DFINITLYDISTRUBD Posted July 26, 2008 Report Share Posted July 26, 2008 Michaelangelica-It seems such a pity to decide not to have some say in how your country is run and leave it to the fanatical 30%. I can't understand why yanks are still sticking with the Republican Party after the mess they have made and the money they have flushed down the toilet. Obarma should be miles ahead- but he isn't.I didn't vote for 'em:hihi: I'm a Libertarian sadly we as of yet haven'thad a candidate worth backing (have we even had one at all?). Freexy-Seriously though, the only event I can think of in American history that has been compulsory has been the war drafts (and that only affected a portion of the population). That didn't go over too well. At 18 we have to register with the selective service. I think we aught to be able to vote @$$holes like Bush out at any time during their term:) I'd definitly vote for that one;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeztar Posted July 26, 2008 Report Share Posted July 26, 2008 I didn't vote for 'em:hihi: I'm a Libertarian sadly we as of yet haven'thad a candidate worth backing (have we even had one at all?). I'm (mostly) a Libertarian. :) I have one main gripe with the platform: the approach to the environment. The candidates for the Libertarian party can be found here:Barr-Root | Libertarian Party I have enjoyed reading Bob Barr's editorials in the local paper and agree with his vision of liberty. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with his platform yet, so I can't say whether or not I will support him/them. At 18 we have to register with the selective service. Uhhh...yeah...that...:doh::shrug: I don't know how I forgot about that considering how angry I was when I was eighteen and signed that stupid paper. It took me a good twenty minutes of arguing with the military personnel sent to the school to get signatures until I acquiesced. You can get out of it by claiming to be a conscientious objector, but you still have to do public service for 2 years. Thanks for reminding me of that...now I'm pissed! :naughty::) I think we aught to be able to vote @$ like Bush out at any time during their term:) I'd definitly vote for that one;) Well, at least the legislative branch can impeach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted July 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2008 So what happens if you don't vote?Usually you are just taken to a gulag detention centre like Christmas Island and incarcerated without trial for as long as it takes to teach you a lesson.But I have heard of people being summarily shot.Don't believe the government propaganda about $20 finesThe voting age is 18. There are a lot of dopey people who "vote" though. Makes you wonder how an Oligarchy would work. This just would not stand in America. We like freedom you know. :)Freedom In the USA?When did that start? Seriously though, the only event I can think of in American history that has been compulsory has been the war drafts (and that only affected a portion of the population). That didn't go over too well. :singer:Prohibition?sterilisation?education? (also compulsory school and college courses)vaccination?wrong spelling?driving on the wrong side of the road?tax?licensing?flag laws?insurance?law? (Sixth Amendment’s Compulsory Process Clause) Yes they say one of the reasons there is not a lot of opposition to the Iraq war is the lack of conscription. It has never been popular here. :shrug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeztar Posted July 26, 2008 Report Share Posted July 26, 2008 Usually you are just taken to a gulag detention centre like Christmas Island and incarcerated without trial for as long as it takes to teach you a lesson.But I have heard of people being summarily shot.Don't believe the government propaganda about $20 fines The voting age is 18.Why not 25?Freedom In the USA?When did that start?Hey now, we're working on it. :shrug:Prohibition?sterilisation?education? (also compulsory school and college courses)vaccination?wrong spelling?driving on the wrong side of the road?tax?licensing?flag laws?insurance?law? (Sixth Amendment’s Compulsory Process Clause)None of those are compulsory here. (the sixth amendment is compulsory for the government, not the citizen) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nutronjon Posted July 26, 2008 Report Share Posted July 26, 2008 Lastly I'm soooooo sick and fkn tired of America being regarded as a wealthy nation. Yes for the most part we're better of than some '"third-world" nations... No the majority of americans are not so well off as portreyed by the media... 