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Epicurus

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Everything posted by Epicurus

  1. It seems that Biden will be the next president of the US, with 6-8 million more votes than Trump, nationally, and a comfortable Electoral Vote margin. Trump, true to his nature, is attacking our democratic institutions with baseless accusations. In 2016 he told a big lie that he also won the popular vote (H.R. Clinton did), which was another attack on the legitimacy of our elections. It's befitting him that he's going to be shamed and laughed out of town. Unfortunately, it'll be a s**t show for a couple months, but at least this national nightmare will be over.
  2. Trump has been playing his base like a fiddle. He's a con man. Totally dishonest, and very dangerous. He's a tax cheat and a terrible businessman. No wonder why he has been fighting to keep his tax records secret! But, this is nothing new. Many of us knew he was a big con man before he even ran for president. Come to think of it, every ugly thing we knew or suspected about this vile man, has been confirmed by multiple sources & times. This also destroys the myth that the US has the highest corporate tax rates the conservatives like to say. Trump has been financing a lavish lifestyle with graft, tax evasion, dishonest business deals, and with foreign help (which makes him an extortion pawn by his foreign lenders). The whole Trump organization and his family is like the mafia.
  3. 1. "in the western world" reality is a matter of convenience?! Whatever this means... But, the reality remains: the facts, some of which are rules made by humans, like the US constitution, and 50-state electoral systems. I have marched in protest, voted & been politically active, talked to people, and have tried to understand how the system works in order to change it for the better. I'm also old enough to realize that the perfect cannot be the enemy of the practical. Was the Emancipation a positive step? Of course, even though it took another 100 years to reverse some of the most cruel laws/ social norms--and we still have much to do. Those who oversimplify tend to be ignoramuses in my opinion. In real terms, I could see you saying Hitler/Stalin being two sides of same coin, but HRC/DJT?! Actually I'm appalled by such ridiculously ignorant statement. The country would be going in a different direction, in which science, competence, education, environment, economics (taxes and social safety net) health, immigration, etc, etc.would have been addressed in a very different manner by HRC than the current moron-in-charge has taken us into. Apparently those issues don't matter to you!?! 2. Another reality: the laws of nature, which include dying. Great. So, go ahead and die after you read this. If you continue to live, then you disagree with yourself... that even though you will die one day, you now want to continue to experience life. And, I'm betting you care which side of the coin comes up... So, savor your days alive! Cheers.
  4. ^^^ I want rainbows and butterflies, and all people to live in harmony. But, the reality is different. And, if you don't truly understand reality, including how the game is played, you can't be a force for change. At least for change that leads to positive outcomes. ps. same coin, but it's like, heads you live, tails you die... (I hope you see the difference)
  5. Trump commuted the sentence of his former goon, Roger Stone, who was to report to prison tomorrow. Get ready for many more pardons as Trump will take care of his crime family. He's the most corrupt president, like some Republicans (sadly few) are now saying. I'm willing to bet that Trump is thinking of pardoning himself too. Believe it or not, the constitution is not clear on this, whether a prez can pardon himself. And, who would stop him? Fortunately, he can't pardon himself or anyone else for state crimes! I bet NYS and others are getting ready to charge him with crimes, the same crimes that his former lawyer, his goon, etc, have been convicted of. And, then we'll get to see his tax returns.... What a fraud he's been but so many cultists don't want to acknowledge this... (maybe once he's labeled a "loser")
  6. ^^^^ Mexicans, Greeks, et al, vote if they're citizens... But, unfortunately there is electoral fraud (I didn't say voter fraud), since it's the policy of the Republican party to prevent people and groups from voting, and they draw districts in such a way as to favor their party. That's why you see their party gets more seats in states like Wisconsin, N. Carolina, etc, even though it gets fewer votes than the Dem party. As to picking a side, wouldn't you say the rules determine how the game is played? Of course, so the next president WILL BE either a Dem or a Repub--Biden or Trump. If they die before the election, their parties will replace them with someone else. Voting for another candidate, hoping for a change, it's a wasted effort in my opinion. And, it's stupid today, if I may add, because these two are so different that there's a clear choice; and no one should sit this out. By the way, have you thought why there have been 2 major parties/coalitions in American politics since the first election? The system favors 2 major parties, plus, in my opinion, tradition plays a role...
