BruceVC

That seems detrimental to freedom. Or is that not a goal? I'll just leave it here and throw some seeds with the video below, i have derailed long enough. Whats your definition of " Traditionalism " ...please go into detail but in the context of Finland and what you would change and why ?

It's not like there's some dramatic backstory. I come from poverty stricken white trash and I read a lot. Okay thanks for sharing, I wasn't necessarily expecting a complicated story but if for example you said to me " I am from Serbia " then ultimately our views of the West would be very different. That doesn't mean we wouldn't get on of course So what you need to know about why I support the West and free markets is because I live and work in a continent that has the greatest levels of poverty in the world...and this poverty exists for several reasons but one of the main reasons is because of the lack of economic opportunities caused by the failure to implement free markets and lack of good governance So I see on a daily basis what happens in world without Capitalism ..its not pretty

You a strange one Zora What is your ideal system of government in the world at the moment ?

Ah yes the "my perfect version of capitalism would not have these flaws" meme. Do tell has there ever existed a period wherein capitalism did not rely on repression and authoritarianism or is this just limited to the realm of theory? Baro I have asked you this before but you never answered, I'm not trying to catch you out and you and I have very similar views on many topics so you do know I respect your view But where does this anti-Capitalism come from? Are you originally from Oz..what is your fundamental reason for this dislike of Capitalism..I am genuinely interested ?

No its fine I promise, its considered an average strip club in JHB...not that upmarket but the girls are friendly and don't mind you talking to them for hours if they enjoy your company and you dont act weird And for me if I can't talk to the girls there is no point so it works for me

I tell you something else coincidental since you seem interested I knew her from the strip club she worked at http://www.lollipoplounge.co.za/ But I never overdo the whole friendship with the girls ..I will party with them but not see too much of them because our lifestyles are fundamentally different and we have different goals

And capitalism is not? If you use the word capitalism to refer to the worst manifestations of the mixed-economy corporatism of today's Western world, then sure. If you use it to refer to an actual free-market system, then no, it would not be those things. Same to you. Corporatocracy and repressive monopolies are possible today because of a large government and its oversized jungle of rules and regulation, not in spite of it. Without regulation companies just get bigger and bigger, and explot their workers more and more. Wages get pushed lower and lower in order to compete, and people can't just buy from a smaller company that does things better because wages have been pushed so low that the only option is the cheaper prices of the giant company that can afford to sell for cheaper. I don't believe that economies should be planned, but I do think there need to be safeguards in place to protect workers and prevent monopolies, but at the same time, essential services such as power and health care should have a public option so everyone can afford it regardless of income or social status. Sure I don't disagree but no one wants that type of Capitalism I also agree that there needs to be a balance between profitability and working conditions but in my country we have a issue where the trade unions have become an aberration and are directly impacting the economic transformation. Our public sector is under huge pressure and many parastatals are dysfunctional but the private sector where I work is profitable and is actually what is keeping the country economically afloat But I do believe you should get paid what you contribute ...an uneducated mine worker despite the hard conditions can't expect a huge salary especially when you consider the global falling commodity prices and the Chinese economic slowdown Someone working a full time job shouldn't have to live in poverty either. I agree that someone who works longer with more education should make more, but a full time worker should be able to afford both food AND shelter. You see living in Africa we face very different social and economic challengers to what you are talking about and are use to, I'll try to explain Mine workers in South Africa for example are normally uneducated but hard working, most of them can't even read. We haven't mechanized our mines like you guys so our mine workers literally work underground for 8 hours breaking rock Over the last few years the various trade unions have become more and more unreasonable and intransigent. Despite the fact many of the mines aren't nearly as profitable as they use to be or they just aren't profitable the trade unions still demant 9%-15 % salary increases and other demands. They are basically anti-Capitalism and opposed to the large corporations and always criticize them and use rhetoric like " greedy white mine owners who abuse there workers " ....and I work in the private sector and for large corporations so even though I work in the financial sector I have immense sympathy for the mining sector as the trade unions have often wanted to target the financial sector, which is very profitable, and claim the banking sector needs to " transform" which is just annoying Anyway where I'm going with this story is in South Africa people like the mine workers always demand more and more and don't understand how a basic balance sheet works ...so they don't care if a mine is running at a loss and there protracted strikes effect investor confidence. So my issue is not about them being able to buy a nice house ..sadly thats just not there economic reality So how would you explain Scandinavia ranking better in competition, ease of making buisness, lower corruption, democratic participation and on and on...? We've had much much stricter government oversight and taxation than you guys for basically 150 years. Shouldn't we have devovled into totalitarian states by now? By your definitions... Edit: in any case - I'd love to see an America with much more power given back to the individual states.. Your strength is your pluralism, centralization doesn't seem to fit you as well as us of a more Germanic mindset.. Perhaps its some of that Italian ancestry, they never could handle it either.. Yes as I have mentioned you guys have the best system of government overall ..I really admire it but it requires a high employment rate. But your average American will consider your system too socialist and your government having too much control. I don't agree but I know the way our American friends think

