Play Nice Random Chat Thread: Episode III

[giantroo]

 

[giantroo]

Folau’s prospects bolstered by landmark religious freedom ruling in Britain

In a case akin to Israel Folau's challenge to Rugby Australia, a British court rules a Christian was free to quote the Bible about homosexuality on Facebook.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Val Keating]

US boarder patrol agents caught out posting sexist & racist messages in a secret Facebook group. What I hate most about America is they pretend to be the good guys. In reality they’re the bent cops ****ing everyone over.

 

[goalieboy82]

for me today:

the Spirit of '76

 

[Engimal v3]

Just walked into my local coffee shop, and who'd be there waiting for his coffee other than the great Denis Pagan. Can't confirm his order, but he was suited up.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

US boarder patrol agents caught out posting sexist & racist messages in a secret Facebook group. What I hate most about America is they pretend to be the good guys. In reality they’re the bent cops ******* everyone over.

That's a really generalistic and simplistic argument to put forward in response to a bunch of racist twits.

In saying that, moral grandstanders are often some of the worst hypocrites going around, generally speaking.

 

[ferball]

That's a really generalistic and simplistic argument to put forward in response to a bunch of racist twits.

The US is an empire not a bastion of human freedom.

I meant to post this yesterday (they're a day behind.)

 

[ferball]

"Thanks for the last and greatest betrayal of the last and greatest of human dreams."

 

[Val Keating]

That's a really generalistic and simplistic argument to put forward in response to a bunch of racist twits.

In saying that, moral grandstanders are often some of the worst hypocrites going around, generally speaking.

You only need to look at what they’ve done to other places around the world. They destabilise and destroy countries for their own needs.

 

[Val Keating]

Just walked into my local coffee shop, and who'd be there waiting for his coffee other than the great Denis Pagan. Can't confirm his order, but he was suited up.

I’ll bet it wasn’t a soy macchiato

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

The US is an empire not a bastion of human freedom.

I meant to post this yesterday (they're a day behind.)

You'll get no argument from me on the empire front. I'm writing a thesis linked to the topic of the American military-industrial complex and its linkages to international power.

But I wonder, would you prefer a more authoritarian regime acting as the international policemen (which have always been historically required to keep bad actors in check)? China or Russia for example?

At least with the American empire, you can criticise the crap out of it all you like without repercussions, the same can't be said if we were under the Chinese or Russian dominance.

It is the stability that the 'US empire' has provided, which has enabled a vast reduction in conventional and large wars, healthy trade lanes and free trade, etc.

The crap about freedom and democratic values are tied into the American national physce since 1776, so it is only natural that those virtues become engrained with the 'American Empire'. I feel like Emperor Augustus a bit talking about the nation and instilling values.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

You only need to look at what they’ve done to other places around the world. They destabilise and destroy countries for their own needs.

Most of us are well aware of what they have and have not done in the last 70 years. Both internationalists and realists in US administrations over the decades have launched military interventions, some of which have resulted in destabilisation.

Generally speaking, the USA has done a lot of 'bad' and they have done a lot of 'good' around the globe. It is hard playing the 'democratically-inclined' international policeman, whilst the eyes of the world are constantly upon you. The prosperity and stability that we have experienced, for the most part, over the last 70 years, is largely thanks to the 'global rules-based order' that the USA has established.

As for putting its own needs above others, every country has and continues to do that. It's called the national interest; and as a global superpower, the USA has intertwined global and national goals. The question becomes, do you want the USA being the international policeman at the global level or do you want an alternative actor (or actors) filling the power void. Often, it is better to deal with the devil you know, warts and all.

 

[rickety]

for me today:
View attachment 703386
the Spirit of '76

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Great movie.

 

[Val Keating]

Most of us are well aware of what they have and have not done in the last 70 years. Both internationalists and realists in US administrations over the decades have launched military interventions, some of which have resulted in destabilisation.

Generally speaking, the USA has done a lot of 'bad' and they have done a lot of 'good' around the globe. It is hard playing the 'democratically-inclined' international policeman, whilst the eyes of the world are constantly upon you. The prosperity and stability that we have experienced, for the most part, over the last 70 years, is largely thanks to the 'global rules-based order' that the USA has established.

As for putting its own needs above others, every country has and continues to do that. It's called the national interest; and as a global superpower, the USA has intertwined global and national goals. The question becomes, do you want the USA being the international policeman at the global level or do you want an alternative actor (or actors) filling the power void. Often, it is better to deal with the devil you know, warts and all.

They’re so democratically inclined that they’ve ruined democracies because it’s better for them to have a country destabilised or have someone on charge that is helpful to them. Look at what they tried to do to Iran simply because Iran’s newly elected president was going to stop giving away oil.

They have no problems destroying buildings full of people because there’s the possibility one of their enemies is in there. Those drone strikes only really create more enemies.

Yeah Australia is sweet with the US. We’re like the little weasel that hangs out with the bully because otherwise they’re the victim.

 

[Val Keating]

You'll get no argument from me on the empire front. I'm writing a thesis linked to the topic of the American military-industrial complex and its linkages to international power.

But I wonder, would you prefer a more authoritarian regime acting as the international policemen (which have always been historically required to keep bad actors in check)? China or Russia for example?

At least with the American empire, you can criticise the crap out of it all you like without repercussions, the same can't be said if we were under the Chinese or Russian dominance.

