There is a third way too. It tends to involve guns and people getting killed, but eventually it will probably have to happen for the United States to get back towards some sort of Democratic government.
I don't buy it. There are inconsistancies in the article, eg: "With initial negotiations and surveys already complete, " then "The exact routes have yet to be determined." Well which is it? You can't do a survey if you don't know the route. Also there's no way India approached China for anything. The Indians don't like the Chinese (at least at Govt level).
This sounds really cool, but I'll bet a dollar its not going to happen.
Try New Zealand. We have a system of points where the amount of money you bring in to invest, your level of education, English lanuguage ability and job skills all add up to a number that will allow you to get residency. The place is not perfect, but its not too bad. We have Socialized medicine here, funded by taxes and it works ok. The climate is not too exteme, (although the bottom of the South Island is pretty cold in the winter), and the people are usually very friendly. The down side is that our national sports are Rugby and cricket, and the rules are pretty complicated for those not bought up in a culture where they're played. A German friend of mine has given up on learning about Test Cricket, it just takes too much effort.
Yup, I live in NZ, and that's pretty much the same experience you'd get if you lived here. I needed some surgery last year, not urgent but it needed to be done. So I went on the waiting list, and had the surgery within a few months. I assume the really urgent cases went before me, and that's fine by me. Over here we read about Obama having trouble reforming the health system in the US, and we roll our eyes. Then we laugh. Our system is cheaper that the US insurance, and works better too.
Absolutely. I lost interest in the Olympics when the Iron Curtin collapsed. All of a sudden it wasn't those dirty cheating commies using drugs to win, it was our guys.
You're right about Catholics. My kids go to Catholic schools, and there's no doubt at all about where R.E. fits into things. I can't help thinking of the Pink Floyd lyrics when ever I have to go to Mass:
Far away across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spells.
Christianity seems like a bunch of magic spells to me.
You're quite right, although my Dad, ( a former Paratrooper) showed me where to punch a bully without hurting my fist, and I did it. It gave me a hell of a fright, because he forgot to tell me that you can damn near kill someone like that. I seem to remember getting a fairly mild punishment from a teacher, and being left alone by the bullys after that however. I'm not going to tell you where to punch someone either, (its not behind the bike shed).
Absolutely. Bring your skills to New Zealand. We love Americans here. You more or less speak our language, you share a lot of the same culture (you've exported a lot of yours to us actually), and depending on where you're from you might find the climates better too.
My kids are not taught any of that actually. They are taught that they'll be special when they make an effort to do something exeptional, if they don't study they're punished, and those at the school who achieve are held up as role models to the other kids. Mind you, they're in New Zealand not the US. That might be the difference.
The headline of the article above this one reads"Russian Whistleblower Cop Arrested". Makes one think. I would characterise the US government as plutarchy, according to Wikipedia's definintion:
"Plutocracy is rule by the wealthy, or power provided by wealth. The combination of both plutocracy and oligarchy is called plutarchy".
"An oligarchy is a form of government in which power effectively rests with a small elite segment of society distinguished by royal, wealth, intellectual, family, military, or religious hegemony".
There is some evidence that they didn't entirely live in harmony with their environment. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_megafauna
I don't have any other comment to make about Aboriginals, as I don't know any. I would imagine that they're pretty much like any other racial group. You know, tall ones, short ones, smart ones, dumb ones, extoverts, etc. You get the picture.
Yes, I live in NZ, and we had basically the same FPP system, except our upper house had voted itself out of existance in 1950. Since 1996 we have used MMP (Mixed Member Proportional) to elect our MPs, and I think we've wound up with better value for money. It means that neither National (Tories), or Labour can dictate in quite the way they can in the Uk, because they are always in coalition with one of the smaller parties, who have their own agenda, and can moderate some of the loonier policies of the extreme right or left. (And we some some real loonies on both sides of the aisle).
It might even mean that life is extemely common. If two planets in the same solar system can evole life seperately, then it would seem to be very common. If of course Mars life is a seperate evolution, and not panspermia.
I don't think that's quite right. I think that the US political parties' goal is actually to help American corporate interests. After all thats where most of their campaign money comes from isn't it? I don't think the citizens are really thought about much by those in charge.
Yes, and here are a few of them:
Thou shalt not brandish an Uzi while driving behind an old person.
Thou shalt not compose limericks at a funeral.
Thou shalt not teleport within sight of technologically-inferior species.
Thou shalt not use the "X word."
Thou shalt not say "groady".
Thou shalt not fast-forward through the commercials.
It's not a great idea to teach 'em to bark, either...
Thou shalt not teach a ferret to yodel.
Thou shalt not have misplaced priorities.
Thou shalt not align yourself with the dark side of the force.
Thou shalt not freeze-frame to look up Jessica Rabbitt's dress.
Thou shalt not buy stuff made in sweat shops unless it's really trendy and just to die for.
I can't claim them, they're from here: http://www.mindworkshop.com/alchemy/command.html
Slashdot Mirror
I'm gald you responded, as the Troll was so funny. It really brightened up my day.
There is a third way too. It tends to involve guns and people getting killed, but eventually it will probably have to happen for the United States to get back towards some sort of Democratic government.
I would agree with ClearOS. Super easy to set up, then you get everything required and more.
