Posted in: What presidential campaign? The Electoral College puts most American voters on the sidelines See in context
Great Bird
A Republic is simply the absence of a king. Emperor, Sultan, Sheik or whatever.
Err, I dont think so. Direct democracies are not ruled by kings, emperors, sultans, or sheiks either.
The definition of a republic is that the population elections representatives, who in turn elect the rulers, i.e. an additional level of filtering.
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Posted in: Australia to invest billions of dollars in nuclear submarine shipyard See in context
Spending money on military projects is not "investing", as there is no return on the amount. It is simply spending taxpayers money. Calling this an investment is misleading.
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Posted in: 3-year-old girl riding kickboard in critical condition after being hit by car See in context
A 3 year old should not play on the street unsupervised.
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Posted in: What presidential campaign? The Electoral College puts most American voters on the sidelines See in context
TaiwanIsNotChina
One that follows the national popular vote, at least a little bit.
How would you define "a little bit"?
I'll wager that EU parliament doesn't insist that each country's representatives vote as a block as the winner take all states do (which are like 48 of the 50).
In the EU, small countries get additional seats to make sure their voice is not lost. So, NOT a EU-wide popular vote.
Fact is, whatever new system you introduce, it would influence the way elections are conducted. I.e. a straight popular vote would turn most of the US into flyover country, never considered by politicians, while all campaigning happens in California and NY.
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Posted in: What presidential campaign? The Electoral College puts most American voters on the sidelines See in context
1glenn
The Electoral College was created so that the slave states would have enough power in the government to keep their slaves enslaved. Once slavery was eliminated, the reason for the Electoral College ended.
The EU parliament has a similar system, in which smaller countries get more votes than the big population ones; otherwise the vote from e.g. Ireland would be completely nullified by the vote from e.g. Germany. In Japan too, rural votes have more representation than the city centers, otherwise Tokyo and Osaka would decide everything. Does that have anything to do with "slavery"?
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Posted in: What presidential campaign? The Electoral College puts most American voters on the sidelines See in context
browny1
An overhaul can still result in a fairer system for all - but this time round it seems those beholden to maintaining it are afraid their minority presence can't grab a win.
What should such an overhaul look like?
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Posted in: COVID-19 may increase heart attack and stroke risk for years See in context
In addition, they should of course also look at the vaccinated cohort regardless of infection status. How would that cohort look like at the unvaccinated + Covid infected cohort in this study?
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Posted in: COVID-19 may increase heart attack and stroke risk for years See in context
The analysis, which did not include people infected after vaccines were widely available,
Oh, me bad. I overlooked that phrase. So they ONLY looked at an unvaccinated cohort? Worthless study, until they make a corresponding one for people infected after getting the mRNA shots. THEN we would have interesting data.
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Posted in: COVID-19 may increase heart attack and stroke risk for years See in context
People infected with the COVID-19 virus in 2020 may have double the risk for future heart attacks, strokes or premature death from any cause up to three years later – even if they never showed signs of severe illness, according to new research.
So was this group of people vaccinated with the mRNA shots or not? The article does not seem to say. It would be really interesting to compare cohorts with different vaccination status.
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Posted in: U.S. 'concerned' by reports of North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia See in context
TaiwanIsNotChina
Yes, common sense will have to suffice to disprove these things because no one can go back and time and interrogate the robots representing russia at the negotiations.
I do not know what you are trying to say here, and your "common sense" sounds more like dogmatic tunnel vision. Ukrainian negotiators have outlined the deal that was reached in Istanbul. That Boris Johnson (most likely on behalf of Washington) flew in and convinced Zelenski to scuttle the deal, promising never-ending support, is no secret either.
There has never been a question that eventually a diplomatic solution must be reached, But the longer this tragic war, but the longer it goes on, the messier this solution will get.
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Posted in: U.S. 'concerned' by reports of North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia See in context
This "concern" based on accusations floated by Zelenski is as legitimate as the ghost of Kiev, the million-man-armee, or the "human wave" tactics by Russian soldiers equipped with shovels. Remember those?
Obviously, NK is profiting from the war by selling war materials. But transferring NK troops around the world to fight as mercenaries makes no sense for anybody involved.
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Posted in: Smokers have a higher level of harmful bacteria in the mouth: new study See in context
Yeah, I would have never expected that. What a surprising result.
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Posted in: Trump says it would be a 'smart thing' if he spoke to Putin, though he won't confirm he has See in context
Cards fan
In what world is Trump now a world leader? That's the context of his denial. Not talking to Putin as president, but as a private citizen.
Even as a private citizen, it would of course be a good thing to speak to a political opponent. Communication is the foundation of diplomacy. Where did we get to the idea that non-communication is a good thing??
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Posted in: Trump says it would be a 'smart thing' if he spoke to Putin, though he won't confirm he has See in context
The premise in the article that it is a bad thing for an American president to talk to Putin is extremely strange.
Talking to an opposing superpower is of course an absolute necessity. In what world can you conduct policy when ignoring an opponent? Even during the Cuba missile crisis, there was intense communication between Kennedy and Chrushchew. It would have been disastrous if Kennedy had ignored the Kremlin.
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Posted in: Israel kills at least 50 in Gaza as its forces encircle northern Jabalia See in context
Is a war that can be ended by one party surrendering a "genocide"? I would not think so. Why is this extremely strong word so recklessly bandied about?
