What is this slander? Americans have never interfered in any elections or funded any coups. On a completely unrelated note, do you know why we call them banana republics? Because I don't...over a year ago
Jesus Christ, this country is fucked. Apparently someone died, got shot in the neck, during this protest. And after GOP and Trump supporters declared that, "at least if Trump loses, we won't riot like the libtards." It's just chilling seeing this on the news.
Posted over a year ago
Wonder if the people that just "vandalised or damaged Federal property" will be prosecuted under the legislation that Trump recently threatened BLM protesters with? linkover a year ago
WHY. Is there no Crazy Ex-Girlfriend club/spot? WHAT have you guys been doing with your lives? (And if there is one, someone link me please. I'll take a Rachel Bloom club, too, thaaaaaaanks).
Posted over a year ago
New Zealand hasn't had any in the last week except for Kiwi's returning home and they go straight from the plane to supervised isolation. They have no community spread at the moment.over a year ago
This post is going to age poorly when I change my icon but like; I love using this icon on this club because it looks like Azula is furiously screaming all of my shit takes.
Posted over a year ago
The people who say that they will vote for Trump are the same people who believe in bullshit conspiracies like Pizzagate and QAnon so you can't expect much from them lolover a year ago
In fact, many of the known philosophers had other areas of expertise that weren't necessarily highlighted. I have already pointed out one of the known attributes of Aristotle.
Did you know that Plato was also regarded highly as a skilled mathematician? His fascination with geometry led to his understanding and worship of Pythagoras, who created the Theorem - triangles and their angles.
Posted over a year ago
Did you know that Aristotle was the first known naturalist, who also created the first rudimentary example of a classification system, where he was actively describing and classifying species.
Posted over a year ago
Did you know in North Korea police execute unarmed people in the street and although there are countless examples of it on video, the population is mostly complicit with this because they are brainwas- oh wait never mind that's a different country
Posted over a year ago
I will not wear a mask. I will not live in fear. The Bill Gates Fauci deep state is trying to put a chipped vaccine in you while also aersolising the air with chemtrails and 5G radiation bombs. But I will not live in fear.
Posted over a year ago
Lol, conspiracy theorists are actually kind of interesting in an amusing, yet curious manner. It always makes me wonder why they started believing whatever they believe and what made them start believing it. I guess a lot of the time people get brainwashed by Youtube videos, or fake articles, about stuff and they just get hooked into it. XDover a year ago
Lol yeppp, and once you have one conspiracy belief, it's really easy to accumulate more. It's jokingly called "crank magnetism" lol linkover a year ago
Among the confirmed speakers at the Republican National Convention next week: the MAGA hat-wearing teenager who smirked in the face of a Native American elder and the St Louis couple who pointed guns at demonstrators as they walked past their house. Wowee.
Posted over a year ago
Can almost guarantee that Donald Trump Jr has never met a member of the "radical Left" in his life. FYI these are anarchists and revolutionary socialists and they have a negligible presence in the US.over a year ago
Yesterday Trump said Biden would bring "socialism" to America looooool it's just become a comedy skit at this point. Biden is centre-right by the standards of other any western country.over a year ago
Australian federal election is tomorrow my dudes - am so hyped for what might finally be an end to six years of rubbish governance, climate inaction and the stripping of public services. Might even get modern Internet speeds if Labor wins, isn't that the dream?
Posted over a year ago
I'm so proud that the "millenials can't afford a house because avocado toast" meme has gone global. Australia's finest contribution to the world :')
Posted over a year ago
Overheard on the bus: [talking about American acquaintance] "I think she's actually stolen my dream but that's okay she can have it, she has Trump now" lol
Posted over a year ago
Think of the shitstorm that is the Trump administration atm. Then remember we're only 2/3 of a year (out of 4 years) of the way through this bullshit.
Posted over a year ago
*secretly thinks while studying corps law how great it would be to crush all corporations under the might of one glorious central government*over a year ago
I surprised myself by actually liking it. But I worry that's because it provided some great confirmation bias for "some corporations really are bastards, aren't they?"over a year ago
I have never felt more disrespected as a career educator who works directly with refugee and immigrant families on the daily than I have in the past two weeks.
Posted over a year ago
“Trump is a man who has shown himself unfit, not just for high office, but for any office; not just in his abilities as a leader, but in his qualities as a man; not just occasionally, but on every day of the campaign. He is not just deficient in knowledge, experience, judgment, tact, decency, integrity, leadership, policy— but utterly lacking in all. He is not just the worst candidate for president ever nominated by a major party, he is very nearly the worst candidate possible”
Posted over a year ago
Love that Trump can say the most outrageous, offensive things about people but the moment Hillary says something mildly un-PC, like that there's a portion of Trump backers who are "xenophobic, racist or Islamophobic", she gets absolutely crucified. Gotta love those double standards.
Posted over a year ago
"If she [Hillary Clinton] gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks..... Although the second amendment people – maybe there is, I don’t know".
Wow. Really. Yet another clumsy and damaging remark by Trump. Inciting/suggesting/condoning violence against a political opponent.. literally a violation of the most basic rule of democratic civilisation. When will people realise his complete unsuitability to be president of the US? I sure hope it's before November.
