• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Obama shakes hands with Cuba's Castro in 'gesture of hope'

Grant said:
Maybe all drugs should be legalized in order to weed out the less intelligent among the human species. Survival of the fittest, and all of that.
Click to expand...

If that is to imply that only less intelligent people use drugs .. truth may cause you to rethink that.

I bet someone said that very thing before prohibition ended. 'Let them all have access to the evil of alcohol and they'll weed themselves out of normal society.

Speaking of 'weed' :0) .. visions of 'Reefer Madness' are dancing in my head. Smoke a joint .. and you'll want to kill somebody .. and dance real fast to crazy music. :0)
 
BlackAsCoal said:
That isn't 'anti-americanism' it isn't partisan .. that's data, that's truth.

No matter how depressed the rest of America may be .. there is always money for war. The travesty is that now even democrats have been bought off. Obama is as warmongering as Dick Cheney.
Click to expand...

Its criticism out of context and has its roots in critical theory.

When you use stats like that without accounting for the fact that we are the worlds only superpower, and a leader in industry, tech, and military the numbers make more sense. But-that would add context.

You may not be familiar with the terms, but you were conditioned to believe it as truth. Spend the few minutes to watch this, it will lend perspective (and that dreaded context).



 
BlackAsCoal said:
If that is to imply that only less intelligent people use drugs .. truth may cause you to rethink that.
Click to expand...
Drugs appear to have ruined a great many lives and anyone who sticks a needle in their arms or who smokes crack has to understand that. I can't see that as anything else than stupid.

I bet someone said that very thing before prohibition ended. 'Let them all have access to the evil of alcohol and they'll weed themselves out of normal society.
Click to expand...
That was just as true. Look at all the old moves from that period and see for yourself how the use of tobacco and alcohol was being promoted by the movie stars of the day as being cool and sophisticated. That same thing happened later with the glamorization of many drugs, which may be why the US uses more recreational drugs than any country in the world.

Speaking of 'weed' :0) .. visions of 'Reefer Madness' are dancing in my head. Smoke a joint .. and you'll want to kill somebody .. and dance real fast to crazy music. :0)
Click to expand...
Yes, i understand the lunacy of reefer madness but lets not go in the other direction either. That's just as crazy.
 
US Conservative said:
Whan you name drop those percentages WITHOUT CONTEXT (ie WHO, WHY, and the RESULTS OF) you are doing us a disservice.
I never implied that the majority were for violent crimes.

Yes, its expensive to house these guys, but its money well spent (generally). When you get into your conspiratorial "profit" stuff is where I shut off. I simply dont buy that dribble, but kudos for combining many of the lefts delusions. It cohesive. :)
Click to expand...

Thank you brother for giving me the opportunity to share those 'delusions' .. otherwise known as facts.

'Conspiracy' is where frightened people hide .. not suggesting you of course .. but people like you who ignore the facts about the prisons and profit.

Profit Driven Prison Industrial Complex: The Economics of Incarceration in the USA - The Mind Unleashed
For anyone paying attention, there is no shortage of issues that fundamentally challenge the underpinning moral infrastructure of American society and the values it claims to uphold. Under the conceptual illusion of liberty, few things are more sobering than the amount of Americans who will spend the rest of their lives in an isolated correctional facility – ostensibly, being corrected. The United States of America has long held the highest incarceration rate in the world, far surpassing any other nation. For every 100,000 Americans, 743 citizens sit behind bars. Presently, the prison population in America consists of more than six million people, a number exceeding the amount of prisoners held in the gulags of the former Soviet Union at any point in its history.

---

While miserable statistics illustrate some measure of the ongoing ethical calamity occurring in the detainment centers inside the land of the free, only a partial picture of the broader situation is painted. While the country faces an unprecedented economic and financial crisis, business is booming in other fields – namely, the private prison industry. Like any other business, these institutions are run for the purpose of turning a profit. State and federal prisons are contracted out to private companies who are paid a fixed amount to house each prisoner per day. Their profits result from spending the minimum amount of state or federal funds on each inmate, only to pocket the remaining capital. For the corrections conglomerates of America, prosperity depends on housing the maximum numbers of inmates for the longest potential time – as inexpensively as possible.

