Subject:
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Re: Handgun Death Rate
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Fri, 20 Jul 2001 19:39:51 GMT
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Viewed:
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737 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Larry Pieniazek writes:
> My goodness Scott has been busy, hasn't he? I lost count of his posts this
> morning. Including some real gems like "Why?" as the entire body of his reply.
So busy, Larry, you've had to post twice just to keep up! :-)
I was curious about the shortening of the shotgun though. Over here the
sawn-off shotgun is the stereotypical east-end small-time shop/bank/bookie's
raider's dont-wanna-av-t-use-this-cos-Im-scared-of-the-bang illegal weapon
of choice.
> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Christopher L. Weeks writes:
> I tend to disagree that modern media make politicians more accountable. They
> may be more accountable for things like who they boinked, but they are less
> accountable for the actual issues that matter. Our government has widened in
> scope far beyond what the FFs intended. That makes the issues more complex.
> Unfortunately our media, as it moves ever more in the direction of McPaper
> and soundbites, does a poorer and poorer job of dealing with actual issues.
>
> So Scott is wrong in suggesting that the media makes an effective check, if
> that's what he's suggesting.
Hmm. I'm not sure how ours maintains itself. There is a lot more emphasis
on serious issues. But, judging by the standard of some of our commercial
television channels, I honestly think it could be the state-funded (yet
independent) BBC that stops the standard falling too far, so the cycle of
dumbing-down for ratings never really gets going.
Have you ever seen a Jeremy Paxman interview? Or John Snow interviewing two
of Bush's assorted advisors just after he officially won? I just wonder if
Jenna Bush (being sent to Oxford - nothing to do with the legal drinking age
in the UK of course) is getting her own flat, or living in the student
block? Could be interesting to see her sat in the student common room when
Newsnight comes on the telly...
> > > How in transparent
> > > systems, like the UK, those funding politicians would be dragged out into
> > > the open?
>
> > I just don't know how that works, or really what you mean. Maybe I just
> > don't know enough about the differences between our nations.
>
> Can't speak to UK funding but each time we get "campaign reform" the net
> effect is that the funding gets more byzantine and the real people funding
> campaigns become less visible. So no, Scott is wrong here too. Funding
> transparancy isn't there and thus serves as no check.
Funding issues in the UK tend to leak out to the media when there's
something controversial involved. The public demand to know, and the
pressure is reflected by ministers. This is usually enough to push through
reforms. We seem to do a better job on closing some of the loopholes over
here, though (fortunately) not leaks.
> > But so what? No nation in the world has ever given the vote to all the
> > citizens. Yours doesn't and neither does mine. And I think that's an
> > abomination, but there it is.
Erm - is this a historical thing? Who doesn't get a vote nowadays?
Prisoners, I suppose. Anyone else?
> Agreed. We're better than some. However I'd prefer a more restrictive vote.
> Maybe proportional to taxes paid???
Larry, you forgot the smiley. I thought if you had enough cash it doesn't
matter who gets in, they'll all jump for big bucks. Mind you, to maintain
their position their supporters would have to stop using all those loopholes
and actually pay taxes. Can anyone buy shares in the US government then?
What if I slipped a few bucks their way? I've got a PayPal account now...
Jason J Railton
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Handgun Death Rate
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| (...) Um, no I didn't. Right now we have a system in which whoever spends the most has the better chance of being elected. The money they spend doesn't actually DO anything other than enrich PR/media organizations. (not bad in and of itself, mind (...) (23 years ago, 21-Jul-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Handgun Death Rate
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| My goodness Scott has been busy, hasn't he? I lost count of his posts this morning. Including some real gems like "Why?" as the entire body of his reply. (...) Agreed. Scott is wrong in suggesting that they wouldn't be able to think ahead, if that's (...) (23 years ago, 20-Jul-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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