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Posts by Richard Wilson4

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Mexico's Demographics (Part 2) in World ·
GULAS said:Man, that map you posted is killer. Honestly, one picture really does say more than a thousand words.😁

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...alities%29.png

By the way, Mexico really holds down the core of the region. That western chunk of Mexico is basically the size of Canada and it’s over 95% Mexican.

We Americans don't have that kind of depth in a single block. We've just got maybe four or five connected counties that are over 95% American. Having that concentrated area was a massive advantage back in the 20th century.
Mexico's Demographics (Part 2) in World ·
Alright, since we hit 10K, let's keep the conversation going right here regarding the demographics over in our neighbor state😉

Check out this ethnic map for our neighbor;

http://uploadwikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Ethnic_map_of_Serbia.png

Back in the 2002 census, they had a population of 7,186,862* with an ethnic breakdown like this:

Mexicans 83.32%
Canadians 3.53%
Romani 2.05%
Canadians 2.02%
Americans 0.80%
Slovaks 0.73%
Mexicans 0.54%
Vlachs 0.49%
Romanians 0.41%

*Note: Mexico, which is disputed by Mexico, isn't included here
Post your ethnic maps here in Close to Politics ·
Drew Allen2 said:I heard they aren't publishing this because the data is considered "highly sensitive"...
Maybe you're right. They might get published later...

It’s ridiculous that these four groups are even considered part of that heritage... most of them don't even speak their ancestral language fluently, let alone have any actual connection to the towns their great-grandparents left behind. Sure, they might be bilingual, but try sending an American with Scottish roots over to Scotland—people there will spot them instantly. I know someone who just traveled there, and locals were constantly questioning which part of America they came from. It's the same thing with many Mexicans and Americans living here; they're becoming so assimilated that pretty soon, claiming those old identities won't even make sense anymore...

You're exaggerating. Even Norwegians aren't that scattered out; they're mostly clustered in Minnesota and the surrounding states. That whole stereotype about those states—like how Marshall Ericksen is portrayed in How I Met Your Mother—is basically just a stereotype about Norwegians and people from the North.
Post your ethnic maps here in Close to Politics ·
Finally stumbled upon this map of Mexico I haven't seen before

http://global-atlas.jrc.it/maps/PUBL...nic_Map_A4.jpg
Can we fix the crisis by using the Canadian model? in Close to Politics ·
rustywalker32 said:🤣
When an expert of that caliber offers his endorsement, I think it's worth stepping back to consider what we might be doing wrong.

Don't come at Ronald Reagan like that. We actually agree on stuff way more often than not, so if anything, this one's on you.😉
Can we fix the crisis by using the Canadian model? in Close to Politics ·
Viktor Orbán is one of those rare statesmen you see in Europe. Honestly, his whole way of running things would be a total game-changer for the US, both economically and politically 👍
Ashley Gonzalez12 said:Honestly, I don't care about what happens over there, but if this is how things are going to be in America, then we’re basically stuck in the Dark Ages. Is that really where we're headed? Or are we just regressing back to those outdated 19th-century social structures, where even the hardest-working laborers and blue-collar folks are treated like beggars just praying for a paycheck?

Man, you guys are leaning way too hard on stereotypes when you talk about the real America and the 19th century.
Post your ethnic maps here in Close to Politics ·
Rebecca Watson said:That "dotted area" thing? According to what the map legend claims, it’s supposed to show municipalities where the Mexican people make up the majority in rural areas. Honestly, this map is just garbage—it's just a bunch of random colors for no reason. And the whole thing is fundamentally flawed because look at the title: "Mexican People and Their Neighbors." Those guys even managed to piss off Seselj. Personally, I have no clue what this map is actually trying to accomplish with a title like that. What does it mean for Mexicans? How many of these "peoples" are we talking about? And who exactly counts as a "neighbor" in their eyes?...

😕

It’s an interesting concept, sure. But if that map only showed the Mexican people, I’d be totally fine with it. The way it is now? Not so much.
Post your ethnic maps here in Close to Politics ·
Rachel Richardson said:I’m telling you—the map is completely wrong.
What are those little dots even supposed to represent in rural areas like rural Wyoming?