90% of the people I know and/or work with make ends meet and that's about it (myself included... I'm presently looking for job #2 in hopes of not losing my house...aparently working 60 hours a week isn't enough! Wifey puts in a 50 hour week too. Fuc#ing inflation!!) How about how the media talks about gas prices, as though it might cut into our discretionary money, but is no big deal, when the reality is, for low income people, the price of gas, just to get to and from work, is taking money out of the food budget. We can not afford to visit friends and family as we did a year ago, and this is taking something as important as food out of our lives. Some of the people in my extended family no longer have cars and are riding bicycles, on streets not designed for bicycle safety. It seems a bycilist is hit at least once a month. Our way of life was affluent compared to Europe, but things are getting more difficult. This might be a good thing. We might begin to relate to the rest of humanity and the difficulties others face, when we experience difficulty ourselves. DFINITLYDISTRUBD 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFINITLYDISTRUBD Posted July 27, 2008 Report Share Posted July 27, 2008 How about how the media talks about gas prices, as though it might cut into our discretionary money, but is no big deal, when the reality is, for low income people, the price of gas, just to get to and from work, is taking money out of the food budget. We can not afford to visit friends and family as we did a year ago, and this is taking something as important as food out of our lives. Some of the people in my extended family no longer have cars and are riding bicycles, on streets not designed for bicycle safety. It seems a bycilist is hit at least once a month. Our way of life was affluent compared to Europe, but things are getting more difficult. This might be a good thing. We might begin to relate to the rest of humanity and the difficulties others face, when we experience difficulty ourselves.More accurately "when the nation as a whole realizes that things ain't as rosey as they appear in the popular media"...My entire life has been just trying to "make ends meet" and worse not being able to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted July 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2008 Originally Posted by DFINITLYDISTRUBD View PostLastly I'm soooooo sick and fkn tired of America being regarded as a wealthy nation. Yes for the most part we're better of than some '"third-world" nations...Sorry this is not true.Many would live in accommodation you would not keep your lawnmower in.Perhaps your distribution of wealth and lack of a fair social security & fair health system (& paranoia about socialism) is what is third world.‘Despite spending $230m (£115m) an hour on healthcare, Americans live shorter lives than citizens of almost every other developed country. And while it has the second-highest income per head in the world, the United States ranks 42nd in terms of life expectancy.. . .“Some Americans are living anywhere from 30 to 50 years behind others when it comes to issues we all care about: health, education and standard of living.. . .It has 5% of the world’s people but 24% of its prisoners.”’. . .You might like to consider why it is that the Democrats do not adopt a more left of centre stance and tackle these issues head on. Is it to do with America’s psyche, its suspicion of government, or perhaps the cowardice of its politicians? USA: a nation divided by wealth The richest 2% of adults in the world own more than half of global household wealthPioneering study shows richest 2 percent own half world wealth% membership world's wealthiest 1% % membership world's wealthiest top 10% Population and wealth shares by region. Average wealth amounted to $144,000 per person in the USA in year 2000, and $181,000 in Japan. Lower down among countries with wealth data are India, with per capita assets of $1,100, and Indonesia with $1,400 per capita. Wealth is heavily concentrated in North America, Europe, and high income Asia-Pacific countries. People in these countries collectively hold almost 90% of total world wealth. Regional wealth shares %Metrics 2.0: Richest 2% Own Half World Wealth; Bottom 50% Own 1% - UN Report Wealthy North Americans increased allocations to Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. They now invest 27% of assets outside domestic markets compared with 22% in 2005.. . .World wealth accelerates 2006 marked a return to growth in private wealth. Worldwide, the number of people with more than US$1 million in net investable assets grew by 8.3% to 9.5 million. Assets held by these high net worth individuals (HNWIs) grew by 11.4% year-on-year to US$37.4 trillion. These strong gains followed a slowdown in growth in 2005. Wealth continues to consolidate with the assets of the ultra high net worth individuals (those with net investable assets of more than US$30 million) outpacing the wider HNWI population.Fuelling this strong performance was the powerful combination of robust GDP growth and gains in world stock markets, as market capitalisations accelerated in most regions of the world.www.citywealthmag.com: The Merrill Lynch Cap Gemini World Wealth report summary Based in Zurich, Dr Ariel Sergio Goekmen, responsible for the 'Wealthy Families' sector and 'UK resident non-domicile's’ at Credit Suisse is also part of this development.. . .