Kush

Derek, Is there any way I could buy the game and put the extra $20 directly into your pocket?

I'm a playwright, actor and producer here in Toronto. Theatre's a tough life. How do you make ends meet?

quote:Originally posted by Steve Schacher: Kush, et.al.; What happened to c) the poor bastard earns a little more by: c1) taking a second job, c2) taking a night class and getting a job, or c3) does without? The whole point is, in a Keynsian (sp?) capitalist society you don't have to. In Sweden, you don't HAVE to struggle to live. You don't have to hold down two jobs to have a little more. If you want to earn more money, you get a job that pays more money. If you like to work hard, go for it, have two jobs. No one's stopping you. Working hard is a good thing and is rewarded. But you don't HAVE TO. Not to live. Not to survive. The idea that you would actually have to have a firearm in your possession to simply walk down the street of a city... sadens me. It's... it makes me very sad for the people who live there. You may not feel the paranoia that someone living in Cuba may feel, but what's the difference really? You're not afraid of the government, but you're still afraid of losing your life. In my books, that's the same. I grew up living in a city where you can walk down any street. Say hello to anyone. You may need to know French for them to respond, but no where in the city, do you have to worry about getting shot at, or mugged. There are poor people in Ottawa. They're just not desperatly poor. That's not luck. That's not breeding, or the result of genetic experimentation. It's social policy. I think really we are all debating what flavour of Capitalism do we like the best. I think sometimes some people label anything that smacks of compassion as being socialist, and therefor communist, and therefor evil. I think you can have a Capitalist society and also have a compassionate society. The two are not mutually exclusive.

quote:Originally posted by Menchise: Keynesians suggest that this can be achieved through government taxation and expenditure to fund a welfare state: by providing the means of subsistence to the unemployed, businesses have more people to whom they can sell their products, thus stimulating the economy while providing much-needed assistance.Good point. If my memory serves me correctly, it was Bismark in merry old Germany who implimented the first modern social welfare programs. One of the reasons why the civil war in England was not as brutal and destructive as the civil war in France was because England had begun some rudimentary social welfare programs. Even the most die hard capitalist has to admit they help. quote:Originally posted by Lotharr: So how do you get away from those who make welfare a lifestyle? I don't know about you but a person should have to do something worth while for society. Not just drink wine and make crappy art heh heh.....Heeeeey... I drink lots of wine, and I make tons of crappy art! So what! A sad and awkward truth is that there are people out there who don't have much direction in life. Some people just aren't that smart. Some people are, but don't believe in themselves. Some are emotionally and mentally scared for one reason or another. Some people suffer a great misfortune. And some people are just plain lazy. Lets say said person wants a television set. You could a) Re-distribute wealth a little, give these people a monthly allowance. They go out and lease a television set. (The ones that aren't too bright lease the TV set.) The money gets put back into the economy through i) retailer for sale of television set ii) interest to leasing firm iii) manufacturer of television set etc. so on. You could Give the poor bastard nothing. They go out, break into someone's house. Beat up the owner, and steal the television set. Now we're paying all over the place. In insurance goes up. We pay for the hospital bills, the police report. That's an over simplification of a very complex process that happens every day in a capitalist society. Certain countries use a, certain countries use b. All I'll say is, I'm going to feel much safer walking the streets of Brussels than I ever felt walking through South Central LA. There's a reason why there are low crime rates in certain countries and high crime rates in others. Is it socialists that are responsible, or Keynesians? You be the judge. PS : I just can't keep away. I need help. [ 05-13-2002, 13:43: Message edited by: Kush ]

