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«12. . .2,1792,1802,1812,1822,1832,1842,185. . .2,5072,508»

The Catholic State of Eire wrote:https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53385021

Poland's Duda narrowly beats Trzaskowski in presidential vote

Fantastic news.

I'm afraid that I can't agree with you. The Civic Platform is hardly Poland's greatest party, but it at least their win may have stemmed the un-democratization that Duda and company have pursued. The re-jiggering of the courts, lack of judicial independence, etc. show that Duda et al. don't want any competing claim to power and dismiss/silence dissent. Thousands of Polish people opposed the forcible re-making of the judiciary, as shown by the protests in Poland. A free court system is a hallmark of democracy, and Duda's systematic dismantling of the courts will only lead to a further lack of freedoms (of press, for example). No one should want to see one-party rule in Poland (or anywhere, for that matter.)

United massachusetts

Horatius Cocles wrote:I'm afraid that I can't agree with you. The Civic Platform is hardly Poland's greatest party, but it at least their win may have stemmed the un-democratization that Duda and company have pursued. The re-jiggering of the courts, lack of judicial independence, etc. show that Duda et al. don't want any competing claim to power and dismiss/silence dissent. Thousands of Polish people opposed the forcible re-making of the judiciary, as shown by the protests in Poland. A free court system is a hallmark of democracy, and Duda's systematic dismantling of the courts will only lead to a further lack of freedoms (of press, for example). No one should want to see one-party rule in Poland (or anywhere, for that matter.)

Given that the previous judges which PiS wanted to remove were appointed by Civic Platform, then surely this is only a matter of stopping the judiciary from legislating from the bench and frustrating the implementations of the governments policies.

Furthermore I don't think an American can complain about political interference in the judicial system, given the fact that it is the President of the United States who nominates potential justices to the highest court in the land. This nominee is then put through perhaps one of the most partisan processes in confirming the said judge, in which every political maneuver under the sun will be brought to bear by both sides to either stop or confirm the nomination.

Lagrodia

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/jobs-pandemic-canada-moncton-new-brunswick_ca_5f0a0502c5b63a72c342885d?%3Fncid=newsltcahpmgnews&fbclid=IwAR0-bBZ6R-ro3D_m-VxxrAitQxKQlZOWAOwxrtVl93O88xa8uKMJY5twNlY

Never thought I'd see my city on the top of this list, but I'm not complaining. As I've told some others before, the maritimes were in a unique position to handle covid well, and this is one of the fruits of a successful pandemic-management strategy. Plus, as the article notes, our economy has been so battered the only things left are essential things.

Quebecshire wrote:Bro don’t act like it’s a huge gotcha moment when I said banned but you just kicked and suppressed everyone who brought it up

Since you brought the false accusation up, I'm correcting the record.

Several LCN members, you included, came to the RCN server and spammed content that was clearly directed at taunting the RCN and the RCN's position on the pro-life issue. Later, LCN members invited me and a handful of other RCN members into a chat/voice-chat that, in the fleeting moments I was a member of before swiftly exiting, included gay rape "jokes" by the LCN Delegate and who knows who else, as I had no intention of sticking around such vile, immoral, indecent conversation. I blocked multiple members of said conversation on my personal Discord.

On the RCN RMB, I suppressed posts that continued to bring up an issue that I said to "take to TGs/DMs/other RMBs", which, I might add, is common conduct across NationStates, and well within the laws of our region. You, however, ignored that request (ironically).

At no point did I ban anyone, nor did I block TGs from anyone.

As far as kicking, yes, I kicked LCN members for spewing racist/rape conversation on the RCN server and for continued flouting of our rules. Other LCN members who came to our server were ruled such that would allow for tighter moderation and serve to lessen the harassment and taunting of our own members, leading to a more civilized and respectful experience for our own regional residents.

My apologies to United massachusetts and Right to Life, but I'm not going to stand for being slandered by anyone on the RMB of our closest ally, and a region of which I'm a longtime member.

Papal knights, Holy rhinish islands, and Attancia

New waldensia wrote:Since you brought the false accusation up, I'm correcting the record.

Several LCN members, you included, came to the RCN server and spammed content that was clearly directed at taunting the RCN and the RCN's position on the pro-life issue. Later, LCN members invited me and a handful of other RCN members into a chat/voice-chat that, in the fleeting moments I was a member of before swiftly exiting, included gay rape "jokes" by the LCN Delegate and who knows who else, as I had no intention of sticking around such vile, immoral, indecent conversation. I blocked multiple members of said conversation on my personal Discord.