“Wealthy families generally are very mobile nowadays. I think they form a unique community connected around the globe.”www.citywealthmag.com: super richwww.citywealthmag.com: rich list modest 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nutronjon Posted July 28, 2008 Report Share Posted July 28, 2008 More accurately "when the nation as a whole realizes that things ain't as rosey as they appear in the popular media"...My entire life has been just trying to "make ends meet" and worse not being able to do so. I can relate to what you are saying. Do you have children? It is really, really bad when we have children and doing our best is not good enough. Jesse Jackson said living in poverty is like living in a war zone, and I know exactly what he is talking about. I am extremely thankful, I raised my children in Oregon, and not L.A., California where I grew up. They would have been in gangs and probably had very short lives. Our quality of life would have been dreadful compared to growing up on a farm in a rural area, not far from a small city. Cheap gas was a major compliment to our lives, because it meant leaving home and seeing how others lived. We never got to travel to Europe, but my kids knew there was more to life then their community in rural Oregon. But still, they had nothing like the advantages of middle class families, as they grew up with the insecurity and low self esteem that comes with relative poverty. My father's second family had the advantages my professional father could give them, while my sister and I didn't even get child support checks. My mother supported us alone, when women were locked into low wage female work, and men were automatically paid more, just because they were men. When I was 18 I met my father and lived with his family for 3 months. I was impressed by the difference between the reality of his second and the reality of his first family which he abandoned. We live different realities and I feel blessed by what I gain through experiencing both realities. And blessed that although my mother's wages were low, her mother, my grandmother, was a teacher, so I was raised for a love of learning and middle class values. But in the 1970's recession, I had that "meaningful experience of poverty" I thought those of born white and middle class could never have. I began precieving the law makers and law enforcers as the enemy of the people, and realized I had forgotten how to think "middle class". That was a trip:eek2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted August 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 I can relate to what you are saying. Do you have children? It is really, really bad when we have children and doing our best is not good enough. yes it saddens me when I see how hard it is for them to pay for their education and then try and buy a house My father's second family had the advantages my professional father could give them, while my sister and I didn't even get child support checks. My mother supported us alone, Me two; my father was stuffed by WW2, was a teacher, so I was raised for a love of learning and middle class values.My mother also had this irrational belief in education and gave up an enormous amount so I could have an "education". She left school when she was 12.Unfortunately you also need luck and an "old school tie". But in the 1970's recession, I had that "meaningful experience of poverty" I thought those of born white and middle class could never have. I began precieving the law makers and law enforcers as the enemy of the people, and realized I had forgotten how to think "middle class". That was a trip:eek2:Yes there are certainly some major disparities in what people earn and their access to community resources. When a CEO can be paid 1,000 x more than one of his employees something is wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted August 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 Adolescent SexThe problem is you keep exporting these half-baked, crazy, right wing, mad Christian ideas to us too! When It Comes To Abstinence Teens, Adults Aren't Speaking The Same Language ScienceDaily (Aug. 7, 2008) — Abstinence can mean different things to adolescents than to adults. That's one reason why abstinence-only programs do not have strong effects in preventing teenage sexual activity, according to new University of Washington research.When It Comes To Abstinence Teens, Adults Aren't Speaking The Same Language Related StoriesTeaching Adolescents About Condoms (Sep. 20, 2007) — Teaching adolescents to use condoms when abstinence fails is a reasonable strategy for preventing HIV, according to a new article. This finding might appear common sense, but the best way to teach ... > read more Study Finds Mixed Results On Teen Sexual Behavior From Abstinence-only Intervention (Sep. 4, 2005) — Abstinence-only education can influence teen sexual behavior and beliefs, according to a study from Case Western Reserve University. This community-based evaluation reveals that abstinence-only ... > read more Abstinence Programs Fail To Cut Risk Of HIV