Lotharr! Do you realize what you are doing?!!! Do you realize the unholy forces of nature you are setting free? Sure. Let's debate Capitalism and Socialism. Seems simple enough. Heh. Right. I wish I could stay and participate, but I'm leaving for Europe soon and I'll be there for a month and a half. I'll be too busy to post. So I'm going to get everything I want to say out now. FIRST OFF, Let's keep it clean. No personal attacks, no low blows, pot shots. No questioning intelligence. I think we're all pretty seasoned debaters here, but things could get out of hand. SECOND OFF, When you guys do finally come up with the answer, could one of you tell the World Bank. Win or lose, the IMF aught to find out. Every now and then this debate comes up, and like Menchise pointed out, when you pit Capitalism VS Socialism you really do need to pick your flavours. And I would add, culture as well. There are many cultural differences to both Capitalism and Socialism. And those flavours also have slight variations over the history of the nation. Being Canadian, we like to bandy about the word Socialism alot, but heck, we're about as Socialist as Disney is an independant film company. We've experimented with different social programs that have originated from the socialists in parliament, but federally, we've never had socialists form the govt. Not like England. And as left leaning as I am, that is a GOOD THING Sure I vote for them on occasion, but the NDP has to realize that there is more to running a country than a bunch of antiquated economic theories preached by intellectuals. You have to have a cultural policy, you have to have a law and order policy, trade policy, etc, so on. Holding hands and talking about the Boss Man, and how the World Trade Organization is going to kill us all, does not tell me how you're going to deal with National Unity. A BIG issue here. Now for the big picture. The cynical side of me would say 'How can you debate Socialism VS Capitalism' Socialism and Capitalism are two sides of the same coin. At their extremes they don't work. In their purest forms, they are both cruel and inhuman. Personally I think that what you want is something that takes the positive, functioning aspects of both. The ends of the spectrum are pretty dire. Take Cuba and Jamaica. One very socialist, one very capitalist. Very high literacy rate in Cuba. Very low in Jamaica. Many Cubans are trained lawyers doctors and engineers, but do not work in their field of study due to a glut in the work force. Many Jamaicans cannot afford any form of education and the ones who do often take their education and leave. If you get sick in Cuba, you don't pay a cent. You have many highly trained professinals, there are shortages of medicine, but you can still get a pace maker, or brain surgery. If you get sick in Jamaica, and you are not rich, you die. Period. Cuba has a very low crime rate. Jamaica has a very very very high crime rate. Certain areas of Kingston, you are taking your life in your hands walking down the street on a sunny day. Cuba, you have no worries. You can go anywhere, and you don't have to worry about getting robbed, or attacked. Why? BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO FREEDOM. You have no freedom of speech. You live with a certain level of constant paranoia. At any point in time, a soldier can pull you off the street, and you disapear. Without a trace. Gone. Human rights? Nice try buddy. Which is better. Living in a violent chaotic freedom, or a peaceful, orderly oppression. Personally the jury is still out, but I have to admit, the honeymoon in Cuba my wife and I had was pretty sweet. The Cuban people really are amazing. I have a relative who lives in Jamaica, and he has kind of scared me out of visiting him any time soon. That's it. I'm done for now. Sorry bout the long ass post. I'll be watching. This should be REAL entertaining. PS : Go Menchise Go! PPS : Don't mean to sound like I'm slagging the Jamaican people. They are super cool too. But even a Jamaican will tell you, the crime level is getting out of control. PPPS : I say this thread goes 5 pages. Any takers? [ 05-12-2002, 18:07: Message edited by: Kush ]

All I can really say is... drool.

Console games can crash? Really? I honestly thought that they were pretty crash proof. What happens, do you get a blue screen of death or something. I know it sounds like a stupid question, but I never play console games and I really want to know.

It's so sad. I'm visiting the Netherlands next month. I never in a million years would have thought something like this would happen in such an advanced peaceful nation. It makes no sense at all.

I thought he took the photo. If he didn't take the photo, I really don't see the problem. And if they they're not going to charge him with something, they should let him get back to work. Yeah he should get the bronze star. He should get one here too. No wonder the moral is so low in the forces.

The reason why he was punished is because of an incident in Somalia where memebers of the Airborne tortured and killed an innocent Somali boy and then took pictures of themselves with the dead body. Those pictures sickened every Canadian who saw them. The memory of it is sickening. There are now strict rules. A soldier cannot take pictures of himself with a defaced dead body. No matter who the enemy is. That's the rule. He knew the rules. If he doesn't want to follow them, he doesn't have to be in the Airborne.

It's sooooo stuuuupid!!!!! [ 05-06-2002, 14:23: Message edited by: Kush ]

Sorry Paddy, how about a slightly worn Alanis Morriset?

Canada isn't going to implode anytime soon. We're doing just fine. And we already tussle over soft wood lumber all the time. Let us keep our lumber and we'll give you Celine Dion. That's a fair trade I think.

First off I NEVER said the UN was perfect. I know it's got problems. But there are also things that the UN does very well. Don't get me started on what I think is wrong with the UN, we'll be here all night. And Jaguar... I know you've got a gift for hyperbole, but watch the way you slag my country alright. You're a proud American, I'm a proud Canadian. I don't go on a tear talking about how America is morally bankrupt, and f*ed up, and I'd appreciate keeping the rhetoric civil. Canada has it's problems, I know. But I love this country and would defend it with my life. I know you don't mean any serious harm, but keep an eye on the rhetoric okay.

Heh, you guys really need to look at your history. To boil down tons of complex history into a couple of paragraphs is impossible, but I will do it anyway. No the UN did not fight for Israel. The Israeli's did that. But even an Israeli will admit that the UN recognition was seminal point in their history. The only point I'm making is that it is ridiculous to think that the UN hates Israel. Or that somehow the UN has a vendetta against Israel. The UN was instrumental in Israel's creation. Israel is a member of the UN. Furthermore, using the 'UN hates us, so therefore we won't let them into Jenin.' just makes you look guilty. It makes you look like you're hiding something. Personally I'm not saying there is something to hide. I am perfectly willing to accept that only 40 or 50 or 60 soldiers were killed. Fine. But where's the proof? Where's the hard evidence. The UN has a long history of dealing with massacres. The UN has it's flaws, but fact finding is not one of them. I say let the UN do it's job and the truth will speak for itself. Oh and here in Canada we've had Multiculturalism as an official govt policy. You can still be Canadian. It's not a big deal. [ 05-05-2002, 08:51: Message edited by: Kush ]

English is the official Language of the US. The vast majority of immigrants to America learn English, and WANT TO BE AMERICAN. They don't want to make America into a version of the country they just left. Relax. American culture is not threatened by immigration. As a matter of fact American culture is one of the US's biggest exports. Nobody wants it to change. Not even those of us who don't live in America. (oh and by the by, pretty well everyone who lives in America are immigrants or the decendants of immigrants. Everyone except for the Native population ) When the UN recognized Israel, the country formally existed.

