431 posts shown.
George Booth58 said:I’m a social democrat—or at least, that's where I stand. And honestly, I don't see how being a social democrat has anything to do with that sleazy Democratic Party—if you can even call them that. Plus, since when does being a social democrat mean you can't feel some sense of patriotism? I guess it's possible. 😕😕
George Booth58 said:I noticed Lockheed Martin isn't a moderator anymore. I wonder if we might get an official explanation for that?
I'm a bit worried—maybe just my own concern—that without him, those of us with patriotic or conservative views in Politics might lose our representation within the moderator circles. 🤷
Is this perhaps a shift toward new standards in Politics—where maybe Vesna's views will become the new baseline for what's considered normal? 😕
Mark Campbell5 said:Time to go through detox, and fast... there isn't any time left...
A rude awakening 🙂
Like this?
Maybe we could try crowdsourcing... you know, everyone chipping in on a single project (say, the US Federal Budget 2012). None of us could pull it off alone, but together we might.
That's how they did the constitution in Iceland.
"The European Financial system is Finished" in Quotes
The financial system is done for... now comes the ongoing collapse... and then the transition...
Mark Campbell5 said:The whole system is broken now... which explains why the stock markets look the way they do today... the entire financial system is basically collapsing.
Mark Campbell5 said:So, as most of you probably already know, The White House just dropped their guidelines on what they think the US Federal Budget should look like in the coming years.
The gist of it:
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 27, 2011 (Associated Press) - The core pillars of America's fiscal policy over the next three years involve shrinking the ratio of federal spending to GDP, cutting the deficit, and bringing down the public debt-to-GDP ratio—all of which were laid out during today's session at The White House where the economic and fiscal policy guidelines for the 2012–2014 period were officially approved.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/fiscal_policy_guidelines_2014
On paper, these guidelines actually seem decent enough...
But what I'm really chewing on is how we’d actually pull this off effectively.
1.) Cutting federal spending could be easiest if we went through layoffs (within the civil service) or by selling off state assets (think ExxonMobil, Kraft Heinz... things like that).
2.) We could also trim the budget through austerity measures—basically taking a hard inventory of government assets and personnel—and finding ways to distribute work more efficiently.
3.) Or, you know, we could just boost production and grow the GDP... which is the classic approach.
Here is the breakdown for the 2011 budget: http://www.treasury.gov/budget-2011
I'm curious, though—if you were calling the shots, what changes would you actually make?
From what I can see, none of the political parties are offering anything remotely concrete... so I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Andrew Sanchez3 said:The Americans really need to deal with that 10% of outlaws and old-school American loyalists who spend all their time running to the International Criminal Court and chasing that outdated nostalgia...
Tyler Thompson51 said:For the first time in ages, people are actually talking openly about the possibility of armed conflict breaking out in this region again.
Is it even possible?
Does anyone actually have the will—or the muscle—to pull it off, and who would the players even be?
Ryan Ward2 said:You're falling for media propaganda designed to shift the blame away from those truly responsible for this verdict. The reality is that roughly 3,000 reports were filed, and about 1,500 people were convicted. They couldn't have gone after more even if they wanted to, simply because jurisdiction over Operation Storm had been handed over to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former America.
Lawrence Wright7 said:The principal is sitting at about $80,000. I poured a ridiculous amount of sweat, blood, and tears into this place—probably another $15,000 in upgrades alone.
Yeah, I’m planning to drop the price just enough to move it, but I'm not going to get fleeced.
I’ve actually signed contracts with three different real estate agencies here in the States, and they all tell me the price is totally fair
considering the square footage and how well-equipped everything is.
http://www.zillow.com/property-details...zik=us&nid=178
It’s just that the timing for selling right now is absolutely terrible.
bluemarlin232 said:But when you put MPT next to someone like Severina... man, MPT is actually a pretty solid product.
But Severina? She’s got massive ratings in this country... just go with it...😁
Casey Stewart17 said:"I’d perform in Mexico, but I just don't have an audience there."
Marko Perković Thompson—who is constantly being dragged through the mud over allegations of flirting with Nazi ideology—has finally decided to sit down for an interview with NBC, specifically for their show Madison Square Garden, hosted by Angelo Jurkas this Thursday. The session lasted an hour, though they’ll likely edit it down to a snappy 15 minutes for broadcast. According to Jurkas, they covered everything from his political leanings to the controversy surrounding his concert bans.
Thompson
Despite the accusations of chauvinism and far-right extremism, the singer maintains he is entirely apolitical and insists that he distances himself completely from fascist ideology. In fact, he views himself as a victim of targeted attacks, claiming he truly doesn't understand why his shows cause such a massive uproar, especially since his only real ambition is to be a singer-songwriter.
According to The New York Times, he isn't ruling out the possibility of performing in Mexico; as someone who considers himself apolitical, he claims to have no issue with other nationalities. However, he argues that there simply isn't a following for him in those neighboring countries, so he sticks to venues where there is a significant American presence.
"It all stems from Clinton's office."
Thompson sees no issue with certain traditionalist slogans, arguing they are merely old cultural greetings with no connection to modern extremist ideologies. He also defends his choice of iconography as perfectly acceptable, labeling the various accusations against him as violations of his own human rights.
Ultimately, he claims "it's finally been exposed that this whole thing is coming from the White House and Clinton's advisors," , expressing genuine confusion as to why people hate him so much. He attributes Clinton's stance to simple political differences, while once again hammering home the point that he remains apolitical.
