[Newfie]

Those brain implants? They are here.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/07/01/b ... oogle.com/

The amount of time you spend consuming media — watching TV, surfing the web on a computer, using an app on your phone, listening to the radio and so forth — continues to go up. Nielsen said that in 2015, Americans spent about nine and a half hours each day consuming content this way. This year? The average is 10 hours and 39 minutes.

Media. 10-1/2
Work. 8
Commute 1
Sleep. 8

Well thats 27-1/2 hours per day right there.

[dolanbaker]

American Police are more like a militia than a police force, anyway if that policeman was black, I bet he'd be in jail now.

[Outcast_Searcher]

Those brain implants? They are here.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/07/01/b ... oogle.com/

The amount of time you spend consuming media — watching TV, surfing the web on a computer, using an app on your phone, listening to the radio and so forth — continues to go up. Nielsen said that in 2015, Americans spent about nine and a half hours each day consuming content this way. This year? The average is 10 hours and 39 minutes.

Media. 10-1/2
Work. 8
Commute 1
Sleep. 8

Well thats 27-1/2 hours per day right there.

With all the overlap between "work" and media consumption I see, just shopping or eating, that actually works, without resorting to tricky math.

Now, why employers ALLOW that is, to me, a valid question.

[Newfie]

The American police have been armed with military surplus equipment and most police forces have some kind of SWAT team. So yes there is a militarization of the police.

And there are abuses but also there are many police who use good judgement and there are times when they are out gunned. It’s hard to make any accurate summary statement.

[Newfie]

American Police are more like a militia than a police force, anyway if that policeman was black, I bet he'd be in jail now.

Maybe, maybe not. Depends upon the jurisdiction. The race issue can cut both ways. Many American cities are majority black.

[Newfie]

Gas

Does the UK have a master database of citizens? Is there a way for non citizens to vote?

[dolanbaker]

Gas

Does the UK have a master database of citizens? Is there a way for non citizens to vote?

Well, there's the electoral roll, on which all residents can register to vote. I don't remember any requirement to state residential status, as to whether you’re British or foreign. But then again I registered to vote there in the 1970s so it may be different now.

[Newfie]

Thanks Dolan,

Tried to research that myself to no avail. What I found says you need to be a citizen but not that do or do not check citizenship. Indeterminate.

My sense is that most European countries have some form of voter role but how you PROVE you are eleigibke to be on that role is a mystery to me.

In the USA, my home state Pennsylvania ASKS if you are a citizen but is not allowed (ruled illegal) to ask for PROOF. This occurs when you apply for a drivers license.

[Newfie]

I saw something when researching my question that you can now register online?

[Shaved Monkey]

Gas

Does the UK have a master database of citizens? Is there a way for non citizens to vote?

In Australia were voting is compulsory.
There is a national database.
When I vote they look up my name and address and tick me off then give me the ballot papers
Works for local, state and federal

[Outcast_Searcher]

Gas

Does the UK have a master database of citizens? Is there a way for non citizens to vote?

In Australia were voting is compulsory.
There is a national database.
When I vote they look up my name and address and tick me off then give me the ballot papers
Works for local, state and federal

So, from what I've read, if they don't want to vote, they have to claim they were sick, or were far away, etc, and pay a fine.

Interesting. From what I read, voting occurs on a Saturday, so at least hopefully many people could vote without worrying about missing work, traffic jams caused by rush hour traffic after work, etc.

I also read (all my reading has been via internet links from Google searches) that the fine in Australia is $20 for a first time offense, and $50 after that.

So though they call it compulsory (which sounds like an intimidating word), if you don't vote, it's about as third to a seventh as serious as getting a traffic ticket in my state, given court costs.

So the penalty is a minor inconvenience. OTOH, the internet reports that 94% of eligible voters voted, which implies it works, relative to places like the US and Britian.

Questions: Do you feel that the level of participation (and I'd guess, more discussion) causes better SUBSANTIVE coverage of the issues by the MSN? Do you feel it makes the populous relatively informed when they vote, compared to, say, the US or Britian?

Just curious. Thanks.

[Shaved Monkey]

So, from what I've read, if they don't want to vote, they have to claim they were sick, or were far away, etc, and pay a fine.

Interesting. From what I read, voting occurs on a Saturday, so at least hopefully many people could vote without worrying about missing work, traffic jams caused by rush hour traffic after work, etc.

I also read (all my reading has been via internet links from Google searches) that the fine in Australia is $20 for a first time offense, and $50 after that.

So though they call it compulsory (which sounds like an intimidating word), if you don't vote, it's about as third to a seventh as serious as getting a traffic ticket in my state, given court costs.