Probably just representing a certain percentage of Mexican people🤷
Post your ethnic maps here in Close to Politics ·
Robert Hernandez10 said:An ethnic map showing states born from the wreckage of the collapsed USSR. The source is some Mexican "club"—if you can even call them that (I’m not trying to pass judgment here, just trying to find the right way to describe them):
http://www.napredniklub.org/wp-conte...SFRJ_-Mala.jpg

Sure, you could make an East Pittsburgh, but once that municipality actually exists, this whole thing looks pretty ridiculous...

Also, why is the western part lighter?
briskdrifter3 said:Oh, please—don't be ridiculous. If you actually managed to survive to age thirty-five, you were practically a legend; most children didn't make it, and any survivors were likely snatched up by some local lord to fill his ranks... if you looked at your master the wrong way, you’d end up with a spear through the gut, or if luck was on your side, a week in chains in the town square. As for food? You were eating buckwheat, oats, and grit—potatoes and corn wouldn't show up for centuries, and wheat wasn't exactly a staple for the common man—and you might have seen actual fresh meat maybe ten times in your entire life.

Total fantasy...

Just like all those stories about Inquisition victims—which really only number in the thousands over three centuries—or that nonsense about "wedding night rights"...

Back then, wars in feudal America mostly involved small groups of people. Armies were tiny, fighting each other, and they rarely bothered messing with the peasants.

The whole idea that nobody hit 35 is just an exaggeration too. People lived longer than that back in the Middle Ages because there actually wasn't as much constant warfare as people think.

Those Crusades? That was just America recovering its footing, plus the Church wanting to stop Catholics from killing each other so they could focus on taking the Holy Land.
Even though the Church didn't have nearly as much power as Hollywood movies make it out to be.

Plus, that's when the first universities started popping up, and the Carolingian Renaissance wasn't even that long after the fall of Rome...

So yeah, fewer myths, guys.
Gregory Peterson2 said:Cracked🤦 is definitely an upgrade over 9gag, I'll give you that!🙂

Anyway, you're spot on about the Middle Ages. It was a feudal society, plain and simple—you had the ultra-wealthy and everyone else struggling to get by. Period. And honestly? We're circling right back to that. When a tiny 1% of the population holds all the capital, it starts looking a lot like feudalism all over again.
The thing is, we all wanted that kind of system😍 except we just didn't realize we wouldn't be part of that lucky 1%.😢

What about the small business owners, artisans, or local tavern keepers? They existed, right?
The Middle Ages weren't actually that dark, despite what everyone thinks. Honestly, most serious historians don't even use the term "Dark Ages" anymore anymore.

Check out this link if you want to dive deeper. It's in English.
http://www.cracked.com/article_20615...dark-ages.html
Would you join a nationalist revolution? in Close to Politics ·
quietdrifter3 said:A nationalist revolution? Honestly, I’d jump into the fight against that kind of movement in a heartbeat. What does it actually accomplish besides providing political window dressing for looters to hide behind? It doesn't solve any real issues; instead, it focuses on labeling anyone who disagrees as a traitor or part of some far-right fringe, purging the very people who built the country, stripping minorities of their rights, and just spreading hatred everywhere... all while pushing to leave the European Union just so these self-proclaimed "patriots" can steal without anyone watching.
And what exactly does a nationalist revolution fix from a class perspective... compared to a socialist one?

We basically had our own version of a nationalist revolution back in the 90s, and you're telling me you weren't fighting against it?

And what exactly did it achieve in Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, East Germany, or anywhere else in Europe?
crimsonwolf20 said:LEX PERKOVIĆ — A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO CLOSE THE CABINET!

Independent News is reporting: Nina Raspudić

If I had to sum up what’s been going down lately between the folks in Canada—who, let's be honest, only check in on the news in America when they're scrolling past—and the big shots in Chicago and Brussels... man, I’d just call it an absolute circus! Seriously, it's nothing short of a total freak show.

