Cikomyr

Reply to What Has Happened to Our Great Country? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Now there is talk of mines. It will be interesting, to say the least, if NK is behind it. I'm not expecting much from the prez though.[/quote] It is up to SK to react to that, as they were the ones to lose a ship. If SK asks for the USA's support in the matter, only then can the USA interfere. But a lot of sparkles happen in that naval region anyway. Quite a few shots were exchanged there in the past 60 years, and it is within the classic behavior of NK before a new neg

Reply to What Has Happened to Our Great Country? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Obama's words have no steel behind them.[/quote] Last time I checked, your military apparatus is still there in full force. So there is steel behind them.

Reply to National ID card? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Sure I knew that. It's just that if one reads to the talk on this site and elsewhere, one would be lead to believe the US is the only nation on earth to abuse the "native" (more correctly the first inhabitants) populations[/quote] Funny. I always thought that Canada received a lot of flak for it's mistreatment of the natives... But then, if the USA are going to completely ignore us save for a few quick jokes and occasional outrage at a few points taken out of context (s

Reply to A quick perspective on politics in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Discussing topics to try to persuade or educate others on political philosophies that you think are good is a noble thing. However, hating other people over their political views is not a good thing.[/quote] Amen to that, Brad. I am not blameless about that whole state of affair (the hate-game that has been developping in politics), well, at least on this forum. But the situation is really worrying, on the whole. People are just getting even more antagonising, radical a

Reply to What Has Happened to Our Great Country? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Soft words did not cow Qadaffi, the USSR or Noreiega.[/quote] I am afraid of repeating myself again. Soft words are not meant to cow anyone. Nor do harsh words cow anyone. Words are words.

Reply to National ID card? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Interesting phrase. What would those be?[/quote] The ones with minimum salary, no marginal benefits whatsoever. Usually also worked by illegals.

Reply to What Has Happened to Our Great Country? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]The gun is always there, but they look at the intention of the wielder. cleary one of Obama's attributes is that he is perceived as a peace lover (we can debate that at another time[/quote] Yet, everybody saw the military increase Obama ordered in Afghanistan. While Obama is using a much softer tone than Bush (the very thing you hold against him), he still use the stick when needed. Oslo congratulated him on his softer tone. Iran still worries about the stick.

Reply to What Has Happened to Our Great Country? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]While with Bush, they were very careful about what they admittted and did (yelled a lot, but not much more).[/quote] With Bush, they captured a British speedboat, they supported militas against your military in Iraq and they got forward their nuclear development program. Not much less than what happened under Obama. Swap taking over a very symbolic oil field located in a disputed area with the British speedboat, and more pressure for sanctions from Obama than Bush.

Reply to National ID card? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Maybe I will tel lthat to Bill Richardson. Governor of New Mexico?[/quote] Your point being? We had Wilfried Laurier in the 1900s as PM of Canada, it didn't changed our sub-cast status. What's relevant is how, on average, the cohort is treated by other members of the society when it comes to rights and privileges regarding work, law and education. Are the sub-standard jobs in the U.S. are mostly done by a specific ethnicity? If so, then you have yourself a cast system.

Reply to Waterloo..? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]No, it is all 1. Even nancy Pelosi said that much. The Senate never intended it to become law. They figured it would be mostly fixed in conference. But the election of Scott Brown killed that chance. So instead of passing a bill that anyone can trust, they passed one that no one can.[/quote] Come on. Obama banged his head and let the Republican discredit him in the past year trying to get compromises with the GOP. There wasn't any progress achieved either there. On the opposite

Reply to Waterloo..? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]I'm curious - just what 'concessions' do you think were on the table?[/quote] some republican proposals to eliminate medical fraud, reform medical malpractice liability, and eliminate special assistance to certain states, among others. But Republicans just came out and said "we won't accept any deal", hoping to sway the middle-grounders in their favor. However, if the Republican leadership had taken these concession, and asked for "just a little more" to get their vote

Reply to The Antichristcare passed in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]I cant see how that is a win? And regardless of the november elections, it will not be repealed (even a massive win by the republicans will not get Obama out of the White House and he has veto power).[/quote] In that case, I think you are needlessly defeatist. A massive win of the republicans in the White House would not make a veto-breaker, BUT you still could legislate a modification bill that would take out some of the bad parts you hate the most and add parts that you

Reply to National ID card? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]I didn't realize the French were not white. What language did they force the Native Americans (living in Canada that is) to speak. Or is that just a problem in the US, because Canada was uninhabited when the French arrived?[/quote] 1) Canada was inhabited, obviously. Come on, you really thought it was just an emtpy land while the USA were buzzling with natives? 2) Yes, they forced the natives to speak english. Specially in what is now Manitoba, as there was a lot of Nat

Reply to Social Security Success Story in Politics JoeUser Forums

This situation has accumulated after more than 40 years of under-payment to the asset accumulation. The whole Washington establishment of these past 40 years is to blame.

