And there you have itQuote:
Originally Posted by Guntz
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And there you have itQuote:
Originally Posted by Guntz
Bit sad for us in Australia, our dollar had the arse fall out of it. Before that folk were buying all sorts from the States. I know of a lot of guys who were buying car parts etc.
It also doesn't help that GE not only didn't pay any taxes last year but they got a 3.2 billion dollar tax refund from the government. I mean all of these big ass companies need is a good accountant and they are good to go. And look at our outrageous military spending. And some of these republicans say we shouldn't cut costs!? We spend more money combined than what the next to p 6 countries?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...y_expenditures
What the fuck is wrong with you conspiracy freaks? This shit is good for you, case closed. In the words of Al Gore, "The Debate Is Over!".Quote:
Originally Posted by Sega Genesis
I sell stuff to Australians on Ebay all the time. You guys are my favorite customers. That is sad to hear.Quote:
Originally Posted by omp
As I stated previously, it is a case of personal responsibility. Using your argument, the government should feed, clothe and house everyone.Quote:
Originally Posted by j_factor
It is my problem to take care of myself and my family. If I become incapable of doing this, that is where private insurance, extended family, churches and charities come in. Forced charity / compassion by the government is not charity at all but the forced servitude of those whose assets are being confiscated.
"If people let government decide what foods they eat and
what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in
as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under
tyranny."
Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can
prevent the government from wasting the labors of the
people under the pretense of taking care of them."
Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)
And yes, I do believe in following the constitution just as much now as when I joined the Navy and took this oath:
"I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."
http://www.blogdomassinha.com/wp-con...t-american.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by yuleeyahoo
Sorry, you totally set yourself up for this, I just had to do it.
Also your government already decides what medicines you take.
No, I never said anything of the sort. The government should provide a safety net, that is all.Quote:
Originally Posted by yuleeyahoo
It isn't correct to call it charity, forced or otherwise. Charity is giving to the less fortunate out of the goodness of your heart and getting nothing in return. It is in society's best interest for the government to provide a safety net. We all benefit, not just the recipients. This should be obvious. People who are starving and homeless are not going to be productive members of society. That's a drag on our GDP. Every dollar in government spending on food stamps generates $1.73 in the economy, for example. When someone who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford college is able to get a degree thanks to government assistance and goes on to become a successful scientist or businessperson or engineer or doctor or whatever, the benefit is clear.Quote:
It is my problem to take care of myself and my family. If I become incapable of doing this, that is where private insurance, extended family, churches and charities come in. Forced charity / compassion by the government is not charity at all but the forced servitude of those whose assets are being confiscated.
Those things you listed are clearly not enough. If they were, we wouldn't have the terrible problems we have with poverty and homelessness.
Nobody is proposing that the government do that. Except, of course, that medicines are restricted by FDA approval and the Controlled Substances Act. With all due respect to President Jefferson, he is a product of his time. He didn't know what we know about medicine. "Medicine" in his time barely even resembles medicine as we now know/understand it.Quote:
"If people let government decide what foods they eat and
what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in
as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under
tyranny."
Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)
I support the Constitution too, but that's not what I asked you at all. I notice you didn't respond to my other comments either. I'll ask again: Do you think we should dismantle all public education, OSHA, the FDA, Medicare, Medicaid, and S-CHIP?Quote:
And yes, I do believe in following the constitution just as much now as when I joined the Navy and took this oath:
"I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."
:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Kamahl
Public Education needs to be de-centralized, de-unionized and returned to the States and local school boards. The federal government has no authority over education.Quote:
Originally Posted by j_factor
Personally, we pay school taxes but elected to home-school our three children. The oldest graduates from UNF after the fall session with a B.A. in Psychology, which she paid for herself. The second oldest will be entering college in the fall. The youngest is only 12.
OSHA is a tremendous over reach by the Fed and a hindrance to business and workers.
Medicare & Medicade may be necessary for those who fall through the cracks, but; the programs need to be redesigned and drastically scaled back and run by the states not the Fed.
s-chip is unnecessary, heck I qualify for this one. This is another program that alleviates the need for the middle class to be fiscally responsible. With S-chip, the government picks up the tab for your kids health care so you don't have to be burdened with giving up cable, cell phones, smoking drinking etc.
Decisions have consequences. Too many people run around making bad decisions in their lives and then expect the government to take from those who live within their means and give to those who don't. It's sad really.
