Ron Paul was the only one in 1981 who voted against condemnation of Israel for defending their sovereign nation. Benjy Netanjahu himself has said that Ron Paul is the only candidate that gets the fact that Israel does not need us to fight their battles, so the excuse of being in the middle east to defend Israel is a farce. We are there to defend our oil interests and so politicians can pay back their donors in the military-industrial complex.
Uhhh, . . . it was a pre-emptive strike by Israel who was not at war with Iraq. To say the strike was defensive, is to say that the Japanese strike on Pearl Harbor was defensive. Remember, this was the Republican Party of Ronald Reagan that condemned Israel, a coalition that included the most hawkish anti-Communists and the most fervent Christian conservatives. Republicans condemned Israel’s actions in 1981 for two reasons: 1. The Reagan administration was making an ally of Saddam Hussein who was at war with Iran. 2. The Republican Party had not yet conflated Israel’s and America’s interests as identical.
To think that any country in the Middle East as rich in oil as Iraq or Iran would develop nuclear technology for "peaceful purposes" instead of building facilities to process their own energy reserves is just asinine. As far as being "not at war with Iraq", Israel has been in a constant state of "war" since the 1973 Yom Kippor War. An attack on Iraq was a strategic strike in an on-going conflict.
This fact has not been lost on anybody. They are definitely aiming for a weapon. There is also a touch of nationalism, as in "no one is going to tell us what we can or can't do". Technically this is not true. The Cease Fire Agreement in 1973 was broken by Israel in 1981 with the Osirak raid. I know what you are trying to say, that Israel has been at odds with its neighbors since 1948. But it has not been in constant war. Israel's sneak attacks on Iraq in 1981 and on Syria again in 2007 were both offensive acts of war as recognized by all countries.
Capitalism is good, but we've got more crony capitalism than true capitalism. People in power abusing and rigging the system to their benefit.
You just hit the nail on the head and I'll give you examples. Politicians picking winners and losers when it comes to bailouts. Insider trading by Congress. Congress investing in projects that they vote for, use to you went to DC to serve your country but they now go to become rich or richer. Liberals aren't going to like what I am going to say now but too damn bad. The Greenies and all of these Global warming nuts, there organizations are shutting down or slowing down much of the economy of this country because of their war on fossil fuels, Lord Obama himself has said he wanted to bankrupt the coal industry or something to that effect. There are also a few Republicans that are now standing with them. We are committing economic suicide in some respects. There COULD be so many more people working today in these industries all across the country INCLUDING this pipeline from Canada. I will point out that Spain almost went bankrupt with a green energy economy and now many want us headed in the same direction!:insane: I had another thought but maybe it will think of it later? That is it for now!
Give me one actual example of this. What companies have been "shut down" by environmental regulations? The collaspse of the economy under Bush was not the result of environmental regulations. Make a case if you think you can. Obama has never said that. He said that the clean air act provided incentives to the energy industry to become more efficient and cleaner and that those plants that did not would bankrupt themselves. These are scare tactics. The whole world is facing similar issues. China is determined to become the world leader in next-generation energy production. They have leaped past Denmark, Germany, Spain and the United States last year to become the world’s largest maker of wind turbines, and is poised to expand even further this year. China has also leapfrogged the West in the last two years to become the world’s largest manufacturer of solar panels. And the country is pushing equally hard to build nuclear reactors and the most efficient types of coal power plants. Fossil fuels are running out as well as polluting the planet. Any country that sticks with 19th century technology in the 21st century will be a loser in the 22nd. The USA needs to catch up and take the lead in this technology, we have the brainpower and the manpower, just lacking political commitment. China has their heads on straight with this while the US politicians are still bickering, with half of them denying science. Frankly, I'm investing in some Chinese green energy companies because there is going to be serious money made in the next 30 years. With a bit of help from the US government, American companies could have taken this lead. Instead they are building factories in the Netherlands, where subsidies are available. Meanwhile we spend billions to subsidize the US oil industry, the most profitable corporations on the planet! Why? Because Big oil lobbyists own the politicians in Washington. I will point out that Denmark, The Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and Germany, wind power is taking on a significant portion of the nations energy production. Spain's economic problems are the result of the Euro crisis and deficit spending as in Greece, not from green energy programs. Spain has successfully replaced 16% of its fossil fuel plants with wind farm power plants. They have opened world’s first power plant capable of generating solar energy 24 hours a day without interruption.
