Tagaziel

Back at home, Kamil Stoch is the victim of politics. One particularly psychotic politician (VP of the largest opposition party) used the roundel on his awesome helmet to push his insane conspiracy theories about the Smoleńsk catastrophe. What bull****.

It's not going to cut it for reasons I've already listed. Yugoslavia survived because of its unique position and history during World War II. The two states are (well, were, since Yugoslavia's dead) fundamentally different. Yes, **** is bad, news at 11. Seriously though, shaking a stick at Europe because it has problems and pretending other parts of the world don't (because that's the only situation in which doing that would make sense) is silly. The economic crisis is global in scope and causes problems everywhere. That doesn't mean a collapse is inevitable, as we had prophecies of doom since time immemorial, often fueled by adversity. I might as well compare them to Iran. The point was that you focus on negatives and ignore the positives.

Because no strategic country between two superpowers can sit on the fence? What other choice does an impoverished Ukraine plagued by rampant corruption have? Standing on its own against an aggressive Russian Federation is not going to cut it. Yes, Europe isn't ideal. So? The report itself is based on assumptions that poverty will continue to rise. Trying to say what Europe will look in 2025 is pure speculation. If you want statistics, Eurostat is a good place to start. The number of people endangered by poverty was actually reduced by 10 million between 2006 and 2010. For reference, 2009 was the pitch black hole of the crisis. To reiterate, just because Oxfam warns it could happen doesn't mean it will happen. Many people prophesied a breakup of the Eurozone and yet it didn't come to pass. Eurostat is actually a very good lecture and helps get your head around Europe. Did you talk to a Swede lately? From my experience, they bitch and whine that everything is going to the dogs just like everyone else, despite living in, well, near-paradise. Doesn't mean they are right.

The problem is that Ukraine is not in a part of the world where democracy has consistently failed in most cases. Unless you think Ukrainians are some sort of untermenschen incapable of self-governance, there's no reason why democracy should not be upheld in Ukraine. Yes, fortune telling. They're useful at giving a very rough idea of how the sympathies are divided, but due to very small samples (representative my ass) they're essentially fortune telling when it comes to election results. You do realize that has nothing to do with the contents of the treaty? The article even points out that a significant portion of the opponents voted against not Europe, but the government of Netherlands they disagreed with? Nope. Did you actually do even the tiniest sliver of research on what the Treaty actually contained? Or do you go by what you feel "Constitution" means? Because what you just posted is not what the Constitution was about. Oh right, I remember EU goons stealing referendum ballot boxes, breaking up peaceful protests, kidnapping and torturing dissidents, shooting protesters, and serving a small clique of oligarch. Oh wait, that's Ukraine right now. Ah, that's the core issue: Jealousy. Netherlands isn't as populous, big, or influential as Germany, so THOSE DAMN KRAUTS CONTROL EVERYTHING. There, fixed that for you. Hate? Nah, that was a parody of oby's way of thinking. No, it wasn't made in the exact same way. The Treaty of Lisbon was ratified by each of the national parliaments and implemented with the full consent of each nation's representatives, and had completely different goals than Yanukovych's unilateral decision motivated by personal gain. If you can't see the difference between the EU and Ukraine, there's nothing I can do to help you.

Because the alternative is being a satellite of the Russian Federation, a country which has a notoriously bad track record when it comes to Ukraine? Which, in practice, considers it a breakaway province (and that was the theme of the media campaign after Ukraine declared independence in 1991)? Which has a bad human rights record? And finally, because the people support it? Because you argument is a ridiculous oversimplification of the unique national situations in which the democracy the failed. There is no common ground between Ukraine and Egypt, Iraq, or Afghanistan, starting with the ethic background, through historical experiences, society, to religion. Fortune telling election results is rich. Which rights? Can you enumerate them? Maybe first by doing your research? The Constitution unified existing European treaties and served to simplify and strengthen the Union. The fact that it failed, but many changes were later implemented in the Treaty of Lisbon is not indicative of diktat, but that naming it as a Constitution triggered rabid nationalist sentiments that apparently prevented people from actually reading the thing and allowed populists catering to the lowest instincts of the masses to gain influence. Furthermore, the Constitution and the Treaty of Lisbon introduced changes to make the Union more fair, balanced, and democratic. But don't let facts get in the way of your tangent. Oh, the EU is doing pretty fine and is on track to recovery. Check your facts. It remains the world's largest economy, estimated at between 400-800 million USD bigger than the United States. They don't? Your constant railing against the EU reminds me of North Korea's rabid propaganda against the U.S. Or the worst Stalinist propaganda. It's pointless arguing with a Keith Pellig, though.