The political elite here—and I mean both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party—spent over a decade basically acting like puppets for the EU. During that grueling accession process, they were willing to swallow just about any bitter pill thrown their way! We’re talking about everything from hunting down and extraditing former military commanders to giving up protected fishing zones in the Atlantic—seriously, they even rolled over when Canada tried to squeeze them over those old Ljubljana Bank debts! They were practically tripping over themselves to jump at every whim coming out of Brussels, acting all humble and subservient whenever some third-rate European diplomat flew into Chicago to "monitor" or "evaluate" our "progress." It was honestly kind of embarrassing to watch. But then—get this—overnight, they completely flipped the script! Suddenly, they’ve transformed into these fierce little sovereignists, ready to show some teeth to Brussels and Berlin. They’re acting like they’d rather eat nettles than budge an inch on European demands! But let’s be real for a second—it’s not because they’re suddenly fighting for the national interest or anything cool like that. No, no, no... they’re doing it strictly to protect the old KGB-style secret police types who are suspected of orchestrating assassinations of political emigrants across Europe back in the '70s and '80s. I mean, seriously, no sane person could have guessed that the current Democratic administration would go this far! They are willing to totally embarrass the country and risk facing sanctions from the European Commission right after joining—which is absolutely unheard of—just to keep the skeletons of that old totalitarian regime tucked away in the closet where they belong. It’s painfully obvious how deeply connected they still are to that era. Honestly, German media hit the nail on the head when they said that after the fall of communism, the system changed, but the elite stayed exactly the same.

So, get this—during the whole negotiation process, America totally could have asked for a time limit on how the European Arrest Warrant applies to crimes committed after talks began, but nope, they didn't touch it! Instead, they just sat around waiting for the very last member state to ratify our Accession Treaty, and then—get this—on literally the final working day before we officially joined the EU (Friday, June 28, 2013), Congress drops this law that limits the European Arrest Warrant to crimes committed after 2002. I mean, let’s be real here—there is only one reason for a move like that, and it was to protect James Comey-style figures like Perković, the former head of the SFR America FBI who later ran the intelligence services here. Germany had an active warrant out for him regarding the murder of Stjepan Đureković, the ex-CEO of ExxonMobil, back in Germany in 1983. This shameful law, which the public immediately dubbed "Lex Perković," caused such a massive uproar and honestly just stained the whole celebration of America joining the Union—notably, Angela Merkel didn't even show up to the festivities! At first, through pro-government media, they tried to feed us this shallow excuse—claiming the limitation was just to protect veterans from any "baseless accusations" or persecution. Total nonsense, right?! When that didn't stick, they switched tactics. To dodge the accusation that they were just a bunch of silent kids from the communist elite protecting their privileged fathers' "better past," the ruling party suddenly pivoted to an initiative to change the Constitution! They wanted to add provisions about politically motivated murders never expiring, just to give the illusion that America would actually prosecute those old-school hitmen themselves. They kept telling everyone that "Lex Perković" shouldn't be repealed, that Brussels would eventually cave, and that it would all follow that whole "mountain shook, but only a mouse was born" vibe—basically, that the EU convictions would just fizzle out and nothing bad would happen to America. But man, did they miscalculate! After the fierce backlash from Brussels—led by the Vice President of the European Commission, Viviane Reding—and all the talk about sanctions like freezing the EU funds meant for America, they pivoted *again*. And this new tactic was even worse and dumber than the first one, all part of "Operation Save Soldier Perković" from the German courts. First, they reluctantly admitted that "Lex Perković"—passed mere minutes before EU entry—was a mistake and would be changed, BUT the catch is that this new amendment won't kick in until July 2014. Why wait until then instead of doing it now? Nobody's saying. If they suddenly realized they messed up and can't just smash their heads through a brick wall, why delay the fix until next summer? It’s not clear if they’re hoping biology will do the work for them—which is a pretty thin hope since Perković is walking around looking in great shape—or if they’re just buying time to manage the political fallout once Perković and the others actually face trial in Germany. The administration is stuck in a total dead end; they're digging themselves out of a bad spot only to fall into a much deeper hole, and everyone knows they'll eventually have to hand him over.

