BruceVC

Thats what I thought. Don't get me wrong I enjoy the varied views of the members who dislike the West on this forum, they are wrong almost all the time or they are biased but I enjoy seeing a different view on certain political developments But my question is why is Poland so unhappy with the EU? I don't mean this is in a superficial level so " its about the refugees being forced on to us " ( I am still very annoyed by this move and I feel that it shouldn't be mandatory for any EU country to have to accept any Syrians...let the Germans and the Norwegians take them in but to just expect the East European countries to do this is just unreasonable..and I'm still a huge fan of Merkel and Germany despite the initial mistake to take in original refugees ) But I see now that there is real political division in Poland with this new " anti-EU " party? Why would this exist and are there objectives reasonable?

No Trump is just attacking Apple because he wants to maintain his tough, implacable, populist " I'll be tough on Muslim Extremist attacks" stance for the presidential debates I have very little in common with Trump as you know. No my criticism of Apple in this matter is I really think you guys are very concerned with " privacy issues " but you ignore the reality of the world now where to say " I reject any changes that infringe in my privacy " just seem to me to be idealistic and misplaced due to the real threats of the likes of homegrown terrorism or other internal attacks So you Americans basically have to chose..do you want to live in a society where you take the risk of a terrorist attack occurring or succeeding more likely because the Federal government is unable to access certain information or do you trust your government that it actually will use this new access to Apple devices in a way that is used to ensure state security For me its a no-brainer...but I admit I don't understand the concern around " privacy "...I have no issue with the government being able to scan all my communications, for me I have nothing to hide but the world and the threat to the West has changed...sadly due to the nature of terrorist attacks all Western governments have to now implement more data surveillance for there citizens. Its done to protect the country

Dark we sometimes have different views on some topics but I have always found you to be a interesting person to debate with, if someone asked me what your overall view on the West was I would say " you don't necessarily dislike the EU and other similar institutions but you question the overall positive and constructive impact the idea of Western ideology has had on the world " ?( is this accurate? ) Why I raise this is you seem to be in the distinctive group of people on this forum who generally are " anti-Western "...now this is fine of course and we must all be honest and debate what we feel is what we believe ..but I really like you so I have to ask this Are you looking for an alternate system of global financial influence and or general military significance than what works in the world, like the power of the IMF, EU and USA? So for example why do you think Iran and China economic alliance is in anyway significant and why do you think Russia's strategies in Syria is better than what the West has done?

Whats your view on this Elerond? I say Apple is being unreasonable and must abide by the governments wishes...its just one phone. Yes if the request is an automatic backdoor for the Federal government for all Apple devices I would also consider this reasonable but this just takes more time I get a little annoyed when people debate something like " its a privacy issue " when in fact its more important like state security

it appears that he is smoking a cigarette. HA! Good Fun! Gromnir I haven't noticed your views on who you currently leaning towards in the various presidential debates ? I'm sure you alluded to voting for Republicans normally but with the current ideological stances of the leading 3 Republicans I don't you align with any of them ...would you vote for the Democratics? Please share as much information as possible as I'm very interested in your opinion due to your life experience and current job

http://europe.newsweek.com/donald-trump-pope-francis-mexico-visit-425792?rm=eu Guys this is UNACCEPTABLE, now Trump has insulted the Pope and called him " political" .....we know there is no worse insult than to compare someone to a politician,....its a low blow and I think Trump needs to seek immediate forgiveness and absolution

Guys I have to support Meshugger around this point, it would be imprudent to Ignore my posts....I do occasionally post real inspiration Took me three reads to realize you wrote "imprudent" not "impudent". Thats funny....I could easily have made that mistake

Guys I have to support Meshugger around this point, it would be imprudent to Ignore my posts....I do occasionally post real inspiration

Oby it seems like you want Turkey to go to war with Assad ....now Russia may get involved. Are you sure Russia should be doing this considering the mess the Russian economy is in?

