This is what right wing does, isn't it? There was this English study about people who decide with their prefrontal cortex are mostly rather left in their political opinion, while right wing voters seem to make their decision in the center that is mostly connected with fear and aggression. Wonder if it's true... ;-)

Since anybody can say: I have a company, give me my CO²- bill this is more for moneymaking. With those CFCs (being an asthmatic myself I was one of the last users here. For medical purposis you could use it even after it was forbitten otherwise. Once a woman shouted at me for using CFC. I guess I should have gotten through with the asthma attack in her opinion. How nice of her...) the financial gain was not as important as it is now. Jobs became more and more of a "killer argument". We can't do that, it is expensive, that will kill jobs, we need a return of 7% (while the financial "industry" gives up to 25%). I think this CO² tax in the way we have it is just a nice pink shade for the voters eye.

We do have lots of parties, too. But there are 5 mayor once. One is coming up just now: the pirates, an internet party. But we don't have a sex party. Well, this looks strange...

No, we don't have a minimum wage yet. It is killing jobs, you know? Some parties want one, socialdemocrats just put the mark a 8,50€ (11,23 AUS $). 4-5€ (5,28- 6,61 AUS $) are normal in the low wages "market". In the former GDR that is pretty good payment, to tell you the truth. There are millions of people who work but get paid by the state neverless- the earnings would not be enough to get through. I read about a cleaning maid who got less than a single Euro (I think it would come down to maybe a dollar in Australia). Outragious. And since people earn so little and people who work should get more, this really is worth a discussion if we should lower the social help money. Bitter, ain't it? Of course, in other jobs you get paid better. But raises have not been the same ever since the low -wage sector appeared in the 90's.
The Euro is appearing very often in the news now. Maybe you don't have to bother. If Merkozy (I like that once. Merkel and Sarkozy, German and French most important political figures- I don't think everyone knows that Mrs Merkel is not our head of state- not even all Germans do) don't sober up the financial union may break up anyhow. That will be a hard one- in Germany too.

Most reasons where market reasons. America is the most powerful inner market- or used to be. Compared to the European market, it is pretty small. There are 250 million Americans but combined the EU has a populace of 500, with similar income. So the economic base is bigger. And since we have a free trade area for some time you didn't have to pay a toll for your goods. It should also bring the very different European cultures closer together. Europe should be one. All this started shortly after WW II. And the other one had started in Europe, too. There were some people who just wanted to insure peace. But maybe the union will not be able to garantee that.
Oh, I thing is is more than a bit of an ass for that alone. And he did some other stuff that was... questionable. He is a great phoney if you ask me. And now he might start off a new party. Lotsa luck! He gave an interview in a conservative paper (the interviewer had written a book with him) and their subscription rate dropped significantly...

This is what right wing does, isn't it? There was this English study about people who decide with their prefrontal cortex are mostly rather left in their political opinion, while right wing voters seem to make their decision in the center that is mostly connected with fear and aggression. Wonder if it's true... ;-)

I don't know. I think the left/right brain thing is probably a myth, but then I haven't read up on that either.

Since anybody can say: I have a company, give me my CO²- bill this is more for moneymaking.

I don't think it works like that exactly. I think you'd probably have to be registered or something, and meet some sort of requirement - ie a supermarket probably wouldn't be able to trade on CO2, but a manufacturing company with smoke stacks could. At least that's my impression of it, I could be wrong.

With those CFCs (being an asthmatic myself I was one of the last users here. For medical purposis you could use it even after it was forbitten otherwise. Once a woman shouted at me for using CFC. I guess I should have gotten through with the asthma attack in her opinion. How nice of her...)

That's terrible. I didn't know they were used in inhalers - and you have my sympathy as I'm currently an asthma sufferer myself. The risk of one puff harming the environment doesn't overwhelm the risk of not being able to breath, so you shouldn't be made to feel bad about it.

the financial gain was not as important as it is now. Jobs became more and more of a "killer argument". We can't do that, it is expensive, that will kill jobs, we need a return of 7% (while the financial "industry" gives up to 25%). I think this CO² tax in the way we have it is just a nice pink shade for the voters eye.

Yep, the same thing's happening here. Especially as Western Australia is pretty much full of the mining industry. One of our biggest exports is coal. So you can imagine the kind of wringing of hands that's been going on. Personally, I think encouraging the move to better technologies and fuels is good for the economy. Yes, it will hurt in the short term, but in the long term, it will mean jobs and money. Especially when you consider that oil isn't going to last forever, so we're eventually going to have to change anyway. I'm not sure a carbon trading system is the best way to go, but something needs to be done.

We do have lots of parties, too. But there are 5 mayor once. One is coming up just now: the pirates, an internet party. But we don't have a sex party. Well, this looks strange...

Yes, I've heard of the pirates. I think that's a bit odd too.

