wyndhy,

... why does it not upset you?

... when it is a false statement?

... when it is used to describe your homeland?

... does it not tend to polarize opinion?

... does not democracy depend upon communication between the citizens?

... do is not discourse needed?

... would you be more comfortableliving in one than in a democracy?

... why does it not upset you?

i asked you first but ok.

because it's not personal
because it's not true or false, merely facetious
because my homeland allows the expression of various opinions about governance.

(i missed the additions in the edit. to address the added questions...)

it does not polarize dicussion, anyone may add any opinion at any time, whether it's the opposite of earlier stated opinions or not

communication between citizens is not challenged or even defined by the word dictatorship, leadership is

discourse needed for what?

no

becasue it's not a personal attack

Halliburton pulled record profits last year. And the year before. And the year before that.

Mad profits. Obscene amounts of money.

Does Vice President Cheney own or has he received stock in Halliburton? Dunno. I don't have the time or the resources to try & track down his disclosure forms or tax returns, public record or not.

If someone cares enough to investigate and it's discovered that they did receive no bid contracts that could & should have gone to other companies, and profitted directly from that work...and as a result, so did the VP, well that should be addressed.

I am well aware that no bid contracts can be a nefarious agreement between "buddies" and can be struck to eliminate fair competition, but they also can take place between parties that understand the quality of work and fairness of price, and willingness & ability to mobilize and get the job done in a minimal time frame.

I admit to skipping the bidding process and just calling a contractor that I've done work with before & just telling them "I need you to do a job...get over here as soon as you can. And ballpark me a figure just so I know." Should I invite three parties to bid so I can be assured of a fair price? Yes. Have I been burned by going with a low bidder? Absolutely. When it is something that requires immediate action...I skip the bidding and go with a good source.

That having been said, I don't know which is the case...only that each scenario can happen.

Jude30,

So far, we have someone claim that facts are not necessary for a discussion, another who suggests that the accused is guilty until innocent, a third that asserts that the U.S. is in the grips of a dictatorship, and a fourth who claims that false statements are neither true nor false.

Sir, you were right on the money with your prediction! :thumbs:

WildIrish,

Thank you for the reasonable points. :)

jseal, you asked for my thoughts on why i wasn't offended, i gave them to you honestly and politely, which is to say with less sarcasm and more forthrightness than you afforded me. there's no reason to be insulting.

wyndhy,

But insultingis not insulting, merely facetious

well then, i stand corrected.

wyndhy,

Let us recognize that reasonable people can disagree.

i recognize that anyone can disagree, reasonable or not. i can also recognize when i'm being insulted and belittled.

jseal,

I'm assuming you're referring to me. Again, I ask you to GIVE ME LINKS showing me Cheney is not profiting from Haliburton AND Haliburton is not profiting from this war.

You've asked me for links, I told you I was concerned about the economy. It's ridiculous that the US is trillions in debt yet, from WHAT I UNDERSTAND, Haliburton is reaping benefits. People have already provided us with Haliburton links in this thread.

Please SHOW ME PROOF that Haliburton is not profiting from the Iraqi war AND please SHOW ME PROOF that Dick Cheney is not involved with Haliburton.

Steph,

Now those would fall under the "guilty until proved innocent" observation.

Dude, you ask me for links. I'm asking for yours. I'm giving thoughts on something that's been proven as fact in links already provided in this thread. You're playing Devil's Advocate for whatever reason but I'm calling tit for tat here. I'm not here to argue things that are more boring than a VCR instruction manual (to paraphrase a Pixie).

I'm concerned that the US VP is profiting from war. If you are to contribute to this thread, I'd ask that you cease with the "innocent until proven guilty" rhetoric and show me that Cheney is not a war profiteer. Show me the non-money, as it were.

You have children. Are you not concerned about the economy they're inheriting?

When this administration finally leaves in a year, what is going to happen?

Steph,

No fooling?