Luca
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Post by Luca on Feb 21, 2020 11:36:12 GMT -8
Unlike some of you I haven’t followed the Democratic debates, but my imperious wife has and I’ve read some of the news reports. It strikes me how shallow and choreographed politics has become. While I’m no Donald Trump partisan, at least he will address in realistic terms the day to day issues like employment, economic growth, international trade, appropriate scope of government power, etc. These Democratic debates can be appalling. It’s who can “out” whom as a racist for obscure comment 20 years ago, who is more gay/lesbian friendly, who is more repulsed by Donald Trump, who is getting more money from wealthy donors, who will forgive more debt, who is less wealthy than the other candidates, etc. etc.
What the hell? Do they think the majority of voters consider these game changing issues? You’re going to be elected because you’re not as wealthy is Elizabeth Warren or Michael Bloomberg? The assumption being that wealth is equivalent to evil?
I’ve had a series of Chinese high school foreign students living with me for about 8 years, including two now. One of them was reading about the debates and had an interesting observation for an 18-year old. He said, paraphrasing, "America is like China. In China if people get into an argument and they can’t agree eventually one will try to end the argument by saying ‘You don’t love China.’ That’s the one thing that’s unforgivable in China and that nobody wants to be accused of. In America the big sin is being a ‘racist’. All you have to do is point your finger and call someone a racist to try to win an argument."
Pretty impressive insight for a teenage foreign student. And he’s right. That’s what the Democratic debates seem like: who can capture the faux moral high ground and wrap himself, herself or itself in the pretentious flag of ethical purity.
So now, whenever we disagree I’ll eventually tell him he doesn’t love China and he’ll call me a racist…………………………………Luca
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Bick
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Post by Bick on Feb 22, 2020 5:51:08 GMT -8
Haven't seen one of those debates either. I imagine they regurgitate what they post on Twitter.
I get the feeling most anyone not a hard left liberal can figure out what is going on with those candidates and their race for the moral outrage trophy.
Good thing you're doing with the exchange students. Need more of that in the world.
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MDDad
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Post by MDDad on Feb 22, 2020 7:21:10 GMT -8
I've watched maybe a total of 30 minutes of all the debates combined, but my takeaways are pretty clear. One, it is very rare that a candidate will actually answer the question that is being asked. Instead, they will almost always revert to their pre-rehearsed talking point that is the closest to the question's subject. And two, these are all weak and deeply flawed candidates, and they are clawing as best they can to blindly find that one little niche that will give them the advantage.
After the 2016 election, I asked what were the odds that the Democrats would nominate the one person on the planet who COULDN'T beat a clown like Donald Trump, yet somehow they found a way. This time they have a whole roster of losers to choose from.
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davidsf
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Post by davidsf on Feb 22, 2020 11:52:17 GMT -8
I've watched maybe a total of 30 minutes of all the debates combined, but my takeaways are pretty clear. One, it is very rare that a candidate will actually answer the question that is being asked. Instead, they will almost always revert to their pre-rehearsed talking point that is the closest to the question's subject. And two, these are all weak and deeply flawed candidates, and they are clawing as best they can to blindly find that one little niche that will give them the advantage. After the 2016 election, I asked what were the odds that the Democrats would nominate the one person on the planet who COULDN'T beat a clown like Donald Trump, yet somehow they found a way. This time they have a whole roster of losers to choose from. At the same time, the “somehow they found a way” comment is both funny... and sad. if ever there has been a time in our history for a third party to step in and pick up the slack, this is it. Regrettably I’ve met the Libertarian candidate. Libertarians are, to me, the best situated to be “that” third party... but their pick this time ain’t it. |
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MDDad
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Post by MDDad on Feb 22, 2020 12:06:07 GMT -8
I agree, because I think there are tens of millions of moderate American voters in the middle who must agonize over whether to support the clown on one side or the clown on the other. It seems to me that a party, or movement, or candidate who could appeal to them and pull them together could make a major splash in November.
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Bick
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Post by Bick on Feb 22, 2020 12:47:33 GMT -8
Clowns are to the left, jokers to the right.
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Luca
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Post by Luca on Feb 22, 2020 13:59:30 GMT -8
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.
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SK80
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Post by SK80 on Apr 9, 2020 10:42:03 GMT -8
Yes it is now more like us... they do not or should not be eating "companion" animals any longer...! China signals end to dog meat consumption by humanwww.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/09/china-signals-end-to-dog-meat-consumption-by-humans
A man walks with his pet dog past a stall during the local dog meat festival in Yulin. Photograph: Tyrone Siu/Reuters
The Chinese government has signalled an end to the human consumption of dogs, with the agriculture ministry today releasing a draft policy that would forbid canine meat.
Citing the “progress of human civilization” as well as growing public concern over animal welfare and prevention of disease transmission from animals to humans, China’s Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs singled out canines as forbidden in a draft “white list” of animals allowed to be raised for meat.
The ministry called dogs a “special companion animal” and one not internationally recognised as livestock.
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thefrog
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Post by thefrog on Apr 9, 2020 15:29:03 GMT -8
Are they really going to enforce this? Also, if this truly is due to the "prevention of disease transmission from animals to humans" shouldn't they actually be focusing on wild animals, i.e. bats?
Good for dogs though
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SK80
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Post by SK80 on Apr 9, 2020 15:55:52 GMT -8
Pigs & Cows are like WTF! |
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SK80
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Post by SK80 on Apr 11, 2020 7:31:37 GMT -8
According to Maher, no they are not...
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Post by bestwishes on Apr 11, 2020 22:10:50 GMT -8
Are they really going to enforce this? Also, if this truly is due to the "prevention of disease transmission from animals to humans" shouldn't they actually be focusing on wild animals, i.e. bats? Good for dogs though Perhaps I can give you the answer, as a Chinese.
Chinese government is going to ban people from eating wild animals like bats. The law is now a draft, publicly collecting comments. It lists 31 categories of animals which are allowed to be bred and eaten. Dog is not on the list, and that's why there is the news.
However, eating dogs has been a tradition in some places for hundreds of years (or maybe thousands), so many people are against banning it. So I doubt whether the ban on dog-eating would finally be enforced. But I'm pretty sure bats are to be banned soon.
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Bick
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Post by Bick on Apr 11, 2020 22:25:40 GMT -8
Hello Best.
Do you think those bans would extend into rural areas? There are parts of the US that eating squirrel and possum are part of the diet.
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Post by bestwishes on Apr 12, 2020 4:21:50 GMT -8
Hello Best. Do you think those bans would extend into rural areas? There are parts of the US that eating squirrel and possum are part of the diet. It’s hard to say. The bans would surely go into effect in every place, but law enforcement has always been a problem in rural areas of China. Maybe bats will be strictly banned after this pandemic, but for other animals... Personally I’m not very optimistic about the enforcement in rural areas. |
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Post by vilepagan on Apr 12, 2020 6:13:39 GMT -8
Hello Best. Do you think those bans would extend into rural areas? There are parts of the US that eating squirrel and possum are part of the diet. It’s hard to say. The bans would surely go into effect in every place, but law enforcement has always been a problem in rural areas of China. Maybe bats will be strictly banned after this pandemic, but for other animals... Personally I’m not very optimistic about the enforcement in rural areas. Not to worry, Despite the China bashing here I'm sure that if the situation were reversed and our government banned the eating of possum and squirrels there's still be those in our rural areas who would do so. |
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