cactoblasta

Reply to Examples of Obama's Brilliance in Democrat JoeUser Forums

He won the presidency? Seriously, it's not that easy to do, even with an eminence gris. And I haven't heard any rumours of a Karl Rove figure in Obama's background. Facing down Hillary Clinton - widely perceived to be a shoe-in - was no easy task either. I think the way he managed showed a brilliant grasp of overarching political strategy. But if you're looking for evidence that he's the messiah many of his voters think he is, rather than simply a brilliant politician, you're

Reply to This Woman is a Whore in Religion JoeUser Forums

So you reckon armageddon will start with the rise of a great city-state which is sovereign "over the kings of the earth". Considering how few kings there are at the moment, I guess it's possible, but besides Monaco, Brunei and the Vatican I'm not aware of many countries that could be called city-states, so I suppose we'll be waiting for this for some time. There's stranger things to believe, but I haven't a clue what you get out of this kind of bizarre, mushroom-inspired tale.

Reply to I love the British media.... in US Domestic JoeUser Forums

[quote]Well, the words must be close enough to the target, as I've stirred up the ire of the libs (dusts off hands). My work is done.[/quote] I'm not much of a liberal, but I'll do anything to please a man who writes to newspapers. And reads something with the ludicrous name of 'the Gathering of Eagles'. Anything . [quote]And note for Cacto. This is one man's opinion. As such, it could be posted in the national enquirer or Time (but then I repeat myself), a

Reply to I love the British media.... in US Domestic JoeUser Forums

Daily Mail - the same reputable newspaper that brings you page three girls and front page articles with wild speculation about pop singers and royalty. Classy find there, Rightwinger. You've managed to put yourself in some very good company.

Reply to A degree from virginity in Blogging JoeUser Forums

I wonder whether that bid was legitimate or some 12-year-old having a laugh. Still, I don't consider what she's doing any less unethical than working in a call centre to put herself through uni. Everyone makes sacrifices when they study, you don't really have any choice about that. She's chosen to sacrifice a little of her dignity and (possibly) self-respect. If someone had offered me 3.7 million for my virginity, I would have accepted (presuming of course they submit to medic

Reply to Who Needs Term Limits Anyways? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote] And in some ways a president has more power as he does not need support from his party.[/quote] True enough. As you say, turning the country into a tyranny would be very difficult, but I think we can both agree that it's more possible than in the US tripartite system. [quote]And let us not forget how in countries like england and australia human rights have been chipped away to almost nothing. (the great australian firewall, and the ban on self defense

Reply to Who Needs Term Limits Anyways? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]It's getting to the point where I'd say we should just flat-out prohibit reelection to the same office for all federal positions, period.[/quote] It's not democracy's fault that voters are apathetic. What are you doing to shorten representation periods? Do you campaign against the incumbent regardless of who s/he is? [quote] Imagine what a sitting president could do to keep their position for another term. Any number of executive orders, pick

Reply to Who Needs Term Limits Anyways? in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]They are very important, especially in a time where people are voted in just because of a marketing slogan.[/quote] All it takes is a better slogan, a bored populace and a loss of faith for government to change. In Australia we went from John Howard (We decide who comes to this country and the manner in which they arrive) to Kevin Rudd (Kevin07). K-Rudd really isn't that much different from little Johnny. [quote]Is that why so many congressmen and senators end up servin

Reply to Who Needs Term Limits Anyways? in Politics JoeUser Forums

Term limits aren't that important - people get bored of leaders eventually.

Reply to Raise your hand if you have read "Atlas Shrugged" in Current Events JoeUser Forums

I've tried reading it a couple of times, but I find the style far too didactic and its characters seem like cardboard cutouts who exist solely to give long, boring monologues. As a result, I can understand why people think it's an important book, but I'm not sure I'll ever be in a sufficiently forgiving frame of mind to read it. As for its relevance to today, you could also apply that same reasoning to the Communist Manifesto, with roughly the same result of a new political nirvana op

Reply to Men are too short sighted, women are too complacent in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote]Similarly, the guys who have midlife crisis's and act like they can somehow relive their 20s would likely be the first to argue that they aren't like that.[/quote] You recently bought a sports car and I'm sure you have an excuse too for why that doesn't make you a midlife crisis case. Sometimes pointless and irresponsible acts aren't a result of age or ignorance, but a desperate yearning for a little more excitement in life no matter the cost. I don't see

Reply to Men are too short sighted, women are too complacent in Blogging JoeUser Forums

I'm thinking you just don't meet the right sort of women! I've grown up in an environment where women 40+ make most of the decisions, whether at home or at work. What they don't know about history, politics and the soft sciences they're more than prepared to speculate. As someone who never discusses hard science in person, I can't comment about that; you may be right, although the only scientists I know are young women (two biologists and a physicist).

