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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Drew on March 27, 2004, 10:56:53 pm

Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Drew on March 27, 2004, 10:56:53 pm
http://news.myway.com/top/article/id/393783|top|03-26-2004::16:49|reuters.html

odd, i knew this would happen
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Carl on March 27, 2004, 11:11:21 pm
broken link
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Drew on March 27, 2004, 11:50:18 pm
works now.

anywho

yay more spending!!!
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: demon442 on March 27, 2004, 11:57:38 pm
This is probably the one thing i've ever supported Bush on.  When you've had to get dial-up because they dont even run cable TV out to your house and your phone company is too poor to fix their lines but too stubborn to be bought out, you'd want this to happen as well.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Drew on March 28, 2004, 12:01:01 am
yeah but think about how much it would cost for the government to give every single computer in the US broadband. Arnt the democrats *****ing about the budget anyway? you would think they would be against somthing like this..........
anywya, i dont know what to think. its gonna be kewl cuz when im outta college i wont have to pay for broadband, cept by my taxes..... ofc theres always the quality issue when a government runs somthing that should be private...
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: mikhael on March 28, 2004, 12:02:14 am
W00t. See Bush whore to the telecom sector. Whore, Bush, Whore!
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Liberator on March 28, 2004, 12:41:07 am
mik, I saw Kerry whoring the X-Game set last week.  He never snowboarded a day in his life before that.  At least Bush whore's himself out to something that will make life slightly better for those involved.

I liken this to the FCC requirement that all TV stations in the US, that's right every last one of them, be converted for HD broadcast by 2009.  This translates to stations having to spend thousands of dollars for new broadcast equipment, sometimes money they don't have because they serve a small market.

It's a good idea, and on some levels I'm glad he's doing it, but it ain't gonna happen.

p.s. mik, I thought you'd be glad he's growing the size of government.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Knight Templar on March 28, 2004, 01:40:52 am
Of course, it's all useless campaigning bull****.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: an0n on March 28, 2004, 01:47:17 am
Quote
Originally posted by Liberator
mik, I saw Kerry whoring the X-Game set last week.  He never snowboarded a day in his life before that.  At least Bush whore's himself out to something that will make life slightly better for those involved.
Getting more Americans on the intardnet is not what I'd consider making things slightly better.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: mikhael on March 28, 2004, 01:55:17 am
Quote
Originally posted by Liberator
mik, I saw Kerry whoring the X-Game set last week.  He never snowboarded a day in his life before that.  At least Bush whore's himself out to something that will make life slightly better for those involved.

I should point out that Kerry was snowboarding on his last vacation, BEFORE the Xgames. At least Rush Limbaugh said he was when he was bleating out a screed against the guy.

All politicians whore, yes, Liberator and I expect Kerry is whoring as much as Bush. I really don't give a damn. I'm taking an unabashed potshot at Bush. He's whoring to his corporate masters. Next week, he'll be whoring to his religious masters. Kerry will be doing EXACTLY the same thing.

This, however, is a thread about BUSH, not KERRY. Post a thread about Kerry whoring, and I promise, I'll post:

Quote

W00t. See Kerry whore to the [somethign] sector. Whore, Kerry, Whore!


Happy? Good.



PS: where the flying FUCK do you get the idea that I want to see the government get bigger? Are you a complete moron? Are you completely incapable of reading and comprehending a single word I say? When have I EVER advocated big government--except in your bizarre little world which construes everything not rabid conservative as raving looney liberal? See, if you go and READ the things I say, instead of imagining I've said what you THINK I've said, you'll find that I do not want 'anyone 'growing the size of government'.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Turnsky on March 28, 2004, 01:56:23 am
Quote
Originally posted by an0n
Getting more Americans on the intardnet is not what I'd consider making things slightly better.


oh goody, invasion of the 12 year old AOL'ers:rolleyes:
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: an0n on March 28, 2004, 02:40:29 am
They won't just be tards, they'll be tards with a 512 connection.