***

How about this ..
The prison industrial complex is alive and doing well in U.S.A.

Fortune 500 companies (too numerous to mention here) are invested in "prison labor". The potential profit of the prison labor boom has encouraged U.S. corporate society to move their production forces into American prisons — and why not? The lowest prison wage is .17 an hour! This is a nifty profit since these companies turn around and sell their products to the U.S. government — i.e. the taxpayers — at premium prices.
***

Is that true? Are Fortune 500 companies really setting up shop in American prisons? Do you know?

Could it possibly be that some American companies are shutting down operations in the real world where they have to pay workers real wages, worry about sick days, vacations, health, ands safety .. nagging little things like that .. and then setting up shop in prisons where the slaves do what they're told for slave wages?

Is that true? Do you know?

Looking for 'Made in America labels?' Go here .. the 'JC Penny's' of the prison world.
Unicor Online
 
Prisons for profit are a well known growing phenomena here in the good ole USA. Watch for the numbers you quote to rise.
 
Grant said:
Drugs appear to have ruined a great many lives and anyone who sticks a needle in their arms or who smokes crack has to understand that. I can't see that as anything else than stupid.

That was just as true. Look at all the old moves from that period and see for yourself how the use of tobacco and alcohol was being promoted by the movie stars of the day as being cool and sophisticated. That same thing happened later with the glamorization of many drugs, which may be why the US uses more recreational drugs than any country in the world.

Yes, i understand the lunacy of reefer madness but lets not go in the other direction either. That's just as crazy.
Click to expand...

Drugs have indeed ruined many lives, taken many lives. I don't recommend the use of hard drugs. But then again, I don't recommend alcohol either .. which has taken FAR many more lives than illegal drugs. Both take and ruin the lives of old, young, rich, poor, educated, uneducated, and in all sizes, shapes, colors, and stripes.

The question is how much can you legislate, and should addition really be a crime.

Marijuana is less harmful than a beer.

1. Marijuana Curbs Brain Damage Caused by Drinking
2. Marijuana May Help Treat Cancers Caused by Alcohol
3. Violent Behavior vs. Utter Chillness
4. Alcohol Addiction is Extremely Dangerous
5. One Kills People. Guess Which One.
6. Alcohol Prevents Muscle Growth
7. One Has Legitimate Medicinal Uses
8. Drunk Sex is Sloppy, High Sex is Tingly :0)
9. Long Term Alcohol Abuse Could Kill You
10. Drunks Decisions Bad, High Decisions Slow
http://www.hightimes.com/read/10-reasons-marijuana-better-you-alcohol
 
US Conservative said:
Its criticism out of context and has its roots in critical theory.

When you use stats like that without accounting for the fact that we are the worlds only superpower, and a leader in industry, tech, and military the numbers make more sense. But-that would add context.

You may not be familiar with the terms, but you were conditioned to believe it as truth. Spend the few minutes to watch this, it will lend perspective (and that dreaded context).



Click to expand...


Here's a rather straightforward talk on critical theory. PJTV - Bill Whittle - The Narrative - Political Correctness - YouTube
 
BlackAsCoal said:
Drugs have indeed ruined many lives, taken many lives. I don't recommend the use of hard drugs. But then again, I don't recommend alcohol either .. which has taken FAR many more lives than illegal drugs. Both take and ruin the lives of old, young, rich, poor, educated, uneducated, and in all sizes, shapes, colors, and stripes.

The question is how much can you legislate, and should addition really be a crime.

Marijuana is less harmful than a beer.

1. Marijuana Curbs Brain Damage Caused by Drinking
2. Marijuana May Help Treat Cancers Caused by Alcohol
3. Violent Behavior vs. Utter Chillness
4. Alcohol Addiction is Extremely Dangerous
5. One Kills People. Guess Which One.
6. Alcohol Prevents Muscle Growth
7. One Has Legitimate Medicinal Uses
8. Drunk Sex is Sloppy, High Sex is Tingly :0)
9. Long Term Alcohol Abuse Could Kill You
10. Drunks Decisions Bad, High Decisions Slow
10 Reasons Marijuana is Better For You Than Alcohol | High Times
Click to expand...

