Post Archive

Region: The Confederacy of Free Nations

History

Aww. An actor I like came out as gay this year and married another actor. That's sweet. I had a feeling he was gay. His name is Thomas Dekker. He's lovely.

Jaslandia, Axeldonia, Penguania And Antarctica, Percyton

Nuremgard wrote:Aww. An actor I like came out as gay this year and married another actor. That's sweet. I had a feeling he was gay. His name is Thomas Dekker. He's lovely.

Good for him. Certainly a better way of coming out than this:

http://people.com/tv/kevin-spacey-gay-anthony-rapp-sexual-advances-allegation/

Nuremgard, Axeldonia, Penguania And Antarctica

Jaslandia wrote:Good for him. Certainly a better way of coming out than this:

http://people.com/tv/kevin-spacey-gay-anthony-rapp-sexual-advances-allegation/

Apparently Spacey also groped a former Norwegian prince.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica

Jaslandia wrote:Good for him. Certainly a better way of coming out than this:

http://people.com/tv/kevin-spacey-gay-anthony-rapp-sexual-advances-allegation/

From now on, I choose to live as a Squidgirl.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica

Nuremgard wrote:Apparently Spacey also groped a former Norwegian prince.

Normally I'd say that that really takes some balls, but considering we're talking about sexual assault, 'balls' might not be the best metaphor here.

Nuremgard, Penguania And Antarctica

Jaslandia wrote:Normally I'd say that that really takes some balls, but considering we're talking about sexual assault, 'balls' might not be the best metaphor here.

In the olden days he'd have been beheaded for such an action.

Jaslandia, Axeldonia, Penguania And Antarctica

On a different note, congrats to Pirate Kingdoms for being the most politically-free in the region! I'm a bit surprised, but at the same time, I suppose it fits in some weird way. I mean, what's more free than anarchy (albeit a recovering one)?

Nuremgard wrote:In the olden days he'd have been beheaded for such an action.

Well, it is a former prince we're talking about, so maybe the King would commute the sentence to cutting off his hands. Or, since it's Norway we're talking about him, maybe they'd exile him to Greenland.

Nuremgard, Penguania And Antarctica, Pirate Kingdoms, Percyton

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=va69M1CkXZY

Jaslandia wrote:On a different note, congrats to Pirate Kingdoms for being the most politically-free in the region! I'm a bit surprised, but at the same time, I suppose it fits in some weird way. I mean, what's more free than anarchy (albeit a recovering one)?

Well, it is a former prince we're talking about, so maybe the King would commute the sentence to cutting off his hands. Or, since it's Norway we're talking about him, maybe they'd exile him to Greenland.

Wee correction there, Jas. Greenland is a territory belonging to Denmark, not Norway.

Jaslandia, Axeldonia, Penguania And Antarctica

Nuremgard wrote:Wee correction there, Jas. Greenland is a territory belonging to Denmark, not Norway.

It's owned by Denmark now, but since we're talking about the 'olden days', Greenland was originally settled by Norwegians and Icelanders, and it was owned by Iceland for part of the Middle Ages.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland#Norse_settlement

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Norway_About_1265.png

Nuremgard, Penguania And Antarctica

Vista Major wrote:https://youtu.be/F6zSmtxzwjM

Well.... I AM a Star Wars/Star Trek fan xD

Vista Major, Penguania And Antarctica

Jaslandia wrote:It's owned by Denmark now, but since we're talking about the 'olden days', Greenland was originally settled by Norwegians and Icelanders, and it was owned by Iceland for part of the Middle Ages.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland#Norse_settlement

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Norway_About_1265.png

Oh, well there you go then.

Speaking of European monarchies, I need some counsel about my own from my erstwhile adviser. I've decided New Salvatore will be a benevolent autocracy with the King at the helm but he allows free speech, protest, freedom of the press etc. but all policy decisions are down to him. Welfare was recently abolished as the state is forcing parents to raise their children rather than give them up to orphanages. My question is: should we provide pensions? We will provide maternity leave for women (since we want them to have babies) but would pensions be something a conservative Catholic absolute monarchy provide? I might encourage women just to be wives and mothers but this might hurt the economy. I'm undecided on that. And I'm removing the NHS. Basic healthcare will be provided but the rest will be private.

Axeldonia

Jaslandia wrote:https://youtu.be/V1FFVWEQnSM

Now now.... I'm not that bad.... yet

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica

Jaslandia wrote:On a different note, congrats to Pirate Kingdoms for being the most politically-free in the region! I'm a bit surprised, but at the same time, I suppose it fits in some weird way. I mean, what's more free than anarchy (albeit a recovering one)?

Well, it is a former prince we're talking about, so maybe the King would commute the sentence to cutting off his hands. Or, since it's Norway we're talking about him, maybe they'd exile him to Greenland.

Well, that's actually kind of a surprise: I didn't even check my NS stats :p

Penguania And Antarctica

Nuremgard wrote:Oh, well there you go then.

