I don't understand the politics....

[Kajira Callista]

Dontcha just love the smell of fresh brewed coffee.....btw its coming from ADRs thread and you are invited.

 

[catalina_francisco]

Interesting and sobering observation I came across yet again:

If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look something like the following:

There would be:
57 Asians
21 Europeans
14 people from the Western Hemisphere, both North and South
8 Africans

52 would be female
48 would be male

70 would be non-white
30 would be white

70 would be non-Christian
30 would be Christian

89 would be heterosexual
11 would be homosexual

6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth and all 6 would be from the United States.

80 would live in substandard housing

70 would be unable to read

50 would suffer from malnutrition

1 would be near death; 1 would be near birth

1 (yes, only 1) would have a college education

1 would own a computer

 

[catalina_francisco]

Dontcha just love the smell of fresh brewed coffee.....btw its coming from ARDs thread and you are invited.

Love the smell but find the consumption of less than satisfying in comparison....but suspect the invitation was aimed more at a certain male than myself.

Catalina

 

[Somme]

Very sobering.

 

[DVS]

As I said and mentioned in my post WD I was speaking on Australian Pollies which are the ones I am most familiar with. Sorry if you missed that. But yes, I wouldn't mind that wage, and I think they are overpaid and out of touch, especially as I pointed out, they don't see why a man on $30,000 or less a year can't support his family. At one point in time and probably not changed, our PM made more than your President in a year....no rhyme or reason.

I think they should just stop giving themselves silent raises when the rest of the country is not doing so well. If the economy is fine, they can have the raise. If the economy isn't fine, they ain't doing their job, and don't deserve a damn raise.

EDITED to add...
I mean the U.S. Congress, by the way. They always seem do vote themselves a raise in the dead of night, so there will be little or no media coverage. They did it this year, even with this very lousy economy.

Should you get a raise, if you didn't do your job?

 

[Kajira Callista]

Love the smell but find the consumption of less than satisfying in comparison....but suspect the invitation was aimed more at a certain male than myself.

Catalina

was meant for you also darling

 

[catalina_francisco]

I think they should just stop giving themselves silent raises when the rest of the country is not doing so well. If the economy is fine, they can have the raise. If the economy isn't fine, they ain't doing their job, and don't deserve a damn raise.

Seems fair to me. LOL

 

[shereads]

Is easy to make such decisions from behind an expensive desk in the lap of luxury, protected by an army of bodyguards and security, thousands of miles away from the blood and gore. How brave and honourable they are.

You're right, of course. Unfortunately, saying the same thing in slightly different words in the aftermath of 911 is what got Bill Maher's marvelous TV show, "Politically Incorrect," dropped from his sponsors' media schedules and ultimately cancelled.

Asked what he thought of the outcry against Bill Maher - and of the likelihood that Maher's show would be canceled because he spoke out against the administration - Sec. Rumsfeld ominously announced, "People had better watch what they say from now on."

And that was before we got "The Patriot Act" foisted on us by Ashcroft & Assoc.

Speaking of which - Hi Mr. Ashcroft! Yeah, I'm posting on a porn site AND dissing your fascist ass!

 

[catalina_francisco]

Think what many of our politicians of today lose sight of apart from the fact our nations are supposed to represent freedom and democracy is, they are elected by the people, and paid by the people, to serve the people. For the rest of us if we accepted a payment from a customer for a job and then didn't do it telling them to basically go whistle Dixie if they din't like it, we would find ourselves in court at the least. So what makes politicians/governments the new Untouchables?

Catalina

 

[AngelicAssassin]

Think what many of our politicians of today lose sight of apart from the fact our nations are supposed to represent freedom and democracy is, they are elected by the people, and paid by the people, to serve the people. Catalina

So, when are you going to run for office?

 

[catalina_francisco]

You're right, of course. Unfortunately, saying the same thing in slightly different words in the aftermath of 911 is what got Bill Maher's marvelous TV show, "Politically Incorrect," dropped from his sponsors' media schedules and ultimately cancelled.

Asked what he thought of the outcry against Bill Maher - and of the likelihood that Maher's show would be canceled because he spoke out against the administration - Sec. Rumsfeld ominously announced, "People had better watch what they say from now on."

And that was before we got "The Patriot Act" foisted on us by Ashcroft & Assoc.

Speaking of which - Hi Mr. Ashcroft! Yeah, I'm posting on a porn site AND dissing your fascist ass!

Always amuses me when those who allegedly are acting in our best interests, and profess they do nothing wrong, have nothing to hide, find it unforgiveable when anyone questions that notion, to the point of gagging them in whatever fashion they find quickest. Of course then we are reminded we are lucky because we live in a society which supports freedom of speech and transparency, unlike those evil cultures where it is not tolerated and the outspoken are silenced. Isn't it just semantics when the outcome is the same, though to me it seems one group are open and upfront about their problems with being questioned and perhaps a bit more severe at times (though you know the risk before you open your mouth), while the other chooses to dress it up a little to create an illusion to cover the same basic reality of silence and conformity at all cost. And unfortunately more often than not it works.

Catalina

 

[catalina_francisco]

So, when are you going to run for office?

LOL. Never. I had a lot of people pushing me in that direction when I was studying and they could not understand my refusal. The way I see it, apart from the blatent corruption I do not want to be associated with daily one on one, to have any power in politics you basically have to conform, forget your principles, ethics, and why you went there in the first place, and keep your mouth shut. Seems to me there is more power to change things from the outside rather than inside the political machine. Of course you can go into it as a minor party member, or independent, but that to me is a waste of time and another fairly powerless position.

