This is bad news... for Obama.

This could be a very good thing, since this means we can stop acting like the world's policeman, and cut our military budget to something on the order of not almost more than the rest of the world combined. Since biggest wasteful part of the budget.

He's an alien.

New boss, old boss, etc etc.

Hmm, that last sentence was supposed to be combined into the previous one and read something like "since it is the most wasteful part of the budget." Spending billions on aircraft carriers and unproductive holes in the ground is stupid when we don't even have something as basic as government provided health care and the US unemployment benefits are the worst in the 1st world.

I would expect the US President to think that the US is the most important got-damned country in the world since it's his got-damned job to represent to, promote to, and defend our interests against the rest of the got-damned world.

Or he could just send them all an Amazon gift certificate and a "wassaaaap" and call that diplomacy, like he's been doing.

Hey, he's sounding more and more like that total farking loser Carter every day....

Capitalist1: I would expect the US President to think that the US is the most important got-damned country in the world

You sound self-centered. We lost that title a few years back. There is no most important country right now, we're in a transition. The title is being shared by the USA, Japan, China, and the EU. Time will tell who gets the sole possession of that title, and we probably don't have the production capacity to keep it anymore. The only reason we are in the running is that we have lots of weapons and an unsustainable consumption of goods.

While someone is heating up the popcorn, I will get soda and beers.

A little humility goes a long way.

Capitalist1: I would expect the US President to think that the US is the most important got-damned country in the world since it's his got-damned job to represent to, promote to, and defend our interests against the rest of the got-damned world.

You can represent, promote and defend your interests without resorting to American Exceptionalism.

Capitalist1: I would expect the US President to think that the US is the most important got-damned country in the world since it's his got-damned job to represent to, promote to, and defend our interests against the rest of the got-damned world.

Your frightening the neighbours, grandpa. Why don't you come inside and take your laxative?

Capitalist1: I would expect the US President to think that the US is the most important got-damned country in the world since it's his got-damned job to represent to, promote to, and defend our interests against the rest of the got-damned world.

We were great until our parts were all sold to China over the past 30 years. Now we're mostly just a trinket-addicted vacuous pit.

Multilateralism is the only way forward, absolutely. And the Washington Consensus - as reinterpreted by the development community, and not as initially set forth by the author who coined the term - needs to go. But Obama needs to start exercising the steel within the velvet glove pretty quickly. A lot of the world still looks to us for leadership, and we desperately need to contain China.

GAT_00: This could be a very good thing, since this means we can stop acting like the world's policeman, and cut our military budget to something on the order of not almost more than the rest of the world combined. Since biggest wasteful part of the budget.

Since needed education more part of budget.

Remove all Republicans: GAT_00: This could be a very good thing, since this means we can stop acting like the world's policeman, and cut our military budget to something on the order of not almost more than the rest of the world combined. Since biggest wasteful part of the budget.

THIS. Help the world out with financial and humanitarian aid, but not their policemen. That's the UN's job.

really? i would totally fire all of them

not to say we've been much better, but dizzam... they sure as hell aren't a shining beacon of well... anything

Remove all Republicans: captainktainer: A lot of the world still looks to us for leadership

Too bad. They'll be disappointed now. They need to grow and learn to decide for themselves. The US should start acting like it's one of the equals in the world. Why should the US get to permanently be on the Security Council of the UN when countries like Syria and Sudan equally have a right to be there? They are all countries.

Are you trolling? Sudan on the Security Council?

People can't even perceive what the state of world affairs would be like if you took away American military and economic power.

also you guys are talking too much idealisms and not realities, a lot of countries in the world go through the United States both economically and politically (and in some cases militarily) because their only other option is nobody else really, or maybe China or Russia but what kind of stable or supportive relationship is that? i mean seriously... but anyhow, i think if Barack is smart he'll restructure priorities within the relationships the United States has already established, rather than burning bridges, that sure as hell won't create any long-lasting foreign stability, especially when countries start getting desperate

Obama's diplomacy is off to a very, very good start.

BUT HE BOWED TO AN ARAB THOUGH!!!!!11

gat 00 when we don't even have something as basic as government provided health care

I highly recommend I.O.USA, a non-partisan film addressing some of our fiscal and monetary woes. In it, you will realize that not only do we have "gov't provided health care" (50% of US-americans are using teh gov't health care), but that we spend more on that health care than we do on defense.

