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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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 Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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| kuros, who is going to pay off the Sunni groups to keep them peaceful? Why do you think Anbar has been relatively stable? Why has sectarian violence decreased? Partly because we've bought them off. |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:48 am Post subject: |
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| bucheon bum wrote: |
| kuros, who is going to pay off the Sunni groups to keep them peaceful? Why do you think Anbar has been relatively stable? Why has sectarian violence decreased? Partly because we've bought them off. |
Yes, and partly because we've transitioned Sunnis back into the system from out of the dark. Many of those who were once insurgents have now been pardoned and are guarding neighborhoods.
You may be right, it may turn bad. But I don't see it as a foregone conclusion. This is not optimism so much as it is skepticism of the current American narrative.
A lot will depend on the Sunni and Shi'a themselves, and there are strong forces within both groups that do want a united Iraq. Iran may step in as a stabilizer, as well. Saudi Arabia could start making payments to the Sunnis. Etc. Etc. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:56 am Post subject: |
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This is not optimism so much as it is skepticism of the current American narrative.
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I agree.
I won't pretend to be as smart as a graduate of a madrasa, but if 'the enemy' who has a few tens of thousands more troops at their disposal than I do, equipped with early 21st Century weapons and a plan to leave the region in a couple or three years, I might decide to hole up in the hills for the duration. |
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bacasper
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:04 am Post subject: |
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| mises wrote: |
Federal defense spending : $587 billion
Federal education spending : $62 billion
Federal Social Security spending : $5 billion |
Given the above, it is obscene that seniors would be asked to delay their retirements to obtain social security benefits. |
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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:07 am Post subject: |
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| Or that the "S-chip" would be too expensive. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:12 am Post subject: |
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I think the earth just moved again.
I don't disagree with that, but it would require a major overhaul of US foreign policy to adjust the differences in those budget numbers you posted.
With the right approach, I don't see anything wrong with asking people my age to delay retiring. It is a practical solution to part of the problem. People do live longer now and are in better health. An appeal to patriotism (like Biden's appeal the other day) could work. But it might only work if other parts of the demography accept some sacrifice as well.
I don't think it will work if the approach is: You old geezers go freeze to death under a bridge while we go off and conquer yet another foreign country. |
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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:15 am Post subject: |
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| Every country pisses away huge sums of money, including my home country. What is unique about this is the sum of money involved. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:15 am Post subject: |
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| Or that the "S-chip" would be too expensive. |
Forgive me, but what is an "S-chip"  (I have to ask my students what the new electronic gadgets are they have plugged in to their ears. They mutter some letters and I just wisely nod my head and go, Ahhhh, yes.) |
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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:16 am Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
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| Or that the "S-chip" would be too expensive. |
Forgive me, but what is an "S-chip" (I have to ask my students what the new electronic gadgets are they have plugged in to their ears. They mutter some letters and I just wisely nod my head and go, Ahhhh, yes.) |
I didn't follow the issue. It is just something that the better half is on about. Something about health care for kids that would have cost 7bn.. Dunno. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:23 am Post subject: |
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| What is unique about this is the sum of money involved. |
Yes, it is rather unique. I can think of quite a few countries who would love to have a fraction of that money to build hospitals and schools for their citizens...and wonder why it can't happen.
A bunch of years ago (28 to be exact) when Ronnie Rayguns first really mounted the national stage, I started telling my high school students that eventually there would be a generational battle. They would end up having wheel chair races with each other as they raced their grannies to the extermination chambers so they wouldn't have to pay taxes to for their retirement.
I guarantee you that laws about 'death with dignity' will be soon changing, no matter which party gets into power. |
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Join Me
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:24 am Post subject: |
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| I think the real question should be: "Can afford another day of George Bush?" |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:25 am Post subject: |
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| Hmmm. It must have to do with that health care for poor kids that Bush blocked. I didn't follow that one either. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:28 am Post subject: |
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| "Can afford another day of George Bush?" |
Take heart. Jan. 20, 2009 gets closer and closer. |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:45 am Post subject: |
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| mises wrote: |
| Every country pisses away huge sums of money, including my home country. What is unique about this is the sum of money involved. |
Yes, we get it. Do you get that withdrawal won't happen in two years? I assume you do, b/c it saves me a tedious explanation of political possibilities. |
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Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee
Joined: 25 May 2003
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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| bacasper wrote: |
| mises wrote: |
Federal defense spending : $587 billion
Federal education spending : $62 billion
Federal Social Security spending : $5 billion |
Given the above, it is obscene that seniors would be asked to delay their retirements to obtain social security benefits. |
The US has 70 trillion dollars of entitlements to pay. |
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