Meaning the combination of **** security, stupidity and high-speed data transmission will clog the net up with so much spam, worm activity and capital letters that it'll rape everyone down to dial-up levels anyway.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Liberator on March 28, 2004, 03:02:54 am
this from the mouth of the King of the Tards?

My apologies mik, I made the mistake of assuming that since you are on the left you are for a larger more inclusive government.  You may be more Conservative than you think.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Tiara on March 28, 2004, 03:46:03 am
Before Election: BROADBAND FOR ALL!
After election: We need money let's cut back on the broadband connections... 56K FOR ALL!
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: an0n on March 28, 2004, 04:02:23 am
Someone ban Liberator.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Turnsky on March 28, 2004, 04:07:43 am
Quote
Originally posted by an0n
They won't just be tards, they'll be tards with a 512 connection.

Meaning the combination of **** security, stupidity and high-speed data transmission will clog the net up with so much spam, worm activity and capital letters that it'll rape everyone down to dial-up levels anyway.


there goes my inbox.:blah:


and since the internet is a worldwide thing, i can't really say that my location on this big blue mudball renders australians immune from such things going on in the US.:doubt:

i feel the phrase "there goes the neighbourhood" works correctly in this case..
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: mikhael on March 28, 2004, 09:09:08 am
Quote
Originally posted by Liberator
My apologies mik, I made the mistake of assuming that since you are on the left you are for a larger more inclusive government.  You may be more Conservative than you think.


Your first mistake is assuming I'm on the left.

I'm on the left of YOU.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Fineus on March 28, 2004, 09:12:34 am
Be nice guys :rolleyes:
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Rictor on March 28, 2004, 09:14:43 am
And you Liberator, make the mistake of thinking that everyone on the Left is for 1984 style government. I certainly am not. Though I'm not explicitily for big government, I think that at this point in humanity's evolution, government plays a significant role in people's lives.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: mikhael on March 28, 2004, 09:17:42 am
There is no evolution, Rictor. Only creation, and government has nothing to do with that. Really.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Tiara on March 28, 2004, 09:22:37 am
Quote
Originally posted by mikhael
There is no evolution, Rictor. Only creation

:lol: You might be serious but I find that statement hilarious :lol:
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Rictor on March 28, 2004, 09:23:35 am
Yeah, love the broadband, but seeing as how you could now spend up to 10 years in prison for filesharing, (http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,62830,00.html) thanks to our buddies in Congress, its useless.

Woot...oh wait. No.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: mikhael on March 28, 2004, 09:48:06 am
Quote
Originally posted by Tiara

:lol: You might be serious but I find that statement hilarious :lol:


It was intended to be sarcastic. ;)
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: an0n on March 28, 2004, 10:15:41 am
Really? I'd never have guessed.....
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Liberator on March 28, 2004, 01:35:26 pm
I am reminded of a quote of Ben Franklin in relation to the type of government they had given the USA:

"A republic, if you can keep it."

It is not the Government's role to accelerate the integration of broadband, just as it's not their role to force a switch to HD-TV.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: an0n on March 28, 2004, 03:08:20 pm
Or push newer, more effective drugs. Or institute measures to protect kids online. Or to make it less detrimental for companies to use eco-safe practices. Or to encourage kids to read.


:blah::doubt:
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Knight Templar on March 28, 2004, 03:11:49 pm
Or to fund school.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: an0n on March 28, 2004, 03:15:35 pm
I think before they start whoring out broadband they should get some ****ing state-run health care.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Knight Templar on March 28, 2004, 03:20:25 pm
Who needs healthcare when you can download pr0n twice as fast?
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Rictor on March 28, 2004, 03:29:58 pm
Quote
Originally posted by an0n
I think before they start whoring out broadband they should get some ****ing state-run health care.


Never even thought of that. Good point.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Grey Wolf on March 28, 2004, 03:55:08 pm
What can you expect? He's trying to get votes. Politicians are, by definitions, people who try to ingratiate themselves to the people. Odds of this actually going through? Anyone's bet. But I bet if it does, it won't be free.