Reply to A better name for a gun in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]For Jews, Jerusalem was the centre of political rule. For others, Jerusalem doesn't have that meaning, as you say.[/quote] At the time (350-1500), Jerusalem was the center of nothing, except as a religious catalyst for Christian/Muslim wars to open/close the Road to the East. Jews had no say anyway, until the 1850's. It became a new catalyst recently, I guess, for another pan-Middle eastern conflict, but it is not the actual objective of the conflict, wh

Reply to Waterloo..? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]If the bill was so good it would have passed with more than that and the republicans would have had a few sign on as well.[/quote] There 2 distinct possibilities, both of them are possible: 1) The bill wasn't as good as announced, which is why no GOP rep voted for it 2) The opposition to the bill has been mounted to irrational proportion on the street with some truths and lies (both of them). Because of that, the GOP representative could not make any compromise

Reply to What Has Happened to Our Great Country? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]However, the facts taht we do know, and the information leaked by Iran, and the democrat allegations all tend to support my hypothesis.[/quote] Wait, can you point me to the information leaked from Iran? My own sources (STRATFOR) don't support the idea that Iranians believe that Obama wouldn't use a military strike if needed. However, they do believe he is incapable of holding back Israel if Isarel wants to strike. [quote]Plus human nature. Are you afraid of someone yel

Reply to A better name for a gun in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Oddly enough it never occured to any of those people to make Jerusalem the capital of the world. Jerusalem was only ever the capital of a state important to Abrahamic religions when it was under Jerwish or Persian rule.[/quote] Well, because it was the center of Political Rule. It all comes down to a simple fact: Religion is the servant of Politics, not the other way around. You won't see any massive political movement erupt purely because of religion, it always has some sociol

Reply to National ID card? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Hispanics? I will grant you racism, but there was never a caste system there. The only caste system was with slavery and that was abolished 150 years ago [/quote] Well, when you have a portion of the population that is relegated, by racism or economics, to sub-par jobs and constant povrety, that laws apply differently than them, you have a cast system. Technically, Indians in Dubai are supposed to be treated as well as I. But they weren't. And discrimination still

Reply to But Aren't Pointy Sticks All Alike? in WOM Ideas Elemental Forums

[quote]Having a rock paper scissor susyem would be a bad choice. I mean, not really bad, but too easy, too cheesy. I would like instead of hard/soft counters to get tactics counters : fatigue, terrain and morale. Pikemen would be good because hey get a bonus in attack as high as the number of squares needed to reach the pikemen (fast = damage), but in close combat they would get a speed penalty. Instead of just "pike good vs cavalry", the pikmen would organically be good against it because th

Reply to Avoiding Late Game Tedium (LGT) in WOM Ideas Elemental Forums

Addition: Or a civil war. Did you ever played Sword of the Stars? A very nice tech (and random event) was the creation and the rebellion of an AI that would steal parts of your Empire, with all your techs, some of your troops and some of your planets. You ended up fighting an ennemy that was as powerful as you created it. It was... well, game-changing event. Kinda frustrating, but still a very fun challenge. Like Charlemagne's empire that broke appart.

Reply to Avoiding Late Game Tedium (LGT) in WOM Ideas Elemental Forums

I'd like to have continuity games. Like.. if you manage to establish a New World Order by yourself (either effective control, or still ennough power to throw around that no one challenge you), you'd have the option of setting the clock to go forward 3000 turns, where your Empire has been fragmented, and you have to pick up the pieces from a new perspective. Your uber-empire effectively become "The remnants", the "Dread Lords", the "Anors", the "Precursors" that created uber-powerful mag

Reply to What Has Happened to Our Great Country? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Where? He didn't cut mine and I'm nowhere close to near his artificial $250K evil rich man barrier.[/quote] It was part of the initial economic stimulus package (gosh! a democrat who thinks that cutting tax might help the economy!) A very simply 500$ tax credit. The lowest-income earners won't really feel the fullest effect, but technically, everybody was supposed to pay 500$ less in taxes during 2009.

Reply to National ID card? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Note my usage of "may" and "on your way". If you need further clarification I'd be happy to oblige.[/quote] The USA used to have a strong cast system. Hell, it still might have one, depending on how the hispanics are treated in many areas. But the Gov vs the people? nah.

Reply to Little Satan and Great Satan in War on Terror JoeUser Forums

[quote]Not really, no. Friends wouldn't give quite as much money to terrorist groups that try to kill you.[/quote] My mistake. Seemed to me like you did a lot to tighten political ties with them in the past 10 years. Musthavebeen mistaken.