Posted over a year ago
I'd rather have a President who says damaging things get taken the wrong way than actually does damaging things, like violate the basic rule of democracy though voter fraud, registration fraud and voter machine hacking to choose the candidate that the people did not want. She is the only presidential candidate ever to be under an FBI investigation while running yet somehow she was still able to run? Other people were fired for doing less than her as Secretary of State, which she failed when she couldn't even figure out to keep her email secure. I sure hope in November we don't elect a criminal in Hillary for the first time as our President. She'll be even worse than Bush Jr was!over a year ago
When has Clinton engaged in voter fraud? I googled “Clinton voter fraud” and it came up with a few dodgy-looking blogs and no media reports. If we want to talk more about violating democracy though, can we just mention Trump’s attack on that judge, who apparently was incapable of being impartial in the Trump University case because of his Mexican background (he was born in Indiana lol). So insulting when you consider that impartiality is the very cornerstone of a judge’s role, and that this man was somehow unable, according to Trump, to separate his personal heritage from his court rulings. Absolutely no respect for the rule of law and the nature of the judiciary. As a law student it had me convulsing.over a year ago
Anyway, do you think that ill-thought-out words will not translate to ill-thought-out actions in office? Will there be a magic moment when there’s a fundamental change in character and Trump suddenly has calm, considered, and reasoned responses? Trump hasn’t done “damaging things” yet (putting aside stoking anti-minority sentiment with his rhetoric) because he has zero political experience and has had no opportunity to do so. Given office, I’m sure his impulsiveness/lack of intelligence/absolute lack of diplomacy wouldn’t be a good combination in terms of law-making and foreign relations.over a year ago
The whole “criminal Hillary” thing just points out a massive flaw in the presidential system. It’s a "popularity contest” instead of the contest of party policy it should be. I most often encounter people attacking her personal record rather than her actual political stances, which are quite centrist (on the American spectrum). Meanwhile many of Trump’s stances are abhorrent in terms of environmental protection (abolishing the EPA and aggressively using coal, fracking and oil), climate change (he denies its existence), social security (privatising welfare will never, ever work), the economy (dismantling the legislation preventing another GFC because poor Wall Street bankers), science and health (he is an anti-vaxxer, which shows just how much regard he has for science. Honestly I think this ALONE is sufficient to demonstrate a candidate is unfit for presidency), etc etc. The list could go on.over a year ago
"The whole “criminal Hillary” thing just points out a massive flaw in the presidential system. It’s a "popularity contest” instead of the contest of party policy it should be." &^%$ YESS!!! YES! THANK YOU!over a year ago
My heart is breaking for communities once again shattered by the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. And the broken pieces continue to ache when I realize that this is going to keep happening. Next month, next year. A White man is convicted of rape, and they publish his swim times. A Black man is murdered and they publish his mug shot. #BlackLivesMatterForGodsSake
Posted over a year ago
I've lectured a lot about history lately. I guess the old adage is true. "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Because we seem to be repeating it all over the damn place.
Posted over a year ago
My only hope about the results of the Brexit vote is that America takes a long hard look at this fallout shitstorm and learns a lesson from it.
Who am I kidding, when the hell did we A) Pay attention to anywhere outside of US B) Pay attention to history or C) Learn from anything?
Posted over a year ago
I'm not worried about Brexit, when has a combination of nationalism and economic depression ever turned out badly in Europe? Britain has yielded to petty xenophobes wanting to reclaim an imaginary past, who will take no responsibility for the ensuring economic havoc but instead blame immigrants. You won't get trade deals: you're not an empire anymore. Currency and shares are in free fall. The science funding, roads, freedom of movement that the EU provided will go. Dark times ahead.
Posted over a year ago
Basically- against the advice of economists, foreign affairs experts, the Bank of England, IMF, OECD, UK Treasury, every world leader with the exception of Trump- they’ve condemned themselves to becoming an insignificant little island off the coast of Europe, with a lower standard of living for future generations and far less important role in the world. Another lurch to the populist right and another victim of unthinking nationalism over logic and sound policy.over a year ago
Today I cast my vote in the Connecticut Republican primary (by absentee ballot) for Ted Cruz, Texas U.S. senator, consistent conservative, and friend of the Constitution, whom I have liked for years. In the 2016 cycle, Cruz was and is the only choice for serious, authentic, movement conservatives. I am not the first to say he is the Reagan of our time, and I won't be the last.
