West Virginia Republican: The minimum wage is archaic

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Well, you keep fearing an enemy that collapsed two decades ago. That makes no sense. Perhaps you'd recognize that Europe has grown together since WWII. That cooperation and diplomacy have replaced arms races between the countries.

Ya right. Again do you have any clue on what's been going on with Russia and it's neighbors ? Do you really think Russia has changed to the good ? The US isn't so naive as some Europeans who apparently don't either have a clue as to what's going on to their east, or they don't care. The Baltic country's aren't as naive as Western Europe for the fact they lived it...sans the reason they begged to get into NATO as fast as possible. Same with Poland. Last time I checked, Western Europe wasn't on the screwed side of the Iron Curtain unlike all of Eastern and Central Europe with the exception of Austria.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccCmxdTSwfs <----There's an entire series by Edward Lucas. See his one on Pipeline Politics...their all good ones.

Edited October 18, 2010 by Why_Me

[Danno 1,228]

How would the US be dragged into a war against a nation that no longer exists? This is where your entire argument falls apart - the USSR has ceased to exist over two decades ago. The containment of the USSR was US self interest. Sure, it benefitted Europe but it was US self interest all the same.

We are bound by NATO agreement to defend any other NATO member should they be attacked.

Think about that, we risk being dragged into a war with Russia or any other country which finds its self at war with any one of these trivial countries we have allowed to be come members of NATO.

And what do we get in exchange for this huge risk?

The Comfort of knowing that if we are attacked by some country, Estonia or some of the such country will come to our aid, in so much as they are able.

Giving War Guarantees are highly risky, sometimes they prevent wars but in other situations they can become a domino effect leading to a much larger war than it other wise might have been by dragging more countries into the conflict.

Why are we involving ourselves in satellite countries around Russia?

Because we are there... Russia is now expanding in our Hemisphere. Starting in Venezuela, this week that struck up a deal to develop Nuclear energy there as well as Military exercises.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Ya right. Again do you have any clue on what's been going on with Russia and it's neighbors ? Do you really think Russia has changed to the good ? The US isn't so naive as some Europeans who apparently don't either have a clue as to what's going on to their east, or they don't care. The Baltic country's aren't as naive as Western Europe for the fact they lived it...sans the reason they begged to get into NATO as fast as possible. Same with Poland. Last time I checked, Western Europe wasn't on the screwed side of the Iron Curtain unlike all of Eastern and Central Europe with the exception of Austria.

And that contradicts my assertion how? Right, it doesn't.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

We are bound by NATO agreement to defend any other NATO member should they be attacked.

Think about that, we risk being dragged into a war with Russia or any other country which finds its self at war with any one of these trivial countries we have allowed to be come members of NATO.

Look at it this way: it's a choice the US made and continues to make.

[Danno 1,228]

Look at it this way: it's a choice the US made and continues to make.

It made sense (NATO) at one time, I just don't see the logic in turning it into a military alliance club for countries which have little to no security interest to us.

I think it works counter to our security as now Russia, in response is getting a foot hold in our Hemisphere.

John McCains position on this is one of the reasons I opposed him, in fact I think Obama is better in this regard than him.

[Heracles 417]

FRom what I hear, a lot of folks were ready to get on the "Government is Daddy" bandwagon but they see Countries one after the next, going under and Now they are thinking twice.

The only shinning example of Big-Gov working out is AU.....and let's be honest....they are still wet behind the ears, who knows what that little Pup will grow up to be?

Danno Danno Danno. Have a glance at the top 15 countries with the highest Q.O.L, highest GDP per capita, ranked highest for Human Development etc etc and tell me what sort of governments they have.

Anti-Government or Big-government is the latest BS to be pulled into American politics. It's why I seldom hear people actually discuss issues, rather, they just stick to partisan ideologies and stances. When that fails, we have the good old Constitutional argument. Most people cannot even explain those two political cliches they support, they just don't like them.

After reading numerous posts over the years, it's quite clear that to many on here, communism is the same as socially responsible market-driven democracies. Those two are nothing a like actually, therefore, attempting to use ex soviet countries as some sort of example is just wrong. It's also a classic case of picking an choosing examples [facts] to suit your opinions, than allowing data and reality to form your opinion.

Edited October 18, 2010 by Heracles

[Heracles 417]

Well, you keep fearing an enemy that collapsed two decades ago. That makes no sense. Perhaps you'd recognize that Europe has grown together since WWII. That cooperation and diplomacy have replaced arms races between the countries.

