tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post7423666826414529993..comments2024-03-28T12:23:39.665+00:00Comments on Coppola Comment: In the bleak midwinterFrances Coppolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399390283774592713noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-17116005831611588362016-01-19T10:40:43.805+00:002016-01-19T10:40:43.805+00:00Billy blogs latest "Europe future is bleak......Billy blogs latest "Europe future is bleak....." is complete labour theory of value nonsense.<br />Plantation economics. <br /><br />He critics a author for failing to introduce unemployment in his model but he himself fails to bring in the capital question.<br /><br />The overriding concern for Europe in this age of capital (and not Labour) is energy consumption per person which is declining in Europe and accelerated by migration<br /><br />The truth is that under a national dividend universe the old and dying can be taken care of at home for 90% of the time.<br />I have direct experience of this with the variation of running down savings rather then income.<br /><br />Also the experience of Ireland during the late 80s / early 90s period is very different from today.<br />The declining population of that time increased per capita living standards.<br />Of course it is a very different situation today with exponential declines in living standards.<br />The Dork of Corkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03352247603806622458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-63578227885416767702016-01-13T16:11:58.959+00:002016-01-13T16:11:58.959+00:00https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CmB-G-16qNQ
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CmB-G-16qNQ<br />The dork of corkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01169780628052433662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-41254004900386320442016-01-13T16:11:17.546+00:002016-01-13T16:11:17.546+00:00Frances blames the victims of fundamentalism for a...Frances blames the victims of fundamentalism for acting on a fundamental survival programme.<br />Accusing them of fundamentalism rather then logical reaction as they are trapped inside the plantation.<br /><br />We all know where the true fundamentalists reside.<br />They are protected by dragons.<br /><br />The dork of corkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01169780628052433662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-6546037530077957122016-01-11T16:48:10.059+00:002016-01-11T16:48:10.059+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.hestalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06360397201064435600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-72336986666053022232016-01-11T16:47:26.889+00:002016-01-11T16:47:26.889+00:00Frances, I agree with you when you said, "I c...Frances, I agree with you when you said, "I cannot accept comments that abuse people on grounds of race, colour, ethnic origin, religion," The categories you mention are targets all over the world. Over here in America I have written a book about how these groups are mistreated. I talk about five groups: not-white, not-male, not-Christian, not-heterosexual, and not-well-to-do. Our political, government, and economic systems are deliberately designed to discriminate against these groups and these systems work as designed. hestalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06360397201064435600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-55777537962997687282016-01-10T19:05:45.974+00:002016-01-10T19:05:45.974+00:00UNHCR stats on arrivals, January 1 to Dec 31st 201...UNHCR stats on arrivals, January 1 to Dec 31st 2015. (website http://data.unhcr.org/mediterranean/regional.php ]<br /><br />It's 58% male if you include the arrivals through Italy (I am dealing only with Greece).<br /><br />All official stats on arrivals do not give the gender of children. <br /><br />The EU does not have any stats at all, since these are not asylum applications. All stats have to come from national police sources; the Greek police do not publish them (any more) but give them to UNHCR. There are some derivative data with Frontex, I think, but there is little point in reading them.<br /><br />You cannot access raw data online. It is extremely difficult to access data that have not been meddled with, but I think the UNHCR data are raw. There is a problem though with data compilation: some datasets use monthly data (end of month) and others use data compiled 15th of the month. Also, the data on gender and a lot of the data on nationality are given as monthly percentages and not as raw data.