What's what?

.......but we would never tolerate Chinese warships in the Tasman! What passes for diplomacy in Australia is a mixture of double standards, hypocrisy and blind adherence to our great ally's policies. You worry about China, I worry about our warlike friends, who are much more likely to lead us into trouble than help us out of it.

Chemical Weapons

It should be remembered in considering the chemical attacks in Syria that the first use of chemical weapons since world war 1 was by Iraq against Iran in the 1980s ...... with chemical precursors provided knowingly by the United States who also supplied Saddam, at the same time, with biological weapons including anthrax. The reason being that at that time their current devil was Iran's leader the Ayatollah Khomeini. They therefore formed an alliance with Saddam's brutal and murderous regime to maintain their influence in the region. It is a legitimate inference to see this action by Iraq, facilitated by the United States, as encouraging the further use of chemical weapons, such as we are now witnessing. The exploitive and cynical policies of western governments, including Australia's, carry much of the guilt for what we are now witnessing in Syria.

`

Why the world is broken and the answers to everything.

It appears the men aren't so bad after all...

"...we're living in the delusional fantasies of a thirteen year old girl."

https://m.

(It takes some time to get going, but give it some time, because it really gets going)

"All of these problems today (presumably the disembowellment of the culture mentioned earlier) are the result of women's emancipation from housework....." I'm not sure it is possible to take them seriously after that. Petersen is basically a reactionary and Paglia a controversialist. I think the whole discussion is little more than potted psychology based on anecdote, prejudice and a very narrow focus on the type of western cultural history that was once taught at elite universities.

A bit more on Jordan Petersen since, by providing "intellectual" cover for bad ideas, he is really quite a dangerous individual. His basic position is that there has been a decay in traditional masculinity and that this is a threat to the whole culture. He makes much of male dominance in technology and how that side of the modern world depends on male expertise and male willingness to do dangerous work. This has great appeal for young, insecure males who resent, perhaps justifiably, their inability to get ahead in the world. In all of this though he fails to address some absolutely critical issues around gender roles. Consider the impact that this same wonderful male dominated technology has had on the environment. Climate change, the widespread destruction of natural ecosystems, the decline of air and water quality etc etc. Then, of course, there are the wonderful male achievements in the world of weaponry. Nuclear weapons, biological weapons, chemical weapons, cluster bombs, napalm. To claim then that males should receive more respect and that women presumably should stick to the non-technical roles they are "better suited for", is simple insanity. He also talks a lot about mythology and archetypes without ever considering the role of the warrior stereotype in causing war, nor does he consider that reinforcing the idea that it is a noble thing to murder those of a different tribe, might be a bad idea. The video above is an absolute classic. A long discussion between two people so wrapped up in their shared world view that elephants could have trampled through the studio without them noticing. For all their talk of intelligence and ideology, they end up firmly at the wrong end of the spectrum on both. No sign of analytical intelligence and an absolute commitment to an anti-feminist ideology. At the end of the day you start to wonder who is actually paying for this and are forced to ask whose interests these arguments best serve. It is not a difficult question; those who benefit most from war and environmental destruction.

Well said.

A compliment from the big fella......I'm printing that out and getting it framed!

I wouldn't disagree with much of that blindboy, but you don't think they have a point regarding the disdain from elites regarding working class people and everything male? Despite the fact they use those very people at every opportunity to facilitate their lives of opulence and leisure.

And the fact contemporary feminism wouldn't have all this time on their hands for pontifications if it weren't for the industrious (autistic) type male brains obsessing over and nutting out problems and ways to make life easier by inventing machines and the like?

Planet America (abc) showed quite convincingly yesterday - with graphs and stuff - that females appear inherently unattracted to STEM fields despite much and many incentives and encouragenents to overcome gender roles. Interestingly, with scandinavian countries, (who have been going at this a lot longer) showing little in the way of significant change. Whilst mysoginistic patriarchal type coutries, like those in the middle east etc., are showing real improvements... most interesting....

As to war and bombs and stuff, we've had plenty of female politicians show they're not much better at avoiding war and conflict than males, with good ol' HRC springing to mind as a prime example.

