up-country_sinclair

Due to its policies, Israel is likely the most reviled nation on the planet. Quite frankly, it's a wonder this sort of thing hasn't happened more often.

As someone mentioned before, with the world economy in the doldrums, there are not going to be a lot of handouts to keep them afloat.

What's this?

The US is no longer going to write billion dollar welfare checks to Israel?

I wasn't aware of that, but it's welcome news.

Like it or not, we are all Israel.

Like it or not, no we aren't. Not even close.

In fact, the upcoming vote at the UN is going to make it clear in no uncertain terms that the overwhelming majority of the world's nations side with the Palestinians.

They will win a status upgrade; that's it for now.

And that upgrade would mean that they are more likely to be able to bring charges of Israeli atrocities to the International Criminal Court.

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

Does any organization publish a purely domestic ranking ranking?

Actually, it was just a weak-kneed cop out. But 'nuff said.

Jingthing,

1. Who (besides you) mentioned anything about a "peacenik" being elected. Opposition leader Tzipi Livni is not a dove by any stretch, but she's also not a warmonger.

2. You posted that my reply wasn't "as funny as you hoped for". What, pray tell, were you hoping for?

Humor us. Spell out what you were hoping for. Thanks.

But the writing is on the wall, and it's only a matter of time.

Humor us. Spell out what the writing is saying. Thanks.

I would have thought that it's quite clear from my post that I was referring to his coalition govt. collapsing.

Sufficiently humored?

Even if he wanted to, Netanyahu no longer has the political capital to apologize for the excessive and unreasonable actions of Israeli agents aboard the humanitarian aide flotilla. He's got half a million citizens in the streets protesting his policies and a historic vote coming up at the UN which will be an epic embarrassment for his government.

If he were to do the right thing and apolgize, there's no way he could withstand the revolt from the extreme right wing of his very fragile coalition. But the writing is on the wall, and it's only a matter of time.

Hi,

I would be most appreciative if someone could tell me if Pak Chee is the equivalent of parsley or coriander. I've come across contradictory information via google, and was hoping for some confirmation here.

Thanks very much.

An update:

I'm on the train, and yes there is a power socket in the cabin above the door. Bicycles have to go on the freight/cargo car.

An unrelated 1st class cabin question: Is it possible to bring a bicycle into the cabin or does it have to be put in a freight car. I know the cabin is small, but I'd feel better having the bike with me and not bouncing around with other cargo.

Seeing as the Riley's life was wrong about the number of beds, can someone else confirm that there are power outlets in first class cabins. I will be traveling from Hat Yai to Bangkok.

Thanks.

No, of course they weren't spies for Israel or the US. Who doesn't enjoy a bit of backpacking on the Iran/Iraq border during a war? These 28 and 32 year old "kids" simply took a wrong turn and ended up in Iran. Ooops! Could happen to anyone.

Yeah & apparently there is a guy up on Martha's Vineyard stuffing his face with lobster drenched in butter who is not too concerned about it either.

Butter? The nerve!

Are you referring to the unabashed hypocrite, Mitt Romney?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/8712163/Barack-Obama-criticised-by-Mitt-Romney-for-holidaying-on-Marthas-Vineyard.html

Or President Obama who has taken less than half of the vacation time his predecessor had taken by this point?

Obama 48

Bush 115

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/21/AR2010082102399.html

Facts are facts, snarky66. Even if you don't like them.

Having a bunch of websites online claiming you're the world greatest humanitarian does not make you innocent. Apparently, the Iranian judges for one didn't buy it.

Just take a look at who here is feigning belief in this absurd cover story. It speaks volumes.

No, of course they weren't spies for Israel or the US. Who doesn't enjoy a bit of backpacking on the Iran/Iraq border during a war? These 28 and 32 year old "kids" simply took a wrong turn and ended up in Iran. Ooops! Could happen to anyone.

Forty-one percent of voters in the last US election said they agreed with Tea Party values. And the primary values of the Tea Party are about fiscal responsibility.

Hey, I guess you're right!

Please correct your quote of me in your reply. I DID NOT SAY THAT. Include the full quote that it was said by Tea Party Co-Founder Mark Meckler.

First of all, it was a post made in jest, you know, "humor".

Secondly, I attempted to edit it, but apparently too much time has passed to make an edit (?). I did, however, change it in this post.

As an aside, I can't help but think you're being just a tad delicate, because this type of quoting is quite common. But, if it's against ThaiVisa policy, I'll be sure to not violate said policy in the future.

Repeat it enough and lazy people will believe it to be true.

