You are the president of the United States - what would you do?

[Plato]

why are the muslims always the guilty party?

[Amadeus]

Plato:

why are the muslims always the guilty party?

Why are 99 percent of the terrorist attacks in the World committed by Muslims?

[Dan.Linehan]

I would dedicate most of our defense budget to the building of a bunch of Vertical Farms and make all the resulting crops free for US citizens.

You could just go to the local VF and pick the fruit right off the vine.

[Plato]

Originally Posted by Dan.Linehan

I would dedicate most of our defense budget to the building of a bunch of Vertical Farms and make all the resulting crops free for US citizens.

You could just go to the local VF and pick the fruit right off the vine.

That is the most refreshing thing I've read in ages. Although I did read Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto yesterday and that was quite refreshing too. I just wonder, as with communism whether pacifism can work in a world of such hostility, fixed ideologies and greed. :/

[Nicketas]

Originally Posted by Nicketas

This has happened in the U.S. before, but with pirates/guerillas instead of arabs. The only thing that is different and shocking about 9/11 is that two big buildings fell down. Death is tragic either way you look at it.

The solution to such a problem already exists.

Marquis of Reprisal.

A constitutional doctrine that authorizes targeting ONLY those directly responsible for the attack.

You arrest or kill those responsible with a small band of elite soldiers whilst repairing the damage here at home.

*cough, cough*

[Plato]

Originally Posted by Nicketas

*cough, cough*

can i get you a glass of water?

[Brutha]

I would dedicate most of our defense budget to the building of a bunch of Vertical Farms and make all the resulting crops free for US citizens.

I always thought that you were pro free market

[vapourmile]

Send them all a colour TV. One each.

[veranadine]

Rejoin the United Kingdom, for goodness sake.

[vapourmile]

Originally Posted by veranadine

Rejoin the United Kingdom, for goodness sake.

Aw, I'm English, you don't really mean that do you? :P

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Athena

So some radical muslim group just attacked your major city, and thousands of people died. How do you respond?

We've heard a lot about what should not be done; what is the right thing to do?

For starters, befriend the Muslim community in the US. The vast majority of them hate those nutjobs for bringing the name of Islam into disrepute. Do all you can to undermine terrorist claims that this is a 'Holy War' between Islam and the West. Trivia fact: the countries with the highest percentage of Muslims are Mauritania, Somalia, Western Sahara and the Maldives - countries not renowned as hotbeds of global terrorism.

Be accountable for your nation's actions. Terrorists have - sometimes legitimate - grievances with US policy. At the moment they can point and say "The world turns a blind eye to US injustices - the only recourse is violence!". Come out and say "sorry" for genuine injustices committed by the US and make reparations. Say "We have done wrong in the past, we're willing to admit it and we want to make things right".

Build up the standard of living in the 3rd world. Give them a fair price for their goods and labour. Don't squeeze every possible dollar out of them - a stable world is worth more in the long run. Poor countries filled with desperate, resentful people are superb recruiting grounds for terrorists.

Sort out the whole Israel/Palestine thing. The only solution I can currently see is to merge Israel and Palestine into one nation with all citizens given equal rights. Yes, much easier said than done but Palestine got a raw deal, and as long as it's smarting there'll be conflict.

Go after the individuals responsible for the attack. If the country or countries harbouring them are reluctant to turn them over, bring international pressure to bear through diplomatic channels. Don't declare war on a country because a few dozen individuals in it attacked yours.

That should do for starters.