Posted over a year ago
Of the two other remaining Republican candidates, John Kasich was always a non-starter for me because of his support for amnesty, his expansion of Medicaid, and his get-along moderate attitude, which values the idea of bipartisanship more than fighting for conservative goals. Donald Trump was fine as an entertainer—I watched early seasons of "The Apprentice" myself—but, among many other things, he lacks an ideological core (conservative or liberal), and is confused or unknowledgeable about many issues of the day. It is my hope that Cruz will win the Republican nomination (at this point, most likely at a contested national convention); if he fails to do so, I will most likely support whoever does get the Republican nomination, though I would consider defecting to a third-party candidate if he or she were viable and more conservative than nominee Trump.over a year ago
I will never, ever vote for a Democrat for any office (not even dog catcher if we elected them); I would rather eat a penguin. The idea of a President Hillary Clinton (or a President Comrade Bernie Sanders, the candidate of whiny Millennials and leftist socialists) scares me to death, and should scare to death any rational, moral person. Someday America will elect its first female president, but voting for a woman just because she's a woman is ridiculous. And sexist. I hope instead that America's first female president will be a conservative, elected for her values and her vision, not her sex.over a year ago
Yay, I like things too! But I also don't hate stuff so hard. And I like bipartisanship, and getting along with people, and getting shit done. So I might consider voting for a republican, and I have lauded and supported many in the past. I wouldn't be so hardline. Have convictions, of course, but be open to new ideas and opinions you may not have considered. Otherwise, how will you work with anyone who's different from you? Just my two cents. (Also, I'm super bummed Cruz lost to Trump. That nomination was stolen. Have a nice day!)over a year ago
@Cinders: Politics and religion are not completely the same, but should a devout Christian consider becoming a Muslim to open himself up to new ideas? Should a devout Muslim consider becoming a Jew to open herself up to new opinions? There's a difference between trying a new food for the first time or going skiing for the first time and doing things that would completely change someone's core. I'll admit that my frustration with the direction the world is going has made me passionate about the need to change course and that I'm more rigid than most, but the trouble with those who are too open-minded is that they risk their brain falling out. What good is "getting shit done" if the shit getting done is terrible?over a year ago
You can hold fast to your convictions while still seeking to understand other's. For example, the Muslims community where I worked (to go with your example) hosted an interfaith night. They did it to teach the community what they believed and to show them that Muslims are normal people. But they also did it to start a dialogue, to share cultures, and religions. They learned about others and built respect. You don't have to change your convictions to listen to others. You don't have to change parties to vote outside of it. Partisanship is dividing our country right now, and the democrats are equally as guilty as republicans. That's because no one will listen to each other anymore or work together. You wanna know what terrible shit is? Destroying our country out of "party loyalty." That's pretty terrible. Washington didn't believe in parties, and had dissenting voices in his cabinet to better advise him. A level head makes better decisions than one biased in ANY direction, left or right.over a year ago
And since you ended with an old saying, allow me to do the same: Changing your mind is one of the best ways of figuring out whether or not you still have one.over a year ago
But there is also the problem of many people not having any true convictions at all. That's how Donald Trump became the Republican Party nominee when he was a Democrat most of his life, including as recently as the Bush presidency. I think many of his voters in the primary were attracted by his celebrity more than anything else, like Jesse Ventura, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Al Franken before him. A Republican Party whose voters were completely dedicated to conservatism would never have nominated him.over a year ago
As for partisanship dividing the country, well, I'm at the point now where I would just prefer two countries. I don't want a second civil war, but if there were ever a Brexit-type national referendum to peacefully split the United States into Conservative America and Liberal America, I would vote in favor. (This will never happen, but a man can dream, can't he?)over a year ago
Working on a piece comparing Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, for those of you anxiously waiting at the edge of your seat. Should be published on Monday, just in time for Super Tuesday! This will be followed by a piece on Ben Carson and John Kasich.
Posted over a year ago
Have we had a discussion about the TPPA yet? I don't really want to surf through all the polls and I don't see anything in the Questions. What opinions do you guys have about it?
Posted over a year ago
No, I'm quite sure we haven't- but we should. It's going to have a devastating impact on my country (Australia), and many of the other countries involved. More people should definitely be worried than the number that currently are.over a year ago
So students at Texas universities will be able to carry concealed guns on all areas of campus from August next year... Because in a place where emotional young adults are cooped up with thousands of other emotional young adults, plus some disgruntling professors thrown in the mix, this can NEVER go wrong... Well f*cking done, Texas.
Posted over a year ago
Do any of you ever look back on your old comments and cringe? Lol I know I do... didn't realise how much one's opinion (and way of communicating them) can change until I came across some of the stuff I wrote when I was about 14 *cringe*. Please don't tell me I'm the only one experiencing fanpop-comment-regret. Lol.
Posted over a year ago
Lol. I was waaaay too passionate about anything/everything you could have an opinion on. Popstars. Politics. Twilight-hating... mostly Twilight-hating.over a year ago
We all grow and change over the years, for better or worse. I started posting here when I was nineteen, and even so, there are still stupid things I did and said that I hope people forget. Hell, I'll look at something I posted last Tuesday, and be like "Oh God, was I drunk?"over a year ago
Simple answer is 'yes.' However, I have no regrets. The only way you learn is by doing things wrong and understanding that. Like, when you write stupid comments and don't realise, for years sometimes, that they were inherently stupid.over a year ago
Current situation in my country... The elder people in senior homes are being neglected and the government says it's the fault of the children because they don't take good enough care of them. Meanwhile, when you decide to let your grandparents/parents live with you, your rent goes up, your social services are cut in half or worse and your taxes go up. What kind of a logic is that?! Typical governments....
Posted over a year ago
vv --- Is this really what the "Fanpop Wall" has become? Really, people, I'm gone two years and everything's different? Oh, yeah... I guess that is a bit of a long time. ;)
Posted over a year ago
Whether christian or not we have equal rights, and we all need to accept each other, and stop hating. And judging. I love ya'll ^-^
Posted over a year ago
About Transgenders: I know of a wonderful lady. She was in a relationship with a gay man. When she came out, her relationship died and her boyfriend called her a freak and everything.
