Messages

46

Discussion and Debate - The Philosopher's Plaza / Obama/NATO Afghanistan Troop Surge

« on: December 08, 2009, 06:58:08 PM »

So... what do you people think about the new troop surge? Should the US and UK really even be there? What will become of the region if we pull out? Wil it be a success?

We can't simply pull out - it will just create a power vacuum the Taliban can exploit. However, I don't like us being there in the first place. We should be aiming to make the current government stable, and then pull out.

47

Discussion and Debate - The Philosopher's Plaza / Swiss Minaret Ban

« on: November 11, 2009, 10:12:50 PM »

there's been similar issues in the UK. In Manchester, a church was knocked down to build a mosque. I read about this in the Daily Mail, so it was obviously full of 'DISRESPECTING OUR CULTURE INNIT!', but according to the article, few people still visited the church, although those that did were left out in the cold a bit. I guess you have to choose the lesser of two evils.

As to the Swiss minaret ban, I don't know much about it, but it does sound rather paranoid.

Round where I live, the mosque was knocked down to make room for a load of rubble.

48

Discussion and Debate - The Philosopher's Plaza / The BNP

« on: November 11, 2009, 10:11:15 PM »

So Nick will obviously set the example and lead the entire population of Britain out of the island.

That's the hope.

49

Discussion and Debate - The Philosopher's Plaza / Afghanistan

« on: November 11, 2009, 05:56:49 PM »

Yup (though it was just the Taleban back then, Al Quaeda are a newer element to the Afghan equation)

Al Qaeda being called Al Qaeda are a new element, among the other funders of the Afghan Resistance was a Saudi Prince called Osama Bin Laden and his bodyguards/private army.

50

Discussion and Debate - The Philosopher's Plaza / Afghanistan

« on: November 10, 2009, 09:10:09 PM »

The whole problem with Afghanistan goes back to the Cold War. When it became warm in the 60's-70's, the USSR invaded Afghanistan, which was under NATO protection. Instead of sending men there, NATO sent guns, tanks and ammunition to Afghanistan. The Afghans beat back the Soviets, but were left well alone by NATO after the Cold War. The guns got into the wrong hands and militant groups such as the Taleban increased activity.

Quickly pick you up on this - the weapons the US sent to Afghanistan didn't 'get into the wrong hands', the US sent the guns to the Taliban and Al Qaeda as the 'resistance' against soviet rule.

51

Discussion and Debate - The Philosopher's Plaza / Healthcare in the US

« on: November 10, 2009, 09:07:35 PM »

Health Insurance costs money... that's why 1/5 of Americans don't have it, they can't afford to pay

52

Discussion and Debate - The Philosopher's Plaza / Healthcare in the US

« on: November 08, 2009, 11:20:38 AM »

US healthcare should definitely not be left alone, like the Republicans want. Sure, some kind of free healthcare might cost a bit more tax, but its something that, if I were in America, I'd be totally willing to pay. Considering that the main anti argument seems to be that the NHS lets people die (something so much worse than refusing to treat them, obviously) I don't think there is any strong valid objection to free healthcare.

53

History, Science, and Interesting Information - The Great Library / Jubal's BAD SCIENCE

« on: November 01, 2009, 01:03:43 PM »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8335189.stm

This is the news that David Nutt, the government's top drugs advisor, has been sacked for speaking out about the dangers of other aspects of society when compared to illegal drugs. It's a real blow for science, as he has said, and sets the dangerous precedent that the government can apparently now choose what science they want to believe. Scientific advisory committees are SCIENTIFIC for a reason...

David Nutt was my favourite ever govt scientist. I was so sad when I heard this. It just goes to show that our government is only interested in science when it supports its own viewpoint: 2 + 2 = 5, anyone?

54

Discussion and Debate - The Philosopher's Plaza / Religious/Politcal Profile thread

« on: November 01, 2009, 12:55:35 PM »

My latest result:
L/R - -9.3
Authoritarian/Anarchist - -8
Religion - Atheist.

And I tend to come across as less than that when you talk to me, as I moderate my ideas to something if not reasonably achievable, at least something theoretically possible in my lifetime.

55

Discussion and Debate - The Philosopher's Plaza / The BNP

« on: November 01, 2009, 12:08:48 PM »

And those of you who watched Question time with Nick Griffin will have heard his definition of immigrants, which is a tad more than 'the non-white population of Britain', which would be bad enough. According to the BNP, anyone who cannot trace their descent to the inhabitants of britain 17,000 years ago, after the last Ice Age, is an immigrant. The flaw in this, of course, is that there is no-one alive in Britain today who can do this, us being Homo sapiens, not Homo neanderthalis.