You did? Where? I must have missed it. All I see is this... ...which actually rather says the opposite, as it says you know you annoy certain people...which I would think would imply you know what certain people you annoy... No Barti you are completely missing another option but I can see how you may think my view is inconsistent There are people who I know I annoy but that aren't necessarily the people who may have an issue....its potentially 2 separate groups It sounds what you are referring to is how you feel once you realize I have won the debate....thats never been a strong point of yours. You notice I often admit I'm wrong...the older you get the less relevant " being right" is

I think you have misunderstood something about the situation in Eastern Europe here. None of the nations in Eastern Europe is any military threat to Russia, and so there is no need to intimidate anyone. The more they fear Russia, the more they are going to flock to NATO and allow NATO to place bases, nukes, weapons and whatever in their countries. Scaring people with a Russian military threat is exactly what the pro-NATO folks are doing. These people were losing ground steadily up until the Russian intervention in Ukraine. Then everybody started eyeing NATO membership and they are still on a roll today, and will be until the conflict in Eastern Ukraine is resolved. Ukraine (previously a country with friendly relations to Russia) desperately wants into NATO and the EU and even Belarus started inching closer to the EU. Finland and even Sweden are going to join NATO at the latest in 2020 if things continue like this, it's an unavoidable consequence of public opinion. If Russian foreign policy was really working, they would have an Eastern Europe with increasingly pro-Russian opinions and Russian trade ties so deep that sanctions would be impossible to put in place. The entire Crimea debacle happened at exactly the right time to prevent this course of events. Gold is a crap metal anyway, and only worth so much because people collectively believe it has some kind of fiat value. Just like diamonds. If things really would go to hell, people would laugh at you trying to peddle gold. Congratulations for playing the game on the other gold fans, though. Ros maybe you should confirm joining the EU is a good thing so our American members have no doubt about what you mean?

No you cant use the doomed prognostication again....remember Obama 2nd term and the buying of gold ....you said we were doomed then

Barti stop making suggestions that aren't relevant !!! I have no idea who may have an issue, as I mentioned. And the issue is they don't tell me....so I dont know Barti you must read the post before suggesting something that is clearly already explained ....you naughty boy Oh and of course it doesn't bother me ....you know me but if other people are getting annoyed then I would like to know I'm all about other peoples feelings Barti Thanks GD, yeah I agree with you. I didn't think there was an issue but someone just suggested some people dont get my jokes and instead get annoyed So for me since I basically know everyone it just makes sense to ask and I think I have my response

http://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/feb/18/yanis-varoufakis-how-i-became-an-erratic-marxist This link summarizes his view and the main issues I have with him, he espouses archaic socialist policies and basically suggests that the EU is a doomed institution. Its very myopic and is insulting People like him Baro just encourage people to now believe in ideological changes for the EU that are not sustainable ....yet he persists He also seemed to have a complete disdain for the EU when he was negotiating. I am not sure what he really believed he was doing back then? Did he actually help Greece at all?

Yes, I lost it when she went after service members. Tigranes immediately deleted me, and rightly, but I couldn't help it, my PT shorts became so twisted I didn't login for a week. Or three days, which is the same thing in internet time. But then I was all, WWSD. What would Shady do. He wouldn't hate, or react with anger. So I deleted my ignore list and it's been all namaste since. dude you funny, you are as cool as a cucumber You would tell me if I was saying anything perhaps rude in your opinion?

Ignore list? I'm not with you.,...I have never added anyone ever to any list as I find some tend to ignore me so it allows periods where I can chill

Absolutely yes, but please explain what you mean? I like you Hurlshort, you are a consistent, reasonable person who is a committed family man and also spends time defending things that many wouldn't because of the principle You are a stereotypical Californian liberal and I would be proud to be that but its obvious I annoy you yet you have never actually explained to me what I do that annoys you . I am well aware of that. And you are a teacher but you can't just send me a two line PM? So yes I would love you to be honest...I would have expected it much sooner, sorry if I am being rude its just we agreed to be honest...this has nothing to do with me liking you

Good point Mani....did Qistina get to you? I remember you were noticeably annoyed the one time She is not a good person to start believing her view is real.....I still dont know if she was a troll or not? But I have had real debates with people like her, the secret is you have to accept she is not very informed,...she is not very bright Her links and " accurate " portrayals of the West are from these websites that have only one purpose...to go into great detail " revealing " how the West wants to destroy Islam They contain these violent and incredulous videos about things....but I tried to keep telling Qistina that the West doesnt want to destroy Islam or the ME, Muslims are doing that on there own

I dont think we have ever said a bad word to each? But yes I have been a little perhaps surprised at your lack of support for the success of Germany...which I was honest about? I don't think I was condescending...was I ?