On the RCN RMB, I suppressed posts that continued to bring up an issue that I said to "take to TGs/DMs/other RMBs", which, I might add, is common conduct across NationStates, and well within the laws of our region. You, however, ignored that request (ironically).

At no point did I ban anyone, nor did I block TGs from anyone.

As far as kicking, yes, I kicked LCN members for spewing racist conversation on the RCN server and for continued flouting of our rules. Other LCN members who came to our server were ruled such that would allow for tighter moderation and serve to lessen the harassment and taunting of our own members, leading to a more civilized and respectful experience for our own regional residents.

My apologies to United massachusetts and Right to Life, but I'm not going to stand for being slandered by anyone on the RMB of our closest ally, and a region of which I'm a longtime member.

1. In the meme and spam channel? Memes that you don’t like don’t make it against the rules.

2. I did take it off your rmb actually, I didn’t make another post arguing it after pointing out your obvious covering up.

3. Racist conversation on your server? Don’t remember that one. If taunting and bringing up literally breaking the law are the same then sure I taunted.

4. Calling Rhiney out for TOS and lawbreaking isn’t harassment, buddy.

I’ve slandered no-one.

If kicking us had nothing to do with calling out Rhiney id be inclined to believe so if you showed any amount of concern to his TOS breaking and lawbreaking behavior, behavior that also violates the "common conduct across NationStates" you hold so dear. And if the timing didn’t literally match up.
New waldensia

Also for someone who cares so much about edgy content I haven’t seen the same enforcement towards your members who literally incurred moderation for talking about killing other players apparently????

Quebecshire wrote:Also for someone who cares so much about edgy content I haven’t seen the same enforcement towards your members who literally incurred moderation for talking about killing other players apparently????

Because this whole thing involves RTL I'm going to let this discussion linger, especially as it involves a regional issue (the future of one of our embassies), but please try to keep your posts to two at a time at most. Whenever I feel the need to add to a post and the topic is the same and I'm the most recent post on the RMB, I just edit my post and if it's substantial enough will add a little Edit:* marker. It just helps with RMB clutter.

Culture of Life, United massachusetts, and New waldensia

Quebecshire wrote:Also for someone who cares so much about edgy content I haven’t seen the same enforcement towards your members who literally incurred moderation for talking about killing other players apparently????

Because it never happened, I didn’t realize any and all discussions about the various methods of execution would be against the rules, although I did not take part in said discussion

United massachusetts

Oh dearie. A whole diplomatic controversy. Yay.

While I write up a statement, I will reiterate the official position of Right to Life, as expressed by Castle Federation: "omg you people."

Aawia wrote:Because this whole thing involves RTL I'm going to let this discussion linger, especially as it involves a regional issues (the future of one of our embassies), but please try to keep your posts to two at a time at most. Whenever I feel the need to add to a post and the topic is the same and I'm the most recent post on the RMB, I just edit my post and if it's substantial enough will add a little Edit:* marker. It just helps with RMB clutter.

Yeah sorry about that. If I was on a PC I would've just edited, I was on mobile so it was easier to just post again. My bad.

That's what I get for arguing while picking up my h a m b u r g e r.

Viridus wrote:Because it never happened, I didn’t realize any and all discussions about the various methods of execution would be against the rules, although I did not take part in said discussion

I don't know the specifics about it, my point was moreso about Waldy being selective about which edgy content is ok. I'll take your word that it was at least blown a little out of proportion.

@Quebec @Waldensia Telegrams and/or discord dms: am I a joke to you?

Gagium wrote:@Quebec @Waldensia Telegrams and/or discord dms: am I a joke to you?

I was on here yesterday with RCS cuz he tagged me specifically so I could defend myself (also RCS has been completely cordial and reasonable) but Waldy felt the need to reply a day later while I was getting lunch

Smh dang RCNers cant even let me eat a burger in peace

EDIT: Waldy is also acting like a nay nay baby cuz he blocked me on Discord but wants to argue publicly

Quebecshire wrote:I don't know the specifics about it, my point was moreso about Waldy being selective about which edgy content is ok. I'll take your word that it was at least blown a little out of proportion.