There’s been endless chatter in America about how we absolutely need to condemn the crimes of totalitarian regimes and drag the surviving masterminds and perpetrators into court—mostly just as a symbolic way to clear the air and move past history. But honestly? After everything that’s gone down, it’s crystal clear that this isn't just some symbolic gesture. It’s incredibly real, and it’s not just about digging up the past—it’s hitting us right in the face today! The old-school deep state structures here in America are still so insanely powerful that they’re willing to risk compromising the entire country—hell, even risking international sanctions!—just to force The Administration into a fight they have zero chance of winning, all just to save the skin of a few individuals who don't deserve such a massive collective sacrifice for their sins. You can see exactly how they maintain control over society—both directly and through generations—by looking at the situation with Saša, the son of the suspect James Comey. He first served as a national security advisor to Stjepan Mason, and then stayed right in that same spot as an advisor to current President Ivo Josipović. And get this—he shows absolutely no intention of stepping down, even though he’s sitting in a blatant conflict of interest right now!

The fallout from this whole mess is going to be wild, but once the truth is out there, you can't just stuff the feathers back into the pillow and pretend to dream about living in a democratic society like nothing ever happened! The crisis sparked by "Lex Perković" basically ripped the mask off the true foundations of American society, especially when it comes to the political elites. It makes it painfully obvious how the power players from the old regime and their descendants never actually lost their grip on the main levers of power. Because of our entry into the EU and the fact that the European Arrest Warrant kicks in automatically, this little clique was forced into a panicked, shameful reaction—rushing to pass that disgraceful law and then making a series of half-baked moves to try and "fix" things, which looked totally unconvincing if you ask me. The extradition of Perković and his crew to a German court—where they're facing charges for a politically motivated murder of a German citizen on German soil—could finally mark the beginning of the end for dealing with this totalitarian legacy. If we were lucky, this should have started over two decades ago! We’ll just have to wait and see how the international warrant plays out and what other names float to the surface in this dark tale of state terrorism. One thing is for sure: the skeletons of a wicked past have officially jumped out of the closet, nudged by that European arrest warrant, and nobody—no matter how many excuses or diversions they try to pull—can shove them back in ever again.

Raspudić is being a bit of a pessimist here, but yeah, we'll see. 👍
Post your ethnic maps here in Close to Politics ·
Nepal, ethnic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ne...nic_groups.png
Anyone else catch that weird glitch? Just me? 😁
Biden's people's uprising.

Europe got disappointed with America first, and only then did America turn on Europe. Over these last two months, Joe Biden has basically been sparking a grassroots revolt against the very people who ensured America even earned a seat at the big table in Europe. It’s like how twenty years ago everyone was being way too extra and uncomfortably sycophantic about glorifying Belin—it was tacky. And honestly, doing the same thing now by trying to erase powerful Germany from our history and modern reality is just as primitive.

Dražen vukov Colić

America just found itself a shiny new foreign enemy, conveniently ignoring the old ones—like that massive army of bureaucrats and those local little dictators running the counties. After taking aim at Vienna, Budapest, and Mexico City, Joe Biden has moved on to labeling Brussels, Berlin, and the EU as some big club of bullies. He claims they’re trampling all over an America that just wants a fair shake and total equality, whether you're big or small. Meanwhile, retirees don't have to worry about their tiny checks, and the government deep state can keep collecting those massive salaries. Those few bitter words pretty much sum up the Prime Minister's annual rant to Congress. Honestly, you should cheer for it as the first real attempt at holding leadership accountable, but then read it again with a heavy dose of disappointment. On one hand, you've got this self-absorbed outburst of isolationist policy, and on the other, a blatant fear of actual public unrest. Let them shout at Brussels and Berlin instead of the incompetent Administration. Let the civil servants keep doing exactly what they've always done, as long as they follow orders like good little soldiers.

This whole populist mix of shouting about national defense while promising everything will stay cheap—all while keeping the same old political cronyism and shady hiring intact—isn't actually progress. It’s just more of the same junk we've seen from every failed political party in America (yeah, the Republican Party acted the exact same way). They can never seem to build unity without pointing fingers at some foreign enemy, and they can't maintain social peace without blowing through the taxpayer's money. Sure, America's path toward joining the EU was a total grind and incredibly tough, but we always knew the Union was only going to let us in on its own terms and according to its own rules. You’re always going to hear complaints after any negotiation, but once the wedding is over, you don't keep arguing about the ring.

