cactoblasta

Reply to Break out the champagne, socialists! in Politics JoeUser Forums

I am still blown away by Maxine's (potential) win in Bennelong. For a PM to lose his seat is a crushing blow. Maxine is an outstanding candidate though. Her previous fame pretty much entirely came from being intelligent, attractive, compassionate and a hardarse when necessary. She was the perfect candidate for any electorate. That she has a chance of winning is entirely due to her talents; we could have expected a strong shift against Howard (es

Reply to Break out the champagne, socialists! in Politics JoeUser Forums

Doesn't that feel good to say! No more will we ever have to listen to that racist bast##d that has been at the head of our country for over a decade. No more will we have to feel ashamed of our country. I was happy to hear it to when Howard conceded. I felt a bit uneasy though when I realised Tintin said 'blood' three times in his acceptance speech. That doesn't bode well. Interesting sidenote - a great way to watch any political speech is to a

Reply to Hillary Clinton is a Witch in Politics JoeUser Forums

Bill Clinton at least was likable. When is there going to be another US president who doesn't come off as a muddling crack addict (Bush), a conniving shrew (Nixon) or a simpleton (Reagan)? Bill Clinton was a sex junkie, sure, but if the American peope can forgive it in a football star they can forgive it in a president. Wasn't there a poll during the whole Lewinski affair that showed some high percentage of people wanted him to keep getting his end away so long as it helped him do his

Reply to A Challenge to the 'Religious' of JU in Religion JoeUser Forums

How anyone of even moderate intelligence can convince themselves that the religious impulse, which is as old as humanity, persists because it's nothing more than a source of hope entirely escapes me. Most of those who suffer hope for relief in their present circumstances, not in some future lala land of bliss. Because life hurts now, or hadn't you noticed? And the three great faiths that draw their inspiration from the Book teach that there is no hope of relief in this

Reply to A Challenge to the 'Religious' of JU in Religion JoeUser Forums

Religion offers the greatest comfort of them all - hope. When the chips are down, that's all you really need to keep going, and religion is the oldest source of hope in the world. Other than that it's meaningless. NB: I'm not trying to say that hope is worthless; it's probably the most important thing a person can have. Without hope we cease to be entirely human. But that's all that religion can really provide.

Reply to Bush and Cheney Fingered in CIA Leak Cover up in Politics JoeUser Forums

Can I just register my opinion that this article has a hilarious title?

Reply to 20 things I hate about the press: in Politics JoeUser Forums

15. When a demonstration forms in a third world country, shouting "Death to Americans", perhaps it is not that spontaneous? Perhaps it is because the cameras are rolling? Perhaps that needs reported? Perhaps the entire demonstration is STAGED!? They often are. If ever you hear about a demonstration in Indonesia, the first assumption is that it's staged. Thousands of people make a good living out of being professional demonstrators.

Reply to No Wonder This Country is as F*cked as it is in Misc JoeUser Forums

So you're talking about the 1970s, right? The 1970s are the golden age? sure, we taught you that too. the great relativism. The false liberty and the irresponsible attitude. It's not relativism. That's something else entirely. As an example in the 1970s it was fairly acceptable to consider women incapable of working as well as a man. That's no longer the case. That's a moral shift and not really the result of moral relativism because it's prett

Reply to No Wonder This Country is as F*cked as it is in Misc JoeUser Forums

for you of course there isn't. You never saw it or experienced it. and keep in mind i didnt say my generation is better. When? If you're going to be a drama queen and say the sky has fallen, please base it on at least a date - what year do you think things were better for people than they are now?

Reply to No Wonder This Country is as F*cked as it is in Misc JoeUser Forums

The problem is, a little harsh now is saying "You got this wrong" or "You need to actually do your work." It's not abuse, but today's workforce thinks it is. It's true that labour mobility is higher than it's ever been, but there's been plenty of success stories involving young people. I don't think things are quite so bad as you would like them to be. Look around you, can you tell me that the quality of anything done

Reply to No Wonder This Country is as F*cked as it is in Misc JoeUser Forums

If you treat them a little harsh, they will just quit and go to another job that is more accomodating to their work'n'play thing. Why should you put up with abuse in the workplace? I don't see why moving when threatened or treated badly is a negative thing. Then again, I'm in that generation, and all the figures suggest cooperation and making improvement enjoyable leads to better productivity and personal growth.

Reply to America Being Dissed Again? in Entertainment JoeUser Forums

But would her British accent by forgotten and would it be so bad if she sounded American? Well, that gives us American a lot to think about doesn’t it? We’re not good enough for Sir Paul McCartney then?! Most English-speakers speak with an American accent. If you want to be a little exotic - and doesn't everyone - you have to speak with an alternative. Upper-class British is as prestigious as they get. Likewise, if yo

Reply to What's Your JoeUser History? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

I started here in August 2004. It was a sideways switch really - I'd bought a few games from Stardock and got into the blogging side through Political Machine, which I never really got into that much but had some really interesting discussions going on. Since then I think I've changed somewhat in my political views at least and maybe in other ways. It's always hard to tell though. It's been good to see a completely different way of looking at life, and that's what you get from JU.