It is the stability that the 'US empire' has provided, which has enabled a vast reduction in conventional and large wars, healthy trade lanes and free trade, etc.

The crap about freedom and democratic values are tied into the American national physce since 1776, so it is only natural that those virtues become engrained with the 'American Empire'. I feel like Emperor Augustus a bit talking about the nation and instilling values.

Augustus is a good example because he did what he thought was best for Rome and the everyone else be damned.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

They’re so democratically inclined that they’ve ruined democracies because it’s better for them to have a country destabilised or have someone on charge that is helpful to them. Look at what they tried to do to Iran simply because Iran’s newly elected president was going to stop giving away oil.

They have no problems destroying buildings full of people because there’s the possibility one of their enemies is in there. Those drone strikes only really create more enemies.

Yeah Australia is sweet with the US. We’re like the little weasel that hangs out with the bully because otherwise they’re the victim.

Not so much destabilisation or even types of governments (democratic/monarchy/communist) necessarily, more so governments, leaders and groups inclined to American, or 'alliance' interests. The British, French, Spanish, etc., all did the same during their history as empires; it is part and parcel of being a global power. The Germans did a more aggressive form of this via the 'Axis Pact' in Europe, it got them a lot of extra non-German troops in the process.

The Iran stuff runs much deeper than just current issues related to oil, as we both know. Even if we just look at really modern causes; Trump has wanted to get rid of the 'cash' deal with Iran for years, as it was perceived that the Iranians weren't holding their end of the bargain, so he looked for a pretext to get rid of the deal and re-negotiate from an almost 'hard-power' like position.

Not just Australia, the Nato region, most of East Asia, etc. The Euro-centric and Western states have benefited most from US power as they have been stable liberal democratic powers, with strong economies, healthy democratic cultures, etc., for a decent amount of time.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Augustus is a good example because he did what he thought was best for Rome and the everyone else be damned.

Interesting man, wanted to instill strong family/cultural/chastity-like virtues into Roman society, whilst he was becoming an authoritarian emperor.

 

[Val Keating]

Interesting man, wanted to instill strong family/cultural/chastity-like virtues into Roman society, whilst he was becoming an authoritarian emperor.

Very interesting. Probably Rome’s greatest emperor. Maybe it was because he was their first and there for closest to the republic, or maybe it’s just ironic.

 

[Val Keating]

Not so much destabilisation or even types of governments (democratic/monarchy/communist) necessarily, more so governments, leaders and groups inclined to American, or 'alliance' interests. The British, French, Spanish, etc., all did the same during their history as empires; it is part and parcel of being a global power. The Germans did a more aggressive form of this via the 'Axis Pact' in Europe, it got them a lot of extra non-German troops in the process.

The Iran stuff runs much deeper than just current issues related to oil, as we both know. Even if we just look at really modern causes; Trump has wanted to get rid of the 'cash' deal with Iran for years, as it was perceived that the Iranians weren't holding their end of the bargain, so he looked for a pretext to get rid of the deal and re-negotiate from an almost 'hard-power' like position.

Not just Australia, the Nato region, most of East Asia, etc. The Euro-centric and Western states have benefited most from US power as they have been stable liberal democratic powers, with strong economies, healthy democratic cultures, etc., for a decent amount of time.

We wouldn’t have the current issue in Iran without what the CIA & Kermit Roosevelt did in 1953. Sure the US aren’t on their own but they lie about their motives. Shit, North Korea wouldn’t be what it is if the US & Russia didn’t just decide they could just divide it up between them.

Even look at their involvement in Venezuela.

Aussies are just lucky we’re on the right side of power and are willing to whore ourselves

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

We wouldn’t have the current issue in Iran without what the CIA & Kermit Roosevelt did in 1953. Sure the US aren’t on their own but they lie about their motives. s**t, North Korea wouldn’t be what it is if the US & Russia didn’t just decide they could just divide it up between them.

Even look at their involvement in Venezuela.

Aussies are just lucky we’re on the right side of power and are willing to whore ourselves

Now you get it. (I have attached a PDF that explains why Australia has continued to 'whore ourselves' for decades)


Like all empires (and authoritarian actors as well), there is a lot of emphasis placed on developing a particular image. In the American case, they have tied their national virtues of 1776 and have attempted to project them overseas in order to rationalise at least some of their actions (not all). Both internationalist doves and realist hawks have done this over the decades, albeit motivated by different things.

 

[Val Keating]

Now you get it. (I have attached a PDF that explains why Australia has continued to 'whore ourselves' for decades)


Like all empires (and authoritarian actors as well), there is a lot of emphasis placed on developing a particular image. In the American case, they have tied their national virtues of 1776 and have attempted to project them overseas in order to rationalise at least some of their actions (not all). Both internationalist doves and realist hawks have done this over the decades, albeit motivated by different things.

The irony being that the virtues of the bill of rights was formulated because of a conspiracy theory that the British were slowly trying to economically enslave the people of America.

 

[Snake_Baker]

The irony being that the virtues of the bill of rights was formulated because of a conspiracy theory that the British were slowly trying to economically enslave the people of America.

All the libertarian buttresses in the world account for very little in a system that continually rewards the highest functioning psychopaths.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

All the libertarian buttresses in the world account for very little in a system that continually rewards the highest functioning psychopaths.

You anarchist you...

 

[Snake_Baker]

Tell me I'm wrong