[iamzack]

Well why else would we keep little THIS LAND IS OURS zones in countries that are at no risk and are no threat?

[Bobboau]

because there is not major momentum to have them removed.

[NGTM-1R]

weren't all those bases built before you were born?

Don't a lot of them date to Lend-Lease?

[Bobboau]

I'm not sure, do you have some numbers?

[NGTM-1R]

Most of the British ones did but closed down with the Soviet Union. Gitmo does. Diego Garcia does. There are probably others.

[Turambar]

We have bombers that can take off, fly halfway around the world, kill a bunch of people, then go back and land.

we only really need about 2 bases, one here, and one on the other side of the world.  we'll need fewer bases if we ever militarize space.

[TrashMan]

You don't need bases. You need Laz0rs. In space.

And preferably, large, phallic warships.

[High Max]

No, what we need to do is find a way to get along. Also, only military targets are fair game, not civilians. Using orbital bombardment and nukes is the largest form of terrorism that I can think of. Funny that people still whine about the twin towers (only 2000 or so people) when the bomb on Hiroshima was on a much grander scale of terrorism (a few hunderd thousand). Seems many governments have committed terrorism at one time or another. Maybe both sides on the so-called war on terror are bad, just the so called good guys are wolves in sheeps' clothing?

[Snail]

No, what we need to do is find a way to get along. Also, only military targets are fair game, not civilians. Using orbital bombardment and nukes is the largest form of terrorism that I can think of. Funny that people still whine about the twin towers (only 2000 or so people) when the bomb on Hiroshima was on a much grander scale of terrorism (a few hunderd thousand). Seems many governments have committed terrorism at one time or another. Maybe both sides on the so-called war on terror are bad, just the so called good guys are wolves in sheeps' clothing?

It was a joke.

[High Max]

Too much joking in serious debates.

[High Max]

I know it was kind of silly, but the nuke and laser idea is quiet serious and possible, at least the laser might be in the future.

[Scotty]

Too much joking in serious debates.

Too much seriousness in serious debates.

That said, bring on the phallic warships!

[Kosh]

Q: why did they let us?

A: because they didn't want to get conquered by the soviet union.

Soviet Union's gone.  So why are they still letting us?

We very well should've demobilized after the Cold War, but didn't.

We didn't for two reasons:

1.) It was our shot to run the world

2.) There's an enormous amount of money to be made in the Military Industrial Complex, and combining that with lobbying and our "revolving door" political system we get what we have today.

[High Max]

1.) It was our shot to run the world

By saying the word 'our', you just confirmed that you were originally from the USA and not from some other western country, despite living in China. That would explain your apparent dislike for the east, though you live there now for some reason, probably because you have family there and you are part Chinese but Americanized beyond recognition. It's the most logical assumption. It also explains how you were able to have a place to live in China (family there).

Now for the more on topic comments:


No 'one' country should be running the world or have more importance or authority than the others. Countries should have equal authority. Are all leaders of NATO seen as having equal authority or is the American member valued and respected more just because NATO was seemingly founded from here? Is there any one individual or a committee that is seen as the leaders of the world, perhaps the NATO president, which I believe is south Korean?

2.) There's an enormous amount of money to be made in the Military Industrial Complex, and combining that with lobbying and our "revolving door" political system we get what we have today.

That's very poetic and almost warms the heart. Actually, it does the opposite.

You mean it is all about selfish materialism and greed? I'll say it again but with slight differences from what I recall saying in old posts: The sad part is that these days, especially in America and some other western countries and others heavily influenced by them, seem to have money and possessions take precedence over human life and safety and even love ones in many cases. I feel pissed when I think about that. It's a very backwards train of thought that is increasing. It becomes a depressing society and country to live in when more and more people start to assume things about you based on your wealth and care too much about that instead of your personality, way of thinking, and intelligence, which are what really matter in a person, but I have plenty of intelligent comebacks to people who do that and I have rehersed them out loud incase I encounter more people like that. People like that are bastards. I hate them.

