World Affairs

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Originally posted by: -Lexus-

Originally posted by: N_O_Body

The way you put it is sounds like a tax on a tax.  It would be a salary cut.  Any volunteers?

quote>

No, it would be a tax cut. Someone who isnt paying any taxes is going to pay taxes over money that she received through taxes. So she gets less so we can pay less. 

quote>

So you are saying you are not getting value for your money.  Then why not make an equivalent cut to the Civil List?  Why should the royal family pay more tax?  Don't they work enough for your benefit?  Should the various charity trusts be cut?

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Mikeaut1

Originally posted by: Duke87

So... no talk about this, huh?

quote>

I was actually going to post about this in either a new topic or in here! 

Scary stuff, but the public and the NYPD did an outstanding job in Times Sq.

Now the guy is confessing to it and is cooperating with the FBI. He's also from Pakistan and has made long distance calls to contacts there while spending his time in Connecticut and NY.quote>

hes also a US Citizen.

One question i have is, how in these days of supposedly hyper secure airports , you can get on an international flight with cash? Wouldnt that be a casue to check someone out more closley?

[-Lexus- 2]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body

Originally posted by: -Lexus-

Originally posted by: N_O_Body

The way you put it is sounds like a tax on a tax.  It would be a salary cut.  Any volunteers?

quote>

No, it would be a tax cut. Someone who isnt paying any taxes is going to pay taxes over money that she received through taxes. So she gets less so we can pay less. 

quote>

So you are saying you are not getting value for your money.  Then why not make an equivalent cut to the Civil List?  Why should the royal family pay more tax?  Don't they work enough for your benefit?  Should the various charity trusts be cut?

quote>

She can pay more tax because shes super rich and she doesnt pay a lot of taxes. And most of her tasks are more symbolic then actually worth of getting so much money. 

[asterfaos 0]

I can not find the file to raise the money early in the game to more than 500,000. Help me please.

I'm Italian and I understand what you write badly, you can get the link to that file.

Again, I'm new and I can not find the right file to change simcity4. I would be very grateful if I helped them to find what to change money

- combined posts -

     -Barbarossa

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Originally posted by: -Lexus-

She can pay more tax because shes super rich and she doesnt pay a lot of taxes. And most of her tasks are more symbolic then actually worth of getting so much money. 

quote>

Is she really super rich, or just on the verge of poverty because of maintenance of all those public buildings?  The Civil List doesn't cover most of that.  In fact, they are running a deficit (link).  Maybe you think all those staff people work for nothing?  The Household pays the whole shot, and the royal family is actually a charitable corporation, not a set of individuals.  I think you should put this old horse out to pasture before you ride him to death.

[krbe 193]

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes

hes also a US Citizen.

One question i have is, how in these days of supposedly hyper secure airports , you can get on an international flight with cash? Wouldnt that be a casue to check someone out more closley?

quote>

You stuff it in a bag and take the bag over the shoulder. Most countries permit so much money to be transferred undeclared in and out of the country in cash. And for Pakistanis and others going to and from developing countries this isn't all that uncommon either (ref. the hawalas).

[Duke87 1,070]

I think he meant paying for the ticket with cash.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Since he actually got on the flight, he must have bought his ticket elsewhere than at the airport or they are all security asleep.,.

I don't find the origin of this set of posts.  Should this actually be in the American Affairs thread?

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Duke87

I think he meant paying for the ticket with cash.

quote>

Yes thats what i meant, Thats a huge red flag as far as security is concerned. or at least it should be.

There is a somewhat plausible theory i heard  on the radio today, that the agents who had been following him

 from Connecticut allowed him to get on  an international flight to add more charges,like attempting to flee ect..

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes

Originally posted by: Duke87

I think he meant paying for the ticket with cash.

quote>

Yes thats what i meant, Thats a huge red flag as far as security is concerned. or at least it should be.

There is a somewhat plausible theory i heard  on the radio today, that the agents who had been following him

 from Connecticut allowed him to get on  an international flight to add more charges,like attempting to flee ect..

quote>

Isn't that an illegal act on the part of the law men?  I see it as entrapment.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body

Since he actually got on the flight, he must have bought his ticket elsewhere than at the airport or they are all security asleep.,.quote>

He suposedly called from his cell phone to arange the flight on his way to the airport.

