ISIS

[David]

I actually don't believe that's the case � if anything, I suspect aggressive atheism only creates more of a siege mentality within religious groups and reduces the chance of secularisation (Russia's post-Soviet embrace of the Orthodox Church seems a case study in the effects of repression). Conversely, I think it's been well established that peace and prosperity are the conditions under which secularisation thrives. Perhaps it's not always so simple, but I do think atheism's best hope lies in tolerant multiculturalism and technological progress.

[Pies4shaw]

^^^ How do you explain the USA, then? Peaceful and prosperous for a long period of time - and full of people with pointy heads and fairy-beliefs - so much so that one can't really expect to be taken seriously running for high office unless one professes to believe in the Big Fsiry.

[Morrigu]

^

[Skids]

[Pies4shaw]

It's not necessary to regurgitate, holus-bolus, ridiculously illogical things other people put on the internet merely because those things accord with one's own paranoid prejudices.

Otherwise, whilst I accept that some with disordered thought patterns might see a connection between denying climate change on the one hand and oppressing entire peoples on the other, I'm quite content to treat each of those particular perversities as distinct topics.

[watt price tully]

[David]

[stui magpie]

^

Put someone like Gillard, an open atheist living with a partner but unmarried in the frame. How do you reckon she'd go?

Julie Bishop? Non religious, divorced, childless with no apparent partner?

Penny Wong would have zero chance.

[David]

Maybe, but it's all conjecture. I suspect, for instance, that Clinton was scared off choosing a female VP candidate because of fears (expressed by pundits in the week leading up to the announcement and likely shared by DNC leaders) that two women on a ticket would be seen as too radical. Maybe that's right, but maybe it also overestimates the conservatism of voters. At the end of the day, in a two horse race nearly anything can happen; and with the saturation coverage of the presidential campaign over there, voters would get used to the idea pretty quickly.

So, yeah, I wouldn't rule out an American Gillard, Bishop or even openly queer woman of Asian background, at least in theory, because you'll never know if you never try. The trouble is, they'll never try anyone so 'radical' because the people in charge of the US major parties are too conservative and risk averse. Plus, the kind of people who run for president are generally the kind of people with the financial resources to do so, i.e. rich white men.

[David]

By the way, here's why it's important to avoid posting random stuff you see on Facebook without checking the facts first:

https://newmatilda.com/2016/08/05/patriots-muslim-polish/

[watt price tully]

ISIS in the west in Melbourne: (Reclaim Australia)

http://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/counter-terror-authorities-carry-out-raids-in-melbournes-northwest/news-story/ca14d8e5142cb565b5be4f7b132cdaf8

[Pies4shaw]

The disenfranchised radical right cuts a heroic figure, doesn't it?

We should have expected the police would arrest poor, law-abiding, white people instead of the Real Enemy. It's a conspiracy and the police are part of it. I am now absolutely certain that our governments, at all levels, are working quite deliberately to have every Ordinary Australian killed by terrorists. This arrest proves it.

We must rally, immediately, at 1060 West Addison.

[stui magpie]

It'll be interesting to see exactly what kind of terror act a right wing anti islamist was planning.

[Pies4shaw]

There IS a conspiracy against the patriot movement. Galea has just told the Magistrates' Court that - but he's still in custody. How can this be?

[Wokko]

"...or producing documents or materials that might lead to the causation of harm to members of the Victorian community,��



That's the line that tells me this is a load of bullshit. Interesting that suddenly news corp reporting is above reproach.