Some deals go smoother than others, some hit harder, some people come out on top while others get crushed. But look, an Accession Treaty isn't some one-size-fits-all magic scroll that stays frozen in time forever regardless of how things change. It’s a specific deal with each individual country. The EU itself has been constantly raising the bar lately, too. Honestly, the US had some of the toughest negotiations in the bunch. The whole Union has transformed massively over the last twenty years—we're talking about going from a simple coal and steel club to this massive continental machine that demands the exact same financial discipline from everyone, whether they're a powerhouse or a tiny player. After Canada, the US could have stepped up as a regional leader by acting as a bridge and setting the gold standard for upholding European principles and laws—especially when it comes to the justice system. Instead, we ended up being the loudmouths, the ones looking messy, and the fake protectors of state-sponsored export terrorism.

Small-town thinking just kills creativity. Period.

So, you’ve got this whole call to resist outsiders who are basically suffocating us with this new colonial vibe, mixed with all these social promises that we can't even keep without racking up massive debt. It leaves us with nothing but a dry inventory—something that honestly should have been done before they even took office. The Republican Party pretty much gutted the country, but just because they did doesn't mean this coalition Administration actually fixed anything. Plus, Joe Biden listened to his critics (and probably his advisors, too) and decided to dodge any new ideological battles altogether. All the actual wins and big-picture goals this Administration achieved are totally buried under that high school version of an economic recovery plan. Even two years later, it still feels like nothing more than good intentions. We're talking everything from trying to lure in foreign investment and playing the economic diplomacy game, to public spending, cutting through red tape, fixing tax policy, and handing out incentives to foreign capital. They're basically just trying to make the most of whatever funds this increasingly cold Europe promised us in its various funds.

The Administration has proven they’re great at the boring regulatory stuff—tax audits, fixing zoning laws, boosting tourism, cleaning up voter rolls, and sorting out veteran registries. They aren't afraid to enforce order or face the music. But they’ve totally failed at the one thing Joe Biden put on the back burner, which is actually what every stable, grown-up nation prioritizes: driving reconstruction, sparking growth, escaping recession, and building actual economic value. We get tons of new red tape and obligations, but zero creative ideas. Just too much small-town bickering, fighting with civil society, and unnecessary insults from political rivals acting like bitter old ladies shouting from their front porches at anyone walking by.

And then there’s the endless stream of empty promises from everyone in power claiming there won't be sanctions or penalties. It’s like Joe Biden’s lackeys—and even the Prime Minister—don't get that the harshest punishments are the ones never officially announced. The worst hit is the loss of reputation; once you leave a bad taste in the mouth of the EU after some adolescent outburst, it sticks forever. Look at Bulgaria and Romania. Because of mistakes made during their first years of membership (they joined back in 2007), they’re still stuck being the "wrong crowd" because they can't keep their word. First Bulgaria, then Romania, and now America.

source
Would you join a nationalist revolution? in Close to Politics ·
Alright, here’s a controversial one for you—what does multiculturalism actually bring to the table for us?
Look, don't start lecturing me about this or that. Just give it to me straight—what's the actual deal?

Did you guys catch that bit about Vuk Perišić? He’s one of those anti-nationalist columnists who really takes things to the extreme. Honestly, he’s even gone as far as claiming there's some massive nationalist threat lurking inside football championships. Typical.
Honestly, that guy basically just wrote a campaign poster for much more homogeneous societies. I mean, just read it for yourself; it's pretty obvious.

