Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2008 October 24

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October 24

Size of US debt under Republican presidents vs. Democratic presidents

Is it true that since the Eisenhower administration, the US debt has shrunk during every Democratic administration, and increased during every Republican administration? If so, how can I verify this? 67.169.50.95 (talk) 04:14, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Don't have any stats handy, but that's certainly been the prevailing tendency since around about the beginning of Reagan's second term. The W. Bush administration has actually followed a consciously cynical policy of intentionally "starving the beast" by deliberately increasing military expenditures while giving large tax-breaks to the ultra-wealthy Country-club Republican set in order to set up overall structural pressures for greatly reducing non-military spending (though the latter hasn't actually happened yet, resulting in mega-increases in public debt instead). In other words, the U.S. is required to mortgage its economy to foreigners (Sovereign wealth funds etc.) because Grover Norquist loathes and despises Medicare and Social Security... AnonMoos (talk) 07:00, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Not likely! I think Clinton was the only one who actually reduced the national debt. However, this claims that every Democratic president since 1945 "has reduced the national debt as a percentage of GDP" (my bolding) - that is to say the debt grew at a slower rate than the economy. It also says that overall, Democratic administrations have increased it less than Republican ones. Clarityfiend (talk) 10:21, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

There is a nice graph here. It's pretty clear from just casually looking at it that while the debt grows under Democratic administrations (Clinton the exception), it grows a lot slower than under most Republican administrations. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 13:22, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Here's another interesting graph: [1]. In fairness, Congress holds the purse-strings, not the President, and in recent history there has often been a split in the control of Congress and the White House, so perhaps a good Republican might say instead that "since the Eisenhower administration, the US debt has shrunk during every GOP-held Congress, and increased during every Democratic-held Congress". --Sean 14:59, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

A good graph: [2]. I believe either Kennedy or Johnson had a surplus. Magog the Ogre (talk) 15:09, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

There is an article in this month's Washington Monthly comparing various economic indicators under Republican and Democratic administrations. DAVID ŠENEK 19:29, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

The "good Republican" would be wrong to claim that the deficit increased under Democratic-majority Congresses and dropped under Republican majorities. One of the periods in which the deficit increased fastest was the period when Bush Jr's presidency coincided with a Republican majority in Congress: 2002-2006. 192.251.134.5 (talk) 19:33, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

According to National debt by U.S. presidential terms, the debt grew rapidly under Reagan and the two Bushes. With one exception, every other president from 1945 on, Republican or Democrat, lowered the debt with respect to the GDP (Nixon/Ford increased it very slightly). Clarityfiend (talk) 04:27, 25 October 2008 (UTC)

I just wanted to echo and expand the point made by Sean. Congress has the power of the purse, not the President. Crediting/blaming the President for debt isn't necessarily accurate. It takes two to tango. 67.184.14.87 (talk) 09:04, 26 October 2008 (UTC)

This picture says it all: http://www.cedarcomm.com/~stevelm1/Revenue_v_Spending.png Johnson/Carter/Clinton (all democrats) were the only presidents to spend less than they got. All the others spent more than they got.--Dacium (talk) 22:28, 28 October 2008 (UTC)

Politics of Japan and UN Security Council Reform

I am well aware that Japan has always desired a permanent seat on the UN security council. I am aware that they have in the past worked with the G4 group of nations to try and obtain seats, however information from their mission and foreign service leads me to believe that while they still intend to cooperate with the G4 nations, they are working on a plan of their own. What nations would this plan include or geographical regions? Also, what is the relation of the G4 in the UN today? 72.87.132.142 (talk) 04:27, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Don't know about future Japanese government initiatives, but it seems quite unlikely that any "reform" effort to elevate Japan alone to permanent Council status would have any chance to succeed. The G4 nations have been stymied by the fact that nearby countries with less chance of a permanent seat for themselves often oppose the efforts of the G-4, with Pakistan opposing a Security Council seat for India, South Korea opposing a seat for Japan, Argentina opposing a seat for Brazil, Italy opposing a seat for Germany, etc. (see Uniting for Consensus). Also, the G4 plan offers nothing for Africa while arguably increasing the existing overrepresentation of Europe, and there's the eternally contentious issue of whether new permanent Council members would have veto power. In any case, Japan's actions in WW2, and apparent lack of contrition and/or failure to take responsibility for those actions in some cases, still leaves a sour taste in the mouth of many Asians... AnonMoos (talk) 06:41, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Indios visiting Pedro II of Brazil in 1898 photograph

