Off Topic Politics Thread

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Some truth in this, but as the Catalan regional government was determined to go ahead with an unconstitutional referendum anyway, the national government had at least 3 options;

1) allow the referendum to go ahead and agree to meet with the Catalan authorities to agree a way forward afterwards.
2) allow the referendum to go ahead but, havimg already seen it ruled unconstitutional by the Spanish courts, resolve to ignore the results.
3) Send in the Guardia Civil (a hated remnant of Franco's old paramilitary police), close down polling stations, arrest Catalan officials, and assault protesters in full view of the world's press.

Seems to me Rajoy's government chose the worst of those options.

As we all know, such a referendum is not allowed under the terms of the Spanish Constitution agreed upon in 1978. Several things need to happen before there is social and economic collapse. The Spanish constitution needs to be revisited and revised to allow the flexibility for such events. The Government can stipulate a 75% majority is required for whatever the referendum is about. Secondly, the left of centre parties need to get their heads together to get rid of Rajoy and the PP, devise a coalition that is above the selfish interests of each one, and even invite pro Catalan independistas into such a ruling Government. Then the healing process can begin.
 
Hummmm. Might the issue of gun laws in the US be worth re-visiting?

Another town, another nutter. Every country has them. Most of us don't permit them to build up an arsenal of weapons for when they are feeling like expressing themselves. Get out of this one, gun lobby.
 
Hummmm. Might the issue of gun laws in the US be worth re-visiting?

Another town, another nutter. Every country has them. Most of us don't permit them to build up an arsenal of weapons for when they are feeling like expressing themselves. Get out of this one, gun lobby.
They won't care. If all those little babies being murdered at Sandy Hook didn't sway them then nothing will. This man could have killed a thousand and they'd still believe that it was his right to own 6 dozen sub-machine guns.
 
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They won't care. If all those little babies being murdered at Sandy Hook didn't sway them then nothing will. This man could have killed a thousand and they'd still believe that it was his right to own 6 dozen sub-machine guns.
Exactly, the NRA will claim that the victims should all have had their own sub-machine guns to fight back with. It's the American Way.
 
Guy isn't a terrorist. According to the news, he was a quiet, country music loving guy.
 
Exactly, the NRA will claim that the victims should all have had their own sub-machine guns to fight back with. It's the American Way.

Hmm. So a single guy shoots out of window of a hotel. In response, a thousand people at the concert shoot back at the hotel full of people. In response, a thousand people in the hotel shoot back at the concert.

What could possibly go wrong?

My prediction is a week of hand-wringing then it'll be forgotten. Just like all the others.

Vin
 
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Hmm. So a single guy shoots out of window of a hotel. In response, a thousand people at the concert shoot back at the hotel full of people. In response, a thousand people in the hotel shoot back at the concert.

What could possibly go wrong?

My prediction is a week of hand-wringing then it'll be forgotten. Just like all the others.

Vin

Indeed. Throw in a bit of blaming here and there and that'll be about it.
 
Hmm. So a single guy shoots out of window of a hotel. In response, a thousand people at the concert shoot back at the hotel full of people. In response, a thousand people in the hotel shoot back at the concert.

What could possibly go wrong?

My prediction is a week of hand-wringing then it'll be forgotten. Just like all the others.

Vin

Yep. Police recommend that, in an active shooter situation with police on the scene, anyone with a license to carry a gun leave it holstered unless they have a clear shot and are being imminently threatened. Because as soon as you draw that gun, you're going to become a target yourself in the chaos.

Even setting that aside: if you had 100 people with handguns who had accurately identified the target and were firing at the 33rd floor window, the odds aren't great that any of them would hit him. Handguns just aren't accurate over a distance of probably 500-700 feet. They'd certainly put anyone in a radius of several floors/rooms lengthwise under threat, though, and make it almost impossible for the police to go after the shooter, because those bullets would be whizzing through walls.

Edit: they're now estimating the range to the crowd at about 500 yards. Yeah, there's no way people in the crowd would have accomplished anything by returning fire. Could unload hundreds of shots from that distance with handguns and hit everything but him.
 
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As we all know, such a referendum is not allowed under the terms of the Spanish Constitution agreed upon in 1978. Several things need to happen before there is social and economic collapse. The Spanish constitution needs to be revisited and revised to allow the flexibility for such events. The Government can stipulate a 75% majority is required for whatever the referendum is about. Secondly, the left of centre parties need to get their heads together to get rid of Rajoy and the PP, devise a coalition that is above the selfish interests of each one, and even invite pro Catalan independistas into such a ruling Government. Then the healing process can begin.

Weren't you championing Rajoy a few months ago as what we need over here? These idols are falling like flies. Aung San Suu Kyi another one that was held up as a beacon not so long ago.
 
Weren't you championing Rajoy a few months ago as what we need over here? These idols are falling like flies. Aung San Suu Kyi another one that was held up as a beacon not so long ago.

He is perfect for the UK!!! He would be a perfect fit for the present Conservative party, so yeah, I would love him to be the UK PM despite his lack of English. So would 75% of the Spanish population!! Plus the Spanish would need compensation for losing such a talent.
 
Boris might not be PM material but this line was a cracker:

“We want a government that works for everyone; Corbyn wants a Britain where everyone works for the government”