Reply to What Liberals Fear in Democrat JoeUser Forums

Forcing someone onto a reservation IS NOT genocide. Exactly. What Armenian genocide?

Reply to Corrupted by a Book: Global Warming in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Well I am pretty conservative - by the standards of my country anyway. The wheel's already turned in Oz and even our most conservative party now has a pretty comprehensive environmental policy. It's all probably because the signs of climate change are so readily apparent in Australia where they might not be in the US or elsewhere. Political parties need to be seen to be doing something about a drought that has gone on for more than a decade without much relief. It doesn't persu

Reply to LIBERALS are AWESOME in Blogging JoeUser Forums

CAN I JUST POINT OUT that the results of this study PROVE that LIBERALISM is the best philosophy for CAPITALISTS if they'd only realize it? Please do! Hmmm, does that mean LIBERALS are awesome because of CAPITALISM? ;~D Of course! Capitalism makes everything awesome! Did you know you are the ONLY DAMN PERSON ON THE INTERNET (and those are not ironic capitals, I'm rea

Reply to I AM a Christian in Religion JoeUser Forums

Because the other 'rules' show you how to fulfil the one simple rule. Really? You have must some interesting habits in your relationships, Jythier, if you find Revelations or Leviticus a guide to loving other people! I suppose it really is true - everyone has their kink!

Reply to I AM a Christian in Religion JoeUser Forums

Peter was first justified and then sanctified. After justification comes sanctification which is an ongoing process. The point I was trying to get at is that much of the rules of christianity seem to come from acts, the letters and the old testament. These are all highly suspect because they're based on the words and actions of regular people who claimed godliness but didn't always act like it. Jesus, from all accounts, acted godly. So why are

Reply to Democrats don't understand the effect of income taxes in Democrat JoeUser Forums

SO go ahead and raise the taxes. There are more ways to avoid them than to pay them, and they will find those ways. In the US' case it would probably be better to simply close the loopholes or ban riders to bills. Banning riders would enforce a little fiscal responsibility. Draginol, I didn't realize what cacto was saying at first either, but now it makes sense. It's the Keynesian idea that the government can use fisca

Reply to Taxes: Who do you trust to produce prosperity? in Politics JoeUser Forums

The states provide education, not the federal government (until very recently). So your argument about education is not valid with regards to the federal government spending. I didn't realise we were only talking federal taxes, but okay. I still believe there's a trade-off where it's more widely profitable to trust government with some services than to let private enterprise manage them for prosperity (security and infrastructure for two fairly broad ar

Reply to Taxes: Who do you trust to produce prosperity? in Politics JoeUser Forums

So next time you see a politician argue that we need to take money from "the rich" in order to help society, think carefully about who is really helping society more. You're ignoring something important here. If you look at the figures over the last few hundred years it's pretty clear that rising education levels are behind the current prosperity. A better educated workforce is more productive, healthier and has better earning potential, making

Reply to Democrats don't understand the effect of income taxes in Democrat JoeUser Forums

Cacto - there is little or no correlation between inflation and tax rates. I don't know where you got that idea but we have hundreds of years of data to demonstrate that they are not related. I read about it in the paper. The Howard government cut tax rates in 2002 and the Reserve Bank of Australia has warned that any further cuts will result in inflation and they will be forced to increase interest rates to compensate. I'm not trying to say our

Reply to Democrats don't understand the effect of income taxes in Democrat JoeUser Forums

With the current tax system, where is the incentive to do better for yourself? Same as always - bigger paycheck, bigger office, fancy title, a certain latitude to be smarmy to corporate inferiors that's otherwise known as status. You know what that taught me? DONT TRY TO DO BETTER...JUST BE MEDIOCRE. You try to do better for yourself, and you are penalized. Are you sure you filled out your tax return p

Reply to I AM a Christian in Religion JoeUser Forums

God said for a time that type of food...pork and shellfish wasn't ready for the eating and later he said it was ok. I could get into quite a lengthy explanation here, but will refrain......where's Lula? Well that's convenient, but why is Peter so holy all of a sudden? Jesus knew he was an untrustworthy bastard but figured he'd be good enough to be the rock. Look what that rock turned into! Personally I don't consider any but the example of Chris

Reply to I AM a Christian in Religion JoeUser Forums

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.' Riiiight... That's a really unfair way to approach a relationship. Maybe you'll be able to find someone who is content with always being second best, but they're not going to be very interesting. [quote]When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow![quote] <