Recently found online at ibamuseum a 1898 photo "Homagem ao Imperador D. Pedro II do Brasil pelos Indios do Alto Rio Xingú". Photographer: Sylvester A. Taylor. Indios looking at a picture in the Royal Palace. I have not been able to find anything on this Sylvester A. Taylor, has anybody any idea where anything on him might be?--Radh (talk) 09:44, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Village Cry Gysin photo

The 1970s Village Cry, a Swiss avant-garde photo journal, did a Brion Gysin number, publishing a photo of an old male Slave in chains, supposedly from a Slave Market in 1950s Atlas mountains, Maroc. It may be a hoax, but looked pretty real. Has anybody ever seen this mag or the photo? I have been looking at some books (old RE/Search stuff...) and the web, but never been able to find it--Radh (talk) 10:04, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

history of gurmukh singhwala

I wanted to know about history of village Gurmukh Singhwala in Punjab, Pakistan.Gurmukh Singh my great great grandfather, who lost his life in the battle of saragarhi is said to own it. I'll be obliged if you could send me some facts or pictures of him and the village. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.134.215.216 (talk) 12:13, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

The English Language Wikipedia unfortunately does not have any information about that village. However, there are several Wikipedias in the various languages of India, any of which may include an article about that village. See List of Wikipedias for more information about the full list of Wikipedias. --Jayron32.talk.contribs 12:17, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Biblioteca Reale

I came across Biblioteca Reale, which was listed by a bot at WP:SCV. Currently the article consists of a very short sentence followed by a long quote from [3] ... not really ideal. I looked for information on Google, but found very little. I am sure that there is information to be found in print, but I am not certain where to look. Any suggestions? I have access to a very large University library, so I could probably get any books mentioned. --Iamunknown 15:32, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

electronic publishing

hello 1) Thank you for your contributions to Wikipedia. I'm from a developed country, Egypt, and I know you're knowledgeable.

I want to help with Wikipedia but how can I?

I want to donate money to Wikipedia but less than $50 -- can I pay in a bank instead of by visa?

2) When did the phrase "electronic publishing" begin to be used? Of what materials can we say they are electronic pub? Do we call microfilms or microfish electronic publishing? Did electronic publishing begin with the Internet? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.139.145.200 (talk) 19:36, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Thank you! For details of how to donate by bank transfer, see here, click "donate now" and select "Direct Deposit". If you take those details to your bank, they should be able to help you. As for your question, have you seen our article, Electronic publishing? It's not very long, but it might answer some of your questions. I don't see anything in there about the history of it, though. I think the internet has certainly played a massive role in the birth of electronic publishing. If it existed before the internet, then it would have been on an extremely small scale. --Tango (talk) 20:34, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

I have never heard of the term electronic publishing being attached to microfiche or microfilm. (It's hard for me to see what's electric about them, as well.) The closest thing to pre-internet "electronic publishing" I can think of is that some books relating to mathematics or computers had punch card supplements that could be purchased to accompany them (like A Million Random Digits with 100,000 Normal Deviates). But nobody called that electronic publishing, and it's quite different than the internet. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 02:12, 25 October 2008 (UTC)

One of the earliest electronic publishing efforts would be Project Gutenburg which "published" its first text in 1971 when there were only 15 nodes on the Internet. Rmhermen (talk) 16:19, 25 October 2008 (UTC)

