Big Ol' Smitty

Economic liberalization & structural adjustment have not been wildly successful in eliminating global poverty--the process tends to make life harder for the people of the "adjusting" country--the same people who don't have any say in the agreements with the creditor countries or the international financial institutions. I do, however, think it's great that we (as well as several European creditor countries) have forgiven much of the Iraqi debt. I also think, though, that it might have been better for them to simply take control of their own economy instead of having it controlled by outside, First World forces.

I would list the countries who made changes based on European diplomacy --- but I'm drawing a total blank in naming one. -=Mike What the fuck does that have to do with what you quoted?

Yeah, Turkmenistan has a pretty poor human rights record and an authoritarian government, too. I don't know how closely we associate with them, though. We are pretty buddy-buddy with their horribly oppressive Uzbek neighbors and the nearby dictatorship in Pakistan, though.

Alright! So the #2 recipient of US aid makes a symbolic (at least) stride toward democratic reform! Let's see Egypt down...that leaves only a few other countries with poor human rights records and/or undemocratic governments left that we deal with... Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Russia, Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia... Heaven forbid we trade with Cuba, though.

So "freedom" doesn't include the right to structure your economy as you see fit?

You're on a roll with the consistency today! UIA tenet: All MikeSC: So they want a timetable--and it will be done if that's what they want! But we don't set timetables. And they want debt cancellation--and it will be done if that's what they want! But poor countries need their economies "fixed" as rich countries and neo-liberal financial institutions see fit. Oh yeah. And I'm sure they'll get that nationalized oil industry they want. If that is what they want to do--YES!--it will be done!

UIA tenet: MikeSC: George W. Bush: MikeSC:

communism (n)-A theoretical economic system characterized by the collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members. "Troops leaving a country" is the OPPOSITE (capitalization rules) of this?

Are you aware of structural adjustment programmes? Poor countries may ask for debt cancellation, but what they usually get is a big, heaping plate full of neo-liberal reform, privatization, decreases in public spending, currency devaluation, & rising interest rates. Debt cancellation is a decidedly leftist concept. And on the oil thing--I think they would be referring to nationalization of the oil industry. Ruh-roh.

EDIT: If that is what they want to do, then yes, it will be done. GWB, four days after 1/30 election: Tony Blair was also very dismissive of the idea of a timetable when asked about it after the election. Expanding the public sector, keeping the oil, and debt cancellation are probably pipe dreams as well.

Back onto the topic of Iraq, here are some interesting tenets of the UIA platform (this was the winning "slate" in the Jan. 30 election): -"a timetable for withdrawal of the multinational forces in Iraq" -"adopting a social security system under which the state guarantees a job for every fit Iraqi...and offers facilities to citizens to build homes" -A pledge "to write off Iraq's debts, cancel reparations and use the oil wealth for economic development projects" These tenets fly in the face of the free-market "reform" ushered in during Bremer's tenure in Iraq and also in the face of Iraq's recent IMF agreement. It will be interesting to see if any of these radical, left-wing measures actually make it into the constitution.

That was some sucker punch bullshit. I'm 6' *maybe* 160 lbs. If I even thought that big guy was coming after me I would either: A.) Jet-there's no way a fatass like that could catch me B.) Find a gun or some sort of very effective object to use as a weapon I think a few punches from a motherfucker like that could kill me.

Yeah, cuz that's what I said. Then you're a fucking idiot. -=Mike ...Notice that Clinton was ranked ahead of FDR, Truman, etc? I thought not... Sarcasm is lost on some people I guess. You put in words in my mouth in your previous post. Thanks for the unwarranted flame though, sweetie! -=Smitty ...Loves how you insult other people's intelligence constantly but your principle debate tactic is...wait for it... Name calling.

Yeah, cuz that's what I said.

This poll is kinda funny, and I didn't think it warranted its own thread: http://starrcenter.washcoll.edu/poll/gw_poll_results.pdf Q12. If G.W. Bush ran against George Washington today, for whom would you vote? Republicans Washington 28% Bush 62%

Don't you think you're an extraordinary case in this situation? I'm not a huge proponent of soy, but either you're allergic, or it was something else. I ate a burger once, and was evacuating from both ends, I'm not going to say that beef's the devil. It's delicious. White Castle has always had the same effect on me.

I completely disagree. The one time I ate it I got sicker than when I had food poisoning. It was just awful and it messed my stomach up for weeks afterwards. This had nothing to do with what I said. When I said "good" I meant nutrition-wise (which is more important), not necessarily taste-wise.

Tempeh is the shiznite. And Vyce, I know, I know, "meat good!" but the main problem with world nutrition is lack of protein, not lack of sufficient calories. It is much more efficient for a poor third world farmer to produce soy protein than animal protein. The cost to produce 10 g of soy protein would be considerably less than that of producing 10 g of animal protein. When you are hungry, it is much more logical to produce a vegetable protein than an animal protein. Plus they don't come with the side effect of ingesting animal fats. I only eat lean meats (chicken, fish, lean cuts of beef), dairy, and vegetables for my protein and I stay very healthy, never get sick, am a competetive runner, and have added 15 lbs. of muscle to my wiry frame within the past 14 months.

You guys can hate on soy all you want, but it's a good, cheap, efficient source of protein and could be a key component in improving nutrition worldwide.

I liked his stuff on espn.com because he was a UK fan. Also, not very many famous people come out of Kentucky.

Yeah. Gotta please the white man!

While we're on the subject, check out this new attack ad on the AARP from the folks who brought you SBVT (ad from American Spectator site):

Poop-a-poo!

Because gayness is spread the same way as vampirism.

Okaaaaaay...