comparative
nonrev @ Fri Feb 20, 2004 4:12 pm
TRguy TRguy:
Re. NASCAR
I have been surpirsed by the Canadian reaction to the pre-show at Daytona ......but these are American events.
I have been surpirsed by the Canadian reaction to the pre-show at Daytona ......but these are American events.
TR, several years ago, a coworker of that time went to Daytona. I had him bring me back an Official Daytona Jacket (a nice, fully lined one, not a wind-breaker - we wont talk about the price.
)
Oh, its kinda flashy, alright; Red and Black, a lot of nice, multi-coloured embroidery on the back with the logo, etc. Up and over one shoulder, on Red, are big silver embroidered Stars.
Okay - on with the story....
One day, at the local pub after work, one guy made a couple slighty snide comments about how "It sure looks American." (This guy is a goatee'd teacher, who wears plaid work-shirts to class, probably drives a Volvo - you know what I mean.)
Well, I looked at him, and quietly said; "Well, it's fuck-ing DAY-TO-NA ....... Doh???"
Brother.....
othello @ Fri Feb 20, 2004 5:30 pm
TRguy TRguy:
I pretty sure Kofi learned at least one thing from his appraisal of the Iraq situation. The Iraqis are not in the mood to accept a US, UN or any other version of government but their own and on their own terms. They have waited long enough for the chance to actually have a voice and no one will silence them now.
You should learn more about the risks associated with ill-constructed democracy in Iraq.
TRguy @ Sat Feb 21, 2004 3:23 pm
nonrev-
Nascar is nothing if it is not flashy...I do give you credit for having the guts to wear that jacket though!
The clothes always seem to match the personality of the sport don't they? I've never been a big fan of Nascar but live very near a road race track(SCCA, CanAm, open wheel). When I was a kid sneaking over the fence the spectators were mostly college kids in sandals and not much else. Well the sport has grown up and although the same folks are still there, now they are all dressed like the bankers that they grew up to be.
It was more fun then.
TRguy @ Sat Feb 21, 2004 3:35 pm
You should learn more about the risks associated with ill-constructed democracy in Iraq.[/quote]
I know there are risks-I understand the conflict between the majority and minority-that is why decisions will have to be driven by Iraqis. There is no way an imposed government will ever be accepted and would certainly lead to civil war as was suggested by someone else.
The Iraqi people have had a pretty miserable time for long enough and I will hold out hope that they will come to a better place soon. It will be a long, long term effort.
Rev_Blair @ Sat Feb 21, 2004 5:50 pm
Iraq is going to have a lot of trouble improving under the new laws that Bremer has passed. Those laws are illegal under international and US military law, but now that they are in place changing them will be difficult. The US government, at least under Bush, is not going to look kindly on any government that is not US friendly and any government who tries to change some of the laws to keep corporations from raping the country.
What the US has done in other places is apply massive monetary pressure through the IMF and World Bank as well as trade agreements to keep governments in line. When that fails they have often backed rebels and/or neighbouring dictatorial regimes. In some cases they've backed outright coups through the CIA.
There is no reason to think that the US will allow to go its own way and become a truly democratic and independent state. That does not match the history of US actions elsewhere in the developing world and does not match the Bush regime's actions in Iraq.
AdamNF @ Sat Feb 21, 2004 7:37 pm
Organizations like the IMF (international monetary fund) and World Bank are just a few things that are wrong with this world. Giving large corporations more power then the countries in which they operate is the end of democracy. itÂ’s a capitalist dictatorship by an organization.
Rev_Blair @ Sat Feb 21, 2004 8:36 pm
Our real problems right now are the connections that business has to government. Check out the Capital Eye web-site for a glimpse of that in the US. Think about the current scandal in Ottawa. Consider what Mulroney did to Canada. Think about Paul Martin's relationship to Stelco. Wonder about Bush and Cheney connections, especially to Halliburton.
It isn't just the US or Canada, it's everywhere. The US, because of its size and the current doctrine of pig-fucking for profit is the worst of a bad bunch, but they aren't alone.
Mukluk @ Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:22 pm
Well, the UN approach would have avoided an unjustified invasion and slaughter of 10,000+ innocents.
Have fun watching TV, surfing the net, and collecting your weekly paycheck in the first world nation you enjoy.
m
(posted in response to karra's floor rolling episode. it ain't a perfect system, but better than what we ended up with)
Twila @ Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:44 pm
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/2004/02/001701.html
Too bad the CIA couldn't have been "truthful" to the UN inspectors. Imagine the outcome had the cia not lied, not interferred..........