Politics

[RDU Irish]

RDU's 6 point immigration policy

1) Legalize drugs to neuter drug cartels, stop this moronic war on drugs.

2) Cut the minimum wage in half.

3) Issue work Visas like candy. If you want to live and work here, more power to you. Granting citizenship willy nilly is asinine though.

4) 30% flat tax on non-citizen wages. Hey, you wanna dance you gotta pay the band.

5) Path to citizenship. Lots just want a job, that is fine. If you want to assimilate and become a citizen, keep your nose clean for 10 years and learn some English. At that point, more power to you!

6) No documentation, no dice.


If some politicians on both sides would grow a spine and come up with some common sense middle ground solutions it would be a good start. It is idiotic to think we will deport one tenth of our population, it is almost equally suicidal to think we will just grant free citizenship to anyone who raises their hand.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Medtronic Is Biggest Firm Yet to Renounce U.S. Tax Status - Bloomberg

 

[RDU Irish]

And MDT won't be the last.

I do like how the article focuses on the $20B they haven't been putting to work that will now be freed up.

If DC could pull their head out of their rear for 5 seconds and pass a permanent 5% tax on repatriated earnings it would be an almost instant $2 trillion stimulus, with $100B hitting the Treasury coffers.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

We host foreign exchange students and give regularly so others can have a shot. If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm a doer not a debater. You talk about life, I live it.

Foreign exchange students are here legally. Oh the leftist logic...

 

[IrishLax]

And MDT won't be the last.

I do like how the article focuses on the $20B they haven't been putting to work that will now be freed up.

If DC could pull their head out of their rear for 5 seconds and pass a permanent 5% tax on repatriated earnings it would be an almost instant $2 trillion stimulus, with $100B hitting the Treasury coffers.

Yup, but that doesn't win votes like campaigning towards single issue voters. Which is what is so sad.

Our tax system and social security and other legitimately pressing issues get virtually ZERO attention because they're too easy to be spun against whoever tries to take them on.

Try to fix corporate tax structure? Prepare for attack ads from the other party about sucking up to big business, facts and intentions be damned. It's a death sentence.

I'm getting to the point where I think this model of Government has virtually run its course and needs serious reform. I don't think a two-party system works anymore.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Lol

Don't read anything about American history in the early 1900's. It might ruin you.

I took a class on American immigration in college. What'd I miss professor?

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

I took a class on American immigration in college. What'd I miss professor?

I appreciate the respect young grasshopper.

You could start with the years leading up to the passage of Volstead Act.

Enjoy.

 

[RDU Irish]

Yup, but that doesn't win votes like campaigning towards single issue voters. Which is what is so sad.

Our tax system and social security and other legitimately pressing issues get virtually ZERO attention because they're too easy to be spun against whoever tries to take them on.

Try to fix corporate tax structure? Prepare for attack ads from the other party about sucking up to big business, facts and intentions be damned. It's a death sentence.

I'm getting to the point where I think this model of Government has virtually run its course and needs serious reform. I don't think a two-party system works anymore.

A socially liberal, fiscally conservative agenda makes a lot of sense for a third party. It would only take a 10% position in either the House or Senate to become the power brokers of the Potomac. Just start your platform with "right wing social engineering is just as bad as left wing social engineering" and go from there.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

These Islamist SOB's killed 2000 citizens over the weekend. John Kerry says climate change is the biggest global threat. This...is our leadership.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

These Islamist SOB's killed 2000 citizens over the weekend. John Kerry says climate change is the biggest global threat. This...is our leadership.

Climate change is going to make where I live unlivable in my lifetime, so I can still agree with that.

 

[irish1958]

If climate change does what some predict, most of the world's costal cities will be under water and/or resemble Venice. The Arizona desert will spread to include all of the plain states as far East as S. Dekota and Nebraska. Devastation on other continences would be similar. Feeding ten billion people might become a problem.
Some might refer to this as the greatest threat mankind has ever faced.

 

[connor_in]

 

[connor_in]

 

[Bogtrotter07]

If climate change does what some predict, most of the world's costal cities will be under water and/or resemble Venice. The Arizona desert will spread to include all of the plain states as far East as S. Dekota and Nebraska. Devastation on other continences would be similar. Feeding ten billion people might become a problem.
Some might refer to this as the greatest threat mankind has ever faced.