Reply to Fun with the US constitution in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]The problem was the Supreme Court. Being a federal institution appointed by the federal President, the Supreme Court would constantly find new powers given to the constitution. The states responded with the 11th amendment which as designed to slap down the Supreme Court in making clear that the states were the supreme authority, not the federal government.[/quote] My ignorance of US history is showing - I never knew that. I always figured the founding fathers wanted to (e

Reply to The single biggest difference between rich and middle class people in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]A bunch of rocks, some oil, and some sand is NOT the same as my computer. And obviously my computer is more valuable than some rocks, oil, and sand. Otherwise we wouldn't have built it.[/quote] Sure. But it wasn't created from nothing. That's my point. It's a refined good, not something created from nothing. Real wealth is based on the physical. That's why people turn to gold during a recession. People realise, when the bubble bursts, that gold is better than any number

Reply to The single biggest difference between rich and middle class people in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]He means that if economics was a zero sum game, and since all humans originally lived IN CAVES (cavemen), and today we do NOT. Than obviously wealth is CREATED, rather than just transfered. People are ALL weltheir than before.[/quote] That's partially true. Wealth is a construct in that our recognition of wealth is based on a communal idea of monetary value. But contemporary wealth is based on ownership of material things. Excluding the occasional asteroid strike, the only weal

Reply to Obama: Lets See the Certificate in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]Is there anyone who objects to Obama having to show his eligibility to be President? [/quote] Why should he pander to people like yourself when he's already satisfied everyone of any importance? McCain and the Repulicans have never questioned Obama's citizenship, because they know there's no case to be made from it. If every irrational request was responded to, public figures would never get anything done. [quote]The Kenyan government has also put in place a gag or

Reply to Australia: a great movie, Kidman & the didgeridoo in Movies & TV & Books JoeUser Forums

It's only certain aborigine groups with taboos about didges anyway, so maybe she's just a follower of their rules rather than the more prohibitive ones. I wouldn't go see the movie - I doubt there's much in it that would interest me apart from a slightly morbid fascination with the polished stone that is Kidman's face - but I'm glad to hear there's at least some refutation to Greer's points.

Reply to Some thoughts on "gun control" in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]"An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject."[/quote] If your AK47 can't take down a stealth bomber, you'll never win against the US state if it decides to put you down. Arguments that guns protect against a malicious state are a bit redundant considering how incredibly sophisticated military weaponry is compared to civilian varieties.

Reply to Is Air Conditioning the Next Tobacco? in Health & Medicine JoeUser Forums

[quote]the gulf coast of America has 90% humidity with temps in 100's you NEED air conditioners to live through that.[/quote] Sounds like monsoonal weather. You don't necessarily need air conditioning. You just need to live differently. You get up early and do outside things just after dawn, you sleep during the middle of the day, you stay up late. Millions of equatorial people dealt with it it for thousands of years without too much trouble. The modern reliance on air conditi

Reply to And people wonder why I favor tightened gun control. in Misc JoeUser Forums

[quote]The first year results of this show that Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent. Assaults are up 8.6 percent.[/quote] I assume you're referring to the gun law reforms following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, where 35 innocent people were killed and 21 wounded by a single gunman? Using the logic of the War on Terror, the fact that there has not been a similar massacre since proves that the gun laws have been a rousing success. Using more conventiona

Reply to Is Air Conditioning the Next Tobacco? in Health & Medicine JoeUser Forums

[quote]I dont think they can design a house down on the gulf coast that would eliminate the need. But in most parts, you are probably correct. However there is a problem and a reason they dont. Called Balloon Frames, the design does well to cool the house - and also enables a fire to spread out of control in no time at all.[/quote] Dr Guy - check this out. It's a practical way of addressing energy usage: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Energy_Rating This d

Reply to And people wonder why I favor tightened gun control. in Misc JoeUser Forums

[quote]Gun laws don't have much to do with this. This was simply an act of stupidity on the adults part. Stricter gun laws don't prevent stupid people from doing stupid things, just in the same way they don't stop criminals from obtaining or using guns.[/quote] By way of negation of these comments, strict gun laws completely remove the chance of this incident happening. For reals. Australia doesn't even have gun shows, so it is impossible for a child to han

Reply to Is Air Conditioning the Next Tobacco? in Health & Medicine JoeUser Forums

A well built house can largely remove the need for air conditioning. If they discourage air conditioning in new homes while simultaneously encouraging good design, it's a good idea. But if they just tax air con, you're right - it's not going to do any good. There's more to climate control than throwing power at it and it'd be best if government encouraged people to explore the alternatives than to just make the electric cold switch more expensive.

Reply to Can a woman refuse sex in Islam? in Religion JoeUser Forums

[quote]Judging from the holy texts it appears to be the same as in Christianity. Note that in western countries spousal rape has only been made illegal in the last 200 years when societies became secular.[/quote] It definitely depends on who and where you are. Indonesia has a growing women's rights movement and a strong history of female empowerment, particularly in Sumatra, but there are still plenty of places and people for whom freedom of sex isn't even a unreachable dream. <p

Reply to Gitmo and Liberal Shame in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Ann Coulter revealed the story.[/quote] Right, and then you plagiarised your opening paragraph. I haven't been able to find a reputable news site with this story, nor could I find the articles quoted on Lexisnet (which I assume is where you got your opener). Still, the American government clearly didn't have a case, or they would have tried him. As it happens, they stuffed up somewhere and he's returned to his rabble-rousing ways. But the least they could do for