[Mikeaut1 261]

Wow that's interesting how the cops followed him to the airport to bust him on more counts, but i do agree, it seems a little on the unlawful side.

At least we have him in custody now, no matter how they caught him. Now we can search into his overseas contacts and hopefully get more information about the Waziristan area.

[hym 358]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body

Since he actually got on the flight, he must have bought his ticket elsewhere than at the airport or they are all security asleep.,.quote>

The airlines can't be faulted for this one.  The Feds chose not to call all the airlines to make sure they were aware the suspect's name had been added to the "no-fly" list.  The only reason he was caught was because US Customs had a copy of the passenger list and caught his name in the updated "no-fly" list.

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body

I don't find the origin of this set of posts.  Should this actually be in the American Affairs thread?

quote>

Well...

Anyway, I have a proposal.  What say we start a new thread on World Affairs to absorb all this terrorism and failed state stuff and get it out of this patch?  There is a lot more going on in U.S. affairs than unpopular foreign adventures.  See you all there.quote>

That's why I put it here.

Although, granted, in this case the guy was an American, so it isn't all that worldly.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Actually, Duke87, I think the Times Square bomber holds dual citizenship.  Isn't he also a citizen of Pakistan?  Apparently anyone can get in there if they are carrying a prayer rug.

[Duke87 1,070]

Is it even possible to have dual citizenship between the US and Pakistan? I thought we only allowed that for a few select countries. I know, for instance, that dual citizenship between the US and Canada is possible (part of NAFTA agreement, I believe). But I was always under the impression that in most cases you're either a US citizen or you're a citizen of the other country, and you can't have it both ways.

On another note, here's a NY Times article from a few days ago. Apparently tax fraud is a huge thing in Greece. From what I hear from some of my relatives, it seems to be a thing in Italy as well.

By comparison, the US has one of the world's lowest tax evasion rates. Also among the lowest tax rates in the western world. Coincidence? I think not!

See, this is the problem with high taxes. You start to make it worth people's while to commit fraud or otherwise play games in order to avoid paying them.

[Odainsaker 2,133]

As I understand, the U.S. does not necessarily force people to exclusively choose a citizenship, and generally allows for multiple citizenships. However, U.S. law is not the only one at play--the citizenship and naturalization laws of the other nation to which a person could claim nationality also factor in, and sometimes those nations do force people to choose one citizenship. Japan, for instance, requires a final choice by a certain age, or you likely lose the Japanese citizenship. Similarly, some nations may simply not reciprocally recognize dual nationality. As the convention is to defer to the laws of the country in which a person is currently located, this can lead to alot of woe if a dual national in trouble in the other country thinks they can play the "but, I'm also an American" card and expect to see Black Hawk helicopters swoop in to rescue them.

As for Greece, now that Karamanlis has been sidelined, and Papandreou is on the fast track to political ruin, perhaps the Greeks will finally see fresh faces to shake out the old polarized 'n' paralyzed system with its two modern political dynasties.  Let us just hope its not another paramilitary junta.  Oops, too late...Economic Catastrophie, Round 2, is next as the Dow plummets 900+ points amidst fears surrounding Greece's riots and the shaky Euro position.

On the Shanghai World Expo 2010 and its theme of "Better City--Better Life"...amusingly, only some six U.S. contributing cities will get to exclusively showcase their culture and pitch their business opportunites with "special days" at the U.S. Pavilion:  New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and San Antonio.  Huh, San Antonio, Texas?!?!?  Talk about a small city promoting itself on the big stage at an exposition expected to be the most visited event in human history...I guess it helps that the appointed U.S. Commissioner General overseeing the U.S. Pavilion was a San Antonio native.  Come see the People's Liberation Army and the CCP embrace fajitas, mariachi, and Tejano at the "San Antonio Days" event at the U.S. Pavilion on May 25-27 during the opening month of the Shanghai Expo!  What I should have done is pulled levers to get that paid visit to Shanghai!

