Comparing bandwidth is so much like a penis contest; Hong Kong has had Gigabit for 5 years or more; same with Korea.

Enter price into the comparison, and you have an argument.

>In USA you have small government, no taxes and (snip)

The USA as a no-tax country, as you or others put forward, is a myth; the tax burden as a part of GDP is just under 30%, while in Europe, on average, is just over 40%.

That you get screwed on healthcare and by telcos is true, but a different matter.

>Excuse me, how does deregulation have anything to do with SEC incompetency? The financial services industry in America is one of the most regulated industries in the world.

Deregulation has nothing to do with it, but libertarians/free-marketers and their supposed nasty influence in the US halls of government is a easy dog to beat on, despite its non-existence (almost same non-existince that the people who put forward such silly notions demonstrate when their claims are challenged, as in this thread. Cue the tumbleweeds.).

One free with every SUV bought!

>How is that a strawman?

Because of the massive dis-proportionality of the power being excerted in the cases you compare adn attempt to equivocate.

> The point was not the scope or extent of the power. The point was the arbitrary way that it is exercised and the fact that justification of its use is an afterthought if it is provided at all.

All humans are capable of such behavior, whether they are the parents of a child, sitting in a boardroom, or in government halls. On a side note, I usually see more such unjustified, either purely or by lies and coverups, behavior from politicians because of lack of accountability, also related to my earlier posts). But if this is your point, I must consider your argument largely irrelevant.

> It's the difference between "because I am in charge and I said so" versus "because I believe it's the most reasonable way to proceed, and here are my factual reasons explaining why I think so; please let me know if new evidence comes to light."

In the degree that morality and honesty matters, yes; in the degree that what matters are the consequences and harm from actions justified or not, the aforementioned dwindles.

>That distinction can be made whether the situation is "do we execute this possible terrorist?" or whether it's "how long should Junior be grounded?" So again, if your disproportionate concern for the scope of power has anything to do with the way authority is justified, or somehow makes my reasoning a strawman, you have not made your case.

Or you have missed it. Shortly explained, I'm pointing out differences in consequences of actions of the three examples, not the moral basis.

>Really? which part of history is that, exactly? I can't remember any totalitarian regime that didn't have hordes of people inmigrating to neighboring countries.

Those that had the opportunity. Many millions did not (fx. the victims of the Ukraninian Holodomor or the killing fields of Cambodia), or died trying. The deaths at the berlin wall is a minor though notable illustration.

> Sure in the worst ones many people were caught, usually when they tried to hide in the same country instead of getting out, but children trying to find refuge from their abusive parents within their own home usually fare no better.

>As for corporations, I've only got four words for you: modern day United States

I'm unsure about what you are trying to say, but keep in mind that corporations that gain tyrannical powers invariably do so with the aid of government; in fact, corporations are creations of laws of government. In cases where you do not have the ability to not-choose products, "services" or bein in servitude of a corporation, it is by and large always due to, or with the blessing of, government.

>While Communism encourages this behavior, it does not hold a monopoly on it. Plenty of non-Communists in businesses and governments everywhere are this way. Remember that corporations are essentially dictatorships and that the type of politician who "knows what's good for you" does not ask whether you agree. Even "because I said so" parents and teachers exhibit this behavior (and condition people to accept it from a young age).

True, but a strawman. Corporations rarely hold the broad scope of powers that governments do. Parents ditto. (Consumers can choose to not buy from a corporation they dislike; children can typically run away from abusive parents and seek refuge with neighbours and family. Seekign refuge from government is another matter entirely as history will show you.). Also, both of the aforementioned rarely their their so-called dicatatorial powers to the excesses that governments do, especially government led by politically-religious folks ala Charvez.

I use swf-dec and gnash.

Am I vulnerable?

Ok, that was retorical - bwahahah!

It's amazing how stupid some people are on the internet. It is almost as if all literary skills go out the window and the don't freaking READ WHAT THE SCREEN SAYS!

A while ago an extended relative asked what I wanted for Christmas (we do a rotation where everyone gets a couple random names and they buy for those names only rather than something for every single person, that way everyone gets some stuff but you dont have to spend a lot on people you don't even know/care about). Anyway, rather than listing a bunch of stuff, I told them just to look me up on Amazon where I have a couple public wishlists running. Tell them to just search for me on the Amazon wishlists, no problem right? Ive tested it and my name brings it straight to me. I was dead wrong, they just tried to use the product search and didn't find me (my biography isnt listed yet I guess, go figure) even though I told them explicitly to go to with WISHLIST page which is linked right at the top of the screen. I cried a little for humanity.

Worst part is, I'm related to these people.

Yeah, you are right - Apple popularity on the stock market has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that they keep beating the Analysts' expectations for years now, that their growth stays far above Dell's and HP's for years now, nor that they actually bring out new products that have a major impact in their market but also on other industries. None of that.

>Someone please explain to me why China is getting treated with kid gloves?

Because they are the soon-to-be world #1 economy, and no politician wants to have his country slapped with a Chinese embargo (resulting in lost trade and thus tax and duties income) because they stepped on some sore toes.

Slightly over 9000.

Sure, Linux will run on it. Just imagine a whole bunch of blades of these...!!