Sir Bandelot

Or for that matter, voting.

They got a whole lot of something.

Not entirely, that is a good part of it. The great kleptocracy is what we live in now, where for example we are told that there is no money for omproving infrastructure and social projects, but on the other hand we hear that the banks, and the upper 1% income earners made the most money ever on record, in 2010. We see how prices shoot up erratically at the merest hint of an international crisis. Every slight blip on the graph of commodity prices increases the wealth of the wealthy substantially. Each time this happens, we the commoners are gouged to the tune of millions of dollars. Likewise, sudden downward drops are also to their benefit. There is no rational basis for these shortages, that would have been minimized if not for a global economy. Yet there is big money for militia and wars, that do not seem to accomplish anything of merit. This should be obvious to most people here, as we tend to keep up on the news but the majority of people do not. Nor can they draw meaningful inferences about what is happening in the on-going power and class struggle. After a days hard work most Canadians by and large are satisfied with simple things in life. Like TV, a hockey game, a bottle of beer...

Canada was in a very good position financially, and as a result was able to weather the latest economic "storms" quite well. Canada is now in worsening debt because of the policies of the CPC, handing out billions to banks that are not even in trouble. Because the banks wanted their "cut", as was being done in other western contries in the time of the great kleptocracy.

From what I understand temps are still out of control, they have made little if any positive progress. Things are still on the worsening side of the curve. I suspect that all this effort to hook up water pumps to the reactor is futile. It's likely that the water pipes have been severly damaged, and they are working hard making sacrifices to hook up power to pumps, while on the other side of the wall there is nothing connected.

It's off topic, but nevertheless... http://fnbc.info/indian-mass-graves-be-investigated-international-group

Well, it's not going to go away by spoiling ones ballot. Whatever "it" is. People likely do this in order to fell better themselves, not for the primary purpose of affecting change. But likely that most these people still want change, and that they don't see it coming in any way from an elected official. The system, too corrupt to be fixed. You either accept the corruption and continue to participate, vote for leaders knowing they are corrupt but the "least harmful" of the lot, or you reject the entire notion of voting for representatives. I am in the latter group. I'm in the position that I will not affix my mark to someones name, who I know is corrupted, self serving and in the pocket of the elite. Psychologically I have always been a loner, outside of the herd and not voting simply makes me feel better.

That's not quite all there is to it. If this disaffection is on the rise (which it likely is...), it may mean more than simply a group of people who can be ignored. It's the rot, and it's not going away on its own.

Ahaha, join the chump brigade. WHile I don't totally agree that the OP's post provides a solution, the election is not about voting for anyone. It's about voting against someone.

It is... a de-mockracy

It's not the whole Japan that was destroyed. But 6 reactors are in trouble. They likely will not go off in Chernobyl fashion, due to their inherent design. THese are light water reactors, whereas the Chernobyl was an RBMK Graphite reactor, a "dry" system. They used graphite rods instead of water. But with about 3 hydrogen explosions so far, and 3 reactors near melt down out of the 6, how long can it last?

Or taxes?

In a way, it's a "litmus test" for the tolerance of womens rights. In some places in the middle east there are protests against it taking place today, as women struggle to get the same level of freedom, respect and dignity that's given to a man. No doubt all those who find it irritating believe that women should stay home and do the cooking and cleaning. More pancakes for dancer and shady...

LOL

Yeah yeah. I already know he's not one. In fact I have known him for a long time now, in various incarnations of my user ID. Even on other forums. And I know you from there as well. It does not matter to me. You guys were lickin each other, even in those days hahahah

"They" are only one faction, not in complete power. But they do have some political influence. Hence the congressional hearing. The hearing itself isn't necessarily a wrong idea, if it focuses on the problem of internal radicalization from external influences. The danger I'm talking about lies in how its message will be received a by less-than-knowledgeable public who only understand things in terms of black and white. To these people, any man wearing a turban or any woman wearing a veil, is an enemy of freedom. Because we have become a fascist society, symbolism is everything. It's the face, not the content below (that requires learning, takes time and patience). The equation is too complex for the modern media hyperstimulated masses. Much simpler to get it, as a certain well known president once said, "you're either with us, or you're with..."

East end?

Where have you been for the last ten years? Are you in Winnipeg?

Sure, not a problem. Iraq, Afghanstan, Abu Graib, Guantanamo. But they are doing it "softly", hence the thin end of the wedge. Example, "homeland" security, not "fatherland"...

Yes, I'm quite sure they were having similar conversations like this in 1933. All it takes now is for one more thing to trip the switch. Just one more. See reichstag fire

Perhaps certain western leaders are feeling a little guilty of having sold Mr. Gaddfly the latest and greatest innovations in modern weaponry, many of which are specifically designed to control uprisings amongst your own people. Some members of the UN (specifically, the US and Britain) kissed his sand-covered ass in about 2005 which opened the doors to some sweet oil deals for BP, because he claimed to have decided to stop funding terrorism. Oh, well in that case it's all good then, here's your bad guy back again, the same guy who killed hundreds of people in the lockerbie bombing (returned to Lybia to be greeted with a heroes welcome) and we all really like you, now. Help the Libyans, sir? Why no, we need to help ourselves. Britain selling arms to Libya In the third quarter of 2010 (the most recent period for which figures are available), equipment approved for export included wall and door breaching projectile launchers, crowd control ammunition, small arms ammunition, tear gas/irritant ammunition, training tear gas/irritant ammunition. Ammunition comprised £3.2m of the £4.7m million of military items licensed. Sniper rifles were among the other equipment licensed in 2010. No requests for licences were refused in 2010.

Then if you "actually understand what took place in Nazi Germany", you will see the potential warning signs of what is taking place in our world, right now.

Fine, I can accept that. At least you get it. Anyone who's serious about what I post in a non serious way, sorry that you've taken it so hard. But woe betide ye... sometimes my jokes hae a dark side. Because the radical whites, whose numbers are on the rise will see it that way. A conference about the muslim question...

I'm sure it is... to a white man