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Duke87

Is it even possible to have dual citizenship between the US and Pakistan? I thought we only allowed that for a few select countries. I know, for instance, that dual citizenship between the US and Canada is possible (part of NAFTA agreement, I believe). But I was always under the impression that in most cases you're either a US citizen or you're a citizen of the other country, and you can't have it both ways.

On another note, here's a NY Times article from a few days ago. Apparently tax fraud is a huge thing in Greece. From what I hear from some of my relatives, it seems to be a thing in Italy as well.

By comparison, the US has one of the world's lowest tax evasion rates. Also among the lowest tax rates in the western world. Coincidence? I think not!

See, this is the problem with high taxes. You start to make it worth people's while to commit fraud or otherwise play games in order to avoid paying them.

quote>

I heard a report that only 43% of US Citizen pay any  federal taxes. not that they are dodgeing

the taxes it  most of them dont make enough to have to pay any.

[Duke87 1,070]

Is that figure including children, retired people, stay-at-home parents, etc. or just people with jobs?

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Duke87

Is that figure including children, retired people, stay-at-home parents, etc. or just people with jobs?

quote>

I would have asumed they meant people on the tax rolls with employment.

but i never assume anything with statistics.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

[This discussion is gratifying in that it embraces a lot of topics]

I am not employed in any way, but I am still on the tax rolls.  In fact, I got a large tax rebate from taxes paid in the normal course of living, e.g. sales tax, real estate tax, etc.  I am below the level of paying any income tax.  What do you suppose would happen in Greece if they suddenly enforced their tax laws?  Anarchy?  Could it be any worse than it is?

Citizenship is a precious thing.  Dual citizens have not only advantages but disadvantages.  I am aware of some dual citizenships in my own family that have caused more problems than not.  Blocked bank accounts are one consideration, where, citizen or no, you cannot bring capital across borders without paying an exhorbitant tax. 

I don't believe dual American citizenship buys you anything these days.  If another country considers you their national, you will be cooked on their stove.  It has been a long time since "Civis Romanus Sum" got you anywhere at all.  In the Roman times it guaranteed you trials in Roman courts and exemption from crucifixion.  Nowadays you are not protected from Draconian measures of the country in which you are domiciled or travelling.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Gears to the Greeks.  This link provides a summary as the BBC sees it.

It is possible that the IMF and the Eurozone mavens have put paid to the IMF.  This kind of loan to the Greeks will never be paid back given the propensity of the borrowers to spend all they have and then some.  Unless the Greek people get on side, it will be more of the same next year, and the year after that.  The solution is unpalatable since most Greeks are part of the problem and won't join in the solution.  Here are some possibilities:

• Suspend the unions
• Collect all the unpaid taxes
• Impose price and wage controls
• Be very draconian with tax refusers
• Stop borrowing on the International Markets
• Quit bleating (you did this to yourselves)

Much as we love the cradle of democracy and its people, there is a time when children must be reined in, and they have been acting like kids in a candy store.  Time for some spinach.

[Mikeaut1 261]

There are some new developments in the attempted Times Square bombing. The FBI has been doing raids in small Massachusetts towns (specifically Watertown, Mass), as they are trying to arrest more suspects involved in the plan that failed. According to news outlets, the FBI has been cracking down on the chain of people who planned the attack with funds (the $1300 for the car bought on Craigslist, the pricy airplane ticket to Dubai). The FBI is doing good work on finding and disrupting the people involved in the cash flow of this attempted attack and bring more people into custody.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Originally posted by: Mikeaut1

There are some new developments in the attempted Times Square bombing. The FBI has been doing raids in small Massachusetts towns (specifically Watertown, Mass), as they are trying to arrest more suspects involved in the plan that failed. According to news outlets, the FBI has been cracking down on the chain of people who planned the attack with funds (the $1300 for the car bought on Craigslist, the pricy airplane ticket to Dubai). The FBI is doing good work on finding and disrupting the people involved in the cash flow of this attempted attack and bring more people into custody.

quote>

Yes, the FBI do good work, most of the time.

