Originally posted by Devil King
On one hand I disagree and on another I agree. On the disagree side, I am not looking forward to renaming Mars Planet Starbucks. On the agree side, I realize that government, public spending is no less bought or sold by a corrupt political machine that will sell Terry Schaivo's remains to the highest bidder. But, at least with public funding, we're served by the illusion of common well-being and progress. Also, there is so little regulation of "private" endeavors that the betterment of everyone isn't served. But we're both familiar with our disagreement over the free, self regulating market dillusion.
Dude...how long do you think it will be after the US and NASA made space travel affordable and a real possibility that corporations (without having invested anything), will take what the public funding has brought and do exactly what they would have done if they had to have paid for it themselves? Are we to assume that because of the strong anti-corporation stance the US have shown over the last hundred years?
Originally posted by Bardock42
Dude...how long do you think it will be after the US and NASA made space travel affordable and a real possibility that corporations (without having invested anything), will take what the public funding has brought and do exactly what they would have done if they had to have paid for it themselves? Are we to assume that because of the strong anti-corporation stance the US have shown over the last hundred years?
That's why on one hand I agree.
Re: Political Issues
War and Security (specific wars, terrorism, as well as a general view of armed forces and its theories):
Military action should be a last resort when diplomacy has comprehensively failed. It should only be used in defense of one's nation and/or prevention of humanitarian catastrophe/crimes against humanity.
Terrorism as it exists today is in my opinion in part a product of not adhering to the above philosophy. Ideological and economically based interventionism in Middle Eastern nations generally due to the vast oil reserves in part spawned the likes of the Islamic Republic, Taleban and Al Qaeda. Such non-traditional combatants are unlikely to be defeated by traditional military might; and a more holistic approach needs to be taken. Like domestic crime; while admittedly a component may simply be a result of some irredeemable individuals, in (perhaps large) part those engaged in such activity are a result of social and economic inequality.
I favor multilateralism and am of the opinion that invasion of a sovereign territory by a country or countries should be accompanied by some form of international mandate or consensus.
Build-up of military forces to excessive levels is a relative waste of money; that could be better spent.
Civil Rights (marriage, abortion, age of consent, voting, etc.):
I've no opinion on marriage since I largely consider it an outdated institution; however the same civil/legal privileges enjoyed by married couples should be extended to people in de facto relationships, regardless of sexual orientation. However I've no opposition to homosexual marriage.
Abortion should be legal, and a woman should have the right to choose to the point prior to the development of nociception, which by current literature is late second term iirc. Procedures should only be performed beyond this point to protect the life and physical health of the pregnant woman.
The age of consent and voting age are in my opinion suitable at 16 and 18 respectively.
Economic Issues (free trade/protectionism, taxes, etc.):
I am for free trade, but I don't think that this need be mutually exclusive to fairer trade, which I'd also support. Developed nations have largely been incredibly hypocritical in the espousing of free trade while doling out agricultural subsidies which essentially encourage and reward inefficiency instead of innovation.
I believe that while the wealthy pay more than their share of taxation; they are less detrimentally affected in doing so - ergo a progressive taxation is the most (subjectively) fair in my opinion. Trickle-down economics has largely remained unproven, while it's my belief that fiscally responsible but socially progressive government can provide a fair and comfortable standard of living for everyone while also delivering prosperity and the freedom to aspire and excel as an individual.
Immigration and Foreign Relations (international groups, diplomacy, immigration legislation, etc.):
As noted above I believe that multilateralism is key to tackling the issues that confront the globe. UNSC Veto rights should be removed from the WWII powers.
Nations should welcome immigration, it replenishes both skilled and unskilled labour forces; however immigrants should be actively encouraged to integrate into the destination society - this is a two-way street though; citizens should try to provide an inclusive environment and engage positively with migrants. This does not imply that immigrants should divest themselves of cultural identity.
Other Issues You Find Important:
Nations need to invest more into science and innovation.
What country are you citizen of/do you live in?
New Zealand; which has strangely decided to go against the current global trend and just ousted a competent Prime Minister and left-leaning Government in exchange for an investment banker who they'd rather have a beer with.
What political ideology do you identify yourself with?
Probably most aligned with social democracy in terms of ideology; but I think I'd consider myself relatively pragmatic as opposed to a stringent ideological adherent.
Originally posted by Bardock42
From my point of view, that would fit the thread, if discussion can come from it.Maybe I should do the questionnaire again, I think my political convictions have somewhat changed.
Sounds good. Do that. I'm genuinely interested to see what's changed about them.
Also, I want to post that crap in here because I just don't want to create a billion different threads everytime a politicians lies. Know what I mean? Seems that one thread would be better suited for that.
War and Security (specific wars, terrorism, as well as a general view of armed forces and its theories):
More people die in the US every day from the failure of our domestic policies than have been killed by any of our supposed "enemies". Don't waste money fighting terrorists when we could put it to better use here.