I wish the government would apply this logic to the Freddie Macs and Fannie Maes of the nation.Quote:
Originally Posted by yuleeyahoo
It's not good for my neighborhood's property values if people are dying in the street in front of my house. People should be allowed to make mistakes and still survive. The lack of a safety net discourages the taking of risks, which is bad for the economy. I also would rather not live in a society in which I can't walk down the street without tripping over a homeless person. You may have no concern for all the suffering in the world, and that's okay, but it will come back to affect you as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by yuleeyahoo
America was at its strongest economically when we were reaping the policies of the New Deal. In this era of low taxation and deregulation, our economy has gone down the tubes.
Wow, yuleeyahoo with hs opinions stands for everything I find undesireable and bad about society.
I would not even want to eat at the same table as a person with such opinions, itīs so much against everything I find good and right in this world.
What's wrong with giving these bankers a billion zillion trillion dollars when they screwed up. To big to fail. A bunch of shit. They just kept all of the money and became even more tight-fisted with their loans afterward not giving anyone a break. Fuck them. It would have costed a fraction that was spent to give every american one million dollars on condition that they payed all of their debt. Now the bankers are saved, the car industry saved, the economy saved.Quote:
Originally Posted by Iron Lizard
Similiar in Egypt with mubarak. He had enough money himself to save each citizen. He made about 70 billion over the years as ruler.
Too bad. I am actually quite the conversationalist and my wife's a great cook.Quote:
Originally Posted by 108 Stars
Isn't it though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Iron Lizard
Here's the, US Debt Crisis - 2012 is only for America
What emoting and I congratulate you on putting words in my mouth to build your strawman argument.Quote:
Originally Posted by j_factor
I'm sorry if it bothers you that I prefer to use charities instead of inefficient and corrupt government agencies to help people. I spend a lot of time and money on this while also being extorted by the fed to support its pet causes.
Since the advent of the "Great Society"; we have become more balkanized, fatter, less educated, more regulated, more taxed and achieved none of the goals the fed outlined when it decided to become everyone's mommy and daddy.
Once again, I am responsible for me and my family. If everyone else grew up, there would be no need for this conversation; much less this massive government intrusion into our lives.
"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government."
-Thomas Jefferson
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunderblaze16
Exactly.
One thing I don't get is why some people are getting worked up about the proposed law that would require ALL welfare applicants to submit to a drug test. I see no problem with it. Why should the government give you money(TAXPAYER money) if all you're going to do with it is blow it on drugs and shit that isn't necessary to survive(Escalades/BMWs)?
I submitted to a drug test when I was hired at my company so that I could EARN money. Why shouldn't they submit to a drug test when applying for FREE money? And how is it an invasion of privacy when you are on a GOVERNMENT program receiving hand-outs? My paycheck is being invaded when tax dollars are being taken out to support these programs which are being abused to no end.
http://jacksonville.com/news/florida...sed-stereotype
Because companies don't want you on drugs while doing work whereas applying for welfare doesn't involve that factor? Plus, just how many people do you know that actually abuse welfare? I'm sure there's maybe a handful of cases out there (like Chris-chan), but it's not that big of a problem so why waste money on a problem that isn't a big deal? All it does is just add to the hilariously out-of-whack stereotype of welfare recipients. You do know those welfare drug tests cause the government (or state government) to spend more money, right?Quote:
Originally Posted by Cornholio857
So I have to be drug tested to EARN money to live, but they don't have to get drug tested to do absolutely nothing and receive welfare? That sounds fair.Quote:
Originally Posted by ApolloBoy
From the article I linked to:Quote:
You do know those welfare drug tests cause the government (or state government) to spend more money, right?
Quote:
"When the law takes effect July 1, aid applicants will have to pay upfront for the drug test, which can cost anywhere from $10 to $70. The state will reimburse them if the tests come back clean."
It's still bad faith and plays into the ridiculous stereotypes of welfare recipients. Besides, not every workplace does drug testing. The only places I can think of that do drug testing are places like McDonalds and the like.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cornholio857
Look at this way, if you were a single mother who lost their well-paying job and had to apply for welfare, wouldn't it seem degrading that you'd have to subject yourself to a drug test like a criminal or even a burger flipper?
Perhaps, but if you were handing out money for people to buy food and such, wouldn't you want to make sure it's not being spent on someone's drug habit?Quote:
Originally Posted by ApolloBoy
Not saying it's right or wrong, I'm just giving the other side of the coin.