Speaking of European monarchies, I need some counsel about my own from my erstwhile adviser. I've decided New Salvatore will be a benevolent autocracy with the King at the helm but he allows free speech, protest, freedom of the press etc. but all policy decisions are down to him. Welfare was recently abolished as the state is forcing parents to raise their children rather than give them up to orphanages. My question is: should we provide pensions? We will provide maternity leave for women (since we want them to have babies) but would pensions be something a conservative Catholic absolute monarchy provide? I might encourage women just to be wives and mothers but this might hurt the economy. I'm undecided on that. And I'm removing the NHS. Basic healthcare will be provided but the rest will be private.

Sounds like you have a few chains in need of breaking

Nuremgard

Axeldonia wrote:Sounds like you have a few chains in need of breaking

There will probably be commies in New Salvatore, especially since the new King will be allowing free speech. But if any move is made to remove him and install a dictatorship of the proletariat...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCpnk5OuzUE

Jaslandia, Axeldonia

Nuremgard wrote:There will probably be commies in New Salvatore, especially since the new King will be allowing free speech. But if any move is made to remove him and install a dictatorship of the proletariat...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCpnk5OuzUE

Dictatorship of the proletariat? We'll abolish the whole state boi

https://youtu.be/GXIpXGreUJU

Nuremgard

Nuremgard wrote:Oh, well there you go then.

Speaking of European monarchies, I need some counsel about my own from my erstwhile adviser. I've decided New Salvatore will be a benevolent autocracy with the King at the helm but he allows free speech, protest, freedom of the press etc. but all policy decisions are down to him. Welfare was recently abolished as the state is forcing parents to raise their children rather than give them up to orphanages. My question is: should we provide pensions? We will provide maternity leave for women (since we want them to have babies) but would pensions be something a conservative Catholic absolute monarchy provide? I might encourage women just to be wives and mothers but this might hurt the economy. I'm undecided on that. And I'm removing the NHS. Basic healthcare will be provided but the rest will be private.

I would provide pensions. It would encourage the importance of families and whatnot, which sounds like an important priority for New Salvatore, and it might calm down the populace (especially since they're probably peeved already by the abolition of universal healthcare/NHS).

Nuremgard

Jaslandia wrote:I would provide pensions. It would encourage the importance of families and whatnot, which sounds like an important priority for New Salvatore, and it might calm down the populace (especially since they're probably peeved already by the abolition of universal healthcare/NHS).

I'm fighting with myself whether or not to keep the NHS.

Jaslandia

Nuremgard wrote:I'm fighting with myself whether or not to keep the NHS.

I can see both sides. On one hand, it would calm the people, and make your nation more consistent (as it would seem odd to provide every benefit of a Nordic Model welfare state EXCEPT universal healthcare). On the other hand, if you want to think about it more cynically, lack of an NHS would save you money on pensions, since people might not live as long, and you wouldn't have to pay out pensions as long.

Nuremgard

Jaslandia wrote:I can see both sides. On one hand, it would calm the people, and make your nation more consistent (as it would seem odd to provide every benefit of a Nordic Model welfare state EXCEPT universal healthcare). On the other hand, if you want to think about it more cynically, lack of an NHS would save you money on pensions, since people might not live as long, and you wouldn't have to pay out pensions as long.

Well no one is promising a Nordic welfare state in New Salvatore. I think I'll keep the socially conservative policies like no adultery, no same-sex marriage, no contraception and no abortion (except in special circumstances) to keep the clergy happy. I'll keep taxes low and flat and have the nobles around at court to keep the aristocracy happy. And I'll keep an NHS and provide pensions and maybe some other social security to keep the common people happy. Plus, it would fit well with the country's Christian ethos. Helping the poor and all that. And the new King may abolish the death penalty too.

Jaslandia

Nuremgard wrote:Well no one is promising a Nordic welfare state in New Salvatore. I think I'll keep the socially conservative policies like no adultery, no same-sex marriage, no contraception and no abortion (except in special circumstances) to keep the clergy happy. I'll keep taxes low and flat and have the nobles around at court to keep the aristocracy happy. And I'll keep an NHS and provide pensions and maybe some other social security to keep the common people happy. Plus, it would fit well with the country's Christian ethos. Helping the poor and all that. And the new King may abolish the death penalty too.

Fair enough. Makes sense.

Nuremgard

who here is watching the Alabama Senate Race?

Jaslandia, Vista Major

Solla Ultima wrote:who here is watching the Alabama Senate Race?

Not watching it but I am interested to see if Republican voters will elect an accused paedophile to office just because he's a Republican.

Jaslandia

Nuremgard wrote:Not watching it but I am interested to see if Republican voters will elect an accused paedophile to office just because he's a Republican.

To be fair, it could also be that the accusation doesn't carry the same merit as a proven allegation for them.

Like, not be political, but if I had been planning to vote for him, the presence of the accusation wouldn't change it. He's disgusting for other reasons tho IMO.

Solla Ultima

Kalaron wrote:To be fair, it could also be that the accusation doesn't carry the same merit as a proven allegation for them.

Like, not be political, but if I had been planning to vote for him, the presence of the accusation wouldn't change it. He's disgusting for other reasons tho IMO.

According to a poll, 30% of voters said the accusations made them more likely to want to vote for him. It seems Alabama has quite a few kiddie fiddlers, or at least paedo sympathisers.

