[I_Like_Plants]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('americandream', 'T')here's a thriving sub-culture of anti-consumerism in New Zealand which incidentally is increasingly embracing the old indigenous ways.

The trouble with you American fellows is that you've never really taken the American continent to heart, including the old ways that the land has spontaneously thrown up.

If you can see your way to wean yourselves off Mother Europe, you may well find the post peak scenario quite a refreshingly adaptable challenge.

[billp]

Be optimistic.

Maybe Carter will do something.

[NTBKtrader]

All people are tribalistic, all tribes jockey for political favoritism, and if we weren't 'tribalistic' there would be no such thing as diversity. And NZ isn't some ray of sunshine where humans don't act like humans anymore. NZ is barely even 'diverse', 15% non-white. Hiding behind a wall of naivity is stupid in my opinion.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3192425.stm

[Twilight]

Of course it's a piss-take, I intended to post it for a bit of light relief in General Discussion, not here.

Anyway, it's a bit late to be worrying about US demographic trends. The trends are already there, arising from a newly established base. The US is going to have the same population problem as everyone else. It will just lag the Chinese a bit in diverting rivers.

[BastardSquad]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('americandream', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('NTBKtrader', 'T')he average upper/middle class white American (the bulk of the US population) typically has less than 2 children in their lifetime. White liberals have even less, which yes may be a God send, but bottom line is 2.1 children is necessary for each couple to grow a population, the current level is below replacement level for the population which means that portion of the population will shrink. The only way to make up for the population loss is through immigration. So basically these people are just being replaced by immigrants. It sounds like the article was written by someone who doesn't have a clue about current demographic trends.

[jimbomonkey]

I am so confused. People actually took the position of the writer of that article seriously?! The Onion is satire as was already pointed out. So how 'bout this, then...

"”I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled ...”

As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years upon this important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of other projectors, I have always found them grossly mistaken in the computation. It is true, a child just dropped from its dam may be supported by her milk for a solar year, with little other nourishment; at most not above the value of 2s., which the mother may certainly get, or the value in scraps, by her lawful occupation of begging; and it is exactly at one year old that I propose to provide for them in such a manner as instead of being a charge upon their parents or the parish, or wanting food and raiment for the rest of their lives, they shall on the contrary contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing, of many thousands."

Have we really reached a point where satire is completely lost on people?

[BastardSquad]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jimbomonkey', '"')
Have we really reached a point where satire is completely lost on people?

[ohanian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BastardSquad', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jimbomonkey', '"')
Have we really reached a point where satire is completely lost on people?

[Twilight]

Maybe people are just missing the irony that this satire is held to be true by the majority?

[Zardoz]

Ya gotta read this. Did they call it or what?

Bush: 'Our Long National Nightmare Of Peace And Prosperity Is Finally Over'

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')My fellow Americans," Bush said, "at long last, we have reached the end of the dark period in American history that will come to be known as the Clinton Era, eight long years characterized by unprecedented economic expansion, a sharp decrease in crime, and sustained peace overseas. The time has come to put all of that behind us."

[joeltrout]

I think future historians will recall that 9/11 was the biggest attack on american soil. Then point out of the fact is was done not by a country but by a people.

If attacked, its easy to bomb a country (ie Japan) but it is impossible to bomb a people (ie Insurgents living in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc...).

Bush was dealt several bad hands that had nothing to do with him or his office. The 9/11 attacks, housing collapse/credit crisis, high oil prices, and high food prices. None of those could have been prevented by Bush & Co. and none of those was created by Bush & Co.

joeltrout

[jdumars]

Mods can we please lock this thread before it's too late??

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')We as a people must stand united, banding together to tear this nation in two," Bush said. "Much work lies ahead of us: The gap between the rich and the poor may be wide, be there's much more widening left to do. We must squander our nation's hard-won budget surplus on tax breaks for the wealthiest 15 percent. And, on the foreign front, we must find an enemy and defeat it."

[cipi604]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('joeltrout', 'I') think future historians will recall that 9/11 was the biggest attack on american soil. Then point out of the fact is was done not by a country but by a people.

If attacked, its easy to bomb a country (ie Japan) but it is impossible to bomb a people (ie Insurgents living in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc...).

Bush was dealt several bad hands that had nothing to do with him or his office. The 9/11 attacks, housing collapse/credit crisis, high oil prices, and high food prices. None of those could have been prevented by Bush & Co. and none of those was created by Bush & Co.

joeltrout

[Nickel]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('joeltrout', 'I') think future historians will recall that 9/11 was the biggest attack on american soil.

[jdumars]

I knew it was only a matter of time. Can we pleeeeeeeeeeease, please, please stop the 9/11 LIHOP/MIHOP/conspiracy, Bush praising/bashing, etc. in this thread? Stick to the topic or post it elsewhere. This thread is about how the lampoon of the Onion has turned out in the minds of some as being very accurate and ironic. Whether you agree or disagree is not really relevant -- there are many topics already active with virtually every facet of 9/11, the economy, policies, etc.

Do I get my honorary moderator's designation?

[americandream]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jdumars', 'I') knew it was only a matter of time. Can we pleeeeeeeeeeease, please, please stop the 9/11 LIHOP/MIHOP/conspiracy, Bush praising/bashing, etc. in this thread? Stick to the topic or post it elsewhere. This thread is about how the lampoon of the Onion has turned out in the minds of some as being very accurate and ironic. Whether you agree or disagree is not really relevant -- there are many topics already active with virtually every facet of 9/11, the economy, policies, etc.

Do I get my honorary moderator's designation?

[JoeW]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jdumars', 'T')his thread is about how the lampoon of the Onion has turned out in the minds of some as being very accurate and ironic. Whether you agree or disagree is not really relevant

[jdumars]

I make up for quantity with quality.

Your opinions matter, but in relevant threads. Any mention of 9/11 always turns into a conspiracy/truther vs. offical story argument. If someone defends Bush, someone inevitably comes on and bashes him. The premise of this thread has nothing to do with either of those things, while other threads have those issues as the crux. If every thread (regardless of its subject matter) devolves into an argument about the same things, this site loses its underlying power and relevance. I'm not saying people shouldn't argue/disagree, but it should be done in the context of a topic that has as its premise something that can be empirically proven or disproved - or at least discussed on merits other than baseless emotionalism. If arguments about Peak Oil, political events, etc. are made without some underlying current of experiential credibility then no one will take it seriously. And, what is even more ironic about all of this is that the thread elucidates how satire can sometimes point to the truth in a much more accurate way than the news or media that purport to be the truth. The Onion has no interest in supporting their argument with facts. They are simply concerned with capturing the ironic zeitgeist of a particular issue and turning into a humorous caricature. In doing so, they are free to make stinging, sometimes unspeakable observations about things without any need for vindication. It's the same with the Colbert Report and the Daily Show.

Anyway, argue away. But we'll miss a great opportunity to discuss how satire can be a powerful predictor, agent of change, and voice for inchoate ideals searching for realization -- not to mention just damned funny.

[coyote]

That would have been a funny article if in hindsight it weren't so... well, you know. We all know.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('joeltrout', 'B')ush was dealt several bad hands that had nothing to do with him or his office.