I like the way you always read articles and understand the context...I was hoping you would read those links so now I can explain further Its a sad story what happened to Dustin, the guy that was killed, his wife died giving birth to his twins and he obviously went through a severe and understandable depression. Its unusual for a women in our modern age to die in childbirth ..anyway he met that stripper on a dating website Now of course I am not suggesting that people you meet on these dating websites are going to try to kill you but this is a example of how bad things can go So going back to my original point these websites are not always just about " dating " someone. This was the point I was making to Volo

No this was just an example ..but don't kid yourself cheating on your partner in this way using this type of website and opportunities can lead to many bad things....its not always harmless Check this story, I knew the guy who was killed http://ewn.co.za/2014/03/26/Accused-confesses-to-Dustin-Bloms-murder http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/ex-stripper-held-for-montecasino-murder-1.1582682#.VdeEBfmqoqM

But to not approve of moral choices people make doesn't have anything to do with it with being your business For example someone who hits his wife isn't really your business but you wouldn't approve right ? This is just about your opinion I never made an statement about morality or physical violence. "Cheating" isn't an area that I think is relevant to anyone concerned but those in relationships with those involved and the legal system (if needed) and any deities that might exist and/or care about that sort of thing. Yes, yes I was just using the physical violence as an example I misunderstood you, I thought you were saying you don't have an opinion on people who cheat on there partners as its not your business. I was then trying to explain, and clearly failing horribly, that you can still have an opinion on things that aren't your business

But to not approve of moral choices people make doesn't have anything to do with it with being your business For example someone who hits his wife isn't really your business but you wouldn't approve right ? This is just about your opinion

Well thats been one response but its highly unlikely these kids have seen there parents raping people ? Show me where I said anything about their parents. Well thats been one response but its highly unlikely these kids have seen there parents raping people ? Show me where I said anything about their parents. Oh I see..my bad I doubt kids this age are seeing rape in front of them but I see your point. I assumed you meant there parents because thats what other people are saying

Well, well, well. Looks like we got ourselves a cheater-lover here now. We don't take your kind kindly here. " a cheater-lover " ... thats funny

I hope I am not dragging down the level of decorum on this thread ..I just think sometimes one must take an opportunity when presented

You say you not gay but what has that got to do with us dating, it can be a platonic relationship? Think of everything we have in common...we both like fantasy RPG ? We both like Pizza ? The more I think about it the more sense it makes ....is it because I live in South Africa and you not sure what you will tell your family? Don't worry about that I'll speak to them..I'm in sales so I'm good with people

Voodoo. Well its true we do have people who believe in magic but its called Muti in South Africa

No I am fine with passing judgement on people who cheat on there partners ...its the principle Volo imagine you and I were dating....would you cheat on me

And capitalism is not? If you use the word capitalism to refer to the worst manifestations of the mixed-economy corporatism of today's Western world, then sure. If you use it to refer to an actual free-market system, then no, it would not be those things. Same to you. Corporatocracy and repressive monopolies are possible today because of a large government and its oversized jungle of rules and regulation, not in spite of it. Without regulation companies just get bigger and bigger, and explot their workers more and more. Wages get pushed lower and lower in order to compete, and people can't just buy from a smaller company that does things better because wages have been pushed so low that the only option is the cheaper prices of the giant company that can afford to sell for cheaper. I don't believe that economies should be planned, but I do think there need to be safeguards in place to protect workers and prevent monopolies, but at the same time, essential services such as power and health care should have a public option so everyone can afford it regardless of income or social status. Sure I don't disagree but no one wants that type of Capitalism I also agree that there needs to be a balance between profitability and working conditions but in my country we have a issue where the trade unions have become an aberration and are directly impacting the economic transformation. Our public sector is under huge pressure and many parastatals are dysfunctional but the private sector where I work is profitable and is actually what is keeping the country economically afloat But I do believe you should get paid what you contribute ...an uneducated mine worker despite the hard conditions can't expect a huge salary especially when you consider the global falling commodity prices and the Chinese economic slowdown

Its interesting but people are blaming the " moral state of society " and saying its things like the various TV channels and social media One "commentator " even said its because we teach evolution at schools

Well thats been one response but its highly unlikely these kids have seen there parents raping people ?

I'm about to start my first play through...I'm very excited A hint, when Leliana asks you if she should kill the spy, saying yes makes her a murderqueen later in the game. o Okay and is this a good thing or a bad thing? Depends, do you want to see the world burn? Oh no...I always play the hero

I hear you but I have no sympathy for people who want to cheat on there partners ...rather become single

A group of 8 and 9 year old boys have been arrested for raping a 6 year old girl in South Africa ...anyway its obviously caused much discussion and self reflection as people are asking " how could this happen " ...you won't believe some of the stupid comments But what do you guys think could cause people of this age to do this ?

No you right, you don't need to use your real details ....it is stupid

But its not just for married people