All Things Microsoft > Microsoft Software
Windows XP
kjg:
quote:Originally posted by VoidMain:
I don't believe our friendly European, Canadian, and other members of this forum could really give a hoot. On the other hand, they may give a hoot when it comes to your world-wide companies (such as M$).
--- End quote ---
In some ways, US politics and the power of world-wide companies are two sides of the same coin. It was NAFTA that gave companies the right to sue governments for regulations or restrictions that "hurt" their profits. Now Bush intends to include the same language in the "FTAA" (Free Trade Area of the Americas), and the US trade negotiators are pressing for the same language to be included in the WTO agreements. As the world's last-standing "800 pound gorilla", I suspect the US will get its way.
This kind of so-called "regulatory takings" language puts corporations in the position of being able to trump any govenments' law that prevents them from making all the profits they want to make. The Methanex case is the poster-child for that "corporate right-to-profit" movement, but really, imagine that power in the hands of Bill Gates, hmmm?
(If you're not familiar with it, Methanex is a Canadian Company that sued California over an environmental regulation that banned the sale of their gasoline additive in the state because it had been found to cause cancer. More here. Lest you think it's just "foreign companies" I object to, here's a US company doing the same thing to Mexico. A definitive look at this issue (from the liberal point of view) and its potential impact, not just on international trade, but on domestic law, is found in the 10/15/01 issue of The Nation: The Right and US Trade Law: Invalidating the 20th Century.)
Perhaps my new slogan should be "Corporatocracy: It's Not Just For America Anymore!"
Karen
Centurian:
quote:Originally posted by VoidMain:
Centurian, read the first quote of mine that you pasted in your message. I said that we were new to the area so we did not yet know the local politics, otherwise we would have voted. I feel that we did a better service by not voting on something we new nothing about rather than voting for the "wrong" choice.
--- End quote ---
My mistake. Under those circumstances I may not have voted either.
quote:
And you are "somewhat" right about the electoral college but as witnessed by this last election "every" vote can count. The electoral college can be swayed one way or the other by a single vote majority.
--- End quote ---
The other side of the same coin is that one of our presidents (his name escapes me at this moment) was elected in spite of the popular vote going to his opponent.
quote:
And you are right, politics should be taken seriously, especially for the reasons you state but not taken seriously on a world wide forum such as this. I don't believe our friendly European, Canadian, and other members of this forum could really give a hoot. On the other hand, they may give a hoot when it comes to your world-wide companies (such as M$).
--- End quote ---
As Karen has just pointed out the politics of the US are becoming everyones concern. In much the same manner as politics in the middle east are everyones concern or for that matter politics anywhere are everyones concern.
voidmain:
Ooops (polotics). Hard two bee takun seriuslee wen ya dowent prewfreed yer wurk.
And you have some very good points. I however disagree with a lot of what you say but that's what makes life so much fun. I'm sure you, like I, have certain beliefs and know in our minds that we see everything crystal clear, but yet when the other person has a different view of the same subject ya can't help but think "how can this be? It's so clear".
And you are right about the media. All media is biased one way or another about every topic, whether intentional or not (most of it *is* intentional and obvious). Some media will tell you that they are not biased and they are giving you the straight scoop but that is impossible really, no matter how well intentioned.
You definately have your bad examples of corporations like your M$s and your Enrons (usually just a few people at the top that make them bad). But I believe there are good corporations out there as well, even some really big ones.
Now, I personally have a deep love for the USA, even with all it's flaws. I am very patriotic and spent 15 years of my life in the military. My hero is this man I know who is in his 80s and retired as an Air Force Colonel and he served in 3 wars. Flew airplanes in WWII, and served in Korea and Vietnam. You would never meet a nicer guy in the world and his morals and values toward family and country are unmatched. To me these types of values and morals are probably the most important thing in the world.
I'm not saying this is not important to the left side of the house but it is my "impression" that this is the case from several of the upper level lefties. Of course there are a lot on the right who do not have morals and values as well. I could be way off since I don't know any of these people personally but I get the feeling when I hear G dubya talk that he is sincere, he cares, he really wants to do the right thing and he is not trying to hide or lie about anything (I had the same feeling about his daddy). I believe that is why some people think he is "stupid". That smart people cheat and lie.
In the last 10 years I haven't been able to listen to too many lefties and get the feeling I am getting the truth. It was an opinion formed on my own and by no ones preaching to me. B.C. may have had a lot to do with me losing that trust but it's there. I had that especially had that feeling the first time I saw B.C. and heard him speak. As time went on my feelings were justified. Maybe it was him alone that spoiled it for me, made me lose interest in politics, because my brain obviously did not work like everyone elses when it comes to politics.
Calum:
quote:The other side of the same coin is that one of our presidents (his name escapes me at this moment) was elected in spite of the popular vote going to his opponent.
--- End quote ---
Well, this is the way that the English (and the Scottish and Welsh get caught up in it too) electoral system has been for centuries! take a look and you will see that our tottering "democracy" structure is actually designed to allow people with less votes to win more seats!
Also, if you really want to have a go at politicians, pick any Australian politician at the moment (Kim Beasley exempted since he resigned after nobody voted for him for being a wimp). I'm serious, whoever you pick you will find some horrible sleazy backstabbery in their past, left or right wing. Oh, or racist. There's a healthy "One Nation" following in Australia. It's all about making sure only people of European origin have rights in Australia, and 10% of Australians vote for them.
that's my 5 cents worth, since they don't have 1 or 2 cent coins in Australia...
Centurian:
Hey Calum,
quote:
Well, this is the way that the English (and the Scottish and Welsh get caught up in it too) electoral system has been for centuries! take a look and you will see that our tottering "democracy" structure is actually designed to allow people with less votes to win more seats!
Also, if you really want to have a go at politicians, pick any Australian politician at the moment (Kim Beasley exempted since he resigned after nobody voted for him for being a wimp). I'm serious, whoever you pick you will find some horrible sleazy backstabbery in their past, left or right wing.
--- End quote ---
Unfortunately no matter where we live many problems are simular. What you deal I will deal with and vice versa. Which is one very good reason why everyone everywhere should take an interest in the politics of every country.
quote:
Oh, or racist. There's a healthy "One Nation" following in Australia. It's all about making sure only people of European origin have rights in Australia, and 10% of Australians vote for them.
that's my 5 cents worth, since they don't have 1 or 2 cent coins in Australia...
--- End quote ---
That sucks. Sound like a very racist attitude. So basically your saying that australia does not want the aborigeny (I hope that is spelled correct) to have rights within their own country. Kinda simular to the way the american indian and the blacks were treated in the US about 40 years ago.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version