Really? That's seems terribly cynical.

Forty-one percent of voters in the last US election said they agreed with Tea Party values. And the primary values of the Tea Party are about fiscal responsibility.

Hey, I guess you're right!

Look at the near catastrophic collapse as you called it & first realize it was not as they claim neither in reason it occurred nor the supposed fix they threw at it. I say supposed because as you can see they threw billions at it & cured nothing.

They?

Oh, President George Bush and his Treasury Secretary, Hank Paulson.

I do not speak for UG but bet he meant stop the stupid useless spending & instead spend on things that produce.

As in job creation, infrastructure etc.

Exactly. :jap:

So the two of you are in support of spending to improve the infrastructure in the US. Great. I'm sure President Obama will appreciate your support if he announces massive infrastructure improvements in the near future (highways, bridges, renewable energy, etc...). And I'll look forward to reading your posts in support of them.

Oh, so when Ulysses G posted, "When one is broke, it is stupid to keep om [sic] spending.", what he really meant was "stupid, useless spending".

How convenient.

And by the way who decides what's "stupid and useless"? Tea Party Republicans like Michelle Bachmann? Before you answer, do a search to see how much she's collected in farm subsidies and government handouts. My point is that everyone wants to cut someone else's spending because it's allegedly "stupid and useless". But not the spending programs that they benefit from, because those are smart and useful.

When one is broke, it is stupid to keep om spending. Blame Obama and company.

It's somewhat shocking how utterly simplistic and uninformed this statement is. While it may be true for individual households or even small businesses, it most certainly does not apply to the world's largest economy at this moment.

The US economy is still struggling a mere two years after a near catastrophic collapse.

Consumers aren't spending.

Businesses aren't spending.

And now you want the government to stop spending?

What do you think is going to happen if no money is spent?

I guess you liked 1937 so much you want to re-live it.

The current tax rate is not at it's lowest level in the past 60 years. You were wrong when you made the claim,but if you insist on trying to paper over your erroneous statement I will be forced to provide more links tomorrow.

As I posted earlier (and you curiously seem to have overlooked and/or not commented on):

Tax bills in 2009 at lowest level since 1950

Amid complaints about high taxes and calls for a smaller government, Americans paid their lowest level of taxes last year since Harry Truman's presidency, a USA TODAY analysis of federal data found.

Some conservative political movements such as the "Tea Party" have criticized federal spending as being out of control. While spending is up, taxes have fallen to exceptionally low levels.

Federal, state and local income taxes consumed 9.2% of all personal income in 2009, the lowest rate since 1950, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reports.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/2010-05-10-taxes_N.htm

Facts are facts, Ulysses G.

Even if they don't provide support to your particular ideology.

When you feel "forced" to provide more links, why not take an extra minute to send an email to the Bureau of Economic Analysis to enlighten them on the error of their ways. The US Today might also appreciate the scoop and will be sure to print an immediate retraction.

Look under the article that you linked.

Averages mean nothing when you are speaking of individual experiences.

Statistics can be used to present information slanted toward whenever view you are trying to present.

If you take all of the personal income as a whole and the divide by the amount of income taxes paid,

you are including in that total income people who do not pay any taxes at all. Doing so, of course, brings down the average.

When you calculate in this manner, sure taxes paid as a percent of income looks low, but to the INDIVIDUAL person paying about 35-40% of their income as taxes of some sort, is that any consolation? Of course not.

Taxes are not deducted from my pay based upon what the average ishttp://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/2010-05-10-taxes_N.htm

You're citing the reader comments section on the USA Today website?

Thanks for the laugh, but as far as our discussion is concerned, it does nothing at all to dispute what I posted.

And despite all the evidence I've posted to support what I claimed (and you refuted), it seems clear that you're never going to admit you were wrong, so I'm just going to stand by the facts that I've presented and move on.

You really should do a little research before making such statements.

Taxes are not at their lowest level in approximately 60 years. In 1991 the tax rate was raised from 28% to 31% where it remained until 1993 when it was raised to 39.6%. In 2001 the tax rate was lowered to 39.1% and was lowered again in 2002 to 38.6%. It was then lowered to its current 35% in 2003.

http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/151.html

You seem to be ignoring this for some reason.

The link provided is to The Tax Foundation which is a DC group funded by Exxon Mobil and the Koch brothers. But even more important than this obvious bias, they are known for using suspect methodologies in compiling their data.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_Foundation#cite_note-39

Now, about this 'ignoring" claim.

Why haven't you commented on my post which provides evidence that local, state and federal taxes are at their lowest levels in approximately 60 years?