I don't buy it. There are inconsistancies in the article, eg: "With initial negotiations and surveys already complete, " then "The exact routes have yet to be determined." Well which is it? You can't do a survey if you don't know the route. Also there's no way India approached China for anything. The Indians don't like the Chinese (at least at Govt level). This sounds really cool, but I'll bet a dollar its not going to happen.
Try New Zealand. We have a system of points where the amount of money you bring in to invest, your level of education, English lanuguage ability and job skills all add up to a number that will allow you to get residency. The place is not perfect, but its not too bad. We have Socialized medicine here, funded by taxes and it works ok. The climate is not too exteme, (although the bottom of the South Island is pretty cold in the winter), and the people are usually very friendly. The down side is that our national sports are Rugby and cricket, and the rules are pretty complicated for those not bought up in a culture where they're played. A German friend of mine has given up on learning about Test Cricket, it just takes too much effort.
Maybe we could spell Care Bear correctly instead.
Seriously, maybe he should think about doing just that. Nothing to do with being lefties or righties, just worth considering.
Yup, I live in NZ, and that's pretty much the same experience you'd get if you lived here. I needed some surgery last year, not urgent but it needed to be done. So I went on the waiting list, and had the surgery within a few months. I assume the really urgent cases went before me, and that's fine by me. Over here we read about Obama having trouble reforming the health system in the US, and we roll our eyes. Then we laugh. Our system is cheaper that the US insurance, and works better too.
Absolutely. I lost interest in the Olympics when the Iron Curtin collapsed. All of a sudden it wasn't those dirty cheating commies using drugs to win, it was our guys.
You're right about Catholics. My kids go to Catholic schools, and there's no doubt at all about where R.E. fits into things. I can't help thinking of the Pink Floyd lyrics when ever I have to go to Mass: Far away across the field The tolling of the iron bell Calls the faithful to their knees To hear the softly spoken magic spells. Christianity seems like a bunch of magic spells to me.
I think that US citizens need to get used to the fact that they don't live in a democracy. Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligarchy or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutocracy We could argue aboiut which form of government you really have, but it ain't democracy.
You're quite right, although my Dad, ( a former Paratrooper) showed me where to punch a bully without hurting my fist, and I did it. It gave me a hell of a fright, because he forgot to tell me that you can damn near kill someone like that. I seem to remember getting a fairly mild punishment from a teacher, and being left alone by the bullys after that however. I'm not going to tell you where to punch someone either, (its not behind the bike shed).
Absolutely. Bring your skills to New Zealand. We love Americans here. You more or less speak our language, you share a lot of the same culture (you've exported a lot of yours to us actually), and depending on where you're from you might find the climates better too.
Wow, I can't believe all that. It seems amazing that such bizarre drivel gets taught anywhere.
My kids are not taught any of that actually. They are taught that they'll be special when they make an effort to do something exeptional, if they don't study they're punished, and those at the school who achieve are held up as role models to the other kids. Mind you, they're in New Zealand not the US. That might be the difference.
That was more or less my thought too. I imagine Tennesee is probably quite a good choice if your flavour of Chirstianity is a Protestant one.
The headline of the article above this one reads"Russian Whistleblower Cop Arrested". Makes one think. I would characterise the US government as plutarchy, according to Wikipedia's definintion: "Plutocracy is rule by the wealthy, or power provided by wealth. The combination of both plutocracy and oligarchy is called plutarchy". "An oligarchy is a form of government in which power effectively rests with a small elite segment of society distinguished by royal, wealth, intellectual, family, military, or religious hegemony".
Blasphemy surely.
Not in the Catholic Church, no. The Pope does the interpreting for you. (A Soviet joke now please).
There is some evidence that they didn't entirely live in harmony with their environment. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_megafauna I don't have any other comment to make about Aboriginals, as I don't know any. I would imagine that they're pretty much like any other racial group. You know, tall ones, short ones, smart ones, dumb ones, extoverts, etc. You get the picture.
Yes, I live in NZ, and we had basically the same FPP system, except our upper house had voted itself out of existance in 1950. Since 1996 we have used MMP (Mixed Member Proportional) to elect our MPs, and I think we've wound up with better value for money. It means that neither National (Tories), or Labour can dictate in quite the way they can in the Uk, because they are always in coalition with one of the smaller parties, who have their own agenda, and can moderate some of the loonier policies of the extreme right or left. (And we some some real loonies on both sides of the aisle).
It might even mean that life is extemely common. If two planets in the same solar system can evole life seperately, then it would seem to be very common. If of course Mars life is a seperate evolution, and not panspermia.
They're actually twice as big as they need to be.
I don't think that's quite right. I think that the US political parties' goal is actually to help American corporate interests. After all thats where most of their campaign money comes from isn't it? I don't think the citizens are really thought about much by those in charge.
Yes, and here are a few of them: Thou shalt not brandish an Uzi while driving behind an old person. Thou shalt not compose limericks at a funeral. Thou shalt not teleport within sight of technologically-inferior species. Thou shalt not use the "X word." Thou shalt not say "groady". Thou shalt not fast-forward through the commercials. It's not a great idea to teach 'em to bark, either... Thou shalt not teach a ferret to yodel. Thou shalt not have misplaced priorities. Thou shalt not align yourself with the dark side of the force. Thou shalt not freeze-frame to look up Jessica Rabbitt's dress. Thou shalt not buy stuff made in sweat shops unless it's really trendy and just to die for. I can't claim them, they're from here: http://www.mindworkshop.com/alchemy/command.html