Posted over a year ago
This sounds rather pretentious and kind of cheesy, no offense. Why didn't you just write something normal like everyone else, instead of trying to sound smart, by using something that ended not sounding that smart?over a year ago
I would say both. Why? Because realistic people probably wont be living the happiest lives, but they would be able to stand through it when the real parts of life actually happens. Idealistic people see everything so ideal that they cant stand through the real parts from real life, though it tends to make their life a tad bit happier then the realistic people. So if you were a mix of the both, you could either get the pros or the cons. If you get the pros it would be great if you get the cons...... Well do I need to explain?over a year ago
Well idealism gives you dreams and goals and motivation, and realism gives you the wisdom and knowledge to achieve them. An equal balance of both I think is more healthy for your mental functioning and working towards succeeding real life goals. Idealism makes life more fun and creative, but too much of it will make you set too high of standards which will be too unrealistic to accomplish. But realism helps you better accept a situation as it is and help you become more prepared for the future. But too much realism makes you feel unable to reach out and do something different. Without Idealism we wouldn't have theories and certain branches of science, art, music. But without realism we wouldn't be able to gain and adapt to information needed for everyday life.over a year ago
I tend to be more idealistic, and with that I sometimes need to snap out of it and realize I have gotten behind in the tasks I need to accomplish now. There's times when it's better to be more of one rather than the other. But to be successful I believe relies on a equal mixture of both~over a year ago
I what you mean, but I don't know if it is necessarily that simple. Being idealistic is great in ways, because it helps you to set goals and conquer issues you feel should be conquered. On the other hand, if you are realistic about issues, you can see how those issues need to be solved realistically, without focusing on irrelevant parts of the issue, or unrealistic parts that just can't be done at that point. I guess it's a bit of a mix-up, really. In life, generally, it is a combination of the two, though. It's good to have unrealistic expectations sometimes, while maintaining a realistic outlook. In other words, you can always dream and hope that one day those dreams might come true.over a year ago
@hetalianstella. I see what you are saying. That is also quite true. The idealistic expectations allow you to yearn for certain goals and looking at them realistically also can allow you to achieve those goals, even if they aren't exactly how you wanted to achieve them.over a year ago
Just saying it because you have to, doesn't mean that you will believe/agree with it - however, it seems a bit pointless to me. And, no, it isn't a sin - people shouldn't be ostracised for their beliefs.over a year ago
I don't think that's right of your teacher. In history class I learned that there is a 'flag code' or set of rules in regards to the American flag. (I do hope we are speaking of the American flag, because I'll sound like an idiot if not). One of which states something along the lines of 'You do not have to say the pledge, but you should (emphasis on the should) at least stand up as a sign of respect. Apparently this rule was revised form a mandatory 'say the pledge'. To put it simply, your teacher cannot make you say the pledge.over a year ago
If you don't agree with the pledge, it's your opinion. By ignoring your opinion your teacher basically says the pledge means nothing. You were right, and it's definitely not a sin ;)over a year ago
Funny how Lt deleted his rant against smokers... I suppose, you'd have to be incredibly stupid to leave up a bunch of comments that essentially state you saying you wouldn't mind your own grandmother dying, just because she smokes. I wonder what she would have thought, if she had seen it...?
Posted over a year ago
So you aren't embarrassed that you unquestioningly believed unsourced statistics that you found on a radically religious website and then used those statistics to justify your prejudice? You don't think, at the very least, that was a little bit silly of you?over a year ago
I doubt he does... It seems to me that he's almost enjoying this... I'm shocked, though, to hear that it wasn't an embarassment 'lol', because if I did the same (in fact I have before and I was embarrassed), I would be very embarrassed!over a year ago
So here comes Australia Day... And with it the inevitable racist posts. So many, but all along the same xenophobic lines: "immigrants [who they call 'boat people'] are trying to change our national day... if you don't like MY country then go back to where you came from, I grew here and I'm proud... aussie aussie aussie oi oi oi!". I'm sure these sorts of people are not only confined to Australia. So sad to see how a day that's meant to unite instead is used to divide.
Posted over a year ago
Also, what they fail to realise is that it's not foreigners who have something against Australia Day- it's the Aborgines. And for good reason- it's the celebration of the date that the British landed and began the takeover of their land and the killing of their people. If the rednecks want to play the "I grew here, you flew here, it's MY country" game, then it just backfired severely- it's not the "non-Australians", but the TRUE AUSTRALIANS who want to see change.But you know, who cares about actual facts when there's an opportunity for migrant bashing?over a year ago
I completely agree with you. After all, they're wrecking their own national day by making stupid comments. Good point about the aborgines too :)over a year ago
Ever notice that on lots of polls here where everyone else picked one option, there's one person who picked the other one? And then they never give an explanation or support their choice in comments. Then someone says "Who picked 'no'/'yes'/'whatever'?" I'm not trying to be biased with my picks on polls, I'm just saying. Call me silly, but I'm beginning to wonder if there's a user who doesn't care about the poll itself, they just do this for kicks. :/ What do you think?
