COMMENTS:
Well, growing up in a rather run-down, poor area, I still like our system. It is more of a "survival of the fittest" system than others, which I happen to like. It rewards those who take the time to better themselves and leaves the others behind. Now, it's not even close to perfect, as some of the problems you suggested point out.
We would do a lot better if the government and it's agencies weren't controlled by criminals.
America would be number one probably if it put a small percentage of it's military funding into the public sector. i bet some of those Nordic democracies dont have the problem of Asylum seekers or over crowding straining their economys or have to put more money than others into the EU coffers.
by isay on Fri Apr 15, 05 9:47am
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but :( but.. it takes a lot of power to protect so much power. And that's waayy more important than silly education or the useless environment- only stupid hippies would care about that crap.
by Jyl on Fri Apr 15, 05 11:22am
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I think it will all change when hydrogen becomes world currency and not oil. Just imagine what our world would be like where there will be an endless, abundant supply of hydrogen, and all those rich Middle Eastern Oil Sheiks will be selling their BMWs for a camel and a few bags of salt.
but.. it takes a lot of power to protect so much power. What sort of horse shit is that?
You said it, it seems some education was wasted.
by isay on Fri Apr 15, 05 12:09pm
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Using Bush logic, to make our nation even greater, we to drive our rankings even lower!
There seems to be a positive correlation betweenquality of life and vodka.
1. Denmark-Friz Vodka, the only freeze distilled vodka in the world. It's not Grey Goose, but it's close and less expensive.
2. Iceland-Polstar Premium Vodka, overpriced at about $40.00 a bottle, but delicious.
3. Finland--Finlandia, never tried it,but it's rated very good/excellent.
5. Norway--Thor's Hammer Vodka, it doubles as paint thinner and degreaser. Cool name though!
You keep making these anti-American ballots, why? To be fair, France's system sucks right now, that's what happens when you've got a socialist government
by aya on Fri Apr 15, 05 12:49pm
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Income equality is a better measure of how good a job a government has done in removing merit as a basis for advancement. Child poverty is defined differently by each nation, if our definition was applied to all countries, Europe would come up behind us. If a particular European definition was applied to all, we'd still come out on top. What public institutions are considered? Most of them shouldn't exist.
" Child poverty is defined differently by each nation, if our definition was applied to all countries, Europe would come up behind us." I seriously doubt that
by aya on Fri Apr 15, 05 2:54pm
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But, but ,but ,but... America must win...because we're AMERICANS!!!!
America has better entertainment and better military.
I was born into a poor family. Yes, poor. But I still like our "competitive" system.
THe American socio-economic system is still locked into "trickle-down" mode, thanks to Mister Reagan, but anyone who lives the American Dream right now knows that. Nothing wrong with competition in a free enterprise system, but the playing field has to be somewhere approaching level. And NO, this is NOT an endorsement for socialism or communism.
"if our definition was applied to all countries, Europe would come up behind us." *translation* America couldn't possibly be in the lead, in a negative way. I'd address Danni's point, but I haven't stopped laughing at her yet :o)
aya- this is not anti-americanism, I have already stated that it isn't in the ballot. HOWEVER, I will not deny that some of my past ballots were anti-american, but anti-americanism is something I no longer want to have. This ballot was created with zero animosity towards America. This is not an emotionally charged ballot, it is a practical question of socio-economic systems.
Eurotrashia, I just watched a film (doucmentary) about the Belgian Congo.
In one scene, a Congolese historian goes into an Brussels chocolate shop and purchases a bag of chocolate that are in the shape of hands.
Keep in mind that the great Belgians wanted hands of blacks murdered by Europeans cut off so that they could verify that the bullet was used in the murder. Only sometimes the soldiers used bullets to hunt animals, and then just cut the hand off some random black to justify their bullet use.
Pretty sick.
But about your polls, who gives a shit. The poeple of Europe sit around while thousands are killed under the leftist regime of Milosevic.
These fake polls never talk about quality of life other than some lame aniseptic version of the world which they define to benefit themselves and to show themselves how great they are.
Yes, Europe is great and that is why on a warm summer day at least 15000 people died.
What a great society. Sign me up.
I have a Canadian friend that broke his wrist and went to get that great healthcare. he was told to come back in 9 months. when he returned they broke his wrist and then set it.
What a great thing socialized medicine is.
Sign me up for old people dying and having my wrist broken twice.
aya
You're wrong.
IC
We're certainly leading in some negative areas but these aren't them.
You know, I've read on here and other sites, some really interesting "statistics" and "fact" about the US. Some of the claims America's detractors make are almost absurd. I am not saying this ballot is, because it is not and this ballot poses a very important and relevant question. If you will indluge me, I'd like to post an actual fact, just to set the record straight. I learned some starteling facts last week when me and some others from my school were invited to attend a lecture by leading economists around the world the speeches were held at a major university in NY week. It was really eye opening to me. Here is a brief synopsis from the materials:
G7 Economic Assessment
Published on 3/16/2005
The United States
The world economy (2004 GDP figures) is $59 trillion. With its population nearing 300 million, the U.S. accounts for $12.4 trillion of the world’s economy. The U.S. economy is roughly equal to the next three largest economies (China, Japan and India) combined. Those three countries have a population of about 2.2 billion, which is seven times the U.S. population.
