What is wrong with Americans?

[keithbj]

Typical of people in the US.

Call me stupid. Call me selfish. But....
I didnt come from a rich family. In fact, I am first generation American, as my parents are not from America. My parents worked their asses off all their lives, and continue to do so, so me and my brothers can make something of ourselves.

Im currently working my ass off as well. I have a part time job, go to law school and make good grades, so that one day, I will be able to live a better life and not have to struggle.

So call me stupid, and/or selfish when I say I dont want to pay sky high taxes that'll keep me from enjoying my money all so that some dumb, couchi sitting, babymaking bitch gets to reap from my efforts.

 

[keithbj]

Just wish the US would keep to there own business. And stop telling the world what do to. The US is just like its history the wild west and land with a high percentage of country bumpkins.

Keep your joe the plumbers. Only in the US would this have taken off. God help us.

 

[neruda]

I knew

you're usually taught such basic things in high school

Actually American High School standards are quite a joke. Honestly.
I'm sincerely hoping Canadians kids do a little bit better.
Aside from that most citizens most places really don't know the official names of either China or Taiwan.

I guess Americans get touchy 'bout most things socialist because they're kind of brought up that way. Being reminded every second of their lives that they're the best....and NOT socialist.

 

[hotcbr]

Get your facts straight.
Japan is the largest aid provider in the world. In fact it is 6 times higher than the US.

Sorry, you need to get YOUR facts straight or post a reference to your source: In 2007 -- IN FACT, Norway gave the most as a percentage of Gross National Income (0.95 %). Japan is WAY down the list at 0.17% with the US at 0.16%. If we're talking about total dollars, then nobody comes close to the US with $21.2B in 2007 (Second was Germany with $11.0B with Japan coming in at $7.8B). It WAS true that, since 1992, Japan gave the most, but that changed in 2001. Here's the source:

http://www.globalissues.org/article/35/us-and-foreign-aid-assistance

 

[Telstra]

Can someone answer me this question. What is wrong with you Americans? Why are you so against socialism? There is a difference between a socialist country and a communist country. You yanks talk like it's the same at the former communist systems of the USSR and Eastern Europe. It is difference!
Countries with socialist policies:
Denmark
Sweden
Norway
Finland
Canada
France
Germany
Holland
Belgium
Republic Of China
Japan

These countries all have a very high living standard.
So what wrong with paying high taxes? Social programs don't pay themselves?
What's wrong with having free heath care?

other socialist countries:
Australia
New Zealand

 

[bluepheonix]

This is exactly why I will never be a very strong capitalist.

If foreign airlines are allowed to provide domestic services, our airline industry very quickly would go kaput; our entire domestic service would be covered by citizens of countries working for $1 a day.

This would set in motion a "race to the bottom", where no business in the industrialized world would be able to compete with those $1-a day nations. I fail to see how this could conceivably be a laudable goal.

Surely you have to admit that it is the height of hypocracy for america to go around the world telling people to open their economies and embrace free trade, whilst simultaneously practicing rigid american protectionism. Yea, the "$1-a-day nations" would beat the hell out of america labour wise, but there you have the comparative advantage so venerated by america's modern day capitalist teachings.

 

[Apollo]

I remember an experience I had in 2005 in Shanghai with an American from New York. I was walking on the Bund and some yank cam up to me and asked if I spoke English and could I help him find something on a map. I said yes sure. It was not until he said "I have a map here, but can not find China Town". For a second I thought he was kidding. I said "sorry can you say that again", he said "yes I'm looking for China Town". my response to him was "ahh this is Shanghai", he said "yes I know, but I'm looking for China town". I really thought he was kidding, but he was 100% serious. The only thing I could think was typical American. The world revolves around the US and they don't know anything outside the US.
Honestly I feel the US has the most un-educated population of any developed country.

Right, seeing how it is the US that has developed and invented some of the most important things in human history. You know, the air plane, the assembly line (mass production) standards of living and medicine. Despite how people get their health care here, we have the best and brightest doctors and surgeons here.

Oh, and lets not forget the two companies that deliver the operating system you type on right now. Whether it's Apple or Microsoft, they are both American, and they both have revolutionized the world essentially.

And how about Hospitals in general. We created that concept too. No less, through war, but now the entire world enjoys the luxuries of it. And the internet, whether it was an American or not who created the internet, it was us who brought it too a mass market so you can use it.

I think it is more you are an intolerant twat who is speaking out of his ass.

