[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by chicka

less government the libertarian way.

that's usually how the door is open to control by big business-- i'd like control in the hands of the citizens, thanks much.

no, really, libertarianism sounds nice & all but works only in theory-- how would libertarianism deal with exxon-valdez? or... katrina?

[Glice]

Originally Posted by knox

However, if you mean the UK, I don't think the definition of severe poverty (malnutrition, starvation, lack of medical care) really applies to anyone here.

It does apply. I've known a few homeless people to die from each of the above. Admittedly, it's not as wide-spread as in other areas. The problem I find in addressing poverty in this country is that it always seem paltry by comparison to countries with 50%+ unemployment and no free health care, but that's not to say there aren't large swathes of the country living in poverty. It's not the severe poverty, but I do think that idea tends to distort matters more than it does help people who are fucked in the UK.

[knox]

Originally Posted by Toilet & Bowels

well capitalism was designed with the explicit purpose of extracting wealth from the lower levels of society and taking it to the top, which isn't a very just way of making an economy. and it's not like there's an either or choice between capitalism and authoritarian/totalitarian systems, we could all strive for something better, i.e. a more even balance of wealth that doesn't go in to recession every 10 years

that healthier balance of wealth could only happen within capitalist/democratic boundaries (ideally) unless you're thinking of devising a whole new system.

the gaps in distribution can be minimized, but never erradicated. It part of human nature that some will strive for more power, and the best we can do is try to regulate that power as much as possible. There will always be the need for the investor and the gravedigger.

we can fight for both of them (and everyone else) to have the minimum standards of human decency and health, but apart from that, people have different ambitions.

you have reached a certain degree in that equality and your periodic recession cannot be avoided due to the fact that you haven't reached with other countries, you can't protect yourselves from them, and until they are in similar situations, they have to grow, and when they do, you slow down.

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by knox

i don't see how it is capitalism doing all that. i don't see why capitalism doesn't want renewable energy. it's not capitalism, it's people.

that's right.

who here has an ipod? an iphone? who bought music in the past 24 hours? who has shit made in sweatshops? who wants MORE?

raise your dirty little hands.

oh yeah, i smell your hundreds of now-open armpits all the way here.

[knox]

Oh I want that fucking gadget, whip these little chinese children if you must, if they work hard enough they'll be able to get a frapuccino every two days, and i´ll get my shit at a reasonable price, might not even have to go overdraft this time.

[knox]

Originally Posted by Glice

It does apply. I've known a few homeless people to die from each of the above. Admittedly, it's not as wide-spread as in other areas. The problem I find in addressing poverty in this country is that it always seem paltry by comparison to countries with 50%+ unemployment and no free health care, but that's not to say there aren't large swathes of the country living in poverty. It's not the severe poverty, but I do think that idea tends to distort matters more than it does help people who are fucked in the UK.

let me allocate this shit on the news:
- homeless man dies in the UK due to the cold - 30 seconds - interviews, footage of the location, a photo if there's one to be found
- another 30 people die in another terrorist attack somewhere in the middle east - 10 seconds, no footage
- it is estimated godknowshowmanypeople have disappeared in india and have been human trafficked - 10 seconds, specialist talks for 4 seconds
- prince william spends the night with homeless people to find out how shit it is - 60 seconds: footage, interview, and a little smile from the presenter

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by demonrail666

Is the Left now a spent force within mainstream politics? I don't mean any kind of Left represented by New Labour or even Obama but a socialist Left. Or should we all just learn to love capitalism and be done with it?

no American politics is a silly facade of "two-parties" which makes people swing back and forth back and forth, because when they are obviously fed up with one guy, they naturally are persuaded to go for the "other" guy even if both guys simply do the same thing for 150 years.. In all honesty, we are still perpetuating the blunders and mistakes of the Lincoln era, just Obama realistically is keeping up the Bush administration economic, domestic and military policies into their 9th year..

the US needs to either go TRUE multiparty, or accept its limitations and go democratic UNIPARTY to get out of the swinging pendulum effect, or go Parliamentarian and solve these problems of competition by proportionate representation.

[Glice]

Originally Posted by knox

I'M AN ANGRY FEMINIST WHO DOESN'T WASH

Whatever you say doll-face.

[knox]

oh hello genteel death.

[Glice]

Touché.

[knox]

so you've merged, how romantic.

[Glice]

Cunt off you turdbath.

[knox]

do you wanna keep going? i can do it, i had a million liters of coffee today.

[Rob Instigator]

the US constitution was actually designed specifically to prevent the minority from tyrannizing the majority. Problem is, politicians are all bought and sold so perfectly that the constitution is seen as "superfluous."

what matters now, supposedly, is the "will of the people." which is very very easy to control and shape.

individual humans are the cleverest things around. groups of humans are the dumbest, most narrow-minded idiots in existance.

[Glice]

Originally Posted by knox

do you wanna keep going? i can do it, i had a million liters of coffee today.

I'm down. And not like the syndrome, as in your case.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by Rob Instigator

the US constitution was actually designed specifically to prevent the minority from tyrannizing the majority. Problem is, politicians are all bought and sold so perfectly that the constitution is seen as "superfluous."

sorry Rob, you lost me with "the US constitution was actually designed.."

ask these kind folks about the US Constitution and its authors intentions..

 

 

All that rhetoric really helped out these folks didn't

perhaps we should begin to make our own arguments, rather than trust the judgment of those unfortunate bastards who wrote pure hypocrisy.

[knox]

Originally Posted by Glice

I'm down. And not like the syndrome, as in your case.

is it the first time you use this one? you must be really proud of yourself.

[SpectralJulianIsNotDead]

Originally Posted by knox

i don't see how it is capitalism doing all that. i don't see why capitalism doesn't want renewable energy. it's not capitalism, it's people.

Cheap renewable energy means independence for people. The more independent people are, the less capitalism works.

Capitalism functions off of people's needs. They want to have everything you need, and they want you to pay dearly to suckle at their teet like a piglet should.

[knox]

From that logic, they wouldn't have allowed the Internet to reach us, considering how many industries it could potentially harm: the music, film, publishing, educational etc.

but we wanted it, and once we want it and we're willing to pay for it, someone will do it, they have no choice.

[Glice]

Originally Posted by knox

is it the first time you use this one? you must be really proud of yourself.

I'll admit it's better when I'm freestyling on the mean streets.