[vapourmile]

1. Disband the senate.
2. Quit.

And as for befriending Muslims, instead of increasing pressure and hatred by blocking all communication channels from that part of the globe. Why not do the opposite? Let's hear what these people want for God's sake. I know the republicans (the right-wing over here) have this huge, and completely stupid "we don't do deals with terrorists" thing (which is exactly why they're attacking you in the first place you nuggets). It's too obvious these people are angry for economical not religious reasons. Give them a platform, have their manifesto published in the papers with the widest circulation. Listening to what they want to say doesn't mean agreeing to it. Let's just at least hear it. Oh go on, I want to. I'm sick of the news showing pictures but never telling us about what they're saying. Only ever giving our side of the story. You'd think it was cowboys and Indians over again? There is a huge apology going out to all Native Americans now for how they've been treated historically. Now you're doing the same thing again! The only news is that now you've got missiles to kill Indians in a foreign country? What is it with America and Indian killing? Leave their country alone you freaks. It's their oil not yours, get over it.

[Barcs]

Originally Posted by Amadeus

Plato:

Why are 99 percent of the terrorist attacks in the World committed by Muslims?

Does that include the millions of innocent people that the US & Israel have killed, or is it only terrorism when our people die?

So some radical muslim group just attacked your major city, and thousands of people died. How do you respond?

We've heard a lot about what should not be done; what is the right thing to do?

Before being irrational I would have a full intelligence investigation and an independent one as well. After they find conclusive evidence on who was responsible for the attack, I would organize covert special forces operations to sabotage them, start rebellions from within, and eventually break up the terrorist group responsible.

[Dan.Linehan]

Originally Posted by Brutha

I always thought that you were pro free market

Hmmm. I haven't quite reconciled a free market philosophy with all of our recent advancements in technology.

If you're referring to Ron Paul, it wasn't just his free market stuff I liked. It was that he would have decriminalized drug possession, stopped the US interventionist foreign policies, ended government subsidies for massive factory farms, done his genuine best to restore value to our failing currency, etc. No other candidate came close to making a commitment to solve as many real problems as he did.

How exactly would a free market system handle an automated agricultural system?

[quoteguy]

Originally Posted by LifeFirst

"Get me Jack Bauer....NOW."

That's what I'm talking about!

[quoteguy]

Originally Posted by dgorila1

How do we know "they" (Osama, muslims, whomever...) were the ones that orchastrated the 9/11 attacks and all the other "terrorist" events over the years? Check out Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind! for a different perspective. Watch the movie TERRORSTORM and it will open your eyes and make you see things in a different light. All is not as it seems. Conspiracy theory......maybe.....we will never know though! But you can either be one of the sheeple with blinders on or an informed person....your choice.

Also check out "Loose Change" and "Zeitgeist". Both can be found at google video. Are we pointing the finger in the right direction? Get all the information then make a decision. Blessings!

[Josephus Magnus]

Originally Posted by Athena
So some radical muslim group just attacked your major city, and thousands of people died. How do you respond?

We've heard a lot about what should not be done; what is the right thing to do?

We would first need to identify the enemy, then take appropriate actions to engage the enemy. I don't know if liberating the Iraqis was the right course of action.

I'm sure there are a lot of people who are Muslims who want nothing more than to raise their families in peace and prosperity. But we are not talking about them. We are talking about radicals.

Radical Islam is not just anti-American, they want to destroy all who are not Muslim. They will even attack Muslims who do not share their views and ideals.

Radical Islam is waging wars across the globe. Muslim governments engage in genocide against black Humanists in Africa. They are fighting in Asia, Europe, Malasia and the South Pacific as well.

They do not tolerate or respect the beliefs of others, not Jews, not Christians, not Humanists, no one. You cannot go to an Islamic country and enjoy the same liberties you would in free western societies.

[Dave Kaminski]

Do a barrel roll?

[Still Growing]

From the day the President takes office he's whisked here and there and has a lot of people in his ear. Before the Iraq war some "think tanks" featuring some of the smartest scientists, staticians and strategists gave predictions and consultations to Bush and his cabinet.

These "think tanks" are often private groups....

If I were President I would hope that the facts being gathered for me by the various agencies were credible. It turns out they are not...

I created a thread discussing this..

[Nicketas]

Originally Posted by Plato

can i get you a glass of water?

Can I get you a glass of reality?