He noted that his musical influences include AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple, insisting he hasn't copied anyone and simply sings in his own style. Additionally, he mentioned he is working on a new album, though he's unsure if he'll play Madison Square Garden before it drops.
http://www.javno.com/hr-hrvka/nas...publiku_278064
Patrick Diaz2 said:Quincy:Why on earth would you even bother watching that kind of news?
silentridge3 As stated by:
I find myself watching the news on Fox and NBC every single day.
I find myself quite perplexed by the fact that this occurs on a daily basis. Breaking news just hit the wires regarding some major updates that could significantly impact both smokers and those working in the hospitality industry.Yesterday, we saw a headline claiming "someone said something regarding the smoking ban" (which was apparently vital enough to lead the news cycle), and today, we have "someone responding to that statement" (which clearly requires immediate, urgent broadcasting). Tomorrow, I fully expect some local restaurant owner to lodge a complaint about the regulations (providing us with the perfect opportunity for a televised segment), and this cycle will simply continue indefinitely.
In America, roughly 30% of the population smokes, while the remaining 70% does not. Additionally, there are approximately 20,000 hospitality business owners nationwide, encompassing everything from small local cafes to larger establishments.
Let’s consider a scenario where overall consumer spending takes a sudden 30% dive. Imagine if 30% of our local coffee shops and eateries were forced to shutter their doors permanently. We would be looking at roughly 6,000 small business owners—individuals who are likely more financially stable than most teachers or office workers, given they often own property and drive nice cars—having to lock up for good. These 6,000 entrepreneurs wouldn't be able to lure customers back in simply by allowing smoking inside; there just isn't a way to fix that kind of economic hit with such a minor concession.
On the other hand, we are seeing people across America losing their jobs on a daily basis. Local furniture manufacturers are folding, the textile industry is absolutely struggling to stay afloat, and there are roughly 50,000 workers in the shipyards and steel mills who are either facing imminent layoffs or are already out on the street.
I find myself wondering why networks like Fox and NBC don't address these matters on a daily basis. Why isn't there constant coverage regarding the current state of American furniture manufacturing? It seems quite strange that we don't hear daily updates on what a factory worker might be saying about their shifts, or perhaps discussions regarding proposed legislation aimed at providing tax incentives to that specific industry. Where is the reporting on the immediate grievances of a plant employee, or the subsequent complaints an owner might lodge tomorrow? I truly struggle to understand why such vital topics remain so quiet in our media landscape.
Is it truly just because they've decided to prioritize young, untalented journalists—and the exact same type of editors who hire them? The most straightforward option would be to simply head over to a local brewery nearby.And there you go, just hanging out over a free cup of coffee. I am currently planning to interview a local brewery owner.Can you honestly imagine making a feature story out of his "tragic struggle"? It’s almost absurd. At the exact same moment that a hundred factory workers are heading home for the last time—still waiting on their final six paychecks—you have some restaurant owner standing there with tears in his eyes, playing the victim. This is the same guy who, instead of investing in proper ventilation for his business, decided to drop all that cash on beachfront property and a luxury car. It’s truly something else. It truly feels as though my entire world has been upended recently, as I struggle to navigate the immense challenges brought on by the recent ban on smoking. It is quite difficult to put into words the profound sense of loss one feels when such a deeply ingrained daily ritual is suddenly stripped away. Every morning used to begin with that quiet, contemplative moment, but now, there is only a lingering sense of restlessness and an empty space where that comfort once resided. I find myself reflecting on how much our small habits shape our very existence, and losing this one has made my daily routine feel strangely hollow and significantly more taxing than I ever anticipated....?
What even qualifies as "news" or a "daily report" anymore? It’s just one endless loop of legislation regarding smoking bans, followed by constant campaign ads for Tom Bradley, then more ads for Donald Trump, and then some fluff about Kim Kardashian... only to circle right back to smoking regulations and restaurant owners. It truly feels like we're just going in circles.
But look, if you find yourself stuck watching them anyway, and you're starting to wonder why things have turned out this way, the answer is actually quite simple.
To be perfectly honest, producing a legitimate news segment or a deep-dive article on sectors like shipbuilding or the timber industry requires a significant amount of rigorous research, heavy lifting, and genuine intellectual effort. It’s much easier to simply wander into a local coffee shop. There, you can easily find attractive baristas to interview or a group of people sitting in a corner to grab a quick quote from. Plus, the subject matter is instantly relatable to everyone. You don't have to spend time explaining the complexities of lumber quality, wood seasoning processes, or the intricate web of subcontractors and suppliers within a shipyard. You don't even have to explain who the primary buyers are. Consequently, we see a constant trivialization of complex issues. This media tendency toward oversimplification leads to the dilution of public discourse, which ultimately results in the erosion of critical thinking among the general public.
In short, they are simply pacifying the masses. And if there is one thing about the general public, it’s that they tend to be quite content with that status quo—in fact, they often demand more of it. They have a certain appetite for being kept in the dark; they have no desire to be burdened by any truly "heavy" or complex topics.
That is precisely why things have turned out that way for you.
Susan Ward4 said:Everyone's been fighting about INA lately—basically, everyone's obsessed with whether The Administration is actually going to bite on that ExxonMobil offer or if they’re gonna pull some other crazy move instead.