Also on war, the feminist project completely overlooks the fact that the rest of the world is way behind in this 'evolutuon', with paglia's jihadi examples being particularly relevant. We can become as nice as pie, but it appears to be having little impact on the wider world.

Whilst peterson was referring to dating and relationshilps with his "...we're living in the delusional fantasies of a thirteen year old girl." comment, I think one could apply it to this prevelant blind faith of female purity and wholesome-ness regarding wars and conflict etc. to many other issues.

The ladies are more than capable of being bitches, be it to man or woman. And his point about it being impossible to argue with the modern woman....well, just ask you average husband. It appears the phrase 'happy wife, happy life' is all there is left to console the average male and keep the majority of contempory relationships functioning.

Coalition hire SERCO to admin the NDIS!

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/23/outsourcing-ndis-...

Fair comment sypkan. They make a large number of accurate observations. It is the conclusions they draw from them that I disagree with. The point you make about pontificating feminism is outside my experience. I cannot honestly remember the last time I actually heard the word "patriarchy" in conversation. Most women I talk to are more concerned with matters such as equal pay, personal safety and greater political representation than with grander notions. Similarly with disdain for the working class. My experience is that there is a great deal of respect tin the community for working class individuals and communities that are doing it tough. Both of these issues, in my mind, speak to the narrow life experience of Paglia and Peterson. In their milieu there may be many women who pontificate about the patriarchy, who are very unhappy and who despise the working class, but the world of academia is small and far from typical. As for women and war, I think the sample of modern women in positions of power is very small and every one of them came up through a male dominated system and had to negotiate on policy with a heavy majority of men. I believe that things would be different if there were equal representation of women in positions of power. Call me naive but it remains an untested hypothesise! This is not about wholesomeness and purity it is about a different set of skills and a different approach to negotiation.

The gender pay gap is a hoax

'patriachy' is thrown around on q and a on a weekly basis

Both concepts are presented as incontestable in polite society. Either that or the males just can't be fucked challenging them for a heap of reasons that peterson touches on. Time to call out the 'crazy women' but no one does. It's public suicide. Van badham springs to mind.

I'm all for equal representation, just not with the 'crazy women'.

........but crazy men are OK? We have plenty of them. As for the pay gap, the data is absolutely clear, it's real. Encouraging a victim mentality in young men whose lives are not going as well as expected, which seems to be Peterson's thing, is a really bad idea. It is also worth considering that, given the levels of domestic violence, undermining respect for women is another really bad idea.

Nah the crazy men need to go too....except bob kattar...I like him...

I'm joking, there is a very fine line between crazy and genius, as I'm sure you know. Nothing wrong with a bit of crazy.

I think what peterson is referring to when talking about 'crazy women' is those batshit crazy women who cannot be challenged without becoming irrational. Full blown hysterical and incapable of listening if their world view or opinion s challenged by the slightest degree. You know, like van badham and steve price on q and a. That's not to say that van badham has nothing to contribute, but she does need to learn how to communicate with civility. Unfortunately the current dynamics of education and indoctrination ecourages this costant stream of outrages whenever one's dogma is challenged.

You do know how this supposedly 'absolutely clear' pay gap data is calculated don't you?

What I know is that the pay rates for work predominantly done by women are far less than for that predominantly done by men. The person caring for your pre-schooler when they are in distress or in need of medical attention earns a significant amount less than the bloke you get to clear your drains or put in a new light fitting. The same applies to your aged parents. Women's work? Women's pay. So yes it is calculated but it is probably still an serious under-extimate of real earnings. Maybe pay less attention to priveleged prats on Q&A and talk to some women about their actual experiences.

As someone who has had to submit data to the government agencies 'calculating' the gender pay gap, I can tell you that it is a statistic that is mightily close to a lie. There is a gap, of sorts, but it's as much about choice as it is about pay gaps, and I haven't heard a woman or a man arguing about the pay gap that actually understood what the statistics are saying. The analysis of the problem is way off line, actually incorrect. It isn't really a pay gap at all, but a distribution gap, but you wouldn't know that if you read the reports.

