The Official Politics Thread - Trump, Brexit & the World!

[catalina2]

damn, what the hell am I doing up at 4 a.m.?? (was tweeting back and forth with a new gay friend in the UK re gays and Muslims, who said twitter doesn't bring ppl together, but my god, 4 a.m.? nice guy, though, but we sure have different views and it has nothing to do with me being straight). Hey, I had no clue you got "ranked" by the number of tweets. Who knew? about that 10% from Vicky, careful, she just might send it to you! although after your remarks on cancer, maybe not. she's been living around the "Whole Foods" crowd and what sounds like D.O's instead of M.D.'s AND worst of all, way too many greenies. take care Pete, I just have to hit the sack now. it's been a loong day.

[PeterL22]

Night Catalina.
I have no real problem with some therapies Vicky but would prefer to consider them as Complimentary Therapies rather than Alternative Therapies. I have to admit a bias here as I was trained in "normal" Western medicine. I have also had Homeopathic and acupuncture training - the latter is really interesting, works for lots of things and doesn't totally follow Western science.
I do believe that its for the individual to make their own choice but would advise caution if you are faced with an illness such as cancer.


Here's one to leave you to think about - and its real! Clown Medicine has had several limited trials in large US hospitals. The idea is that people trained as traditional clowns (baggy pants red noses and jokes/pratfalls) go into wards and entertain/interact with patients. Some studies report increased wellbeing and shortened hospital stays - so far no real surprise. You would expect the patients who saw the clowns to have better mood and generally feel better. The surprising "hard" scientific result was when the blood counts of two groups were analysed (those on wards with clowns and those on wards without them). Those
on the clown wards had higher (within normal range) white cell counts which could indicate the body being better able to heal and recover! Can't explain that away to easily! One to think about.

And I don't think people who go for Complimentary therapies are flaky, I just worry that some therapists are too quick to attack Western medicine and stop their patients/clients having a choice (or indeed using both).


O - and if you do want to send the 10% Vicky - you know where I live !!

[catalina2]

that's right, Pete, we can both gang up on her. has she ever done dp's? (ooops, is that in bad taste :( )? uhhhh, no response from Vicky yet. I guess she has better things to do like building a business. lol let me know if you want me to continue on this thread, Vic, cause I could write a book on this. I love the way the climatologists/politicians are using this tool to establish world wide life styles and hegemony over our lives. Sneaky bastards.
Have to go for now, am visiting a "sick" friend who needs some injections. :)))

[stickyvicky]

First of all I don't know where you guys got the idea that I was against conventional western medicine? Are you kidding me? We have the best medicine in the world in the USA especially. If you have cancer you better get your ass to surgery, chemo and/or radiation.It sucks but it's all we have right now. Don't know how you possibly got the idea I was saying I was against that. I was saying it's sad how much we have to use it. If we took better care of ourselves as a society we would be forced to use it less. The best medicine is prevention that's all I was saying.

Quote Catalina: "please, please rise above that group-think. look at evidence dispassionately. t-h-i-n-k f-o-r y-o-u-r-s-e-l-f look most especially for agenda driven conclusions. (AGENDA DRIVEN CONCLUSIONS? Monsanto is a billion dollar company. They do the studies themselves or pay the people who do the studies?) look at credentials, contributors, study design and hypothesis, look at the context in which the study is reported. don't trust anything from government agencies. (I DON'T TRUST ANYTHING FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES - THEY ARE THE ONES SAYING IT'S OK TO INGEST ROUNDUP. start from the thought that "you have to convince me first, rather than I believe you"

I do exactly that Catalina. Please convince me that eating ROUNDUP is safe? Why do you think GMO's are not allowed in most countries in the world except the USA? I would have to google it to be sure, but pretty sure it's banned everywhere in Europe?

I'm sure that genetic modification does occur in nature, I'm sure that is fine.. also there is some genetic modification scientists can do to make fruit and vegetables grow bigger or faster, that's great, let's feed more people.

