In The News

[PVTDukeMorrison]

Tough shit, that's life. You make your own way.

I never liked the phrase tough shit when used in such context. By that understanding I can slaughter the lot of you and claim; tough shit.

Well I mean technically you could, I don't think whoever is responding to the scene would take it all that well

[SpreadEagleBeagle]

DOOMRULZ, now that's not true, just look at the U.S. - we have crazy low taxes and a lot of corporate welfare and the guys with the cash outsource more than ever. "Don't scare the rich people away!" is an old concept in the same vein of human sacrifice to please an angry god - it's never enough, which make rich people the real welfare queens around, not poor and unprivileged people trying to get food stamps.

Remember, the tax rates were MUCH higher all over the developed world in post-war times, including the U.S. The government spent a lot of money on the people and the country. USA was a much more socialist country back then before crony capitalists and their buddy buddy lobbyists truly got a hang of Cold War and post-Cold War politics.

Greece is a bad example as it has less to do with socialism than corrupt EU politics, "faulty" loans by Germany and Greece being a financial mess for as long as one can remember. High-roller Capitalists are as guilty when it comes to Greece as any politician as they speculated with loans that they very well knew that Greece never would be able to pay back. Very similar to the housing bubble in the U.S. during Bush Jr.


"Tough shit, that's life. You make your own way."

Ok, easy to say when you already reaped the benefits and privileges of being born in the right country, with guaranteed benefits and plenty of safety nets (your Canadian, right?). Pull up and away the ladder for everyone else after you, because they, for some reason, don't deserve it. It's more important to please the rich and already successful people than trying to push for equality, opportunity and bearable living situation for the poor as well as the dying middle-class.

[Hubbs]

I agree with your take on why communism never took root anywhere after the revolutions - the people were uneducated, poor and not used to cooperate and work together on a scale like that without a leader telling them what to do.

Your take on capitalism is extremely simplified and rose-goggled on many accounts. First and foremost these developed nations embraced BOTH socialism and capitalism. Some countries took a more socialist route (Scandinavia and Canada for example), whereas others went on a more capitalist trajectory (the U.S. for example).

I like a little of socialism. A safety net in the form of a welfare system is needed IMO in any modern, civilized society. I also think there should be checks and balances to ensure the system is not abused by people who seek a free ride in life. I also think higher taxes are a bad thing because it will bite a nation in the ass if it becomes unbearable. Just ask the people of Greece. If you start taxing the rich too much and the nation becomes dependent on their money, then those rich folks are going to leave the country and with them, their money goes too.

We all work hard, yet some people work three jobs and can barely make it whereas others don't even have to work and can still live in luxury.

Tough shit, that's life. You make your own way.

By that logic, why should people in Europe share the spoils of their first world nation with third world refugees and migrants? I'm not saying this to you directly, because I have no clue what your stance on the refugee crisis is, but highlighted it as a general point.

I'm all for helping others as long as the people at home are taken care of as well. We don't elect our leaders to help people in another country across the planet, we elect them to help us. For instance, here in Canada, everyone and their dog is going bonkers for Trudeau bringing in refugees from Syria. Yet he's announced no sort of plan to help the homeless or the poor in society. Not to mention, his refugee plan is horeshit anyway. We'll bring in all the married men, women, and children that we can but tell single, military-aged men they are not welcome because they're a security risk. f**k you, Trudeau. You're supposed to grant people like that freedom, not discriminate against them

LOL! I just love the way some sections of modern society think. Major terrorist attacks and plots aplenty, everyone was warned that allowing hundreds of thousands of refugees into Europe, unchecked, was dangerous and idiotic, certain sections of modern society poo-pooed it completely, virtually laughed in the face of these warnings.

What happens? a major terrorist attack with one of the attackers coming through the migrant channels proving the danger, and proving that many more have probably come through also.

The response by certain sections of modern society (globally)? excuses aplenty and...oh gee, lets allow in even more! because nothing can possibly go wrong  lol!

Now we play the waiting game, once again, because no one ever learns or seemingly has the balls to look facts in the face.

It reminds me very much of some dialog from the classic British comedy Blackadder Goes Forth...
General Melchett: 'If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through.'

(Feel sorry for you in Canada matey)

[The PredBen]

LOL! I just love the way some sections of modern society think. Major terrorist attacks and plots aplenty, everyone was warned that allowing hundreds of thousands of refugees into Europe, unchecked, was dangerous and idiotic, certain sections of modern society poo-pooed it completely, virtually laughed in the face of these warnings.