If you're interested, I'll go into more detail when I find the time. BB, your examples are true, child care, nursing as opposed to doctoring etc, but that isn't where the gap is.

Their analysis is wrong, their solutions are wrong, their figure is a rolled up average which hides the reality.

Just thought I would throw that out there. Syp and BB are both making good points generally about feminism and the masculine problem, although I won't stoop to read peterson's article, though I may if I have some time to kill. Cheers guys.

Thanks batfink. It would be interesting to hear more about the data.

" Some think the wage gap is the result of gender discrimination, an economy that doesn’t believe women can perform as well as men. Others point to women selecting into certain fields that pay less — while still others cite gaps in the types of education men and women pursue."
Others say that the "gender pay gap is more accurately discussed as a childbearing pay gap or motherhood penalty."

Studies from a Princeton University economist, a Harvard economist and also a University of Chicago study give credence to the latter theory.

https://www.vox.com/2018/2/19/17018380/gender-wage-gap-childcare-penalty

the first question to ask is "how is the pay gap measured?". full time earnings across industries?, fulltime within an industry?, pay rates? take home pay?

for example theres more men in mining and construction and that pays higher than health and education which favours women. so whos fault is that?

gotta look at the numbers and figures like for like before calling it discrimination.

a woman taking 12-18months off several times during her prime years to bear and raise children will affect her progression in that line of work. that is not rocket science. and even more so if she comes back part time. and the longer she is out of work the harder it is recoup that lost income. and then many women choose more flexible working roles when returning to work and these could pay worse too.

no doubt at the upper executive level there is discrimination going on in male dominated environments. the classic boys club. it starts early....parents send their boys to expensive private boys schools not for the education but for the lifetime of associations in business.

van badham....im not even going there.

All very interesting, but none of it really addresses the issue I raised earlier about the relative value of the work being done. Is it reasonable that the bloke cleaning your drains or installing a new light fitting earns more than the woman administering complex medications to dozens of people in a aged care facility and who will have to make instantaneous unsupported decisions when crises occur in the middle of the night? Similar issues arise in child care. It is obvious which jobs are more difficult, have more responsibility and are more stressful. The academics and politicians can play whatever games they like with numbers. The brute fact is that men, occupying the majority of relevant positions, determine wage rates that favour men. The culture has simply not caught up with the times. It is a hangover from 1950s when the expectation was that the man was the breadwinner, so women did not need the same income.

Blindboy i thought this would be pretty obvious. (forgetting the sex thing)

In general how much a person earns in a jobs mentioned and most jobs comes down more to how much a person or company gets in profit and is willing to pay to have the job done and qualifications.

For instance childcare or aged care are lowly paid because the price is set by what people can afford to pay, if people who worked in childcare got paid like a tradie i could never afford to put my kid in childcare.

Also wages are just one small factor in running a childcare centre or and aged care facility, first you need the land, then you need to build, then deck the place out, the set up cost are huge, then you have all kinds of insurances and checks and standards to keep, them electricity, rates, water, food, it goes on and on

On top of that to work in aged care industry after a police check you can pretty much walk in and do on the job training. (I know because my wife works in aged care as a PCA and after a short course can even give all kinds of meds etc, and man the shit she does she should get paid more, but really its not realistic) Childcare maybe a short tafe course at best, unless you want a higher role.

Someone cleaning a drain or changing lights etc.

Well if it's for an organisation groundsman type thing they will get paid crap also, i know i worked as a groundsman for a resort on frasser island, i had to do all those kind of jobs including changing light globes and cleaning drains and i got paid peanuts.(but the lifestyle was great)

But if you are talking a general private handy man, well then he/she will generally be working for himself and charges the price people are willing to pay and he/she needs to take into account all kinds of factors bec, pay is own super, tax, purchase and maintain equipment, vehicle, petrol, time going from job to job, time quoting etc it's all priced into the price he/she charges, and then if he wants a holiday or gets sick nobody pays for it, no sick or holiday leave, he/she is responsible for everything.

