Crowning the dragon: Chinese GDP PPP will exceed America's by year's end.

[Jacob]

It wasn't?

There were plenty of Irish landlords as well.

Basically the whole thing was unfortunate but unavoidable, and as such it does not in any way imply that being part of the British Empire had negative consequences for the subject nations?

[The Brain]

It wasn't?

There were plenty of Irish landlords as well.

Yes, they were called Anglo-Irish landlords.  Okay, let me pare it down a bit, how much land was owned by Catholic Irish (who made up the majority of the population and who famine fell on?

If you're Protestant you aren't really Irish, in some mystical sense?

[DGuller]

Raz, can you just say what you fucking mean, without rhetorical questions or "I was under impression"?

[Malthus]

It wasn't?

There were plenty of Irish landlords as well.

Yes, they were called Anglo-Irish landlords.  Okay, let me pare it down a bit, how much land was owned by Catholic Irish (who made up the majority of the population and who famine fell on?

If you're Protestant you aren't really Irish, in some mystical sense?

"Just because one is born in a stable does not make one a horse!" - (misattributed to) the Duke of Wellington, on being called "Irish".

[The Brain]

It wasn't?

There were plenty of Irish landlords as well.

Yes, they were called Anglo-Irish landlords.  Okay, let me pare it down a bit, how much land was owned by Catholic Irish (who made up the majority of the population and who famine fell on?

If you're Protestant you aren't really Irish, in some mystical sense?

"Just because one is born in a stable does not make one a horse!" - (misattributed to) the Duke of Wellington, on being called "Irish".

Statistics indicate otherwise.

[Valmy]

Basically the whole thing was unfortunate but unavoidable, and as such it does not in any way imply that being part of the British Empire had negative consequences for the subject nations?

I have already stated what I believe were the ultimate causes of the famine (besides the obvious one of a potato blight).  The second part is a ridiculously broad question.  I honestly have no idea if the British Empire had negative or positive consequences for each of the subject nations, I do not have an alternate reality machine to see if things would have gone better or worse.  The British Empire was a fundamentally immoral structure and how much positivity it may or may not have had for its subject people is immaterial to that reality.  If I do not condemn the British Empire sufficiently I hope you do not take that to mean I support it any way.

On the other hand Ireland is a strange and unique example of it.  The problems Ireland had were the result of centuries of sectarian conflict.  The Irish had voting rights and representation in Parliament and were considered British citizens.  If every part of the Empire had that going for it I would feel a lot differently about the British Empire, believe me.  Of course it would no longer be a British Empire at that point but some sort of amazingly diverse super state.

[Malthus]

It wasn't?

There were plenty of Irish landlords as well.

Yes, they were called Anglo-Irish landlords.  Okay, let me pare it down a bit, how much land was owned by Catholic Irish (who made up the majority of the population and who famine fell on?

If you're Protestant you aren't really Irish, in some mystical sense?

"Just because one is born in a stable does not make one a horse!" - (misattributed to) the Duke of Wellington, on being called "Irish".

Statistics indicate otherwise.

That's bad news for Christians. 

[Valmy]

That's bad news for Christians. 

At least he was a Jewish horse.

[The Brain]

The Bible isn't meant to be taken literally. The stable is allegorical.

[Valmy]

The Bible isn't meant to be taken literally. The stable is allegorical.

It is symbolic of all farm related buildings, showing the spiritual need for farm subsidies.

[DGuller]

I would defer to The Brain on all farm matters.

[Razgovory]

Raz, can you just say what you fucking mean, without rhetorical questions or "I was under impression"?

It is difficult to for me to speak in absolutes because I'm insane.  My impressions, understandings, and beliefs may be derived from delusions.

[The Minsky Moment]

There is no account in the Bible that says Jesus was born in a stable.

[Eddie Teach]

The walls would have been a luxury.

[Malthus]

There is no account in the Bible that says Jesus was born in a stable.

Where does one usually find a manger?

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Bible_(American_Standard)/Luke#2:1

6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.