To those in the UK are you going to 'opt-in'

[odeon]

I usually take a more central approach when it comes to socialism and capitalism, or politics in general (although I still lean a bit to the left). To me, a mixture of both is better than simply the one or the other.

A mix would help Sweden, IMHO, especially considering that each side tends to get about half the votes. Unfortunately Swedes have never wanted a broad coalition of anything.

[odeon]

I'd rather have healthcare than a gun 

To hell with free healthcare, or free anything from the government. This implies overdeveloped government, and I oppose is with every fiber of my being. Self reliance is best.

Better to be in the hands of private insurance companies.

[odeon]

There's no such thing as anything free from any government.

No such thing as anything free, period.

[Beardy McFuckface]

I'd rather have healthcare than a gun 

To hell with free healthcare, or free anything from the government. This implies overdeveloped government, and I oppose is with every fiber of my being. Self reliance is best.

Self reliance can only get so far, but there are benefits of safety nets (ie. free healthcare, welfare) if things go tits up.

For myself, I find my disability allowance quite useful for my college education. I don't have to worry about travel costs either since I have a free travel pass too. However, I am more than ready to give both up for a job (in fact that's my objective when I leave college), but without such support I would be fucked.

[El]

Self reliance can only get so far, but there are benefits of safety nets (ie. free healthcare, welfare) if things go tits up.

For myself, I find my disability allowance quite useful for my college education. I don't have to worry about travel costs either since I have a free travel pass too. However, I am more than ready to give both up for a job (in fact that's my objective when I leave college), but without such support I would be fucked.

That's about how it went for me as well ( the broad strokes anyway), and it worked, for me, the way I think it's "supposed" to.  I get the impression I'm more the exception than the rule, though.  :/

Why would someone spend ten years studying to be a health care professional only to provide their knowledge without any compensation, not to mention the central organisation required to produce the equipment and staff?

And I'm only hinting at the difficulties involved.

That sounds dangerously close to my chosen career path.   

Seriously, that is one ongoing issue with healthcare, is it is less and less lucrative across the board, even for doctors.  Everyone is being asked to do more, with less time, for less money.  It's hard for places to stay in business- as a general rule, is the impression I get, but especially outpatient mental health.

There's also weird issues with state vs. private health insurance- and those, I *could* get into a bit, if you'd like, but the quick version is each has their own bizarre hurdles for consumers as well as providers.  People with state insurance get the shit end in some ways, but people with private insurance get the shit end in other ways.  And healthcare providers are increasingly getting the shit end.

[bodie]

I usually take a more central approach when it comes to socialism and capitalism, or politics in general (although I still lean a bit to the left). To me, a mixture of both is better than simply the one or the other.

A mix would help Sweden, IMHO, especially considering that each side tends to get about half the votes. Unfortunately Swedes have never wanted a broad coalition of anything.

I don't think coalitions work well.  Too much between party bickering.  I personally feel governments have too much responsibity.  I would like to see more referendums on major issues.  I know that there is a lot of apathy about voting but that is because people feel powerless and wonder what difference a visit to the poll station can make. 

Why place all that trust in politicians hands?  Many of them have proved to be liars, cheats and theives with dubious sexual hobbies.  Give people the power to make important decisions.

[ProfessorFarnsworth]

U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron announced Monday that British Internet service providers (ISPs) must install porn filters and require customers to opt-in for adult content. Cameron said the policy is aimed at combating child porn and the “corroding influences” of sexual content in the U.K., but several people are unhappy with the plan. Reports have linked the filters to controversial Chinese company Huawei, and others have found that the filters will block much more than just porn. Some ISPs have publicly refused to force the filters on their users.

  Link

Seems a bit silly and from the rest of the article it looks like it will cover more than porn too, but for gods sake let's just think of the children and protecting them from the “corroding influences” of the web and get this thing in place.  Don't worry once it's in place they can adjust it as they please depending on what they want to protect you from.