Handyman generally don't need qualifications, just a very wide skillset, but in general tradies get paid (can charge) pretty good because the industry is so over regulated and guys must do 3 to 4 apprenticeships on crap money and many kids these days don't like to get there hands dirty, IMHO prices were also pushed up from lower number of guys going into trades during the 80-90s when a you must go to uni to get a good job mentality developed among many, meaning less people going into trades...perhaps this has changed a little now?.

In Indonesia tradies actually get paid peanuts because there is very little to no regulation, you want to be a builder, sparky or plumber etc...you can just do it no licences or apprenticeship needed, and then after getting a building permit there is no checks or no need to get signed off.

"the first question to ask is "how is the pay gap measured?". full time earnings across industries?, fulltime within an industry?, pay rates? take home pay?

for example theres more men in mining and construction and that pays higher than health and education which favours women. so whos fault is that?"

Its the fault of those who choose the position...unfortunately...but we all know the rates before we commit.

Wherher you're a guy or girl, if you chose mining you get paid the same rate, exactly the same. Same for childcare, it's the law. Simples. That's probably why so many chicks are choosing mining type jobs now. Its called equal opportunity. Make the most of it.

My understanding is this grade eight statistical analysis used to portray an agenda doesn't even count the fact the miner works twelve hour days and the childcare works 6-8 hour days.

It is an average of everything that shows nothing but a contrived agenda. Which is fine, but it is so simpistic it should have failed year eight statistics class.

And worse, it bundles up all those high end male execs' salaries that blow the average out. We all know those salaries have blown way out of proportion over recent decades. And that is the real problem!

This asnalysis uses this to it's advantage so people like lisa wilkinson can get paid big bucks for doing fuck all (just like karl). Whilst her sisters in the factory get fuck all of nothing.

But they all jump on board supporting the big end of town because the whole argument is so missleading they think they are fighting the good fight.

It's a fucking disgrace.

Nothing against batfink (he seems to be doing a great job!)

I agree i think generally the pay gap thing is a hoax in most cases in almost all cases people get paid the same for doing the same job as they should.

Even in cases where the work load of the female may be less, for example i worked with a large landscaping company for years occasionally the boss would employee a female (more just to tick the box legally) who would get paid the same as the boys, but being female and with a smaller build etc would always get the less physical jobs.

I had a funny thing happen actually....after living and working in Indonesia, me and my wife came back totally broke, going for any job we could, we both went for a job doing house keeping, we both went down and saw the female manger/owner of the small resort and despite the fact we both had similar experience, they totally ignored me and gave my wife the job, it was actually pretty crazy they didn't even look or speak to me, just focused on my wife and actually recommend me to ring up some of the bigger building companies in the area for some labouring work.

It's kind of funny i was a victim of blatant discrimination based on sex, but in all fairness i totally understand as i would have only done it until i had gotten another job as house keeping is the last thing i would want to do.

I think you are still missing the point. You claim the cost of child care keeps wages down, which is probably true. But the cost of legal representation does not hold wages down. If you can't afford it, bad luck. If people want child care they should pay a fair rate. At the moment that is held back by the crushing of the union movement under successive governments. The existing system also limits educational performance. Early childhood education is the best solution we have to poor parenting. Children who have been in child care are much more likely to enter the education system with the skills they need. In a fair society it would be a universal entitlement and all child care workers would have the equivalent to a teaching degree......but hey we can't have taxes going up can we? That is just totally unacceptable to the electorate so we end up with neglected children, under paid workers and poor and declining academic performance. Indo my wife works in aged care because she loves it and is passionate about her job. She has a Certificate 4 and is still paid poorly.

Child care is already expensive with higher staff wages it would be even more expensive, if it got more expensive for many it would be pointless going to work.

Whats the point of going to work when a large chunk of it goes to childcare?

If it was more expensive many would just say, well whats the point, i might as well just stay home with my child and even collect social security benefits.

If childcare staff wages went up the only way around this problem would be the government supplementing the cost paid by the parent, which already happens for those on a low income.

