Maybe there is a good reason to re-elect George Bush!

There has been a revolution in this country in the past four years. Beginning with the usurpation of the 2000 election by a radical right wing factionof the Republican party. The current election is a plebiscite on that revolution. If Bush wins he will and his faction will feel that their radical shift in this nations basic political practices and policies have been approved, and they will become much bolder in furthering and consolidating their position.

I agree completely, Acquiunk.

Agreed look what he has done despite the fact that he lost the popular vote and won by a butterfly. One can only imagine what he will do if he is elected this time. I keep being reminded of Germany circa 1933.

Soon, the senate will be dissolved and then the Empire will truly be the formed! Then, they will build the ultimate weapon and conquer the universe!!!

Augustus did not dissolve the senate, but it became a pliable tool of his will. He and his successors made certain it remained such.

Would either of you care to mention someone in the republican leadership that is a moderate?

Just one? I assume you mean that are not part of the current administration, right?

Christie Whitman, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, John McCain, Chris Shays to name a few.

Somehow I doubt that the French guy, or any European, writing this piece has The U.S.' best interests at heart. Europe has been clamoring to rise out of their funk, and it is far more difficult to do so when there exists the dominant world economy that is America. What do you think the purpose of the E.U. is?

How does a good US economy hurt rather than benefit the european economy?

Since the candidates are just two, you need to vote for the least worse = Kerry. It's a no brainer!

Welcome to a2k crusner.

Thanks for posting that article at the beginning, Frank, I forgot to say that. I borrowed it as I suppose you noticed. Not that you can change many minds, but it's a valuable perspective.

My impression is that most American writers are anti-Bush. In fact, most people worldwide with an I.Q. over 100

From outside the States, the prospect of any more years of this administration is a very baleful prospect indeed.

I didnt say the U.S. hurts the E.U. We are more of a hiderance. As the two westernized, largely technology and development based economies, the U.S. and E.U. are in direct competition. The socialist governing system of Europe is not conducive to economic health, especially when there is a more capitalist country like the U.S. to do business with. An economy doesnt grow well if the government continually fleeces the more productive people and redistributes that wealth to less or non productive people. Anything that hurts the U.S. economy helps our competitors by default. It lessens the competition. I think things like the Kyoto treaty were attempts to shackle the U.S. as much as an environmental issue.

First, I disagree that Europe has a socialist governing system, and that american economic policy is superior to that of europe. Trade barriers have been a problem, but with the EU tradeblock we are working on that. The economy of eastern europe is still recovering from the dismal state it was in at the end of the cold war, and some parts of southern europe has a culture that differs from the earn and spend culture of the US and to an extent northern europe. Those are the main reasons for the european economy not to be in as good a state as the US economy.

Second, whatever the effects redistribution of wealth has on the economy domesticaly, it has no effect uppon the compeditiveness of products produced here. Redistribution of wealth may reduce incentive to be productive, (I personally don't know of anyone who chose their proffession based on salaries) but compeditivness of a product is only affected by the cost of raw materials, labor etc requried to produce that product, interest rates and taxes on the production/export of said product. European production taxes are subtracted from products when exported, and taxes are imposed on products that are imported.

As for Kyoto, we're pretty serious about it this side of the atlantic, or in norway at least. We are now net importers of electricity because of resistance against building powerplants that exude CO2, and the price of electricity is higher than comfortable.

As for the US competing with Europe, I suppose that is true, but I think loosing the US market would hurt us more.


And about the guy who wrote that piece having ulterior motives, what does he stand to gain from writing that article? Surely you do not think he belives he could determine the US election? Most people over here feel just this way, and I can assure you it is not for the reason you suggest.

That's stupid. How do you think electricity is produced? Sure, some of it may come from "clean" sources such as wind farms, dams, or geothermal activity, but most comes from the burning of fossil fuels or nuclear facilities.

In Norway 99 % comes from dams, the rest from other clean sources. (and some come from horribly polluting coalplants in Russia, as we are currently importing power) We may build our first fossil fuel powerplant in the next couple of years, depending on who wins the election.

Isn't there already a coal plant up north in Spitsbergen?

Baleful... that's about it.

Hmm, you made me think now. I know that there are coalmines there, but I also know most if not all that coal is being exported. On the other hand, Svalbard is not all that mountainous, and would be hard pressed to cover their needs with dams, and importing power through powerlines would be ridiculous.

I'm not sure actually, as Svalbard is partly independent, and may not be covered by my sources.. No fossil fuel powerplants on continental Norway at least.

Edit: Did some googleing, and yes, they do have a coalplant

Any place it fits, McTag...use it.

We all should prepare ourselves for what seems most likely in the future...which seems to be a lot of grief because of what this group has perpretrated over the last four years...or it will take us by surprise.

(Which is what Iraq seems to be doing to these dolts!)