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Posted in: Cross-dressing man arrested for entering women's changing room at bathhouse See in context
falseflagsteve
Here we go, often happens in the West now it’s happening here too, can you believe it?
Err, what? He was arrested, which is exactly what should happen.
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Posted in: South Korean military says it is 'fully ready' as drone tensions soar See in context
Legrande
The fact that war appears to be ready to break out here as well is no coincidence.
I do not see that at all. Who is interested in re-starting a hot war in Korea and why?
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Posted in: Cross-dressing man arrested for entering women's changing room at bathhouse See in context
wallace
Which country allows transwomen to enter a female toilet or dressing room?
Which country? Start with the US. Based on the new version of Title 9, the cross dresser in this story would have been totally legal if he identified as female.
In many countries there are no laws about men entering a women's restroom or changing room.
Not sure if this such a thing needs a law. If anyone can enter, then such spaces are by definition co-sex and not "womens" spaces.
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Posted in: China says it has launched military drills around Taiwan See in context
TaiwanIsNotChina
There are Chinese bases in Cuba. Are you saying the US should not do what China does?
I have not heard of Chinese military bases with nuclear ballistic rockets in Cuba. Please quote your source.
If there were, I guarantee that whoever runs the govt in the US would react the way Kennedy did. The US still has the Monroe doctrine, but denies it to everyone else.
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Posted in: McDonald’s Japan brings out new sweet potato caramel chocolate pies for autumn See in context
SarcasmOnly
Not artificial or plastic looking at all.
Absolutely. Must be totally organic and healthy.
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Posted in: Cross-dressing man arrested for entering women's changing room at bathhouse See in context
wallace
I never suggested the man did not do wrong entering a woman's dressing room. But then the comments appear saying cross-dressers are transsexuals but they are not. Just trying to ensure the correct terms are used.
I do not think anyone suggested that. The point being made was that today in some Western countries today he could have made his actions entirely legal by "identifying" as one rather than the other.
As the difference between the two is based on self-identiy, and not on verifiable reality.
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Posted in: Cross-dressing man arrested for entering women's changing room at bathhouse See in context
wallace
Cross dressers are not transexuals.
https://www.pratisandhi.com/drag-artists-vs-crossdressers-vs-transgender-people-not-as-similar-as-one-might-think/
What goes on in their mind is irrelevant to the issue of biological men invading spaces of biological women. You can speculate endlessly about how someone else feels; that should have no relevance for rules pertaining to biological reality.
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Posted in: Ishiba denies about-face on Asian NATO vision, U.S. forces issue See in context
TaiwanIsNotChina
Not everyone in Japan is as in love with Peking as you are. In fact I'm sure studies say the opposite.
The poster did not say anything about being in love with Peking. He was criticizing US imperialism.
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Posted in: China says it has launched military drills around Taiwan See in context
Just theatrics. The CCP has no intention of militarily attacking Taiwan; they bide their time and use slow influence. The only thing that would totally change the picture would be if the US was reckless enough to put bases and missiles in Taiwan, Cuba style.
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Posted in: South Korean military says it is 'fully ready' as drone tensions soar See in context
Kabuki theater as usual. Nothing will change on the Korean peninsula, as long as both sides are supported by respective superpowers.
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Posted in: Cross-dressing man arrested for entering women's changing room at bathhouse See in context
Brian Wheway
I wonder if bath houses will have to build another area for " other bathers" one strictly for men, one strictly for women,
This is what they have now. He did not enter a "konyoku", where he would be welcome.
Probably what you mean is re-naming the areas as for "bathers with male genitalia" and "bathers with female genitalia" --- I suppose this will now have to be specified...
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Posted in: Cross-dressing man arrested for entering women's changing room at bathhouse See in context
Fighto!
What about gay males using the safe spaces of young boys ie change rooms, sento etc? Surely those boys will be at danger too? There have been many such crimes committed.
That is an unavoidable problem, but it does NOT justify the elimination of female spaces by allowing biological males to self-declare as females.
Fwiw, this insanity exists only in the Western world, and even there it is a new phenomenon. Good to see that Japan is still resisting.
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Posted in: Cross-dressing man arrested for entering women's changing room at bathhouse See in context
itsonlyrocknroll
The question is when a "fully equipped" biological man identifies as a woman, insists "he" has a right to remain.
Women and young girls/boys safe spaces will be in danger/jeopardy.
Exactly that is a huge problem in the US (and now creeping into European countries too), with the introduction of "identity" into gender rules. In a sane world, "identity" would of course have nothing to do with rules based on biological reality. We see the results of this already in sports, prisons, etc.
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Posted in: From Tesla to Trump: Behind Musk's giant leap into politics See in context
With Musk turning Twitter into a free speech platform and now joining the Trump team, the great media smear campaign against him is on. (Same as with RFK and Gabbard). Diversity of opinion in the Western mainstream media? Nowhere to be seen.
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Posted in: Ishiba denies about-face on Asian NATO vision, U.S. forces issue See in context
The US governments will always insist that Japan remains under Americas thumb. If anything like a Nato is planned, they will insist it is an American puppet organization, like in Europe.
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Posted in: Harris and Trump make furious final push before Election Day
Posted in: Harris and Trump make furious final push before Election Day
Tim Sullivan,you never get a woman,maybe a MAGA man
Posted in: Harris and Trump make furious final push before Election Day