chuck kottke

Mob rules?:pimp2::smoking: Alright Mugsy - you stand here and guard the back door - I don't want you lettin' anyone otta this place, ya hear? Me and Guido are going in the front to make the hit, and grab the loot in the safe when the gin joint closes at twelve. No witnesses to amend the story, and everyone's gonna get their cut of the dough. You keep squeaky and sugar quiet on the whole deal too. :laugh3:

Google & Puff the magic dragon..

?? Emigrate, but to where? Here??:stunned: This country's got it's own set of problems - plenty of them as well! And the U.S. had nothing to do with the financial meltdown, plus our politicians would never take any goodies like those MP's did - oh no, not here!:laugh3: And playing by the rules gets you so much farther in the U.S. - just ask any candidate for office. It's the weather - soon as spring hits, everyone will be feeling more optimistic. Things will pick up, and then the second bubble will burst. But on the bright side, at least if your bubble bursts, you've still got lots of other suds to choose from.:P

Harpo: "Honk, honk" Groucho: Either he's fetching a cab, fetching dinner, or the 9:15 is right on time - you can set your watch by it."

Personally, to lose individual liberties for a few bad actors is totally ridiculous. Attire is a matter of a person's right to choose - it in and of itself does no harm. If you want to reduce crime, the real answer is to get to the root of the social & economic problems that lead people down a criminal path, not banning things because someone could be concealing their identity. We don't ban violin cases, nor walking canes - but they could be used to conceal weapons. We don't ban shoes although they have been used to conceal illegal things as well. Better to use common sense, and living with some extremely remote risks is one of the costs of living in a free society.

Yes!

The alarm bell was triggered not by what they saw, but by what they didn't see; then came the Bill of Rights. US minister to France Thomas Jefferson wrote to James Madison of his concern about "the omission of a bill of rights... providing clearly for freedom of religion, freedom of the press, protection against standing armies, and restrictions against monopolies" While monopolies may not be present today, in effect groups of moneyed interests have grown so large and powerful, that they have many of the same deleterious effects upon our government, and the ramifications are felt far and wide. What can be done is the question, and we must find an answer.

Breaking it down into separate areas, and with some changes: Article A: Voting rights, Fair elections: 1. We have the right to fair elections, including the right for all adult citizens to vote, the right to an impartial and transparent voting process, and the right to fair elections. 2. We have the right to fair candidate races for office, including the right for all candidates, during and election year, to have equal access to the broadcast commons, in order to communicate using the broadcast mediums available on an equal basis, and the right of protection against improper or excessive influence by any association or group (be they corporate, guild, legal firm, commercial bank, or other).. Article B: Fair donation limits, linked to affordable discretionary monetary levels of citizens: All donations and promotions to candidate races, either directly or indirectly, for any given race shall not exceed 1% of income for the median income level citizen, that level determined using the most recent census datum. (For example, if median income is $34,000 per year, this would cap the donation level at $340 U.S., and tie the limit to median income, thus promoting the growth and improvement of the middle class). Congress shall have the power to write appropriate legislation to enforce this article of amendment. *additionally, all donations shall be from residents within the given candidates' district Article C: Delineation and protection of the commons; the linked right of candidates to have equal access to the commons.: We the citizens have the right to hold in common trust all that which is naturally present throughout the country and innately common in nature to all. Any party or parties having been granted privileged use of that commons have the obligation to return to the people significant access both to the commons and to any improvements made upon those commons. Congress shall have the power and duty to enforce this article through appropriate legislation. Equality of access and equality of air time on the broadcast medias (part of the commons) for all candidates during an election year shall be protected. Congress shall have the power and duty to enforce this article through appropriate legislation.

And no doubt the "government" has in the past as well. But then the "government" is our government, if we choose to take it back. It's really as I mentioned the problem of first getting more honest and broad-minded citizens elected to office, so that the Constitution will again be respected and upheld by both the Congress and the Courts. My point of suggesting amendments is merely to provide a more clear goal, if one does not already exists, to be the staff of truth we must push ahead with. If it is enacted, if ever - it would make it clear that once we establish a more equitable system, then the ability over time of corruption to dethrone this higher and essential set of rights and principles would be diminished, as amendments that are written, and written clearly, are tough to run end-games around. And just as the other amendments guaranteeing our rights provide us with clear rallying points to ask for a redress of grievances, so too penning more rights into the amendments would provide clear written points to help re-establish our rights, if they are again lost. But primarily as a point to get people interested in change. The Declaration of Independence listed many of the grievances we had with the King of England at the time - it served as a lightning rod to collect people's popular sentiments and imagination. And it was popularly supported - even in England and France! So, to collect the thoughts into one document or set of statements is helpful, and in time, change will happen. It's in our nature, and we have a long established tradition of popular movements changing our country - an it's time once again.

