inclined to agree we ought to move out of some places. Still, countries like Taiwan and S. Korea only exist because of continued U.S. military presence. I personally wouldn't be opposed to leaving Germany, since I think they'd be fine without us.

Other countries can whine and complain about the U.S., but the fact is, that there hasn't been another World War specifically because the U.S. has maintained military and economic superiority up til now. It certainly hasn't been because of the useless U.N. NATO is much more useful. I don't think it would be long before a global conflict would erupt if the U.S. did pull back. I think we are headed towards some seriously rough times in the coming years, unfortunetly. I think the craziness in the Mideast right now is just the start of it.

It is rather depressing to think, actually.

On the other hand, maybe we should just let the world go to crap, and then maybe people's attitudes would change once their own backyards started going to crap. Or we'd just get the blame for that too. It seems we're blamed if we do, and blamed if we don't. If we interfere, then people complain, and if we don't, people will still complain. It is why many Americans think we should just look after ourselves and the let the rest of the world fend for itself. We probably should, I guess. When WWIII starts, don't say we didn't tell you so...

[KEK]

Interesting numbers from the UK census. Would never have guessed the Germans and Americans would be among the largest ethnic minority groups in the country.

[Rudy Pena]

I don't know what is happening over in Sweden, but the 'Left' here DOESN'T want to stop spending. It is the crux of the arguement between Dems and Reps right now. The Dems don't want to cut spending, and just raise taxes.

Yes, I can see how the Reps want to cut PBS and teachers pay.

I can actually understand why they want to cut PBS....all the kids watching it in turn grow up to be gang memebers or wannbe gang members and all that bad stuff.....

[Goose]

Interesting numbers from the UK census. Would never have guessed the Germans and Americans would be among the largest ethnic minority groups in the country.

Most of those countries aren't a great surprise, and I suppose Americans aren't either, but that Germans are the fifth-biggest group of foreigners in the UK? I had absolutely no idea!

[dipsofjazz]

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/x...sdgfdgdfgd.png

Interesting numbers from the UK census. Would never have guessed the Germans and Americans would be among the largest ethnic minority groups in the country.

I think that's from the census for England and Wales. The Scottish census hasn't been reported yet.

[Goose]

I think that's from the census for England and Wales. The Scottish census hasn't been reported yet.

Indeed you are correct, my good Sir! I wonder if Germans will feature as prominently in the Scottish census.

[Seastallion]

Yes, I can see how the Reps want to cut PBS and teachers pay.

I can actually understand why they want to cut PBS....all the kids watching it in turn grow up to be gang memebers or wannbe gang members and all that bad stuff.....

PBS, certainly. It should easily be able to look after itself just like any other TV station does. Most certainly Sesame Street can, which makes many millions of dollars each year privately. They can just have toy and cereal commercials like the other kids channels do to pay their bills. PBS would survive easily.

As to Teachers, that is another matter entirely. Republicans are less concerned about Teacher's pay than they are about Teacher's Unions wanting to keep bad teachers. Unions are not what they used to be. Case in point; the Autoworkers Union just got a dozen or so guys there jobs back, after they were caught red-handed drinking and smoking dope on their lunch break. This after the company they worked for received millions of dollars in bail-out money. The company fired them, and then the Union got them their jobs back, after VERY clear proof of major wrong doing.

Then of course there was the violence that the Unions displayed in Michigan in the last few days. Kind of like the violence that Tea Party protestors have had... oh wait. That never happened. Anyway, there is at least one Union guy who (among a few others) is being searched for by the Police for assault, after being caught on video sucker punching a guy that was trying to stop the Union members from tearing down a tent that women and the elderly were sitting in to keep out of the weather. The people in the tent happened to be supporters of the Right to Work bill that was passed. Then of course you have the Union representative saying, "There will be blood". Yeah, sounds like the old Unions all right... Jimmy Hoffa is probably spinning in his grave.

Especially since the Union's protests are without merit. The Right to Work bill doesn't stop anyone from joining the Union if they want to, it simply stops unconstitutional REQUIREMENTS to join a Union if someone doesn't want to, and forcibly having their Union dues pulled from their pay checks. Now people have a CHOICE to join a Union or not. Isn't the Left all about choice? So what are they complaining about? Quite simply, the Union bosses are angry because they will be forced to actually stop making outrageous demands and actually serve their members in order for them to get people to want to join the Unions. In other words, the Unions will be forced to actually serve its members' real wants, and not be using the millions of dollars in Union dues towards political causes that many of the Union members don't even support. They could be using those funds to actually help the workers rather than serving the Democratic political machine.

[SoulReaver]

what wrong exactly had those autoworkers done that cost them their jobs? were there any complaints from customers? or had the quality of their work become inadequate? (did the company incur any damage or losses as a result?)

[lordofseas]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astro...src=most_viral

[Seastallion]

what wrong exactly had those autoworkers done that cost them their jobs? were there any complaints from customers? or had the quality of their work become inadequate? (did the company incur any damage or losses as a result?)

Well, gee, who could possibly have a problem with driving a car built by a bunch of guys that were using known judgement impairing substances on their breaks? Surely, those vehicles would be safe? Right? No? You mean you wouldn't be comfortable driving such a vehicle? What? Your worried that something in the vehicle might go critically wrong because some half baked moron didn't do his job right? Gee... Maybe those guys ought to get fired to prevent something like that from happening. What was that? You think those morons are giving the other workers a bad name? I agree. I wonder why the Union thought it was a good idea to get them their jobs back? Don't they care about the reputation of their other workers? The company might end up getting sued for faulty manufacturing, especially after someone gets injured or killed? Yeah, that would help the other Union workers. Hmmm...

[Goose]

Seeing as that's the first I've heard of that specific charge, I don't suppose you could provide a link to an article on the matter?

[Gatefan1976]

Well, gee, who could possibly have a problem with driving a car built by a bunch of guys that were using known judgement impairing substances on their breaks? Surely, those vehicles would be safe? Right? No? You mean you wouldn't be comfortable driving such a vehicle? What? Your worried that something in the vehicle might go critically wrong because some half baked moron didn't do his job right? Gee... Maybe those guys ought to get fired to prevent something like that from happening. What was that? You think those morons are giving the other workers a bad name? I agree. I wonder why the Union thought it was a good idea to get them their jobs back? Don't they care about the reputation of their other workers? The company might end up getting sued for faulty manufacturing, especially after someone gets injured or killed? Yeah, that would help the other Union workers. Hmmm...

How many high power business deals are sealed over a "business lunch or dinner" dude? Ya think they are not putting the alcohol away as well?
I'm not trying to justify the guys behavior, you are right they should not be drinking/smoking pot, but it's hardly a unique situation, is it?

[Seastallion]

Seeing as that's the first I've heard of that specific charge, I don't suppose you could provide a link to an article on the matter?

[Seastallion]

How many high power business deals are sealed over a "business lunch or dinner" dude? Ya think they are not putting the alcohol away as well?
I'm not trying to justify the guys behavior, you are right they should not be drinking/smoking pot, but it's hardly a unique situation, is it?

All the places I've worked, you'd be fired quick if they found out you'd been having alcohol or pot on your breaks. There would be little chance of re-hire either. So, no it isn't that common. It might be common for high level execs to do what you describe, but then they are the business owners too. They pretty much do what they want, and who is going to fire them? No one, since they own the company anyway. Still, doing "dinner deals" is a bit different from putting a car together that the buyer expects will be safe and correctly built, and not malfunction at a critical moment.