Interesting article thread

[Red Devil]

Confucius say, "Wheel of Life sometime lift you up, sometime bring you down, sometime roll over you."

[MrTwosheds]

One thing I find interesting is Germany was a deadly threat to Europe twice in the last 100 years and now they are a large factor in holding it together.

It was the whole Idea of the EU, to make us work together rather than fight each other.
Seems as if some nations view it more like "Daddy's bank account" though.

[Red Devil]

it might have worked if people depended more on themselves instead of the state

[MrTwosheds]

Nice Idea Red, but our nations long histories of kings, property and entitlement, generally mean that unless you are born to a family that is already endowed, then you are probably going to have a very hard time of it, your own butt being the only resource readily available to you. The odds are stacked very high against the majority of people succeeding. The State offers these benefits to keep the little people in their place and avoid the lawlessness that would result from a more enlightened approach. Nobody can prosper when theft becomes your basic currency.

[Iron_Maiden]

Well, he was warned:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/ma ... 17972.html

[HitchcockGreen]

i find it ironic that Greece, the 'birthplace of democracy', succumbed to the temptation of socialism. Leonidas must be rolling in his grave (or at least rolling his eyes) about now.

i find it exceedingly rewarding and entertaining to watch as the once-boastful socialist countries writhe in agony as they "run out of other people's money".

Moreso Pericles.
Leonidas was Spartan general.

[Red Devil]

yes, but it was he and his band of merry men and not those wimpy athenians who held off those persians.

[Zenophas]

http://www.theday.com/article/20120217/OP02/302179991

Israel, the U.S.A's scumbag pet, needs a tighter leash.

[APCs r Evil]

I disagree. Cut support for Israel (And it's enemies) and the warmongering will quickly start to seem like a bad idea for everyone involved.

[Red Devil]

i think we need to give them even more aid so they can all fight each other some more.

[MrTwosheds]

It is very curious, the different ways "support" can be given to nations, Israel gets given money and military support, despite their very dubious policy's. The Iranian regime on the other hand is given equally potent moral "support" via the USA's implacable historic hostility to it. While they have such a powerful and openly hostile nation to stand against, how can they fail?
It seems to me that it is Iran who receives the most potent support, its people are unable to fight for their own freedom, while the US threat looms over it. Israel on the other hand can spit at the feet of its willing benefactor, while still holding out its hand for more. The politics of "interests" feed this conflict. None of the big players are really interested in a solution.

[Red Devil]

you got that right, brother!

[Iron_Maiden]

Brasil....when hearts were entertaining June...............

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id ... _article=1

[Zenophas]

I disagree. Cut support for Israel (And it's enemies) and the warmongering will quickly start to seem like a bad idea for everyone involved.

I like that, bro. Although, the chances of that stopping Palestinian aggression is highly unlikely. (Hopefully.)

[MrTwosheds]

Cutting (US) support for Israel would probably result in their more extremist factions gaining more power (they are anyway) It would not be long before they start shooting at their own people as well as everyone else around them. The Palestinians ain't going away (without a genocide) neither are the surrounding nations. I suspect some of the new democracy's will attempt to calm things down and of course fail, and at some point in the future they will become seriously threatened by a nation that has simply become too paranoid to consider any other course than continued oppression and violence. The nations around them will be forced into a military solution.