Strawberry Swing... It's got that upbeat thing going strong!

Joy will be sprouting in Brussels then? Congratulations - sounds like a fun time!! Enjoy.:)

:) Thanks for the kind words - I'll have to consider that! But I'd like to see my country fix this fundamental flaw before we get into another potentially worse problem down the line with a market crash, and also to re-establish a flourishing middle class, both here and globally. It just seems like the time is right to change things..

That may be true, but I think there is a general sense of fair-play with all people, and after all the bad things that have happened recently - including the economic crisis - one would think that there's an understanding of something really being amiss with the basic process checking government-corporate abuses.. The U.S. revolution was a result of a rebellion against corporate-government abuses of power (East India Company & Parliament that time), so people become aware when something is grossly unfair. We do protest in unison when the feeling of being left out of the process and being forced to pay unfairly to a corrupt arrangement becomes clearer.. I think there's a sense out there that something is fundamentally wrong, but then again, some people are being misled by those causing the problems, so some honest information needs to be put into the forefront.

Now there is a chicken-and-egg problem because anything we put into the Constitution is only useful if the people elected are willing to read it and interpret it as it is written and intended, and the court members they appoint willing to do so with honesty as well. And given the cycle of money buying elections which then funnels more money in to buy more elections, it will be a challenge to break this vicious cycle. But I think it can be done. With popular movements throughout history is has been done, and it will be done again.

Here's what I've been thinking, as an amendment to the U.S. Constitution: >> We have the right to fair elections, including the right for all adult citizens to vote, the right to an impartial and transparent voting process, and the right to fair candidate races for office. *in more detail* >> We have the right to fair candidate races for office, including the right for all candidates, during an election year, to have equal access to the broadcast commons, in order to communicate using the broadcast mediums available on an equal basis, and the right of protection against improper or excessive influence in elections by any association or group. >> All donations and promotions to candidate races, either directly or indirectly, shall not exceed 1/2 of 1% of the median income level of a citizen, as determined by the most recent census estimates. (I'm taking a guess at what level is reasonable to cap donation limits at - change this as you like, keeping with the basic theme of limiting undue influence) >> Equality of access and equality of air time on the broadcast medias to all candidates during an election year shall be protected. Congress shall have the power and duty to enforce this article through appropriate legislation. >> We, the citizens, have the right to hold in common all that which is naturally present throughout our country, and innately common to all, and any party or parties having been granted privileged use of that commons have the obligation to return to the people significant access to the commons, and to any improvements made upon those commons, in return for their privilege to use the commons. Congress shall have the power and the duty to enforce this article through appropriate legislation.

I thought it would be nice to have a thread devoted to proposing amendments to the constitution, whichever country you live in! So, post your thoughts, amendments, concerns about, etc. here.:)

*bump* :)

Sounds like overheating stir-fry oil!:laugh3: Wok cooking can get that way..;) Glad there wasn't a problem. This is open in China?:stunned::shocked2: Hmm.. but the images are blocked? That's unusual. Do you mean the YouTube images, or just images in general? Well, looks like we can use this forum then to get out the news that's being blocked elsewhere, and hold discussions. Useful to know.. It's a funny topic - here too.:laugh3: The financial section of the NY times didn't even mention the real reason Google wanted to pull out of China - namely that the hacking was the result of Chinese government agents or proxies, because the attack was traced to one set of servers operating in China, the same servers used for government agencies. Apparently the Chinese government was trying to steal Google's software - presumably for their own search engine - and then with no need for Google, they could limit access at will, and Google would be powerless to stop it. (that and Google loosing the Chinese market, plus the software they worked to create made the company give the ultimatum). Anyhow, the story has been completely goofed up by the major media outlets covering it here, and it's a pretty big deal in computer circles & business-wise. Just something to be aware of - part of the rift between the U.S. and China. 3-4 weeks - that's enough time to help though!! Anything to get the truth out - at least the people of China deserve to know as well what's really going on.;) Keep enjoying the country - it must be nice to see all the exciting development there!