[Still Growing]

Originally Posted by placebo

People in America are just 1/5 of world population but they are spending more than 30 percent of complete world energy. There are so many hungry mouths around the globe but Americans don't want to lower their standards. They want to drive their cars and use cheap oil, have much more money than they really need. And trying to prove them that they are wrong would be fatal for me as a president .

As others stated the US is about 5% of the world population but consume 30% of the world's energy. This point I'm with you on...

As for the hungry mouths but American's not wanting to lower their standards this is a very very stupid comment. America gives more proportionately than Croatia does. Americans gave, per capita, three and a half times as much to causes and charities as the French, seven times as much as the Germans, and 14 times as much as the Italians.

I guess if America were poor and hungry we'd use less energy. Only problem is that you wouldn't be there for us would you Placebo? You can post on blogs about other's greed but how much did you donate to charity this year? Do you have a car? Well you obviously have a computer. Hypocrit

[Brutha]

Americans gave, per capita, three and a half times as much to causes and charities as the French, seven times as much as the Germans, and 14 times as much as the Italians.

Just because you have privatised giving money to charitible causes doesn't mean that you give more than Europeans. In Germany the state pays for more charitible causes which makes people pay indirectly through taxes for them.

[A floating boat]

i firmly believe that the United States is a country of freedom, and everyone can find their deferent voices in public, but it seems that not all of their speeches are closely related to the facts. even the president is getting used to telling people lies both in and out of the nation regardless of the feelings of the listeners. Take the Olympic flame racing for example, CNN didn't tell us the truth, and even more, they torched what should be known by the crowd. if i were the president will never let it happen.

[Still Growing]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Just because you have privatised giving money to charitible causes doesn't mean that you give more than Europeans. In Germany the state pays for more charitible causes which makes people pay indirectly through taxes for them.

Brutha, this blog was about what you would do if you were President of the US. Placebo just logged on and took a cheap shot at Americans. She spoke about all the hungry people in the world but Americans just wanting to drive around in their cars using gas. This statement makes it sound like Americans as being selfish and nongiving users. Does it not?

Do you agree with Placebo's statements?

[Brutha]

This statement makes it sound like Americans as being selfish and nongiving users.

First people are people and I don't think that there are genetic differences that make Americans more selfish than other people. The fault lies in the culture or the system.
Then Americans for the most part belief in selfishness and that selfishness produces a better world.
For that reason the state doesn't Cinvest as much money in public transportation than say, Germany.
Because the state invests more money into public transportation in Germany, Germans drive less with their cars than Americans who don't have that much public transportation around.

If you travel by train you don't need as much energy and produce less CO2 emissions.
I don't think that you can solve the dilema of the commons on an individual level.

You have to change the system. I think that America should sign Kyoto and increase it's foreign aid.

[Still Growing]

Originally Posted by Brutha

First people are people and I don't think that there are genetic differences that make Americans more selfish than other people. The fault lies in the culture or the system.
Then Americans for the most part belief in selfishness and that selfishness produces a better world.

I agree with you kind of...
America values individualism more. A culture that values capitalism over socialistic endeavors could be more selfish. I see your point completely.

I would like to point out however that the US is so physically large that it is impossible to connect such a large country completely by train or bus. A good percentage of our fuels are used in transporting food and goods across the land. Its not uncommon for a tourist visiting the US to plan to drive to another city only to find out its a 30 hour drive and to make a change in their plans.

Also no system can work everywhere and that the German way may not work in our landscape or also with our particular economics.

Through movies, TV and the news Americans get labeled as not being worldly however if you look at how many cultures we have living among us in the US how could we not be? My neighbor in front is from Iran the other from the UK, the other from Korea and so on. Your typical German knows Italy much better than an American however your typical American knows Mexico much better than the typical German. Aren't both Int'l?

