Making Baby Jesus Cry

[Sparklehorse]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
I had to bite my tongue to keep from mentioning the Prime Directive in regard to our relations with Cuba.

While my avatar does come from Star Trek, I am not a trekkie. Inispiration for my moniker comes from here: http://www.davidicke.com/icke/temp/reptconn.html I thought the Star Trek creature (called the Gorn) provided a pretty good representation of a reptilian humanoid. Now I'm sort of attached to it, after the tattoo and all.

Still think I have issues?

You never admitted you have an advice column.

[Spanky]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
I had to bite my tongue to keep from mentioning the Prime Directive in regard to our relations with Cuba.

While my avatar does come from Star Trek, I am not a trekkie. Inispiration for my moniker comes from here: http://www.davidicke.com/icke/temp/reptconn.html I thought the Star Trek creature (called the Gorn) provided a pretty good representation of a reptilian humanoid. Now I'm sort of attached to it, after the tattoo and all.

Still think I have issues?

My sister talks about the Lizard people a lot.

Didn't you know that the Prime Directive becomes moot when another advanced civilization infects the planet in question. Didn't you see the Trek episode where the Klingons started arming the village people. So the Federation started arming the hill people (they had been peaceful with eachother before). Bones said this is crazy, but Kirk and Spock pointed out that they did not have any other choice. Once the Klingons got invovled and started arming one side we had to help the other. I think Gene was trying to tell us something about the Cold War.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by Spanky
When did I say might is right?

I said in an Amoral world might is right. But I don't believe we live in an Amoral world.

So then you are saying we live in a moral world? What is our morality? By "our" I mean the world's morality.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Spanky
My sister talks about the Lizard people a lot.

Didn't you know that the Prime Directive becomes moot when another advanced civilization infects the planet in question. Didn't you see the Trek episode where the Klingons started arming the village people. So the Federation started arming the hill people (they had been peaceful with eachother before). Bones said this is crazy, but Kirk and Spock pointed out that they did not have any other choice. Once the Klingons got invovled and started arming one side we had to help the other. I think Gene was trying to tell us something about the Cold War.

Okay, now who has issues?

This is for penske:

[Spanky]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
No. I don't. I believe morals are unique to different countries, cultures, etc.

Shades, my man. Life is all about shades. There are very few absolutes out there, particularly in an area like geopolitics. Trying to compartmentalize everything into black and white is a fool's errand.

You follow this algebraic "If X = y and Y = Z, then..." simplistic approach to an area of life to which formulas can't be applied.

And add an insult or two. We are here for entertainment, not preaching.

I don't think it is to hard to discern if elections are free and fair. It is also not hard to determine if an economy is growing (through practical experience we now know what macroeconomic policies work and which ones don't).

The more prosperous democracys there are in the world, the more stable and peaceful it becomes. We should do what we can to see that as many counties in this world become developed democracys. Thankfully most world leaders now understand what it takes to create growth and prosperity. The vast majority of countrys are now focusing on growth and are growing. Does not matter if they have historically been socialist, like India, or are headed by so called socialists, like Brazil, they are all instituting pro-growth economic reforms (obviously some more successfully than other). Inda, China, Russia, Brazil, Indonesia are all experience strong growth. In my view the future is looking pretty bright but there are a few bad eggs that could ruin things for everyone.

I think we should do whatever we can to promote democracy and responsible government in these few bad eggs.

Bad Eggs = Burma, Cuba, North Korea, Belarus and a bunch of Subsaharan Countrys. Subsaharan Africa is a sticky wicket, but I don't think it is that hard to figure out what needs to happen everywhere else. These bad eggs need regime change or they ain't going to get any better and will continue to cause problems.

[Spanky]

Originally posted by taxwonk
So then you are saying we live in a moral world? What is our morality? By "our" I mean the world's morality.

The international convention on human rights is a good place to start.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Okay, now who has issues?

This is for penske:

You forgot to mention how Ickes gave Michael Moore the first 30 minutes of Farenheit 911. Ickes got the fat guy a seat next to an-ex President for goodness sakes,.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by taxwonk
So then you are saying we live in a moral world? What is our morality? By "our" I mean the world's morality.

Here we go again . . .

[robustpuppy]

Originally posted by Spanky
The international convention on human rights is a good place to start.

To what extent do you think a country's refusal to ratify a human rights treaty demonstrates that the country's government is less moral than those that have ratified the treaty?

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by robustpuppy
To what extent do you think a country's refusal to ratify a human rights treaty demonstrates that the country's government is less moral than those that have ratified the treaty?

I smell a trap. Nicely played.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by robustpuppy
To what extent do you think a country's refusal to ratify a human rights treaty demonstrates that the country's government is less moral than those that have ratified the treaty?

You started reeling the line in before I had the hook fully set. Now the slippery bastard will get away.

[Sparklehorse]

Originally posted by taxwonk
You started reeling the line in before I had the hook fully set. Now the slippery bastard will get away.

Is this like a Politics version of whiff?

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Spanky
I don't think it is to hard to discern if elections are free and fair. It is also not hard to determine if an economy is growing (through practical experience we now know what macroeconomic policies work and which ones don't).

The more prosperous democracys there are in the world, the more stable and peaceful it becomes. We should do what we can to see that as many counties in this world become developed democracys. Thankfully most world leaders now understand what it takes to create growth and prosperity. The vast majority of countrys are now focusing on growth and are growing. Does not matter if they have historically been socialist, like India, or are headed by so called socialists, like Brazil, they are all instituting pro-growth economic reforms (obviously some more successfully than other). Inda, China, Russia, Brazil, Indonesia are all experience strong growth. In my view the future is looking pretty bright but there are a few bad eggs that could ruin things for everyone.

I think we should do whatever we can to promote democracy and responsible government in these few bad eggs.

Bad Eggs = Burma, Cuba, North Korea, Belarus and a bunch of Subsaharan Countrys. Subsaharan Africa is a sticky wicket, but I don't think it is that hard to figure out what needs to happen everywhere else. These bad eggs need regime change or they ain't going to get any better and will continue to cause problems.

For a man who seems to hint at belief in a natural law, you sure seem ignorant of the concept of Social Darwinism (which is the most easily proven natural laws out there).

Its like John Cougar wisely sang, "There's winners, and there's lo-hoo-sers." Somebody's gotta be down for somebody to be up. Its the human condition. What you're espousing - a rising tide lifting all boats to the same level - is called socialism.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by Sparklehorse
Is this like a Politics version of whiff?

No. Whiff is sooooo 2003. It's like schtick, something else I don't do.

[robustpuppy]

Originally posted by taxwonk
No. Whiff is sooooo 2003. It's like schtick, something else I don't do.

Are you saying that you don't whiff, or that you don't say whiff when others do? Because if you are suggesting that I whiffed here, that's just patently ridiculous.