In the first post, the guy made a joke in poor taste (so of course the mods are going to be offended), yet to my knowledge no one else even mentioned the player throughout the entire discussion which was started after the joke

Viridus wrote:Because it never happened, I didn’t realize any and all discussions about the various methods of execution would be against the rules, although I did not take part in said discussion

People have had discussions of execution, both on RMBs and on the forums, without getting warned. The major difference between those discussions and what happened on your RMB was the OP (which was quoted multiple times by participants in said discussion) talking about using that method of execution on a specific player.

And while I've made it clear that I don't have much love for Bluefarst and the amount of spam he generates, that doesn't justify a multiple-page spanning discussion of how he should be killed/mutilated.
-------
Uh, anyhow, onto something more topical for RtL...

Anyone looking into drafting a repeal bill for Access to Abortion?

The Catholic State of Eire wrote:Well I could argue that Civic Platform is too submissive to the E.U. and they are positioning themselves as being the 'party of Europe' in Poland, no doubt they will argue for even more integration with the rest of Europe, wanting to tie the economy more and more with the single market, resulting in German-Franco monopolies. Not to mention more interference from the European troika, the European Parliament, the European Commission and European Court.

Poland's relationship with the U.S. is perhaps the best one given its surrounding political geography. The U.S. is powerful enough to ensure that countries such as Russia will not be too quick to apply pressure to the country, whilst it is far away enough to not politically dominate the country's political-economic structure, unlike the E.U.. In terms of other Eastern European countries I highly doubt Viktor Orbán of Hungary would be open to a party like Civic Platform and vice versa.

Whatever the PiS's failings in their economic policies may be it sure is a lot more better than neo-liberalism and if Civic Platform's former leaders are anything to go by, Donald Tusk for example, Poland would be better off with PiS in the long run.

I'd also say that my main reason for liking Duda is because of his strong stances on issues like support for family, the public role of the Church, opposing LGBT ideology from creeping into Poland from the West and his stance on not allowing the E.U. to interfere with issues of national sovereignty. The PiS being economically on the left is also an attraction too.

That's why I voted Kosiniak Kamysz in the first vote... That is also why I keep saying two-party democracy is a joke and not a democracy...

New waldensia

Under ledzia wrote:That's why I voted Kosiniak Kamysz in the first vote... That is also why I keep saying two-party democracy is a joke and not a democracy...

I lean more to a single party state if I had to choose myself.

The Catholic State of Eire wrote:I lean more to a single party state if I had to choose myself.

I lean more to a non-party state... Complete collective, no walls and no sides. True consensus.

Under ledzia wrote:I lean more to a non-party state... Complete collective, no walls and no sides. True consensus.

What you describe is utopianism. It is human nature to devolve into factions and cliques.

Culture of Life, Papal knights, Horatius Cocles, Phydios, and 4 othersUnited massachusetts, The Catholic State of Eire, New waldensia, and American antartica

La france bonapartiste wrote:I know candidate announcements aren't for another few days, but is anyone thinking of running for Senate or Speaker?

Also, do we do roleplay here? Now that I'm on the map, I'm interested in global conquest persuasive diplomacy.

I'm thinking of running for Speaker, though not as a partisan position (I don't think there is a restriction against being the member of a party, but the Speaker can operate in a non-partisan manner while being a member personally. Honestly it comes down to the rules we make for Congress once we have a speaker that's going to determine all of that). I'd really be down for getting the first Congress going, and it's a position I should be able to commit to for the limited time I have.

Also that's an interesting question; I've run Roleplays on the Regional Forums before (it was a historical RP though), but I don't have the time to commit to running one at the moment; perhaps I can play in one though. Under ledzia is also a roleplayer and our Minister of Culture, so maybe he'd have an idea.

Culture of Life, The Gallant Old Republic, United massachusetts, and Under ledzia

The Catholic State of Eire wrote:Furthermore I don't think an American can complain about political interference in the judicial system, given the fact that it is the President of the United States who nominates potential justices to the highest court in the land. This nominee is then put through perhaps one of the most partisan processes in confirming the said judge, in which every political maneuver under the sun will be brought to bear by both sides to either stop or confirm the nomination.

For the record, it's not supposed to be that way. While the appointment may be partially partisan the confirmation of the appointment is only supposed to be about whether or not they are qualified. It still is to some degree, but the Democrats have really hurt this idea by their Borking x3 and partisan-backed refusal to vote to confirm Gorsuch. If you go back in time most justices on the court even today were voted through with wide margins with few dissents from either party, as Lindsay Graham will gladly point out.

