Radiorum

Using SNC Lavalin as a pretext to diss Canada seems a little more lost to me. Let's understand the dialogue. You took Russia's side in the war. I say I choose democracy over autocracy. You say democracy is not perfect. Damn, I know that. But it beats the heck out of the oppression that exists in Russia. Remember the words of Winston Churchill: “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

That is what is concerning.

Trump is positioned to change the face of America. He is in a much more powerful position than his first term. He has complete control of the Republican party, has taken control of the Supreme Court, and has a VP that is blindly loyal to him. He will bring his own people to key positions and they will do whatever he tells them to.

It’s definitely in danger. Trump’s relationship with Prime Minister Orbán of Hungary holds a clue. Orbán has replaced Hungarian democracy with an authoritarian regime. It began by militarizing the border to keep out migrants and asylum seekers – installing an “immense security apparatus” – and led to using laws as weapons, as well as controlling all media. In the “election” the opposition never had a fair chance. Nonsensical regulations hamper pro-democracy organizations. Corporations are controlled by Orbán’s cronies. And, in the “unending drumbeat of propaganda” – Sound familiar? Is Trump importing Orbán’s strategy of subtle repression? Why did Orbán visit Trump at Mar-a-Lago? https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/9/13/17823488/hungary-democracy-authoritarianism-trump

It's all explained here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deferred_prosecution_agreement_(Canada) it's all explained here: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/parliament-ground-to-a-halt-over-conservative-allegations-of-liberal-corruption-1.7061138 A Conservative talking point.

I had to Google it, (but don't understand its reference here) A character in the song Widecombe Fair

What do you want to know? I'll Google it for you. You're clearly not aware of life in Russia. How'd you like to be arrested for merely attending the funeral of the opposition leader (Navalny) Putin had killed? I don't know what this means. Lol. Big deal.

Only the best gosh-darned country in the whole entire world.

Democracy can die under the guise of the government enacting and enforcing laws that they say are necessary to “maintain stability” and protect "core national interests." To wit: It’s all part of the authorities’ effort to eliminate opposition, despite the fact that more than 80% of adults in Hong Kong support a democratic system in which two or more political parties compete in elections. Hong Kong was promised its civil liberties would be preserved for 50 years when it returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Since then, “Hong Kong’s civil liberties and judicial independence have nosedived.” “Running in an election and trying to win it is now a crime that can lead to a decade in prison in Hong Kong,” Maya Wang, associate China director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. Margaret Chen, a 59-year-old retiree who had attended most of the trial since it began in February 2023, said, “that democracy had died in Hong Kong and people are too afraid to speak out.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hong-kong-47-democracy-activists-sentenced-national-security-rcna180290

Oh dear, it's like you didn't read my posts, which are much more grounded in reality than anything you have said. He was protecting democracy. That's all the difference. I stand on the side of democracy, not autocracy.

This reminds me of blaming the victim of the bully. Do you also agree with Putin's assertion that it was Poland's fault that Hitler invaded them? Give us your country! No! Then we must invade you. It's all your fault!

I deal in the real world, Come back when you are prepared to do the same.

That’s a ludicrous hypothetical, since Canada is a defender of democracy. And the consequences would be devastating if the US gives up their leadership role in the world as a defender of democracy (as Trump appears ready to do). I think we need to be reminded of the words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his third augural address, made in January, 1941, nearly a year before the attack on Pearl Harbour:

Then I suggest you do some reading to understand what autocratic power is, specifically Putin’s. A good place to start is by reading Bill Browder’s book Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man’s Fight for Justice – to better understand how Putin operates. When Putin first came into power, he met with his oligarchs. One spoke out against him, and Putin had him put in prison. The other oligarchs saw the writing on the wall, and asked Putin, “How much?” “Fifty percent,” Putin answered. And so, he consolidated his power, and his fortune. How Putin Conquered Russia's Oligarchy