Guys it has come to my attention on several occasions that I make some comments on some occasions that are offensive to people....so for example In my country people like me help people make the right decision....think about it Elerond wouldnt it be better not having to think about a solution when I can just tell you the right answer....." "Compare him to Trump.....you Canadians seem to be an unpatriotic bunch?" "Remember just because I'm speaking on your behalf it doesn't mean you can't sometimes correct me...." "..,.. tlisteningo me takes the stress over having to make your own decisions, now you can focus on other things" I am very surprised that anyone would take this seriously...of course I'm joking. But in the interests of brevity and candor lets please be honest, I really want your views on my posting etiquette, I promise you wont offend me in anyway and it doesn't mean I will agree but I will respect it So let me start..and remember its about honesty, we should be able to discuss this We all adults, how come very few people didn't just contact me on PM...I would do that if I felt offended. But I have no issues with anyone on this forum despite the fact I know I annoy certain people but they must let me know Yes we had some heated debates during GG but I moved on after a few days .,...yet some people I think still carry some sort of protracted grudge Honestly? People must learn to get thicker skins, I live in a country where many of us engage in RL debates about racism, economic transformation, GDP and politics. Its intense, brutal, honest but rewarding....I have learnt so much about what Apartheid was and what it means to be a white, South African. I know the true suffering of many black South Africans...its real, tangible and I help deal with and we unpack it You feel horrible as a white person but liberated and profoundly committed to the country..I am happy very happy but we major social, political and economic issues So sorry if I can't feel resentful about gg...I moved on quickly

I'm still waiting to read that debate between you and KP on the European debt crisis. Yes well thats a good example, we started it but then I ended up dating with alum about GG but I'll be honest I think I went out or got stoned and lost interest But I feel I have been rude to KP in the past and I'm tyring to understand his view...ultimately I can produce irrefutable links that describe how the Greeks mismanaged there economy for years...this is not a secret to anyone who works in any financial sector in any country. But end of the day I'm sure we will still disagree because he feels the austerity measures are crippling and cannot be successfully implemented He has more empathy than me, I respect that but for me the Greeks need to do what everyone else has to do and adhere to the austerity. I would be betraying my principles if I gave any European country a pass for not managing there own economies...I won't do this with any African country as I believe in the transformation of the continent but certain African countries and the whole AU needs to follow prudent Western principles around good governance and general Democratic values...if most African countries are doing it surly we can expect the Greeks to do it?

In my experience that's not why we're laughing at you. Thats fine but you guys really need to start debating with me and then we can gauge who is the most informed, its not about being superior. Its just a debate....but I'll be honest you seem to debate mostly using emotion which is influenced by a certain bias so because I can honestly support everything I say I doubt you would win.. But its just fun, I love having debates ....but I wont hold back

Uh oh, Val is going to take his ball and go home. We better lay off guys. This whole courtroom is out of order! Fantastic quotes of Scalia, btw Gromnir. I don't know how they will replace his opinions. Vals dont overreact, this forum isn't that bad ....seriously of course Gromnir will challenge you on certain views you have about the Constitution. Can you blame him considering the fact he is a Constitutional Lawyer and he should give us the proper interpretation...its nothing personal. You should just look at this as way to improve your view on these matters, he isn't malicious and he doesn't feel the need to correct everyone so its not inordinate

Okay but you seemed to be concerned about the fact that Americas enemies were laughing at you because they see America as weak and stupid ...yet you mention countries that cannot laugh at either of those things because Russia's economy is in recession and this wont change and the Chinese great economic experiment of a export driven economy and relying on state control in times of economic hardship has failed .....its really failed and the Chinese are now restructuring there entire economy to consumer based and industrialized. This makes sense but will take 3-5 years if it succeeds So think about it neither of those countries could possibly laugh at the USA when they failed to maintain there own economies. And this is a fundamental point that actually contradicts what certain right wing views espouse...and I'm worried they may be unduly influencing your view. I'm not suggesting you stupid at all but can you see how someone saying " America is now the laughing stock of its enemies due to Obama" is factually not correct And I'm not going to even mention NK or Iran as they are no real threat to the West

Well, US was in the Civil War at the time. Also I'm not sure how something that happened 150 years ago is relevant now. Rule of law definitely declined when the President constantly refuses to enforce or follow the law. We're a laughing stock in foreign affairs because our enemies believe us weak and stupid. All the new regulations and laws and the general anti-business attitude I believe hurt the economy. The accumulated national debt is a heavy burden on the economy. The deficit is going up without bound again and no one's dealing with it, possibly leading to an economic collapse in the future. As far as Iraq having nuclear weapons, I think Cheney meant to say Iraq had reconstituted a nuclear weapon capability, not an actual nuclear weapon, because I don't remember such a claim being made at the time. Okay those criticism are not dissimilar to GD, when you say enemies can you be specific ? Question, what would you say if I told you that millions of people who live outside the USA think that USA offers them the best quality of life and the best economic prospects ?