Castro reportedly in 'grave' condition

ThumbingMyWay32

jlew24asu wrote:

...Singapore is a republic...elections in Singapore...

Hey, just like Iraq! Saddam even won his final re-election with 99% of the vote!

Man, being a nieve idiot is even easier than I thought!

jlew24asu

Collin wrote:

Cuba isn't a dictatorship either.

last I checked Castro has been calling the shots for the last 50 years.

ThumbingMyWay32

Heineken Helen wrote:

Eh no you don't... per head of population FAR from it.

Per capita, US is no. 20

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_eco_aid_don_percap-economic-aid-donor-per-capita

Per GDP US is no. 23

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_eco_aid_don_pergdp-economic-aid-donor-per-gdp

Note we're in the top ten on both lists

What part of "we give more aid than any other country, BY FAR" did you not understand?

miller8966

ThumbingMyWay32 wrote:

Hey, just like Iraq! Saddam even won his final re-election with 99% of the vote!

Man, being a nieve idiot is even easier than I thought!

A. Its not a democracy when someone holds a gun to your head and tells you who to vote for.

B. Calling someone a nieve idiot shows that you just got pwned in an argument and can't come up with anything better to say.

jlew24asu

ThumbingMyWay32 wrote:

Hey, just like Iraq! Saddam even won his final re-election with 99% of the vote!

Man, being a nieve idiot is even easier than I thought!

hey im not saying singapore is free. honestly I dont know, I have never been there.

ThumbingMyWay32

jlew24asu wrote:

hey im not saying singapore is free. honestly I dont know, I have never been there.

I imagine it's a lot like Miami...

baraka

jlew24asu wrote:

yes I do

imposing freedom? ok I want them to be free.

If you want them to be free and have choice, then why would you make a statement about 'forcing' something on them. You do see the fallacy in your statement, right? If the cuban people WANTED another dictator, would you attack them and impose your will on them? That's taking THEIR choice away and is the furthest thing from 'freedom'. I would hope they would choose wisely, but ultimately, it's not my choice to make.

jlew24asu wrote:

if given the choice, would any human, choose freedom or choose a dictator?

I know what I would choose, but I'm not going to impose my choice on others. There are a lot of countries that do not like the 'choices' of the US. I don't think any American would want said country to impose their will on them.

Collin

jlew24asu wrote:

last I checked Castro has been calling the shots for the last 50 years.

The people's action party in Singapore has been ruling since 1959. That's 48 years.

jlew24asu

Collin wrote:

The people's action party in Singapore has been ruling since 1959. That's 48 years.

super. and you say thats a good thing?

Heineken Helen

ThumbingMyWay32 wrote:

What part of "we give more aid than any other country, BY FAR" did you not understand?

Eh... ANY of it... cos it's wrong

What part of MY post TELLING you you're wrong don't you understand... the facts and figures are there! Pretty straightforward.

jlew24asu

Heineken Helen wrote:

Eh... ANY of it... cos it's wrong

What part of MY post TELLING you you're wrong don't you understand... the facts and figures are there! Pretty straightforward.

In dollars and cents. its true. america, by far, gives the most.

Collin

jlew24asu wrote:

super. and you say thats a good thing?

Not necessarily but it has been for the people there.

edit:

Singapore, a highly-developed and successful free-market economy, enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP equal to that of the four largest West European countries.

jlew24asu

Collin wrote:

Not necessarily but it has been for the people there.

I'm not so sure about that.

Collin

The fledgling nation had to become self-sufficient, and faced problems including mass unemployment, housing shortages and lack of land and natural resources such as petroleum. During Lee Kuan Yew's term as prime minister from 1959 to 1990, his administration curbed unemployment, raised the standard of living and implemented a large-scale public housing programme. The country's economic infrastructure was developed, the threat of racial tension was eliminated and an independent national defence system was created. Singapore evolved from a developing nation to a global city with first world status towards the end of the 20th century.

Heineken Helen

jlew24asu wrote:

In dollars and cents. its true. america, by far, gives the most.

eh... no, it's NOT true Jesus, I give you the FACTS and I'm still wrong! :rolleyes:

Where are you getting this 'fact' of yours then? Please educate me, I'd love to know!

jlew24asu

Collin wrote:

The fledgling nation had to become self-sufficient, and faced problems including mass unemployment, housing shortages and lack of land and natural resources such as petroleum. During Lee Kuan Yew's term as prime minister from 1959 to 1990, his administration curbed unemployment, raised the standard of living and implemented a large-scale public housing programme. The country's economic infrastructure was developed, the threat of racial tension was eliminated and an independent national defence system was created. Singapore evolved from a developing nation to a global city with first world status towards the end of the 20th century.

sounds great. but what happens if someone opposes the government? are people forced to watch state run tv? is there freedom of speech? freedom of religion? with any dictatorship peoples freedoms are limited in some way, which is bad. but thats just my opinion, maybe I'm wrong

puremagic

jlew24asu wrote:

What will happen when Castro dies? will things change? how is his brother?
................................................
.

Cuba will eventually become a State, if not the 51st, then the 52nd behind Puerto Rico. If Cuba becomes a State before Puerto Rico the U.S. will not have a need for Puerto Rico, even as a commonwealth. The Canal is outdated, they pay no federal taxes, and, can not support our military requirements. Puerto Rico will become just another island nation.

Cuba is strategically more vital to us by location and resources. It would be stupid not to open up the diplomatic channels immediately with Cuba. It would be stupid not offer them Statehood, in a respectable timeframe after Castro passes. The U.S. can not afford to let this opportunity pass.

If done CORRECTLY, I don't see a lot of opposition from his brother or the Cuban people.

jlew24asu

Heineken Helen wrote:

eh... no, it's NOT true Jesus, I give you the FACTS and I'm still wrong! :rolleyes:

Where are you getting this 'fact' of yours then? Please educate me, I'd love to know!

Net Official Development Assistance in 2005 as US dollar amounts (millions)Country Aid amount by dollars

USA 27,457
Japan 13,101
UK 10,754
France 10,059
Germany 9,915
Netherlands 5,131
Italy 5,053
Canada 3,731
Sweden 3,280
Spain 3,123
Norway 2,775
Denmark 2,107
Belgium 1,975
Switzerland 1,771
Australia 1,666
Austria 1,552
Finland 897
Ireland 692
Greece 535
Portugal 367
New Zealand 274





http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Debt/USAid.asp#ForeignAidNumbersinChartsandGraphs

jlew24asu

puremagic wrote:

Cuba will eventually become a State, if not the 51st, then the 52nd behind Puerto Rico. If Cuba becomes a State before Puerto Rico the U.S. will not have a need for Puerto Rico, even as a commonwealth. The Canal is outdated, they pay no federal taxes, and, can not support our military requirements. Puerto Rico will become just another island nation.

Cuba is strategically more vital to us by location and resources. It would be stupid not to open up the diplomatic channels immediately with Cuba. It would be stupid not offer them Statehood, in a respectable timeframe after Castro passes. The U.S. can not afford to let this opportunity pass.

If done CORRECTLY, I don't see a lot of opposition from his brother or the Cuban people.

wow really? I sure hope not. I want Cuba to be an independent nation.

Collin

jlew24asu wrote:

sounds great. but what happens if someone opposes the government? are people forced to watch state run tv? is there freedom of speech? freedom of religion? with any dictatorship peoples freedoms are limited in some way, which is bad. but thats just my opinion, maybe I'm wrong

http://www.sustainer.org/dhm_archive/search.php/?display_article=vn210singaporeed

It's an interesting read.

But this thread isn't about Singapore so I suggest we let it rest.