"New on the tax form is your mandatory $1000 broadband-supporting tax. Even if you don't have a computer."
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Ace on March 28, 2004, 04:02:17 pm
Believe it or not, I agree with you.

However, for slightly different reasons. From what the article states, it sounds like the regulations on the limit of what a company owns that are going to be removed to "encourage more broadband" easily allow one or two large companies to buy out smaller companies, 'do not innovate since they're small and lack purchasing power,' and not install broadband in the areas they've purchased.

It's going on the assumption that it is profitable to switch to broadband, and sadly I don't think a lot of companies are going to see it profitable to install broadband in some rural areas. Regions that could really use it, since it'd allow for better employment opportunities in areas where there are few.

Sure, it means that there's going to be more broadband overall in the US, but if I'm a small company who wants to start a local broadband company for my area even if I have the capital for the venture it's going to be even more difficult than before to get started because as opposed to competing with a medium sized company, I'm directly competing with one of the large ones. Even if I provide a good service, it's an uphill battle to get the word out that it exists.

Of course this is all hypothetical. Afterall, I'm sure a lot of people see the short term gain of some areas getting more broadband a lot more important than having some good (and bad) local services.

Anyway, it's all just evil leftist liberal propiganda! Afterall, Bush LOVES small business since he's a Republican and everything HE does is for small government and to help make it easier for people work in the free market!
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Liberator on March 28, 2004, 05:45:42 pm
State run health care is an red herring, do you want to wait for 10 weeks for a 5 min physical to get a job?

The only reason people want it is because Health Care is so damned expensive.  

Here's a better solution, find out what changed in the late 60's-early 70's to cause the cost of healthcare to skyrocket, and kill it.

School Funding is at an all time high.  The problem is the Administration is an inept, ponderous beuracracy.  The Head of the School district doesn't need to drive a new Escalade every 2 years or buy $4000 Rolexes when the schools in his district are falling apart.  Teacher's should be taught to treat their students differently based on the color of their skin and have it called "Diversity Studies", when in fact it's an excuse to give a hateful person a job when they couldn't get one anywhere else.

Government is the Problem not the Solution.  I've met very few Government Employee's outside of Defense that take their job seriously, and don't try to milk the system.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Rictor on March 28, 2004, 06:03:10 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Liberator
Teacher's should be taught to treat their students differently based on the color of their skin and have it called "Diversity Studies", when in fact it's an excuse to give a hateful person a job when they couldn't get one anywhere else.


:blah: :blah: Are you serious?

___

And Liberator, I don't know if you aware, but the average teacher isn't exactly rolling in money. They don't drive a Lexus or have a $4000 gold watch. Jeez, just look at their salaries. They could almost certainly be getting more money in any other chosen field, so it is pretty clear to me that they are teachers becuase they want to be. In addition, you have to go to teacher's college in addition to your basic post-secondary, so thats time and money they invest, only to get a ****ty salary and have people like you giving them hell.

Teachers put up with bad salaries, long hours and all that, because they love teaching. If they didn't, they'de be out of their in a second to find a more lucrative career.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: aldo_14 on March 28, 2004, 06:11:37 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Liberator
State run health care is an red herring, do you want to wait for 10 weeks for a 5 min physical to get a job?


What the hell are you on about?  Why would a physical be conducted in a hospital / doctors surgery for a job?
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: SadisticSid on March 28, 2004, 06:13:52 pm
I hate this state pushing of broadband into homes. The British Government is also guilty of this, which is anything but a conservative idea. Why the internet is seen as a something of a basic human right I don't understand - the same could be true of any frivolous thing like TV or mobile phones. And if 20 million homes in the US really do use broadband already, that to me speaks wonders for how well the private sector is pushing this commercial concept. The state should keep its interfering fingers out of it.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: karajorma on March 28, 2004, 06:39:28 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor


:blah: :blah: Are you serious?


I'm guessing that statement missed an n't. Cause otherwise he's talking crap and racist crap at that.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: mikhael on March 28, 2004, 07:36:46 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Liberator
State run health care is an red herring, do you want to wait for 10 weeks for a 5 min physical to get a job?