I've seen the polls in Europe showing how dumb, uneducated and poor with Geography that Americans are. Its true that the US has a larger lower class and a larger upper class when compared with European countries. You can interview someone who had a poor education and then proclaim them to be a typical American but wouldn't the American who had an even better education than the average European be typical as well? I agree that the standard needs to be raised in the US and every country has problems however I only use this as an example to point out that you judge us not by our successes but by our failures. Also the US education system is often proven to be behind other countries however they fail to point out that the American Universities are some of the top in the world and that after attending an American University Americans do complete globally. There is also a failure to point out the percentage of Americans own have college degrees when compared Internationally. My point is that the US media constantly feeds Americans that they are the best country in the world and Germany is doing the same. Your propoganda is not different in that regard. Both sides give the public evidence in favor of each side. Your comments are typical of that of a German however my comments are more critical of the US than a typical American. It seems to be that I am more unbias than you and see fault and also good in both systems.

Also through your media you are told about America's lack of responsibility when it relates to the environment. I know a lot of Americans have been driving SUVs but this is changing rapidly. The SUV was seen as a status symbol and many Americans have boats, small businesses or use such a vehicle for farm related work. Americans are behind Europe but not that far behind. Europe is older and more of the available land has been developed. Statistics can be used to show America as being irresponsible however if you look at the CO2 by American consumption and then divided that by the amount trees and available land in the US you would not have any more of a damaged environment than Germany. If you took Germany's current percentage of developed land and current consumption per household in energy and then spread that portionately across the US it would be a disaster? Isn't it irresponsible to over develop your country when you know that you have limited land, water and resources? Because you develop some sophisticated system to manage the problem you created isn't it unfair to assume that countries that do not have as big of a problems adapt to your standard as rapidly?

When I travel across America I see blue skies and clear water. I see OSHA cracking down on any emissions from factories and more people buying fuel efficient vehicles. If you travel through the neighborhoods you'll notice that Americans recycle just like you do; although you're probably told the opposite through some old and limited study that is peddled around the Socialistic newspapers showing evidence of how Capitalist nations are inferior. When I travel across Germany I notice more smog and a lot less land and trees when compared to the US. I'm not knocking Germany because it is a very responsible country but I am trying to get you to step outside what you think is true and to see another perspective. I might also be using points that you'll attempt to argue but I incourage you to try and see the point I am really getting at. And that point is not that the US is better but just different.

Through your media you are constantly fed how your system is better than others and you feel good by living in a smaller flat, by driving a diesel car that you are treading light on the environment. You are using the data to your favor. Yes you look at your impact on the environment as an individual and you look at the impact of the US based upon us having a larger population. Both are fair arugments however again look at the resources and land we have for ecological regeneration. It is also important for Socialistic countries to get continuous positive support for their actions; especially when the taxes are so high.

Furthermore, I know plenty of Germans who when moving to the US they don't buy a diesel car, buy or rent a larger house and fill it with more goods. Many Germans own second houses in the US. They may drive a diesel in Germany and live in a smaller house but then Germans travel more than almost any other world citizen. Can you say your ecological impact is lower than someone living in China? Surely you think that China, just like America, needs to clean up their act and be more like a European right? I think that many Europeans take an elitist view on their position and on the environment and try to apply that to other countries. How very ironic and American of you. (Just joking)

Please don't think I am defending America and as I said America is changing very rapidly and we are only a couple years behind Germany when it comes to the environment but try to see the other side and try to see Americans as your friends and not just gas guzzling, SUV driving, Eco Terrorists because its simply misleading...

I don't know if I am getting my point across. Can anybody help me say it better...

[Brutha]

My point is that the US media constantly feeds Americans that they are the best country in the world and Germany is doing the same.

No that doesn't happen in Germany. After 45' we don't do that anymore. In Germany it is not political correct to say something like "I'm proud of Germany".

Furthermore, I know plenty of Germans who when moving to the US they don't buy a diesel car, buy or rent a larger house and fill it with more goods.

Again, I don't think that much on the individual level.
Those people who move to the US obivously see US culture as benefitial.

