onthebeach,
My intention was not to buff Soros up, but to counteract some of the spin and misinformation that had been posted by you and Armchair.

You seem to have failed to realise that speculators make their money effectively betting on things that are going to happen anyway. The only nest eggs rendered valueless through his activity are those that would soon be valueless had he not acted.

It seems quite ironic that you criticise him for legal weapons trading while simultaneously arguing against gun control!

Where guns are controlled, people who need guns for legal purposes can generally still get them. But it makes it harder for criminals to get guns. And most importantly, it reduces the chance that someone carrying a gun will decide on the spur of the moment to shoot someone.

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ttbn, what is there to be embarrassed about? I didn't say Soros was a particularly good guy, but some politically active billionaires are much worse.

And seriously, who's ranting non-stop against rich people in general? Certainly not me.

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Armchair,

As for 'Black Lives Matter', you can't cure racism by denying its existence.
You can't cure racism by accusing those who draw attention to it of being racist.

Of course all lives matter. But it is the All Lives Matter crowd who are causing the unrest by falsely accusing the Black Lives Matter movement of claiming that ONLY black lives matter.

And the lives of refugees matter. Rape should be dealt with by by the police, with the perpetrators jailed and, where appropriate, deported. It should not be used as an excuse to deny rights to those refugees who've done nothing wrong.

Beach, since you have not refuted any of the facts I have presented, I assume you accept them. Reasonable Australians, but not you, should be alarmed that an ultra right foreign extremest organisation, the American National Rifle Association, who's stated aim is the abolition of all gun control laws has meddled in Australian politics.

The issue of Queensland's VLAD laws has been extensively discussed on numerous occasions on this forum, you always instigating the discussion. Although the laws were independently reviewed by Justice Alan Wilson, and the Queensland government has moved to implement Justice Wilson's recommendations, you for one refuse to accept the umpires decision. So be it.
With your incessant references to the "NSW's Trotskyist 'Watermelon' Greens", you must have topped the 100th such reference on the forum by now, along with your ranting opinions, indicates you are out of touch with reality, and are politically aligned with the lunatic fringe of the ultra right of Australian politics, people like Jim Saleam and Pauline Hanson. You may say you have never been a member of any political party, and that may be true, but your views and opinions are well and truly aligned with the ultra right of Australian politics.

Aidan, "My intention was not to buff Soros up, but to counteract some of the spin and misinformation that had been posted.."

There isn't any need to buff Soros up. The Soros publicity machine is always working on overdrive and as the news article says, Soros as the darling of the wealthy leftist 'Progressives' such as Hilary Clinton and large contributor to politicians campaign funds, epitomises the 'Big Swinging Dick' on the block, who can throw his weight around and does.

Most would object as the article does, to Soros' extreme secrecy and doubtful motives. Especially his interference in the domestic markets and politics of other countries. His personal benefit always comes through in mega-millions from currency trading, taking advantage of natural calamity, social and political disruption, and of course that tax avoidance and insider trading you overlooked, why?

Aidan, "The only nest eggs rendered valueless through his activity are those that would soon be valueless had he not acted"

You are not that naive.

Aidan, "It seems quite ironic that you criticise him for legal weapons trading while simultaneously arguing against gun control!"

Hardly ironic and you should know that. In every thread I have ever contributed to on this subject I have been an emphatic supporter of the regulation of firearms ownership through the strongest, robust and most effective control possible, which is the firearms licence.

The article (you prefer to attack me personally instead of directing your attentions to it) rightly criticises Soros for his apparent double dealing and hypocrisy. Why be a gun banner and confiscator of legal, individual firearms held by licensed citizens in Western democracies while trading weapons of war on the open market to all comers, and through his company structures, outside of the control of US government?

You don't imagine that is problematical in his case, but why not?

continued..

Aidan, "Where guns are controlled....it makes it harder for criminals to get guns.."

Yet police statistics from gun registration continually prove how extremely unlikely it is for a gun offence to be committed with a firearm stolen from the safes of the licensed public.

At the same time, there is evidence of regular importation (illegal, obviously) to order of the 'gangsta guns' preferred by the drug trafficking bikies. Bikies that Greens and Labor are determined to protect from police in Queensland by deep-sixing the successful VLAD legislation that was supported by the High Court of Australia.

As for your catastrophising the unlikely scenario where a licensed gun owner might suddenly losing his/her head, you should be aware that since Noah was a boy, hundreds of firearms have been transported daily to the range and for other legal purposes. It is done with discretion as the reputable, law-abiding citizens who have a licence can be expected to do.

I don't doubt that some here could also relate personal experience as a young school cadet of carrying home on their bike or on the bus, the most potent assault rifle of WW2, the SMLE, with a magazine capacity of ten and very quick reloading facility. School Cadet Units had operational Bren and Owen guns. What about those 'sniper' rifles with micrometer 'Central' sights used in competitions? Women smiled at the public-spirited Cadets with SMLE slung over the shoulder. Why?

Injuries other than minor, a grazed knee or bruise, in all of the years of Cadet Units? Absolutely none!

You cannot imagine any of that being the case, but it is true. How about that?

The goal of 'gun control' is bans and confiscation of legal, registered, legally-held firearms from legally licensed citizens to disarm the Western democracies.

It is the very antithesis of effective, evidence-based regulation based on professionally conducted analysis of risks and effective, efficient risk treatments.

Of course 'gun control' appeals to the leftist 'Progressives' aka the International Socialists. To lazy politicians too, who ride bandwagons and pretend that more and more laws is the solution to everything.

onthebeach,
Hes probably made a fortune off the firearms, though I did hear he's now recently divested into gold.
Not a bad move considering Plan 'B' in Syria is expected to begin in the next week or so, (who knows whats planned in the M/E) the NATO head yesterday said expect a nuclear war with Russia within 12months.
Whilst Soros pushes gun laws, sales get a boost from the American public as they rush to buy guns.
And yes he does fund the Pro-Clinton 'Media Matters' as well.

If you want a bit more info of how the world works go here.
http://youtu.be/H7b-ynXM1VM

Dear Armchair Critic,

I appreciate your concern very much (and your
civility) and I
understand what you are saying. That's what
I enjoy about OLO - different perspectives given by
many intelligent people, and as a result - much
food for thought. You and Aidan are a good match.

From what I've read about George Soros (including
Tor Hundloe's book) what Soros calls an "Open
Society" is a democratic one. (The opposite to a
one-party state ruled by an unbending ideology,
such as was the Soviet Union under Stalin).
Soros foresees the possibility that the excesses of
modern financial capitalism will lead to a similar breakdown
of democracy. And that is something that Soros appears
to fear.

I would need to read much more about Soros's thoughts -
especially his 1998 book, "The Crisis of Global
Capitalism: Open Society Endangered," to be able to
make any further comments.