It starts with the Government, we haven't built a refinery in this country for over 30 years. It is easy to see. Gas is $3 a gallon in this country because we import it instead of developing and bringing more of our oil for our own purposes. There are people that would invest in the energy of this country and other things which would help bring back the economy if the government didn't have so many barriers in the way. There are many greenie clubs such as the Sierra Club that turn around and sue people every chance they get if someone is going to open up a business they don't approve of. What part of capitalism is this? What part of America is this? Where you want to invest or start a business and you are sued by citizens whether it be a oil company, Walmart or any other businesses. I am not saying their shouldn't be regulations either but some people and politicians have gone too far! I didn't say the collapse of the economy under Bush was the result of environment regulations first of all so please don't put words in my mouth. The housing bubble did happen because of Fannie and Freddie, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, etc. It is Bush's fault though it happened on his watch. It all contributes in the big picture, the economy could have been stronger without so much Fed interference. The Feds bribe the states to get them to go along with whatever they wish. I am pointing this out now because IMHO the Federal Government is like a big vacuum sucking everything up and controlling everything it can. Not exactly but he did say under his energy policies, cap and trade, along with that more restrictions on energy and higher energy prices for all. We have had terrible energy policies in this country for years and it has hurt the economy. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0Px4ccLQ-w]Obama Says He Will Bankrupt Coal Industry and make Electricity Prices Soar - YouTube[/ame] The Libs continue to get in the way of the Canadian Pipeline project and Oil Shell in Colorado. No they aren't, are you going to sit here and tell us that the economy wouldn't be stronger if we had less regulations, lawsuits from political groups, etc for various reasons. In the Video above Obama talks about China's economy expanding and their building of coal and other power plants. Cap and trade would have bankrupt some companies and folks. And we are all linked, if we had less regulations in some areas and if we didn't have crony capitalism in which politicians are giving our dollars and pumping up green companies such as Solyndra, the Chevy Volt that catches on fire the economy of this country would be stronger and you would also have stronger companies and products. Why have they leaped past all these countries? WHY? Then why is China building so many coal power plants? I don't really believe this until I live it and then I may change my mind. Again Spain almost went bankrupt with a Green Energy Economy. Chevy may go bankrupt if they push the Chevy Volt, a car, like many green energy items that are not ready yet. I see people pushing green energy ahead of its time, NOT ALL but a lot of this technology just isn't here yet! EXPENSIVE, this is ONE reason why people are doing so poorly, we are paying the price for all of these terrible energy policies everyday through business and in our personal lives. We will know the next 30 years then, I hope you are right about this stuff. Not just oil, we subsidize a bunch of things we shouldn't. Our government is stuck back in the dark ages. WE have crony capitalism and our country, economy suffers because of that. I will have to look into this, hmm.... Yes and No, I don't know who knows the truth here. I have read articles that suggest their green energy economy is ONE of the factors that had led to their problems. This is one reason I hate to debate anymore. There is very little truth in the world, you can find various sites that say two different things. This is why I look at things and try and use common sense. Common sense tells me clearly that the Feds, regulations and the Sierra Club's of this country have cost us unknown amounts of businesses. It also tells me that I have heard for years we are running out of fossil fuels and they keep discovering more. I am NOT saying we shouldn't try and have green energy in our future, what I am saying this is hurting the economy because we are trying to implement some of this before its time and that some don't like a certain business for whatever reason and put too many hurdles in the way so there is a lot of work that could have made the economy stronger.
I knew you couldn't offer a single example of the government shutting down an industry. The refineries in this country are built by wealthy and properous oil companies, not the government. They stopped building them for 30 years because they had excess capacity then and it was cheaper to do much refining overseas. But there are, in fact, TWO new refineries being developed in the US right now. This is untrue. First of all, oil is a commodity that is priced internationally. Domestic oil costs us just the same as foreign oil. Secondly we do not have enough domestic oil to satisfy our needs, we must import large quantities. Third, strategically is is smart to deplete the dwindling reserves of foreign countries while oil is still relatively cheap. We preserve our own dwindling supplies against the day when oil is almost gone and priced astronomically. The winners of the wars of the 22nd century will be those that still have access to fuel. It's called freedom of SPeech and the orderly system of court justice. The Constitution, you know. Again, give me one example of this myth. There are some very legitimate objections to this pipeline and oil shale mining in general. This matter will be negotiated. There are plenty of parallel pipelines already in service and if really needed this one can be routed around the vital Oglala aquifer recharge area like the others were. Right wingers wish to give corporations Carte Blanche to profiteer at the expense of the best national interests. The answer is finding an optimum balance of regulations and commerce. Completely removing regulations from the mortgage industry led to abuses and an economic collapse. Nonsense. We have used Cap and Trade successfully for decades to reduce sulphur emissions that were causing acid rain. Industry bitched and claimed that it would drive them out of business. But it didn't. Instead it gave incentives for old inefficient plants to modernize and better compete with new foreign plants. And it allowed companies that needed more time to economically upgrade to buy credits from companies that were ahead of the game. There is no reason that cap and trade for carbon can't work just as well as for sulphur. Because, being communist dictators, they are looking a century into the future instead of to the next re-election cycle. Democracies must find ways to think ahead strategically despite having to run for election and pander to today's voters. Because they have to. They are modernizing so fast and coal is a resource that they have plenty of. But they also know that in 100 years the situation will have changed. Especially in counties with few coal resources. China plans to sell them alternate energy resources. But not BECAUSE of green energy. other countries are using green energy and are no bankrupt at all. On this we can agree. Lobbyists have to go. Indeed, but you have to look beyond FOX and Rush Limbaugh and get some moderate and liberal viewpoints, too. If true, then you should be able to find numbers that support this. Again, the nations best interests are served if a proper balance is found between overregulation and unfettered commerce. The extremes are bad in both circumstances. Merry Christmas.