Welcome Anathema from Stockholm!! How's the weather in Scandinavia?

Nick I think Branson's right in some respects - we need to prepare. But the fact that we use what we have so inefficiently to begin with is the real problem. Either governments, or economics will solve it - it depends on whether we like the roller-coaster ride from markets without oversight, or (if it can be obtained) honest intelligent oversight that smooths out the transitions necessary to a green global economy. Jay - Energy density is a problem to be solved in the transportation sector, true - but then there's always biodiesel, bio-oil, 2nd generation alcohol fuels, hydrogen in zeolites, lithium iron phosphate batteries, and other storage mediums. Efforts are underway to double engine efficiency (from the 15-25%, to 30-50%), and halve the energy demands of autos (dynamic braking, superior aerodynamics, smart interiors, lighter, stronger car unibodies). 4X the current efficiency levels is already quite possible, but the effort to retool auto plants and general designs requires a strong impetus, as the costs to do so make auto makers reluctant to change. Even Branson's aircraft could be redesigned for efficiency and solar - they could all be fitted with solar photovoltaic films on the upper surfaces and electric motor boosters, and hydorgen storage in earth-friendly mediums may be of sufficient energy density to provide a safe fuel alternative to petrol products. Generating hydrogen with solar via hydrolysis makes sense, given all the rooftops and unused space at airports. I could even see paving the tarmacs with solar power collecting systems - if designed properly, the area which could be generating electricity would be enormous, and the newer hydrogen storage mediums are safe, so therein lies one possibility.. (now there's an idea - why not pave the tarmac with translucent solids that have a rough exterior surface, like a well-designed bio-polymer. Beneath the surface could be solar cells encased in plastic films, and the area generating electricity would be quite large..)

:hat::joker::sunny:Happy Birthday Nancy!!! I hope you're having a good time in Jutland!:):wink:

That could be a problem! Faulty wiring, or something else do you mean? Hmm! So if you can communicate from China to this site, then we must not be blocked there! (or, possibly only blocked to the Chinese people?). What's with Google's problems - the allegations that the Chinese Government was responsible for the cyber attack, and tried to nab Google's code? (or is this a verboten subject?:laugh3:) Welcome again trimp, and keep freeing China!:)

Writing an amendment - but first a movement must coalesce.. and an air-tight amendment, because the mis-interpreters love to misinterpret.. Chicken and egg - better to have better elected officials, then get to the next stage, but the waiting is so long. I wish we didn't have to wait years to get what needs to get done sooner - we might not have years, if the same house of cards gets built again. Movement to amass numerous small contributions makes sense, concurrently getting mobilized. As with the East India Company and Parliament in 1773, collusion between corporate entities and government's elected officials is a problem as old as the revolutionary war, and the impetus for it. Controlling it we did, by forming a new government guaranteeing citizen's rights, and ending some of the old abuses. As then minister to France Thomas Jefferson put it about the need to include a bill of rights "providing clearly for freedom of religion, freedom of the press, protection against standing armies, and restrictions against monopolies." As the "restrictions against monopolies." part was aimed at this East India Company, we might well be served today by "protection against the undue influence of money coming from large entities, whether they be corporate, investment bank, legal firm, unions, or any other association where the interests and government influence of the few controlling members are put ahead of the members of the citizenry, or the country as a whole." The problem is not new - it was one of the main reasons for the revolt of 1775, and written as one of the grievances in the U.S. Declaration of Independence in 1776. The problem of influence peddling is as old here as the colonies in America, and as prevalent as ever in the U.S. government - and as corrupting. To reign it in would fix a multitude of problems - problems ranging from the limited help we offer to the world's poor, to ending the bloated spending on certain government agencies. The benefit to the global economy would be tremendous, as it would stabilize our economy, and end the practices of wall-street shell games. It would make investments safer and more steady, allow for renewed growth of the middle class, and return to the people more of their hard-earned money; to be invested in goods, services, and investments as they deem fit.

Oh sure. And Cows are responsible for all asteroid collisions with earth.:dozey:

Patience finds it's rewards first! But that may take a while!!:laugh3: I should put out some supplemental sounds in the meanwhile..