Go USA!!!

[NicAuf]

I'd get rid of all the dolphins

 

[Sparkey Duck]

I'd get rid of all the dolphins

Kudos .. BASTARDS

 

[Carthage]

You had me at A :surrender

Do you mean anything by this (if so, what), or is it just a random comment?

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

You had me at A :surrender

He had me at A. Lost me at A=. And found me again at non-A.

 

[Toucan42]

not trying to sound hokey here..respect the flame. Protest the Chinese, oh yeah, but find a better way to do it.

Protesting for peace by dousing the Olympic flame is like fucking for virginity

LOL!

THAT's hillarious....

however...

I agree with the protests - do what we can when we can as we can in order to make the Chinese gov't aware that subjugating the Tibetans does not fly with us.

 

[All Else Failed]

:24::24::24::24::24::24::24::24::24:

You have to be an objectivist to get it. See, objectivism holds, as one of it's base ideas, that A=A and A=/= non-A. In other words, things are what they are, and contradictions cannot exist. So accusing me of being a authoritarian/objectivist, when the two are so fundamentally opposed, is very funny on several levels to an objectivist.

Seriously, though - what grounds do you have for calling me authoritarian? What beliefs in particular?

IF the answer is "You're a zealous republican", what policies of zealous republicanism do you believe are prevalent enough to accuse us of being authoritarian? I'm not denying that socially, we can be a little authoritarian, sometimes, but I'm curious as to which of our policies you would identify.

Increasing unneeded military spending for instance is a trademark republican ideal.

Objectivism loves greed as a personal virtue, so that would sit nicely with neo-cons as well.


Oh and zealous nationalism.

 

[Carthage]

Increasing unneeded military spending for instance is a trademark republican ideal.

Not authoritarian, as long as it isn't used against the populace. for the enforcement of ridiculous laws.

Objectivism loves greed as a personal virtue, so that would sit nicely with neo-cons as well.

That's authoritarian?

Oh and zealous nationalism.

Once again, that has no authoritarian characteristics, until it's activated in the government, which it isn't. Plus, we're usually zealous ideocrats who are compleatly zealous of American Republicanism (no relation to the party).

 

[All Else Failed]

No see what I'm saying is, is that those EASILY lead to authoritarianism.


Oh and I don't really think you can deny that you're personally nationalistic...

 

[dt3]

:usa: :usa: :usa: :usa: :usa: :usa: :usa: :usa: :usa:

 

[Sparkey Duck]

Do you mean anything by this (if so, what), or is it just a random comment?

Oh it's a quote from a whatcha ma call it... movie... lighten up, if I'm being serious I'll make it clear.

Though technically it can't be random as I quoted you...

 

[Carthage]

Oh and I don't really think you can deny that you're personally nationalistic...

No I can't, but I'm only nationalistic because of my government. The moment my government becomes Communist/Fascist, I'll deny it in a heartbeat. Luckily I'll never have to do that.:usa:

 

[Pudding Time]

I'd definately get rid of capitalism and install a communist society.

 

[All Else Failed]

No I can't, but I'm only nationalistic because of my government. The moment my government becomes Communist/Fascist, I'll deny it in a heartbeat. Luckily I'll never have to do that.:usa:

Well you don't have to worry, I don't see that happening.



I don't see nationalism as a good thing, really. Maybe in very small amounts, but overall nationalism leads to sectarianism, cultural divides, parties and whatnot. Then again, I don't think its that logical to be "proud" of a landmass you had no choice of being born on.

 

[Elle]

Violent protests are not ok.. But LOL at the guy who tried to put the flame out with a fire extinguisher!

I think the IOC needs a good slap on the head for allowing China to host the Olympics..

:24: I swear...our humor is meshing so well lately. I LOL'ed while eating.

 

[Carthage]

I don't see nationalism as a good thing, really. Maybe in very small amounts, but overall nationalism leads to sectarianism, cultural divides, parties and whatnot. Then again, I don't think its that logical to be "proud" of a landmass you had no choice of being born on.