The only reason people want it is because Health Care is so damned expensive.  

...

Government is the Problem not the Solution.  I've met very few Government Employee's outside of Defense that take their job seriously, and don't try to milk the system.


Quote
Originally posted by Thomas Jefferson

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

Look at that: "...that among these are LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." and "That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men..."

Imagine that. The protection of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is the job of a government.

What is health care, funded and mandated federally, but the pursuit and protection of one of these unalienable rights? When you're working three jobs, just trying to afford rent and food, and your employer doesn't provide health care, it is the government's job to help you take care of one of your unalienable rights.

I find it rather interesting, by the way, that Australia's "red herring" works so well. Indeed, its one of the chief reasons I'm willing to move there. They know how to take care of their people.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Bobboau on March 28, 2004, 07:43:01 pm
and then the second half of his sentence doesn't mach up with the first

teachers don't make ubber bucks but the administrators do
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Bobboau on March 28, 2004, 07:56:29 pm
you know, I went to two publick schools and one privite (highschool) (dad had to take on a second job to aford it, he is BTW a teacher). I can tell you there was a huge diference between the atatudes of both the students and the teachers, I went from all Fs all the time (especaly in english and math) to makeing the upper 10th percentile in the local colage entry tests (in math and science, my english skills still suck, as some of you may have notised, I'm dyslexic BTW). the biggest diference I saw was probly in the students, the four years I went to that school I didn't have to spend every moment of every day watching out for some atack, I wasn't in constant fear for my safety. but the teachers actualy seemed to enjoy there job and they did such a great job of it, the interesting thing is the teachers at the privet highschool actualy got paid about half what the teachers in the local public schools got paid, go figure.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Liberator on March 28, 2004, 08:39:26 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor


Are you serious?


Quite.

What Bob said is absolutly true.  I understand that most teachers are underpaid, but I also see administration at the county and state levels that are making hundreds of thousands of dollars and then they go fishing everyday, not doing anything to earn their exhorbitant salary.

I want to highlight one phrase from Mr. Jefferson's divinely inspired document:
Quote
...the pursuit of happiness...

The only guarantee that the Government you all seem so willing to let make all your most intimate decisions is allowed to make is that it's citizens are allowed to work toward(ie pursue) happiness in life.  They cannot guarantee hapiness itself, be it through "free" services.  

Education is reqired for everybody to have the same shot at happiness, to not hold certain segments of society to the same standard of performance is a disservice, to both parties.  The standard is not overly high, it is in fact quite low as to what is needed in today's world.  Everybody should be able to meet it regardless of creed or most especially color.


And as far as "Diversity Studies" goes, I speak from a position of some knowledge.  My sister is studying to be a special education teacher.  She is forced to sit through class with an instructor who continously berates his class for being caucation and tells them how racist they are.  It is abhorent to me that she be forced to sit there and taught that she should treat her future black students differently just because they are black.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: mikhael on March 28, 2004, 08:57:11 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Liberator
The only guarantee that the Government you all seem so willing to let make all your most intimate decisions is allowed to make is that it's citizens are allowed to work toward(ie pursue) happiness in life.  They cannot guarantee hapiness itself, be it through "free" services.  

Why do the services have to be free? Australia's socialized medical system isn't free, and they do get a choice as to who their doctors are. The government doesn't provide the service free, nor do they "make all your most intimate decisions". Crazy but true! There's more than one way to do it! WOW! SHOCK! HORROR!

See, we pay these things called taxes (well, you do unless you're rich, then you use these things called loopholes and tax shelters and basically get government services for free because you didn't pay for them). These taxes aren't meant to be funneled off into corporate cofferes, enriching government lackeys at the expense of the people. No, these taxes that most of use pay are for the government to spend on taking care of the people (you know, government of the people, for the people, by the people) of the country.