Finally some intelligence!

Two thousand murdered, that is nothing to belittle.

But the numbers of killed in wars over water in the next fifty years may make that, pardon the pun, not even a drop in the bucket.

What happened in Midwest this winter was related to the gulf stream accelerating. That was a one year affect. If the gulf stream speeds up or slows down any more in a single season, the weather on the planet will be changed, negatively, for the foreseeable future.

Wars over water, and survival will make anything that the world has seen look like nothing! Everyone will be killing not to die.

 

[RDU Irish]

Sea level was 350 feet lower 20,000 years ago. New York state was under a mile of ice as was most of North America. That is 1/5th of an inch per year increase in sea levels if taken in a straight line.

Our existence is but a speck on a gnat's ass in the scope of the history of this planet and thinking we are entitled to some preferred "climate" or that we are really controlling any of it is so egocentric and misguided I don't even know where to start.

If the human race has one thing working in our favor, it is incredible adaptability and resourcefulness that will give us a pretty damn good chance to survive and thrive in the face of changing surroundings.

Rising Seas - Interactive: If All The Ice Melted

216 foot rise in sea levels if all ice melted. Even National Geographic thinks it takes at least 5000 years for that to happen. If we can't adapt in that amount of time we deserve whatever we get.

 

[RDU Irish]

Here is a link. Please note who asks the original question.

OLogy

" Earth is nearly as warm now as it was during the last interglacial period, about 125,000 years ago."

NEARLY as warm as the last interglacial period..... Wait a minute, who burnt all that evil coal 125,000 years ago to make it even warmer than today?!?!? Must have been Al Gore in a time machine.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I am not a climate specialist nor do I claim to be. However, in the late 70's, the whole climate debate was an exact 180 degrees from where it is today. The so called experts were clammering that we were headed for the "Big Freeze." So thirty years later we are now headed for the "Big Melt?"

I am sure science and technology has improved dramatically since the 70's, but if the scientists from that day could be so wrong, what makes us think the scientists of today are so right?

I'll hang up and listen....

 

[Cackalacky]

Sea level was 350 feet lower 20,000 years ago. New York state was under a mile of ice as was most of North America. That is 1/5th of an inch per year increase in sea levels if taken in a straight line.

Our existence is but a speck on a gnat's ass in the scope of the history of this planet and thinking we are entitled to some preferred "climate" or that we are really controlling any of it is so egocentric and misguided I don't even know where to start.

If the human race has one thing working in our favor, it is incredible adaptability and resourcefulness that will give us a pretty damn good chance to survive and thrive in the face of changing surroundings.

Rising Seas - Interactive: If All The Ice Melted

216 foot rise in sea levels if all ice melted. Even National Geographic thinks it takes at least 5000 years for that to happen. If we can't adapt in that amount of time we deserve whatever we get.

It's not so much we are entitled to a specific weather pattern but dependent upon it. Many economies are tied to the status quo of weather patterns and the large majority of economic engines will be disrupted or destroyed. Particularly our food supply and sources of fresh water. People will adapt. Our way of life will not. It is far to rigid and inflexible.

I think a common misconception is that we should do something to stop the weather change when it is really that we should begin to develop ways to stop us from affecting it in the first place. Which is really occurring.

 

[Cackalacky]

I am not a climate specialist nor do I claim to be. However, in the late 70's, the whole climate debate was an exact 180 degrees from where it is today. The so called experts were clammering that we were headed for the "Big Freeze." So thirty years later we are now headed for the "Big Melt?"

I am sure science and technology has improved dramatically since the 70's, but if the scientists from that day could be so wrong, what makes us think the scientists of today are so right?

I'll hang up and listen....

I have numerous posts on this. If you care to go back and read them. I will gladly explain anything that is not clear.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Thank you for changing the thread title!

 

[Wild Bill]

Climate change is going to make where I live unlivable in my lifetime, so I can still agree with that.

You're certain? Whether it's certain, likely, probable or mere possibility, I'd still take your fate over instant death. Just my opinion.