English is the official language of the United States. In a free country, you are allowed to post signs in whatever language the people choose to posts signs in. You are free to speak whatever language you choose to, but the official language of the Federal govt, and State Govt agencies is English. It will always be English. Don't worry. America has always been a melting pot. That's it's tradition. People may speak different languages in the States, but if they live there, they become American.

The UN created Israel. It does not hate Israel.

Eclipse, I really hope you don't depend on news sites for the truth. What is needed is a thorough UN sponsored investigation into Jenin. Let trained UN proffesionals declare what happened, not rumours or internet news sites.

It just doesn't look good that Isreal is delaying the UN. That's a Saddam tactic. And it just makes you look guilty. Plus Sharon has a shaky human rights record. Every nation has the right to protect themselves, no nation, not the US, not Canada, not even Israel has the right to commit mass murder, no matter what any terrorist organization has done or will do in the future.

Rats?! Rats are nothing. A RATTLESNAKE?! That can cause some serious injury, and they're fast as hell when they strike, and they hurt. I've had rats. Big HUGE rats. A whole family of big huge rats moved into my basement when the building next door was torn down. Started with a glue trap. Boy am I stupid. The rat stepped in the trap. Then spent the next little while flipping himself over to an extension cord that was sitting on the dryer. He was able to grab the end of the cord that was hanging near the ground, pull the entire cord off the dryer and use it to pry the sticky pad off. He then left the cord and the pad as a way of saying, 'Nice try bub.' The next day, I saw the little bastard. I was going to do some laundry, and he just looked up at me like I was a minor annoyance. If he could speak, he'd say something like, 'You again? I'm busy. What do you want?' Then I got the big Rat Traps. Huge Rat traps. Tried cheese, nothing. Tried meat sauce. Nothing. Tried Peanut butter. Bang! Caught four in one night. At first I was real cautious, plugging my nose as I gently placed the dead body in the garbage. By now, I can juggle their dead carcasses without flinching. No problem. But a rattlesnake. They can do some damage. I have to admit, your wife's reaction would probably be my reaction.

What both sides need to do is READ THIS THREAD. I swear, most problems in the world could be solved if people just came to this site and read the General Forum threads!

quote: Thankfully, I don't think that's something we have to worry about anytime soon, as Judge Limbaugh's ruling should be fairly easy to have overturned ? assuming the industry gets its act together. But as gaming companies prepare for their annual trade show next month, they need to realize that in order to be accepted as professionals in the entertainment community, they need to act like it. And shoddy arguments, which allow overly restrictive court rulings against them, are a bad start. Sounds to me like it's a temporary problem, but it's chilling none the less. Not a very surprising ruling from a relative of Rush Limbaugh.

Oh and Menchise, Not all Israelis are Zionist. As a matter of fact, not all Israelis are European. Some are African. The modern state of Isreal is full of many cultures. And not all of these cultures agree on Palestine and how to handle it. A Jewish friend of mine pointed out that many of the Isrealis who have been in Israel since it's birth are sick and tired of the violence and are more than ready to accept a peace deal, but a recent influx of Eastern European Jews, who are new to the conflict and a little naive about the cost of war, are keeping the Isreali resistance to peace alive. There ARE Israelis who see themselves as equals to the Palestinians. There are Jewish people who strongly belive in a Palestinian state and are very critical of Israeli military activity. Right now they don't have a voice, but they are there.

quote:Originally posted by Jaguar: You know, that "sounds" really really good, but it does not deal with the realities of the situation. My personal thing would be this, go in and destroy every terrorist that I could find, then make EVERY "palestinian" in the territory take an oath AGAINST terrorism, if they are not willing to do that, then they would be deported and permanenetly banned from the country and the territories.[/QB]You know, I could say the same thing about your conclusion. I don't think it's realistic to destroy every terrorist, and your attempt could create more terrorists than you destroy. And I realize my suggestion has been attempted and failed, many many MANY times. But I just don't see a future until that happens. Many mortal enemies have learned to negotiate their problems and find a way to live in peace. I'm sure there was a time when the Angles and the Saxons never thought they could live in peace. Same with the French and the English in this country. Or the blacks and whites in South Africa. Or the Canadians and the Americans. (There was a time in our history where our relationship bore a striking ressemblance to the Isreali conflict; Canadian Loyalists Soldiers marching on the Washington, burning down the White House. American rebels entering villages and killing innocent supporters of the loyalist cause. Most of what happened is now a long forgotten memory, but at the time it was a very real conflict with no end in sight.) Peace can happen. It's happened in the past and will continue to happen. I'm certain that a time can exist when the thought of bloody termoil in the middle east will become a faded memory, it just won't be within my life time, but it is possible. Only through negotiated settlement.