So the penalty is a minor inconvenience. OTOH, the internet reports that 94% of eligible voters voted, which implies it works, relative to places like the US and Britian.

Questions: Do you feel that the level of participation (and I'd guess, more discussion) causes better SUBSANTIVE coverage of the issues by the MSN? Do you feel it makes the populous relatively informed when they vote, compared to, say, the US or Britian?

Just curious. Thanks.

You can be excused on religious grounds ,I think Jehovahs Witnesses dont have to vote.
Saturday voting makes sense its always done on a date that allows maximum attendance, trying to avoid religious holidays or sporting events.
Voting is usually done at the local school its a day out time to have a democracy sausage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Sausage.
I opt out and vote 2 weeks early at the local council offices where they have pre polling booths for people who are going to be away,I always pretend Im going to be away to avoid the crowds on election day.

People are just as ignorant here as anywhere else.
Its whatever the media feeds them and Rupert Murdoch owns most of it.
Its amazing he has never tipped against the eventual winner.
His man always wins but thats democracy for your he is obviously rich enough to have more votes.

To win an election all you need is about a 2% swing Rupert just needs to run his constant advetorials targeting a 2% demographic change.
Rinse and repeat

[Outcast_Searcher]

You can be excused on religious grounds ,I think Jehovahs Witnesses dont have to vote.
Saturday voting makes sense its always done on a date that allows maximum attendance, trying to avoid religious holidays or sporting events.
Voting is usually done at the local school its a day out time to have a democracy sausage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Sausage.
I opt out and vote 2 weeks early at the local council offices where they have pre polling booths for people who are going to be away,I always pretend Im going to be away to avoid the crowds on election day.

People are just as ignorant here as anywhere else.
Its whatever the media feeds them and Rupert Murdoch owns most of it.
Its amazing he has never tipped against the eventual winner.
His man always wins but thats democracy for your he is obviously rich enough to have more votes.

To win an election all you need is about a 2% swing Rupert just needs to run his constant advetorials targeting a 2% demographic change.
Rinse and repeat

That's all very interesting. Thanks for the input/insight.

Given the general educational level of the populace (and the propensity to follow others like sheep), unless we want to ban private property ownership and free speech, I'm not sure how we keep certain rich people (like, say powerful politicians generally ) from using their influence to say what they want to gain votes to the extent they're able.

Given the problems I see with utopian theories like socialism curing all ills (by magic and the goodness of the far left, presumably), IMO, destroying property rights is NOT an acceptable solution to the problem.

Opinions will obviously vary.

[Shaved Monkey]

The Russians are running a smoke screen for Rupert

If there is one figure who has destroyed the concept of democracy in the anglosphere world its him

US Australia and UK

I used to be good friends with his family got invited to stay at his places
They where all bohemian leftys but he had the money and the influence
Some of which was used to prop up things he didnt believe in

[Newfie]

News article about a Kansas trial over required citizenship proof.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kans ... SKCN1GI181

And today we are off to meet with Customs and Border Patrol to get our Small Vessle Reporting System clearance straightened out. It seems they are unable to issue it to us through the online process because they think we have no passport. It acknowledge we have NEXUS cards, which require a passport to obtain.

At least the agents here have been very cordial and polite. Ponce, Puerto Rico.

[Outcast_Searcher]

News article about a Kansas trial over required citizenship proof.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kans ... SKCN1GI181

I don't understand the liberal logic that voter ID checking is illegal or unfair if voter ID fraud is uncommon.

Should we check nothing for validity unless its a common problem? It might save money, but when it's YOUR drug or YOUR food or YOUR car with the screwed up component, mandating checking things for validity suddenly doesn't seem quite so silly.

And I still don't understand why mandating having ID is so unfair. In the real world you need ID to to MANY things people generally do every week or so. And most places in the US (whether papers are technically required or not), if you refuse to show a cop any ID, you are (at their discretion) subject to arrest until they satisfy themselves as to your identity.

[Newfie]

The issue isn’t over requiring some ID. It about requiring proof of citizenship and showing such proof on the ID so that only citizens may vote.

A person may be ASKED if they are a citizen and if they say YES, they are allowed to register to vote and allowed to vote. The State is allowed to verify the citizenship only after the election.

There is a lot of “spin” on this one topic and the nuances are not easily sorted out. My above description of the situation is my best understanding. Some states, like Kansas, are still fighting this.

————-

Here’s another silly rule, as an employer I’m required to check for PROOF of a persons citizenship status, that they are eligible to work. But I can legally only do this once they have reported to work but before they perform work. Ah, that golden moment.

It can not be done during the hiring process. They must have been offered employment and accepted. Then before actually working you MUST demand proof of citizenship status.