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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Cronosonic (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#99726: Sep 2nd 2015 at 1:50:31 AM

While I don't doubt it's possible for drones to be used effectively and accurately, the problem is, whoever is running the program is blatantly incompetent and trigger-happy.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#99727: Sep 2nd 2015 at 1:58:02 AM

Yeah, that was discussed at length over in the drones thread - much of the issue is people working with clearly insufficient information and sledgehammer-to-a-nut weapons.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#99728: Sep 2nd 2015 at 3:30:08 AM

[up][up] The CIA program sure, but that's a problem with the CIA being trigger happy, not a problem with drones.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#99729: Sep 2nd 2015 at 4:22:49 AM

Yeah. I heard when the actual USAF is flying the drone the amount of collateral damage caused plumets.

It's just the CIA being sociopaths. As usual.

Oh really when?
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#99730: Sep 2nd 2015 at 4:41:47 AM

What's this I hear about Medicaid forcing people to stay poor?

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Gabrael from My musings Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Is that a kind of food?
#99731: Sep 2nd 2015 at 4:59:03 AM

That article is all sorts of misleading.

1) You can opt out of Medicaid. No one forces you to stay on it. Medicaid is elective.

2) No one is forcing you to stay poor. Medicaid is for low income people. She is not on the private option Medicaid expansion. She is on traditional Medicaid because she is quadriplegic. She doesn't qualify for the ACA one. Her medical needs are too large.

3) She could get healthcare privately through healthcare.gov and it would not be free but it would be affordable. If it is not, she could appeal it as being within the donut hole.

4) No one wants to be on Medicaid. You have so many incentives to get off of it. Tax breaks, additional support you qualify for, etc.

This woman sounds like her frustrations are real, but instead of whining about it she needs to ask to be placed better and take the steps to get the care she needs at the means her family is capable of.

"Psssh. Even if you could catch a miracle on a picture any person would probably delete it to make space for more porn." - Aszur
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#99732: Sep 2nd 2015 at 5:26:31 AM

I can actually attest to the fact that I, personally, am deliberately avoiding earning too much income because I don't want to lose welfare benefits and Medicaid.

That's not an argument against Medicaid or welfare, it's an argument against bad design and perverse incentives.

shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#99733: Sep 2nd 2015 at 6:50:00 AM

A lot of the Medicaid/welfare/foodstamps etc/ forcing people to stay poor comes from the fact that there's a large trough between where benefits cut out and where people can afford to live without them that's very hard to jump over.

When you're living paycheck to paycheck and your choices are 'earn 20 more dollars and lose 1000 dollars worth of support' or 'turn down that raise.' You're going to turn down that raise. That in turn makes it much harder to get out of that whole. Universal healthcare and a minimum income would fix that.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
Xopher001 Since: Jul, 2012
#99734: Sep 2nd 2015 at 9:09:50 AM

But communism !! Plus why would people work if they can just live off of welfare , those leeches!

edited 2nd Sep '15 9:10:47 AM by Xopher001

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#99735: Sep 2nd 2015 at 10:04:14 AM

Obama has secured enough support for the Iran deal in the Senate to make it veto-proof.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/02/politics/iran-nuclear-deal-votes-sustain-veto/index.html

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Mopman43 Since: Nov, 2013
#99736: Sep 2nd 2015 at 12:46:17 PM

That's good. Wonder how many times the republicans will try anyway.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#99737: Sep 2nd 2015 at 1:26:07 PM

They could try constantly to repeal it, but unless they get veto proof majorities it will be about as effective as their 30 some attempts to repeal Obamacare.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Skycobra51 A suitable case for treatment from The US of A Since: Nov, 2013 Relationship Status: Only knew I loved her when I let her go
A suitable case for treatment
#99738: Sep 2nd 2015 at 2:38:52 PM

More power to him (Obama) for getting his votes.

However, even after reading the Iran deal, I'm still not sold on it. The road to hell is paved with good intentions after all.