People shouldn't get free handouts. Neither should they get forgotten by the government that supposedly serves and represents them.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Grey Wolf on March 28, 2004, 09:02:39 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Bobboau
you know, I went to two publick schools and one privite (highschool) (dad had to take on a second job to aford it, he is BTW a teacher). I can tell you there was a huge diference between the atatudes of both the students and the teachers, I went from all Fs all the time (especaly in english and math) to makeing the upper 10th percentile in the local colage entry tests (in math and science, my english skills still suck, as some of you may have notised, I'm dyslexic BTW). the biggest diference I saw was probly in the students, the four years I went to that school I didn't have to spend every moment of every day watching out for some atack, I wasn't in constant fear for my safety.
That's also the advantage of poor, rural public schools. Sure our foods horrible, and sure our facilities our for the most part outdated (not to mention the plumbing), but you don't have to worry about some kid smuggling a gun in.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Drew on March 28, 2004, 09:43:13 pm
Quote
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.


wtf mik? the Decleration of independance dosnt have any bindy effect on the laws of this country. Those words arnt in the constitution, and they have little to no effect (except for a few court cases) on our laws. If you wanted to push that line, use the "promote the general welfare" caluse *In the actual constitution* instead.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Rictor on March 28, 2004, 10:09:03 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Liberator


Quite.

What Bob said is absolutly true.  I understand that most teachers are underpaid, but I also see administration at the county and state levels that are making hundreds of thousands of dollars and then they go fishing everyday, not doing anything to earn their exhorbitant salary.

I want to highlight one phrase from Mr. Jefferson's divinely inspired document:
 
The only guarantee that the Government you all seem so willing to let make all your most intimate decisions is allowed to make is that it's citizens are allowed to work toward(ie pursue) happiness in life.  They cannot guarantee hapiness itself, be it through "free" services.  

Education is reqired for everybody to have the same shot at happiness, to not hold certain segments of society to the same standard of performance is a disservice, to both parties.  The standard is not overly high, it is in fact quite low as to what is needed in today's world.  Everybody should be able to meet it regardless of creed or most especially color.


And as far as "Diversity Studies" goes, I speak from a position of some knowledge.  My sister is studying to be a special education teacher.  She is forced to sit through class with an instructor who continously berates his class for being caucation and tells them how racist they are.  It is abhorent to me that she be forced to sit there and taught that she should treat her future black students differently just because they are black.


1. If there is a course such as Diversity Studies, it sounds like bull**** to me. However, since I have never encountered a course such as this, could you please tell me what that course entails. In any case, I find it very hard to believe that the professor berates the class for being white. Sorry, but for all your talk of "reverse rascism", I have very rarely seen anything of the kind.

2. It sounds like when you talk about eduction, you are talking about the teachers being hired (or not hired) under Affirmative Action. However, a far more important issue is not the teachers, its the students and the quality of education they get. There may or may not be some unfair hiring practices in the teaching profession, just like there may or may not be in any profession. But thats another topic.

Would you agree that all students, regardless of colour, religion, disability, sexual orientantion, or nationality, currently living in the States deserve to get a quality education for free from the government?

K-12 education is not "intimate decisions", its a basic education. The reason that schools are falling apart and kids are reading textbooks in which thr USSR is still "the enemy" is not due to the fact that teachers are lazy, under qualified or opportunists. Its because Uncle Sam spends many times more building tanks and guns then on educating the nations youth. America's military budget is more than that of the next 40 competitors COMBINED.

Man, you guys have enough planes and shells to last you for a thousand years. The kids, however, are redifining the word "dumb." Then, those same dumb, poor kids go off and joing the Army to pay for college, and get shiped of to Iraq in order to use some of those guns that are just lying around collecting dust. Then, the defense contractors and government offcials gobble up billions in taxpayer's money, making new and better guns and planes, because the boogeyman is just around the corner.

