I have found myself agreeing with him more often, he must be getting more conservative in his old age
I have found myself agreeing with him more often, he must be getting more conservative in his old age
ALthough they often go hand in hand, do not confuse bitterness with conservatism.Originally posted by: charrison
I have found myself agreeing with him more often, he must be getting more conservative in his old age
Originally posted by: charrison
I have found myself agreeing with him more often, he must be getting more conservative in his old age
We're wearing him down and despite the slow start the children around here are off to, you do get smarter as you get older.
I once watched a TV program about some New Zealanders living in New York. At one stage there was an American woman being interviewed about her friends (the New Zealanders) and the interviewer asked if she knew where New Zealand was. Her reply was:
"I'm not too sure, but <big smile> I know it's in Europe!"
I cringed at the lack of education that reply demonstrated and thought to myself that that level of ignorance wouldn't occur in Europe.
Zip forward a few weeks and I saw an English quiz show where they interviewed school kids from inner London, asked them questions.
Interviewer: "In which country is the Taj Mahal?"
Child: "I dunno"
I cringed again and changed my view to that of: Well at least that level of ignorance will never happen me.
And that's about as good as you can hope for. America is in the unfortunate position of having a lot of people with lots of money and not enough education/knowledge. These people can afford to travel the world and amply demonstrate their ignorance. Thus American's are regarded internationally as not exactly a 'sharp' race of people.
The people in the other country(ies) I mentioned just stay in their own country and stagnate, they've not got as much money so they don't travel as much but they're just as stupid.
Best anyone can hope to do is use the general perception of you (or whoever) as being stupid to your advantage. No better advantage than someone underestimating you just cause they assume you're stupid. Educate yourself and you'll surprise them and yourself.
Anyone want this soapbox, I'm finished with it.
There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with taking pride in your country and your country's achievements. What is disgusting is how many Americans believe this is the only civilized country - they assume that every other country in the world is inferior in every way, and that only the US knows anything about freedom.
I'm just sick of the ignorance. I am sick of having to listen to so many people who know NOTHING about any country outside the US make these offensive assumptions and stereotypes. It is remarkable how many people here do not know even the most basic geography, know no language but their native English, and believe every ridiculous stereotype about every culture in the world.
Newsflash: Not all Arabs are terrorists. Not all Africans hunt wild animals with spears. Not all Brasilians live in the Amazon jungle.
I know this is a generalization. I know it's not true of all Americans. But it's true often enough to be criticized.
It goes further than that, too. It is pathetic how many people in the North think that everyone in the Deep South is racist, poor, and uneducated.
Americans are living off the grit and courage of great people - two or more generations ago. All the "American Spirit" and "Yankee Ingenuity" describe a very different people than we are today. Today we are a society who is so starved for entertainment that we "hollywood-ize" everything remotely real in our world. Every story must be ultra-sensationalized, every good deed "heroic", every star athelete is a "legend", and even the stories that are impressive must be exagerrated beyond recognition. It's not enough that a person overcome some adversity and achieve great success - they have to be "from the streets" and pull themselves up from nothing into the best at whatever they do. Every politician came out of poverty, every new pop group struggled for years before they were discovered.
I am embarassed. You're damn right - I am humiliated to be a part of all this. America does mean something, and it used to mean something great. Now it's a farce.
And all the sensationalized patriotic fervor doesn't change it. Tell me how much of a traitor I am, or how much we have had to "overcome" after September 11 (get real, you idiots - there are people who survive war and terror in parts of Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES.) It doesn't change a thing. What' right is right, and what's real is real, and if you think that the society that exists in the United States of America is one of integrity or courage or commitment to freedom, you are lying to yourself in the most pathetic way imaginable.
I'm just sick of the ignorance. I am sick of having to listen to so many people who know NOTHING about any country outside the US make these offensive assumptions and stereotypes. It is remarkable how many people here do not know even the most basic geography, know no language but their native English, and believe every ridiculous stereotype about every culture in the world.
Newsflash: Not all Arabs are terrorists. Not all Africans hunt wild animals with spears. Not all Brasilians live in the Amazon jungle.
I know this is a generalization. I know it's not true of all Americans. But it's true often enough to be criticized.
It goes further than that, too. It is pathetic how many people in the North think that everyone in the Deep South is racist, poor, and uneducated.
Americans are living off the grit and courage of great people - two or more generations ago. All the "American Spirit" and "Yankee Ingenuity" describe a very different people than we are today. Today we are a society who is so starved for entertainment that we "hollywood-ize" everything remotely real in our world. Every story must be ultra-sensationalized, every good deed "heroic", every star athelete is a "legend", and even the stories that are impressive must be exagerrated beyond recognition. It's not enough that a person overcome some adversity and achieve great success - they have to be "from the streets" and pull themselves up from nothing into the best at whatever they do. Every politician came out of poverty, every new pop group struggled for years before they were discovered.
I am embarassed. You're damn right - I am humiliated to be a part of all this. America does mean something, and it used to mean something great. Now it's a farce.
And all the sensationalized patriotic fervor doesn't change it. Tell me how much of a traitor I am, or how much we have had to "overcome" after September 11 (get real, you idiots - there are people who survive war and terror in parts of Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES.) It doesn't change a thing. What' right is right, and what's real is real, and if you think that the society that exists in the United States of America is one of integrity or courage or commitment to freedom, you are lying to yourself in the most pathetic way imaginable.
Absolute best post on this thread (after mine, of course!). You get a prize and the 'Winner of the Thread' trophy.
Here ya go...<presents trophy>
Rio Rebel got right to the point.
I didn't wanna bring this up from my own personal experiences but since the audience asked.
About 2 years ago I traveled to Concorde (sp?), NY, for 1 week of vacation. It's a great hotel at a big lake. Nice and quiet place to rest. During my time there, I encountered an elderly married couple (guess between 58-68 years of age) in an elevator. They smiled at me and I smiled back at them, but then the woman asked me where I was from. I replied, Toronto, Canada. "Ohhh Canada" - she said. "You must not have places like these up in Canada as I se many Canadians travel here." I smiled and said, "No, maam. And we drink blubber oil, too." My floor was up, so I said good night and exited.
You be the judge.
Another example was in Disneyland in Florida. There's a huge world map and of course, Canada is included but is all detailed in snow and igloos. Many small kids pass is by and where do you think they may get their world education? They see hundreds of monuments throughout the USA on the map, and only 3 others world wide. There's a perfect example of how ignorant people can be. Some may picture that Disneyland World Map and believe that America is the ultimate place with everything. Seeing so many igloos in Canada on that map is just embarrassing. FYI to all Americans who believe Canadians live in igloos - we don't. We live in houses that look very similar to your houses. Cold Canada is you say? FYI to all ignorants out there - more snow falls every year in Buffalo, NY than in Toronto, Canada in 3 years. That's right, you hardly get any snow in Toronto.
Any takers?
<going back to watch "The Patriot", with Mel Gibson>
I didn't wanna bring this up from my own personal experiences but since the audience asked
.About 2 years ago I traveled to Concorde (sp?), NY, for 1 week of vacation. It's a great hotel at a big lake. Nice and quiet place to rest
. During my time there, I encountered an elderly married couple (guess between 58-68 years of age) in an elevator. They smiled at me and I smiled back at them, but then the woman asked me where I was from. I replied, Toronto, Canada. "Ohhh Canada" - she said. "You must not have places like these up in Canada as I se many Canadians travel here." I smiled and said, "No, maam. And we drink blubber oil, too." My floor was up, so I said good night and exited.You be the judge.
Another example was in Disneyland in Florida. There's a huge world map and of course, Canada is included but is all detailed in snow and igloos. Many small kids pass is by and where do you think they may get their world education? They see hundreds of monuments throughout the USA on the map, and only 3 others world wide. There's a perfect example of how ignorant people can be. Some may picture that Disneyland World Map and believe that America is the ultimate place with everything. Seeing so many igloos in Canada on that map is just embarrassing. FYI to all Americans who believe Canadians live in igloos - we don't. We live in houses that look very similar to your houses. Cold Canada is you say? FYI to all ignorants out there - more snow falls every year in Buffalo, NY than in Toronto, Canada in 3 years. That's right, you hardly get any snow in Toronto.
Any takers?
<going back to watch "The Patriot", with Mel Gibson>
Nah, if you would have said something like "they are 25 years behind" or "they have a 29 hour work week" or "unemployment is much higher" you would have been ignorant...
I have lived about half my life in europe (Sweden) and half my life in the US and i can tell you that there's not much of a difference for the average person, in europe, we have our cars, houses (or apartments), computers, television with sattelite, cell phones and all that stuff... it's about the same... we eat well, work 40 hours a week, got day care for our kids...
We bbq, we go to beaches filled with fat people, just like in the US, we drink smirnoff, JD, french, italian or californian wines, budwiser, dr pepper, coke, pepsi or whatever we feel like....
The difference for the average individual is very small, but the difference for the very rich or the very poor is huge... i prefer the swedish system... but that is just my personal opinion...
If that makes me ignorant and arrogant... then so i am...
But unemployment IS much higher. Plus in Sweden you are mugh more likely to be a crime victim than you are in the United States. Your income is also on average only 2/3 of an average American's income, and you pay 55% of your income in taxes. I can show you the facts, but you obviously wouldn't believe them.
Yep, not to mention the fact that the European capacity for action instead of bitching is about as great as their capacity for lowering unemployment and reversing the 29 hour workweek.
Here in 'socialist' Canada (at least in Onterrible) we have a 60 hour work week. So in your face America .. we are better than you
Here in 'socialist' Canada (at least in Onterrible) we have a 60 hour work week. So in your face America .. we are better than you
The "national" center for policy analasys
Scipionix, tell me about the NCPA please .. their board of directors reads like a 'who's who' of wall street for chrissakes.
<DIV class=i>
<DIV class=i>
<DIV class=i>Thomas W. Smith, Managing Partner of Prescott Investors
John C. Goodman, President, NCPA
Pete du Pont, Richards, Layton and Finger
James Cleo Thompson, Jr., Chairman of the Board, Thompson Petroleum Corporation
Jere W. Thompson, President, The Williamsburg Corporation
Dan W. Cook III, Senior Advisor, MHT Partners
Virginia Manheimer, Trustee, The Hickory Foundation
Henry J. "Bud" Smith, Chairman The Trinity Forum
Michael L. Whalen, President & CEO, Heart of America Restaurants & Inns
The NCPA .. it seems to me, from what I've seen .. are just supporting their ideology, you can argue anything if you're smart enough, you can find "facts" to support any argument or any side. I don't pick sides, I pick my side .. united states of ME ...
</DIV></DIV></DIV>
Scipionix, tell me about the NCPA please .. their board of directors reads like a 'who's who' of wall street for chrissakes.
<DIV class=i>
<DIV class=i>
<DIV class=i>Thomas W. Smith, Managing Partner of Prescott Investors
John C. Goodman, President, NCPA
Pete du Pont, Richards, Layton and Finger
James Cleo Thompson, Jr., Chairman of the Board, Thompson Petroleum Corporation
Jere W. Thompson, President, The Williamsburg Corporation
Dan W. Cook III, Senior Advisor, MHT Partners
Virginia Manheimer, Trustee, The Hickory Foundation
Henry J. "Bud" Smith, Chairman The Trinity Forum
Michael L. Whalen, President & CEO, Heart of America Restaurants & Inns
The NCPA .. it seems to me, from what I've seen .. are just supporting their ideology, you can argue anything if you're smart enough, you can find "facts" to support any argument or any side. I don't pick sides, I pick my side .. united states of ME ...
</DIV></DIV></DIV>
do you see the difference there... do you honestly think that you know better than i do what i pay in taxes??
That was all there was said about sweden at all... sooo... however, it did say that the VICTIMIZATION RATE was higher in Sweden... look it up if you do not know what it means...
would you please quote from WHERE you got your info? i can't find it...
Just stop it, dumbass. I come from Sweden so listen up.
The average man DO NOT pay 55% income tax. It's ~30% and only higher if you earn lots of money.
Yes, the average income is higher in the US, BUT, here in the US YOU have to PAY for your own helathcare, and for University studies. You do not have any kind of support if you get unemployed. In Sweden you get 75% of your salary for up to 300 days and during this time you have to actively seek another employment.
For example insurances are much cheaper. If you add things up the extra money you might earn in the US is kind of fictional because you have to spend it on things you need anyway.
Unemployment goes up and down just like anywhere else so you can't trust an online webpage for that.
Crimerate, hmm, well at least people are not allowed to carry guns like here.
The average man DO NOT pay 55% income tax. It's ~30% and only higher if you earn lots of money.
Yes, the average income is higher in the US, BUT, here in the US YOU have to PAY for your own helathcare, and for University studies. You do not have any kind of support if you get unemployed. In Sweden you get 75% of your salary for up to 300 days and during this time you have to actively seek another employment.
For example insurances are much cheaper. If you add things up the extra money you might earn in the US is kind of fictional because you have to spend it on things you need anyway.
Unemployment goes up and down just like anywhere else so you can't trust an online webpage for that.
Crimerate, hmm, well at least people are not allowed to carry guns like here.
So now SnapIT simply says all my facts are wrong. As for both of you fine gentlemen, I said you pay 55% of your income in taxes, not 55% in income taxes. You are probably so stupid that you've never heard of the VAT.
I suggest you go there and find out the real facts.
All summed up I can say that I pay just as much tax here as in Sweden.
Edit: Added last comment
All summed up I can say that I pay just as much tax here as in Sweden.
Edit: Added last comment
Just stop it, dumbass. I come from the US so listen up.
The average man DO NOT pay 30% income tax. It's as low as 15% and only higher if you earn lots of money.
Yes, the average income is higher in the US, BUT, here in the US YOU have to PAY for your own helathcare or get a good job and get it as a benny, and for University studies which are usually subsidized. You do get support if you get unemployed. In The US you get some fraction of your salary for up to 16 weeks during this time you have to actively seek another employment.
For example insurances are much cheaper. If you add things up the extra money you earn a nd that what you save in taxes lets you afford better insurance. The Swedish healthcare system is kinda fictional because everyone gets the same govt care.
Unemployment goes up and down just like anywhere else so you can't trust an online webpage for that, but those webpage still report some of the lowest numbers in the US.
Crimerate, hmm, well at least people are allowed to carry guns to protect themselves if they need or want to.
The average man DO NOT pay 30% income tax. It's as low as 15% and only higher if you earn lots of money.
Yes, the average income is higher in the US, BUT, here in the US YOU have to PAY for your own helathcare or get a good job and get it as a benny, and for University studies which are usually subsidized. You do get support if you get unemployed. In The US you get some fraction of your salary for up to 16 weeks during this time you have to actively seek another employment.
For example insurances are much cheaper. If you add things up the extra money you earn a nd that what you save in taxes lets you afford better insurance. The Swedish healthcare system is kinda fictional because everyone gets the same govt care.
Unemployment goes up and down just like anywhere else so you can't trust an online webpage for that, but those webpage still report some of the lowest numbers in the US.
Crimerate, hmm, well at least people are allowed to carry guns to protect themselves if they need or want to.
Originally posted by: gplanet
sciponix
that's not my opinion, but apparantly it's the opinion of George W. Bush, the majority of Congress, and 91% of Americans
Being patriotic is a lot harder for people who don't match up with 91% of what Americans think is AMERICAN.
Hahaha, I gues we are duelling. But all summed up with federal tax, state tax, social security tax it becomes 30% and the data is taken from my paycheck.
The Swedish healthcare system is kinda fictional because everyone gets the same govt care.
And that regardless if you have a job or not. Same goes for studies.
How big is the fraction of your salary you get when unemployed?
The Swedish healthcare system is kinda fictional because everyone gets the same govt care.
And that regardless if you have a job or not. Same goes for studies.
How big is the fraction of your salary you get when unemployed?
Oh, i have heard of it, its called MOMS here in sweden, and you know... we do pay that... but.... that depends on what we do with our money... there are things that has no MOMS... so...
You KNOW that FACTS are not FACTS if they are not FACTS right?
Would you kindly quote where it says the things you claimed it said?
This is exactly what i mean by the so called patriotism... this is not patriotism... pointing fingers and saying "look, we are better than yooouuuu neener nee ne nee neeeee"
Real patriotism is being proud of your country, not putting down other countries...
US is a great nation, no doubt about that, i just think that sweden is a better nation to live in for me and my family... and that is why i am proud of sweden, THAT is what being a patriot is all about....
That is not true, there are a lot of private institutions you can choose from... the price is exactly the same...
I'm not saying that either system is better, it depends on who you are...
You really don't get it Scipionix, huh? People who are acting like you are the reason why many people around the world dislike Americans. Always, "bla bla bla we are so much better bla bla bla."
The U.S. is better in some things than Europe and Europe is better in some things than the USA.
Sigh.
Originally posted by: smp
Yep, not to mention the fact that the European capacity for action instead of bitching is about as great as their capacity for lowering unemployment and reversing the 29 hour workweek.
Here in 'socialist' Canada (at least in Onterrible) we have a 60 hour work week. So in your face America .. we are better than you
Yeah but that's like 60 hours Canadian which is only what 25 hours in real time?
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