Artysim

Reply to North Korea Threatens With Nuclear War in North Korea Stardock Forums

Easy now, this has all happened before (and will happen again so long as Kim Jong Il or someone from his family, like his son, is in power) Let's look at the formula that's been very well established over the years. 1) North Korea is essentially contained, by and large. Their only economic trade outside of their borders is with China and whomever they can sell soviet era weaponry to. While they trade with China, even the Chinese have grown wary of relations with North Korea over

Obama Drastically Scales Back Goals in Politics JoeUser Forums

Obama Drastically Scales Back Goals For America After Visitting Deny's: http://www.theonion.com/content/video/obama_drastically_scales_back?utm_source=a-section A little tuesday morning pick-me up.

Reply to Most Bankruptcies Due to Medical Bills in Current Events Stardock Forums

[quote]The dirty little secret is that there's been virtually no 'market-driven' healthcare for 30 years. Where we are today, we can thank Uncle Sam for subsidizing our way here. [/quote] Perhaps you can shed a little light on this for me Daiwa since you are in the healthcare field?(no sarcasm intended, being honest here) I thought that the U.S medical system used to be far more socialized than it is today, with most of the changes being enacted under Nixon to make the move

Reply to Most Bankruptcies Due to Medical Bills in Current Events Stardock Forums

[quote]That's incredible, my insurance has a catastrophic cap ($3000.00) and I cannot be dropped as long as I make my premiums.[/quote] That's the beauty of this Nitro- most of the folks surveyed in the article I posted to actually had health insurance. It's no secret, however, that when you file a claim that's going to cost your HMO big bucks they will try to find a way out. Now, if you've never filed a claim before then you'll probably be okay. But if this is your second or th

Most Bankruptcies Due to Medical Bills in Current Events JoeUser Forums

"Bankruptcies due to medical bills increased by nearly 50 percent in a six-year period, from 46 percent in 2001 to 62 percent in 2007, and most of those who filed for bankruptcy were middle-class, well-educated homeowners, according to a report that will be published in the August issue of The American Journal of Medicine. "Unless you're a Warren Buffett or Bill Gates, you're one illness away from financial ruin in this country," says lead author Steffie Woolhandler, M.D., of the Harv

Reply to When you give the government power it will abuse it in Politics Stardock Forums

I'm utterly shocked! It's not like Obama's predecessor EVER played favorites. In fact, wasn't there an incident in which a covert CIA operative was revealed by a member of the Whitehouse staff because their husband revealed that the whole Nigerian Yellowcake Uranium deal was a COMPLETE FABRICATION (which Bush used in his address to the United Nations as justification for an attack against Iraq) Nope, that's not playing favorites at all. Even better is that Bush publicly stated during t

Reply to A Redneck View of Obama in Politics Stardock Forums

I think that Joe Bageant and Twain would get along just fine. They're both ornery old bastards from the south who like to tell it like it is!

Reply to What's the Big Deal?!? in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]Well no one has put forth a logical argument on the position of gay marriage being wrong - it can only follow from some instinctual or religious feeling [/quote] Yep. However there are many who confuse the edicts of the bible for actual law (or wish it were so) [quote]It's time we acted to preserve the sanctity of song against the secret evils of homosexuality. It's for the kids.[/quote] Very true. But if there's something that gays completely kick us straight folk

What's the Big Deal?!? in Politics JoeUser Forums

I'm confused by all the ruckus going on in the States (or various states I should say) about allowing gay marriage. I live in the Northwest Territories of Canada and here gay marriage has been allowed for years. In fact, some of my friends and co-workers are married homosexuals. Has it had any measurable effect on our society? Has it caused our "morals" to erode and all the local children to turn into hell-spawn? Nope. In fact, I can't notice a damn thing different abou

A Redneck View of Obama in Politics JoeUser Forums

One of my favorite authors (Joe Bageant) has posted a wonderful piece about Redneck America's view of the top. A redneck view of the Obamarama This column originally appeared on the web site of the

Reply to Running On Empty in Blogging Stardock Forums

KFC- I've been in the same situation before. I've been running for years, but once in a blue moon a situation like what you encountered seems to happen to everyone no matter how polite you try to be. If you have another similar encounter in the near future, I would definitely echo Tova's comments about what may be the unwritten rules of "the rec path" With that said, if folks are so terribly sensitive and emotional about being able to drive their golf carts uninterru

Reply to This is why I’m a kook in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]Also since fiber will not carry the pulse, it is also easier to harden each end (the circuitry). Military equipment has been, an is progressing, the change to fiber for well over 10 years now, from tanks to ships.[/quote] I'm gonna have to restate my opinion that I think we'd be hooped pretty durned good. Perhaps military equipment is shielded properly against EMP, but all that other stuff that's responsible for everything from your phone and internet service to keeping the ligh