<br /><br />As for using stats on asylum as a proxy for arrivals, this is pure innumeracy and incompetence. First of all, there is a serious lag -- especially with such large numbers. Secondly, the characteristics of the previous inflows are not the same as those of the last year. Thirdly, there is no identity such that inflows=asylum applications. This is because many (and especially children) do not need to apply for asylum because they have family members already in the EU. Others fail to apply and/or disappear, and become illegal immigrants. There are also serious discrepancies in national datasets with their records. The UK, for example, is often 5-10 years out of date and hasn't a clue what is going on. In general terms, you can ignore asylum data (except Germany may be ok).Guest(xenos)http://www.mmo.grnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-138024665079986942016-01-10T18:15:32.509+00:002016-01-10T18:15:32.509+00:00Xenos, where do you get your stats? This link sugg...Xenos, where do you get your stats? This link suggests the percentage of male asylum applicants to the EU is rather higher than 55%.. I read more than 70% in first half of 2015 but I haven't gone through the raw data personally(yet!). http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Asylum_statistics<br /><br />Martin TAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-45840906104496622752016-01-10T17:37:34.773+00:002016-01-10T17:37:34.773+00:00Incidentally, I just read this right wing trash th...Incidentally, I just read this right wing trash that you have linked to. The idea that the gender of children is a problem is something that only far right Yanks could obsess over. Absolutely disgusting that this sort of propaganda is published in the mainstream US media. There is no debate about the gender of children amongst experts and policy makers -- contrary to the impression given in the propaganda piece.Guest(xenos)http://www.mmo.grnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-24180548651803336552016-01-10T15:42:44.473+00:002016-01-10T15:42:44.473+00:0055% (NOT 67%) are male over this year. Big deal. A...55% (NOT 67%) are male over this year. Big deal. Apart from the fact that many men undertake the journey alone, in order to bring their wives and children later (something that the extreme right opposes), the single young men are perhaps more able to easily integrate into European societies. The religious fundamentalists remain in the Middle East to fight for ISIS.Guest(xenos)http://www.mmo.grnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-15490370368928890142016-01-10T01:25:37.480+00:002016-01-10T01:25:37.480+00:00The problem is that about 2/3 of the migrants are ...The problem is that about 2/3 of the migrants are male. The social problems associated with this are well discussed in this Politico article.<br /><br />http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/01/europe-refugees-migrant-crisis-men-213500<br /><br />Mike Steinbergnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-59610846603969208172016-01-10T01:03:22.007+00:002016-01-10T01:03:22.007+00:00Sorry, should give the Bible reference for those w...Sorry, should give the Bible reference for those who want to look it up. It's Matthew 15:26-28.Frances Coppolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09399390283774592713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-43104670095012575142016-01-10T01:02:25.024+00:002016-01-10T01:02:25.024+00:00You've left out quite a lot of this story. Wel...You've left out quite a lot of this story. Well, all of it, really. <br /><br />This is the appeal of the Canaanite Woman for Jesus to heal her sick daughter. Jesus initially refuses, as you note. But she doesn't give up....<br /><br />Jesus Christ: "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs". <br />The Caananite Woman: "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table."<br />Jesus Christ: "O woman, your faith is great! It shall be done for you as you wish."<br /><br />And her daughter was healed at once. <br /><br />Frances Coppolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09399390283774592713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-90205236834504234502016-01-10T00:15:55.878+00:002016-01-10T00:15:55.878+00:00"It's not right to take the children'..."It's not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs" - Jesus Christ<br />Geoffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-40534899935235908032016-01-09T19:52:25.574+00:002016-01-09T19:52:25.574+00:00We in the West have built our civilisation on free...We in the West have built our civilisation on freedom, tolerance and compassion. Those values are being threatened, not just by fundamentalists who would have us change our legal framework to accommodate their beliefs, but also by our own response to their demands. That's why I wrote this post. If we respond to the fundamentalist threat by refusing to welcome those fleeing violence, by deporting or interning those we think threaten us, and by permitting only religions of which we approve to be practised freely, we undermine the moral principles on which we built our society. We become like those we fear. For me, that is too high a price to pay for safety. But I know others feel differently.Frances Coppolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09399390283774592713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-50273707389550924472016-01-09T18:04:12.403+00:002016-01-09T18:04:12.403+00:00Frances, once again a very eloquent and insightful...Frances, once again a very eloquent and insightful response. I can only agree with you.