The U.S. produces a little more than 21 percent of the total world GDP ($59 trillion) with less than 10 percent of the total world population. The U.S. continues to outpace the next 3 largest economies in real GDP growth per annum and showed growth in every major category, including: manufacturing (5.9% growth), agricultural production and export (8.7% growth), aero-space advancement, equipment and research (7.3% growth), fuel production, including oil (10.5% growth), electronics production, industrial (12.2% growth), electronics production, consumer (9.4% growth), military equipment manufactured (10.1% growth).
The U.S. imports $1.165 trillion in goods and services. In comparison, German imports equal $687 billion. The U.S. and Germany are the world’s two largest importer and exporter countries. However, in relation to what it produces, U.S. imports are the equivalent of roughly 9% percent of its GDP, while German imports are equal to 22 percent of its GDP.
U.S. exports equal $992 billion and German exports equal $508 billion. Often not realized is that the U.S. is the largest exporter in the world. Chinese exports equal $325.6 billion or about one third the numbers of the U.S.
In terms of offshore outsourcing, it is estimated that the U.S. sends $32 billion in GDP value to other countries but takes in $58 billion in outsourcing from other countries. It is one of the bright spots in the import/export picture for the U.S. netting a positive or surplus return. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has just begun attempting to track these statistics.
Within the last three months, there have been approximately 900,000 new jobs created within the U.S. This is a rate of about 3.6 million jobs annually, which is approximately 1.6 million more than what was lost in the recent recession. It is also apparent that new entrepreneurship flourished during 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Energy
Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest oil producer at 8.771 million barrels per day. The U.S. is the world’s second-largest oil producer at 8.054 million barrels per day.
Russia is third and is followed by Iran, Mexico, Norway, China and Venezuela. Canada is No. 10. Only two of the top ten 10 are in the Middle East. Kuwait and Iraq (Iraq figures may be less-than-last reported) combined, equal only a little more than half the U.S. daily oil production.
Oil consumption is the reason for U.S. foreign oil dependence. With about 5 percent of the world’s population, the U.S. consumes almost 26 percent of the world’s oil.
The U.S uses 19.65 million barrels per day, which is more than double what is produced. However, the United Nations report on World Energy estimates that untapped oil deposits within the United States are among the highest in the world and at full production, could produce and additional 10 million barrels per day, for 20 years. Other foreign oil-dependent countries are Japan, China, Germany, Brazil, South Korea, India and France. Non-Middle East countries that produce more oil than they consume are Canada, the U.K., Russia, Mexico, Venezuela and Norway.
ps. Euro, so that I'm clear, I agree with you. The US, as many western nations, need to start being so greedy and need to focus on education, healthcare, housing, jobs, cultural development and the like. I agree. The US needs to focus much more on people and less on corporate profits and arms. It may not seem like I feel that way sometimes by what I post, but I do. I love the US for all its good and bad, but I also want to be a good citizen and voice my opinion that we are not on the right track under Bush.
*obviously I meant STOP being so greedy :) Also, when it comes to social programs, so I am clear on this too: I support more dollars for social programs and not for arms! I'd rather see a poor family fed than have a new tank.
pene_palmada- I agree with you that the past European imperialism (such as the Beligian Congo) was disgusting.
pene_palmada- your comment is full of bitterness and anger. Discussions of politics can be discussed calmly without the need for anger. There is no point in unnecessarily disturbing your inner-peace... Be happy.
Ah the new age discussions of inner-peace solving all problems.
You may judge my posts as bitter, arrogant, stupid or whatever.
I would think that a vociferous response to the leftist nonsense spewed by you and others is so offensive to you because you advocate the feminizatin of men.
Were you surprised that the Catholics elected a Catholic Pope?
Were you hoping for a new age false prophet?
pene_palmada- Buddhism and Taoism are not 'new age'... they are old... very old.
'leftist nonsense'- Actually I think the left is much to loud-mouthed to be associated with the gentleness of Buddhism or Taoism.
Catholic Pope? None of my business, I'm not a Catholic anymore.
Feminisation of men? What is 'feminine' and 'masculine'? Surely, I agree that men and women are not exactly the same- it is simple biology. There are differences in behaviour between the two. But these differences are grossly exaggerated by social construction.
What is 'feminine' and 'masculine'? 'Feminine'= still and peaceful? 'Masculine'= active and war mongering? From my point of view this generalisation, which is a mere Western cultural construct is incorrect. I don't label different qualities and say that is 'mascusline' or that is 'feminine'. When you speak of 'feminisation', from my point of view you are merely referring to a Western social construct. To propose that peace and compassion are restricted to females only is not true in my opinion and it is degrading to men everywhere.
And I don't judge your posts as being stupid. I do get the impression that there is animosity from you (keeping in mind that it is very easy to get the wrong impression with the use of text alone) that the issues upset you. And I reinforce what I said earlier, being upset is wasteful and useless, it is best to be happy- using whatever religious doctrine or philosophy that you see is best.
And just to make things clear, I am not 'new age', I do not follow that stuff. I am also not a hippy- I believe they are too self-indulgent and lazy. My religion is a blend of Buddhism and Taoism, and I do not expect everyone to embrace what I believe. I have chosen my path, everyone else is to choose theirs. You can ridicule my religion but it doesn't bother me.
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