Mitt Romney

[maple_leafs182]

And a lack of secure oil supply would cost even more. Ron Paul lives in a fantasy world, like most Libertarians.

Killing people for oil is not a solution. This kind of foreign policy will lead to more terrorist attacks.

[Pliny]

Killing people for oil is not a solution. This kind of foreign policy will lead to more terrorist attacks.

Take a long look down the road. Islam and western society cannot co-exist in their present forms. Is it because the west does not accommodate Islam or is it because Islam, in it's more fundamental form, does not tolerate western culture? If they both remain as they are the clash will be inevitable. It is not that the cultures or the people cannot inter-relate. It is that Islam, in certain areas, demands powers that the west politically considers are the province of government. I am not an expert on Islam but observe that there are certain factions that are not averse to the use of force and in western society the use of force is considered criminal and can only be delegated by government - unfortunately the use of force for one's own defense is often looked at with a critical eye from the State - justification of it's use for that purpose must be clearly evident.

In essence, the killing of people will result as long as their is a struggle over the power of the use of force - that is, if the opposing forces wish to freely interact.

They can agree to keep themselves politically and demographically separated but that would lead to a build up of animosity between the people and the cultures and a constant bickering over prized territory.

It is necessary that people interact, especially as the population grows, so separation by force is not a solution at all.

I don't think the western political powers are concerned about a "religious movement" and it's influence upon western society. They are concerned about sharing or tolerating the use of force without their oversight. Islam, I believe, feels it should not tolerate political ideology or law above it's own laws and is worried about a society whose governance is secular and above Islamic oversight.

Edited June 17, 2011 by Pliny

[WIP]

Well of course Mathews would like Backmann, the dems want the nuttiest nut to run against Obama and she is a whole new kind of right wing nutter.

No, they're just building drama for the upcoming Michelle vs. Sarah Catfight....I'll wait for the video!

[bloodyminded]

No, they're just building drama for the upcoming Michelle vs. Sarah Catfight....I'll wait for the video!

You betcha!

[WIP]

Take a long look down the road. Islam and western society cannot co-exist in their present forms. Is it because the west does not accommodate Islam or is it because Islam, in it's more fundamental form, does not tolerate western culture?

Western culture, as you define it, cannot continue in its present form for much longer anyway...so it's a moot point! Western culture has been built upon economic colonization of the undeveloped world and extracting their resources at low prices. This and the fundamental problem that the modern capitalist system depends on continuous growth and inflating demand for more and more consumer products...at a time when we're bumping up against declines in oil and many other natural resources, and I'd say we need to do something to change our own culture before we start pointing fingers at the Muslims.

If they both remain as they are the clash will be inevitable. It is not that the cultures or the people cannot inter-relate. It is that Islam, in certain areas, demands powers that the west politically considers are the province of government. I am not an expert on Islam but observe that there are certain factions that are not averse to the use of force and in western society the use of force is considered criminal and can only be delegated by government - unfortunately the use of force for one's own defense is often looked at with a critical eye from the State - justification of it's use for that purpose must be clearly evident.

Big difference is that the Islamic Expansion was based on religious zealotry...just like Christian expansion and propagation from the time of the Roman Empire through the Colonial Era...while the expansion of the last century and a half is primarily driven by Globalization, and the desire of multinational corporations to control their markets as well as the nations which serve as the sources of their production and raw materials. It's not just the Muslim countries where this economic colonization has created animosity against America and the West in general.

[GostHacked]

Take a long look down the road. Islam and western society cannot co-exist in their present forms. Is it because the west does not accommodate Islam or is it because Islam,

This has nothing to do with Islam at all. Also look around you. Islam is already co-existing with western style society. They've been doing that for some time.

[Pliny]

Western culture, as you define it, cannot continue in its present form for much longer anyway...so it's a moot point! Western culture has been built upon economic colonization of the undeveloped world and extracting their resources at low prices. This and the fundamental problem that the modern capitalist system depends on continuous growth and inflating demand for more and more consumer products...at a time when we're bumping up against declines in oil and many other natural resources, and I'd say we need to do something to change our own culture before we start pointing fingers at the Muslims.

Straight out of the book!

Big difference is that the Islamic Expansion was based on religious zealotry...just like Christian expansion and propagation from the time of the Roman Empire through the Colonial Era...while the expansion of the last century and a half is primarily driven by Globalization, and the desire of multinational corporations to control their markets as well as the nations which serve as the sources of their production and raw materials. It's not just the Muslim countries where this economic colonization has created animosity against America and the West in general.

Christian expansion occurred with the help of government, Monarchies at the time, and the sanctioned use of force. Islam has yet to seperate itself from the use of force ideally it operates as a theocracy.

I don't think there is as much global animosity toward America and the west as you would like to think.

[Pliny]

This has nothing to do with Islam at all. Also look around you. Islam is already co-existing with western style society. They've been doing that for some time.

Until there are no Islamic theocracies it is about Islam. I believe the Islamic people can make the adjustment but I don't believe the Islamic structure currently has that ability. It is threatened by the thought of freedom and liberty - I won't argue that the west is about freedom and liberty. It is more today about social democracy and entitlements.