ironstone

Free enterprise works and competition is good. Of course governments usually love to get in the way. When I was in Germany years ago I went into one of their big chain stores which if I recall was called Globus. I was blown away while walking down a few aisles of booze and couldn't believe the great selection and low prices. What is it with you guys that love monopolies that always have to have overpaid union employees?

I wouldn't mind seeing the entire market for booze open up so we could actually have some real competition for a change. Why not let businesses like Walmart or Costco sell booze? Governments do not always know what's best.

It's sad what's happened to that city, but it's only going to keep getting worse. They live crammed in like sardines. That mayor is pathetic to say the least. Diversity doesn't seem to be London's strength.

Friendly fire is something that unfortunately happens in most wars. But friendly fire is very different from one side using their own people as human shields. It's been pointed out that during WW2 the Einsatzgruppen often numbed themselves with alcohol before executing civilians, Hamas of today LIVESTREAMED what they did on Oct 7. They were proud of what they were doing, and they wanted the world to see it. What does that tell you about Hamas?

It seems there was a huge lapse in intelligence by Israel up to Oct 7, but are you putting all the blame for that massacre(live streamed!) on Israel?

Could you also explain which wars employed the principle of proportionality and exactly what it is? Is it one for one in your world?

Please enlighten us and describe in precise terms how the IDF is supposed to take out those rockets and mortars if Hamas doesn't let their own people leave. Or are you suggesting that the IDF should not do anything and just let Hamas fire away to their hearts content?

You make no distinction between dropping precision guided munitions and indiscriminate bombing? I guess you just don't understand. And the reason the IDF might drop a bomb on that apartment complex might just be because Hamas places rocket launchers or mortars there? If there are civilians in that apartment complex, then that's on Hamas for not letting them leave after they've been warned. https://www.newsweek.com/israel-implemented-more-measures-prevent-civilian-casualties-any-other-nation-history-opinion-1865613 https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-784307

The IDF is not bombing indiscriminately and randomly. They use precision guided munitions, and give plenty of advance notice for people to evacuate. Notice that the ICC didn't bother to lay charges against Sinwar immediately after the latest Hamas attack, they chose to lay charges against Netanyahu at the same time to create the impression there is a moral equivalence. There isn't.

So the left gets to cherry pick which laws they'll enforce and which one's they wont. Got it.

How come you don't support ALL laws? How about federal immigration laws which routinely get ignored by sanctuary cities?

I've posted examples, but you've closed your mind to anything I say. Why is Eric Adams in NY complaining about the 'cost' of all these illegals? According to you the illegals are paying taxes that more than make up for what they get in return. Certainly debatable at the very least. https://nypost.com/2023/02/07/biden-migrant-crisis-to-cost-nyc-4-2-billion/ Does the right to enter the US or any other western country work both ways in your world? How will it work out if someone from the US tries to enter China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Cuba or any similar country through illegal means?

Since the status quo isn't delivering, do you not have any suggestions to improve our health care system? If you rule out any private sector involvement, what's the next step?

Health insurance. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/12/29/1221780712/more-states-extend-health-coverage-to-immigrants-even-as-issue-inflames-gop They get put up in hotels. That's a benefit. Unemployment benefits. They want more. https://www.foxnews.com/us/the-cost-of-illegal-immigration-migrants-cost-us-taxpayers-billions-a-year https://www.newsweek.com/migrants-food-money-new-york-snap-benefits-1867058

No offense, but you must be wearing the most elaborate rose coloured glasses on the planet. Not all cultures integrate seamlessly into western society, some much worse than others. You seem to be implying that if immigration through legal means isn't fast enough, then anyone and everyone has the right to just stroll across the border and demand benefits. The US has it's limitations, and it's extremely arrogant to suggest that because you perceive them to be so rich that they are obligated to provide housing to all migrants. If it's so easy to address the problem, then why is Biden failing so miserably now? Illegals are provided with all kinds of benefits while veterans are left in need. Mass immigration : US, Britain, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Belgium, Australia, and of course, Canada. Many of the people forcing their way into these countries despise our type of society. We have already seen some clashes between cultures in Canada between radical gender ideology proponents and Canada's rapidly growing Muslim population, they won't stand for that kind of stuff being forced onto their children.

Are you content with the current state of the health care system?

A lot to digest there. You use the usual liberal talking points in order to defend an open border. Concerns about the amount of people entering the country? Don't know who is entering the country? Don't know how many 'gotaways' there are? Xenophobia of course! The more people living in America the stronger it becomes? People living in China and India may beg to differ. People feel safer living in America under Biden than they did under Trump? Have you seriously not seen what is happening in big cities? In particular Democrat run cities? What's so wrong with entering the country through legal channels? Lot's of people were trying to enter the US even when Trump was president, but demonstrably lower numbers than under the Biden administration. This despite repeated claims from progressives that the US, and western society as a whole, are systemically racist. Mass immigration is overwhelming all of these countries, especially health care and housing. And yet, progressives keep demanding that we let in more and more people.

He graduated at the top of his class, he was a truck driver, fought in street wars with Corn Pop, marched at the front of the civil rights movement, his house burned down while his wife was in it, the list goes on lol. Not a joke...not a joke!🤣

Trump and his businesses have certainly been involved in a lot of lawsuits prior to entering politics, there is no denying that. Probably more than his fair share compared to his contemporaries. I would compare the overall state of the union during his term to that of Biden. Covid was the giant wrench thrown into the system. Life was much more affordable for Americans, and the international scene was also much more peaceful. The southern border was in much better shape. If you're a typical Democrat supporter, you may not even be aware there is an issue at the border at all. You now have people on American streets chanting 'death to American, death to Israel!'. It's fair game to be critical of Trump, just as it's fair game to point out Biden's long list of failures. Or more accurately, the failures of his puppeteers.

The tariffs may not be a sure thing just yet. There must be some secret negotiations happening between the CCP and representatives(Hunter Biden?) of the Biden administration. The issue may yet get resolved with some very timely and huge wire transfers from the CCP to designated offshore accounts 😉

I've posted this before but since you are new here, I'll put it up again. A short history of your beloved Hamas. "Hamas has been relatively peaceful in comparison..." Your statement ranks right up with that 'journalist' with burning buildings behind him while stating it's "mostly peaceful".

This is what the civilized world is up against. He's perfectly open about what the ultimate goal of Hamas is. And still, progressives around the world rally behind men like this.

What is Biden doing to defend and promote liberalism in his own country? We all know how government resources have been weaponized against his most serious political opponent with nonsensical charges.. Speaking of China and Russia, we also know that Joe and his family have very lucrative financial ties to both countries, especially China. Those countries are not the only one's. Biden is 99% opportunist and perhaps 1% liberal.

The public servants themselves are reporting that they are more productive at home but I would expect them to say that. I would rather see more data that actually backs that up. A quick search online only revealed one side, the public servants. Remember that it's government, so there are already low expectations for productivity in the first place.

Some people claim there is a campaign of genocide in Gaza which has been ongoing for many years. If so, it's the most ineffective and incompetent campaign of genocide in world history. This link is from 2016 but you get the idea. https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-israel-united-nations-palestinian-territories-gaza-strip-0b9fbb989fc2411495afd811da4ac6d0 https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1491QF/ From 2022: https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/israel-palestinians-gaza-population/ All they do is make babies, rockets, bombs and tunnels.