Just look how R.a.R. trolls you. You know that he's Sean Hannity in disguise, mocking you.

proteus_b
In it, you will realize that not only do we have "gov't provided health care" (50% of US-americans are using teh gov't health care), but that we spend more on that health care than we do on defense.

I'm having a difficult time believing that last little bit.

also, Obama's speech was very successful. The routine (good cop/bad cop) is working very nicely. I wonder who we will have in 2016 to play bad cop?

LordZorch: Hey, he's sounding more and more like that total farking loser Carter every day....

Yay for realism! Boo for exceptionalism!

I bet he has a limp handshake.

The arrogant "patriotic" Americans will definitely take offense to this. And it's damn good they are out of power because them and their followers are assholes.

yelmrog
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fy2008spendingbycategory.png

Note that once you get a job and start paying taxes, you will realize that you also have to pay state income taxes. In some states you can't even deduct this tax from your federal tax. Much of the spending on "health care" and "education" is done at the state level. In fact, even more on education is done at the local level (you've heard of "live in the good school district". well those people raise their taxes to have those good schools. are they bastards? that question doesn't have an answer. I went to a catholic school at 4k per year, the average amount a public school spends on each kid is 14k. i must be really dumb, at that level of 'underfundedness'.


In summary: defense, homeland security and "war on terror" comprises about 27% of federal outlays. Medicare, Medicaid and welfare comprise about 30% of federal outlays. Education comprises only 2% of federal .

However, the state and local outlays are not included in this figure. Once taken into account, you realize that while we are spending a great deal on defense, it is not nearly the outrageous proportion that it seems to be. Otherwise, how else could we be spending more per child on education than any other nation in the world? The problem isn't the lack of money.

yelmrog: proteus_b
In it, you will realize that not only do we have "gov't provided health care" (50% of US-americans are using teh gov't health care), but that we spend more on that health care than we do on defense.

I'm having a difficult time believing that last little bit.

It's actually true. About 5% of GDP towards defense as about 16% towards health care.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_the_United_States#cite_note-WHO_200 8 -0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_budget_of_the_United_States

Both have citations.

But that doesn't mean our military spending isn't out of control.

That'll never work.


The real qualification is will anyone want to have a beer with him.

Capitalist1: I would expect the US President to think that the US is the most important got-damned country in the world since it's his got-damned job to represent to, promote to, and defend our interests against the rest of the got-damned world.

Right and if he were President of say Costa Rica, you would think it was hius duty to claim that Costa Rica was the most important country in the world too right?

Reality. Love it or leave it.

Ah, a classic Leftist philosophy. Bring down the stars to the level of the swamp.

destructor-

oh i know. remember that 23 year old kid with the 300 million dollar contract in which he substituted cold war era chinese pinball machines? sure fooled those libyans. i'm all for cleaning up waste, educating the fools, healing the sick. it's just a little more complicated than "GOP=bad, spendeth the money".

i could also note that the world health organization ranks our health care system 15 in the world for "attainment", and that it's the "financial fairness" factor which drags us down to the Moorean 37. In fact, in that category, "performance", Canada actually ranks 30, not 7 as Moore implied. Also, for "responsiveness", we are ranked first in the world.

The fact that most Democrats like Moore are demagogues and idiots doesn't mean that there aren't a million things that need change and repair. I'm not even going to talk about the other party; they are below eye level.

citations (WHO world health report 2000)
http://www.who.int/whr/2000/en/whr00_en.pdf

look at pages 180s and 190s

Wait, when did Obama quit acting like a dick?

Swampthing in Korea: Ah, a classic Leftist philosophy. Bring down the stars to the level of the swamp.

There are no stars. It's all in your head.

Silovik: Remove all Republicans: captainktainer: A lot of the world still looks to us for leadership

Too bad. They'll be disappointed now. They need to grow and learn to decide for themselves. The US should start acting like it's one of the equals in the world. Why should the US get to permanently be on the Security Council of the UN when countries like Syria and Sudan equally have a right to be there? They are all countries.

Are you trolling? Sudan on the Security Council?

People can't even perceive what the state of world affairs would be like if you took away American military and economic power.

He is a troll, and a damned good one.

China is on the Security Council, so for all intents and purposes, Sudan does have a seat.

The Un human rights council does have some great members, like Egypt (dictatorial police state), Russia (aka Putinstan), Nigeria (so corrupt I had to pay them to type their name, also Sharia addicts), South Africa (rape cures aids!), Malaysia (Chinese welcome, TO DIE!) and Cuba (gulags, what gulags...comrade?)

