Off Topic Politics Thread

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An American podcast is reporting missiles heading towards the US base in Qatar.
The **** is hitting the fan.

It's a performative move from Iran at this stage. Look we did something (whilst warning Qatar this was happening, so it won't hit anything and nobody will get hurt and we therefore won't get our butts kicked harder).
 
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My friends in Qatar are concerned but many consider them to be fireworks. Fireing missiles at Qatar will be counter-productive. The real damage to US interests will come from terrorists.
 
Come, you masters of war
You that build the big guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothing
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
While the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
While the young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn?
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
That even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good?
Will it buy you forgiveness?
Do you think that it could?
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death will come soon
I will follow your casket
By the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand over your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead.
 
It’s just so much disingenuous argument, Imp. Really disappointing lack of integrity for your normal standards and based on some truly ludicrous assumptions.

I won’t bore you by going over all of them, but:


1. Your entire argument is based around assuming that pro Gaza EQUALS leftist. You ignore the Muslim community who are a wide voting block and also single issue protestors, who are otherwise apolitical or even right leaning.

2. You admit that the SWP are so tiny to be almost a non-entity, but then deride left voters for not knowing enough about them to consider the merits of holding up a sign. Comparing them to notorious groups like the BNP, that even non-politicals understand, is truly ridiculous.


Plus the Socialist Worker is also the publication of the same name. They have the means of production to print these placards, so it likely aids to their ubiquity at protests.

The branding used is on the placards is that of the publication rather than party's fist SWP logo. Many people holding the placards might associate Socialist Worker more with the publication (a familar or casual relationship, if at all ), an awareness of it's authentic lineage regarding Palestinian rights; rather than subscribing to or even considering the political party and it's wider ideology.
 
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So we apparently have a ceasefire, in what Trump is calling "the 12 day war". I suppose we have to tentatively give him some credit for brokering this, but let's see if it holds now and what the ramifications are.
 
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Come, you masters of war
You that build the big guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothing
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
While the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
While the young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn?
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
That even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good?
Will it buy you forgiveness?
Do you think that it could?
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death will come soon
I will follow your casket
By the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand over your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead.
 
Thank you for this - as profound as anything that Sassoon wrote and, imo Dylan at his best. The tragedy is that it’s even more relevant 60 odd years later .
 
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So we apparently have a ceasefire, in what Trump is calling "the 12 day war". I suppose we have to tentatively give him some credit for brokering this, but let's see if it holds now and what the ramifications are.

Trump's foreign policy ia reading like a black comedy. It would surprise me if he actually had a clear vision about tackling Iran and just saw an opportunity to do away with a longstanding foe once Israel had done the dirty work. I remain unconvinced it will work and just think there will be no regime change. The 'proper' retaliation from Iran will be terrorist operations. They will bomb embassies and assasinate soldiers and diplomats.

I also think this will enbolden Trump against North Korea.

Weakening Iran will also cause issues for Russia.
 
Come, you masters of war
You that build the big guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothing
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
While the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
While the young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn?
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
That even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good?
Will it buy you forgiveness?
Do you think that it could?
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death will come soon
I will follow your casket
By the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand over your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead.
Thanks for that Chilcs.
 
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Come, you masters of war
You that build the big guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothing
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
While the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
While the young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn?
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
That even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good?
Will it buy you forgiveness?
Do you think that it could?
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death will come soon
I will follow your casket
By the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand over your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead.
I think it’s time for the world to pass legislation that the heads of the countries, that are on the verge of war, to meet in head to head in combat, with no option of fielding a champion. I would also make a condition that the aggressor should be handicapped in some way.
If the people who send others to fight wars had to be in the front line and face death, I think there would be far fewer wars.
 
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I think it’s time for the world to pass legislation that the heads of the countries, that are on the verge of war, to meet in head to head in combat, with no option of fielding a champion. I would also make a condition that the aggressor should be handicapped in some way.
If the people who send others to fight wars had to be in the front line and face death, I think there would be far fewer wars.
I agree. I also think that leaders of all nuclear states, including Israel, should have one of their children fostered in a nuclear state with an opposing ideology.
 
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I am hoping that the “rebels” are successful in heading off this bill.
If the government thinks that people who are unable to shower themselves or wipe their own backsides, as a result of disability aren’t disabled, then they should hang their heads in shame.
They harp on about helping people back into work but who will employ someone who can’t shower or carry out personal toilet hygiene?
Plus, this is just a personal opinion, I don’t think all employers want to employ people with disability so the issue isn’t always about disabled people not wanting to work but about employers not wanting to give them the opportunity.
I can still remember some of the questions on the PIP form that were designed to prove that you weren’t disabled.
One was - Can you put a pen in or take it out of the breast pocket of your shirt/jacket. If you answer yes does it mean you can now become a secretary or take some other position in an office?
Another was - Can you lift a 1 pint bottle of milk. It didn’t ask if they could then open it or pour milk from it in a controlled manner, just can you lift it, which proves nothing.
The advice from the disabled person’s doctor should be sufficient to decide if a person meets the criteria for the payment.
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