tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305962566578166600.post949360477852282857..comments2023-11-05T11:43:04.344+00:00Comments on Hardcore for Nerds: New Beginnings: Part Onegabbagabbaheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07764368059568550318noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305962566578166600.post-566179994490238102008-11-07T21:50:00.000+00:002008-11-07T21:50:00.000+00:00I imagine that would be more trouble than it's wor...I imagine that would be more trouble than it's worth and probably a diplomatic nightmare too. Although I bet the Germans would be delighted.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17958151651744298646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305962566578166600.post-36477859329822317352008-11-07T17:38:00.000+00:002008-11-07T17:38:00.000+00:00as if by magic: Former FF minister says RTÉ left-w...as if by magic: <A HREF="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1107/1225925540151.html" REL="nofollow">Former FF minister says RTÉ left-wing</A> (that's our ruling political party and our national broadcaster, for all non-Irish readers) and <A HREF="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1107/1225925539337.html" REL="nofollow">'Left-wing' RTÉ should share licence fee with independents</A> <BR/><BR/>"As far as I am concerned, RTÉ is a left-wing organisation that has not committed itself to enunciating and promoting policies laid down by Government or Parliament". <BR/><BR/>"Labour whip Emmet Stagg responded in the Dáil by saying that the idea that RTÉ was a left-wing organisation was "crazy" ... Mr Stagg suggested that they might be "some of the leftover socialists" from Bertie Ahern's time."<BR/><BR/>we appear to be importing a farcical version of the 'liberal media' controversy!<BR/><BR/>Dave - it's not exactly repatriating profits, at least not directly; more like making it less profitable for them to set up here. One way I saw it described (though I have my own questions on this) is that by revoking tax treaties, the MNCs can be forced to pay taxation in both countries, US and Ireland. But I agree there are plenty of practical problems with the scenario.<BR/><BR/>It's not illicit, but see Obama's all about 'fair trade', not free trade. he wants everybody to play nice!gabbagabbaheyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764368059568550318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305962566578166600.post-82110756276914380092008-11-07T15:39:00.000+00:002008-11-07T15:39:00.000+00:00I doubt Obama will make any serious efforts to rep...I doubt Obama will make any serious efforts to repatriate US profits in Ireland or anywhere else- there's nothing elicit in the way US corporations shift their profits abroad, and besides, what's he going to do anyway- raise their taxes? <BR/><BR/>As an Irish citizen, however, I think it's hilarious that we get all this money in free taxes. Long may it continue!Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17958151651744298646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305962566578166600.post-15249557877264281852008-11-07T15:01:00.000+00:002008-11-07T15:01:00.000+00:00anybody here from Vermont? I usually/sometimes hea...anybody here from Vermont? I usually/sometimes hear Bernie Saunders (forgive me if I've mispelt the name) described as an independent socialist congressman.<BR/><BR/>for the record, I was being semi-ironic when I said you'd be terrified of actual socialism. socialism in its standard incarnations, as Matt says, or maybe in its previus historical forms, has definitely had its downsides. but when it comes to idealism, my own personal politics are pretty far left.<BR/><BR/>however, that doesn't change the fact that either a progressive or redistributive - however you want to describe it - tax policy is definitely not socialism.<BR/><BR/>I've got to tell you the story of the three socialists in the Irish parliament: the head of government, by his own apparent admission (Bizarro-World Fact #1: In Europe, being a socialist can be a good thing in politics!), the sole (now former) representative for the Socialist Party, and a third representative <I>that nobody knows who he - or she - is</I>...gabbagabbaheyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764368059568550318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305962566578166600.post-6232328958494962972008-11-07T03:30:00.000+00:002008-11-07T03:30:00.000+00:00Yeah, the Republicans couldn't quite figure out wh...Yeah, the Republicans couldn't quite figure out what to blow out of proportion in order to hurt Obama. The Socialism stab was weak, and I'm getting tired of hearing Mccain supporters lament over their loss and explicitly state concern. Gabba, you're right, Socialism is something entirely different and, in standard incarnations, something to fear.<BR/>It's actually kind of funny and simultaneously disturbing that so many people will so quickly adopt the viewpoint that Obama is a socialist- demonstrating firstly that many of us americans have no idea what socialism is and secondly that many of us tend to follow our party leaders unquestioningly.Allsnophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16143347366811795573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305962566578166600.post-10361175257419490992008-11-06T23:12:00.000+00:002008-11-06T23:12:00.000+00:00i commend the mccain campaign on successfully turn...i commend the mccain campaign on successfully turning the phrase "spread the wealth" into an epithet for the iron curtain. it is too bad they could not parlay such cogent talents into campaign success.<BR/><BR/>prolly cuz they were too busy "bugging the fuck out". AMIRITE DIDDY?<BR/><BR/>i have nothing positive to add.cretinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16350335348193490422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305962566578166600.post-27579333826434593562008-11-06T18:29:00.001+00:002008-11-06T18:29:00.001+00:00welcome back, too, btw.welcome back, too, btw.gabbagabbaheyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764368059568550318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305962566578166600.post-35632935625527942672008-11-06T18:29:00.000+00:002008-11-06T18:29:00.000+00:00undoubtedly. but I saw similarly, and worse, delud...undoubtedly. but I saw similarly, and worse, deluded statements from Republicans in Phoenix and other rallies - that Obama is not a "true American".<BR/><BR/>I have something interesting, and sorta different, on the "socialist" issue from Koestler coming up. Christopher Hitchens on the BBC said that the last part of the McCain campaign was less Rove-ian as it was McCarthyite. or a sad parody of such.gabbagabbaheyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764368059568550318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305962566578166600.post-27220261985319789822008-11-06T18:19:00.000+00:002008-11-06T18:19:00.000+00:00it was from a forum discussing people's ridiculous...it was from a forum discussing people's ridiculous myspace/facebook status changes after it was quite clear that obama was the victor. people's loigic is flawed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305962566578166600.post-72691291505636884982008-11-06T17:52:00.000+00:002008-11-06T17:52:00.000+00:00who is he/she?y'all don't know what socialism (or ...who is he/she?<BR/><BR/>y'all don't know what socialism (or social democracy, even) really is - if you did, you'd be even more terrified! :)<BR/><BR/>one other idea I had for a post after the result was "Let the World Socialist Revolution Begin! - you know you've been waiting for it"gabbagabbaheyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764368059568550318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305962566578166600.post-56174040853129206102008-11-06T00:56:00.000+00:002008-11-06T00:56:00.000+00:00Alexa Peckham is hopes everyone likes terrorists s...Alexa Peckham is hopes everyone likes terrorists socialism and high taxes...and welfare.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com