Just making sure ... you aren't referring to me in the above post, right? I only ask because I myself have yet to make my stance on this whole refugee crisis clear.

[whiterabbit]

Maybe the problem is that too many people have tough shit. I propose that we start putting laxatives into out water supply. It would make things go oh so much smoother.

[Hubbs]

LOL! I just love the way some sections of modern society think. Major terrorist attacks and plots aplenty, everyone was warned that allowing hundreds of thousands of refugees into Europe, unchecked, was dangerous and idiotic, certain sections of modern society poo-pooed it completely, virtually laughed in the face of these warnings.

Just making sure ... you aren't referring to me in the above post, right? I only ask because I myself have yet to make my stance on this whole refugee crisis clear.

Nah no one here specifically.

[DoomRulz]

DOOMRULZ, now that's not true, just look at the U.S. - we have crazy low taxes and a lot of corporate welfare and the guys with the cash outsource more than ever. "Don't scare the rich people away!" is an old concept in the same vein of human sacrifice to please an angry god - it's never enough, which make rich people the real welfare queens around, not poor and unprivileged people trying to get food stamps.

If I own a company that brings in $1 billion in annual revenue and the country I'm based in raises corporate taxes to over 70%, why the heck would I stick around? That's them telling me, "Sorry, you make too much money and other people deserve it more than you do even though they've done nothing to earn it".

"Tough shit, that's life. You make your own way."

Ok, easy to say when you already reaped the benefits and privileges of being born in the right country, with guaranteed benefits and plenty of safety nets (your Canadian, right?). Pull up and away the ladder for everyone else after you, because they, for some reason, don't deserve it. It's more important to please the rich and already successful people than trying to push for equality, opportunity and bearable living situation for the poor as well as the dying middle-class.

You know f**k all about my situation. My mother raised me and my brother, single, bankrupt, working longer hours than most human beings can tolerate and consequently, taught me that if you want to survive, you have to bloody well work for it. No one is going to give you anything in life. To hell with this f**king entitlement about "wah wah wah, rich people are evil because I'm not a rich person, woe is me".

[SpreadEagleBeagle]

Now we play the waiting game, once again, because no one ever learns or seemingly has the balls to look facts in the face.

It reminds me very much of some dialog from the classic British comedy Blackadder Goes Forth...
General Melchett: 'If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through.'

Oh the irony of you of all people on these forums uttering that quote and those words...

If I own a company that brings in $1 billion in annual revenue and the country I'm based in raises corporate taxes to over 70%, why the heck would I stick around? That's them telling me, "Sorry, you make too much money and other people deserve it more than you do even though they've done nothing to earn it".

Yet that was not a problem before we started lowering corporate taxes. The outsourcing and offshoring of jobs happened AFTER we started lowering corporate taxes, dumping wages, screwing up the unions, enforcing massive loopholes etc. In the 40s the richest people in the U.S. paid a staggering 94% in taxes. And the result of that is the good ol' 50s - the golden era!

These days the real moochers, leaches and welfare bandits are the corporations and their kin. They're used to massive handouts, special treatment and special exempt statuses. "Screw up the world economy, cause mass-evicitions, play with peoples' pensions etc. - no worries, here is a bonus and another raise! By the way, take a paid year off while you're at it!" 

You know f**k all about my situation. My mother raised me and my brother, single, bankrupt, working longer hours than most human beings can tolerate and consequently, taught me that if you want to survive, you have to bloody well work for it. No one is going to give you anything in life. To hell with this f**king entitlement about "wah wah wah, rich people are evil because I'm not a rich person, woe is me".

Which makes it even worse Doom! You show a total lack of empathy and interest in other people, communities and society as a whole.

In other words, what you're saying is that people who struggle don't deserve any help and should just shut up and keep on struggling till they die, whereas people who already have it well deserve it all and in fact deserve even more than what they have? People on the bottom are the entitled ones whereas the ones on the top are the victims??? ...Listen to yourself!

Also, no one is saying that rich people are evil per se. They're just human - opportunistic, greedy, shortsighted and bent on rationalizing one's own wealth in contrast to society's economic and social inequalities. If they can get away with it they will go for it, especially if the people they directly or indirectly hurt are just anonymous digits and numbers baked into the economy and markets. Constantly being treated as a king will make you feel and believe that you in fact are one and that what you do is more important than what the peasant masses are up to, and thus you deserve all that special treatment as if it is your birthright.

[DoomRulz]

Which makes it even worse Doom! You show a total lack of empathy and interest in other people, communities and society as a whole.