Me and my wife work, we own our own home (well the bank does), i don't work too hard a 30 hour week is a big week for me, i go to Indonesia every year for a min of a month, I'm happy with my life, but even now we still get a little help from the government to pay childcare because i guess technically are consider low income, i was surprised but stoked when we first learnt this as in no way expected it.

We put our child in child care 2 to 3 days a week just as much for the education and social aspect, but i also feel real sorry for some kids there, who go every working dropped off real early and picked up real late, poor kids have little time with their parents that time with parents is also really important.

The reality is it's just how it all goes the money has to be there to pay for the decent wage, basically if people don't like it they change jobs but you can't expect an industry to get higher wages just because you think they should be at the same level as other industrys.

So basically the government boosts your income so you can go to Indo every year by under paying the people who care for your children. Sounds like middle class welfare to me. How about you have fewer holidays and pay a bit more of the real cost of caring for your children?

Nah not really the amount most years is not that much, but still surprised we get something and it's not expected but would also be crazy to not receive what they are willing to give.

Yeah to me it's middle class welfare and see myself as middle class but i guess from a government or society perspective we are viewed at the higher end of low income.

I go to Indonesia mainly because i want too, but seeing I'm a tradie it also helps ensure I keep my income below the amount needed to pay GST as I've gone over before and had to pay GST and it sucks not just having to pay it but all the hassles of doing BAS same as employing someone I've always got enough work to employee someone but for me it's not worth the hassle again it pushes me into having to pay GST and all the other hassles and boxes that need to be ticked.

Each to their own but I'm not hugely money hungry, id rather earn less, with less hassle and have a good work life balance, even when I've learnt much more i don't feel that much better off anyway.

So you work 30hrs a week sometimes and go to indo for a months holiday and dont pay tax.........no wonder the countries going broke......and i suppose you get all the breaks....free child care etc.....

indo getting all the breaks? pppfft! not even a kitkat.

"There were 732 companies who paid no tax in Australia in the 2015-16 financial year. Collectively, their income was more than $500 billion."

the companies and amounts are listed below:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-07/corporate-tax-data-released-by-ato...

I still pay tax on my income (PAYG), i just try to avoid paying GST as long as i aim to stay under $75K turn over threshold..

And no Simba we don't get free childcare, as mentioned above depending on your family income you get a little help from the government, it varies on what you earn the majority for us is still paid out of our own pocket though.

Sneaky sneaky.

I’ve been a bit out of the news loop lately but I’ve just found this ( semi ) recent development :
http://cecaust.com.au/main.asp?sub=bail-in&id=bail-in2017.html

How good will it feel to see any bank deposits you might own stolen in order to refinance the banks after their two decades of extortionate profits and to watch the CEOs walk away with their golden handshakes ?

But that would never happen in Australia surely ? ......https://www.whocrashedtheeconomy.com.au/blog/2010/07/cant-happen-cause-i...

Blowin I think we both agree that the rich have undue influence and this is partly bout protecting them. Of course the stated context of this freezing of deposits is the threat of a banking collapse. If a bank collapses, as in goes broke, then your deposit has gone forever. If the government prevents that collapse by freezing accounts, you have some hope of getting it back......but who keeps more than a few thousand in a bank account anyway?

Why is everyone down on the poor misunderstood banks............gagging.........fukin cunts. Blowin what you posted first up was kept pretty quiet........should send the lot of em to jail and throw away the key.

Many believe in cryptocurrency (decentralisation) in the hope of taking back some power and freedom taken from banks and governments.

Personally it's not an aspect i care much for, would be good if i did, i guess i could then say I'm putting my money where my mouth is.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

You might all start caring more in ten years. Australia is no different to any other utopia we think it is. Indo you'll come around on cryptos main thesis once you spend a bit more time there. I’m a bit tin hat but reckon this is not too far from a possiblility closer to home.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in thinks US President Donald Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the standoff with North Korea over its nuclear weapons program, according to a South Korean official.

"President Trump should win the Nobel Peace Prize. What we need is only peace," Mr Moon told a meeting of senior secretaries, according to a presidential Blue House official who briefed media.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-30/trump-should-win-nobel-peace-prize...