<br /><br />The increasing influence of the fundamentalists is, however, something which IMO is unstoppable. They offer an extremely strong and unwavering mountain on which the adherents can live out their lives, with no doubts about anything.<br /><br />Perfect, so easy.<br /><br />I get through every day with a constant barrage of doubts, worries and questions. But I cannot delegate them to some deity. They are all my own. In a way I sort of quite like them, my constant companions.<br /><br />But back to the original issue.<br /><br />If two groups have incompatible and irreconcilable differences, then what is Plan B?<br /><br />I am stuck for an answer.RPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17695303458973909485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-40560427452169952852016-01-09T17:24:55.087+00:002016-01-09T17:24:55.087+00:00Indeed he would, now. The values of his time were ...Indeed he would, now. The values of his time were very different. That, in a way, is the problem: for fundamentalists, the laws and customs of a bygone age are set in stone and the reasons for them forgotten. Observance becomes a matter of rote, not consideration: questioning them becomes apostasy, an attack on the religion itself. Hence my argument that it is fundamentalism, not religion per se, that is the problem. <br /><br />I think humans are hardwired to believe in something: it is how we make sense of things we don't understand, and it gives us an anchor in an uncertain and chaotic world. What that "something" is, varies hugely. You pointed out before that if you eliminate one religion, another pops up. That suggests that belief is innate. <br /><br />But religion (belief) gets hijacked for political ends. Mohammed's political aim was to unify the Arab races into a political force that could counter the might of the Christian empires of Byzantium and Rome. He used religion to do this, because that is what the Christians had done very successfully before him. It's an extremely powerful strategy. If nothing else, Mohammed was a military genius. In my view this is often overlooked. <br /><br />I would draw an ENORMOUS distinction between the geopolitics of religion and the personal faith of individuals. Frances Coppolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09399390283774592713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-4597103826427230582016-01-09T16:29:18.982+00:002016-01-09T16:29:18.982+00:00I believe in having a set of ethical and moral val...I believe in having a set of ethical and moral values. They are pretty much identical with those of Jesus or a lot of other religions, except that I do not need to have the threat of the retribution of a deity to enforce them. I have a conscience which does quite well.<br /><br />There are a few issues with the life of "The Prophet" that would indeed conflict with my own ethical values. He was an intelligent and wealthy power monger who wanted to have a subservient army, religion suited that purpose quite well. His last "wife" was just six years old, when he was in his fifties. I certainly have a big problem with that.<br /><br />If Jesus popped up on the planet today, he could quite possibly have a large following.<br /><br />If Mohammed popped up, he would be hounded across the globe as a warmongering sadistic pedophile.<br /><br />RPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17695303458973909485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-65655681836370188962016-01-09T16:03:49.321+00:002016-01-09T16:03:49.321+00:00I suppose it depends on your particular brand of r...I suppose it depends on your particular brand of religion. I've made no secret of my Christian faith, but it is the person of Jesus who fascinates me and I regard him as my guide, not the priests and ministers who set themselves up as his mouthpieces. I totally understand your rejection of religion. Far too many terrible things have been done in the name of Christ, or Mohammed, or Allah, or [insert name of god]. Judging by his repeated condemnation of the religious fundamentalists of his day, including their failure to follow even basic teachings of their religion such as welcoming strangers and caring for the destitute, Jesus would have much sympathy for your views. Frances Coppolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09399390283774592713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-13784652700767919092016-01-09T15:42:44.666+00:002016-01-09T15:42:44.666+00:00Frances, that is a powerful and succinct post.