But genetically modifying soy and corn, so that it can withstand massive amounts of roundup, and even incorporating the roundup into the cellular structure of the food is going too far. You can not wash it or peel it off. The roundup is all through the cells of the food. We have no choice but to eat it. We don't even know we are eating it. Everyone does. Doesn't matter if you are vegetarian, or eat paleo or gluten free or whatever the latest fad is. There is no labeling on food, so the government has taken away our choice whether to buy it or not. We have no rights as consumers to know what we are putting into our bodies. That is the only reason to buy organic because it's the only way to be sure. I do not shop at Whole Foods, I don't think I could afford it, or want to, I just buy the organic at Publix. If more people bought the organic (they are starting to) they will carry more and more of it. Supply equals demand.

ROUNDUP = Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide and crop desiccant. It is an organophosphorus compound, specifically a phosphonate. It is used to kill weeds, especially annual broadleaf weeds and grasses that compete with crops.

I can send you over 100 links in 5 min.... here is a somewhat recent article by a non credible rag called National Geographic... yeah you can't believe anything you read in there right?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015 ... ide-weeds/
http://www.collective-evolution.com/201 ... -are-safe/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... icide.aspx oldy but goody
https://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/toxic-to ... gQodSgcKyQ
Another devastating agent you really do not want in your body is formaldehyde, which a recent nutritional analysis discovered is present in genetically engineered corn at a level that is 200 times the amount that animal studies have determined to be toxic to animals. Formaldehyde destroys DNA and can cause cancer.
http://www.panna.org/blog/roundup-cance ... gQodgUwJCg
Here is a petition to sign to encourage the EPA (our government who is doing nothing to protect us because they are in the back pocket of Monsanto and Dow Chemical) to join Europe and stop allowing this poison to be allowed in our food. Just google it yourself, you will see. Why would you trust Monsanto and or Dow Chemical or our government who tell us it's safe?

[stickyvicky]

Quote by Catalina: All it will take is a virus similar to the AIDS virus though more resistant, more virulent and you can kiss your ass goodbye, global warming or not. We already have super-bugs (nosocomial staph) that are virtually resistant to our current arsenal of antibiotics.

Yes I totally agree with this. The meat and poultry business has been injecting our food with antibiotics for so many years now, and doctors prescribing antibiotics for every little sniffle, so we are becoming completely immune to them. The next major virus that comes along, we are history. Yes Catalina convince me that injecting our food with antibiotics is good for us.

[stickyvicky]

I have one last request for you tonight Cat. I love the fact that you post your opinions here. They are fascinating indeed. I don't love the way you choose your words. You will notice that Peter and I never once called anyone "bat shit crazy" or called them a "toad" or a "moron" or "a fat ass". I don't know if you ever re-read what you have written but you should do it as a practice. Take a step back, take a chillpill, and breathe before you hit the post button. I don't think you really see how you come across? It's not necessary to be ugly. Not everyone who disagrees with you is retarded just because they disagree. We all come from different backgrounds. There are people here from every country, every lifestyle, every education level, not everyone posts, a lot of people just read. They never will post if you are so offensive. Heck even the people on the forum who agree with you don't post, because they don't want to be drawn into a fight. I don't view it as a fight. I view it as a spirited debate. I have only good intentions. A lot of people here told me to ban you. I didn't do it, I don't believe in that. I believe in free speech. I don't believe in censorship. I believe in love. I believe in kindness. I believe that eventually you will see that we are all the same. We all have a lot in common. We all have open minds. We all want to be loved. We all love sex.

This Danish You tube video explains it far more eloquently than I could. I hope you will open your mind and your heart as you watch it, and stop insulting people. There is just no need.

[catalina2]

Vick, you might review some of the threads re who has called who "batshit" crazy. apparently I find myself in a humorless group more concerned with "hurt feelings"and p.c. than facts. Well, you achieved your goal. I will accede to those desiring my ban. I am self-banned. No use in aggravating you or myself any further. Have fun all. It's not been fun.