No, we don't have a minimum wage yet. It is killing jobs, you know? Some parties want one, socialdemocrats just put the mark a 8,50€ (11,23 AUS $). 4-5€ (5,28- 6,61 AUS $) are normal in the low wages "market". In the former GDR that is pretty good payment, to tell you the truth. There are millions of people who work but get paid by the state neverless- the earnings would not be enough to get through. I read about a cleaning maid who got less than a single Euro (I think it would come down to maybe a dollar in Australia). Outragious. And since people earn so little and people who work should get more, this really is worth a discussion if we should lower the social help money. Bitter, ain't it? Of course, in other jobs you get paid better. But raises have not been the same ever since the low -wage sector appeared in the 90's.

I'll agree with all of that. I think in most countries wages haven't kept up with inflation. I think I read somewhere that it's part of the reason why people are putting more time in, and yet not getting enough money for their work, and why two incomes is often not enough within one family.

The Euro is appearing very often in the news now. Maybe you don't have to bother. If Merkozy (I like that once. Merkel and Sarkozy, German and French most important political figures- I don't think everyone knows that Mrs Merkel is not our head of state- not even all Germans do) don't sober up the financial union may break up anyhow. That will be a hard one- in Germany too.

Most of our news gives lip service to anything in the news that's international, unless it has to do with war or the US. But it does seem dire, at least from what little I've been able to hear about it.

Most reasons where market reasons. America is the most powerful inner market- or used to be. Compared to the European market, it is pretty small. There are 250 million Americans but combined the EU has a populace of 500, with similar income. So the economic base is bigger. And since we have a free trade area for some time you didn't have to pay a toll for your goods. It should also bring the very different European cultures closer together. Europe should be one. All this started shortly after WW II. And the other one had started in Europe, too. There were some people who just wanted to insure peace. But maybe the union will not be able to garantee that.

Yeah, I think America as the superpower is almost-but-not-quite-yet gone. I think more likely it will be China in the coming years.

I agree that countries should be working together on a whole, but I do find the European bloc kind of strange. I guess because no one else is doing it. It'd be nice if all the countries could sit down and agree on something. But as we see with the global warming summit, it's really an impossible task.

Oh, I thing is is more than a bit of an ass for that alone. And he did some other stuff that was... questionable. He is a great phoney if you ask me. And now he might start off a new party. Lotsa luck! He gave an interview in a conservative paper (the interviewer had written a book with him) and their subscription rate dropped significantly...

I don't remember the details well enough. But I think it odd that people don't see the problem with plagiarism, especially those who are high ranking. I know he couldn't have foreseen his government position when he did it, but still, at least have the decency to own up to it.

It would be interesting to know the political opinion of the people who conducted that research!

I know that there was at least one great scandal since a firm that didn't really exist sold their CO² alloitment. That was their sole income, too. So I am not feeling too great about that at the moment.

I don't what to think of the pirates now. Let's see how they astablish themselves. Some ideas regarding the copyright laws look strange to me.

What I have seen in the OECD statistics Germany really didn't even live up to the average, concerning wages. We used to be a contry with high wages (and high living expenses) but we've become quite average on that (but living is still as expensive). So we did drop. But the German wages being much above average is still an argument to beat down the unions.

If the Europeans quit quarreling they would be the biggest market, followed at a rapid pace by China (there we still have the low wages problem, but if the Chinese workers get paid better... my what a market). But quarrel becomes more and more routine, especially since the crisis. So I agree: China will take the place of the US, they will try to keep up (they might even be successful) and Europe will crumble.
We are too different in financial status and many other things to get anything done. Could you imagine Sweden, the US, China, Uganda, Chile and Australia (just to pick one from every continent and be versatile on that, too) agreeing on anything that might cost money or productivity? I doubt that. And then there are political difference. I read an article a Swiss journalist wrote. He worked in the UN. There was a hunger catastrophe and one neighbour state vetoed the right of crossing it's borders. "But they could help your neighbours? Do you feel so hard for them?" "No, of course not. But since Great Britain is for this convoi we HAD to veto it. You know how we suffered at their hands while we were still a colony!" And there are many, many political differences like that. They may sound very foolish, but they are real. But it would take a head MUCH smarter then mine to figure out how we'd get out of this.

I don't think he didn't see the problems, he just didn't care. He is rich and noble born... and he is not the only one. It became a bit of a trivial offense to step onto somebodys copy rights- if that other "person" is not Warner Brothers, MGM or Sony, of course. Now people might think differently. But while he was still popular lots of fans said: "What the heck! Who did not pin from their neighbour in grade seven, so where is the harm?" But in grade seven you don't earn a scientific degree. This is like saying: "my, any kid took a chewing gum from the shelf when they where nine, so why is it so much of a problem to clean out a jeweler?" Well, we did get our share of idiots over here, take my word!

It would be interesting to know the political opinion of the people who conducted that research!