  7. OK, the numbers among age groups in the US show that if you're under 50, you have 1 in 10 chances of dying if infected, and 45% if you're age 50-79. The rest of % for other groups. I happen to read the NYT's COVID-19 coverage which includes obituaries of people of all ages. Healthy and younger people are among the victims. I'm healthy but I don't know if infected what will happens. I try to minimize my risk, because I don't want to play Russian roulette. Even 1 in 10 chance the bullet is in the chamber is still too high of a risk. On the other hand, most people have fathers, grandparents, relatives and friends in those most vulnerable groups. Is that OK if they drop? Until we're all tested, even if you're willing to take the risk, you may be playing the Russian roulette with the lives of others. I'm not oblivious to the economic hardship and the struggle for survival for many working people. This is also a situation where we need to reevaluate the social safety net.
  8. Texas Tribune: Texas has the most people without health insurance in the nation — again
  9. We'll he'll have to be out a lot more to campaign for Biden than he did in 2016 for HRC. Even though I'm not saying that Biden has to win by a lot to be legitimate, but it sure would be nice to send off Trump in a landslide. It would also make things easier because otherwise Trump will be contesting this for ever.
  10. https://twitter.com/sarahcpr/status/1253474772702429189?s=20 If only we had a clue before the election that this man is a dangerous moron....
  11. Yeah, because the Greek μαγκες thought they should have to pay those loans back.... Unfortunately for them they kept asking for more money (loans) because Greece was bankrupt! When the world markets would not lend Greece a single dollar, given how risky this was, the EU still gave Greece loans with low interest rate but with the stipulation Greece would repay most (not all) of what it owed. Where's the trap? or the exploitation? That's why several EU countries were 100% against giving Greece any new loans.... Oh, we cried laughing when some "geniuses" said that Greece should go back to the drachma.....? a worthless currency that nobody would accept at a time when Greece imports almost everything.... tsk.
  12. British PM Teresa May announced that she's resigning after suggesting a parliament vote that may include a second national referendum on Brexit. It was here party and the former PM, Cameron, that started this whole mess.... obviously without a plan how to get it done. It was a risk only an idiot (Cameron) would take.
  13. ^^^^ When you're wealthy, you do take an interest in politics, because you want to keep your money, and create laws that further advance your wealth holdings. The so-called "donor class" does exactly that. Yet, there are a few who may be crazy and are ..traitors to their own class, supporting policies that may depend on taxing the wealthy and regulating capital/marketplace.
  14. that's what I've been saying all along here.... The UK and Greece can leave any time they want. And while at it, Greece can go back to the drachma tomorrow if desired. It's turning logic on its head when people argue that they want to leave but also want others to pay them to do so, or let them keep rights & privileges of membership.
  15. Biden's announcement has sucked the air out of the room..... He's the most well known, with Sanders of course. But, I think this is due to the fact that everyone else is not known but to few Dem voters. Biden is what the Dems want: someone to beat Trump. Sanders doesn't have the same numbers among Dems in a hypothetical match against DJT, which would worry me if I were him. I could also see a dynamic where Biden maintains a 25-30% support while the divided field doesn't allow anyone to come close to that to challenge him. Yet, I do believe it's way to early to make predictions right now. Barak, who? (2007)
  16. the immigration issue 1 week before the referendum...