Glad that the Colorado rejected an extremist on climate change for a former governor who has some ethics problems. Why? This was his first commercial, which even the most excessive climate scientist would surely see as a ridiculous depiction of a future effected by climate change.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=4eyJevf-Blg&feature=emb_logo

The Gallant Old Republic wrote:For the record, it's not supposed to be that way. While the appointment may be partially partisan the confirmation of the appointment is only supposed to be about whether or not they are qualified. It still is to some degree, but the Democrats have really hurt this idea by their Borking x3 and partisan-backed refusal to vote to confirm Gorsuch. If you go back in time most justices on the court even today were voted through with wide margins with few dissents from either party, as Lindsay Graham will gladly point out.

Agreed. If you look at the vote counts for the Supreme Court justice's, it's no contest.

Democratic Appointees:

Ginsberg (Clinton, 1993), 96–3
Breyer (Clinton, 1994), 87-9
Sotomayor (Obama, 2009) 68–31
Kagan (Obama, 2010) 63-37

Republican Nominees:

Thomas (G.H.W. Bush, 1991) 52-48 (Borked)
Roberts (G.W. Bush, 2005), 78–22
Alito (G.W. Bush, 2006), 58-42
Gorsuch (Trump 2017), 54-45 (Borked)
Kavanaugh (Trump 2018), 50-48 (Borked)

Granted, the Democrats during that time of the Obama administration had 58 Seats in the Senate for Kagan's nomination and Kagan gets much closer to a partisan vote than the others. Still, more Republicans voted for Kagan (5 out of 41, over 12%) in 2009 than Democrats for Alito (4 out of 44, only 9%) in 2006, both in actual numbers and per capita. The phenomena of Borking is well known to the Democrats.

Lagrodia

The Gallant Old Republic wrote:For the record, it's not supposed to be that way. While the appointment may be partially partisan the confirmation of the appointment is only supposed to be about whether or not they are qualified. It still is to some degree, but the Democrats have really hurt this idea by their Borking x3 and partisan-backed refusal to vote to confirm Gorsuch. If you go back in time most justices on the court even today were voted through with wide margins with few dissents from either party, as Lindsay Graham will gladly point out.

Republicans did pull the Merrick Garland election year thing out of their rear ends. Sure, they might’ve been paying back for the slander done to Clarence Thomas, but it was only after that that Democrats gave up any pretense of nonpartisanship.

I do believe they would’ve all united regardless of Garland, however, since the sacrament of abortion was on the line.

The Gallant Old Republic wrote:While I don't normally like psychologists, I thought both of these articles made valid observations and would be of some interest:

1) "Why Conservatives and Liberals Are Not Experiencing the Same Pandemic": https://heterodoxacademy.org/social-science-liberals-conservatives-covid-19/

2) "Our Big Fight Over Nothing: The Political Spectrum Does Not Exist": https://heterodoxacademy.org/social-science-political-spectrum/

I have nothing to say of the first piece. The second one, however, is not surprising. People have a few important issues, and they pay attention to people who agree with them and conform to their ideas. I think that is part of the reason why social conservatives are Republicans. Some may be economically populist, but most become fiscal conservatives because it’s the party line, and the Republican Party has become by and large the party of the anti-abortion movement. The Democrats are wrong on the key issues - why listen to them on the rest?

The title of the piece is that the political spectrum doesn’t exist, but this is no cause for celebration - its a cause of division and incivility.

—————————————

Speaking of “incivility”, I, for one, am happy to see Roger Stone get his sentence commuted. He was convicted by a trial rigged to get him convicted (of a crime that is only used as a pretense for something else).

But of course, he was an extremely grave threat. An unarmed senior citizen absolutely needs 29 heavily armed FBI agents to arrest him in the middle of the night. Stone was almost as grave a threat to the American people as Elian Gonzalez was to them.

It was disgusting to see US intelligence agencies, which have a rich, storied history of lying to Congress (there is no data collection program!) prosecute anyone for that very crime. Shame on them.

Stone wasn’t pardoned, so he’s still a felon. Whatever. The point is, now an elderly man with a respiratory condition doesn’t have to be forced into a dense, unsanitary prison in the midst of a pandemic.

Say it’s just “corrupt president abusing his power to treat his friends.” Whatever. Stone shouldn’t be sent to prison.

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