Not true, most every job(Burger Flipper to Information Technology) that I have ever applied to in North Florida require a drug test upon hire. The only company that I worked for that didn't was UPS. But that was almost five years ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by ApolloBoy
I could say that when I took my drug test to be hired that it was degrading . But I didn't. That was the requirement for the job and I accepted that. Also, I had nothing to hide.Quote:
Look at this way, if you were a single mother who lost their well-paying job and had to apply for welfare, wouldn't it seem degrading that you'd have to subject yourself to a drug test like a criminal or even a burger flipper?
looking at the figures i think the only way out for America at this point is massive overall tax increases and spending cuts, it may have a high chance of severe recession but i think its the only plan that could work. I believe what America is doing at the moment is not enough and will cause this world superpower too collapse, the average American i have ever spoken to about this seems to forget it has happened to every world superpower at some point.
That doesn't surprise me, the problem is that if the USA goes down, it's gonna hurt everybody else.Quote:
Originally Posted by doomguy
Shit like this is what happens when you make money something more than a means to exchange products and services.
When money had real backing shit wasn't so bad, the problem is that people seem to think we can go back to that, we can't, the economy moves too fast.
The only Americans that know or remember history are historians. The rest of the US thinks that History majors are a joke.
I think the term you want it power and not superpower. There have only been two arguably three superpowers. The USSR simply could not sustain itself but I don't think it has any comparison to the US. The UK if considered had much of its power was based on its empire, another comparison that i don't think fits the bill.Quote:
Originally Posted by doomguy
Believe it or not there are surprising amount of people in the Us that interested in history. I know many people who didn't go to school for history who can run circles around me. I think its lack of teaching history in school that brought about so many examples of this.Quote:
Originally Posted by sheath
:D hilarious way to shut down "The Edge" rant, lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Guntz
:rofl:Quote:
Originally Posted by Kamahl
Yes this is EXACTLY what I look like, and what most Americans look like. :D
But seriously, I DO know that our country is full of fat lards. Part of the problem is lack of fresh foods in poor areas, plus the easy availability of junk food everywhere. So basically, poor areas have limited access to lettuce and potatoes, but abundant access to CHEAP chips, candy, and soda from the corner store (hence diabetes and such skyrockets in poor areas). And we have so many bad restaurants everywhere, with nothing but junk food, but it's cheap and tastes kinda good, so there's an endless stream of cars pouring thru McDonald's, Taco Bell, KFC, etc. :yuck: Very few people appear to take the time and effort to buy fresh produce, then go home and cook. (Personally I love cooking.) Oh also, most Americans LOVE meat; I've heard they eat more than most/all comparable developed countries. So personally, I think a lot of health problems (including being overweight) come from eating way too much meat IMO...
As for how is it in America, generally pretty bad! Unemployment is rampant, plus the official unemployment rate somehow ignores many people who don't have jobs... So the # of folks WITHOUT A JOB is around TWICE the official unemployment rate... Almost 1 in 5 Americans don't have a job IIRC...
The US manufactures nothing while all of our products are made and imported from slave labor and sweatshop labor, in terrible conditions in China, Cambodia, etc....
I have lately been getting increasingly disappointed with Obama, who I did actually vote for...
I can't believe he allowed Bush's tax cuts to be renewed! When the right-wing complains of tax increases, they are mostly rallying against these unfair Bush tax cuts to expire AFAIK... The "increase" would be letting taxes RESUME to where they were, BEFORE Bush made up the damn cuts in the 1st place... I certainly DO believe in taxing the rich MORE than the poor! Fair is fair, for crying out loud. (I've personally been relatively poor my whole life, although I've been fine...)
The US is fractured and polarized politically and in many ways. :(
I was young back then, but the Clinton years seemed good, and he left us without a bad deficit AFAIK... Then Bush apparently ran the huge deficit with the launch of two damn wars, under questionable motives (i.e. oil and profit, apparently)... His tax cuts let the rich get richer, so I say f*** the Bush cuts, and I hope Obama still somehow closes them (despite allowing them to be renewed :( )
Also obviously, Bush's tax cuts resulted in a decrease of tax revenue for the government obviously, so with everything he did, no surprise he ran a huge deficit and launched the damn recession, for Obama to inherit it...