  17. The Muller Report is out. One thing is abundantly clear: The so-called "fake news" outlets that have been reporting about this saga got things right.. After the FBI director and the Attorney General were fired by Trump, Trump's current AG decided to act as Trump's personal lawyer and not as the top law enforcement official in the country. Look how he has handled the report, his advocacy (including his view that a siting prez can't be indicted), and his unwillingness to cooperate with Congress. Remember when another special counsel investigated president Bill Clinton in the 1990s and then the AG edited the report and said there was nothing criminal about the president's conduct? Nothing happened, right? The Muller Report, redacted as it may be, clearly shows what we already knew--how Trump and his people have been acting all along. The unredacted details contradict Trump and the AG. Who can't truly acknowledge that the Trump family colluded and conspired with the Russians, that they were eagerly willing to use illegally-obtained information and Russian lies to win an election, while they were talking to a foreign power about lifting sanctions, and hoping to profit by doing business in Moscow. The Trump family is still making money and taking payments from foreign interests. Obstruction of justice? He did it in the open by firing Comey, Sessions, not cooperating with Muller, attacking the legitimacy of the investigation every day, telling people to obstruct/fire Muller, and instructing others to lie to the FBI and Muller. The FBI (yes, their job is to investigate) was looking into the Trump campaign for a good reason, because of persons who had been colluding with Russians and other foreign powers. Five of his closest associates already have or are going to jail. Over 30 other persons have been indicted. When president Trump was told not to give security clearance to his son-in law because Jared was compromised, DJT did regardless. Same with convicted felon Flynn, who was made National Security Advisor with access to the most secret classified information. He's going to jail too. Thankfully, Ivanka declined to be the head of the the ..World Bank. Her father wanted to appoint her there, because.. "she's good with numbers"!!! But, he has appointed dozens of incompetent and unqualified people forjobs in important positions. Trump himself is not qualified to be president. Yes, I'd still disagree about Republican policies if they were put forth by president McCain or president Romney, or as they were by president Bush. But, the big difference is that those people were qualified to be president of the US. I wished we just had scandals about sex and emails nowadays instead of this....kakistocracy (rule by the worst).
  18. So,can we look at it this way? Bush 43 and the Repubs derailed the economy, and we had the "great recession" of 2008-2010. Then Obama repairs the wreck and sends the economy speeding ahead again. In 2016, DJT jumps on the already moving train and within seconds he claims "his economy is doing better than any other time before".... Historically, for the last 100+ years, if you wanted to invest money in the market or ride the economy's ups and downs, you'll discover that you'd have made much more money under a Dem admin, and you'd have lost money under Repubs. [even if you're generous enough to NOT include the Great Depression (under Repub Hoover) in this calculation!!] Hmmmm
  19. You keep building straw men to make your points... I didn't suggest "you" wouldn't be able to travel to Europe or Morocco... But as Britons liked open borders for them, they didn't like the reverse; didn't like eastern Europeans or.. Moroccans. Immigration was the top concern of 1/3 of those who voted for Brexit. Another straw man: Criticizing outcomes democracies produce as somehow not allowed! Yes, I'm saying the people made an ill-informed decision. It was not the first time nor will it be the last A top Google search after Brexit: "What's the EU?" What, people can't be led to make bad decisions? No matter what party/leader you prefer, you do say people made the wrong choice when they voted for those "you" did not support! Right? Secondly, who the hell said, ignore "what the people said"?! Why can't the EU tell UK that, you leave you lose... You lose the trade privileges. You loose the markets the EU has negotiated access with other nations... etc. You want to leave, just go. It's been the Brits who are negotiating KEEPING their privileges. Thirdly, where did you come up with the notion the EU is blocking Brexit? Unless it's perverse logic you're employing... Oh, I'd leave the house but you're preventing me from leaving because you're not giving me money! Or, I'll go but still want to come in an enjoy the privileges of this household. Or, that I want to live on my own but maintain a room in your house! If you want to leave, just go. It's very similar to Tsipras's referendum... (are you arguing that the EU denied Greeks their choice? Puleez. Greece could have left the EU the next day if it wanted... Oh, but they (EU) wouldn't give us the money we needed to do that! haha, I say. Childish threats..) As for the Irish problem, I didn't say the new border will result in violence, but it won't help. A key solution to the old conflict was integration of the two communities, starting by removing physical barriers between Northern Ireland and the country of Ireland. In a common market that's easier done, but with Brexit the border will return in order to control the flow of goods and services. They haven't figured out how to solve this.... Which is a point I keep making here: Cameron and May triggered a process without having a good plan of HOW to leave the EU. A hard Brexit is always an option. It's Britain that doesn't want that! I also think democracies can still flourish if some important and very complicated decisions, like amending the constitution, etc, are NOT done by a slim majority, over a short time, and without a clear roadmap.