Don't you see the irony? In this system, having a crap education system pays off, as it produces the one resource crucial to war which can not be manufactured: people.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Shrike on March 28, 2004, 10:14:03 pm
Can you guys manage to not turn every ****ing news article into partisan bull**** blaring?  It's really getting sad that it seems now everyone comes down to which side of the political spectrum you're on and which slanted opinions you care to spew.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Grey Wolf on March 28, 2004, 10:20:47 pm
You know, I'd suggest some sort of debate forum to push things like this in to one, controlled place. Of course, that idea wouldn't work.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Drew on March 28, 2004, 10:53:22 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
K-12 education is not "intimate decisions", its a basic education. The reason that schools are falling apart and kids are reading textbooks in which thr USSR is still "the enemy" is not due to the fact that teachers are lazy, under qualified or opportunists. Its because Uncle Sam spends many times more building tanks and guns then on educating the nations youth. America's military budget is more than that of the next 40 competitors COMBINED.
 

over 50 percent of the budget in our state goes to education. And were still the 50 ranked state. Public schools get the most money, then its unis n scholerships. Yet the weakest private schools outperform pulbics by 40 percent. (dont let me get started on homeschoolers. )
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Shrike on March 28, 2004, 10:56:09 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Grey Wolf 2009
You know, I'd suggest some sort of debate forum to push things like this in to one, controlled place. Of course, that idea wouldn't work.
This place is a games forum, ultimately.  If anyone wants to debate political type stuff, go to The Frontier (http://www.tb3.org.uk/phpBB2/).  The Off Topic forum there is basically the politics forum.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: mikhael on March 28, 2004, 11:05:34 pm
You know, all you have to do, as an administrator, is lock political threads and/or rewrite the rules so that political threads aren't allowed.

How do you expect, really, a thread about Shrub pushing broadband access in an election year to not be inherently political?


Wow. **** [that's B.U.S.H.] is in the naughtyword list now?
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Bobboau on March 28, 2004, 11:15:17 pm
****

:ha:

I think he took your advice
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Shrike on March 28, 2004, 11:27:43 pm
Come on.  How can pushing broadband not be a good thing?  :p

And you can probably figure out when I did the censor, assuming I did it right after I posted something.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: mikhael on March 28, 2004, 11:29:29 pm
Indeed. Makes a great four letter word though, doesn't it? Somehow... appropriate.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Drew on March 28, 2004, 11:33:12 pm
Bush is a bad word?
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: mikhael on March 28, 2004, 11:58:03 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Shrike
Come on.  How can pushing broadband not be a good thing?  :p


Oh, I dunno. Let's consider one of his PREVIOUS campaign pushes: educational reform. **** pushes a multimillion dollar educational reform bill--promises to fund it fully from federal appropriations--then drops the bill on the states. Oh, yeah, and if the states fail to meet up to the requirements of the reform bill (which they haven't been given money to pay for, so they can't implment it), they lose federal funding. Go ****! Way to fight tax-and-spend democrats: become a borrow-and-spend-and-never-repay republican! Yeah. That's good for the US, its children, its schools and indeed North America as a whole. Yeah.

Given that broadband acceptance is pretty reasonable as things stand now, this sort of thing amounts to a way to funnel taxpayer dollars into the pockets of the broadband consortium. You know, the people who have given us 65000 home improvement television shows, umpteen thousand reality shows and killed all but a pittance of the decent educational programming on television (because, you see, those broadband providers, by and large are the cable television industry). What's left over will go into the telecommunications consortium. You know, the corporations that milk the consumer daily for telephone, wireless phone, and pager services, to the tune of something like 1200% markup per minute of use. Yeah, these are companies that are hurting for money. They need the government handout.

Why exactly does the country need more broadband internet access, seriously? What is to be gained? The educational benefits are negligible. The financial benefits are questionable at best. Where's the gain for anything but Mr. ****'s approval rating?

We won't even consider that ol' Dubya can't FUND something like this without either repealing some of his tax cuts on the rich or raising taxes on the middle class, or worst of all, more deficit spending.

When you've gotta give the citizenry a return on their investment (and that's what taxes are), why not spend it where it can do you good--like the (nonexistent) health care system? Think about it: the health care system is an investment. Keep people healthy, and they earn more money for longer to pay into taxes. Imagine that: a system that works for everyone concerned.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Drew on March 29, 2004, 12:25:04 am
aye, the no child left behind thingy is a bit ****ed up.

ferserious, *private companies* are spreading broadband so fast and dropping prices rapidly. The government dosnt need to come regulate everything and try to compete.