This would be funny if it did happen.

Maybe we have all underestimated Trump?

As I've said before I'm neither a fan or a hater, but remember when he was voted in and everyone gave us dooms day predictions and said he wouldn't last 6 months, in a little over 6 months he is going to have been president for two years.

Sure is interesting times.

Yeh he has lasted longer than most expected indo, but is still likely to come unstuck at some point. I suppose most of us under-estimated the hypocrisy and spinelessness of the Republican Party. As far as events in Korea go the main factors are: 1 Chinese pressure on the North to pull back from their nuclear program. 2. The instability of the North's nuclear test site making further explosions either impossible or unwise due to potential radiation leaks. 3. The realisation in the South that Trump is unreliable and could provoke the North into aggression. Both sides therefore have reasons to make a deal but it wil probably be temporary and unstable since the North is well aware of what happens to regimes that the US disapproves of that do not have nuclear weapons.

Jeeze if he's managed to get this far given everything that he's done I reckon he's gonna go the distance. If he leaves it'll be his call.

Im sure he will go the distance, for me the question is more can he go a second term?

Sound kind of crazy, but from some views of read some think it's possible, let remember most never thought it was possible the first time and things are going much much better than most expected.

.......but Stormy weather ahead!

AMP just replaced CEO cathrine brenner due to corrupt practices , with a former CEO from the commonwealth bank.....hang on a sec.....

Trump's Sanctions
In light of Trump's stated intention to impose "the highest level of economic sanction" against Iran, it is worth remembering the effect of such sanctions on Iraq following the liberation of Kuwait. As part of that process, for no apparent tactical reason, the US and its allies, including Australia, destroyed the water purification systems and sewerage systems of Iraq's largest cities. They then imposed sanctions on Iraq that effectively prevented their rebuilding. These sanctions also severely restricted basic medical supplies as well as causing widespread malnutrition. The World Health Organisation and NGOs reliably estimate that half a million children under the age of five died as a result of the sanctions. Saddam Hussein was a ruthless dictator who had no hesitation in torturing and murdering large numbers of his own citizens, but it was not Saddam who suffered the consequences of his actions but the civilian population who already feared and loathed his regime. US interference in the Middle East has been a series of catastrophes. From its refusal to curtail Israeli land theft and the oppression of Palestinians, to its imposition of the sanctions on Iraq, to the ill considered, badly managed and disruptive 2003 invasion of Iraq, whose consequences are still being played out in Syria, to Trump's irresponsible efforts to distract attention from his domestic problems, the US has, at every step, put its internal politics above the lives of innocent civilian populations. Why are they still our allies?

'US interference in the Middle East has been a series of catastrophes. From its refusal to curtail Israeli land theft and the oppression of Palestinians, to its imposition of the sanctions on Iraq, to the ill considered, badly managed and disruptive 2003 invasion of Iraq, whose consequences are still being played out in Syria, to Trump's irresponsible efforts to distract attention from his domestic problems, the US has, at every step, put its internal politics above the lives of innocent civilian populations. Why are they still our allies?'

Firstly, I suggest, use the look away pass, if things like your rego expiring, are enough to make you melt down. Just a suggestion.

It's because of the foundation blinder. Never underestimate the power of conditioning, brainwashing. Rednecks. Never. Ever. Your observation above perfectly describes the founding of Australia. So, we are united with, in rhythm with donny's lot.

Lets face it, ozzo'z still luv phil and liz, and the corgiz. Who have now inadvertently, randomly pulled out the trump card. Sure they are worried, and why not, the corgis are at serious risk!!!

Secondly, might I say, what a magnificently worded review below!?!!!

https://www.marieclaire.com.au/prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-movie

'They're seriously worried about the sex scene'

And why wouldn't they be!!! In fact, phil and liz are freaking, its a fucking nightmare come true!!!

So, like it or not, we are even closer now.

Secondly, there's more important shit!!! (And no, its not the dribs cam, which has completely strained, tortured and exhausted its exhausted creators. Or suddenly wondering how many fins you should use, and what size and colour, when launching and catapulting in glee, over the edge of bombs. Or praying for an escape button. Not to mention re rotating cuffs, and untearing full body tears.)

http://bgr.com/2018/02/23/elon-musk-bitcoin-price-hype/

See? That's why.