Clearly they don't know shit about how illegal activity like CP is usually done in "deep web" environments or P2P networks. This filter will have virtually zero impact on a technical level. It's an obvious smokescreen.

[Adam]

There's no such thing as anything free from any government.

Obviously. When people say "free healthcare" etc tho, they don't mean it's literally free out of thin air. Obviously it is all funded by taxes, but it is still "free healthcare" as anyone has access to it and anypone has a right to it, regardless of their ability to pay

[Adam]

I'd rather have healthcare than a gun 

To hell with free healthcare, or free anything from the government. This implies overdeveloped government, and I oppose is with every fiber of my being. Self reliance is best.

And what about the people who are INCAPABLE of self reliance? Fuck them?

That sounds like a horrible society to live in. We should always protect those who are the most vulnerable

[TheoK]

U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron announced Monday that British Internet service providers (ISPs) must install porn filters and require customers to opt-in for adult content. Cameron said the policy is aimed at combating child porn and the “corroding influences” of sexual content in the U.K., but several people are unhappy with the plan. Reports have linked the filters to controversial Chinese company Huawei, and others have found that the filters will block much more than just porn. Some ISPs have publicly refused to force the filters on their users.

  Link

Seems a bit silly and from the rest of the article it looks like it will cover more than porn too, but for gods sake let's just think of the children and protecting them from the “corroding influences” of the web and get this thing in place.  Don't worry once it's in place they can adjust it as they please depending on what they want to protect you from.

Clearly they don't know shit about how illegal activity like CP is usually done in "deep web" environments or P2P networks. This filter will have virtually zero impact on a technical level. It's an obvious smokescreen.

It's one of those things that governments do to pretend that they have control.

[Adam]

If only Europe was socialist

No thanks. We had them for years and I don't want them back.

in Sweden?

In Sweden, yes. They were fucking useless.

In what way? I on't know anything about the history of swedish politics, sorry

I would say a capable, genuinely social democratic government is always the best way.

[Adam]

I'd rather have healthcare than a gun 

To hell with free healthcare, or free anything from the government. This implies overdeveloped government, and I oppose is with every fiber of my being. Self reliance is best.

Better to be in the hands of private insurance companies.

I would trust big business even less than I would trust government. Unless you're living in the fucking soviet union or something

[Adam]

And as for the original issue, of course it's fucking stupid. I actually can't believe that people seriously are blurring the issues of "normal" ie consensual adult porn, and FUCKING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY FFS.

I read an article on the Daily Mail yesterday (yes, i know, i can't help myself) from some dumb bitch whose main argument was that porn = violence and child killers. Simply because of a woman who was murdered by a guy who was into weird stuff, and a girl who was murdered by a guy who watched child porn.

People don't seem to realise that correlation does not necessarily equal causation. Someone who rapes and kills a child has downloaded child porn? Well fuck me, I never would have guessed. That does not mean your average person looking at porn is going to somehow end up on a slippery slide to child porn and kill a kid.

I suspect there will be a lot of awkward discussions between husbands and wives when this all comes into effect

[TheoK]

People are incredible dumbfucks.

We now even have cases here in Sweden were people have been convicted in court - only fined but convicted anyway - for "child pornography" that consists of Manga drawings! "1984" anyone? 

[Beardy McFuckface]

I usually take a more central approach when it comes to socialism and capitalism, or politics in general (although I still lean a bit to the left). To me, a mixture of both is better than simply the one or the other.

A mix would help Sweden, IMHO, especially considering that each side tends to get about half the votes. Unfortunately Swedes have never wanted a broad coalition of anything.

I don't think coalitions work well.  Too much between party bickering.  I personally feel governments have too much responsibity.  I would like to see more referendums on major issues.  I know that there is a lot of apathy about voting but that is because people feel powerless and wonder what difference a visit to the poll station can make. 

Why place all that trust in politicians hands?  Many of them have proved to be liars, cheats and theives with dubious sexual hobbies.  Give people the power to make important decisions.

Not nesscessarily a coalition, but a party with a central position.