Surely you think that China, just like America, needs to clean up their act and be more like a European right?

I think that it would be in China's benifit to clean up their enviroment but I don't think that China has the same duty of reducing their CO2 emisions that America (or other western countries) have.

And that point is not that the US is better but just different.

I haven't claimed that Germany or for that many any other nation is fundamently better than America but that America should change it stance on the enviroment and foreign aid (I also think that many European nations should give more foreign aid).

[Still Growing]

Originally Posted by Brutha

No that doesn't happen in Germany. After 45' we don't do that anymore. In Germany it is not political correct to say something like "I'm proud of Germany".

You know what I meant Brutha... Its subtle however German media reports do pepper reports with a bias towards Germany and towards socialistic stances. We are all human and this would be natural....

I gave specific examples on common views taken on the US in Germany and I gave countering data.

Do you see my point on CO2 ommissions?
On the US Education system?

Originally Posted by Brutha

Again, I don't think that much on the individual level.
Those people who move to the US obivously see US culture as benefitial.

Yes but you were defending someone elses negative statement about Americans on an Individual level. I gave an example back to counter and to show that people make decisions based upon their personal benefit. It personally benefits that individual to drive a diesel to save on gas in Germany however when put into a different environment the behavior changes.

My statement serves multiple functions and is relative. Its symbolic and so therefore rises above the individual...

Originally Posted by Brutha

I think that it would be in China's benifit to clean up their enviroment but I don't think that China has the same duty of reducing their CO2 emisions that America (or other western countries) have.

Isn't this about taking the US down a few notches? I can see that you hold the US to a higher level than China. I also think that you hold the US to a higher level than Germany and are more critical of the US than Germany.

Originally Posted by Brutha

I haven't claimed that Germany or for that many any other nation is fundamently better than America but that America should change it stance on the enviroment and foreign aid (I also think that many European nations should give more foreign aid).

You are critical of the US but not of Germany in your writings... I am only giving you the flip side. This doesn't mean you are wrong but that you need to look at the big picture.

[Brutha]

Do you see my point on CO2 ommissions?
On the US Education system?

First my opinions on CO2 ommission don't come from German media but rather from source like worldchaning.com (which is pretty international).
It is true that German media is also pro doing something about global warming, but I don't really think that you got the cause and effect there right. Since Germans are for doing something (as expressed in the media) against global warming there is political pressure to do something about it.

German media (or myself personly) might not like the US Education system but they certainly don't like the German one either.
On the university level we even have abondand our old system with magister and diplom for one with bachloer and master which are used by the US and Great Britain (and it seems we have rather copied the disadvantages than the benefits of the US system but that is another matter).

We are all human and this would be natural....

Patriotism isn't natural. The Allies did a good job after WWII to eredicate it and install a distrust in nationalism. This also has a bit to do with the cultural movement of 68'.

Isn't this about taking the US down a few notches? I can see that you hold the US to a higher level than China. I also think that you hold the US to a higher level than Germany and are more critical of the US than Germany.

Is thread is about how to change the US.
A stronger right of free speech is something that I like in the US system.
In the other thread you are more critical (as in negative) than I am on the way power works in the US system.

My statement serves multiple functions and is relative. Its symbolic and so therefore rises above the individual...

But your sample is unrepresentive when you select for those people who prefer the American way of live enough over the German one to settle over.

[SmartAlx]

1 tend to the wounded.
2 Seal off the crime scene to make sure a true and accurate investigation could be held. (The steel in the buildings wouldn't immediately go to scrap yards in far off nations until we knew who did it and why. Not if I was president.)
3 Question the assailants
4 Depends on their answer. If they had some legitimate cause, a truly brilliant President would listen to them. That would prevent more bloodshed, and if he did it properly, his citizens would understand. Not an easy task of course.
if they didn't have just cause, then I would authorize black operations to eliminate the heads of the organization responsible and keep cutting off the new heads that grow out of the body of the organization.