Posted over a year ago
I don't think they're necessarily doing it for the kicks, and I don't necessarily think it's just one user. Maybe they don't feel comfortable getting into a debate with such a minority opinion. Or maybe they just don't feel strongly enough to comment. There are lots of times where I pick on option on a pick, but then don't say anything because I just don't feel strongly enough about the issuse to start a debate on it.over a year ago
^ My words exactly. No matter how right you are, you're not going to win a debate when there are so many people against you, so you might as well not get into the debate.over a year ago
That always seems to be my problem. Quite often, even when most people believe in one side, I always argue my point when I choose the other... I guess that's just me.over a year ago
I hate to be a buzzkill but why is everyone always complaining about the shortage of money while we collect over a million of euro's every year on lottery tickets? Why couldn't we spend that money on the national debts instead of something as useless as a lottery ticket?
Posted over a year ago
Not to mention that firework-show that was almost canceled because of the windy weather on New Year's Eve. That stuff costed 12,000,000 euros at least.over a year ago
Without respect, no soccer...
RIP Richard Nieuwenhuizen, my heart goes out to your family.
Why do kids these days think soccer is all about violence? If I were a judge I had put them on trial as adults & gave them a life sentence in jail.
Posted over a year ago
Even if tried as an adult, they can not get a life sentence. 15 years is the maximum for voluntary manslaughter (and I am not sure they will be charged for that) and if they are convicted for involuntary manslaughter the maximum sentence is 2 or 4 years.over a year ago
I did not mean that there should be no punishment. What I mean is that with this people will turn to criminal law as a solution and they will demand a high sentence. They will be outraged if these kid do not get the punishment they feel they deserve.. and that will be it. Meanwhile. nothing will change on the footballfields, just like nothing is changing with children that are being bullied. I think if you want to teach people respect, we should find other ways for that and not blame criminal law for not punishing 'hard enough'over a year ago
I'm sorry Sappp. I'm gonna agree with Chaann94. No, it was not murder, it was manslaughter. But I'm not gonna judge from a judicial point, but from a personal one. Like Chaann94, I'm going to agree with what seems fair. Place yourself into the shoes of the family of this Linesman. They are practically scarred for life, while those soccerplayers come free after 4 years. That's not fair. And it's going to happen. You know what I call that? The Dutch law-system that is as leaky as a basket. We should know.over a year ago
Political logic; A lot of Dutch families make less than the minimum wage and have to live off of food stamps... let's give millions of euros to Greece and to imaginary children in Morocco...
Posted over a year ago
Are you talking America, or somewhere else? I thought the American estimated statistic s say only 50-55 million people in America legally own guns. But I'm not sure.over a year ago
The American election is not far away...But its apparant that although the US prides itself as a bastion of democracy, its voting system is biased against the poor. Elections will be held on a Tuesday- a normal working day. Several states have complex voter-identification rules that make early voting difficult. Generally, 1/3 of people don't participate & at present, contest appears close, but one really does wonder how the Republicans would fare if there was compulsory voting system in place...
Posted over a year ago
You also need an address to vote, so... there go the homeless voters. It's a plutocracy, for sure, with voters being mostly middle and upper class. But to be fair, it's the educated middle class that tend to be more liberal, because they've seen more of the world outside their backyard. These are the types who volunteer in soup kitchens or Habitat for Humanity. Right now, they are the voice of the poor. It's not ideal (because the poor should be allowed to speak for themselves) but it's better than nothing. "Bastion of democracy"? LOL That phrase just cracked me up.over a year ago
Lol... still think it's, let's use the phrase, a "rip-off". I just think compulsory voting would create a fairer country with the government as a more accurate reflection of what the people really want, thus a true democracy. However, the US, right-wing as it is, will never put such a system in place- it would be awfully inconvenient for the more conservative parties if the less-educated, less well-off had a say in it too. I think you can understand my concern, as the US election really is important to the world as a whole, and well, I just don't think the voting system for the most significant vote on earth is up to scratch...over a year ago
John Oliver had a hilarious joke about drinking and compulsory voting in Australia, and now every time I hear the term, I always picture John Oliver saying, "I love you, man. I love you. But I cannot support continuous spending on a welfare state."over a year ago
In all seriousness, though, my one issue with compulsory voting is uninformed voting. There's no law that says that people need to know what they are voting ABOUT, which could lead to people voting for something that they are really, personally, against. Of course, that happens anyway, but I just feel with compulsory voting, it would happen a lot more often.over a year ago
Lol, is it on youtube? And to combat that problem, learning about politics is a compulsory part of school curriculum here. A whole semester in grade 6 is dedictaed to the theme of politics, in every school in the nation. Students not only learn about the various political parties but the preferential voting system, the parliament, law, etc. Compulsory voting = compulsory politcal education, too. Everybody knows what they're voting for.over a year ago
They may learn about the systems, the parties, etc, but issues are different in every election. Just because you know political theory, doesn't necessarily mean you know which candidate to vote for without watching what they do, listening to what they say, and examining the issues. Being well-informed on the issues and thus a well-informed voter is different from being a citizen educated in civics and politics.over a year ago
I heard what Richard Murdoch said about a rape baby being God's gift.