 

[Apollo]

Typical of people in the US.

It's called American individualism, this is what has made America great. We don't rely on other people to solve our problems, we see a problem, and we do it, or we try to do it. This is why we are a fucking super power.

But on the side note, this has been America from the beginning of our countries inception.

 

[kallipolis]

A bullet with a southern (United States) accent narrating a rather partisan version of American history might well disturb those Americans whose patriotic fervour knows no limitations. In other words this video clip is not recommended viewing for Republican Party sympathisers

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gQ68S9FI3A[/ame]

 

[wizardo]

Can someone answer me this question. What is wrong with you Americans? Why are you so against socialism? There is a difference between a socialist country and a communist country. You yanks talk like it's the same at the former communist systems of the USSR and Eastern Europe. It is difference!
Countries with socialist policies:
Denmark
Sweden
Norway
Finland
Canada
France
Germany
Holland
Belgium
Republic Of China
Japan

These countries all have a very high living standard.
So what wrong with paying high taxes? Social programs don't pay themselves?
What's wrong with having free heath care?

I've lived in or spent a lot of time in 5 of the countries you named. I have agreat many friends in those countries. Socialism is very expensive. Very, very, very expensive. Most Europeans pay an average of 125% higher personal taxes than the vast majority of Americans. On toip of this, their free medical system often fails them. You only need look north at Canada. Many Canadians wind up getting medical treatment in the US because of better doctors. Many Canadian doctors wind up in the US because in their country, their fees and salaries are set by the state. They cannnot make more than the state allows them to. In the end, socialism fails the public because it isn't universal. That would be Orwellian and intolerable to most Americans. In the UK, one need only look at the UK's wonderful world of socialized dentistry. It's considered one of the worst on the planet. These are only a very few instances, however, it's apparent that there is another fact to look at. If socilaism is so great and europeans so happy with socialism, why are they so damned envious of our standard of living? And how is it possible that ours is so high for so many when their system is so great? How can it be better if it depends upon ours?

Ask yourself this question. If Obama intends to throw away all of the Bush tax cuts BEFORE he institutes his new taxes, what is that going to mean? It will mean that you will be paying higher taxes. That is like the old raise prices and put it on sale gimmick used by retailes for centuries. If you will have the higher taxes before Bush restored and add the new taxes to that, you have higher taxes. To top that all off, what do you think the reaction is going to be among manufactureres and industrialists? They are going to raise the prices of the things you buy to make up for any higher taxes Obama imposes. That is called "trickle down effect". And you will be paying those higher taxes for them at the cash registers in the mall and the supermarket. And at the gas pump.

What's wrong with Americans? Maybe we're tired of political liars. Maybe we're not so willing to take a chance on change if change means paying out the ass for some socialist dream world that doesn't exist. Maybe 4 years of Obama sounds more like an eternity of grasping at straws. And listening to amn who was an absentee senator and a baby killer's best friend.

 

[kallipolis]

Point 1: About Canadian Socialized Medicine: This ignores one vital fact--if Canadians were so displeased with it, why haven't they voted it out?

Point 2: This is typical Republican propaganda. The UK might have the worst socialized dentistry, but the Germans--another "socialist" country--have arguably the best dentistry in the world.

Is it a prerequisite to be disingenuous to be a Republican?

This is just as much a myth, as Americans presuming that ordinary Britons speak with a cockney accent, and the privileged British elite all speak and act as Hugh Grant clones.

 

[kallipolis]

So when you see a hick living in a shack who votes Republican, remember that the capacity of the human brain to self-delude is truly vast.

Human beings do not have to reside in a shack to be self deluded.

There are numerous examples of materially privileged human beings, whose life is filled with the self deceptions that money, or the lack thereof, can buy.

Thus self delusion is as real among the under privileged, as it is among those who presume to represent the fountain of all wisdom.

 

[kallipolis]

I was just quoting the other poster. For my own part, I don't know much about the UK's dentistry practices, but do know about Germany's...

My observation was not aimed at you, but at the poster who presumes too much.

 

[wizardo]

The US government doesn't acknowledge the Republic of China. Hasn't for quite some time.

 

[neruda]

we have the best and brightest doctors and surgeons here.

Whether it's Apple or Microsoft, they are both American, and they both have revolutionized the world essentially.

I think it is more you are an intolerant twat who is speaking out of his ass.