Gays and Muslims are evil but molesting little girls? That's kosher to Moore and the w*nkers who will vote for him.

Nuremgard wrote:According to a poll, 30% of voters said the accusations made them more likely to want to vote for him. It seems Alabama has quite a few kiddie fiddlers, or at least paedo sympathisers.

Gays and Muslims are evil but molesting little girls? That's kosher to Moore and the w*nkers who will vote for him.

Again, to play the devil's advocate, it might be a reference to the idea that the Dem's are virtue signaling by calling for him to resign. Of the degree of people who are as you say, they're trash to be certain, but I figure a fair number of the poll might be feeling that the accusations were targeted.

Kalaron wrote:Again, to play the devil's advocate, it might be a reference to the idea that the Dem's are virtue signaling by calling for him to resign. Of the degree of people who are as you say, they're trash to be certain, but I figure a fair number of the poll might be feeling that the accusations were targeted.

You know for a fact they'd vote for him even if the accusations were proven to be true. It's tribal. Better a Republican paedo than a Democrat is their attitude.

Axeldonia

Nuremgard wrote:You know for a fact they'd vote for him even if the accusations were proven to be true. It's tribal. Better a Republican paedo than a Democrat is their attitude.

I'm hesitant to single out either party as having a tribal nature. I think society mirrors itself more often than not.

It's possible that some of them would, but I'm sure there are republicans who wouldn't.

Also, you like Gaelic, yes?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai0ufYO0uXI

Solla Ultima wrote:who here is watching the Alabama Senate Race?

I am. Keeping up with FiveThirtyEight's Live Blog on the election.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/live-blog/alabama-senate-election-results

Kalaron wrote:I'm hesitant to single out either party as having a tribal nature. I think society mirrors itself more often than not.

It's possible that some of them would, but I'm sure there are republicans who wouldn't.

Also, you like Gaelic, yes?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai0ufYO0uXI

There are Republicans who wouldn't vote for him but there's plenty that would.

Cool song.

Jaslandia wrote:I am. Keeping up with FiveThirtyEight's Live Blog on the election.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/live-blog/alabama-senate-election-results

thanks for the link I'm watching the abc livestream on the youtubes

Jaslandia

Solla Ultima wrote:who here is watching the Alabama Senate Race?

My bf is watching it so intently that’s I might as well be sitting beside an empty husk at present.

But when I asked him about the four Canadian federal by-elections we had yesterday, he had no idea what I was referring to. :P

Nuremgard, Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica, Solla Ultima

Continental Commonwealths wrote:My bf is watching it so intently that’s I might as well be sitting beside an empty husk at present.

But when I asked him about the four Canadian federal by-elections we had yesterday, he had no idea what I was referring to. :P

Well at least he pays attention to the world around him unlike most of the American population

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica

JK Rowling has been made a Companion of Honour at Buckingham Palace. So after all these years of arselicking, she has been given her pat on the head by the British establishment. Well done, JK.

Axeldonia, Penguania And Antarctica

Continental Commonwealths wrote:My bf is watching it so intently that’s I might as well be sitting beside an empty husk at present.

But when I asked him about the four Canadian federal by-elections we had yesterday, he had no idea what I was referring to. :P

Probably because those four Canadian by-elections didn't have an accused pedophile (or paedophile, as you might spell it) running as a candidate for one of the major parties. And even if it did, I imagine the accused pedophile/paedophile didn't have a serious chance of winning.

Nuremgard, Penguania And Antarctica, Solla Ultima

Jaslandia wrote:Probably because those four Canadian by-elections didn't have an accused pedophile (or paedophile, as you might spell it) running as a candidate for one of the major parties. And even if it did, I imagine the accused pedophile/paedophile didn't have a serious chance of winning.

Yeah but he lives in Canada. Surely he should know about a federal election.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica

Nuremgard wrote:Yeah but he lives in Canada. Surely he should know about a federal election.

Ideally, yes. But sometimes the feeling of excitement and 'oh my God how is this even happening right now?' are stronger than regular civic engagement.

Nuremgard

Jaslandia wrote:Ideally, yes. But sometimes the feeling of excitement and 'oh my God how is this even happening right now?' are stronger than regular civic engagement.

We've all been saying that since you lot elected the Orange Fuhrer last year.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica

I really do hope that Moore loses. I really really do.

Nuremgard, Jaslandia, Axeldonia

Nuremgard wrote:We've all been saying that since you lot elected the Orange Fuhrer last year.

We didn't elect him: the Electoral College, in their infinite f*cking wisdom, decided to say "F*ck it" and go against their very purpose to prevent an unqualified populist candidate from being elected into office, choosing him instead of the lesser evils that were also present.

Nuremgard

Pirate Kingdoms wrote:We didn't elect him: the Electoral College, in their infinite f*cking wisdom, decided to say "F*ck it" and go against their very purpose to prevent an unqualified populist candidate from being elected into office, choosing him instead of the lesser evils that were also present.

No offence to our American friends here but your country is a sh!thole, man. You couldn't pay me to live there.

Penguania And Antarctica

Solla Ultima wrote:Well at least he pays attention to the world around him unlike most of the American population

Nuremgard wrote:Yeah but he lives in Canada. Surely he should know about a federal election.