The fact that the US is literally falling apart is of no concern to many here. Now what the US needs to do is invest trillions annually to protect itself against the resurgent Russia, which currently holds 2.2% of the world GDP.

The fact that the US is spending 10 times country in position #2 on defense is irrelevant. Apparently, government spending and borrowing does not matter when it comes to defense. Yes, even if the US is borrowing the money from country #2 and then using it to protect itself from the same country.

Edited October 18, 2010 by Heracles

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

And that contradicts my assertion how? Right, it doesn't.

Your probably right. The US should leave Europe and let the Russians march right through the Baltics, Poland, and then Germany. Hopefully they don't rape every German woman they get their hands on like they did last time they paid a visit to Berlin.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/1382565/Red-Army-troops-raped-even-Russian-women-as-they-freed-them-from-camps.html

"Beevor, the author of the best-selling Stalingrad, says advancing Soviet troops raped large numbers of Russian and Polish women held in concentration camps, as well as millions of Germans."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Terrible_Revenge

"A Terrible Revenge: The Ethnic Cleansing of the East European Germans, 1944-1950"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2002/may/01/news.features11

"'They raped every German female from eight to 80'"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_during_the_occupation_of_Germany

"Rape during the occupation of Germany"

http://histclo.com/essay/war/cold/wc-eer.html

"The Cold War: Eastern European Revolts"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uprising_of_1953_in_East_Germany

"Uprising of 1953 in East Germany"

Edited October 19, 2010 by Why_Me

[Danno 1,228]

Your probably right. The US should leave Europe and let the Russians march right through the Baltics, Poland, and then Germany. Hopefully they don't rape every German woman they get their hands on like they did last time they paid a visit to Berlin.

let me get this right.

Even if all that wild speculation of yours were correct....

You are saying a country of 300 mil (USA) , need to protect the 500 mil people of Europe from Russia a country of like 140 mil?

That seems like fuzzy math to me.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

let me get this right.

Even if all that wild speculation of yours were correct....

You are saying a country of 300 mil (USA) , need to protect the 500 mil people of Europe from Russia a country of like 140 mil?

That seems like fuzzy math to me.

Your right we shouldn't have to. I feel bad though for the smaller country's like the Baltics. Good people, hard working, great culture and they mind their own. If Russia does get a hard on for extending it's borders...which it already has sans Georgia and Chechnya, the Baltics will be the first to go when Russia puts out feelers westward. Russia has a habit of handing out passports and granting citizenship to ethnic Russians in other country's and then later on it invades them using the excuse that it's protecting it's citizens. Russia already tried to hand out passports to ethnic Russians living in the Crim, and Ukraine got wise and passed a law not allowing dual citizenship.

But again your correct, the US shouldn't have to look out for Europe just because European country's. It's sad if you ask me.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Your probably right. The US should leave Europe and let the Russians march right through the Baltics, Poland, and then Germany. Hopefully they don't rape every German woman they get their hands on like they did last time they paid a visit to Berlin.

Paranoid much?

[mawilson 2,133]

Your probably right. The US should leave Europe and let the Russians march right through the Baltics, Poland, and then Germany. Hopefully they don't rape every German woman they get their hands on like they did last time they paid a visit to Berlin.

Paranoid much?

Paranoid much?

LOL - I posted my response before I saw yours.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Paranoid much?

http://www.slate.com/id/2197155/

World Inaction

Russia invades Georgia while the West watches. How did it come to this?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2008/aug/08/georgia.russia

Georgia calls on US to step in after Russian tanks roll across the border to aid separatists in breakaway South Ossetia

http://www.jamestown.org/programs/edm/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=32718&tx_ttnews[backPid]=171&no_cache=1

ESTONIA ALERTS THE EU TO RUSSIA’S CHALLENGE

http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/democracy_power/politics_protest/russia_nashi

Nashi: Russia’s youth counter-movement

http://nearabroad.wordpress.com/2007/05/03/ambassador-attacks-spike-tensions-between-eu-and-russia/

Ambassador Attacks Spike Tensions Between EU & Russia

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1738813.ece

Russia cuts off oil in battle over war statue

http://www.juridicainternational.eu/the-siege-of-the-estonian-embassy-in-moscow-protection-of-a-diplomatic-mission-and-its-staff-in-the-receiving-state

The Siege of the Estonian Embassy in Moscow: Protection of a Diplomatic Mission and Its Staff in the Receiving State

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1578444/Russia-threatens-nuclear-attack-on-Ukraine.html

Russia threatens nuclear attack on Ukraine

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Paranoid much?

Is that a quote from Neville Chamberlain ?