[catalina2]

just one very last comment: never have I seen such invective against one man, President Donald Trump, as I have on this so-called "civil" site. Yet attack a democrat (Sanders, Obama, Gore) and you're coarse, obnoxious and just plain wrong. I must say it's an excellent reflection of the "tolerant" left.

[PeterL22]

First of all I don't know where you guys got the idea that I was against conventional western medicine? Are you kidding me? We have the best medicine in the world in the USA especially. If you have cancer you better get your ass to surgery, chemo and/or radiation.It sucks but it's all we have right now. Don't know how you possibly got the idea I was saying I was against that. I was saying it's sad how much we have to use it. If we took better care of ourselves as a society we would be forced to use it less. The best medicine is prevention that's all I was saying.

Quote Catalina: "please, please rise above that group-think. look at evidence dispassionately. t-h-i-n-k f-o-r y-o-u-r-s-e-l-f look most especially for agenda driven conclusions. (AGENDA DRIVEN CONCLUSIONS? Monsanto is a billion dollar company. They do the studies themselves or pay the people who do the studies?) look at credentials, contributors, study design and hypothesis, look at the context in which the study is reported. don't trust anything from government agencies. (I DON'T TRUST ANYTHING FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES - THEY ARE THE ONES SAYING IT'S OK TO INGEST ROUNDUP. start from the thought that "you have to convince me first, rather than I believe you"

I do exactly that Catalina. Please convince me that eating ROUNDUP is safe? Why do you think GMO's are not allowed in most countries in the world except the USA? I would have to google it to be sure, but pretty sure it's banned everywhere in Europe?

I'm sure that genetic modification does occur in nature, I'm sure that is fine.. also there is some genetic modification scientists can do to make fruit and vegetables grow bigger or faster, that's great, let's feed more people.

But genetically modifying soy and corn, so that it can withstand massive amounts of roundup, and even incorporating the roundup into the cellular structure of the food is going too far. You can not wash it or peel it off. The roundup is all through the cells of the food. We have no choice but to eat it. We don't even know we are eating it. Everyone does. Doesn't matter if you are vegetarian, or eat paleo or gluten free or whatever the latest fad is. There is no labeling on food, so the government has taken away our choice whether to buy it or not. We have no rights as consumers to know what we are putting into our bodies. That is the only reason to buy organic because it's the only way to be sure. I do not shop at Whole Foods, I don't think I could afford it, or want to, I just buy the organic at Publix. If more people bought the organic (they are starting to) they will carry more and more of it. Supply equals demand.







ROUNDUP = Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide and crop desiccant. It is an organophosphorus compound, specifically a phosphonate. It is used to kill weeds, especially annual broadleaf weeds and grasses that compete with crops.

I can send you over 100 links in 5 min.... here is a somewhat recent article by a non credible rag called National Geographic... yeah you can't believe anything you read in there right?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015 ... ide-weeds/
http://www.collective-evolution.com/201 ... -are-safe/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... icide.aspx oldy but goody
https://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/toxic-to ... gQodSgcKyQ
Another devastating agent you really do not want in your body is formaldehyde, which a recent nutritional analysis discovered is present in genetically engineered corn at a level that is 200 times the amount that animal studies have determined to be toxic to animals. Formaldehyde destroys DNA and can cause cancer.
http://www.panna.org/blog/roundup-cance ... gQodgUwJCg
Here is a petition to sign to encourage the EPA (our government who is doing nothing to protect us because they are in the back pocket of Monsanto and Dow Chemical) to join Europe and stop allowing this poison to be allowed in our food. Just google it yourself, you will see. Why would you trust Monsanto and or Dow Chemical or our government who tell us it's safe?