Jaslandia wrote:Ideally, yes. But sometimes the feeling of excitement and 'oh my God how is this even happening right now?' are stronger than regular civic engagement.

All good points!

Nuremgard, Jaslandia

Penguania And Antarctica wrote:[spoiler=Peng's Favourite Christmas Song: "Sind die Lichter angezündet"]

"Sind die Lichter angezündet" is a German Christmas song composed in 1950s in East Germany. It was written as a poem by children book author Erika Engel. Later the music consultant and head of the Rundfunk-Kinderchor Leipzig (Radio Children's Choir of Leipzig) Hans Sandig composed a melody for it. The song became one of the most popular Christmas songs in East Germany.

Typical for Christmas music and literature during the Socialist/Communist era is that it attempted to secularize the feast and avoid mentioning religious elements. The song turns the feast of Christmas into the feast of peace. The star/light of bethlehem becomes the light of peace and the Christmas tree is turned into the tree of light(s).

Despite it's secular content it's still a very nice piece of music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv7ox2Y8toY

German lyrics:

1. Sind die Lichter angezündet,

Freude zieht in jeden Raum;

Weihnachtsfreude wird verkündet

unter jedem Lichterbaum.

Leuchte, Licht, mit hellem Schein,

überall, überall soll Freude sein.

2. Süsse Dinge, schöne Gaben

gehen nun von Hand zu Hand.

Jedes Kind soll Freude haben,

jedes Kind in jedem Land.

Leuchte, Licht, mit hellem Schein,

überall, überall soll Freude sein.

3. Sind die Lichter angezündet,

rings ist jeder Raum erhellt;

Weinachtsfriede wird verkündet,

zieht hinaus in alle Welt.

Leuchte, Licht, mit hellem Schein,

überall, überall soll Friede sein.

English translation

1. The lights are lit,

Joy moves into every room;

Christmas joy is announced,

under every tree of light(s).

shine, light, with a bright glow,

everywhere, everywhere there shall be joy.

2. Sweet things, nice gifts

now go from hand to hand.

Every child shall have joy,

every child in every land.

Shine, light, with a bright glow,

everywhere, everywhere there shall be joy.

3. The lights are lit,

every room is filled with light.

Christmas peace is announced,

sets forth in all of the world.

Shine, light, with a bright glow,

everywhere, everywhere there shall be peace.

[/spoiler]

That’s a really beautiful song there, Peng! I think I’ll add it to my Christmas playlist.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica

Nuremgard wrote:No offence to our American friends here but your country is a sh!thole, man. You couldn't pay me to live there.

There are days where I wish for grassroots reform, but we all know that reform means taking down whatever is the root of corruption, of which a lot of it has influenced American politics.

Nuremgard

Pirate Kingdoms wrote:There are days where I wish for grassroots reform, but we all know that reform means taking down whatever is the root of corruption, of which a lot of it has influenced American politics.

Sometimes it's the electorate that's corrupt. Stupid and ignorant voters will elect stupid and ignorant politicians or make ill-informed decisions (see our Brexit referendum for more details.) Voters get the rulers they deserve.

Penguania And Antarctica

Nuremgard wrote:We've all been saying that since you lot elected the Orange Fuhrer last year.

Believe me, many of us have been saying it too. But not enough of us, unfortunately.

Sulania wrote:I really do hope that Moore loses. I really really do.

I hope so too, but this is Alabama. A Democrat hasn't been elected to statewide office there since 2008, and basically all the positions of power in that state are held by Republicans. The sexual molestation allegations and Moore's unpopularity (even before the allegations came out) are narrowing the race, but Moore still has a HUGE built-in advantage.

Pirate Kingdoms wrote:We didn't elect him: the Electoral College, in their infinite f*cking wisdom, decided to say "F*ck it" and go against their very purpose to prevent an unqualified populist candidate from being elected into office, choosing him instead of the lesser evils that were also present.

I don't think that would have been a good idea. Something like that has never really happened in our history, so the Electoral College choosing the person who didn't win the electoral votes could have caused a constitutional crisis. The Electoral College made the right call here. Now, if the Electoral College should exist at all is a different story...

Pirate Kingdoms wrote:There are days where I wish for grassroots reform, but we all know that reform means taking down whatever is the root of corruption, of which a lot of it has influenced American politics.

I think working toward electoral finance reform would help a great deal to improve the problems with American politics, as would the end of partisan gerrymandering. But even then, I'm not sure if it would have stopped Trump in particular: There was just too much building anger among a certain section of the U.S. population, and it was overdue for bursting.

Nuremgard, Penguania And Antarctica

Nuremgard wrote:Sometimes it's the electorate that's corrupt. Stupid and ignorant voters will elect stupid and ignorant politicians or make ill-informed decisions (see our Brexit referendum for more details.) Voters get the rulers they deserve.

Oh, I paid attention to Brexit, to the general election, seeing the little ones bemoan their circumstances as negotiations and Theresa May are nothing like the wet dreams that they imagined for so long.

Nuremgard, Penguania And Antarctica

Pirate Kingdoms wrote:Oh, I paid attention to Brexit, to the general election, seeing the little ones bemoan their circumstances as negotiations and Theresa May are nothing like the wet dreams that they imagined for so long.