Again very American.
And how do you run most of these hallowed institutions?
What's the education and citizenship profile of most of the staffing there and even the top management?
Take a look - you'll be a bit surprised and hopefully humbled....unless of course that little broken record player drowns out the voice of reason.
It goes "Im the best, I'm the best......"

 

[kallipolis]

You are right about that, Kall; money sure doesn't buy happiness or love, does it? (It might buy some material comfort.) However, this is beside the point.

It makes SENSE that a man of wealth would vote Republican, from a logical point of view; he has earned his $1million, and does not want to fork over any of his hard-earned money.

But it makes no sense at all that a poor man would vote Republican, does it? Everything they stand for is directly antithetical of his needs. They couldn't care less if his job is outsourced to India or China (that's capitalism, they say, and increases investment), or if he cannot pay $4 per gallon to drive his car, or pay exhorbitant fees to heat his home (free-market prices should stay free-market, they contend.)

It just amazes me.

Insecurities that are born out of a life of poverty will so often compel the poverty stricken person to support their deluded perception of strength, through support of those who promise to deliver less taxation, and less government intrusion into the life of the electorate.

The deluded masses are as likely to swallow the bait, when a more liberal candidate promises the largesse of Utopia as reward for their vote.

But I agree that the materially poor person is perhaps better served by government, that focusses on creating the optimum conditions for the human person to fashion their own pathway through their life. In this respect The Republicans and The Democrats can offer all that satisfies the dreams of the respective voter, so that they realise their dreams come true.

 

[wizardo]

You have swallowed--hook, line, and sinker--Republican propaganda.

The simple truth is that Welfare only consists of 1 or 2% of our budget. By contrast, the "big three" government programs are the Military, SS, and Medicare. I don't know what percentage of the budget these programs eat up but I believe it to be over 60%.

Someday, I hope research is done on the Republican brain. Republicans seem to hold their political feelings like some kind of religion---you can't get in even a crack...

I don't know where you got those figures from. The US government has spent $271.4 billion on welfare to date this year. The military budget for 2008 was $279.1 billion however, a very large segment of that military budget went for salaries to military personnel. A segment of the military budget also went for spending among public contractors and manufacturers who supply the US military. Your figures are somewhat misrepresentative. $271.4 billion sure sounds like a lot of welfare money to me.

 

[wizardo]

That's not true, Obama is going to cut taxes unless of course you make over $250,000 a year. If you're going to talk about his policies, have your facts straight. We wouldn't want you to look ignorant now would we?



Yeah, but not really. That's not exactly how it works, prices rise and fall because of demand.



Ahhh, another one of those people who misspeak about Obama, you guys are an entertaining bunch.

1)Wrong. Obama initially said he intended to roll back the tax cuts implemented by Bush. I have not heard him say at any time he has changed his mind on this point. Oh, and the actual ceiling on the tax amount now has been changed by Obama to a possible $75,000. Were you just not listening when he made this comment during the bailout crisis? He was finally called on just where the money was going to come from to implement all of his socialist programs and his reply was that he might be forced to "rethink his math" and that it just "might be that the ceiling may have to be lowered to $75,000," but that was ok since those people are rich and can afford it too in you Marxist estimation.

2) Yeah, really, it is. Demand is only a single facet in pricing. Overhead pays an even larger part in determination of eventual retail pricing. Prices rise and fall because of demand AND because of rising cost in materials and other overhead. Business 101. I have been a business proprietor for a long time and I can tell you right now that if my taxes go up, I will charge the customer higher prices to make up the difference in total profit. Anyone in their right mind would.

3) An, you Obamanistas are a smug bunch, but you really need to read something other than political propaganda. Oh, and I'm NOT a republican. I am a Democrat, and a Moderate. From a family of Democrats. All voting against Obama.

 

[keithbj]

I have been to the US many time and have to go for work and just can't stand it. The only nice Americans I've ever met are ones that left the US..

I go to the US 3 to 4 times a year for about 3 weeks at a time.

Calling him "some yank" just makes you seem hostile towards Americans in my opinion, lol. And you spout off endless stereotypes about a country you probably don't know anywhere near as much about as you fancy yourself to. You sound just like the Americans I hear talking as if people outside of America don't know anything. You have a lot more in common with so-called "yanks" than you think.

 

[keithbj]

What you said makes no sence. I said the US should keep out of other countries bussiness. IE Iran, Iraq, Ukraine, in the past the DPRK, Vietnam, Granada, China, Panama ect ect ect ect ect ect

And yet here you are, using an American based site...

Thanks for stopping by!