When I was 17, I was raped by my boyfriend. He hurt me badly. I was scared of him, and had to get social resources from a local women's shelter to break up with him.
I never told my parents.
Weeks later I started throwing up 12 and 14 times a day.
Posted over a year ago
I got a pregnancy test for free at Planned Parenthood during the time I should have been in Econ 101. It was positive. Even though I knew that I had not chosen to have unprotected sex, my cheeks burned with shame. It was September of both my Sr. Year of HS and my freshman year of college... I did both at the same time. I won a varsity level swimming meet the day before I had my secret abortion. Four days after that, I awoke with my parents sitting at the foot of my hospital bed sobbing. I had nearly died from the abortion I attempted to get at a local clinic that was cheaper than but not related to Planned Parenthood... I just want to say, that the person who raped me took a lot of choices from me. His baby was not a blessing. It was not a gift. I have experience two blessed gifts since then, my beloved, wanted, planned sons... I know the difference.over a year ago
Mr. Murdoch can sit around with his set of penis and testicles all day long talking about the blessings if rape babies...but I know the truth. I know the pain, shame, fear, anger, and near soul destroying guilt that comes when your rapist leaves you with that last, tiny freedom... The freedom to choose whether he forces a child on you... Even when you did not get to choose when he forced himself on you. Mr. Murdochs words may sound noble to some. They sound like curse to me. ~ Sarahover a year ago
Oh god, Cinders. At first I thought the narrator was you. When I saw you put "- Sarah" at the end I'm assuming the narrator is not you? This story is very moving, it's awful something like that can happen to someone. Well, whoever Sarah is, she's rich. Murdoch CAN sit around with his balls all day!over a year ago
LOL! Oh absolutely not, I am not Sarah. A friend posted this quote on Facebook, and I thought it was relevant to recent current events, so I shared it prefacing it only with "Food for thought." Yeah, definitely not me, sorry for the confusion.over a year ago
i believe that God sends blessing in disguises and that sometimes you may go trhough hell to get your blessing...but i don't think could ever tell someone so casuall that a raped baby is a good thing. I understand maybe what he meant but the way it came out sounds so not insensitive but just plain thoughtless to the idea of the factors that come with being raped. I know I know words aren't my forte but I think if he wanted to make a point that he should have worded it in a better way.over a year ago
John Hawkins, a blogger, said "The first step towards convincing other nations that they can trust us [the US] again would be make this a better world by removing Julian Assange from it"
Ahaha how wrong he is- the worst thing the US could possibly do is to convict (or murder, as suggested) the man that exposed some ugly truths about them. Oh how the international community would love you then- it's like saying "Reveal we're not saintly, and we'll kill you". How very amusing.
Posted over a year ago
You're suggesting, it seems to me, that anyone that's "Anti-America" must die. Then you go around criticising terrorists for thinking that anyone that's "Anti-Islam" must die... Spot the difference.over a year ago
That aside, I don't see how someone that merely informed the public about American actions is "Anti-America". It's your bloody fault if you did the wrong thing, not Julian's fault if he told people about it. You're advocating a policy of "shoot the messenger".over a year ago
Chick-Fil-La stated anti-gay statements and band gays from their restaurants.Some Chick-Fil-A's aren't homophobic though like one in Chicago.over a year ago
I know this event has stirred up lots of vicious gun-law debate, but the guy legally bought more than 6000 rounds of ammunition without raising an eyebrow. No matter what side of the gun-law debate you fall on, you have to admit that someone should not be able to legally get their hands on that much ammunition. Surely even pro-gun parties have to admit that at the very least gun laws need to be looked at in depth.over a year ago
But now go back and apply that same argument to gun bans. Tell someone that there's no correlation between crime rate and gun bans because if it were true, then all the countries with gun bans would have a lower homicide rate than all the countries without. Seeing as how that is not true, what does it prove?over a year ago
The New Zealand crime rate is only low because it has a small population... Proportionately, New Zealand has a fairly high rate of crime. I would know... I live in NZ, plus I see the news every day where another gang member has shot a cop, or some innocent person has been hurt. You are right about guns, in NZ, though; we may have fairly high crime rates in general, but gun crimes are quite rare over here. The most deaths from guns in NZ are, funnily enough, from hunting accidents.over a year ago
My limited African internet means I have to be selective in what content I respond to, and curt in my responses. As a result, the foremerly patient, tolerant, verbose me has flown away and I have exploded with several succinct, gut reactions to certain content posted here. If I offend with such outbursts, I apologize... but I don't apologize for the sentiment or the ideas I stated. I'm just sorry you were offended.
Posted over a year ago
My dear, you could never offend. You are, without a doubt, more than welcome to share your passionate, verbose and enthusiastic world-knowledge with as many debators as you like. I certainly appreciate the immense effort and I'm confident others will share that sentiment. So please, give us more of your "outbursts" and show us what a true debate is all about.over a year ago
Dunno how relevant this is - and I can't add photos even if it was, but this amused me: Mitt Romney is Schrodinger's Candidate: link
Posted over a year ago
For anyone interested, there is a Mitt Romney club here on Fanpop (link). Only six members so far compared to Barack Obama's 2,659, but it's a start.
