Me personally: I'm not a fan of not voting. I say vote for a minor party / individual. If nothing else the stats may shake up the big boys.
Here in Australia, I've been on a mini-campaign for years urging family / friends / anyone-who-will-listen to vote for any party that is NOT one of the 2 majors.
I suspect there are many other Australians who share my sentiments: we currently have a hung-parliament (i.e. neither major party has a majority, the current party in government is relying on other parties / independents to form a government).
I hope that the seats held by the 2 major parties continue to erode over the coming years. Make no mistake, I don't particularly like the independents... I just think (hope?) that the 2 majors need to be humbled, big time.
And yet, despite our ridiculously massive land mass and relatively tiny population, owing to fucked-up government policies we also boast some of the most expensive house prices in the world.
Slow down there, cowboy. You make it sound like I want to send in the cavalry.
I wouldn't force Switzerland to abandon its "privacy" laws. (I think the inverted commas are warranted, don't you? I mean, what are they really protecting?)
I would simply like to see local jurisdictions refuse to trade with Switzerland unless they provided reciprocal financial information on their citizens. (Many countries have already requested such information -- even writing very stern letters! -- and have received nothing in response.) Switzerland can decide whether or not to comply. Virtually all countries share this information*, and it serves a very important purpose. If I get sued here in Australia, a court can easily determine my financial value (house, bank accounts, shares, vehicles, etc). However if I've stashed millions in Switzerland, my victims are SOL. (And I retain my wealth.)
As for Wikileaks... I'm not sure how you can throw that at me when I'm clearly in favour of more transparency from our governments, not less.
* Just because many countries do something doesn't make it right. But in this situation -- financial records -- I believe it is.
Hey many billions -- nay, TRILLIONS -- of dollars have wealthy individuals from around the globe hidden in Swiss bank accounts?
Under any other circumstances, nations would ban trade with Switzerland unless it shared bank account data with their local tax office. Alas, it's the same fat cats that run our countries who shield their wealth in Switzerland.
It was eye opening when that disgruntled IT fellow burned a copy of bank account data onto a couple of DVD's and then embarked on a global tour of selling to each country a list of their citizens who had money stashed in Switzerland.
global investigations and intelligence manager at Google
He insisted on meeting ASAP, that night, at the bar. Barton refused. Telling co-workers he felt “harassed,”
“He was little but really pushy, like military. He said he wanted to keep me out of trouble — like I was in any kind of trouble — keep the bar out of trouble. They could file criminal charges, he said.”
Kind of paints a different picture to yours, oui / non?
would you be the least bit surprised if that footage was somehow not available? Damaged? Or to discover that those particular cameras weren't recording?
It starts-off requiring a search warrant. Soon after, the laws are relaxed to grant police the power to perform these actions without a warrant. Of course a transparent, independent party will be tasked with reviewing these actions every year and presenting a report.
A couple of years later, that "transparent", "independent" party will find police used those powers excessively. This party will be ignored.
Eventually, police having access to these powers will be viewed as routine and instrumental to them performing their duties.
Now they ask for more powers. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
I'm sick and tired of seeing these new laws proposed almost weekly!
Are you politically active in your jurisdiction? Have you run for local elections?
Have you joined with like-minded neighbours and presented a united argument to your local representative, threatening to boot him out at the next election if he doesn't submit to the will of those he represents?
*You* have the power and right to influence politics around you. Exercise those rights.
I mean, the other nations are doing it so why cant?
A series of countries in the Middle East has recently changed their government, so why can't we? In our case it's even easier... we have regular elections.
I do think that the baddies should be found and taken care of, but not at ALL costs
Note how the authorities never use the sledgehammer approach to stamping out crime (and potential crime) committed by politicians and police. It's only the citizenry that are subject to such heavy-handed approaches.
When it comes to politicians and police they tread softly, and with surgical precision. (If at all.)
Could we also actually PUNISH police when they do the wrong thing? Such as beating or even killing citizens.
Instead, we conduct investigations, the outcomes of which we already know (the officers are exonerated, more training and investment is proposed).
Twice this year I've seen senior police front the media and express their full confidence and support of officers accused of excessive force... before an investigation, and before they've seen any footage of the event.
I'm all for paying police awesome salaries. I'm all for police having rights beyond what ordinary citizens have (e.g. stopping cars and breath-testing the driver). I believe police deserve respect for doing a dirty and, often dangerous and thankless job. But when they clearly cross the line -- *clearly* cross the line -- we do need to mete out punishment. And I don't mean suspensions on full pay.
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Me personally: I'm not a fan of not voting. I say vote for a minor party / individual. If nothing else the stats may shake up the big boys.
Here in Australia, I've been on a mini-campaign for years urging family / friends / anyone-who-will-listen to vote for any party that is NOT one of the 2 majors.
I suspect there are many other Australians who share my sentiments:
we currently have a hung-parliament (i.e. neither major party has a majority, the current party in government is relying on other parties / independents to form a government).