Hi Vicky,
Never really thought you were against Western medicine at all. What you say is true - we all seem to want a pill for all ills.
A trainee doc I once knew had a great way of describing it - when you feel off (either physically or mentally) and come to see a doc for "something to make it better". She called it the "Crap life syndrome" and to me that was really insightful. There are some aches and pains in life that a hug or similar show of love from someone who is important in your life works better than anything quacks (sorry I mean doctors - as you know I can say this) can give you!
Look after your own - both they and you will be healthier for it!

[PeterL22]

I have one last request for you tonight Cat. I love the fact that you post your opinions here. They are fascinating indeed. I don't love the way you choose your words. You will notice that Peter and I never once called anyone "bat shit crazy" or called them a "toad" or a "moron" or "a fat ass". I don't know if you ever re-read what you have written but you should do it as a practice. Take a step back, take a chillpill, and breathe before you hit the post button. I don't think you really see how you come across? It's not necessary to be ugly. Not everyone who disagrees with you is retarded just because they disagree. We all come from different backgrounds. There are people here from every country, every lifestyle, every education level, not everyone posts, a lot of people just read. They never will post if you are so offensive. Heck even the people on the forum who agree with you don't post, because they don't want to be drawn into a fight. I don't view it as a fight. I view it as a spirited debate. I have only good intentions. A lot of people here told me to ban you. I didn't do it, I don't believe in that. I believe in free speech. I don't believe in censorship. I believe in love. I believe in kindness. I believe that eventually you will see that we are all the same. We all have a lot in common. We all have open minds. We all want to be loved. We all love sex.

This Danish You tube video explains it far more eloquently than I could. I hope you will open your mind and your heart as you watch it, and stop insulting people. There is just no need.

My last word - on this anyway!
Thank God we both live in countries where we can say this stuff - batshit crazy or not!

[stickyvicky]

Vick, you might review some of the threads re who has called who "batshit" crazy. apparently I find myself in a humorless group more concerned with "hurt feelings"and p.c. than facts. Well, you achieved your goal. I will accede to those desiring my ban. I am self-banned. No use in aggravating you or myself any further. Have fun all. It's not been fun.

That's an over reaction. Just because I asked you to be kind? Express your feelings without being insulting and demeaning? I don't think what I was asking was unreasonable? You cant do that so u ban yourself? Or you just realized how bad eating roundup is and are embarrased that you defended it? Lol.... That was not the goal here. I didnt want you to leave. You didn't even comment on the video.

Trust me we are not a "humorless group"! I hope you figure that out. I had high hopes for you.

[CGYMike]

I was hoping to get to this forum last night but found myself drifting off from a long plane ride home from the good ole' USA. I found the people that I met to be once again wonderful, hospitable hosts who welcome people from wherever they came from. Now I realize that my sample group only included a bunch of people from an isolated island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, but they were American, they were from all over America who were either visitors or did live there.

Just like me, they came from different backgrounds, races, religions, countries. Some were white like me, others native Hawaiians, African Americans, Indian, Japanese, German. Some were gay, straight, bi I'm sure but it was hard to tell. Some were Republicans, some Democrats, some supported the Green Party, and I'm sure somewhere out there was a Nazi or two.

I'm sad that Catalina has banned himself from the forum. Believe it or not I'm gunna miss him. Even though I don't agree with him on most of what he says I do enjoy his writing and his opinions. The freedoms that we enjoy are based on a democratic process that elects officials to represent us in government...and that Government also has a check and balance system to make sure that our elected officials are doing the job that we elected them to do. When we disagree with their choices we also have the right to express our displeasure without prosecution.

I'm old enough to have learned a few things:

You shouldn't talk about religion or politics at work
The internet is full of people who use its anonymity to spread hateful messages
The internet is full of people who use its anonymity to spread love and peace
True friends stick with you through thick or thin
If you eat Round-up it will probably kill you

Spreading Love and Peace to the World
Mike

[WalterB]

There are three topics here that I quit reading a long time ago Why? Because I hate argument, fighting and discord. When I do have an opinion, I try to state it in a manner that respects everyone. Many times I have written a post, then had to go back and edit it, because I do NOT want to hurt or aggravate anyone. Sometimes I have written it, then decided not to post it, for the same reasons. Yet I'm sure I still do. So be it.