Posted over a year ago
In their respective graves, our Founding Fathers are rolling over and FDR is cheering. Thursday's Obamacare ruling is truly troubling, with the Supreme Court giving its thumbs up to the advance of progressivism and government involvement in more and more aspects of our lives.
I hope and pray for Obama's defeat in November so that we may be able to begin to undo his damages, including Obamacare. I'd personally like to see him go down in a landslide.
Posted over a year ago
Yes, because of course extending health services to more people is a bad thing... God forbid that the less fortunate can have a doctor too!!over a year ago
OK, so why specifically is Obama's health care plan bad? I'm just curious. I hear a lot of complaints in general, but nothing specifically about why it'll hurt this country. Can you explain it for me?over a year ago
Many critics of Obamacare cite the cost as a major factor, essentially writing another check we won’t be able to cash. Also, the fact that the only reason the bill was deemed ‘constitutional’ due to it being a tax, when Obama clearly stated early on that it wasn’t, is also a common critique. I personally am surprised it passed through mostly intact, but I agree with most critiques in saying that it was a rushed mandate.over a year ago
So you're saying that there's no problem with the actual bill itself in what it plans to do for Americans? If it was less costly, then it would be all right? I was under the impression that republicans had a problem with what the bill planned to do. And, in the long run, its preventative care would end up saving people more money. I don't think public health - just like public education - can ever cost too much for us to fund. Which, I know, is the same way some republicans feel about military spending. I'd rather fund public health and education than our over-funded military. That's not to say I don't support the military - I do. I live and work with marines. But we have the highest funded military in the world. If you're worried about cost and budget cuts, take a look at that budget.over a year ago
I opposed the insurance mandate because the government has no right to force me to buy a product against my will or to coerce me to purchase said product by fining me if I don't. When before has the government mandated the purchase of something for no reason other than being an American? Don't say car insurance because there does not exist a right to drive and thus it is a choice to do so. The Supreme Court rightly found the mandate inconsistent with the Commerce Clause; what was wrong was that the court didn't strike Obamacare down but instead "saved" it by calling the fine a tax, which Congress does have the power to collect. Of course, Obama himself argued that the fine was not a tax before Obamacare even passed.over a year ago
I opposed other parts of Obamacare as well, including requiring insurance providers to cover those with pre-existing conditions. It sounds nice, but the reality is that it will lead to people not purchasing insurance until the very moment that they get sick and actually need insurance. This changes the business model completely. Insurance companies insure against risk, not act as a welfare service.over a year ago
As for the preexisting conditions thing - I was diagnosed with a syndrome that requires me to take daily medication. When I was diagnosed, I was 18 and under my parents insurance. Under the old system, when I outgrew my parents insurance and had to be on my own, no insurance company would cover my medication on account of it being a "preexisting condition," even though I was diagnosed with it as a minor. How is that fair? I absolutely believe we should cover preexisting conditions to protect the consumer from cutthroat insurance companies who will find anyway they can to weasle out of actually paying for things. I believe the new health care plan does exactly that. You wouldn't believe the number of stories I've heard from colleagues and family about the fights they have with their insurance companies just to get the compensation they're due. Because you need health care, insurance companies more or less had a monoply because you NEEDED it. I believe this fixes that problem.over a year ago
As for forcing you to get healthcare - the government requires you to do all sorts of things by law for your own good. I really don't find this a viable argument. Most intelligent people have insurance anyway, so it doesn't affect them, and if you don't, you should because it'll save EVERYONE money in the long run including yourself. HOWEVER I recognize that this is simply a difference in philosophy between democrats and republicans: Which is more important, the freedom to do stupid things, for the sake of individual freedom, or the greater good of society? Or, in other (perhaps less biased) words, the individual, or society?over a year ago
Individual freedom and the good of society are not at opposite ends of the spectrum. Freedom is an essential part of any society worth living in, if not the most essential part. Government did not give us our rights; our rights are natural and inalienable. Regardless of whether it is a wise choice to have health insurance, forcing it on people is a serious encroachment on freedom. I can't help but wonder what liberals' opinions would be if the government was instead forcing everyone to purchase a gun for protection or pay a fine for not purchasing one. As for a final comment on requiring insurers to cover pre-existing conditions, this is sort of like buying homeowner's insurance after your house burns down. If we're going to start covering everyone at any time for anything, expect premiums for everyone to rise dramatically, perhaps to the point where many without the means will be forced to drop their insurance completely because the penalty is far cheaper.over a year ago
But isn't it so that you cannot wait to buy insurance untill you are diagnosed with something, because you are required to have an insurance?over a year ago
Coming at you from the Rural Highlands of Ethiopia, Cinders is back, y'all. When did we get thumbs up? I haven't been gone THAT long, surely.
Posted over a year ago
This statement seems a little pretentious, if you ask me... Everybody has their opinion on what constitutes as a sin and the law decides if it is or not... I suppose it has always been like that. Still, quotes/statements like this always raise plenty of questions.
