Wonder if we'll ever see the likes of this?

I changed a few words in a quote from a controlling culture warrior, to wit
a high Southern Baptist mucky-muck named Russell Moore, "President of the SB Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026925456

IMF: austerity measures would still leave Greece with unsustainable debt

Source: Guardian(UK)

Greece would face an unsustainable level of debt by 2030 even if it signs up to the full package of tax and spending reforms demanded of it, according to unpublished documents compiled by its three main creditors.

The documents, drawn up by the so-called troika of lenders, support Greece’s argument that it needs substantial debt relief for a lasting economic recovery. They show that, even after 15 years of sustained strong growth, the country would face a level of debt that the International Monetary Fund deems unsustainable.

The documents show that the IMF’s baseline estimate – the most likely outcome – is that Greece’s debt would still be 118% of GDP in 2030, even if it signs up to the package of tax and spending reforms demanded. That is well above the 110% the IMF regards as sustainable given Greece’s debt profile, a level set in 2012. The country’s debt level is currently 175% and likely to go higher because of its recent slide back into recession.

The documents admit that under the baseline scenario “significant concessions” are necessary to improve Greece’s chances of ridding itself permanently of its debt financing woes.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jun/30/greek-debt-troika-analysis-says-significant-concessions-still-needed

It's a slow day over at the Gun Control Busy Box

Seems "My Fantastic Career in The Air Force Is Why You Should Follow My Advice
About Guns" isn't quite pulling in the crowds after some ...inconvenient... details
were pointed out by several other posters, as see:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1172170317#post5

On processed pork shoulder meat in a can, and why we're getting it:

As a counter to embarassment. A widespread, yet unacknowledged, embarrassment
about being fooled - because some so wanted to believe something was true
they left healthy skepticism behind.

Embarassment over being taken in by a fake PSA, and not realizing it was staged
even as some GC&RKBA regulars recognized that it was phony:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017253473

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1172168674

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1017&pid=271286

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1172163317#post10

The alert reader will note that many of the other group's stalwarts (including
a rather outspoken host, who also recommended it) got taken in:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=thread&address=1017253473&info=1#recs


Seems none of the folks that were so impressed a few months ago care to discuss it
now. Posting here at GC&RKBA, now, would be a natural occasion for some
inconvenient questions.

Now we are (again) getting hit and run posts, and posts from members who have rarely, if ever,
posted here before.

I find that rather interesting...

Revealed Emails Show How Industry Lobbyists Basically Wrote The TPP

(This got locked in LBN, so I'm reposting it here)

From Techdirt:

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150605/11483831239/revealed-emails-show-how-industry-lobbyists-basically-wrote-tpp.shtml

Confidential USTR Emails Show Close Industry Involvement In TPP Negotiations

Revealed Emails Show How Industry Lobbyists Basically Wrote The TPP

Source: Techdirt

Back in 2013, we wrote about a FOIA lawsuit that was filed by William New at IP Watch. After trying to find out more information on the TPP by filing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and being told that they were classified as "national security information" (no, seriously), New teamed up with Yale's Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic to sue. As part of that lawsuit, the USTR has now released a bunch of internal emails concerning TPP negotiations, and IP Watch has a full writeup showing how industry lobbyists influenced the TPP agreement, to the point that one is even openly celebrating that the USTR version copied his own text word for word.

What is striking in the emails is not that government negotiators seek expertise and advice from leading industry figures. But the emails reveal a close-knit relationship between negotiators and the industry advisors that is likely unmatched by any other stakeholders.

The article highlights numerous examples of what appear to be very chummy relationships between the USTR and the "cleared advisors" from places like the RIAA, the MPAA and the ESA. They regularly share text and have very informal discussions, scheduling phone calls and get togethers to further discuss. This really isn't that surprising, given that the USTR is somewhat infamous for its revolving door with lobbyists who work on these issues. In fact, one of the main USTR officials in the emails that IP Watch got is Stan McCoy, who was the long term lead negotiator on "intellectual property" issues. But he's no longer at the USTR -- he now works for the MPAA...

...Perhaps the most incredible, is the email from Jim DeLisi, from Fanwood Chemical, to Barbara Weisel, a USTR official, where DeLisi raves that he's just looked over the latest text, and is gleeful to see that the the rules that have been agreed up on are "our rules" (i.e., the lobbyists'), even to the point that he (somewhat confusingly) insists "someone owes USTR a royalty payment." While it appears he's got the whole royalty system backwards (you'd think an "IP advisor" would know better...) the point is pretty clear: the lobbyists wrote the rules, and the USTR just put them into the agreement. Weisel's response? "Well there's a bit of good news..."

Read more: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150605/11483831239/revealed-emails-show-how-industry-lobbyists-basically-wrote-tpp.shtml