You might want to look at what is happening with the Toronto 18.  One of the ringleaders plead guilty the other day in mid-trial.  The charges is that these defendants were planning to destroy the power grid, nuclear plants, and attack Parliament.  It is the first trial in Canada on chargest of Terrorism.  The sentencing will be fascinating.  I think life without parole would be good since we do not have the death penalty.  Besides, why send the guy to his supposed reward?  Life as a prison yard object of disaffection would be much more appropriate.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

G20 Meeting in Toronto, G8 meeting in Huntsville, Ontario (link).

Protests in Vancouver over an international meeting. (link-too).

Dialogue is the heart of peace.  Protest is fine, too, when it doesn't fall into the error of mob psychology.

Canada is not a country that is easily inflamed.  I predict, speaking ex-cathedera from my navel, that most of the protest crowd are university freshmen and sophomores who thiink they have all the answers, but have yet to enter graduate studies at HKU^*.

They will eventually learn that things are not all black and white, and that all cats are grey in the dark.  A lot of them have never read Animal Farm because their school boards forbade it.

---

* HKU ::= Hard Knocks University.  One of the early courses is called Jail Time 501.

[Muck308 55]

By reading Animal farm, won't they then think they finally do have all the answers? There's plenty of time to read in prison. I'm having trouble copying and pasting with this google chrome, so I'll just reference what you (N_O_Body) mentioned about life without parole in Canadian prison. Is it as much of a free-for-all, so to speak, as prison is in the U.S? What I mean is crime doesn't exactly cease to occur once people are incarcerated. Inside prison walls, cons find ways of continuing their endeavors. Do you find the same happens in the North?

[raja_indy14 8]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body

A lot of them have never read Animal Farm because their school boards forbade it.quote>

I rather thought Animal Farm was as close to required reading as you got in the curricula? Along with Shakespeare for some inexplicable reason...

Also, there are other (probably more important) reasons to join protests:

(1) It's fun

(2) Something to do

(3) Sex

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Originally posted by: Muck308

By reading Animal farm, won't they then think they finally do have all the answers? There's plenty of time to read in prison. I'm having trouble copying and pasting with this google chrome, so I'll just reference what you (N_O_Body) mentioned about life without parole in Canadian prison. Is it as much of a free-for-all, so to speak, as prison is in the U.S? What I mean is crime doesn't exactly cease to occur once people are incarcerated. Inside prison walls, cons find ways of continuing their endeavors. Do you find the same happens in the North?quote>

I was considering that browser, but now I'll wait a while.

Long-term incarceration in Canada can be a real drag.  There are two possibilities:

1. General incarceration in a long term facility such as Archambault (Quebec) or Kingston (Ontario) or others.  Same environment and conditions as most large, hard time U.S. institutions.  All the usual caveats.
2. Incarceration in a prison for the criminally insane (e.g. Peterboro) on a Lieutenant Governor's Warrant.  Persons judged to be a danger to the public, but unfit to stand trial are placed here, subject to biennial review.  If the mental condition clears up, then its off to trial on the original charges.

And, like you, we have our Club Fed.  Society offenders who get sentenced by the courts for non-violent crimes or have deals with the crown (quit pro quo) can be sent to medium or lower security institutions with better amenities.  There is one in B.C. that is like a fenced country club.

Originally posted by: raja_indy14

Originally posted by: N_O_Body

A lot of them have never read Animal Farm because their school boards forbade it.quote>

I rather thought Animal Farm was as close to required reading as you got in the curricula? Along with Shakespeare for some inexplicable reason...

Also, there are other (probably more important) reasons to join protests:

(1) It's fun

(2) Something to do

(3) Sex

quote>

Well, some places have the kind of school boards that forbid such stuff in grade school, but prescribe it for high school.  For others it is on the index of forbidden books along with Catcher in the Rye.  In any case, you can be sure that the board members haven't read these books they ban.  They leap to judgement on seeing the cover, or on listening to opinions.  Even Shakespeare has been banned by these goons.  All they need to see is Act 1 of the Scottish play, and the devil is in the board room.

Unfortunately, protests ahould not be fun nor something to assuage ennui nor have sex.  People who go to protests with these items in mind are the easily led sheep who can be made into a mob to riot.  Maybe we should bring back the stocks.