Political sentiments

In general the impression gained is that too much emphasis is placed on some topics (eg religion) compared to factors such as economics and the financial situation of the  electorate.   Religion has for centuries been used as a basis to fight economic wars - but in the present era it is a factor - but by far not the only factor.
The situation is far more complex.   In essence the easy way in the past was to spend money the country does not have to finance projects that would engender votes and not with any regard to future impact of the loans they take to fund current expenditure of such countries.
In general there are serious financial problems in all the so-called socialist governments and the result is diminutive economic growth.  The result is that they get estranged from the voters and that is a fact as well.   Normally such eventualities lead to the drifting of voters to opposition parties and where a opposition party has the same bad reputation the voters find a home in parties with an unknown government record.
In Europe the situation is complicated as the Euro countries have their own financial problems and needs to be bailed out - eg Greece.  There is also dissatisfaction with the EU in some countries.
On the whole there is a trend away from the leftist governments.   Although the parties are denigrated and called ultra-rightist the situation seems to be particularly strong and the ultra-rightest parties have aready taken control of some countries and where they have not they are in charge od regions in countries.
Lets look at the following:-
Argentina  -  the right-orientated parties took over the Government  after the latest presidential elections. 
Venezuela  -   The opposition won a near to two-thirds majority in the parliamentary elections.
France       -    In France in the first round the FN won more votes than the other political parties after attaining the same feat in the European parliament elections last year
England     -    In the last elections UKIP became the third biggest party in the UK.
Austria      -    The right wing party got so many votes that Austria is governed by a coalition government of which they are part.
The Netherlands - The rightist got so many votes in the latest election that they forced the formation of a center left coalition government.
Poland      -       A rightwing party won the latest elections
Hungary  -       A rightwing party won the latest elections 
The situation is not related to religion as some would make us believe - but is a general trend in a long list of countries .     

I think it is probably right that this is happening Mike. The influx of Muslims into Europe is out of control. Not that they are all evil as Beeno seems to suggest, but rather because I think there needs to be a balance. Europeans have less and less children and immigrants into European countries seem to have no less than 4 per family. It obviously upsets local people when the racial demographic shifts so dramatically and so quickly and if a push back from Europe doesn't happen now, it could end in something much worse, possibly civil war down the road. So while I believe that countries should assist the less privileged nations via allowing refugees and aid, i also think it's vitally important for the assisting country to retain it's identity and for it's people not to feel under threat at home. It's no.surprise that Eastern Europe are voting right wing parties. Neo-nazi movements have been on the rise for over ten years now. Not conservative Neo-nazis either. Mein-kampf reading skin heads are all over the place. Kind of scary actually.

 Plum
I don't think the issue relates to religion - as you said the family sizes in Europe is too small and the only way they can survive is by letting in workers.   I think there is a real problem in that too many of the new residents is not absorbing the culture and believes of their new countries.
They are also not used to the political structures  of Europe and do not understand how the democratic systems really works.
The Netherlands have a different approach.   Queen Maxima - herself an "immigrant" - is involved in programmes to teach immigrants to speak D utch and to enhance their knowledge of the set-up in the country.  Very basic - but it does help a lot.  For the rest the immigrants become second grade residents in countries they are not really acquainted with, making fertile ground for radicals.        

Mike, in Denmark one is able to attend 7 hours of Danish classes a day for two years, for free. You actually progress through levels and write exams as you go. I speak Danish as a result, though I didn't go for seven hours a day. The whole process of learning the language actually has a duel purprose, since one automatically learns about the culture as you do so. The Danish school assists with work placements too, if necessary. Sweden, Finland and Norway have similar programs. Also, I know in Denmark which is massively socialist, people are throughly encouraged to have babies. Single mom's for example are very well taken care of. All child care, from infancy care to university is free. Students are actually paid to study. I'm not sure how the Danish economy is doing presently but it's pointless even considering it since their well being is so dependant on the larger countries around them, even though they don't use the Euro. Would be very interesting if they were a 40 million + nation. I say so because their system obviously works, but it would be great to be able to see such a system operating completely independantly and having more sway internationally. Personally, I think the Swiss have the best governance system in Europe. I've always held that politicians should be no more than admin workers. Let everything go to referendum, and whatever the people decide is what the politicians have to make happen. So, as an example, the people themselves decide based on how they feel at a present moment, what their refugee policy should be...as well as when to review it. No grubby politician making deals with corporates. That's what really scares me about South African politics. We are one of Africa's most progressive countries, yet how far are we away from being able to achieve either of the above two European structures. Geez...a million frigging miles.

 Fark me you dudes need some rugby real bad ,who needs religion and politics when you have the beauty of an All Blacks counter attacking backline move to enjoy .Or a Bok rolling maul to give you time to go make a cuppa tea and come back to see they have moved a whole six inches heeheehee....

I have an extra Bok Jersey for you Wardad. It still reeks of attrition :)

 Maaaaate ! Black looks good on everyone ! Green is just the colour of envy and filthy lucre .....