Civil Rights (marriage, abortion, age of consent, voting, etc.):
Marriage shouldn't be government protected. For tax purposes/whatever, there should be some kind of gender-neutral "linking" that can be filed, under any organization (polygamy, monogamy, anything).
I think embryos should have rights equal to lifeforms with similar capabilities. If its only a few cells, give it the rights of an amoeba or algae. If its late in the pregnancy, treat it more like a cat or dog.
I don't want to claim any kind of arbitrary age of consent, but I don't think any harm would come from starting it at 15 or 16, since that seems to be the international consensus.
Anyone can vote. Oh my, how I wish that we could use aptitude tests, but its just too abusable of a system to put in place.
Economic Issues (free trade/protectionism, taxes, etc.):
I believe in a managed economy, especially internationally. I don't think any good comes from letting capitalism run wild, I think we should have progressive tax rate (higher with higher incomes).
Also, anti-monopoly laws should be much more strictly enforced.
Immigration and Foreign Relations (international groups, diplomacy, immigration legislation, etc.):
Make it much, much easier to legally immigrate. Grant citizenship to any child of immigrants born on US soil.
International law should have more power than it does right now... for instance, the US should not be able to routinely violate UN conventions without fear of punishment.
Other Issues You Find Important:
Universal health care STAT.
Drug legalization.
Government-payed education through university level.
What country are you citizen of/do you live in?
USA
What political ideology do you identify yourself with?
I believe in a lot of socialist policies, economically. Though I find myself being increasingly guided by anarchist principles especially on sociology.
Re: Political Issues
Originally posted by Bardock42[b]1War and Security (specific wars, terrorism, as well as a general view of armed forces and its theories)
:
2Civil Rights (marriage, abortion, age of consent, voting, etc.):
3Economic Issues (free trade/protectionism, taxes, etc.):
4Immigration and Foreign Relations (international groups, diplomacy, immigration legislation, etc.):
5Other Issues You Find Important:
6What country are you citizen of/do you live in?
7What political ideology do you identify yourself with?
[/B]
1 The US military industrial complex. I follow pretty much what President Eisenhower said about the dangers it poses to our own nation. We should have a strong military, but we don't need to be Team America: World Police. Slash the military budget.
2 Equality for homosexuals should not be a matter of public debate or left up to the scrutiny of bigotted neighbors. When there is so much debate over the rights of one segment, clouded by adversaries who equate it to pedophilia, the bible or beastiality, are up for debate, then all our rights become blatantly transparent. Abortion is up to the two people involved in the situation. And there are only two people. Age of consent is arbitrary, but there should certainly be an age where people are held accountable. Voting should be mandatory for every US citizen, and perhaps we should also reconsider which crimes merrit losing that right. Voting is also totally useless if the vast majority of a nations citizens are under educated and ignorant, as in the US.
3 Taxes are totally necessary. If we had a living wage, rather than a minimum wage, people might realize the idea that the American dream is actually the American delusion. Free Trade and Protectionism: turn back the majority of the economic policies of every administration since REagan, including many of the ones brought about by the current one.
4 Foreign Relations and Immigration are pretty much the same thing when you boil it down. Legal immigration only, but that won't happen because immigrants are consumers. Foreign Relations are basically a meeting with the banks we owe money and the banks that owe us money. It's run, basically, by the fine print no one reads.
6 United State of America
7 Benevolent Dicator
Originally posted by inimalist
China has expanded at an incredible rate, gobbling up all of its domestic oil.Chavez exports a large amount of his oil to America, but is becoming more buddy buddy with Arab/South Asian oil producers and Russia, as the uni-polar Amero-centric world begins to break down.
As China expands and demands more oil, Chavez will be pulled by two competing centers of global power. During the cold war, this type of thing resulted in proxy wars fought between America and Russia, in the modern context, Chavez must navigate between both of the super-powers to avoid either of them deciding that Venezuela is too important to their national interests, and deploying some degree of a military presence to ensure their continued oil supply.
More likely it'll happen over African countries as more oil exploration and development happens there.
Originally posted by jaden101
More likely it'll happen over African countries as more oil exploration and development happens there.
Very true, the reserves there are much more untapped, and not controlled by a strong nationalist leader (way easier to bribe African leaders who don't have a strong hold on power [you can abuse their citizens way more too] than a revolutionary strongman like Chavez).
This was written, what, 2 years ago? I would have probably answered differently now, though I think the point still stands (although, I know of no Venezuala-China petrolium deals), Latin/South America are really not my areas of expertise, so maybe I shouldn't have said anything in the first place, lol.
BBC does some good audio docs on China in Africa though. Really an interesting issue, and I think a lot more silver lining than most Western observers give it credit for.