Quote from: Kyle AaronMaybe we can't say he's poorly-educated about different social systems and histories, but we also can't say he's well-educated. And being well-educated was what he claimed.

As to the quality of Aussie schools, what can I say but you can't judge the whole country from Darwin

C'mon Kyle - you're great and judging entire countries from small bits of knowledge about amll bits of the country!

He claimed to be well-educated.  You may have inferred he meant in this subject - he might have implied it.  I could also see him saying, in very few words, what T Funk is saying - well educated is not measured by detailed knowledge of of socio-economic systems.

Quote from: Tyberious FunkMost schools don't provide a detailed coverage of comparitive socio-political systems.

In America (or Middle-America, anyhow) most public schools certainly don't. Growing up in Kansas, for instance, I can confirm that McCarthy's 1950s anti-communist propoganda forms the central pillar of that state's examination of socio-political systems in public education. And the Bible, of course, forms the central pillar of its physical 'science' programs (though that is a rant best reserved for another thread) :rolleyes:

Quote from: James J SkachC'mon Kyle - you're great and judging entire countries from small bits of knowledge about amll bits of the country!

He claimed to be well-educated.  You may have inferred he meant in this subject - he might have implied it.  I could also see him saying, in very few words, what T Funk is saying - well educated is not measured by detailed knowledge of of socio-economic systems.

Perhaps if the most one's knowledge can contribute to the conversation is alerting everyone that "Fascism is BAD " after 5+ pages of discussion, one should expect to catch a little flak.

Quote from: BrantaiPerhaps if the most one's knowledge can contribute to the conversation is alerting everyone that "Fascism is BAD " after 5+ pages of discussion, one should expect to catch a little flak.

"Fascism is BAD" is probably the only thing everyone agrees upon, though.

Are you sure? Or is it just "Swastikas and goose-stepping is bad"?

Like I said, there's a lot of it about.

Indeed. Our political processes are fascist insofar as they develop because of aesthetic considerations rather than political ones. And yet, everyone in America wants to vote for Obama, and Canadians idolise Pierre Trudeau, and of course, Che shirts are found in every protest.

Quote from: Pseudoephedrineeveryone in America wants to vote for Obama

Your generalization is so off base, its giving me a gigglefit. I think you haven't been seeing the forest for the trees on that one.

Any of the major candidates then. Every politician in America must run their campaign in such a way that it is aesthetically pleasing, even if that aesthetic concern overpowers the actual political concerns at stake.

...Well the ongoing joke on another forum would be that I want to vote for Condi Rice - just to see her on TV more often . But thats just a bit of fun.

 Obama ? He's too young . Its early for him.  

 Not a communist and  still decided who I'm going to vote for - Hell I have over a year to decide.

- Ed C.

Quote from: PseudoephedrineAny of the major candidates then. Every politician in America must run their campaign in such a way that it is aesthetically pleasing, even if that aesthetic concern overpowers the actual political concerns at stake.

For fuck's sake, in the last major election one of the candidates was basically ruined because the media didn't like a yell he made at a rally.

Quote from: PseudoephedrineAny of the major candidates then.

Every post that you make in this vein shoots a giant hole in any credibility you may trying to establish. I know a great many people who are not communists, simply realistic (and therefore disallusioned) Americans who don't want to vote for any of the established candidates specifically because none of them have a clearly defined platform past "Beat the other party!" (which apparently doesn't seem like a goal worthy of support). Also, I'm not certain that Obama openly admitting to smoking crack is what most people would describe as "aesthetically pleasing" in terms of running an untarnished campaign.

I think the biggest problem here isn't whichever outmoded political idealogy people subscribe to but the fact that Koltar fancies Condoleeza Rice?


Ignoring her politics - she looks like the anorexic love child of Oprah and a crocodile.  Seriously, anyone with that many teeth ain't human.

Quote from: Stumpydave

Is it just me, or does her head look dispropotionate when compared to the rest of her body?

She's better-lookin' than Dubya.

But hey, he's a man, so his actual politics matter.

Ah, we've come so far... so many, many steps! Each one towards Xeno's Paradox.

Quote from: Tyberious Funk"Fascism is BAD" is probably the only thing everyone agrees upon, though.

I dunno, man -- I'm sure there are some people out there going, "no, no, no, you un-educated, simplistic moron: the *Germans* screwed up Fascism... the Italian  *implementation* of Fascism was BAD... but the underlying ideology is wonderful."

It's the same thing they're saying about communism, right? Sure every actual communist state has been a totalitarian nightmare with millions killed and millions more enslaved--but why should anyone judge an ideology based on how it actually plays out?

Especially if there's no chance of that judgment making a real difference in American politics (it's not like the communist party is ready to stage a comeback or anything).

Truth be told, I've never been entirely happy with the electoral choices I've had -- but when I had my chance to protest, I'd like to think I at least made it count... so for anyone who's looking for an alternative, I'll give you my advice:

Perot in 2008!

Cheers,
-E.