Random Politics Thread

[Coriolis]

In other words OECD are basically "US & friends".
Plus the difference would surely be even more drastic in the case that various countries didn't join OECD over the decades. In other words energy consumption is the actual measurement of economic activity. Since how large will be the speculative value of the end product can be misleading way how to measure reality. In other words if this is even remotely correct we can freely say that "There is brave new world out there". Especially since rate of change is surely increasing as the time is going by. Since global south is going through a massive development wave.

How accurate is it to equate energy consumption with economic activity? This does not account for efficiency at all. If one nation or region uses twice as much energy as another to produce a comparable level of goods and services, is it fair to say they have twice the level of economic activity?

 

[Virtual ghost]

How accurate is it to equate energy consumption with economic activity? This does not account for efficiency at all. If one nation or region uses twice as much energy as another to produce a comparable level of goods and services, is it fair to say they have twice the level of economic activity?

I wasn't precise enough. The point is that energy consumption is something much more measurable and concrete than financial value. Therefore this is usually better measure to compare the actual strength between the countries. While price in financial sense is something that is basically fully made up value. In other words just if someone is paid 50 times less for the same job that doesn't mean that it is 50 less effective in physical sense. Energy isn't ideal thing to measure but that is still much better than the price if we consider global picture.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I read an overly long article in the Tribune about security precautions for the Democratic Convention in August. The article is was essentially just cop and pro-cop people saying "Everything will be fine and nobody has anything to worry about", vs. others being more critical and skeptical.

Everyone should probably pay close attention to this convention. The article blamed what happened in 1968 as being responsible for Richard Nixon's election. It seems less clear in the wiki article. I have a book, Boss, that deals partially with this and might be worth a personal re-read.

I told other people that I wouldn't go downtown to "cause trouble" and it's not like I need more complications in my life, but this will be fascinating to watch unfold. There is no indication that the movement protesting the U.S role in the conflict in the Middle East has slowed down.

"The avalanche has started; it is too late for the pebbles to vote."

 

[Red Herring]

I get how the accusation of antisemitism gets thrown around a lot, especially in the context of criticism of certain actions of the state of Israel. But when somebody on facebook says that Hitler should have finished the job or talks about the "hook-nosed" conspiracy taking over the world that is not exactly subtle. And when Facebook tells me that isn't hate speech and refuses to take that shit down then I really don't know what to say anymore...

This has happened to me thrice in just a few days and several times before over the last few years.

 

[Virtual ghost]

Finally someone in US decided to say something about this.
As I said: those things are evidently related despite the ocean that is in between.

 

[LightSun]

“I saw the documentary ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ based on Sinead O’Connor’s life. First she was horribly abused by her mother. Secondly Sinead endured abuse by a Catholic school for girls and women.

Third she lived in a very repressive, and conservative society that impeded woman’s rights in Ireland.

Sinead said, “Let only women of child bearing years be the ones to decide about if a woman can have an abortion.” Sinead O’Connor

The film also showed the Catholic Church covering up a known pedophile. The people who put her down acted shamefully like a Roman mob looking for blood.

So she endured being ostracized and vilified by people in sheer ignorance about the backdrop of Sinead’s life time struggle. Sinead is a hero, strong, and authentic to the core of her being. Look I know the abortion issue is a huge divisive issue.

I must confess I don’t know how grotesque the abortion can be. That doesn’t matter to me. It’s basically mostly from the theists who claim an abortion is murder. Those wanting an abortion generally wouldn’t be loving to the child.

Children who grow up in dysfunctional households endure a lifetime of issues. This is the fact. A full 2/3 of Children who grow up in a dysfunctional home life statistically then for the rest of their lives are plagued with adverse problems.

1. Mental Health.
2. Substance Abuse.
3. Criminality.
4. Jobs.
5. Relationships.

So those who are advocating that a woman has to have the baby are the people most likely not willing to shell out money in programs to address these issues. The child is in the womb, and isn’t cognizant nor self aware.

I personally find it more barbaric that we kill sentient, and aware animals who have emotions to feed ourselves. I believe an animal who is alive and being bred to eat endure much more trauma.” LightSun

 

[Totenkindly]

FaceBook is one of the worst with their arbitrary AI post flagging. As an example, someone yesterday posted that they were doing something that made themselves look like a "fool" and they were flagged for saying something deragatory. (The group admin looked at the report and confirmed.)

Meanwhile, they'll let pretty vile antisemitic, antitrans, or whatever else go through because it's not against their code of conduct, in their words.

I've also seen people be locked down for a week for posts that were made years ago. All due to the wonder of imperfect AI scans.

 

[Virtual ghost]

Who Is Favored To Win The 2024 Presidential Election?

For those that like numbers.

 

[Virtual ghost]

Biden viewed more positively globally than Trump — poll

 

[Virtual ghost]

2024 House Election Interactive Map

New consensus map for the house.