There are no negotiations. Britain will do as it's told by the EU. The illusion of negotiations is just to keep the Rule Britannia mob happy.

Jaslandia wrote:Believe me, many of us have been saying it too. But not enough of us, unfortunately.

I hope so too, but this is Alabama. A Democrat hasn't been elected to statewide office there since 2008, and basically all the positions of power in that state are held by Republicans. The sexual molestation allegations and Moore's unpopularity (even before the allegations came out) are narrowing the race, but Moore still has a HUGE built-in advantage.

I don't think that would have been a good idea. Something like that has never really happened in our history, so the Electoral College choosing the person who didn't win the electoral votes could have caused a constitutional crisis. The Electoral College made the right call here. Now, if the Electoral College should exist at all is a different story...

I think working toward electoral finance reform would help a great deal to improve the problems with American politics, as would the end of partisan gerrymandering. But even then, I'm not sure if it would have stopped Trump in particular: There was just too much building anger among a certain section of the U.S. population, and it was overdue for bursting.

What I meant by that was their own decisions: the Electors could've easily made a different vote, but instead, a majority went for Trump for various reasons

Nuremgard

Pirate Kingdoms wrote:What I meant by that was their own decisions: the Electors could've easily made a different vote, but instead, a majority went for Trump for various reasons

I know, and I think that would have been a bad move. There's an expectation that the Electors will vote according to the electoral vote count, and to go against that could have implications far beyond Trump.

Nuremgard wrote:

No offence to our American friends here but your country is a sh!thole, man. You couldn't pay me to live there.

Arguable.

Jaslandia wrote:I know, and I think that would have been a bad move. There's an expectation that the Electors will vote according to the electoral vote count, and to go against that could have implications far beyond Trump.

People think elected representatives are there to just be the mouthpieces of the people. They are there not only to serve their constituents but to implement what is best for the country as a whole. This is why some MPs in Westminster voted against the invocation of Article 50 despite their constituencies voting Leave. Sometimes serving the national interest means going against "the people."

While I despise Hilary Clinton, I do believe she was the lesser of two evils. And for the Electoral College to vote in Trump was reckless and detrimental to the national interest.

Jaslandia wrote:I know, and I think that would have been a bad move. There's an expectation that the Electors will vote according to the electoral vote count, and to go against that could have implications far beyond Trump.

Hmm, I'm starting to think it over and I can see the logic behind that.

Jaslandia

Nuremgard wrote:No offence to our American friends here but your country is a sh!thole, man. You couldn't pay me to live there.

Honestly, the country is actually remarkably nice, it's just the smaller issues often are the loudest of what's heard when the news isn't busy covering something god-awful like sports.

Personally, I hold both parties at fault for Trump's election, and I think I'll only hate the corporatists even more as they continue to whine that it was Bernie's fault for running.

Beyond that? It's honestly a very nice country.

Penguania And Antarctica

Kalaron wrote:Honestly, the country is actually remarkably nice, it's just the smaller issues often are the loudest of what's heard when the news isn't busy covering something god-awful like sports.

Personally, I hold both parties at fault for Trump's election, and I think I'll only hate the corporatists even more as they continue to whine that it was Bernie's fault for running.

Beyond that? It's honestly a very nice country.

Well, discount the racism in the South and all the rampant drug addictions, and yeah, we're mostly alright to live in.

Jaslandia, Axeldonia, Penguania And Antarctica

Kalaron wrote:Honestly, the country is actually remarkably nice, it's just the smaller issues often are the loudest of what's heard when the news isn't busy covering something god-awful like sports.

Personally, I hold both parties at fault for Trump's election, and I think I'll only hate the corporatists even more as they continue to whine that it was Bernie's fault for running.

Beyond that? It's honestly a very nice country.

Apart from the infrastructure that's falling apart, underfunded schools, a massive prison population, a disgusting privatised healthcare system, crippling poverty, massive wealth gaps, constant gun violence, extreme religiosity and your environment being destroyed by oil companies? Yeah, cracking country.

Axeldonia, Penguania And Antarctica

Nuremgard wrote:People think elected representatives are there to just be the mouthpieces of the people. They are there not only to serve their constituents but to implement what is best for the country as a whole. This is why some MPs in Westminster voted against the invocation of Article 50 despite their constituencies voting Leave. Sometimes serving the national interest means going against "the people."

While I despise Hilary Clinton, I do believe she was the lesser of two evils. And for the Electoral College to vote in Trump was reckless and detrimental to the national interest.

I vehemently disagree with the notion that those elected by the people derive their power from anything but the people. I can see the logic behind the national interest, but the democratic status of this nation is beholden to the people's ability to trust that their Rep is theirs, IMO.

Nuremgard wrote:Apart from the infrastructure that's falling apart, underfunded schools, a massive prison population, a disgusting privatised healthcare system, crippling poverty, massive wealth gaps, constant gun violence, extreme religiosity and your environment being destroyed by oil companies? Yeah, cracking country.

Frankly, I've no intent to debate tonight, but all of those issues have had little effect on me, honestly.