Black makes you look skinny and girlish. Green is the color of...umm trees and money ;) We haven't even begun to talk about the gold yet.

 Green and gold is the Wobblies colours ! The ABs have the darkness all to themselves......

I'll need a postal address to send that jumper to Wardad. You'll have to try and remain calm when you put it on though. It'll be tough, but i can tell you're a man of great self control :)

 Come to the Dark Side and feel the power !  Together we can rul.....hang on wrong darkness .Come join us in the dark embrace ,you know you want to .......we have cookies too !Good ones !My boys and I are all set to see the other Dark Side on the 17th .The one with Light Sabres .

Haha Star Wars never gets old. Still amazed when I watch the first ones. Very glad Ford is making an appearance again. Gonna be epic!!! Still The Green Lantern is better ;)

 GL was badly let down in that last pic tho' .Bruddah Plum when you take up the Black like John 'know nothing " Snow you will after wearing it for a short time grow some actual Man Baws instead of the wee green plums your used to !

 warped DUD green is the colour of life, trees, plants, grass etc. Black is the absence of light and light is another life giving force.Ou warped is consistently wrong due to an inherent bent bias. 
Black often symbolises evil and hence it comes as no surprise the biggest cheats in rubgy wear black and their captain called mccheat! 

In your case, Baboon-ou, green is definitely the colour of envy!

Your pure unadulterated jealousy of New Zealand's rugby achievements is nothing short of pathetic . . . and if truth be told, a bit embarrassing for all of us real Springbok supporters!

 Ou warped have you noticed your jalopeno is green and how I have so often said you were jealous of various things. BwhahahahahahahaListen rooitwit no person with any repect to fair paly can admire the conniving the wee abs. Your admiration is probably based of them being the most cynical team on the palknet - year after year!Ou maaaikie and plump its nice to see my education programme paying off as you are at last displaying a modicum of common sense. ou plumper is at alst toning down his support for isalm and is almost sounding sensible!
However ou maaaike your idea that Europe needs more workers is misplaced. You cant forwever have more and more workers in allready overcrowded countries. No ou maaaikie what makesa contry propperous is hard work being smart and of course integrity and honesty. These values though have been undermined by hapless atheists who despise the judaic christian values and love homosexulaity, abortion and giving away their country to immigrants. Patriots like Lep Pen and Trump are cut froma  finer cloth! Money interests want cheap labour and have brian whased the gullible to accept multiculturalism  
Multi culturalism running riot means in the end you hand over your country to aliens!Apart from Europe and the USA where are countries handing their countries over to multiculturalism? All than ks to the hapless leftists and cohorts.

 This slimy envious garbage is what makes you such an unlikeable carnt beensh!t .Pure farking childish envy ,but anyone stupid enough to believe in cretinism or that palin is 'brilliant ' is on a hiding to nothing intelligence wise .Even the most die hard bok supporters have no problem giving the ABs their due and all the Kiwis onhere have o probs giving the Boks theirs .Except you you throwback mong boy .NZ is a multicultural nation ,also the least corrupt and most stable country going .Why dont you crawl back under your rock with all the other crawly critters.Idiot.

Beenis, no. My stance is exactly the same as it has always been. Nothing has changed. I don't like Islam one bit but I won't accept the killing of innocent people, Muslim or Christian. From what I can gather Beeno...tell me if I'm wrong but you are racist, homophobic, sexist and a religious superialist. You have nothing to teach me. Well, maybe a lesson in tolerance, since I have to tolerate you, but that's about it. What you need to learn, and correct me if I'm wrong, but your Jesus made this one of his main focuses...is HUMILITY. You can dress it up however you like and you can hide behind falsehoods to justify your hate, but you know you are a bigger sinner than anyone on here. Kinda ironic, considering your rants, don't ya think? I've seen the likes of you countless times. Your're a follower, not a leader. A leader listens. A leader is someone people rally around. Seems to me, nobody on here has any time for you and your kak. I personally wouldnt follow you into a fking restaurant. If I had one wish for you...it would be that a gay black atheist kicks your ass one day. Haha.

 Plum this squeezer for as long as I have known it has put down the ABs ,NZ and Kiwis .Like all proper rugby fans you and I have no probs with a bit of banter and giving other teams their due .I he doesnt like the ABs he should just keep his garbage to himself .Or find a big Kiwi or even just a proper rugby fan and spout his garbage in their faces .

Wardad...this is the kind of guy who will only speak up when he's in the majority or behind his keyboard. Go find me a Nazi who will stand alone and declare his leanings and i'll go and find you a unicorn. Not gonna happen.

Anyway, the longer it takes for SARU to decide on a coach the more likely it is we are gonna pinch Mr Smith  me thinks <<Insert evil laughter

Anyway it would be interesting if we do get Smith. Would be nice to see what a Kiwi with decent experience and mentoring behind him can do for the Boks. Might finally be able to put to rest the debate of what talent is actually available in SA. Who knows, Bok V AB games might be exciting to watch again. Geez that semi final was awful.