Real World Event Discussions

If we spent some of the magical Bail-Out money feeding the hungry peeps of the planet, would making a better world buy us any street cred?

POSTED BY: chrisisall
UPDATED: Thursday, October 8, 2009 03:41
VIEWED: 7088
PAGE 13 of 13

KWICKO

Thursday, October 8, 2009 12:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:
Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
Quote:
Interesting. I'd posit that if you've found a "more-or-less capitalist" society, it is by definition "more-or-less socialist" as well. The U.S. is one such example.

Okay, so you don't know what a Socialist economy is. Try googling "Socialist Economy" to find out and then come back to the discussion.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

My point is that EVERY economy has some degree of socialism in it. Therefore every "capitalist" economy has at least SOME socialism involved. Ergo, a "more or less" capitalist economy is at the same time a more or less socialist one, as well.

If you disagree, can I have all my money back that your state used to build roads and schools, pay its police and firefighters, and outfit its military? I never agreed to any of that, and it's certainly not capitalist to do such things.

By the way, you might want to try googling "free-market capitalism" to find out what the adults are talking about, then try to rejoin the discussion.

Maybe this will help:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/eleven-reasons-america-is-the-new-top
-socialist-economy?pagenumber=2

Mike

The percentage you're paying is too high-priced
While you're living beyond all your means;
And the man in the suit has just bought a new car
From the profit he's made on your dreams

GEEZER

Thursday, October 8, 2009 2:15 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
My point is that EVERY economy has some degree of socialism in it. Therefore every "capitalist" economy has at least SOME socialism involved. Ergo, a "more or less" capitalist economy is at the same time a more or less socialist one, as well.

Word games. What you're doing is sort of like the old "One drop of Black blood" laws in the segregated South. When you actually want to discuss the issue, rather than playing cute, let me know.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

KWICKO

Thursday, October 8, 2009 2:35 AM

It seems as if you're the one who's running away from any discussion of the issues. You *say* you want "free-market capitalism", yet you start flip-flopping when someone tries to nail you down on what exactly that "free-market" part would entail.

Our "free-market", profit-driven healthcare system, driven entirely by the "invisible hand" of the market, has netted us a healthcare system that ranks near the very bottom of all industrialized nations. Will you play "word games" and say that that's because it's regulated, even though every other (better) healthcare system with better outcomes is MORE regulated?

GINOBIFFARONI

Thursday, October 8, 2009 3:41 AM

Pakistan debates US aid bill

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/10/200910794610557926.html

Pakistan's parliament has begun a debate on a US aid bill after widespread criticism in the country that some conditions attached to it are a humiliating violation of sovereignty.

The US congress approved the bill tripling aid for Pakistan to $1.5bn a year for the next five years and sent it to Barack Obama, the president, for signing into law last week.

The legislation is part of an attempt to build a new relationship with Pakistan that focuses not solely on military ties, but also on Pakistan's social and economic development.

But in an effort to address Washington's concerns that Pakistan's military may support armed groups, the bill stipulates that US military aid will cease if Pakistan does not help fight "terrorists", including Taliban and al-Qaeda members taking sanctuary on the Afghan border.

Strings attached'

Kamal Hyder, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Islamabad, said: "There are conditionalities; there are strings attached. Those strings and conditionalities seem to be very heavy handed as far as Pakistan is concerned.

"Pakistan has still been waiting for almost $1.6bn due from the Coalition Support Fund for operations in the so called war on terror"

Kamal Hyder, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Islamabad
"There is talk about the fact that Pakistan has to dismantle Muridke [headquarters of the Jamaat-ul-Dawah]. That sort of language is seen to be influenced from the Indian lobby and Washington and, therefore, there are grave reservations.

"Also, Pakistan has still been waiting for almost $1.6bn due from the Coalition Support Fund for operations in the so called war on terror."

The bill seeks Pakistani co-operation to dismantle nuclear-supplier networks by offering "relevant information from or direct access to Pakistani nationals associated with such networks", a reference to nuclear scientist AQ Khan who allegedly ran a black market in atomic technology.

Pakistan has declined to let foreign investigators question Khan, saying it has passed on all information gleaned from him.

The bill, co-authored by John Kerry and Richard Lugar, both senators, also provides for an assessment of how effective civilian government's control over the powerful military has been.

'Zardari incompetence'

Opposition politicians have criticised the government of Asif Ali Zardari, the president, for allowing the humiliation of the country.

"The incompetence of the Zardari regime has brought humiliation for Pakistan," Ahsan Iqbal, a spokesman for the main opposition party PML-N, said.

"Our party appreciates the spirit behind the initiative. However, it feels that any conditionality with such assistance must respect Pakistan's sovereignty and self-respect."

Plans by the US to expand its embassy in Pakistan have also raised suspicion, as has speculation about the embassy's use of private security contractors.

But Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the Pakistani foreign minister, said in Washington that "there is no question of Pakistan's sovereignty being compromised" by the measure.

Parliament is not expected to reject the bill, but was likely to pass a resolution highlighting its concerns.

When they hate you enough to not want your money.....

You might be an American

" I don't believe in hypothetical situations - it's kinda like lying to your brain "

" They don't hate America, they hate Americans " Homer Simpson

Lets party like its 1939