If NATO-Russian relations have deteriorated, the fault lies completely and totally with Putin, as does the fault for the war. Before him, following the breakdown of the USSR in 1991, to about 2004, there was cause for optimism – a period of cooperation between Russia and NATO. Mid-1990s, Russian military even operated under NATO command in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1997, The NATO-Russia Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security was signed by Russia and NATO at the NATO summit in Paris, France. The act was: The height of US-Russian relations occurred following the attacks of 9/11 – with Russia and the US even sharing intelligence. Then, Putin got in power and spread his authoritarian, imperialist tentacles. Relations with NATO deteriorated. All kinds of hostile trade actions and threats, and military actions (Azerbaijan, Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine, Syria, Turkey, Kazakhstan), peppered with assassinations of Putin’s opponents by Russian intelligence on NATO territory. It all boils down to Putin. Trump even acknowledged this in a tweet from 2014: Mar 21st 2014 - 10:03:49 PM EST But we are supposed to believe that Putin will put aside everything he has worked for through the sheer force of Trump’s personality? Trump, the poor deluded megalomaniac, with complete ignorance of the geo-political-historical context in which Ukraine and Russia exist, and in his fawning worship of the “strongman,” and that strongman’s flattery of him, thinks he is the only one in the whole entire world that can twist Putin’s arm because “Putin likes him.” It was Putin who rejected any peace plan in 2022 without him being the full victor, which included the overthrow of the Ukrainian government. As of this year, Putin has not changed his goals. https://bcfausa.org/institute-for-the-study-of-war-putin-calls-again-for-overthrow-of-ukrainian-government/

Things are clear on my end. It's in the receiving of my messages that confusion enters the picture.

Every form of government is based on an ideology. Democracy is an ideology, communism is an ideology, socialism is an ideology, anarchism is an ideology, and so on... The principles of democracy are human rights, free and fair elections, accountability and transparency, the rule of law, and citizen participation.

Not to me. It's the only way to make sense of existence. I'm still kicking. And I would counter with the fact that you make judgements on scientific knowledge with little understanding of it.

I'm okay with that! The morale of the story is to make the most of your time while you're here.

I don't believe an acceptance of science (and the theory of evolution) precludes a belief in "God." I invite you to once again read the principles of scientific pantheism I posted earlier. For me, the Bible is a text written by humans thousands of years ago, and not supernaturally inspired. While there is a lot of wisdom (especially from Jesus) in the Bible, there is also a lot cruel judgement (especially in the old testament) and I choose not to make it my guide in life.

It’s an agenda for liberation and justice. It’s an agenda to be free and to belong and be their authentic selves, to define themselves. Not to trample on others. Nah, I'm too big of a questioner for that. But, thanks. Should I make dick jokes? Thank you! I appreciate it.

98% of scientists accept the theory of evolution as a valid scientific theory. Creation.com found the 2% who don't know what they are talking about.

Science does not use the word "prove." Instead it uses the word "supports." And yes, the evidence does support the theory that life changes over time. If you are going to criticize the science, you need to know the science, not what a religious website says. If I hold all of the scientific books ever written in one hand, and the Bible in the other, I will give the scientific books more weight. I thank God for my rational, questioning, thinking mind. I don't believe in hell. In this whole, big wide universe, what makes us special? I don't believe in Satan. I have a great interest in truth. But I will not have it handed to me unquestioned and ready-made. I will use my faculties to figure it out myself. Why did God give me faculties if He did not intend me to use them?

I have had a chance to scan this article. Yeah, it's uninformed. From the article: See, when they couch the “debate” in these terms, it shows a marked lack of understanding of what it means to be transgender as well as the false presumption that the government will now control what people think and say. They even refer to the "the sexual left." Talk about creating a "us vs. them" scenario!

The Heritage Foundation is notoriously far right-wing, so I am skeptical of their bias. A little bit of reading and contemplation might change your mind.... Lol. Thanks. I feel okay. I'm really one who does not come to conclusions based on whim or fancy, but by careful consideration. Things have to feel right to me, you know? Whether I am male or female is irrelevant. Address me as a fellow intellectual. Thank you! I never heard of this place before last Friday, and I am glad I joined.