Same Sex Marriages

[Doc Dutch]

I thought you were referring to cultural development. Yes, economically and technologically, they are developing faster, but culturally, that's not always the case. Granted, some of what is considered "developing" is not always good.

Well, the gender wage gap is one. Another is the patriarchy nonsense they often bloviate about. What they fail to realize is that some of the patriarchal aspects of society actually benefit women. The sexual revolution was largely negative for women, for example.

Cultural development goes hand in hand with technological developments and prosperity of the middle class. US tech is among the best but the decreasing size of the US middle class could be a problem. Cultures vary. There's a big difference between US and Japanese culture but there's no denying both are prosperous and successful forms of democracy. Same goes for post-WWII Western Europe. Why do you think Muslim nations would be any different?

Would you rather be a rich slave or a poor freeman? I would rather be free and poor than have all my needs cared for but be less than a First Class citizen.

[Sailor]

Cultural development goes hand in hand with technological developments and prosperity of the middle class. US tech is among the best but the decreasing size of the US middle class could be a problem. Cultures vary. There's a big difference between US and Japanese culture but there's no denying both are prosperous and successful forms of democracy. Same goes for post-WWII Western Europe. Why do you think Muslim nations would be any different?

Would you rather be a rich slave or a poor freeman? I would rather be free and poor than have all my needs cared for but be less than a First Class citizen.

Words of wisdom there.

[Saudade]

Cultural development goes hand in hand with technological developments and prosperity of the middle class. US tech is among the best but the decreasing size of the US middle class could be a problem. Cultures vary. There's a big difference between US and Japanese culture but there's no denying both are prosperous and successful forms of democracy. Same goes for post-WWII Western Europe. Why do you think Muslim nations would be any different?

Would you rather be a rich slave or a poor freeman? I would rather be free and poor than have all my needs cared for but be less than a First Class citizen.

I used to feel that way, but if I'm being honest, I'd much rather live as a wealthy Singaporean than as a free Indian. For me, it's a balance. There's an extent to which I prefer a high standard of living over a high level of political freedoms.

I also have my doubts in democracy overall. I use Singapore as an example, because they technically have a democratic government, but their political freedoms are considerably lower than ours, and the government functions as a technocracy. Yet, they have one of the highest standards of living in the world -- arguably higher than ours.

[Irish]

Guess this Pope doesn't read the Bible.

[Doc Dutch]

I used to feel that way, but if I'm being honest, I'd much rather live as a wealthy Singaporean than as a free Indian. For me, it's a balance. There's an extent to which I prefer a high standard of living over a high level of political freedoms.

I also have my doubts in democracy overall. I use Singapore as an example, because they technically have a democratic government, but their political freedoms are considerably lower than ours, and the government functions as a technocracy. Yet, they have one of the highest standards of living in the world -- arguably higher than ours.

So the question remains would you rather be a wealthy Singaporean living in a nice 3 bedroom apartment or a poor American living on ten acres in an old two bedroom single wide?

[Saudade]

So the question remains would you rather be a wealthy Singaporean living in a nice 3 bedroom apartment or a poor American living on ten acres in an old two bedroom single wide?

Singaporean, for sure.

[Doc Dutch]

Singaporean, for sure.

Odd that you'd prefer an authoritarian utopia over freedom but it's your choice to choose the Blue Pill.

OTOH, hundreds of Trophy Wives choose the same path. Something you and Melania would have in common.

[Saudade]

Odd that you'd prefer an authoritarian utopia over freedom but it's your choice to choose the Blue Pill.

Given current trends, I don't think America's freedoms will be around much longer.

[Doc Dutch]

Given current trends, I don't think America's freedoms will be around much longer.

We've suffered worse trends. The United States is a lot more robust and resilient than many people credit it for being.

[Saudade]

OTOH, hundreds of Trophy Wives choose the same path. Something you and Melania would have in common.

She made a smart choice on multiple levels.

[Saudade]

We've suffered worse trends. The United States is a lot more robust and resilient than many people credit it for being.

I used to believe that, but what we're seeing now is just an acceleration of problems that started after WW2 ended. The riots and social changes of the 60s were the first signs.

[Doc Dutch]

She made a smart choice on multiple levels.

A matter of choice. One I would not make but thanks for the insights.

[Doc Dutch]

I used to believe that, but what we're seeing now is just an acceleration of problems that started after WW2 ended. The riots and social changes of the 60s were the first signs.

The unrest today is not even close to that of the 60s.

Example: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/h...2020-not-1968/

2020’s uprisings resemble those of 1919, 1943, and 1968 in certain respects: They grow out of simmering hatreds seeded by the long, festering history of white violence and police brutality against African Americans that has taken hundreds of lives of per year, including Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, three of the most recent victims. Most of 2020’s protests have been peaceful, early reports have found, with a fraction becoming violent.


The cycle of violence continues, but like a pendulum swinging, the cycles become shorter and milder over time regardless if they are national or international.

Example:

[Saudade]

The unrest today is not even close to that of the 60s.

Example: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/h...2020-not-1968/

2020’s uprisings resemble those of 1919, 1943, and 1968 in certain respects: They grow out of simmering hatreds seeded by the long, festering history of white violence and police brutality against African Americans that has taken hundreds of lives of per year, including Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, three of the most recent victims. Most of 2020’s protests have been peaceful, early reports have found, with a fraction becoming violent.


The cycle of violence continues, but like a pendulum swinging, the cycles become shorter and milder over time regardless if they are national or international.

Example:

Well, how the violence is measured is a bit suspect in most of the analyses I've seen. It's often measured by whether charges are filed or not. In a lot of jurisdictions, no charges are made despite property damage or physical assaults. Sometimes, this is due to political reasons, and other times, it's due to not being able to identify a suspect.

I acknowledge that the current riots aren't as prominent as the ones of the 60s, but they're more violent than is often stated by the media.

[Doc Dutch]

Well, how the violence is measured is a bit suspect in most of the analyses I've seen. It's often measured by whether charges are filed or not. In a lot of jurisdictions, no charges are made despite property damage or physical assaults. Sometimes, this is due to political reasons, and other times, it's due to not being able to identify a suspect.

I acknowledge that the current riots aren't as prominent as the ones of the 60s, but they're more violent than is often stated by the media.

Dude, you are free to advocate the Lizard Lords of β Draconis IV are censoring the "real news" but I continue to disagree.

As for violence, the limit is mortality. Once a person is dead, how much more violence can you do to them?