Catalina, you are great at the cam shows. You watch, you comment when you want, and we all have fun. That's what it is supposed to be about. I quit those three early on, after what I thought were vitriolic posts. I knew I could not reply without getting angry. So I shut up. The entire reason I love Vicky, this place and all of you, is because of the love we all feel for each other. I even told Vicky that I was sorry that she had started those topics. (Suddenly I can't find the one of them. Maybe I can't even remember the title.) She said that she wants peoples impressions and thoughts on different subjects. Vicky is very level-headed and even. She is forgiving to a fault. So if Vicky steps up and (very nicely) tries to calm someone down, then that someone is doing something wrong.

Since joining this site (on Dec 31st, 2005) I have blown up two or three times. But no one had to correct me, because I calmed down, realized I had gone over the line. I came back, I apologized, and we all moved on.

I love sitting and talking with Vicky. We like many of the same things, and we differ on many things, too. But, you know what's good about that? We can sit and discuss things rationally. When we disagree, we can state our points without getting upset. But the best part? We listen to each other. We consider what the other is saying. And when we hear a good point, we acknowledge that. We sometimes agree to disagree. But we don't go into anything with a closed mind. We are willing to listen, and to admit, when someone else thinks they are right, to at least admit that they have a good point. You know, "I like my point better but your point makes sense." It's not really hard. All you have to do is listen as much as you talk.

That's what this forum is about. Everyone is certainly free to have their own opinion about anything. But we must be nice, not angry or hateful. Not calling others hateful names. Not disparaging others opinions. Agreeing to disagree. We all have opinions about the world. But have we forgotten how to listen to others, and to understand that, just because someone has an opinion different that ours does not mean that it is bad or wrong?

Please, let us be nice to each other, and let us bring back the love. That's the part that I like.

[WalterB]

This Danish You tube video explains it far more eloquently than I could. I hope you will open your mind and your heart as you watch it, and stop insulting people. There is just no need.

I posted this clip on my Facebook page. And this is the comment I posted with it.

"Everyone within the sound of my keyboard should watch this right now. If you can't full screen it, click the Youtube box and it will take you there where you can. But WATCH IT! This is US. This is the world. We are ONE!"

[BoobMonkey]

in my opinion, one of the defining characteristics of being a responsible adult is that you are capable of engaging in debate with someone whose opinion differs from your own yet you are capable of remaining rational, calm and dignified.

[CGYMike]

This is what 4 short weeks of spinning stories out of your azz does to you...just an observation

[PeterL22]

in my opinion, one of the defining characteristics of being a responsible adult is that you are capable of engaging in debate with someone whose opinion differs from your own yet you are capable of remaining rational, calm and dignified.

You said it Boobmonkey.
Who said I don't agree with your opinion but I'll fight to the death to defend your right to say it - or something like that?
If we all agreed on everything what a boring world. But the key is, if you sit back and listen you often learn things - about the world and about the people you care about!

[CGYMike]

Yikes!

[George B]

This is what 4 short weeks of spinning stories out of your azz does to you...just an observation

Politics and spin aside, this made me think of this...

S-G.jpg (6.36 KiB) Viewed 260 times

[Gert-Jan]

Trump's administration inherited a mess, the media can't stop spreading fake news and whatever is happening in the Middle East and North-Korea, "we're gonna take care of it, folks". Thankfully the #TrumpPresser hashtag gifted us with lots of funny comments regarding his rather bizarre news conference this week.

I fully respect everyone who used his or her right to vote for Donald Trump, but my opinion is that this man is totally inadequate to be President.

The Late Show (2/16) with Stephen Colbert (11 mins)



Last Week Tonight (2/12) with John Oliver (23 mins)

1) How did the US get a pathological liar in the White House?
2) Where are his lies coming from?
3) Why do so many people believe him?
4) And what can we possibly do about it?