 

[Corry]

63% of scientists believe that Global Warming is real. If you take a minute to let that sit in, and think about that the context of what you do for a living. Is there anything in your line of work where you are in the 37%? I'm no scientist, and the closest I come is watching the Big Bang Theory on TV, so this like most things I trust the consensus.

Americans’ Global Warming Beliefs and Attitudes in April 2013 | Yale Project on Climate Change Communication

 

[Wild Bill]

Finally some intelligence!

Two thousand murdered, that is nothing to belittle.

But the numbers of killed in wars over water in the next fifty years may make that, pardon the pun, not even a drop in the bucket.

What happened in Midwest this winter was related to the gulf stream accelerating. That was a one year affect. If the gulf stream speeds up or slows down any more in a single season, the weather on the planet will be changed, negatively, for the foreseeable future.

Wars over water, and survival will make anything that the world has seen look like nothing! Everyone will be killing not to die.

It's a good thing we have superior firepower. My position on military spending has just changed - we need more.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

When I wake up in the morning I don't worry about global warming. I worry about another Boston bomber or Hassan going all alluha akbar on us.

 

[IrishLion]

216 foot rise in sea levels if all ice melted. Even National Geographic thinks it takes at least 5000 years for that to happen. If we can't adapt in that amount of time we deserve whatever we get.

I don't think humans are going to even be around in 5,000 years to see the end result. We'll be dead or in the process of ruining another planet.

 

[RDU Irish]

So lets say we can accept the range of sea levels from 350 lower to 216 feet higher, a total range of 566 feet. And lets say we will run fully from peak to trough over 25,000 years.

Now lets say Al Gore and Co. are right and we are affecting the climate. I'll hypothesize with you that maybe the final 5000 years we manage to affect the climate so that this is accelerated to 24,000 years instead of 25,000 years.

Now hypothesize with me, say we manage to sink just as much CO2 as we release starting tomorrow. We are still on a warming trend but have another 1000 years to deal with the change. Do you think hamstringing your economy is worth the possible delay of the inevitable? Do you think having less economic means to deal with the changing climate puts you in better position?

My problem, even if y'all and Al Gore are right, it doesn't change the course of action I think needs to be taken. Guaranteeing short term pain in order to maybe, possibly delay something that might happen in the future.... not my cup of tea.

I have these fights with my wife all the time, ends with "that's great honey, the problem presented is unavoidable or something we cannot realistically change, let's focus on something we can positively affect or stfu."

 

[Old Man Mike]

I refuse to waste my time getting into a "discussion" about the complexities of Global Climate Change [I've contributed to this site on that issue long ago, and no one changes their position an inch].

But I can't let one thing recently stated here as a fact stand.

Out of over 9000 scientists actually publishing in scientific journals about GCC over the last two years] only ONE denied the human impact negatively on this problem. Do the math. In a larger survey of large numbers of persons who might be called "scientists" of some training or other [whether they were actually competent to state an opinion or not] 86% of those surveyed said that they believed that humans were the cause of the acceleration of climate change, and this was a negative thing. The quoted 63% is the percent of the general American citizenry who believe this.

Actual Climate Scientists: 99.9%.
Scientists of all sorts: 86%.
Citizens of all sorts: 63%.

Hate on the idea and deny it all one wants, but do everyone the honest service of not clouding the issue with errors of fact. Of all the "crimes" in the intellectual world, deliberate obfuscation of what we do know in order to support a subjective desire is the most heinous. IE can at least, one would hope, avoid that.

 

[IrishLion]

63% of scientists believe that Global Warming is real. If you take a minute to let that sit in, and think about that the context of what you do for a living. Is there anything in your line of work where you are in the 37%? I'm no scientist, and the closest I come is watching the Big Bang Theory on TV, so this like most things I trust the consensus.

Americans’ Global Warming Beliefs and Attitudes in April 2013 | Yale Project on Climate Change Communication

That percentage wouldn't pass in an official study though! It's gotta be +99.6%

 

[RDU Irish]

I don't think humans are going to even be around in 5,000 years to see the end result. We'll be dead or in the process of ruining another planet.

So what difference does it really make, honey.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I don't think anyone denies the fact that humas don't influence climate change in some way. The extint of how much is what's actually debateable.