That's like saying it's not logical to be proud of choosing to live because you're born. You have a choice, and as long as you keep on choosing to stay in that country, you should be proud of it. And Nationalism is good, as long as you don't start resenting other cultures for their nationalism, because it makes you more avid to defend the country of your choice.

 

[All Else Failed]

That's like saying it's not logical to be proud of choosing to live because you're born. You have a choice, and as long as you keep on choosing to stay in that country, you should be proud of it. And Nationalism is good, as long as you don't start resenting other cultures for their nationalism, because it makes you more avid to defend the country of your choice.

I can be THANKFUL that I am born in a free country, but to be proud of something I had no choice of? That doesn't seem logical to me.


Meh, all you have to do is breeze through a history book to see where most nationalism leads to on a global scale.

 

[GraceAbounds]

That's like saying it's not logical to be proud of choosing to live because you're born. You have a choice, and as long as you keep on choosing to stay in that country, you should be proud of it. And Nationalism is good, as long as you don't start resenting other cultures for their nationalism, because it makes you more avid to defend the country of your choice.

Across the board, countries with a higher average level of nationalism were consistently wealthier:

• Contrary to the conventional wisdom, poorer countries such as Latvia and Slovenia are actually among the least nationalistic.
• And the rich Western countries, such as Australia, Canada and the United States, score as the most nationalistic.

The virtues of nationalism also transcend citizens' bank accounts, says de las Casas. For example, consider the problem of corruption:

• According to the World Bank, corruption is consistently lower in countries with higher levels of nationalism.
• Like parties to a business transaction, public servants who contemplate corruption face an unsavory trade-off: to profit at the expense of fellow nationals.
• So, if bureaucrats are highly nationalistic, they are also more sensitive to any damage to society, and less prone to abuse public office.

Nationalism also changes the mindset of those affected by corruption:

• A nationalistic public is less likely to accept government corruption and simply look the other way.
• But a nationalistic citizenry gauges the effect of corruption on the entire nation, and this greater concern for potential abuse triggers the collective response that keeps corruption in check.

For all nationalism's supposed faults, it is incredibly -- and consistently -- associated with things we value in economics, politics and society.

NCPA | A Leader In Promoting Private Alternatives To Government Regulation & Control

 

[Carthage]

Across the board, countries with a higher average level of nationalism were consistently wealthier:

• Contrary to the conventional wisdom, poorer countries such as Latvia and Slovenia are actually among the least nationalistic.
• And the rich Western countries, such as Australia, Canada and the United States, score as the most nationalistic.

The virtues of nationalism also transcend citizens' bank accounts, says de las Casas. For example, consider the problem of corruption:

• According to the World Bank, corruption is consistently lower in countries with higher levels of nationalism.
• Like parties to a business transaction, public servants who contemplate corruption face an unsavory trade-off: to profit at the expense of fellow nationals.
• So, if bureaucrats are highly nationalistic, they are also more sensitive to any damage to society, and less prone to abuse public office.

Nationalism also changes the mindset of those affected by corruption:

• A nationalistic public is less likely to accept government corruption and simply look the other way.
• But a nationalistic citizenry gauges the effect of corruption on the entire nation, and this greater concern for potential abuse triggers the collective response that keeps corruption in check.

For all nationalism's supposed faults, it is incredibly -- and consistently -- associated with things we value in economics, politics and society.

NCPA | A Leader In Promoting Private Alternatives To Government Regulation & Control

Thank you for this! It looks incredibly useful.

 

[GraceAbounds]

You're welcome.

 

[Carthage]

I can be THANKFUL that I am born in a free country, but to be proud of something I had no choice of? That doesn't seem logical to me.


Meh, all you have to do is breeze through a history book to see where most nationalism leads to on a global scale.

You were born here, but you CHOOSE to stay here. Thats a CHOICE, and when you make it, you make yourself loyal, BY CHOICE, to that country.Being born in it has nothing to do with it.