So you judge options entirely on the basis of how much money is up for grabs, am I reading that correctly? Yanukovych was acting in the best interests of himself and his clique, not the Ukrainians. As pointed out in this thread, the support for the association with the EU was not blind, Ukrainians knew what would happen. Did you even read the link I provided or are you really believing that Yanukovych and his party won in perfectly fair elections that accurately represented his support throughout Ukraine? And are you really dismissing the entire Euromaidan as a "vocal minority"? Furthermore, Euromaidan is three months old now. It started back in November, when Yanukovych did an U-turn and until Yanukovych initiated hostilities, it was a peaceful, democratic protest of disgruntled citizens. Disputing decisions at the election works in functioning democracies. Ukraine was turned by Yanukovych and his clique into a parody, the U-turn being a fine example of how he ignores the interests of Ukraine in favor of his own. Putting Ukraine next to Egypt, Afghanistan, and Iraq is the best counter to your entire argument. And you wrote it yourself. Still a minority, still third largest. The position doesn't mean much either, as, for example, in Poland the third largest political party in the parliament is less than ten percent of the two largest parties combined. Oh look, another hip "European Union is A DICTATORSHIP" hater. It's an association agreement that can result in membership in the EU eventually. Not membership in the EU. Your claim that the EU is a dictatorship was a clue that you don't really have much knowledge about the subject you talk about. The biggest economy in the world is not an obvious choice, apparently.

I'm not saying the European Union is perfect and free of problems, or that the Ukrainians are blind. I'm saying that Ukraine deserves a chance at forging their own way and the EU is their best shot. Being ruled by Russia(ns) didn't quite work out for them in the end. An interesting article about "legitimate" elections I found (reposted from the Eurasian Monitor): http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=40108#.UwSESfldUxh

Because Ukraine is totally like the US/UK/other European countries. Yanukovych ****ed Ukrainians over, did an U-turn towards Russia, and half the country is up in arms because they don't like being ****ed with. Euromaidan is not a local anomaly, limited to Kiev. It spans most of western Ukraine. Current death toll is up to 25, including a journalist assassinated by unknown assailants. I find it ironic that the fact Euromaidan revolutionaries fight back instead of taking it up the ass from Yanukovych's goon squads is considered strange around these parts. Not really. Don't mistake vocal minorities for the majority.

Shut it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26244542 The riot police invaded the Euromaidan after the protesters refused to vacate Independence square and the government supporters blocked debates on constitutional changes. I have a friend in Kiev. I hope he's okay. EDIT: He got back to me, he's okay for now.

That guy should watch Hot Fuzz, a movie that made police paperwork into an action sequence with the right montage.

I can understand his motives, but still..

Links please. I have a hard time believing someone would actually admit they think the audience is composed of amoebas.

Isn't that technically correct as far as pronunciation goes?

The one cut they shouldn't have made is the entire geopolitical situation, which is arguably more important than the human/formic conflict.

Machiavellanism is a good thing, but otherwise yeah, trolls are terrible people. Color me surprised.

Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Terry Gilliam is awesome, but damn, this movie is depressive (Gilliam's near-autobiography, it seems).

Best GOG projmo ever.

I am acutely aware of that, but whenever such a creature makes it into a position of power, I am shocked. This shouldn't become the norm.

I could understand if it was somewhere in the hardocre fundie Islam or Christian countries, but for ****'s sake, St. Petersburg lies in Europe and Russia is (allegedly) within the European cultural circle.

I don't use these terms, but it's Plan Ackbar.

http://gawker.com/stephen-fry-hands-anti-gay-russian-lawmaker-his-ass-1447405079 Beautiful. I'm shocked that such a creature was elected to an office of responsibility.

That's the natural fear of being sent to the house by them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p1nSNt5IOI#t=21 I nearly spit my tea out.