A slightly more plausible proposition than socialism resulting in equality, prosperity and freedom.
A common law for humanity.Something above politics or tribal customs.Something based on an enforceable, secular, set of international Laws; which precluded any difference or lack of political freedom.IMO this is where the human race will eventually arrive [...]
Chaos tends to spread. Doing something does not necessarily mean military intervention Sam. Neither does it preclude it.I've yet to hear you suggest any practical (or otherwise) solution to such problems? Do you advocate ignoring it?Having had first hand experience of the chaos that was Eastern European Communism I have no faith what so ever in such a system. I also have firsthand experience of the Mid-East conflict having served in Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon (HR), and operations in Israel/Palestine.I spent most of '90 in Turkey/Kurdistan (pre round one GW during desert shield). Coupled with an extended stint in that sectarian hell that was Yugoslavia (an extension to the Mid-East conflict); the one thing I can promise you and the only thing I claim to understand about any of it, is that we have to do something.We are always blamed for the problems, but they run so much deeper and we (the West) are just a convenient scapegoat. We screw up every time we try to intervene, because we are always looking for quick solutions.No, simple investment won't help. It will just disappear into a very few pockets on it's way to Switzerland.It requires,IMO, a global paradigm shift. Start with abolishing Tax havens and secret banking?
Quote from: Sloper on June 14, 2014, 08:17:11 pmA slightly more plausible proposition than socialism resulting in equality, prosperity and freedom.Marx actually said you needed prosperity first for socialism to work.
A few friends of mine long since stopped contributing to Greenpeace - their climate change position has seemed just anti everything...
Quote from: tomtom on June 16, 2014, 04:43:06 pmA few friends of mine long since stopped contributing to Greenpeace - their climate change position has seemed just anti everything... I used to contribute but also found myself disagreeing too much with policies on, e.g., nuclear power, so started spending my money on more useful things like flapjack or going to the Foundry instead.
Quote from: psychomansam on June 14, 2014, 11:07:18 pmQuote from: Sloper on June 14, 2014, 08:17:11 pmA slightly more plausible proposition than socialism resulting in equality, prosperity and freedom.Marx actually said you needed prosperity first for socialism to work.It really doesn't matter what Marx said, the simple fact remains that when ever any form of socialism is tried the country goes to rat shit. Now please, do tel me that socialism has never been tried properly and that when it is properly implemented we'll live in paradise forever after.
Quote from: Oldmanmatt on June 14, 2014, 10:09:37 amChaos tends to spread. Doing something does not necessarily mean military intervention Sam. Neither does it preclude it.I've yet to hear you suggest any practical (or otherwise) solution to such problems? Do you advocate ignoring it?Having had first hand experience of the chaos that was Eastern European Communism I have no faith what so ever in such a system. I also have firsthand experience of the Mid-East conflict having served in Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon (HR), and operations in Israel/Palestine.I spent most of '90 in Turkey/Kurdistan (pre round one GW during desert shield). Coupled with an extended stint in that sectarian hell that was Yugoslavia (an extension to the Mid-East conflict); the one thing I can promise you and the only thing I claim to understand about any of it, is that we have to do something.We are always blamed for the problems, but they run so much deeper and we (the West) are just a convenient scapegoat. We screw up every time we try to intervene, because we are always looking for quick solutions.No, simple investment won't help. It will just disappear into a very few pockets on it's way to Switzerland.It requires,IMO, a global paradigm shift. Start with abolishing Tax havens and secret banking?The idea of the abolition of tax haves sounds like a nice fluffyidea, but when you actually realise that tax is a sovereign issue and it is a matter for nation states how they arrange their tax laws.Similarly private banking, while I can see a simplistic attraction for states being able to examine the banking facilities of their citizens, given how corrupt and capricious many states are I can see why the principle of privacy is a good thing.One thing that we ought to do, within the EU, EEA and free trade agreements is significantly strengthen the money laundering requirements on banks and other relgated entities: as an money laundering reporting officer I would suggest that the most effective means of countering tax evasion and corruption is to make the conduits liable + a penal fine for the monies that pass through their accounts and most importantly reverse the burden (as in the POCA) to require the banks & etc to demonstrate that they undertook sufficient KYC checks and satisfied themselves that the money was clean: if they fail, it is deemed to be tainted and therefore forfeit.The problem with the middle east is the consequence of the oil and the almost unimaginable wealth that it brought, before this, the tribal systems of governance was in many ways adequate, however when the $$$ started flowing the social and constitutional structures were simply too weak to control the extraction of wealth. the location of lines on the map and the religion are really a bit of a side issue.
Quote from: Sloper on June 16, 2014, 01:59:13 pmQuote from: psychomansam on June 14, 2014, 11:07:18 pmQuote from: Sloper on June 14, 2014, 08:17:11 pmA slightly more plausible proposition than socialism resulting in equality, prosperity and freedom.Marx actually said you needed prosperity first for socialism to work.It really doesn't matter what Marx said, the simple fact remains that when ever any form of socialism is tried the country goes to rat shit. Now please, do tel me that socialism has never been tried properly and that when it is properly implemented we'll live in paradise forever after.Socialism has never been tried properly on a national scale, but I don't consider it democratic enough to be utopian. As you know I'm not entirely anti-markets anyway.
Bizarre to think of Iran as an ally but in this context, there it is.
Christian fundamentalism in UK schools again. This time mainly focussing on them teaching that the earth is 6000 years old and that evolution has been disproved by science. Yes. You did read that sentence correctly. Actually, the 'debate' is pretty dire and the video section before it was much better. Starts at 26:26 http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b047bxcj/newsnight-16062014
Quote from: psychomansam on June 17, 2014, 05:01:00 pmChristian fundamentalism in UK schools again. This time mainly focussing on them teaching that the earth is 6000 years old and that evolution has been disproved by science. Yes. You did read that sentence correctly. Actually, the 'debate' is pretty dire and the video section before it was much better. Starts at 26:26 http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b047bxcj/newsnight-16062014Fucking outrage, and another part of Labour's glorious legacy (remember Blair declining to criticise this as 'more choice is good'? I paraphrase) that this government have allowed this to continue is a stain on their reputation and a serious debit against all they have achieved.My colleagues wife is a teacher in N.Doncaster - and there is a school in (nearishby) Thorne which is a new creationist free school. All science staff appointed have to sign to the effect that they will not teach evolution or anything alluding to it... I'm at a loss as to how (somehow) taxpayers are footing a chunk of this bill...
some of your licence fee paid for that to be written
Labour did that last time around too.