 

[The Cat]

 

[ceecee]

At this point, there should be no way sane people vote for Republicans at any level. We've already seen microcosms of this nightmare in county and state governments. The Mandate For Leadership series of books (where Project 2025 comes from) was started in 1979 by the Heritage Foundation.

Project 2025 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It's all part of the Christian Nationalist movement in the US as it looks to rewrite laws with a biblical basis.

As the leader of the Center for Renewing America, Project 2025 contributor Russell Vought has spearheaded an effort to instill precepts of Christian nationalism into government and public life should Trump win a second term. In a 2021 opinion piece, Vought wrote Christian nationalism "recognizes America as a Christian nation" but makes "a commitment to an institutional separation between church and state, but not the separation of Christianity from its influence on government and society." For Vought, "Christians are under assault" and he sought to use his regular contacts with Trump to "elevate Christian nationalism as a focal point" should Trump be re-elected as President of the United States. Vought has close ties with another former Trump administration official, Christian nationalist William Wolfe, who, in an online manifesto, seeks to implement a Bible-based system of government whereby "Christ-ordained civil magistrates" exercise authority over the American public.[66]

The New Apostolic Reform (the Seven Mountains, Dominionism)

New Apostolic Reformation - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Project 2025 envisions widespread changes across the government, particularly economic and social policies and the role of the federal government and its agencies. The plan proposes slashing funding for the Department of Justice (DOJ), dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), sharply reducing environmental and climate change regulations to favor fossil fuel production, eliminating the Department of Commerce, and ending the independence of federal agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC).[8][9] The blueprint seeks to institute tax cuts,[10] though its writers disagree on the wisdom of protectionism.[11] Project 2025 recommends abolishing the Department of Education, whose programs would be either transferred to other agencies, or terminated.[12][13] Funding for climate research would be cut while the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would be reformed along conservative principles.[14][15] The Project urges government to explicitly reject abortion as health care[16][17] and eliminate the Affordable Care Act's coverage of emergency contraception.[18] The Project seeks to infuse the government with elements of Christianity.[19][20] It proposes criminalizing pornography,[21] removing legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity,[21][22] and terminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs,[4][22] as well as affirmative action.[23]

Basically, this will turn the US into a autocracy on the lines of maybe Hungary currently. It's just an American version of fascism. And it's ALL conservatives, right wingers, Republicans (as this is going to overtake the GOP and the ones who stay must have little issue with it). Not really sure what the Dems are planning to do exactly but I suspect little to nothing. None of this is happening in secret either but there will certainly be people who are "blindsided" by it.

 

[The Cat]

Christian Nationalism...Fixed it. Their Book says it never knew them. They don't read their book though. They let mad men tell them what it says. There is no fundamental difference between a man who cannot read, and those who will not. The same tragic outcome ensues... Serfdom. New Apostolic Reformation is a cult. The ATF just hasn't gotten overtly involved yet.

 

[The Cat]

 

[Coriolis]

I read an overly long article in the Tribune about security precautions for the Democratic Convention in August. The article is was essentially just cop and pro-cop people saying "Everything will be fine and nobody has anything to worry about", vs. others being more critical and skeptical.

Everyone should probably pay close attention to this convention. The article blamed what happened in 1968 as being responsible for Richard Nixon's election. It seems less clear in the wiki article. I have a book, Boss, that deals partially with this and might be worth a personal re-read.

I told other people that I wouldn't go downtown to "cause trouble" and it's not like I need more complications in my life, but this will be fascinating to watch unfold. There is no indication that the movement protesting the U.S role in the conflict in the Middle East has slowed down.

"The avalanche has started; it is too late for the pebbles to vote."

Biden will be officially nominated in some online event ahead of the convention, to accommodate certain states (e.g. Ohio, not sure if there are others) that have nomination deadlines if the nominee is to be on the ballot in November.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Biden will be officially nominated in some online event ahead of the convention, to accommodate certain states (e.g. Ohio, not sure if there are others) that have nomination deadlines if the nominee is to be on the ballot in November.

That doesn't mean there won't be protests.

 

[Coriolis]

That doesn't mean there won't be protests.

There may be, but it will be pointless, unlike the Nixon situation where the nomination was being decided and made official at the same time.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

There may be, but it will be pointless, unlike the Nixon situation where the nomination was being decided and made official at the same time.

There won't be a different nominee, but it may affect how voters perceive the nominee. Particularly if the response to it is heavy handed. However, Brandon Johnson is no Richard Daley, so there is some comfort in that.

What they should do is allow people to voice their opinions rather than act as though they are saying something so terrible nobody else should ever hear it. Showing that they support personal expression would work to the mutual benefit of all.

 

[The Cat]

 

[The Cat]