  20. Quoting Orwell doesn't make anything more legitimate. On the contrary, this video shows how how feeble minds see the world in conspiracy and simplistic explanations. Ignorance is strength. Freedom is slavery. War is peace. Let's stick to what we know: DJT has gotten huge loans from Russian banks. During the campaign on live TV, "Russians if you're listening.... release crooked Hillary's emails." While running for prez of the US he was trying to get a deal with Russian gov to build a hotle in Moscow. After elected, his team, including his (our) National Security Advisor (top sec. clearance), Jared, and Don Jr, talked to Russians about lifting sanctions. He bypassed the objections of his Chief of Staff, Sec State, Defense, intel agencies and dealt with Putin, often with no other American official present. 6 of his closest associates (he picked them) have gone to prison, this includes Nat'l Sec. Adviser, his fixer (Stone), his lawyer (Cohen), and his campaign chair (Manafort).... "Crooked Hillary"??? Sure... She didn't hire her children and their spouses and gave them top security clearance.... If Muller indeed exonerated Trump---by the way the report says the opposite--the report would have been released immediately and read on Fox every 5 minutes.
  21. Since you ask.... When you marry you basically sign a contract. You can leave by negotiating who gets what. If you want to still have a relationship with your former spouse, you have to negotiate. You can say, I like to still eat dinner but don't want to pay... Your Irish, Scottish children that you want to keep under control still want to be in the family of your ..spouse. Wouldn't that complicate matters? The UK can leave tomorrow morning, bright and early, but they'll be no deal with the EU. That'd be a hard Brexit. Many in the Torry party want that. As for democracy, it takes informed leaders and citizens to function. This is a complicated issue, and many, including some here, don't want to examine it closely--it takes time and effort to understand complicated stuff... It's simplistic (and irresponsible if you had to vote on it) to treat the EU membership like a gym membership.... where you can stop going to the gym at any time. Also, very important decisions, like amending the constitution say, require more than a simple majority. And, when you go that route, you should have a road map, a plan for what you're doing.... PM Cameron and his Brexiteers never did. The lied and promised a glorious UK outside the "leeches of the EU and their people"... For many it comes down to animosity against the EU--greater European integration. Of course, they like they can have all the benefits and travel to the EU, but they don't like the reverse, from the EU. They may also believe that Britons pay too much into the EU and take too many immigrants (not true but, heck, it's like Trump's fiction that sells..MBGA)
  22. This team, so far, has outplayed so many other PAO squads of the past when money was no object. IF we had the 6 points, and a deeper bench, we'd be talking about titles this season. PAOK and OLY at home, and AEK at OAKA. I also see the team winning against the lesser teams when other PAO teams dropped tons of points in the past. Well done. I couldn't be happier. I'll be ecstatic if we finished top 5 and maybe won the cup...
  23. Gracious reply by Giannis. He and his brother could have said instead something like,.... ... We're fed up with this racism, which we've experienced every day while growing up in this backward country. We realized we were never accepted by too many Greeks, who, as we recently found out, 90% of them think themselves superior to all other peoples. Well, they can keep their bullsh*t superiority to themselves. We are going to stop representing Greece, on and off the sports venues. No more Greek flags for us, and we'll start telling the whole world how racist Greece really is.
  24. Can we stick to English, please? This is the article from the Pew Research. The countries that were not touched by the Enlightenment exhibit such backward views today, even though there has been lots of time since the E. to absorb E's ideas.
  25. I'd love to see something like this next week too against gavroi. No matter what, this team has proved that it has lots of potential. I also think Donis has found a good chemistry in the club. Shame to have -6 points because owner didn't want to pay....
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