Remove all Republicans: Too bad. They'll be disappointed now. They need to grow and learn to decide for themselves. The US should start acting like it's one of the equals in the world. Why should the US get to permanently be on the Security Council of the UN when countries like Syria and Sudan equally have a right to be there? They are all countries.

I would prefer if you and I had nothing to do with each other; please don't quote me and I won't quote you. I find your trolling particularly disgusting.

Swampthing in Korea: The Un human rights council does have some great members, like Egypt (dictatorial police state), Russia (aka Putinstan), Nigeria (so corrupt I had to pay them to type their name, also Sharia addicts), South Africa (rape cures aids!), Malaysia (Chinese welcome, TO DIE!) and Cuba (gulags, what gulags...comrade?)

Would you prefer they be outside the system entirely, O Mighty Realist? We have extremely limited resources, and I find it interesting that you single out South Africa, Malaysia, and Cuba - three countries that have opened up and reformed significantly over the last two to three decades, although Cuba less than the others (largely because of how isolated they are). Or do you forget the role that U.N. institutions had in forcing South Africa to end apartheid?

I suspect Obama isn't of the strongly worded letter or butthurt schools of diplomacy but rather the "I'm not angry, I'm just really disappointed" school. Which would work a lot better than what we've been doing.

captainktainer: Remove all Republicans: Too bad. They'll be disappointed now. They need to grow and learn to decide for themselves. The US should start acting like it's one of the equals in the world. Why should the US get to permanently be on the Security Council of the UN when countries like Syria and Sudan equally have a right to be there? They are all countries.

I would prefer if you and I had nothing to do with each other; please don't quote me and I won't quote you. I find your trolling particularly disgusting.

Swampthing in Korea: The Un human rights council does have some great members, like Egypt (dictatorial police state), Russia (aka Putinstan), Nigeria (so corrupt I had to pay them to type their name, also Sharia addicts), South Africa (rape cures aids!), Malaysia (Chinese welcome, TO DIE!) and Cuba (gulags, what gulags...comrade?)

Would you prefer they be outside the system entirely, O Mighty Realist? We have extremely limited resources, and I find it interesting that you single out South Africa, Malaysia, and Cuba - three countries that have opened up and reformed significantly over the last two to three decades, although Cuba less than the others (largely because of how isolated they are). Or do you forget the role that U.N. institutions had in forcing South Africa to end apartheid?

Yes, keep them out.

In undermines the idea of Human Rights when such countries serve on the council

Swampthing in Korea: In undermines the idea of Human Rights when such countries serve on the council

Yes because the US which has let untold thousands die in the last two decades has any room to talk. Remember Rwanda when everyone turned tail and let thousands be slaughtered? The US was in on that.

WhyteRaven74: Swampthing in Korea: In undermines the idea of Human Rights when such countries serve on the council

Yes because the US which has let untold thousands die in the last two decades has any room to talk. Remember Rwanda when everyone turned tail and let thousands be slaughtered? The US was in on that.

That is deflection, and does nothing to defeat my point. Trying to bring up past injustices does not excuse or legitimize the problems of having countries like Egypt and China on the Human ights counties.

Swampthing in Korea: In undermines the idea of Human Rights when such countries serve on the council

I always find it amusing when right-wingers still try to claim that WE have had some heroic foreign policy that champions human rights around the world.

Edsel

Who the hell is "we"?

I'm Australian.

captainktainer

sorry to bother you but i have a technical question. how would i get on a do not call list for robocalls. i am getting calls on my cell phone (as of the last 6 months) for "your warranty is expiring". my cars' warranties have LONG since expired. this is commerce. i don't want it. help?

You think one day every country will tell the USA to "GET OFF MY DAMN LAWN".

Edsel: Swampthing in Korea: In undermines the idea of Human Rights when such countries serve on the council

I always find it amusing when right-wingers still try to claim that WE have had some heroic foreign policy that champions human rights around the world.

No kidding. I'd heard that after North Korea locked up a couple of American journalists this week, and we asked about them, we were told they weren't in Gitmo. (with a smirk)

I heard he would rather do some sabre rattlin' instead, but Cheney took them all and won't give them back.

Swampthing in Korea: Edsel

Who the hell is "we"?

I'm Australian.

"We" is the USA. You know, the topic of the thread?

Edsel: Swampthing in Korea: Edsel

Who the hell is "we"?

I'm Australian.

"We" is the USA. You know, the topic of the thread?

So that means I can criticise the UN Human Rights council without reference to my countries past conduct as a way to invalidate my points.
Yay!