Wow, I was going to say they were likely the first, but had no idea their first effort was that early.Somebody or his brother (talk) 23:49, 26 October 2008 (UTC)

the difference between fencing and swordsmanship

what's the difference between fencing and swordsmanship? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.27.142.164 (talk) 19:54, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Have you looked at our articles Fencing and Swordsmanship? DJ Clayworth (talk) 20:18, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

yes, and it's not clear to me. could you summarize it in a sentence? Is fencing is like ballet whereas swordsmanship is like -- medieval dancing? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.27.142.164 (talk) 22:12, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Really the first sentence of each article covers it. Fencing is an activity; swordsmanship is the skill you need to do well at that activity. Or in your analogy, fencing is like dancing while swordsmanship is like being good at dancing. --Anonymous, 22:58 UTC, October 24, 2008.

Fencing is European swordsmanship/martial art. Julia Rossi (talk) 07:24, 27 October 2008 (UTC)

Jorg Haider

This article says he was a white nationalist, anti-Semitic, and above all homosexual. Why do people have to say that he's a Nazi just because he was gay? It seems unfair, and homophobic.--Holy Roman Empire (talk) 20:44, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Is it possible that they are calling him a Nazi because he is an anti-semitic white nationalist? DJ Clayworth (talk) 20:53, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

There's also a conspiracy theory that he was murdered for his views, and the story of drunk driving was a coverup.--Holy Roman Empire (talk) 21:01, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Of course, there are conspiracy theories about everything else imaginable too, so that doesn't say much. --Tango (talk) 21:27, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Nobody knew he was gay! It was no "accident"? Of course not: he was completely pissed, he drove at 140 km/h or something in the middle of the night, so 1+1=2. And as far as I know, he was no Nazi,he was right wing and a bit nationalistic, but I don· t even know, if his policies were as right-wing as his talk--Radh (talk) 21:41, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Do you know anything about the Guardian? If not, let me assure you that it is completely against their editorial policy to say that someone is a Nazi because they are homosexual. Jorg Haider is referred to as a Nazi because that, quite subjectively, was what he was: an unrepetent apologiser for the Third Reich. Bringing up his apparent homosexuality is important because it serves to point out the hypocrisy that is so deeply ingrained within Fascists. Haider consistantly had kind words to say about the Nazi party, while, under its own rules, he would have been sent to the Concentration Camps for being a sodomite. The Guardian makes it its duty to point out examples of such hypocritic cowardly scum-like behaviour from members of the far right. 218.48.66.96 (talk) 08:55, 26 October 2008 (UTC)

I could n·t care less and if it makes you feel better to call him Adolf go ahead, but there are real nazis around and they are still very different from Haider. Haider had nice stupid words to say about the old nazis, but he was no neonazi politician for god·s sake. How many communists and gypsies and foreigners had he murdered or even interned in prisons without trial? Here on w. it is unfair and verboten to call Weather communist, so it might be fair to say that not every "far- right person" is per se fascist scum. And Haider was not even that far to the right in his politics. --Radh (talk) 21:25, 26 October 2008 (UTC)

Ulster County Gazette

While working just now, I found a reproduction of the famous Ulster County Gazette, but don't know which reprint edition it is. Printed on a soft paper, this has italic "Ulster County Gazette", uses both ſ and s in the middle of words, has a publication notice of "Publiſhed at KINGSTON, (Ulster County,) etc.", and (as far as I can see) no copyright notice. Can anyone tell me when this was printed, or where I can find a site listing these editions? I found a New York Times article from 1904 discussing various reprints, but none of the varieties described by the author seem to fit this exactly. Aside from the statistical improbability of this being a third copy of the original, I know it's a reprint because of various textual variants noted by various websites. Nyttend (talk) 22:05, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Vale, R. W. G. (1951). The Ulster County Gazette and its illegitimate offspring. OCLC 1047666 supposedly lists all known variants of the reprints.—eric 02:00, 26 October 2008 (UTC)