Mik, the big thing wrong with a health care system is how much it will cost. The medicared bill (will) increase federal income taxes by %20-30
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Rictor on March 29, 2004, 12:36:31 am
Don't be a spoil-sport Shrike. If you'de like, I would be glad to troll a bit more and show you what the forum could be like, were we (well, lets not mince words, were I) not so mature and civilized.

As I've said many a-times, politics is important for every single person living on this planet. This includes us Freespacers. The political babble is always contained in the obviously labeled threads, so those who do not wish to participate can easily avoid them

And face it, Hard Light would be barren without all the politics and religions threads :D:D
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: mikhael on March 29, 2004, 12:39:03 am
Quote
Originally posted by Drew
aye, the no child left behind thingy is a bit ****ed up.

ferserious, *private companies* are spreading broadband so fast and dropping prices rapidly. The government dosnt need to come regulate everything and try to compete.

Mik, the big thing wrong with a health care system is how much it will cost. The medicared bill (will) increase federal income taxes by %20-30


We wouldn't have to crank income taxes if we stopped letting the rich and the corporations rape the tax system in the first place--and if we stopped giving rich people 30-60% tax cuts in back to back tax reform bills. There's a lot of tax loopholes and screwy laws that let people with money make sure they never have to part with any of it (and still take benefits from the system).

When a corporation like AT&T or Halliburton pays NO corporate income taxes (that's zero. Goose egg. Nada. Nunca. el Zerro Grande. the big nothing), there's something seriously, deeply, comprehensively wrong. There is no way I owe more taxes than Halliburton for my 9mos as my own company. Please.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Ghostavo on March 29, 2004, 12:39:45 am
FS politics? Anyone?

:nervous:
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Bobboau on March 29, 2004, 12:52:00 am
so, what if all government funding came rom sales tax? the more a company made the more revenu it would be makeing for the governmen, people would be getting twice as much as they do now, though most things would cost twice what they do now (exeptions could be made for the poor, and for food, ect)
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Nico on March 29, 2004, 01:13:28 am
broadbands for everybody?
Oh, sure, we had the regionals vote this weekend. There's that guy who was saying "we'll pay all the driver licenses for all the youngs".
BWAHAHAHA. And you believe that? :p
What else did **** promised that other time, you know, when he got elected? What's the % of stuff he promised and actually did?
"leaves the thread laughing hysterically"
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Knight Templar on March 29, 2004, 01:25:08 am
This thread is ****ed up. Hehehehe.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Rictor on March 29, 2004, 01:53:24 am
Two words, Tobin Taxes.

Essentially, any money crossing the border is taxed at some tiny amount (0.025% or so). The system was thought of by an economist named what else, Tobin.

It is estimated that around 300 billion (or so, I can't recall the figure right now, in the hundreds of billions) per year would be taxed in this form, and it would put a serious damper on offshore tax havens.

Think of it - 300 billion per year. For that money, you could feed and clothe and educate every person on this earth. And its not like you can make the arguement that business will leave; where are they going to go if the whole world implements this? The businesses affected by this would not be your Mom and Pop store, they don't transfer significant amounts of money acorss borders. The ones who would be made to pay are the huge multinationals, who are currently paying, as mikhael said, 0 taxes. And its not like they can afford it.

An anecdotale statistic, if you can call it that. According to some NSF guy in Deus Ex, in 1950 50% of all government taxes came from corporations. In 2000, that sum was 5%. Hehe, I'm inclined to believe it :D:D
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Ace on March 29, 2004, 02:06:50 am
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
Think of it - 300 billion per year. For that money, you could feed and clothe and educate every person on this earth.


Or buy one toilet for the GWB administration. :)
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Shrike on March 29, 2004, 03:21:57 am
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
Don't be a spoil-sport Shrike. If you'de like, I would be glad to troll a bit more and show you what the forum could be like, were we (well, lets not mince words, were I) not so mature and civilized.
Wah wah wah wah..