You'll get no argument from me that some drugs are more dangerous than others.

What we have done is to glamorize drugs of must every sort, both legal and illegal, and the word should be spread that using drugs is just stupid, and that applies to every class of people.
 
Grant said:
You'll get no argument from me that some drugs are more dangerous than others.

What we have done is to glamorize drugs of must every sort, both legal and illegal, and the word should be spread that using drugs is just stupid, and that applies to every class of people.
Click to expand...

I think the word has been spread, there is no shortage of anti-drug ads (this is your brain on drugs stuff).
There is a ton of legal pharmaceuticals that are also advertised; all with disclaimers that scare the crap out of me.

People are going to use; drugs are as old as mankind. The question becomes what is the best way to deal with this?

I would recommend checking out the concept of "harm reduction", over just incarceration. Rehabilitation - sure, but also not prosecuting any users.

What is harm reduction? | Harm Reduction International
Harm reduction refers to policies, programmes and practices that aim to reduce the harms associated with the use of psychoactive drugs in people unable or unwilling to stop.
The defining features are the focus on the prevention of harm, rather than on the prevention of drug use itself, and the focus on people who continue to use drugs.
Click to expand...
 
annata said:
I think the word has been spread, there is no shortage of anti-drug ads (this is your brain on drugs stuff).
There is a ton of legal pharmaceuticals that are also advertised; all with disclaimers that scare the crap out of me.

People are going to use; drugs are as old as mankind. The question becomes what is the best way to deal with this?

I would recommend checking out the concept of "harm reduction", over just incarceration. Rehabilitation - sure, but also not prosecuting any users.
Click to expand...

The problem with anti drug ads is that they aren't cool. Watching Tom Hanks light up a joint and making jokes with a buddy is cool. So how do we get the idea across that drugs aren't cool, and that includes alcohol, despite several decades of the entertainment industry saying they are?

I don't like imprisoning people for simple drug use either because it can ruin more lives than it saves. Nor do I have any answers as to what do to about serious drug use but my question would be, "What the Hell are you thinking??"
 
Grant said:
The problem with anti drug ads is that they aren't cool. Watching Tom Hanks light up a joint and making jokes with a buddy is cool. So how do we get the idea across that drugs aren't cool, and that includes alcohol, despite several decades of the entertainment industry saying they are?

I don't like imprisoning people for simple drug use either because it can ruin more lives than it saves. Nor do I have any answers as to what do to about serious drug use but my question would be, "What the Hell are you thinking??"
Click to expand...

ads aren't going to do it, only education - and even then there are going to be users.
So we do what we can, and use the concept of harm reduction when people inevitably use.
 
annata said:
ads aren't going to do it, only education - and even then there are going to be users.
So we do what we can, and use the concept of harm reduction when people inevitably use.
Click to expand...

Maybe the addicts, like the poor, will always be with us and there does seem to be some association between the two.
.
 
Grant said:
Ralph Nader had some good ideas, such as publicizing and making the public more aware of car safety, Elizabeth Warren is a fool, and I'm not that familiar with the other two. Perhaps they are the "hard leftists" who have inspired you.
Click to expand...

Read "A People's History of the United States" and you'll find out who Howard Zinn is.

Bernie Sanders is a U.S. senator from Vermont. He belongs to neither party. He is an independent that is a self proclaimed Democratic Socialist.
 
sawyerloggingon said:
First of all what is this "gesture of hope" BS? I didn't know whether to put this in media bias or here. I have no problem with him giving the guy a formal handshake in a situation like this but he seems like he is really infatuated with the guy and it looks to me like he is bowing again. Why is he so warm and subservient to this commie thug.



View attachment 67157963


Yahoo!
Click to expand...

Who cares?

I think Obama's ideal utopia is socialism and authoritarian government with himself being the dictator, however say I'm wrong for sake of argument - in the end we all have to shake hands with people we don't like, and the same rules apply to world leaders..

I think the press (as usual) are spinning a meaningless (or IMO, meaningful) gesture into something that's NOT (but actually is)...
 