Posted over a year ago
I like that statement. Obviously what one considers to be right or wrong is generally subjective. I'd rather hate what a person did over hating the person because they did it. I'm not into grudges.over a year ago
Heh, I agree with you... I still think it is kind of pretentious though, correct as it is. I just love the questions one can develop from such phrases like thus.over a year ago
My problemt with that statement when used about homosexuals, is that for many homosexuals being gay is a big part of their identity. It's not like someone who lies and you hate the fact that they lied, but not them. For a lot of gay people hating the fact that they engage in homsexuals behaviour is the same as hating gay people in general.over a year ago
^ This is exactly what I have been trying to explain to people for years. Recently had a HUGE debate about it in the Christianity spot, but there was a total refusal to even see this perspective as a possibility.over a year ago
Rule of society no.86#:
If something goes wrong, anything at all, regardless of weather it had anything to do with them, pin all the blame on any or all of these social groups/minorities:
- Gypsies.
-Christians.
-Muslims.
-OR THOSE GOD-DAMN FEMINISTS WHO'LL TAKE YOUR SPERM, CUT OFF YOUR SPERM AND DISSAPEAR DOWN A HOLE!
Nothing like irrational prejudice to lower the IQ a couple dozen points. :P
Posted over a year ago
"I'M GONNA CUT OFF YOUR SPERM AND DISAPPEAR DOWN A HOLE!" will be my catchphrase should I ever become a superhero. Don't worry: I'll credit you.over a year ago
JESUS AKS HIS POSTOLS THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE CONTRY WHT DO THEY CALL HIM? AND HE ALSO ASK THEM THAT WHAT DO YOU CALL ME?. THE RESON WHY I POSTING THIS IS BVECOUSE I WANT US TO SEE THAT JESUS KNOWS THAT IT GONNA BE DEFFICULTY FOR PEOPLE TOO KNW HIM BECOUSE HE IS COVERD BY WHT HIS MIRICLES AND IN ORDER FOR US TO KNOWS HIM WE NEED TO FIND HIS PRESENCES BY HIS GRACE.
Posted over a year ago
Because this is a debate spot... not a proselytising spot. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration, but we don't need our souls saved, thanks.over a year ago
I HEARD DIFFERENT PEOPLE DEBATING WITH DIFFERENT ESSUES THAT REVOLVES AROUND US BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRIES, INTERMS OF POLITICS ARE THE CURRENT LEARDS DONE ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE CITIZINS, FROM INNOCENT MLUNGISI @ SOUTH AFRICA
Posted over a year ago
All the "Global warming doesn't matter, because Jesus is going to come prancing in on his pure white pony one day soon"is the most ridiculous argument I've ever heard... and that's saying something.
Posted over a year ago
If by ridiculous you mean RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME! Hahaha, seriously, that made me laugh. I remember a few years ago when the Rapture was supposed to happen. My Grandma and I were going to sit on the front lawn and watch our God-fearing neighbors zoom up to Heaven. Alas, we were denied that glorious sight.over a year ago
:)) im sorry, that just reminded me of MLP a little bitXP maybe he is coming who knows but he isn't here so id say we deal with global warming :Pover a year ago
id say princess, that we don't bash cristians, as we ouselves don't want "our" religions/beliefs to be bashed, there are many christians that r for changing global warming and there are atheists that are against it simply because they just don't give a damn, yes there are christians using your "pure white pony theory" but notenogh to bach the whole religion O.Oover a year ago
That's a pretty hilarious idea... Christ coming along on a white pony...? Why does it have to be white? Lol. (Please say: I see what you did there. XD)over a year ago
"Claiming that someone else's marriage is against your religion is like being angry at someone for eating a doughnut because you're on a diet."
Posted over a year ago
I can see Robert's point, but one's religion tends to be highly more essential in his or her life than a diet or being able to eat a doughnut. :/ Just saying...over a year ago
^I think it's just pointing out how ridiculous it is to be against something that does not affect you in the slightest, but another would enjoy. It's not really trying to draw comparisons between diets and religion...over a year ago
actually not really, a religion is a belief, just like some of us believe murder is wrong, now i know people, i know it's not that drastic, but for a christian who has believed this her/his whole life, it's like someone suddenly moving from extream cold to extream heat! it takes a while to get used to it:\over a year ago
You know what I'll like to see someday?
A overweight or curvy miss.America.
I'm tired of looking at stick insects all the time.
Not that i have anything against skinny people, i'm about as stick insect as you get, it's just--- i dunno, it seems like all the girls on there are one size. I'll like a little diversity.
Posted over a year ago
It bugs me tremendously when people refuse to believe facts simply because they find it to be implausible. Facts don't change just because you choose not to believe in them. A mountain will always be a mountain, no matter how much you try and tell yourself it's a molehill.
Posted over a year ago
lol taigih, Cinders, no one can say that a woman "will" become a certain way, they can only make accurate "assumptions but no one is a phsycic, just like a weather reporter can't give an "exact" diagnosis of weather, f some women choose to live a healthy lifestile? and are free from stress and frustration, obviously there cances will lowere, Cinders it is my personal belief that "fact" is very small and is greatly outnumbered by various opinions, after all what is fact? certainly there are not many ^ ^over a year ago
Warren Buffett: ''The rich are always going to say that, you know, just give us more money and we'll go out and spend more and then it will all trickle down to the rest of you. But that has not worked the last 10 years, and I hope the American public is catching on.''
They probably just do that because they can keep him indefinitely in psychiatirc care, while life-long sentences are rarely life-long in Norway.over a year ago