In other words, what you're saying is that people who struggle don't deserve any help and should just shut up and keep on struggling till they die, whereas people who already have it well deserve it all and in fact deserve even more than what they have? People on the bottom are the entitled ones whereas the ones on the top are the victims??? ...Listen to yourself!

Yes. If the wealthy person has worked himself to the bone and made his fortune, why the hell should he not reap the rewards and pass it on to future generations in his family so that his children will not want for anything? The people on the bottom are the entitled ones because they spend their time crying and complaining about how much the system works against them and how nothing they do is their fault. They do not take responsibility for their actions. Their failure in life is due to their shitty choices in life, not because the man is keeping them under his thumb.

Also, no one is saying that rich people are evil per se. They're just human - opportunistic, greedy, shortsighted and bent on rationalizing one's own wealth in contrast to society's economic and social inequalities. If they can get away with it they will go for it, especially if the people they directly or indirectly hurt are just anonymous digits and numbers baked into the economy and markets. Constantly being treated as a king will make you feel and believe that you in fact are one and that what you do is more important than what the peasant masses are up to, and thus you deserve all that special treatment as if it is your birthright.

Oh, don't give me that rubbish. Welcome to the free market which is the crux of capitalism. People build something and they get to keep it.

[The PredBen]

Their failure in life is due to their shitty choices in life, not because the man is keeping them under his thumb.

In some cases, yes, in other cases, no. If you're a homeless bum, then yeah, you've probably made some poor choices. But I know plenty of people who are smart and hard workers, and they're just barely middle class. The capitalist world is cutthroat. You don't have to be the hardest player in the game, just the dirtiest.

[Corporal Hicks]

Their failure in life is due to their shitty choices in life, not because the man is keeping them under his thumb.

In some cases, yes, in other cases, no. If you're a homeless bum, then yeah, you've probably made some poor choices. But I know plenty of people who are smart and hard workers, and they're just barely middle class. The capitalist world is cutthroat. You don't have to be the hardest player in the game, just the dirtiest.

As Ben says. There's so much black and white going on about these scenarios when that is simply not the case. I've had the misfortune of working in a Job Centre and I've seen the moochers and I've seen those genuinely down on their luck. It's horrific to tar everyone with the same brush. In today's job market it terrifies me knowing that my fallback is so derided by everyone and it can just be assumed I'm some useless bum.

However, in less opinionated news: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34991335

I always wanted to be an astronaut. I wouldn't have handled the rocket launch though. 

[Corporal Hicks]

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Principia/Principia_live

Live launch if anyone is interested.

[HuDaFuK]

Ah sweet, I'll give that a watch.

They're showing the vomit comet right now. Part of me really would love to give that a go! (Not because of the vomiting, obvs.)

[Gate]

Which makes it even worse Doom! You show a total lack of empathy and interest in other people, communities and society as a whole.

In other words, what you're saying is that people who struggle don't deserve any help and should just shut up and keep on struggling till they die, whereas people who already have it well deserve it all and in fact deserve even more than what they have? People on the bottom are the entitled ones whereas the ones on the top are the victims??? ...Listen to yourself!

Yes. If the wealthy person has worked himself to the bone and made his fortune, why the hell should he not reap the rewards and pass it on to future generations in his family so that his children will not want for anything? The people on the bottom are the entitled ones because they spend their time crying and complaining about how much the system works against them and how nothing they do is their fault. They do not take responsibility for their actions. Their failure in life is due to their shitty choices in life, not because the man is keeping them under his thumb.

Also, no one is saying that rich people are evil per se. They're just human - opportunistic, greedy, shortsighted and bent on rationalizing one's own wealth in contrast to society's economic and social inequalities. If they can get away with it they will go for it, especially if the people they directly or indirectly hurt are just anonymous digits and numbers baked into the economy and markets. Constantly being treated as a king will make you feel and believe that you in fact are one and that what you do is more important than what the peasant masses are up to, and thus you deserve all that special treatment as if it is your birthright.

Oh, don't give me that rubbish. Welcome to the free market which is the crux of capitalism. People build something and they get to keep it.

Doomrulz, you are starting to sound like a Baby Boomer. 




Welcome to the first Islamic Anti-Terror Coalition lead by Saudi Arabia

Looks like you'll finally see the ones who need to combat ISIS most take it to them around the globe.

[HuDaFuK]

Welcome to the first Islamic Anti-Terror Coalition lead by Saudi Arabia

Looks like you'll finally see the ones who need to combat ISIS most take it to them around the globe.

This is exactly what needed to happen. I hope the follow though with it.