Don't shut Doc tanzi out blinder. There's more to it than meets the eye.

And, probably most importantly from a surfeez point of view, lets not forget, slattso's on the run, in the pond!!! Slab fest!!!

Never been one to look away Crypto and yeh, it has brought trouble along the way, but no regrets. Truth to power and all that, not just in politics but in the workplace and anywhere else you encounter abuse. And there is always a positive feeling in the moment some arsehole realises that you are actually going to call them out. Worth it for the look on their face alone. As for the Doc, there is truth in what he says but the power of positive thinking is much less than the power of negative thinking. For me it is not about filling your head with positive thoughts, it is about cutting off the negative thoughts.

CryptoK ... US interference in the Middle East ... I'm for keeping it simple. When Trump pulled out of the Iran agreement he made two parties happy, Israel and Saudi.
Both are top level clients of American arms makers. Whatever else happens in that wretched part of the word - war, famine, pestilence, devestation - business can only get better for the USA, which makes it good business. That's how it works from the Trump tower.

Absolutely right Peter. It's an old scam, create a scare in the Middle East and sell a few hundred billion dollars worth of hardware to the usual suspects. Have you read any Robert Fisk?

No, I like to make up my own mind ... and there is a deeper game that makes the same sense but is being by played by another side.

Robert Fisk was a reporter for the Times (pre-Moloch) and the Independent. He has lived in Beirut since the 70s and covered every war in the region since. His depth of first hand experience is without parallel. By all means make up your own mind, but make sure it is based on honest reporting and conclusive research. If any deeper game passed Fisk by, I would be amazed. If you have any real interest in the region try " The Great War For Civilisation"

When Trump pulled out of the Iran agreement he made three parties happy, Israel, Saudi and Russia.

"....The core members have little in common politically. Bret and Eric Weinstein and Ms. Heying were Bernie Sanders supporters. Mr. Harris was an outspoken Hillary voter. Ben Shapiro is an anti-Trump conservative.

But they all share three distinct qualities. First, they are willing to disagree ferociously, but talk civilly, about nearly every meaningful subject: religion, abortion, immigration, the nature of consciousness. Second, in an age in which popular feelings about the way things ought to be often override facts about the way things actually are, each is determined to resist parroting what’s politically convenient. And third, some have paid for this commitment by being purged from institutions that have become increasingly hostile to unorthodox thought — and have found receptive audiences elsewhere."

"..."So many of our institutions have been overtaken by schools of thought, which are inherently a dead end,” Bret Weinstein said. “The I.D.W. is the unschooling movement.”

Am I a member of this movement? A few months ago, someone suggested on Twitter that I should join this club I’d never heard of. I looked into it. Like many in this group, I am a classical liberal who has run afoul of the left, often for voicing my convictions and sometimes simply by accident. This has won me praise from libertarians and conservatives. And having been attacked by the left, I know I run the risk of focusing inordinately on its excesses — and providing succor to some people whom I deeply oppose.

I get the appeal of the I.D.W. I share the belief that our institutional gatekeepers need to crack the gates open much more. I don’t, however, want to live in a culture where there are no gatekeepers at all. Given how influential this group is becoming, I can’t be alone in hoping the I.D.W. finds a way to eschew the cranks, grifters and bigots and sticks to the truth-seeking.

"Some say the I.D.W. is dangerous,” Ms. Heying said. “But the only way you can construe a group of intellectuals talking to each other as dangerous is if you are scared of what they might discover.”"

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/opinion/intellectual-dark-web.html

Interesting times we're living in when the brainiacs have to turn to the 'intellectual dark web' just to have a conversation.

Inconcievable really, in this age of free and abundant digital information, that censorship is workimg so hard to present an accepted (contrived) narrative.

The left has been literally left behind, clinging to the ways of yore. I guess they've only had 20 or so years to adjust....

The cultural gate keepers have been asleep at the wheel