I hated Bush since before he was even (falsely) elected (the first time)! I did like Obama and voted for him, but I've become disappointed with him at this point... :( Everyone is still poor, there are no jobs... I used to love hearing him talk about advancing green industries, but IMO most Americans don't see this happening at all. We don't have green jobs, or ANY jobs. Those WITH jobs often have to move for their job at some point, and many settle for low-paying jobs.
"Obamacare" -- well I guess we'll see how it actually works, when it starts in 2013, was it? IMO people should just have medical coverage from the govt. for FREE, just like we get public education for FREE already, not to mention Medicaid and Medicare, who still only cover small fractions of the population.
So, disappointed w/ Obama so far, and I hope things change drastically. Also, he will most likely be re-elected, simply bc MOST presidents DO get elected for the 2nd term -- even Bush managed it (with his own manipulation), and he was literally the most-HATED president in U.S. history.
The Tea Party apparently launched unofficially with Sarah Palin and these guys make me sick. I blame them mostly for the terrible stalemate over the budget recently. Please no one attack me for my views, we all have diff. views. lol And I don't care what opinions people hold. I realize I'm on the "far left" of the population out here. Political affiliations seem to depend mainly on what geographical area and culture you happen to be born into here. The right lives from the "Bible belt," the South, the conservatives including conservative Christians. The left lives more in young people, more in poor people, and more in folks living in cities, as the farmlands hold the conservative Republicans. Democrats claim the more "open-minded" ones, like the folks supporting gay marriage, or abortion rights, the ability to smoke a plant without cops arresting you, etc.
So, the US is a strange place, but there are fractures and pockets of every type of person. :cool: Personally I dislike the Tea Party, I think they rose up simply bc Bush ran the country into the ground, and the right needed to re-invent themselves, hence John McCain and Sarah Palin appeared, and despite being retarded, she unofficially launched the Tea Party. IMO they make up all of their issues, such as the recent demagogue about the debt ceiling, as well as rallying AGAINST abortion rights, or against "big govt.", or against "tax increases," etc. Tea Baggers are a joke to many Americans, and we're painfully aware of the tragic comedy happening all around us. :(
the USSR was briefly a world superpower but due to corrupt leaders the economy really got fucked up and the whole thing collapsed and also due to all the power being based in Russia and the people in the other republics being treated like 2nd class citizensQuote:
Originally Posted by Iron Lizard
the British empire though spread all throughout the world on every continent all the power was based in England and the locals in the colonies practically treated like slaves
Here in my country our new leaders have an interesting way of making money, if you're poor you barely pay anything, if you're rich you lose like half of your christmas bonus for example, plus higher taxes of course.
Fair? No, but the rich can afford to pay while the poor don't. That's the end of that.
It's extreme but it'll help us pay our massive dept, which became even worse after the previous government did nothing but make investors lose trust in us. Our interest increased a lot because of those fuckers.
I'm honestly not seeing Obama having the balls to do something like this. It's kinda funny to see what's going on after his "at least we're not portugal speech".
Best of luck.
(All of your probably don't know but portugal was once a really powerful empire too, nobody talks about us though :p)
that would never happen or anything involving tax increases as long the Republicans have a majority.
Nonsense. The USSR was incredibly powerful with their super secret laser and mind control weaponry, always a mere step from total world domination and was only defeated single-handedly by the great Ronald Reagan, our Lord and Savior.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jesse813
Yes shut down. Oh wait, I responded after the fact and went unopposed. Your an idiot. Go make a crop circle.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ecco
Russia went bankrupt fight wars in afghanistan. Offcourse they were fighting the taliban which came about from the U.S. Osama Bin Laden working for the CIA as "Tim Osman" along side with zbigniew brzezinski under the operation code named "Al-Quaeda" to train, fund, and supply them with weapons to fight the russians.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jesse813
The sheer irony of this statement is delicious.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sega Genesis
Lucky for me I place zero stock in your opinions. Ignore on. It's a great tool on this site. Added you and ecco cuntz now I got 11 on it.Quote:
Originally Posted by ApolloBoy
Speaking of stocks...
I'm surprised there haven't been people throwing themselves out of highrise windows after the last week with the DJIA. -513, +60.9, -635, +430, -520... talk about a roller coaster.
After I'm done sweeping up the glass and cleaning up their blood stains I'll buy some. Last time I bought a crap load of Ford and made a killingQuote:
Originally Posted by The Coop