Catalina

 

[catalina_francisco]

Mmmmm..could be interesting though if I could become like them and seize power!! I could create BDSM Nation. LOL Of course anyone who didn't like the new rules would be shipped off. Hmmmmm we could have a collar of office, staff of power, dungeon office of decadence!!

Catalina

 

[AngelicAssassin]

LOL. Never. I had a lot of people pushing me in that direction when I was studying and they could not understand my refusal. The way I see it, apart from the blatent corruption I do not want to be associated with daily one on one, to have any power in politics you basically have to conform, forget your principles, ethics, and why you went there in the first place, and keep your mouth shut. Seems to me there is more power to change things from the outside rather than inside the political machine. Of course you can go into it as a minor party member, or independent, but that to me is a waste of time and another fairly powerless position.

Catalina

But you'd get to espouse what the people really want from the inside, would you not? If nothing else, the views will bother the status quo, remind them why they were elected, or let them know they're out of touch with what the common man wants, correct?

Why grab for power if you can simply state the peoples' case every time a politician starts to ramrod a law that doesn't have the peoples' best interest at heart? i'm not sure how it works in other countries, but we have something known as a fillibuster in both the House and Senate that can hold up a bill long enough for power bases to get organized, wafflers to rethink their positions, and everything in between.

Hell, i'm not even sure if it's Robert's rules of order they follow, but you can't keep a non-conforming voice from being spoken once elected. The people get their voice, the status quo finds it harder to get things done, at worst, at least here, you spend two years in a worthy cause.

 

[catalina_francisco]

But you'd get to espouse what the people really want from the inside, would you not? If nothing else, the views will bother the status quo, remind them why they were elected, or let them know they're out of touch with what the common man wants, correct?

Why grab for power if you can simply state the peoples' case every time a politician starts to ramrod a law that doesn't have the peoples' best interest at heart? i'm not sure how it works in other countries, but we have something known as a fillibuster in both the House and Senate that can hold up a bill long enough for power bases to get organized, wafflers to rethink their positions, and everything in between.

Hell, i'm not even sure if it's Robert's rules of order they follow, but you can't keep a non-conforming voice from being spoken once elected. The people get their voice, the status quo finds it harder to get things done, at worst, at least here, you spend two years in a worthy cause.

Nice ideal. Mind you it would try my patience far too much as apart from the BS that supposedly constitutes our Australian government, they are regularly filmed sleeping their way through parliamentary sittings....I would be fit to be tied, and not in the way I prefer most times.

Catalina

 

[AngelicAssassin]

Nice ideal. Mind you it would try my patience far too much as apart from the BS that supposedly constitutes our Australian government, they are regularly filmed sleeping their way through parliamentary sittings....I would be fit to be tied, and not in the way I prefer most times.

Catalina

i find it hard to believe your patience would wear thin in something you truly believed.

i don't think you'd sleep through the Parliamentary settings either.

 

[catalina_francisco]

i find it hard to believe your patience would wear thin in something you truly believed.

i don't think you'd sleep through the Parliamentary settings either.

LOL...I most definately would not sleep. As for patience, I figure as my mother has said I have the patience of a saint it must be about to wear out. I certainly find apathy a hard thing to deal with at times and it is a part of my culture. I tend to dive into things I am passionate about full on prepared to fight to the death if necessary to protect another other than myself...now you wouldn't guess that would you?!! ROTFLMAO.

Catalina

 

[AngelicAssassin]

LOL...I most definately would not sleep. As for patience, I figure as my mother has said I have the patience of a saint it must be about to wear out. I certainly find apathy a hard thing to deal with at times and it is a part of my culture ... now you wouldn't guess that would you?!! ROTFLMAO.

Catalina

Then the reasoning you mentioned before for not serving in Parliament doesn't ring quite true?

Am i getting confused?

I tend to dive into things I am passionate about full on prepared to fight to the death if necessary to protect another other than myself ...

Welcome to the jungle darlin' ...

 

[catalina_francisco]

Then the reasoning you mentioned before for not serving in Parliament doesn't ring quite true?

Am i getting confused? Welcome to the jungle darlin' ...

Well maybe confused because for me to go into political life in parliamentary terms would severly hamper fighting for what you are passionate about. Peter Garrett found that out I think. Unfortunate, as I think he would have made a great PM....and if the pollies went to sleep he could launch into one of his Midnight Oil anthems to rouse their drooping eyelids and enlighten all in one.

Catalina

 

[AngelicAssassin]

Well maybe confused because for me to go into political life in parliamentary terms would severly hamper fighting for what you are passionate about. Peter Garrett found that out I think. Unfortunate, as I think he would have made a great PM....and if the pollies went to sleep he could launch into one of his Midnight Oil anthems to rouse their drooping eyelids and enlighten all in one.

Catalina

Odd, i think the passion you'd bring to bear might freshen the stodgy halls of complacency.

The ex loved Midnight Oil as well. Saw them in Frankfurt, oh my, a decade ago i think.

 

[catalina_francisco]

Odd, i think the passion you'd bring to bear might freshen the stodgy halls of complacency.

The ex loved Midnight Oil as well. Saw them in Frankfurt, oh my, a decade ago i think.

Saw them in a local pub in Oz not long before they broke up....those floorboards were throbbing and the tears were flowing freely with the passion.

Catalina

 

[Somme]

!