Re: OT: US President (US Dom Players only)
 

I was listening to NPR and they said our dear congress is planing on making the Patriot Act permanent. Please call your congress person and tell them your against this. Please don't let this slide. For your children if nothing else. If we don't stand together on this issue we will truly regret it.

Re: OT: US President (US Dom Players only)
 

Yeah, you should turn down the right of an equal trial to whoever is accused of being a terrorist. And any other right you don't like.

Let me play with Godwin's Law too! :cool:

"In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;

And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;

And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;

And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up."

[Martin Niemöller]

Re: OT: US President (US Dom Players only)
 

Nobody is "granting terrorists the rights of us citizens."

Simply saying that the US government does not have the right to detain whoever it feels like for as long as it wants without even having to make a case to the judicial branch.

Re: OT: US President (US Dom Players only)
 

Thats what is happening right now to us, American citizens. Guys and Gals now is the time to speak out. Before we lose that right. Turn your radio to NPR, listen to the tragedy thats unfolding before us right now. Don't blow this, it could be the last gasp of our Republic. I'm not joking, I'm afraid.

Re: OT: US President (US Dom Players only)
 

I sort of hinted at that in my post. And IIRC a lot of the public favour bit was arranged by throwing circuses, providing food and having lots of public holidays. Elections were often bought through family wealth, or just won on the basis of family reputation.

It's not exactly as if various wealthy families in the States don't get more than their fair share of political power, after all. That's getting close to aristocracy if you ask me.

Here's a (arbitrarily chosen) map from 1897, showing British territories at that point only. Is that slightly clearer? As per most empires, governors and garrisons were appointed to claimed territories. Other local governmental and social structures were left mostly intact. It's what Alexander and Rome did, so you can hardly quibble on that point.

For the sake of being argumentative: At the point the map linked above was made, transportation had been discontinued for 45 years. Convict labour had ended 30 years previously. Australia was being mined for gold and opals (and other minerals), forested for hardwoods, and probably several other things I don't know about.


How about gold and diamond mining, rare hardwoods and other natural resources? Africa was something of a feeding trough at the time, and European nations were all pushing for their share of it. There was hardly an absence of claimants for African land - it's very likely one of the reasons modern African governments don't like non-African nations interfering with their political problems. And of course, for an empire with a heavy reliance on sea trade and naval power there's a very good reason to keep hold of and use sea ports and islands. Britain had a strong tendency to go to war rather than lose territory, which is why their claims were taken seriously.

Re: OT: US President (US Dom Players only)
 

Actually, they are, that is the thrust of Obamas decision, at least as floated at trial balloon.

First, let me say that I am not in favor of indefinite detentions. However, giving enemy combattants lawyers, and flying them to the united states and trying them in court is - lunacy. In the same article it said 250 of these were waiting to be released - but their home countries wouldn't take them.

Now, we bring them into the US and what happens next - we give them resident alien status? That is sheer.. brilliance. Yep, take terrorists that demonstrate a willingness to blow themselves up, and bring them to the united states.

Re: OT: US President (US Dom Players only)
 

Just curious, there are ten sections to the Patriot act. What is the wording that you are opposed to in it? Can you quote any of it? Can you explain what it supplanted? Or is this just a blanket "I hate everything connected with Bush"?

Re: OT: US President (US Dom Players only)
 

Simply breathtaking.

You compare an america with unemployment of 6.7% or so with the weimar republic where it was north of 25% You compare a place with hyperinflation measuring in the thousands of percent to a country with 3%. You compare a place where they had lost a war and suffered 50,000 people dead in one battle (Verdun) to where we are winning a war and the deaths are less than 5,000.

And you really think the circumstances are similar? See I think this is part of the problem Jim. Partisanship to such an extreme level that one simply can't be objective.

The sun still rises. Mail is still being delivered. Farmers grow food. We stil have an amazing university system- we still have the ability to worship as we chose, to vote, to assemble. We still have the right of free speach. We still have the ability to get ahead in life if we work hard. And on top of that, there's Dominions.

Most of the people in the world would die to come here.

Re: OT: US President (US Dom Players only)
 

You know, McCain was suggesting the exact same thing, oddly enough. You try them before deciding that they are terrorists, instead of jailing them.

Re: OT: US President (US Dom Players only)
 

Maybe he remembers a thing or two from being a P.O.W.