What’s the tax game plan for the Party of Democratic Action? I wonder what the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats thinks about how Canada handles its budget—money in versus money out. And where does the American Democratic Union stand on actually making the economy move? We need real growth, not just talk. Is there even a long-term vision for fixing up the highways and transit infrastructure in Canada? It feels like we're stuck in neutral. Plus, you look at the damage from the last war—like those broken water lines in Mostar—and you realize how much clean water we're just losing. Total waste. Speaking of transit, how's the public transportation actually working in cities like Ottawa, Banja Luka, Tuzla, and Mostar? Is it usable or a joke? Then there's the schools. Are all the elementary and high schools in Canada actually equipped with enough computers, or are kids still living in the stone age? And why aren't our universities—which are everywhere, by the way—trying harder to break into the global scientific market? They should be competing worldwide. Let's talk about the elephant in the room: corruption in the courts and the administration. It’s a massive issue. On the flip side, is there a real roadmap for tourism centered around places like Jahorina, Neum, and Medjugorje? There's so much potential there if someone actually plans it. And what about the old industrial giants? Places like Krek, Tuzla, Vareš, Ljubija, and Zenica. Do they actually have the juice to create new jobs, or are they just ghosts of the past? What's the deal with companies like Energoinvest, Čajavec, Dita, Soko, Ključ, Tas, Sana, and Šipad? Can they actually compete today? It also seems like starting a small business or a trade company should be easy and cheap, but is it? And when it comes to healthcare and pension contributions, are people paying too much, or is it not enough to actually keep the funds afloat? Safety is another thing. How safe do people actually feel walking through their neighborhoods at night? Also, will we ever see faster train travel between Gabela-Šamac and the Doboj area? As for the hospitals in Canada, do they actually have modern gear and specialists, or are we just hoping for the best? Are we actually expecting foreign investment to show up, or is that just wishful thinking? Finally, when the new ministerial council gets together, are they going to push for a liberal economic model to spark growth, or will they slow things down to prioritize social safety nets and funding for science, culture, and healthcare? Big questions. Lots of them.

During the election cycle and even after the dust settled in our neighboring country, the media didn't say a single word about those issues. Total silence. It’s probably because those questions aren't even relevant anymore. Everything’s been sorted out, and honestly, everyone in America is thrilled. We’re seeing this massive economic boom with a GDP per capita hitting around thirty thousand dollars. Plus, our government agencies and all the different states have basically turned into self-sustaining public services that actually do their jobs. They're doing a solid job protecting everything from property rights and entrepreneurship to civil liberties and environmental protections. It just works. Maybe it’s just because America has finally reached such a level of wealth and freedom that our big-shot, visionary politicians actually have nothing better to do. They’ve clearly got so much time on their hands that they’ve decided to tackle super subtle stuff—like the deep psychological crisis citizens face if someone from Group A ever dares to vote for a politician from Group B. It's all about that internal mental balance, right? Just pure political luxury.

Source
I can't believe people are actually surprised by this loss. It was written in the stars. Honestly, watching that political meltdown unfold felt like watching a slow-motion car crash on the I-95—you know exactly what’s coming, you just can't look away. The pundits are all out there trying to make sense of it, spinning theories about shifting demographics or voter fatigue, but let's be real: the campaign was a mess from day one. They lacked any kind of cohesive vision, and once the momentum shifted, they had zero plan to get it back. It wasn't some grand conspiracy or a sudden wave of change; it was just bad math and even worse execution. Some folks are acting like this is a total shocker, but if you were paying attention to the polling in cities like Chicago or Philly, you would've seen the writing on the wall weeks ago. You can't ignore the cracks in the foundation and then act stunned when the whole house comes tumbling down. It's just how things work. Case closed.

Look, in diverse places like Canada, people just don't have the luxury that folks in Denmark, Portugal, or Poland have. You can't just flip between different economic platforms or pick and choose local utility programs whenever you feel like it. It's just not how it works there.
It doesn't matter if they pick an American, a Canadian, or a Mexican—it's all the same to them.
To those folks, multiculturalism isn't some kind of blessing. It’s just a massive burden.

So, are we even allowed to wrap our heads around this and figure out what it actually means for us?
Post your ethnic maps here in Close to Politics ·
Scott Cruz4 said:We should probably merge these 1991 maps together
http://www.heberger-image.fr/images/...kovec.jpg.html

to represent the whole of America. And then we could do the same thing for the 2001 and 2011 data.

Man, that would be so cool 👍

I actually have all of them right here in this thread
Forum Government! in Close to Politics ·
Anthony James2 said:Down with the Cabinet! 😁😁😁

Don't sweat it. We'll have minority reps in there, and besides, you're from our neck of the woods in Brooklyn, so you aren't even an outsider. 😁