Global Warming News

[dave1949]

Haiti's biggest problem is corruption, and a population that accepts it. You will find this a common issue in most of the worst places on earth (Somalia, etc.) The Cuban people share a similar environment to Haiti. Cuban people used to be much better off (even with a moderate level of corruption) until Castro took over and ran the country into the ground. Yes, I know the Dominican Republic is no paradise, but it's not as bad as Haiti even though it shares the same island. Haiti's base problem is it's people and government.

Many Caribbean islands have similar resources to Haiti, yet are much better off. Think maybe it has something to do with government, corruption, and what the people are willing to accept and how industrious they are?

Look at the Scandinavian countries. They have limited natural and agricultural resources yet have a much batter standard of living. Austria? Switzerland? Lichtenstein?

Poverty is more a function of government and the will of the people than of natural resources.



Yes...and no. What made the U.S. successful was it's people and it's economic freedom. Russia has as much or more potential (agricultural and natural resources) than the U.S., but it's leadership has always been corrupt and it's population has accepted that. Many other locations on earth have as much potential as the U.S. but not the economic freedom that has made the U.S. strong.

There is no doubt that corruption can improverish a population - unless that population is living on top of oil reserves. Think of Saudi Arabia. They can afford corruption

You are mixing apples and oranges when you compare Haiti or Cuba to European/Russian situations. They don't share much in the way of history, nor the length of time over which the history developed.

The Bolshevic revolution certainly wasn't about people who were not ambitious or fearful of using guns. They enjoyed broad popular support in the begining for very good reasons. Okay, some people with wacky ideas got the upper hand (by force and bloodshed) and we see the result - that it was unsustainable. Russia is finding it's way to returning to what it once was, a fairly significant world power and one that dominates it's own region.

Don't be so sure you are living in the land of the brave. Did you notice how easy it was to stir up popular resistance to trials and/or imprisoning terrorists in the US? Either you believe in the strength of your country and it's justice system or you don't. It would seem it was easy to convince folks that they aren't all that willing to take any risks to ensure their own cherished traditions continue.

What is corruption if it is not a lack of a functioning system of justice?
Dave.

 

[FallbrookFarmer]

Speaking of gun control. The bottom has fallen out of the murder rate in D.C. The gun control laws were removed by a surpreme court ruling. I judt don't know if this is a result, or if other factors are in play? Any ideas?

I'm sure that it has something to do with "learning the language,living,and working amongst the people".
Or maybe it has do with the fact that the knuckleheads don't like the fact that the victims might shoot back. No that couldn't be it.

 

[FallbrookFarmer]

There is no doubt that corruption can improverish a population - unless that population is living on top of oil reserves. Think of Saudi Arabia. They can afford corruption

You are mixing apples and oranges when you compare Haiti or Cuba to European/Russian situations. They don't share much in the way of history, nor the length of time over which the history developed.

The Bolshevic revolution certainly wasn't about people who were not ambitious or fearful of using guns. They enjoyed broad popular support in the begining for very good reasons. Okay, some people with wacky ideas got the upper hand (by force and bloodshed) and we see the result - that it was unsustainable. Russia is finding it's way to returning to what it once was, a fairly significant world power and one that dominates it's own region.

Don't be so sure you are living in the land of the brave. Did you notice how easy it was to stir up popular resistance to trials and/or imprisoning terrorists in the US? Either you believe in the strength of your country and it's justice system or you don't. It would seem it was easy to convince folks that they aren't all that willing to take any risks to ensure their own cherished traditions continue.

What is corruption if it is not a lack of a functioning system of justice?
Dave.

How about mixing apples and apples, I think the reference was to the Dominican Republic, which shares the same island and ethnicity.
How about comparing the effects of Hurricane Katrina(to bring it back to AGW). Look at the effect on New Orleans
and effect on the rest of the Gulf coast.
Compare New Orleans( a typical welfare state economy) to Mississippi. How long did it take for either to recover?
And yes, I am sure that I live in the home of the Brave.

 

[IH3444]

I found the protection I needed.

Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie

 

[westcliffe01]

So.....how many kids do you have?

Zero. First marriage from 94-03 second marriage from 06 on. Current wife had 2 kids from a previous marriage, one of whom already has the first grandchild before 22 years old. She was not married or even in a stable relationship.

There were 4 kids in my family. 1 older brother (no kids), myself (no kids), 1st sister (4 kids) second sister (zero kids and never married).

 

[FallbrookFarmer]

I found the protection I needed.

Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie

Ha, Don't need one. I watch PBS, so I am protected from any contrary views.
Once when I was in London, got to be on a BBC question-answer show, after I identified myself as "an American Conservative". The host asked me one question(they had just had a tornado in London). "So what do you think of our
weather, any relation to Global warming"
I responded "Well I guess the sky is always falling,for some people.
Funny, he didn't ask me any more questions.

 

[Ken45101]

Russia had the natural resources but was screwed up long before the Bolsheviks. The Russian people were accustomed to being serfs.

Yes, I was comparing Haiti with the Dominican Republic. And yes, I thought about adding New Orleans to the list after I hit "send". Well said, fallbrookfarmer, about comparing NO to the neighboring Gulf Coast.

As for our country, I was referring to the U.S historically. We do seem to be going downhill if we don't watch out. This is not the country it was 100 or 200 years ago. I expect the Founding Fathers are rolling in their graves

Ken

 

[Loren49]

Now that our Supreme Court has ruled that corporations have the same freedom of speech rights as people they will be free to help sway elections. What's the chance that they will work for what is best for the US as opposed to their bottom line. Also many of these corporations are multi-national. Is this influence to be welcomed?

Here is a link to oil company CEO compensation (totals about 650 million dollars for the top 25.

CEO Compensation - Forbes.com

Here is a link to drug company CEO compensation (totals about 330 million dollars for the top 25.

CEO Compensation - Forbes.com

I'm sure that through their lobbying and election efforts they will do what is good for the long run for us. (excuse the sarcasm) Corporations were just given extraordinary new power. Many feel the government is the problem - I'm more concerned about these companies if or when they buy or representatives.

Loren

 

[keegs]

Once when I was in London, got to be on a BBC question-answer show, after I identified myself as "an American Conservative".

Bet he rolled his eyes too..

 

[IH3444]

Man O man did I ever take a wrong turn in the game of life. Just think of the tractors I could buy with $116 million, and the jobs people would have from my spending habits. I bet these CEOs spend some money. Hey! We're in America, a capitalist system. Boy O boy, millions and millions to spend. What a great life!