Penguania And Antarctica

Kalaron wrote:I vehemently disagree with the notion that those elected by the people derive their power from anything but the people. I can see the logic behind the national interest, but the democratic status of this nation is beholden to the people's ability to trust that their Rep is theirs, IMO.

Frankly, I've no intent to debate tonight, but all of those issues have had little effect on me, honestly.

In a way I can see how my argument can be used against me. I'd be fizzing if Scotland voted for independence but Westminster refused to sign off on it "in the national interest." In a way, voters should be given what they want. They shouldn't be treated like children. If working class Americans voted Trump then they thoroughly deserve to have their Medicare and welfare cut. They shouldn't be protected from the consequences of their actions nor should half-hearted excuses be made for them. "Oh, they were desperate, they were misled." Blah, blah, blah. Give them exactly what they want. It'll teach them a lesson. But given the utter stupidity of the average Trump supporter, it wont. They'll become even more fervent in their belief that Trump is the Messiah while he enriches himself and his friends while f*cking them with a big red, white and blue cock.

Rant over.

Axeldonia

Nuremgard wrote:People think elected representatives are there to just be the mouthpieces of the people. They are there not only to serve their constituents but to implement what is best for the country as a whole. This is why some MPs in Westminster voted against the invocation of Article 50 despite their constituencies voting Leave. Sometimes serving the national interest means going against "the people."

While I despise Hilary Clinton, I do believe she was the lesser of two evils. And for the Electoral College to vote in Trump was reckless and detrimental to the national interest.

Except, the Electors of the Electoral College aren't your normal representative. They're a special kind of representative who, for at least 150 years, have been expected to vote the way the people of their state voted.

And as to the general idea of whether representatives should vote as simply mouthpieces for their constituents (known in technical circles as the delegate model of representation), or vote based on their own conscious and what they think is best (the trustee model), I've heard differing thoughts. I think my college American Government Honors teacher put it best: If the people are making their voice known on a particular issue, and most of them want their representative to vote a particular way, then the representative should follow the will of the people. If the people are neutral on an issue, or if opinion of the people is split on an issue, then the representative should vote however they see fit.

Aquatur

Jaslandia wrote:Except, the Electors of the Electoral College aren't your normal representative. They're a special kind of representative who, for at least 150 years, have been expected to vote the way the people of their state voted.

And as to the general idea of whether representatives should vote as simply mouthpieces for their constituents (known in technical circles as the delegate model of representation), or vote based on their own conscious and what they think is best (the trustee model), I've heard differing thoughts. I think my college American Government Honors teacher put it best: If the people are making their voice known on a particular issue, and most of them want their representative to vote a particular way, then the representative should follow the will of the people. If the people are neutral on an issue, or if opinion of the people is split on an issue, then the representative should vote however they see fit.

What is the point in having a representative to vote the way their state voted? Why not simply abolish the College and have the President elected by simple majority?

Jaslandia

Nuremgard wrote:What is the point in having a representative to vote the way their state voted? Why not simply abolish the College and have the President elected by simple majority?

That would be easier and make more sense, yes, and I would prefer that. To play devil's advocate for a moment, the argument I usually hear in favor of the Electoral College is that it's set up to give more power to the smaller (population-wise) and more rural states, so that the choice of President isn't solely decided by what people in highly-populated states (like California and New York) want.

Jaslandia wrote:That would be easier and make more sense, yes, and I would prefer that. To play devil's advocate for a moment, the argument I usually hear in favor of the Electoral College is that it's set up to give more power to the smaller (population-wise) and more rural states, so that the choice of President isn't solely decided by what people in highly-populated states (like California and New York) want.

I suppose. But it makes no difference to me really. How the US conducts its elections is its own business.

Jaslandia, Aquatur

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand

AP just called the election for Doug Jones.

Thank god.

Nuremgard, Jaslandia, Aquatur, Penguania And Antarctica, Pirate Kingdoms

DOUG JONES WON

Nuremgard, Jaslandia, Aquatur, Au Minbo, Vista Major, Penguania And Antarctica

Jaslandia wrote:That would be easier and make more sense, yes, and I would prefer that. To play devil's advocate for a moment, the argument I usually hear in favor of the Electoral College is that it's set up to give more power to the smaller (population-wise) and more rural states, so that the choice of President isn't solely decided by what people in highly-populated states (like California and New York) want.

For what it's worth, coming from a pretty damn small state, I support the Electoral College, though not for that argument. I also support adopting a system like New Zealand does in electing members of the state legislature but that's just me.

Jaslandia, Aquatur, Vista Major, Penguania And Antarctica

Au Minbo wrote:Aaaaaaaaaaaaand

AP just called the election for Doug Jones.

Thank god.

Pirate Kingdoms wrote:DOUG JONES WON

It's REALLY close, and I'm not sure if I'm willing to say those words yet, but it looks that way.

Au Minbo wrote:For what it's worth, coming from a pretty damn small state, I support the Electoral College, though not for that argument. I also support adopting a system like New Zealand does in electing members of the state legislature but that's just me.

Hello, Minnie! It's been a while. How are you?

Aquatur, Vista Major, Penguania And Antarctica

Jaslandia wrote:It's REALLY close, and I'm not sure if I'm willing to say those words yet, but it looks that way.