Excuse me. I had to get that latter part out.

[Scotty]

That would explain your apparent dislike for the east

Excuse me, but what the ****?  Being from America does not equate to disliking Eastern culture.

It's the most logical assumption.

No, it's not.  Maybe he went for a job opening.  Maybe he went for kicks and giggles.  No way of knowing unless he straight up tells us.

You mean it is all about selfish materialism and greed?

No.  People tend to like not being blown up.  Additionally, having money, or wanting a better life for yourself/your family is not selfish materialism automatically.

It's a very backwards train of thought that is increasing.

Not denying that it's a bad thing, but your perspective seems kind of... limited, to be making blanket statments like this.

[Nuclear1]

Actually, he's not too far off on that.

Why do a fair amount of Americans oppose healthcare reform?  Because higher taxes on (sometimes not even) their income is more important to them than 44 million people getting the right to see a doctor.

[karajorma]

By saying the word 'our', you just confirmed that you were originally from the USA and not from some other western country, despite living in China. That would explain your apparent dislike for the east, though you live there now for some reason, probably because you have family there and you are part Chinese but Americanized beyond recognition. It's the most logical assumption. It also explains how you were able to have a place to live in China (family there).

**** it. I've had enough of warning you about your actions on here.

Perma-ban from General Discussion. Be more sensible on the rest of the site or it will become a perma-ban from the entire site.

[Mongoose]

Why do a fair amount of Americans oppose healthcare reform?  Because higher taxes on (sometimes not even) their income is more important to them than 44 million people getting the right to see a doctor.

Some likely do oppose it for the potential tax increases, while others may look at it through the prism of opposition to expanded government control in the private sector.  Still others might argue that such reform will negatively impact their own current healthcare coverage, or even some other reason that doesn't come to mind at 2 in the morning.  You can't just reduce the opposition of half the country (give or take) to one simple reason, no matter how justified you do or don't find any of said reasons to be.

(Please let's not turn this into Healthcare Debate Part Whatever.  This was just a statement against over-simplification, nothing more.)

[Kosh]

By saying the word 'our', you just confirmed that you were originally from the USA and not from some other western country, despite living in China. That would explain your apparent dislike for the east, though you live there now for some reason, probably because you have family there and you are part Chinese but Americanized beyond recognition. It's the most logical assumption. It also explains how you were able to have a place to live in China (family there).

I am from the US, but everything else is way wrong.

No 'one' country should be running the world or have more importance or authority than the others. Countries should have equal authority. Are all leaders of NATO seen as having equal authority or is the American member valued and respected more just because NATO was seemingly founded from here? Is there any one individual or a committee that is seen as the leaders of the world, perhaps the NATO president, which I believe is south Korean?

South Korea is not a member of NATO.

I'll say it again but with slight differences from what I recall saying in old posts: The sad part is that these days, especially in America and some other western countries and others heavily influenced by them, seem to have money and possessions take precedence over human life and safety and even love ones in many cases.

And where did the poison toys come from? You seriously need to spend more time in "the East" if you think it's any different here.

Some likely do oppose it for the potential tax increases, while others may look at it through the prism of opposition to expanded government control in the private sector.  Still others might argue that such reform will negatively impact their own current healthcare coverage, or even some other reason that doesn't come to mind at 2 in the morning.  You can't just reduce the opposition of half the country (give or take) to one simple reason, no matter how justified you do or don't find any of said reasons to be.

The biggest reason for many seems to be an ideological opposition to any expansion of government, however justified this maybe. What's sad is that many of those people who would benefit the most and lose the least are the ones out there trying to shout it down. Does anyone have any studies as to how many of these people are lower middle class or lower class? I'd like to see the numbers......

[TrashMan]

That said, bring on the phallic warships!

  GTVA Giagant(d)ick 


And to be on topic:
Is it possible that ANYONE will by the redicolous explanation? Unfortunatly, given the stupidity of some people....yes.