Infection (Aug. 3, 2007) — Programs that exclusively encourage abstinence from sex do not seem to affect the risk of HIV infection in high income countries, finds a review of the evidence. This also calls into question the ... > read more Comprehensive Sex Education Might Reduce Teen Pregnancies, Study Suggests (Mar. 20, 2008) — New research suggests that comprehensive sex education might lead to less teen pregnancy, and there are no indications that it boosts the levels of sexual intercourse or sexually transmitted ... > read more U.S. Teen Pregnancy Rates Decline As Result Of Improved Contraceptive Use (Dec. 4, 2006) — Eighty-six percent of the recent decline in U.S. teen pregnancy rates is the result of improved contraceptive use, while a small proportion of the decline (14 percent) can be attributed to teens ... > read moreWhen It Comes To Abstinence Teens, Adults Aren't Speaking The Same Language Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted August 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 HOUSTON (Reuters) – A Texas school district will let teachers bring guns to class this fall, the district's superintendent said on Friday, in what experts said appeared to be a first in the United States. The board of the small rural Harrold Independent School District unanimously approved the plan and parents have not objected, said the district's superintendent, David Thweatt. School experts backed Thweatt's claim that Harrold, a system of about 110 students 150 miles northwest of Fort Worth, may be the first to let teachers bring guns to the classroom. Thweatt said it is a matter of safety. "We have a lock-down situation, we have cameras, but the question we had to answer is, 'What if somebody gets in? What are we going to do?" he said. "It's just common sense."Texas school district to let teachers carry guns - Yahoo! NewsSo what happens if a teacher goes bonkers instead of a student?You wouldn't think the would be a lot of problems with 110 kidsSeems amazing from an Oz viewpoint, although schools in socially deprived areas are getting rougher......................................From a 'health service' email Olympian Phelps Serves as "Ambassador" to McDonald's, Introducing Chinese Children to American Junk Food(NaturalNews) On the heels of Olympian Michael Phelps' deal with Kellogg's to promote sugary breakfast cereals -- a move for which he was widely criticized -- NaturalNews has learned that Phelps is also involved in a deal with McDonald's to introduce... Well I guess it worked for him?OR did it?How would you find out what his training diet really was? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moontanman Posted August 22, 2008 Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 Texas school district to let teachers carry guns - Yahoo! NewsSo what happens if a teacher goes bonkers instead of a student?You wouldn't think the would be a lot of problems with 110 kidsSeems amazing from an Oz viewpoint, although schools in socially deprived areas are getting rougher......................................From a 'health service' email Well I guess it worked for him?OR did it?How would you find out what his training diet really was? Michael, OZ has rather restrictive gun laws don't they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modest Posted August 22, 2008 Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 Texas school district to let teachers carry guns - Yahoo! NewsSo what happens if a teacher goes bonkers instead of a student? What do you mean? If a teacher pulls out a gun and tries anything then 2 or 3 kids would pull out their guns and put the teacher down. So long as the number of armed people who go bonkers is less than the number of armed people who do not go bonkers then the good guys win. In case you're thinking: "what if the teacher and the kids who are armed are in cahoots and go bonkers together". Well... in that case - the principle has a rocket propelled grenade and just takes out the whole class. Of course, if the principle goes bonkers we might have a problem :naughty: ~modest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeztar Posted August 22, 2008 Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 Guns for Roses? or Guns and Roses? Do you own a gun? http://hypography.com/forums/community-polls/11885-do-you-own-gun.