La...Frances, that is a powerful and succinct post.<br /><br />Law will never win.<br /><br />Law can only offer adherence to the law or punishment in this life.<br /><br />Religion supersedes this multi-fold by guaranteeing eternal suffering or eternal heaven after life. And if you transgress in this life, death bed repentance will be ok as well.<br /><br />I am unfortunately convinced that the invention of religion has condemned he human race to strife and conflict until the last of the homo sapiens is left standing.RPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17695303458973909485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-86999126194836869052016-01-09T15:11:15.891+00:002016-01-09T15:11:15.891+00:00Richard,
I have indeed thought about this a lot....Richard, <br /><br />I have indeed thought about this a lot. It is an extraordinarily difficult issue. <br /><br />In our tolerant society, we wish people to be able to believe whatever they like and practise any religion or none. But there is definitely a limit to this. People are not free to practise that religion in ways that deny the rights of others. And this creates real conflicts. For example, we don't allow people to mutilate their daughters, but for some people this interferes with their right to practise their particular brand of Islam requires it. <br /><br />The conflict between religious rules and secular law has been a problem for centuries: we have never managed to find a satisfactory balance between religious tolerance and the rule of law. Our rule of law says that men and women are of equal worth and have equal right to think, say and do whatever they wish within the legal framework that we have established. But fundamentalist religions do not agree with this. It's worth remembering that Islam is not the only religion that treats women as the property of men and seeks to curtail their freedom: fundamentalist Christianity does so too. I remember being horrified by a fundamentalist Christian minister who told a woman who was experiencing domestic abuse to "go home and submit". In his view, her husband was right to beat her because she was not subservient enough. <br /><br />The problem, it seems to me, is not religion per se but fundamentalism: rigid adherence to rules and, as you rightly point out, god-like worship of powerful men. Frances Coppolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09399390283774592713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-85923722194902963842016-01-09T14:47:37.838+00:002016-01-09T14:47:37.838+00:00Hi,
OK, we'll see where it leads.
For the la...Hi,<br /><br />OK, we'll see where it leads.<br /><br />For the last ten years I have lived in a community which has a large percentage of Muslims. So I am the "immigrant" I suppose.<br /><br />I have to be honest, I have never experienced any animosity. None whatsoever.<br /><br />Ten years ago the women rarely wore head scarves and would engage in conversation we me. About five years ago a new imman arrived. Clearly he had somewhat stricter views and suddenly the men were wearing caps and increasingly robes, particularly on Fridays. The women went from jeans and makeup to headscarves, no make-up and dresses designed to hide the female shape.<br /><br />Now the full burka is not a rare sight. I can no longer expect any conversation from the women other than the bare minimum required to make a transaction.<br /><br />In just a few years one local imman can transform a community. He is, essentially, the Word of God. The power that any religion has over its adherents is immense and to an extent absolute. <br /><br />I am sure that you have spent some considerable time thinking about these issues. Any attempt to take away a man's faith requires that it is replaced with something else. Evolution is way too complicated when all one has to do is to believe in a god and paradise is on offer after this life of work and suffering. Particularly for a man, who can take on a couple of wives and rule over them.<br /><br />I think I have valid concerns about this.<br /><br />Apparently I have few legal rights to actually express them.RPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17695303458973909485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-76408611494664385592016-01-09T14:37:41.429+00:002016-01-09T14:37:41.429+00:00Richard Parker
I am really sorry you deleted your...Richard Parker<br /><br />I am really sorry you deleted your comment. Blogger emailed it to me, and I had intended to reply. Your comment was respectful, thoughtful and raised legitimate concerns which you have every right to express. This blog does not suppress debate: it merely tries to keep it polite and on topic. I would be really grateful if you would re-post your comment, or allow me to do so. Your views deserve to be heard. <br />Frances Coppolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09399390283774592713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-73510556530218731972016-01-09T14:21:37.488+00:002016-01-09T14:21:37.488+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01013832865576874124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-39640284934358515802016-01-09T14:10:05.331+00:002016-01-09T14:10:05.331+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.RPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17695303458973909485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-45291439696294722222016-01-09T12:45:26.014+00:002016-01-09T12:45:26.014+00:00Xenos, I do understand what it is like to receive ...Xenos, I do understand what it is like to receive online threats and abuse simply for expressing an unpopular opinion. But there is no point in responding in kind. It simply plays into their hands. Let's keep it polite, please. Frances Coppolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09399390283774592713noreply@blogger.com