Go ahead, troll.  Prove your immaturity and see who cares.  Acting like a troll just proves that, well, you're a troll.  A lower form of life not worthy of recognition. :p

Quote
As I've said many a-times, politics is important for every single person living on this planet. This includes us Freespacers. The political babble is always contained in the obviously labeled threads, so those who do not wish to participate can easily avoid them

And face it, Hard Light would be barren without all the politics and religions threads :D:D [/B]
No, politics has become absolutely rampant recently and is getting even more vicious and heated.  Politics might be important, but that is not the point of this forum.  A certain amount is fine, but as I said, it's becoming much too common and much too divisive a topic these days.  Isn't there anything more interesting, more relevant and less likely to spark to discuss?

Hard Light sure as hell wasn't barren back when politics and religion was an uncommon topic, why should it be barren now?
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Nico on March 29, 2004, 03:36:57 am
On that note, I agree, politics and religion threads have nothing to do on HLP, there's other forums for that.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Gloriano on March 29, 2004, 03:39:50 am
Quote
Originally posted by Nico
On that note, I agree, politics and religion threads have nothing to do on HLP, there's other forums for that.


:yes:
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: pyro-manic on March 29, 2004, 07:42:21 am
I'd say that given the kind of politics practised by certain governments at the moment, it is one of the most interesting and important things to talk about. Yeah, we can't do much about it here, but a large number of the members here live either in or close to one of the countries currently shafting us.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Drew on March 29, 2004, 08:46:44 am
Quote
The core of the HL forums, home to the latest in news and discussion about anything and everything.


*cough cough cough*
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Gloriano on March 29, 2004, 08:56:52 am
Quote
Originally posted by Drew


*cough cough cough*




Quote
. Now converted by Shrike to a 24-hour nightclub.


Cough cough*
;)
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Bobboau on March 29, 2004, 12:04:54 pm
well during his campain, Bush promesed to stop interfereing with other nations and wageing a war every other year as a distraction from domestic problems...
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: aldo_14 on March 29, 2004, 12:07:30 pm
:rolleyes:

Lot of coughing - must be a bug going round.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Rictor on March 29, 2004, 12:16:36 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Bobboau
well during his campain, Bush promesed to stop interfereing with other nations and wageing a war every other year as a distraction from domestic problems...


:eek2: :eek2:

You...can't be serious....
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: mikhael on March 29, 2004, 12:18:27 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Bobboau
well during his campain, Bush promesed to stop interfereing with other nations and wageing a war every other year as a distraction from domestic problems...


I've got a list here somewhere of all the things that Bush said he wouldn't do when he was president. One of my favorites was when he said that nation-building wasn't one of America's jobs. He attacked Clinton for his nation-building adventures.

And yet, somehow, here we are, with Dubya cheerleading a nation-building adventure and contemplating other nation-building adventures.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: aldo_14 on March 29, 2004, 12:44:48 pm
Quote
Originally posted by mikhael


I've got a list here somewhere of all the things that Bush said he wouldn't do when he was president. One of my favorites was when he said that nation-building wasn't one of America's jobs. He attacked Clinton for his nation-building adventures.

And yet, somehow, here we are, with Dubya cheerleading a nation-building adventure and contemplating other nation-building adventures.


To be fair, **** isn't on a nation-building adventure.

He's on a nation-destroying one.
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: Rictor on March 29, 2004, 12:50:46 pm
Quote
Originally posted by mikhael


I've got a list here somewhere of all the things that Bush said he wouldn't do when he was president. One of my favorites was when he said that nation-building wasn't one of America's jobs. He attacked Clinton for his nation-building adventures.

And yet, somehow, here we are, with Dubya cheerleading a nation-building adventure and contemplating other nation-building adventures.


You know, I didn't think you'de be able to top Bob.'s statement, but here we are.

Clinton. Nation buidling.
:lol: :lol:
Title: Bush Pushes Broadband Rollout by 2007
Post by: mikhael on March 29, 2004, 01:44:21 pm
Hey, those are Dubya's words, not mine. ;)