Thread: Timeless Truths

Originally Posted by DonIncognito

Democracy depends on an informed populace, and the last 30 years of scientist bashing has gotten rid of that.

Think it's bad now just wait until they introduce 'Charter schools' in your country. We have one in Houston that teaches that Jesus coexisted with the dinosaurs. Informed populace?
Charter schools are part of the privatize everything trend that argues that government is incapable of efficiency, only business is efficient. Their logic has a critical flaw: Government is not a business.

Originally Posted by rob streeper

Think it's bad now just wait until they introduce 'Charter schools' in your country. We have one in Houston that teaches that Jesus coexisted with the dinosaurs. Informed populace?
Charter schools are part of the privatize everything trend that argues that government is incapable of efficiency, only business is efficient. Their logic has a critical flaw: Government is not a business.

People who say that business is efficient clearly have not had much experience with business.

I thought the rules said no politics and no religion, me thinks something has snuk in in this thread.

And wouldn't the world be a great place if there were no politics and no religion?

Most of our complaining is in the top end of the first world's problems, made by pollies voted in by us.

As of Jan this year Australia's position on the international corruption scale is 13th - we were 6th in 2012.
Try telling the Somali's and North Koreans (lowest on the corruption scale) about our "unbelievable corruption" and our "democratic failure" and they will just fall over laughing.

We have 4 of the top 10 most liveable cities in the world.
If they did the same thing for the countryside despite our vast distances and size I think we would still do well.
If you want to really experience problems try living in Damascus, Lagos or Kiev.

Originally Posted by rob streeper

We have one in Houston that teaches that Jesus coexisted with the dinosaurs. Informed populace?

Sorry! Couldn't help myself.

Originally Posted by A Duke

I thought the rules said no politics and no religion, me thinks something has snuk in in this thread.

"This forum is for GENERAL DISCUSSION/DEBATE/CONFRONTATION etc. on any topic you like, so long as it has NOTHING TO DO WITH WOODWORK."

Originally Posted by Spiritwolfe

Sorry! Couldn't help myself.

I agree that on the surface the situation is laughable but think of the poor students who are being educated to the standards of the Dark Ages. How are they going to fare as adults in a world where the children in other countries are properly educated? Texas mandates, in law, that teachers tell students that Evolution is an unproven theory.

Texas is unique in the educational hierarchy of American states. As one of the largest purchasers of schoolbooks the decisions made by Texas schools as to the content of those texts has a nationwide impact. The anti-science sentiments of the rightwing religious of Texas therefore extend far beyond its borders damaging the educations of children across the nation.

Purposely mis-educating children should be recognized as a form of child abuse.

Originally Posted by rob streeper

"This forum is for GENERAL DISCUSSION/DEBATE/CONFRONTATION etc. on any topic you like, so long as it has NOTHING TO DO WITH WOODWORK."

That is overridden by the ToU of this forum which in general don't allow threads on politics and religion.

One post here was already temporarily moderated for discussion by the Admin team and the decision was made to let it go but watch.

As long as the discussion stays on governments in general and not on people's personal political views it will stay open.

Having said that, I have deleted one very personal view on politics, not because it is right or wrong but because it is against the ToU.

Originally Posted by DonIncognito

If you would like to start a conversation about the similarities between Nazi Germany and Current day Australia, I have a fair amount of to post on that topic as well.

DonIncognito

No, I don't really wish to go down that track for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I was merely making a comment that every country has a government and even the bad governments probably do something well. Actually, there are some that are just pure unadulterated poison, but I don't want to denigrate too many emergent nations under despotic regimes, but I expect you get the drift.

Secondly, it is quite clear that I would be on the same page with many of your statement and only on the next or previous pages with most of the others.

You are right that we should not condemn governments out of hand, but it is disappointing to see that they could do so much better if they could only get over themselves.

Regards
Paul

PS: I would draw your attention to my little saying at the foot of all my posts. It has been there for a long time now.

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

PS: I would draw your attention to my little saying at the foot of all my posts. It has been there for a long time now.

Sorry duder, I dont see sigs. Turn em off on every forum I talk on.