The Al Realpolitik Institute of Sulfur Mining & Extraction

[Insula Dei]

Uhhh... wow.  Is this an argument for or against campaign finance reform or just an unprovoked attack on Greece?

There's actually an elegant (though subtle) argument here. Spelling it out explicitly may ruin its beauty, but perhaps that is the only way to convince you.

1. The government of Greece is corrupt
2. Landslide Lyndon is from Greece

Therefore:

Campaign finance reform is not a significant problem in the United States.

Seems like we have a high-quality new poster

[Insula Dei]

I don't know how anyone who calls themselves center left could reasonably prefer Ken, even in the 2nd round. He is as left wing as you can get before you fall off the democratic part of the political spectrum.

Indeed. Wow....as I'm typing this, the results of the Tory leadership election are in....Thatcher - 204, Heseltine - 152....not enough for Thatcher to win outright!

[Insula Dei]

Wait, are people here claiming that vengeance is not a valid foundation of the justice system? I would argue it is the only sensible (and, yes, rational foundation).

What else would be the purpose of the justice system?

Maintaining a civilized society where everybody is treated equally?

Seriously, this is one of the most reactionary posts I've ever read. And coming from Gustaf that says a lot.

Because I'm obviously so reactionary...px has that very sad quality of always trying to be a smartass without grasping what the discussion is actually about. Well, it's more amusing than sad I guess.

You're not reactionary, but your comment clearly was.

I'll be gracious and assume you've read the same philosophical dissertations on this subject that I have and will soon post your reasons for disagreeing with them then.

The only alternative would be that you're an arrogant teenager with a lot less knowledge than you think and a lack of awareness of that situation.

Do you have a point apart from the usual ad hominems ?

The idea that justice is only a veiled vengeance ? Yeah, I think one can reasonably deem it reactionary even without having read all the philosophical essays on the issue.

My point was to give you a chance to show that you weren't just being arrogant about something you didn't really know anything about. A pity you didn't take it.

I apologize to px for being less of a hack than he is.

Now, if the two of you are done with ad hominems it'd be greatly amusing to see you struggle with actually trying to prove your case. I'm defending the actual existing justice system and making a point about what is its guiding principle. It can't be reactionary since I'm not arguing for a return to any past system.

I believe it is habitual to clearly state one's case before inviting the opposition to launch a counter-attack.

[Insula Dei]

A very good reason to leave the UN. 

You're absolutely correct, it is vitally important that the United States prevents international election monitors from observing American elections.

The United States should withdraw from the United Nations, because the OSCE (a body which is neither funded, nor takes direction from, the UN) is going to conduct election monitoring in one of its member states - an action it has engaged in in its member states for many years; an action it has engaged in in the US on a number of previous occasions (and actually welcomed by administrations under both parties); an action the US agreed to explicitly by virtue of assent to the Paris Charter (1990).

You must be logged in to read this quote.

That the UN hasn't intervened to stop this travesty is truly shameful and appalling. Withdrawal from that organisation is therefore a perfectly reasonably and proportional response. (Presumably seeing as how the OSCE is the actual organisation that has approved, organised and funded the monitoring, their HQ should be blown up or some such, amirite?)
 
By denying international election monitors the right to observe American elections (in line with the principles of the OSCE Charter agreed to by the US), the Amercian Government can send a strong signal to marginal democratic regimes around the world that foreign observers are actually a danger to democracy and should not be tolerated - even after the Government has committed by international agreement, and through past practice, to allowing such observers.

Kudos to you JJ on yet another cojent and insightful contribution to the Forum.

[Insula Dei]

Sometimes it's better to be curious than to know everything. This is one of those situations.

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=153647.0

[Insula Dei]

eh, what do you call this?

No rage hath a women scorned, and oh the tangled webs we weave intending to deceive; all the world's a stage, but neither a borrower or a lender be for he has a lean and hungry look. Off damn spot!

The first two parts of this are William Congreve and Sir Walter Scott, respectively.

Not intended to be read as a snipe.

Am I enough of a would-be pedant to point out that the first one really isn't Congreve, but almost entirely Torie's own invention? Stay tuned to find out.