I know that there was at least one great scandal since a firm that didn't really exist sold their CO² alloitment. That was their sole income, too. So I am not feeling too great about that at the moment.

Well, there's going to be companies that are corrupt in any industry and involving any regulation. This happens with medicine, with phone service companies, with acting agencies... etc. As I said above, I think it will work *if* done correctly. We haven't quite implemented it here yet in Australia though, so I don't really have any first hand experience with it.

I don't what to think of the pirates now. Let's see how they astablish themselves. Some ideas regarding the copyright laws look strange to me.

I don't remember enough of it - isn't it something like wanting copyright to be abolished? Or maybe I've got it back to front...

If the Europeans quit quarreling they would be the biggest market, followed at a rapid pace by China (there we still have the low wages problem, but if the Chinese workers get paid better... my what a market). But quarrel becomes more and more routine, especially since the crisis. So I agree: China will take the place of the US, they will try to keep up (they might even be successful) and Europe will crumble.

Yeah, I think at the moment part of the problem is that a lot of countries are shipping jobs to Asia because of the low wages. Which of course, affects jobs locally, as well as the lack of interest in raising minimums. Who'd want to raise them when people are trying to compete with China? It's a stupid concept, because really we should be raising both, but I guess that's one reason for not wanting to do it. I was going to say that Europe wouldn't crumble, but then I saw on the news today that there's still problems with the Eurozone getting its act together...

Could you imagine Sweden, the US, China, Uganda, Chile and Australia (just to pick one from every continent and be versatile on that, too) agreeing on anything that might cost money or productivity? I doubt that.

I think for most things they can if there's enough willpower. See the recent Durban agreement. As your Swiss article shows, sometimes there's too much grandstanding on behalf of the nation; which is why I think bloc power will be more likely in the future. Politicians have to get used to the fact that we're no longer a bunch of countries with individual ideas and needs, but in many cases a bunch of countries with global needs. - Curbing global warming for example, can't be done by a single country. By acting like a neighbouring country needs to help itself at all times, we end up hurting everyone in the long run.

I don't think he didn't see the problems, he just didn't care. He is rich and noble born... and he is not the only one. It became a bit of a trivial offense to step onto somebodys copy rights- if that other "person" is not Warner Brothers, MGM or Sony, of course. Now people might think differently. But while he was still popular lots of fans said: "What the heck! Who did not pin from their neighbour in grade seven, so where is the harm?" But in grade seven you don't earn a scientific degree. This is like saying: "my, any kid took a chewing gum from the shelf when they where nine, so why is it so much of a problem to clean out a jeweler?" Well, we did get our share of idiots over here, take my word!

Funnily enough, there's more plagiarism in science than most people think. If I remember right, the 'discoverers' of DNA actually got a lot of their work via a female scientist who never really got credit; they got Nobel prizes though and she didn't.

There is too much gain expected even in "real economics". Because who'd invest in industrial innovations etc. if 5% is great while you get 25% in finance products. The next crisis will be coming up again. And the industrial research (e.g. for machines and cars with less CO²- Emission) is stopped because people tend to invest in finance. Happens all the time- and sows corruption. I think that if industries were not forced to deliver such high gains they could affort to do more for the environment.

The pirates tippitoe around the copyright issue. Lots of voters don't want to be criminalized for downloading movies. But the copyright is a bit more than that (some people seem to forget), as you know better than any. In an interview I saw with the head of the pirates he just said the right should be changed and authors who had been dead 80 years (50 internationally) should be public domain much sooner (maybe right after death). And he wants lawyers, politicians, distributers AND artists to make the new law... if that would be so fair- I doubt that.

I think we (as the EU) are in danger. The Eurozone is in severe danger. Some US- economists give us maybe 2 months if the course is not changed (knowing Merkel this is unlikely. Not that she would not change positions if it suited her but many Germans (at least many newspapers) seem to be very hardlined towarts e.g. Greece. I think it's kind of stupid).
Well, the Chinese workers have it hard since they don't seem to have any rights and if they protest they might get heavenly peace. After the apple scandal I heard they wanted to raise wages but I didn't read more about it. I really wish there was more about China in the papers. Here it is more Eastern Europe then Asia, but same diff. And they'll meet geografically, anyhow.

There is a German cabarettist who made fun of the global problems quite acuratly. The nations representatives meet and are expected to do something for the whole planet. But noone wants to get up front. So one says: "We won't do it!". The others go home and say: "We would have done more, but he wouldn't and without him we would only destroy our competitive position!" And he goes home: "I fought for the rights of OUR nation" and nothing changes. And next time they roll the dice who must be the ass who will not compromise this time.... Sometimes you really get the feeling this is the way international conferences work!

Well, I think there was a lot of politics involved. She was female and jewish and the guy who wanted her to be his assitant propably bore a grutch. Maybe copyright issues are (in science, if not in art) more often politics then not. After all a "Doktor Müller" looks so much nicer then a "Herr Müller". And looks make politics.