Mr.Nick said:
Who cares?

I think Obama's ideal utopia is socialism and authoritarian government with himself being the dictator, however say I'm wrong for sake of argument - in the end we all have to shake hands with people we don't like, and the same rules apply to world leaders..

I think the press (as usual) are spinning a meaningless (or IMO, meaningful) gesture into something that's NOT (but actually is)...
Click to expand...

I think your right about Obama. But it was Bush's ambition as well, he even publicly stated so on a few occasions.
 
Montecresto said:
I think your right about Obama. But it was Bush's ambition as well, he even publicly stated so on a few occasions.
Click to expand...

I'm one of the most vocal anti-authoritarian, anti-socialism, anti-communist - capitalism loving posters on this board and I would shake Castro's hand if It was a formal occasion. I'd also make it damn well clear to him this is only for the cameras....

IMO, I think Obama likes Castro, agrees with his ideology but knows it's too soon for the socialists like himself to come out of the closet.

Also, you have to understand that if Obama didn't shake Castros hand he would piss off half (probably more than half) of his voting base - so he made the political decision to do it. I think that was also a factor...
 
I certainly didn't have a problem with the handshake. But that's more so because I have believed for sometime that we should normalize relations with Cuba. Not because I like Obama. I doubt his base cared much one way or the other if he shook Raul's hand.
 
Last edited:
Mr.Nick said:
I'm one of the most vocal anti-authoritarian, anti-socialism, anti-communist - capitalism loving posters on this board and I would shake Castro's hand if It was a formal occasion. I'd also make it damn well clear to him this is only for the cameras....

IMO, I think Obama likes Castro, agrees with his ideology but knows it's too soon for the socialists like himself to come out of the closet.

Also, you have to understand that if Obama didn't shake Castros hand he would piss off half (probably more than half) of his voting base - so he made the political decision to do it. I think that was also a factor...
Click to expand...

:roll:

That's absurd.
 
Kobie said:
:roll:

That's absurd.
Click to expand...

Like socialists don't exist in the United States or bat**** crazy Communists?

Who the **** they voted for? Romney?

Is it as absurd as a socialist elected as a state representative in Washington State?

You saying it's absurd just to hide the truth doesn't fool anyone who follows current events and knows the difference between an apple and an orange.

The only difference between a progressive and a socialist/communist is that a progressive is in denial - in their mind "socialism/communism" is a "bad word(s)" and "progressive" sounds a lot better...
 
Mr.Nick said:
Like socialists don't exist in the United States or bat**** crazy Communists?
Click to expand...

Of course they do. But certainly not in "half of Obama's voter base" numbers.

Mr.Nick said:
The only difference between a progressive and a socialist/communist is that a progressive is in denial - in their mind "socialism/communism" is a "bad word(s)" and "progressive" sounds a lot better...
Click to expand...

Wrong again.
 
Kobie said:
Of course they do. But certainly not in "half of Obama's voter base" numbers.



Wrong again.
Click to expand...

No, half of Obama's base are blatant communists that KNOWINGLY are communists, yet pretend they aren't and the other half are misinformed communists that know that Obama gives them free stuff and says "a lot of good stuff."

Hell, I was a progressive 15-years ago - I was also a peon that knew jack ****..... My economic ideas were pretty much socialist, however - I was - and always have been opposed to authoritarianism - yet never understood that socialism on a large scale only worked with authoritarianism...

I damn well know because I'm a former moron...
 
Mr.Nick said:
No, half of Obama's base are blatant communists that KNOWINGLY are communists, yet pretend they aren't and the other half are misinformed communists that know that Obama gives them free stuff and says "a lot of good stuff."
Click to expand...

So let me get this straight -- you are claiming that over half of the American electorate are communists, be they admitted or "in denial."

Mr.Nick said:
Hell, I was a progressive 15-years ago - I was also a peon that knew jack ****..... My economic ideas were pretty much socialist, however - I was - and always have been opposed to authoritarianism - yet never understood that socialism on a large scale only worked with authoritarianism...

I damn well know because I'm a former moron...
Click to expand...

...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom