My heart goes out to the rest of the world....
POSTED BY: kaneman
UPDATED: Monday, July 5, 2010 19:20
VIEWED: 3584
PAGE 2 of 5
Quote:
Originally posted by Magonsdaughter:
When I was at school, the kid who went around telling everyone how great he/she was, usually had problems at home.
Anyways, time to post THE map again.
I thought this map was perfect...then I saw "santa!!!" up top. Even Americans know that is were Eskimo's come from.....
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I love many things about living in America. Resources, freedoms, most of our legal institutions, access to mental healthcare (PN needs to look into it)
I think my real gripe is with American culture. A lot of the elements we have decided to emphasize about our society and to entrench ourselves in.
The way we condescend to other nations (see our charitable efforts and the piddling on that comes with them)
Our closeminded ignorance, and the association of that ignorance with "pride" that makes it self-sustaining. Also crime levels are a legitimate concern.
I wonder how our culture would be different if we made one major change. We didn't work so hard. Now now, just hear me out. I'm not saying we become a socialist nation, or any of that jazz that will chum the water for auraraptor and Wulfy, I'm saying look at Germany, England, many of our other friends in Western/Central Europe. They are industrious, they are effective nations, but as a people, they don't work themselves to the bone in the same way. They tend to take vacations (holiday) for longer than we do, they work a few less hours on average. And in return they live in smaller homes, have to be more choosy about luxuries on average. Maybe this makes me Un-American, but while I'm no anti-materialist that style of living appeals to me, the concept of peace of mind, and more time to enjoy my life is worth more to me than having a heart attack at 55, but damn it, I have that humvee in my 6 car garage. I don't know stats, but I bet mental breakdowns, depression, all sorts of thigns are less common in this environment.
Oh and the emphasis on education in those nations is different in a way that appeals to me (some of them not all), but that's a different rant for a different time. However, that does figure into my comment about ignorance. i live in Illinois, every European I've ever met can tell me what the capitol of Illinois is, I bet many Americans cannot, much less tell me the capital of the Czech Republic, or even know that there IS a Czech republic.
PN listed banes upon society, many of them imaginary, but several that are very true. And so many of those things could be medicated if the American public didn't have the kind of cerebral apathy we see.
We idolize football stars, aging rockers who feel compelled to find love on VH1 and a family of 2 beautiful sisters and 1 ugly one who contribute virtually NOTHING to society other than being rich and pretty. American values sometimes rub me the wrong way, and that's really what the rest of the Western world looks at us funny for.
Outside of the Western world, and in some of the poorer Western nations however, oh yeah, I'll stick to America thank you. Just try to be the change I wish to see in the world. Educated, open-minded. value family, friends and good memories more than money and do what I can to improve the world around me so that when I have a family, I can see they have a quality life, not just a well funded one.
"...we need a hood ornament..."
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Reenct, Work less...I like your style. There is a difference between ignorance and not giving a fuck. I hear people always saying "American ignorance". We Americans are not ignorant to the rest of the worlds desires or culture. We just know in our hearts that our way is better, thus we don't give a shit what a Frenchmen or Brit thinks or wants. I find it hilarious when "ignorance" is used to describe our collective "middle finger" to the rest of the world....but, if they feel better about the slight by saying we are ignorant....works for me
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I like the idea of not working as hard. 30 hr work weeks sound great to me.
Something sounds just as nice, and a whole lot more healthy...
Less income taxes. Now, hear me out..
5% to the local gov, and 5% to the National. No sales tax above 2%.
Try and imagine that.
If you make 30 grand... 3 grand is what you pay.
If you make 50 grand... 5 grand is what you pay.
100 grand...10 grand. And so on.
The rest is yours, free and clear, to do with as you see fit.
Im toying, also, with the idea that you cannot charge more than 40-50% above cost of production (to try and keep products reasonably priced...) but that violates free market principles.
How about that?
No more sliding scales, no more marriage taxes ect. Just 10%
AND, it wouldn't apply to savings, or investments. Only direct, earned income.
You could save your money, invest it as you saw fit, and not have to pay taxes on the earnings.
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I agree with Kaneman that we are very fortunate to live in America. But I would bet that the vast majority of citizens of foreign countries feel the same way about their country. I have just about everything I ever wanted out of life, and many things I never imagined I could have....but does all that make me happy? Not really....only love can make you happy, and you can experience love even in the poorest hellholes on Earth.
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Wulfie, as always, you're going to get bogged down in the details. You've already just said that you'd leave a giant loophole for the rich (investments, savings, capital gains). Why? What is it that makes you want to give the rich more, while taking more from the poor?
If you make $10,000 a year, 10% is a pretty big chunk of money. That means you have to decide which month you're not eating. If you make a million bucks a year, and you give up $100,000, you're not missing any meals. As such, this is a far harsher tax on the poor than it is on the rich.
Make that tax a flat tax on everything you accrue - interest, investments, capital gains, etc., every penny added to your overall wealth - and maybe we can talk. Or just go with a sales tax on everything that's not food. You buy something, you pay 10%. Buy a Hyundai, pay 10%; buy a Bugatti, pay 10%.
AURaptor's Greatest Hits:
Friday, May 28, 2010 - 20:32 To AnthonyT:
Go fuck yourself.
On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you.
Friday, May 28, 2010 - 18:26 To President Obama:
Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar.
Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.
... go fuck yourself, Mr. President.
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By not taxing investments gains, you encourage people TO invest. Better for the overall health of the nation.
Now lets say you ARE making 10 grand a year. Ok. Lets also say that you are never going to get a better job, never going to be promoted, never going to do anything else with your life than work a job that highschool kids do. Ok.
Thats rough. Considering that you would end up paying 1 grand over 12 months, which is less than 100 bucks a month and you couldn't eat?
Ok.. isnt that what homeless shelters, food drives ect are for?
People in American, believe it or not, are very generous. People here might be hungry, but I don't think they STARVE.
And, as an added benefit to my idea, it would cause folks to plan-ahead abit more about their life. Getting preggers at 16 probably isnt the best idea if there is no welfare to keep you floating. Raising children on your own? Probably ALSO not a good idea.
The benefits for the many outweigh the costs for the few.
Yes, in this rare case, I am channeling Spock.
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Reenact
I don't care for the public institutions of this country. I like the rights the citizens used to have, I'm not sure that they still have them. The best things about this land are the land, and the people. The people who tend to know where the Czech republic is, and what it's capital is, which i think is pretty much everyone, in spite of the fact that our education is pathetic, even though it is more or less on a par with that of the Czech republic.
The problem with patriotic rhetoric is that it leads to jackboot licking. You have two boots to choose from, left and right. When I lo at the things I like about this country, they almost always turn out to be things done by private citizens, often corporations, and seldom by the govt, except in research labs. Often, also, they're things that come from universities.
The country and its govt are not the same thing. Im not sure what you meant about legal institutions. I'm pretty sure they all suck. Ive spent three years in the mental health services offered here, they resoundingly suck and are based on total ignorance of the topic. Pirate news is no insane, he's faking. I think he used to me, but has whethered thaf storm. So haven't we all. Oh, and my sympathy to those who haven't yet...
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Magons
The map is missing India, they solve our computer problems.
It's also missing Africa. Maybe that was intentional, but really Americans know a fair amount about African, and not just the portion who are African Americans. I think you want to put something here like people are in trouble here.
You also left out the UK, ironically. I think that they fit into the american consciousness, as does Israel " allies.." also, you might want to add in the BP oil spill, that being about the same size as England ;)
ETA: John has a point.
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Quote:
Wow, you thrive on your blindness. I’ve BEEN to other places in the world... and...well, here:
Much of the world pays $10-cents/gallon for gas...full service
Nation, City, Price per us gallon
Netherlands, Amsterdam, $6.48
Norway, Oslo, $6.27
Italy, Milan, $5.96
Denmark, Copenhagen, $5.93
Belgium, Brussels, $5.91
Sweden, Stockholm, $5.80
United Kingdom, London, $5.79
Germany, Frankfurt, $5.57
France, Paris, $5.54
Portugal, Lisbon, $5.35
Hungary, Budapest, $4.94
Luxembourg, , $4.82
Croatia, Zagreb, $4.81
Ireland, Dublin, $4.78
Switzerland, Geneva, $4.74
Spain, Madrid, $4.55
Japan, Tokyo, $4.24
Czech Republic, Prague, $4.19
Romania, Bucharest, $4.09
Andorra, , $4.08
Estonia, Tallinn, $3.62
Bulgaria, Sofia, $3.52
Brazil, Brasilia, $3.12
Cuba, Havana, $3.03
Taiwan, Taipei, $2.84
Lebanon, Beirut, $2.63
South Africa, Johannesburg, $2.62
Nicaragua, Managua, $2.61
Panama, Panama City, $2.19
Russia, Moscow, $2.10
Puerto Rico, San Juan, $1.74
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, $0.91
Kuwait, Kuwait City, $0.78
Egypt, Cairo, $0.65
Nigeria, Lagos, $0.38
Venezuela, Caracas, $0.12
NONE of them pay ten cents a gallon, and most of them pay more than we do. That’s so easy to debunk, it’s hardly worth it. When you say something that stupid, I stop reading right there. Where DO you get these ideas, or do you just throw them out there to be an ass?
Freedom and a sound work ethic, eh, Crappy? Yeah. Oh, I’ll hit that one, happily. Only I’ll give you why Americans FEEL superior (of which you are the best example I know):Quote:
Americans look around the planet and see themselves as the last remaining super power, the nation with the most wealth, the most extensive military. They see themselves as a model, a country that everyone should both respect and emulate. Each day we are becoming more and more a nation characterized not by idealism but rather by arrogance. It is exactly this arrogance that can keep us from achieving the real international leadership to which we feel called. The first step back from this dangerous precipice is to recognize why Americans feel superior.
1. Geography. Because Americans live in their own hemisphere which they have dominated since the Monroe Doctrine in the early 19th century, they have had the liberty to live a very isolated existence. They have as a result not just physically, but also emotionally , distanced themselves from the rest of the world.
One reason why Americans feel superior is because our geography has so long protected us from reality. There are other powers on this earth that can do us harm. Unless we experience our own vulnerability we will continue to be insensitive to the daily suffering of people around the world
2. American Superiority in Battle. World Wars I and Ii gave Americans the feeling that there was no foe capable of besting us. Our success in turning the tide and playing a decisive roll in the winning of those wars gave us a sense military strength beyond that of any other nation. We have believed for generations that when we step into a battle we automatically change the context of that battle. We see ourselves as the decisive force capable of winning the day. Somewhere along the way our very real military power began to be seen as always having the right answer to every problem. Internationally that attitude of arrogance has cost us friends and allies.
3. Wealth. We are such a wealthy nation and so much of our own domestic pecking order has become based on wealth, that we have begun to see our wealth, too, as being equivalent to knowledge. In our international relations we too often proceed as if having unprecedented wealth makes us ipso facto the intellectual super star of the international community. Wealth can be impressive and flashy, but even in small circles wealth never guarantees that you are correct.
Americans have heard for so long about how wealthy we are. We have wrapped ourselves in our material possessions. We consistently want more, of everything. All that
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