Political discussion thread

smartpatrol wrote: If it was an accident, it seems ridiculous that he'd apologize. If it weren't accidental, saying that he does not condone his actions would be fitting.

Dean wrote: smartpatrol wrote: If it was an accident, it seems ridiculous that he'd apologize. If it weren't accidental, saying that he does not condone his actions would be fitting.  If you accidentally spilt someone's coke in McDs would you not apologise?

Didn't think about it that way. Retract my statement
But I don't go to McDs

AlexDOM wrote: tamijo wrote: AlexDOM wrote: <span style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; : rgb240, 240, 240; ">In 2012, Obama </span>apologized<span style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; : rgb240, 240, 240; "> for the accidental burning of copies of the Quran, the holy book of Islam. Obama sent the apology in a letter to Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Officials hoped the formal apology would quell violent reactions against U.S. troops in Afghanistan.</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; : rgb240, 240, 240; "></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; : rgb240, 240, 240; ">Why would you apologize for that?????</span> Because civilized people stopped book burning 100 years ago. And he believe US should act civilized I guess. I still burn my textbooks at the end of the school year they make a nice bonfire along with the sense of never taking those classes again. How rewarding ha ha ha

Hell I did something similar when I finished my French exams, but what we and I speculate a lot of westeners never quite can fathom, is that in some places in our world, there still remain objects that are holy. Objects you just can't make fun off. We do it all the time, but they don't... So in accordance with doing something that is considered to be sacrilege and evil, he rightfully apologized.

A lot of these dilemmas pop up in the wake of peoples' lack of cultural savi.

Padraic wrote: Dean, unfortunately your graph cuts off at 2010.  The total US debt easily exceeds 100% of GDP right now.

Yup. Here's a table.


I don't know if you meant to imply this with your graph, Dean, but I love how Democrats keep arguing that Reagan (who they hate) spent a lot of money and Bush (who they really hate) spent a lot of money, so therefore it's GOOD when Obama spends a lot of money.

Dean wrote: My graph wasn't showing anything other than this isn't a 4 year trend, it goes back years and is not partisan. And as your table shows, it's a global upward trend - no one is paying off their debts and they keep borrowing  so they will continue to increase regardless of partisan politics and ideologies.

That is certainly true, although part of the global trend is due to GDP growth slowing while borrowing growth doesn't.

Padraic wrote: Japan - holy

AlexDOM wrote:

I'll be there!

I actually wouldn't mind hearing what Stein and Anderson have to say.  

Now they're doing opening statements because Larry King screwed up. Hilarious.