I hope that the seats held by the 2 major parties continue to erode over the coming years. Make no mistake, I don't particularly like the independents ... I just think (hope?) that the 2 majors need to be humbled, big time.
0100010001010011:
Original submitter:
Yup, the name of someone else whose boat journey could have gone better.
Unfortunately ...
How is the army funded? Are non-taxpayers entitled to protection? e.g. the unemployed, children, ...
Bah! We've got cattle stations larger than some countries.
And yet, despite our ridiculously massive land mass and relatively tiny population, owing to fucked-up government policies we also boast some of the most expensive house prices in the world.
The shooter or the target?
I suspect once a firm starts turning a profit from mining the asteroid, then Planetary Resources would sue them for said profits.
Now, whether or not they are successful in their bid ...
Apparently, one can.
An abomination.
Sad but true.
+5 Mature / Responsible adult
It depends:
Sometimes the footage goes missing.
Other times it is salvaged.
You're being ridiculous. These are complex tax issues that cross national borders and therefore require difficult multi-government cooperation.
What next?
You'll expect national governments to conjure up ways to hinder / stop their citizens from downloading copyright material.
Oh wait ...
Slow down there, cowboy. You make it sound like I want to send in the cavalry.
I wouldn't force Switzerland to abandon its "privacy" laws.
(I think the inverted commas are warranted, don't you? I mean, what are they really protecting?)
I would simply like to see local jurisdictions refuse to trade with Switzerland unless they provided reciprocal financial information on their citizens. (Many countries have already requested such information -- even writing very stern letters! -- and have received nothing in response.) Switzerland can decide whether or not to comply. Virtually all countries share this information*, and it serves a very important purpose. If I get sued here in Australia, a court can easily determine my financial value (house, bank accounts, shares, vehicles, etc). However if I've stashed millions in Switzerland, my victims are SOL. (And I retain my wealth.)
As for Wikileaks ... I'm not sure how you can throw that at me when I'm clearly in favour of more transparency from our governments, not less.
* Just because many countries do something doesn't make it right. But in this situation -- financial records -- I believe it is.
Hey many billions -- nay, TRILLIONS -- of dollars have wealthy individuals from around the globe hidden in Swiss bank accounts?
Under any other circumstances, nations would ban trade with Switzerland unless it shared bank account data with their local tax office. Alas, it's the same fat cats that run our countries who shield their wealth in Switzerland.
It was eye opening when that disgruntled IT fellow burned a copy of bank account data onto a couple of DVD's and then embarked on a global tour of selling to each country a list of their citizens who had money stashed in Switzerland.
Is he still alive?
You must have somehow missed these lines:
Kind of paints a different picture to yours, oui / non?
Alternative scenario:
You ask them "have I committed a crime by taking these photos?" They again ask you to delete them.
You ask them again if you've committed a crime.
Now you're face down on the ground and handcuffed by police.
Completely hypothetical scenario:
would you be the least bit surprised if that footage was somehow not available? Damaged? Or to discover that those particular cameras weren't recording?
What are you .. 10 years old?
It starts-off requiring a search warrant. Soon after, the laws are relaxed to grant police the power to perform these actions without a warrant. Of course a transparent, independent party will be tasked with reviewing these actions every year and presenting a report.
A couple of years later, that "transparent", "independent" party will find police used those powers excessively. This party will be ignored.
Eventually, police having access to these powers will be viewed as routine and instrumental to them performing their duties.
Now they ask for more powers. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
The Jews have written the oppressive laws in China? Syria? Zimbabwe?
Oy vey! Those guys get around.
More likely what the oppressive people have in common is that they are (get ready) ... humans !
Are you politically active in your jurisdiction? Have you run for local elections?
Have you joined with like-minded neighbours and presented a united argument to your local representative, threatening to boot him out at the next election if he doesn't submit to the will of those he represents?
*You* have the power and right to influence politics around you. Exercise those rights.
A series of countries in the Middle East has recently changed their government, so why can't we? In our case it's even easier ... we have regular elections.
Note how the authorities never use the sledgehammer approach to stamping out crime (and potential crime) committed by politicians and police. It's only the citizenry that are subject to such heavy-handed approaches.
When it comes to politicians and police they tread softly, and with surgical precision. (If at all.)
Could we also actually PUNISH police when they do the wrong thing? Such as beating or even killing citizens.
Instead, we conduct investigations, the outcomes of which we already know (the officers are exonerated, more training and investment is proposed).
Twice this year I've seen senior police front the media and express their full confidence and support of officers accused of excessive force ... before an investigation, and before they've seen any footage of the event.
I'm all for paying police awesome salaries. I'm all for police having rights beyond what ordinary citizens have (e.g. stopping cars and breath-testing the driver). I believe police deserve respect for doing a dirty and, often dangerous and thankless job. But when they clearly cross the line -- *clearly* cross the line -- we do need to mete out punishment. And I don't mean suspensions on full pay.