Hello, Minnie! It's been a while. How are you?

It is really close, but AP called it so I am willing to believe it. Plus the precincts left to report are in usually democratic areas.

I'm pretty good. Lots of stress right now. I have a research (Like real research too) paper to finish for Thursday as well as a powerpoint on my research with a 20 minute presentation to go with it. Plus exams are next week.

hbu?

Jaslandia, Vista Major, Penguania And Antarctica

Au Minbo wrote:It is really close, but AP called it so I am willing to believe it. Plus the precincts left to report are in usually democratic areas.

I'm pretty good. Lots of stress right now. I have a research (Like real research too) paper to finish for Thursday as well as a powerpoint on my research with a 20 minute presentation to go with it. Plus exams are next week.

hbu?

It seems so. My reaction to Doug Jones winning: https://youtu.be/ca-e5MrVbVU

I'm doing good. Finished up my first semester of college a couple weeks ago, and that went pretty good. Now I'm just getting ready for Christmas.

Au Minbo, Penguania And Antarctica

Jaslandia wrote:It seems so. My reaction to Doug Jones winning: https://youtu.be/ca-e5MrVbVU

I'm doing good. Finished up my first semester of college a couple weeks ago, and that went pretty good. Now I'm just getting ready for Christmas.

This would normally be my exam week, but the entire semester this year got pushed back a week. Ugh. Not to mention that we got that blizzard today which has led to a winter storm warning till tomorrow at 7 pm. Estimated that we got about 10 inches of snow at my house.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica

Jaslandia wrote:It seems so. My reaction to Doug Jones winning: https://youtu.be/ca-e5MrVbVU

I'm doing good. Finished up my first semester of college a couple weeks ago, and that went pretty good. Now I'm just getting ready for Christmas.

Au Minbo wrote:It is really close, but AP called it so I am willing to believe it. Plus the precincts left to report are in usually democratic areas.

I'm pretty good. Lots of stress right now. I have a research (Like real research too) paper to finish for Thursday as well as a powerpoint on my research with a 20 minute presentation to go with it. Plus exams are next week.

hbu?

https://youtu.be/NSc9SivhcmE

Jaslandia, Au Minbo

Au Minbo wrote:This would normally be my exam week, but the entire semester this year got pushed back a week. Ugh. Not to mention that we got that blizzard today which has led to a winter storm warning till tomorrow at 7 pm. Estimated that we got about 10 inches of snow at my house.

Sounds dangerous. Stay safe! And why was the semester pushed back a week?

Penguania And Antarctica, Percyton

Jaslandia wrote:Sounds dangerous. Stay safe! And why was the semester pushed back a week?

Naah, I'll be fine. And who knows. Just usual institutional craziness.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica

Au Minbo wrote:Naah, I'll be fine. And who knows. Just usual institutional craziness.

They didn't even give you a reason? Did they just send a notice saying "Hey, just a head's up, the semester is starting a week later than usual."?

Penguania And Antarctica, Percyton

All precincts have turned in their results: Doug Jones had a 1.5% (20,715) lead over Roy Moore, with Secretary of State John Merrill stating that the margin was not close enough to trigger a recount.

Jaslandia

Pirate Kingdoms wrote:All precincts have turned in their results: Doug Jones had a 1.5% (20,715) lead over Roy Moore, with Secretary of State John Merrill stating that the margin was not close enough to trigger a recount.

Not enough for an automatic recount, but IIRC, Moore could still ask for a recount if he pays for it. I haven't heard Moore concede yet, so he might do that.

Jaslandia wrote:Not enough for an automatic recount, but IIRC, Moore could still ask for a recount if he pays for it. I haven't heard Moore concede yet, so he might do that.

I checked and apparently, Roy Moore has refused to concede, calling for a little more time to count the votes.

Jaslandia

Pirate Kingdoms wrote:I checked and apparently, Roy Moore has refused to concede, calling for a little more time to count the votes.

Can't say I'm surprised. I don't expect much to change, though.

Jaslandia wrote:Can't say I'm surprised. I don't expect much to change, though.

More than likely Moore will concede at some point: Republicans have already stated that they will not support any endeavors regarding a recount.

Jaslandia

Pirate Kingdoms wrote:More than likely Moore will concede at some point: Republicans have already stated that they will not support any endeavors regarding a recount.

Indeed. He'll probably concede in the morning or early afternoon. A day after that at the latest.

Jaslandia wrote:Indeed. He'll probably concede in the morning or early afternoon. A day after that at the latest.

I don't know why, but it reminds me of Mugabe: some stubbornness, but ultimately Moore will step down on his position.

Jaslandia

Pirate Kingdoms wrote:I don't know why, but it reminds me of Mugabe: some stubbornness, but ultimately Moore will step down on his position.

The fact that we're comparing a defeated U.S. Senate candidate to a corrupt and now-deposed Zimbabwean dictator is both shocking, and somehow makes sense.

Jaslandia wrote:The fact that we're comparing a defeated U.S. Senate candidate to a corrupt and now-deposed Zimbabwean dictator is both shocking, and somehow makes sense.