What does it mean to Refuse Battle? in Politics JoeUser Forums

“Sir, I am deeply concerned about Iraq. The task you have given me is becoming really impossible ... if they (Sunni and Shiite) are not prepared to urge us to stay and to co-operate in every manner I would actually clear out. ... At present we are paying eight millions a year for the privilege of living on an ungrateful volcano out of which we are in no circumstances to get anything worth having.” Winston Churchill to British Prime Minister David Lloyd George

Reply to A Republican Speaks in Politics Stardock Forums

Well, in this case it is as it's got links to other sources.... one of which being the magazine he started in the 80's http://www.espritdecorps.ca/

Reply to A Republican Speaks in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]What you saw with your own eyes was that the Cuban regime is not oppressing tourists. But I don't think anybody ever claimed they did, so you saw the facts and you would be right to make the claim that the Cuban regime does not oppress tourists. And I, who was never there and did not know (but I guessed it) that the regime was friendly to tourists will accept your word for it. It is ironic, but one of the signs for an oppressive regime is that you don't see any signs. The more you

Reply to A Republican Speaks in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]And when I or others tell you that there is a problem with your version of "evidence" you turn into whining liberal mode and cry that the only reason we don't accept your "evidence" is because you are a liberal. It's useless.[/quote] Thank you, again for saying absolutely nothing. I have made my case, and presented my sources on it. I would like to ask you to make your case and present your sources in return, which you have not. I have drawn parralels between Afghanistan wi

Reply to A Republican Speaks in Politics Stardock Forums

My apologies, a correction- "I use the term 'good' dictator sarcastically because for the most part they were good for us and we didn't give a damn about what they did to THEIR people." (I said our- my bad)

Reply to A Republican Speaks in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]But I do dislike extremely your views on war crimes and your belief that using human shields is an acceptable battle tactic. But that's beside the point at the moment.[/quote] Oh Leauki, I can't be held accountable for the fact that you've misconstrued my views to fit your narrow mythic narrative of what's going on in the world. In regards to that topic, again, I never stated that using human shields is an acceptable tactic. I -did- try to communicate the fact that the ID

Reply to A Republican Speaks in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]You don't get it. You just don't get it.[/quote] Oh no, my good man. I "get it" just fine. The position that you're taking requires the minimum amount of effort (and knowledge) on your part as you refuse to even consider the points I put forward because of this little tidbit: [quote]I totally believe you when you say that [insert liberal author here] wrote a book [/quote] You have assumed, that because I am a "liberal" (I'm actually not, by the way as there is more

Reply to Ivy Leaguer Surprised At Christian University in Current Events Stardock Forums

[quote]The university teaches creationism and that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, while pledging "a strong commitment to political conservatism" on campus and a "total rejection of socialism." [/quote] Here's my problem with this- An educational institution that actively promotes a specific political and religious message. The three DO NOT belong together at all. You can have an educational institute that studies religion and politics, but wh

Reply to A Republican Speaks in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]_I_ claim that Iraq was Russia's ally, not America's. My evidence is the pictures I myself took of Russian, not American, weapons I found in Iraq. My evidence is also that I myself talked to people who confirmed to me that what I claimed is true.[/quote] And -I- claim that this illustrates your lack of knowledge on Iraq's history, as you claim to be so well versed in it. The truth is that Iraq has been allies of BOTH! Yes, at one point in time Iraq was indeed an ally of t

Reply to A Republican Speaks in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]You really think that quoting sources that quote sources that are also opinion pieces without actual evidence makes your stories more believable? It doesn't matter how many people quote the lies, they remain lies.[/quote] Aha, so not only have you not read the literature I provide as my source, but you magically know that all of their research and sources must be lies as well, of course for the sole fact that they are "liberals" (nowadays the term liberal can be used to encompas

Reply to A Republican Speaks in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]He really sounds like a "fair and balanced" jounalist....not. If your that easily influence by one hack trying to sell a book along with his philosophy, please don't read Mien Kampf or similar materials. I'm sure you can find other books that advance your personal thoughts on the issue....doesn't make it correct though. Research the material, not some else's interpretation of the material.[/quote] Well, have you read the book? And by the way, he's got a very exhaustive bibliogra

Reply to Should “Harsh” Interrogations Be Banned? in Politics JoeUser Forums

You -do- know that waterboarding was prosecuted by the U.S Military during war crimes trials after WW2 don't you? You -do- know that the origin for much of the "harsh interrogation" methods came from SERE (Survival, evasion, resistance and escape) a training program designed to prepare troops for the things the BAD GUYS would be doing to them if they got caught. Not only that, but by their own admission, the SERE instructors stressed that what they subjected service personne

Reply to A Republican Speaks in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]It's difficult enough to deal with a world in which people who have never been in a country and know little of its people or its history always know best about what the current government secretly does. But it's even worse, I guess, that for some reason those in power never listen to people like you but keep pretending like having had a real chance to see actual evidence is somehow supposed to be part of being an expert and giving advice.[/quote] Thank you for saying absolu