Or if your feeling literary, The best laid plans of Mice and Men.

Maybe I'm just being cynical.

Anyhow,no "I am the Senate" jokes about Obama yet?tongue

Look upon my privilege ye mighty and despair.
DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
#99739: Sep 2nd 2015 at 2:42:03 PM

What is the perceived problem with this deal, again? That it doesn't impose strict enough inspections on Iran?

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#99740: Sep 2nd 2015 at 2:52:24 PM

That's it's not "a better deal", many of the critics haven't even read the deal, or at least hadn't when they started declaring that they hated it.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#99741: Sep 2nd 2015 at 2:53:43 PM

Really, the objection most Republicans have to it is that it's a deal at all: any "solution" to the Iran problem that doesn't involve bombing and/or invading it with our Team America World Police Army is insufficient and cowardly. Well, when I say "most" I mean Lindsey Graham. The others are unwilling to concede any foreign policy successes to Obama because him being "weak" is part of their ideological precepts.

edited 2nd Sep '15 2:55:13 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#99742: Sep 2nd 2015 at 2:57:07 PM

Yeah so on a level the problem is that Obama made it.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Skycobra51 A suitable case for treatment from The US of A Since: Nov, 2013 Relationship Status: Only knew I loved her when I let her go
A suitable case for treatment
#99743: Sep 2nd 2015 at 3:25:45 PM

It seems to me, that this Iran deal debate is nothing more than a pissing match between politicans on both sides of the aisle who seek to further their own agendas, the American people's opinions be damned.

Then again, a politician is a politician regardless if they're Democrat or Republican.

The only reason its garnered this much attention I'm guessing, is because its an election year.

Look upon my privilege ye mighty and despair.
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#99744: Sep 2nd 2015 at 3:34:42 PM

What is the perceived problem with this deal, again? That it doesn't impose strict enough inspections on Iran?
"It doesn't let us bomb Tehran back to the stone age and then bring Cheeseburgers and Mini Skirts to the Iranians."

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#99745: Sep 2nd 2015 at 3:35:29 PM

[up][up]No, the Iran deal is an amazing achievement in international diplomacy, years in the making, that has been turned by Republicans into a referendum on Obama's foreign policy, as if they'd do any better (*cough* Bush).

edited 2nd Sep '15 3:35:44 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Skycobra51 A suitable case for treatment from The US of A Since: Nov, 2013 Relationship Status: Only knew I loved her when I let her go
A suitable case for treatment
#99746: Sep 2nd 2015 at 3:40:22 PM

[up] Optimism has never been my strong suit. Forgive me for being skeptical.

Democrats tend to be too soft, and Republicans too hard in foreign affairs.

Ideally you'd have a balance of the two.

Teddy Roosevelt said it best "Speak softly and carry a big stick."

edited 2nd Sep '15 3:43:59 PM by Skycobra51

Look upon my privilege ye mighty and despair.
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#99747: Sep 2nd 2015 at 3:42:49 PM

Why are the Republicans so enamoured with gunboat / cruise missile diplomacy anyway?

Are the MIC kickbacks that good?

"Yup. That tasted purple."
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#99748: Sep 2nd 2015 at 3:47:00 PM

[up]Because they are in the pockets of the contractors and they've mastered exploiting the short term nationalism that war brings out.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Artificius from about a foot and a half away from a monitor. Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Norwegian Wood
#99749: Sep 2nd 2015 at 3:49:22 PM

I'm willing to bet that the Iran deal will work so long as we let them run their own internal politics. Part of that drive for nuclear armament comes out of somewhat to very justified existential fear.

"I have no fear, for fear is the little death that kills me over and over. Without fear, I die but once."
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#99750: Sep 2nd 2015 at 3:49:46 PM

[up][up][up][up] Superior outcomes with fewer lives lost and a good reputation for the U.S. = soft, now? That is every bit as much a myth as the "Republicans = economically responsible" one.

edited 2nd Sep '15 3:51:19 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"

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