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted August 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 Michael, OZ has rather restrictive gun laws don't they?Compared to what? - Iraq? Mossad?:naughty:I don't know the differences between USA and Australia. I am told every US state is different anyhow. I know many automatic weapons are bannedI know no one with a gun. Farmers have rifles, so too professional roo &feral animal shotters. Police have revolvers, not teachers. We did get sick of loonies shooting people a few years ago and some new laws came in registration, licences, gun security, restriction of automatics, and storage etc.Yanks seem to to have a shoot out at schools ever couple of months? Would that be right? This is the gun lobby's site and winge, (I think??)Gun Control AustraliaGun Control AustraliaCan't find much opposition view except this eight year old report:-Sharp Drop in Gun Crime Follows Tough Australian Firearm Laws Latest official data from Australia shows a marked reduction in gun-related crime and injury following recent restrictions on the private ownership of firearms.Sharp Drop in Gun Crime Follows Tough Australian Firearm Laws How do Yanks cope with British Cop shows like "The Bill" with police with Olympic running skills and a stick to get the baddies - or is that just too lame for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moontanman Posted August 22, 2008 Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 Compared to what? - Iraq? Mossad?:DI don't know the differences between USA and Australia. I am told every US state is different anyhow. I know many automatic weapons are bannedI know no one with a gun. Farmers have rifles, so too professional roo &feral animal shotters. Police have revolvers, not teachers. We did get sick of loonies shooting people a few years ago and some new laws came in registration, licenses, gun security, restriction of automatics, and storage etc.Yanks seem to to have a shoot out at schools ever couple of months? Would that be right? This is the gun lobby's site and winge, (I think??)Gun Control AustraliaGun Control AustraliaCan't find much opposition view except this eight year old report:- Sharp Drop in Gun Crime Follows Tough Australian Firearm Laws How do Yanks cope with British Cop shows like "The Bill" with police with Olympic running skills and a stick to get the baddies - or is that just too lame for you? The main difference between states in the USA is that some allow you carry a concealed weapon and others do not. I own guns, someone breaks into my house they had better hope I call the police. In states like Texas you can shoot them in your yard if they are attempting to steal something. In my state you have to in fear of your life to kill so they assume anyone who breaks into your house is making an attempt on your life :hyper: I wouldn't kill someone over personal property but if they break in my house I will kill them, make no mistake. In the south where I live it's perfectly acceptable to use the excuse of "He needed killin" in court. If the 12 good men of the jury agree then you go free! States with concealed carry laws have experienced a dramatic drop in gun related crimes. I have a friend that is rabidly against the personal ownership of any gun and thinks all guns should be taken away. His stance was we have police to take care of problems, they carry guns and can use them if need be. I later found out he lived in a gated community with armed guards patrolling 24/7, I guess he didn't need a gun. From what I've seen calling the police will not save your life if confronted with a bad guy. They show up just in time to interview the victims or the witnesses to the crime. No fault of their own it's just impossible to show up fast enough to stop a crime in progress. No we don't have a school shooting every couple of months. Outlawing guns would mean only outlaws would have guns. Far too many guns in circulation here to take them all away even if you wanted to. Automatic weapons are illegal everywhere except for people who have a special license. We have to register our new guns but any gun that was in your possession before the law came into effect is exempt. My state has a concealed carry law, gun related crimes are way down. Even the bad guys hesitate to rob some who might kill them. I was asking about Guns in OZ because I had heard you guys had banned all guns except a very few for farmers and such. If the Brits want to run down a criminal more power to them, a cop with out a gun wouldn't last long in a gun fight in my estimation but I do respect them. It takes some real guts to go after an armed felon bare handed. Everyone I know has a gun, a drive by shooter had better be driving by rather fast here because by the time he got to the end of the street someone would be shooting back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted September 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 No not all guns are banned just automatics like you+ all guns have to be registerd. You have to show why you need one. It has to be locked up etc i didn't realise you had banned automaticsMost guns are used to kill feral and domestic animals although all police carry a pistol/sidearm very rarely used though. I think you need a police and mental health check too but not sure. Private gun ownership except for sport, farmers or professional shooters would be very low by US standards I think. I think our welfare system cuts down on mugging we pay people $220 a week if sick unemployed, mad etc. It's a bargain when jail is that much per day.Most crime these days is drug related robbery Thanks vietnam Galapagos and Tormod 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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