*shrug* 2017: nowadays, anything can pretty much happen. Hell, the whole Zimbabwe thing came out of left field, similar to Angola's President João Lourenço going after the dos Santos family, along with (this was in 2016, however) Islam Karimov's successor Shavkat Mirziyoyev against the Karimov family.

Jaslandia

Not sure if the point has been made but the fact that Moore got 49% of the vote is deplorable and half of Alabama should be ashamed of themselves for selling out their morales and compassion on the favour of petty politics and corruption.

Nuremgard, Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica

Yukona wrote:Not sure if the point has been made but the fact that Moore got 49% of the vote is deplorable and half of Alabama should be ashamed of themselves for selling out their morales and compassion on the favour of petty politics and corruption.

We are aware: several people pointed out the absurdity that almost half the populace would still favor a potential pedophile simply because he was a Republican who chanted about God and family values.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica, Yukona

Pirate Kingdoms wrote:*shrug* 2017: nowadays, anything can pretty much happen. Hell, the whole Zimbabwe thing came out of left field, similar to Angola's President João Lourenço going after the dos Santos family, along with (this was in 2016, however) Islam Karimov's successor Shavkat Mirziyoyev against the Karimov family.

I wasn't aware of those last two things, so I'll take your word for it.

Yukona wrote:Not sure if the point has been made but the fact that Moore got 49% of the vote is deplorable and half of Alabama should be ashamed of themselves for selling out their morales and compassion on the favour of petty politics and corruption.

We know. And to be fair to Moore voters (which is something that I'm still kinda uncomfortable doing), for many of them, it wasn't that they thought 'a pedophile is better than a Democrat'; they just didn't believe Moore was a pedophile in the first place. There were a lot of conspiracy theories about how the women were lying, that they were paid by Gloria Allred/George Soros/the DNC/the Illuminati/the gay frogs (the last one is a joke), that it was all hoax. The fact that Trump and so many other right-wing figures have been successful in sowing so much distrust in the media and just basic facts and logic is what really makes me upset, and how most of those 49% are now so distrustful of the media that they'd rather believe in conspiracy theories and baseless skepticism than the words of 8 woman and 30 corroborating people.

Yukona

An election map of the Federation.

https://i.imgur.com/Rwv5S8J.jpg

Red = Nikita Drakobyl (Communist)

Blue = Ynelsea Bircynkov (Liberal)

Yellow = Uaan Naakrun (Conservative)

Green = Kan Lumeng (Green)

Purple = Nikolai Gev, Feri Byshkev, or Sonja Berutkov (Independents)

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica, Minnesota Dakota, Percyton

Jaslandia wrote:I wasn't aware of those last two things, so I'll take your word for it.

We know. And to be fair to Moore voters (which is something that I'm still kinda uncomfortable doing), for many of them, it wasn't that they thought 'a pedophile is better than a Democrat'; they just didn't believe Moore was a pedophile in the first place. There were a lot of conspiracy theories about how the women were lying, that they were paid by Gloria Allred/George Soros/the DNC/the Illuminati/the gay frogs (the last one is a joke), that it was all hoax. The fact that Trump and so many other right-wing figures have been successful in sowing so much distrust in the media and just basic facts and logic is what really makes me upset, and how most of those 49% are now so distrustful of the media that they'd rather believe in conspiracy theories and baseless skepticism than the words of 8 woman and 30 corroborating people.

My friends mother even blames the victims saying they wanted it. (Granted she is a 70 year old woman who is Hispanic and voted for trump and thinks all democrats are communist)

Jaslandia, Minnesota Dakota

63% of white women and 72% of white men in Alabama voted for Moore, despite everything.

Glad I don't live in Alabama. What a horrible little backwater.

Axeldonia, Minnesota Dakota

Nuremgard wrote:63% of white women and 72% of white men in Alabama voted for Moore, despite everything.

Glad I don't live in Alabama. What a horrible little backwater.

If it was a broad statement about the US in general, I'd disagree. But yeah, for most people, Alabama, Mississippi, and West Virginia are... let's just call them avoidable.

Nuremgard, Jaslandia, Yukona

I'mmmmmm Backkkkkkkkkkkk

Russkov Soviet, Jaslandia, Vista Major, Penguania And Antarctica, Mercunova, Percyton

Awesomeness1221 wrote:I'mmmmmm Backkkkkkkkkkkk

Hello there. Good to have you back!! :D

Jaslandia, Percyton, Awesomeness1221

Who wants to do a war rp

Vista Major

Fuhrmania wrote:Who wants to do a war rp

What kind of war we talking?

Squabble or global catastrophe?

Vista Major wrote:What kind of war we talking?

Squabble or global catastrophe?

it depends

Fuhrmania wrote:it depends

What are the prominent ideologies of your nation?

Vista Major wrote:What are the prominent ideologies of your nation?

Monarchist

Fuhrmania wrote:Monarchist

Then it looks like we have a problem

*wink*

Vista Major wrote:Then it looks like we have a problem

*wink*

Absolute monarchy, with a strong influence from the satanic church

Fuhrmania wrote:Absolute monarchy, with a strong influence from the satanic church

Consider it done

Assembled with Dot's Region Saver.
Written by Refuge Isle.