[OT] I hate being American

[robert j. kolker]

Jeffrey Turner wrote:

So that's your fantasy? Run up huge debts and then refuse to pay them
off? The American standard of living will plummet even faster, as
there's nothing produced in this country any longer. Not that things
won't be bad enough given the current vogue for misguided economic and
energy policies.

Our deficit as a proportion of GDP is quite manageable. We are much
better off relatively than during the administration of Lyndon Fucking
Johnson.

Bob Kolker

 

[Frank Bemelman]

"Perion" <RazroRog@hotmail.com> schreef in bericht
news:zqydnfVKD4EFYk7cRVn-qw@comcast.com...

[snip]

greed in the anti-American knee-jerk (emphasis on jerk!) babble, the fact
is,
American and Americans' generosity accounts for the vast majority of
"third-world" developmental and humanitarian aid that exists on this f'n
planet.

In your dreams.

--
Thanks, Frank.
(remove 'q' and 'invalid' when replying by email)

 

[Gactimus]

John Larkin <john@spamless.usa> wrote in
news:nm98t0l324e1c9a8355ut9tmrrjbg032e2@4ax.com:

On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 15:33:51 GMT, Fred Bloggs <nospam@nospam.com
wrote:


Not as a percentage of GNP we don't. This has been the accepted formula
as to share of aid, but the US backed out of using it, claiming that our
GNP grew disproportionately faster than any other, which is true. All of
our developmental and humanitarian aid is being scaled back because Bush
has bankrupted the government.

The government is not bankrupt. The defecit is huge because the stupid
dot-com bubble created enormous paper profits and subsequent tax
revenues, state and federal government ratched up their spending to
absorb it and then some, then the bottom fell out of the fake
prosperity. It all happened before 2002, when Mr. "It's The Economy
Stupid" was running things. Nice job, huh?

Also, Bush has been famous for
budgeting money and then refusing to spend it,

So he's bad for spending and bad for not spending. I get it.

Good because he sure doesn't.

 

[John Woodgate]

I read in sci.electronics.design that Gactimus <gactimus@xrs.net> wrote
(in <1104420898.eb8c37161c2b8c47f4a498360246e13e@bubbanews&gt about '[OT]
I hate being American', on Thu, 30 Dec 2004:

The United States dispatched disaster teams and prepared a $15 million
aid package to the Asian countries, and the 25-nation European Union
promised to deliver a mere $4 million.

That is completely incorrect. The British government has contributed
GBP50 million as of now, and the British public has contributed GBP20
million so far. Other EU countries have contributed around USD15 million
each at the last report I have. If there is a USD4 million figure
around, it's probably a contribution from the European Commission, not
the member states.

--
Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only.
The good news is that nothing is compulsory.
The bad news is that everything is prohibited.
http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk Also see http://www.isce.org.uk

 

[Reg Edwards]

"Jim Thompson" wrote

ROTFLMAO!

=================================

It's so easy to take the piss out of you naturally aggressive, enormously
overarmed with your weapons of mass destruction, and space-wars Yanks.

But the rest of the World can only take hope that the ordinary USA citizens
and voters will eventually see the cold light of reason and take control of
the war-like machinations, the continuous bombing of innocent populations
amounting to genocide, (indirectly of course) by the oil and energy
corporations, their bankers and their shareholders

Earthquakes do quite enough damage without even greater USA intervention.

Again, sincerely, best wishes to USA citizens for a prosperous 2005.
----
Yours, Old Reg.

 

In article <10tocmvn6vl823b@corp.supernews.com>,
"Everett Hickey" <everett@ev1.net> wrote:
<snip>

What other kind of hunting is there? There's bow hunting, but many people
don't like it either because of the skill involved,

There is bow hunting, black powder hunting and the doe season,
and the regular season. My relatives do all of the above
because it extends the deer hunting season. And they hunt for food,
not sport.

.. or the fact that people
would rather have the animal die as quickly as possible (nobody likes
having
to go up to a dying deer and deliver the coup de gras

Then they are not hunters.

.. up close unless it's
necessary).

Killing animals is not for the sqeamish. The PITA people have managed
to change the way animals are killed in the slaughter houses that
prevents draining of all blood. I have to finish all chickens
that I buy because of the squeamishness of people who have never
seen chicken shit.

<snip>

/BAH

Subtract a hundred and four for e-mail.

 

In article <GZ-dnZQq3N2e30HcRVn-hQ@speakeasy.net>,
russotto@grace.speakeasy.net (Matthew Russotto) wrote:

In article <0i1ot0tvc2ti7fkeqjsnjg4fikee2e3ntf@4ax.com>,
John Larkin <john@spamless.usa> wrote:

Stupid (or drunken) farmers tend to share the fate of bold (or
drunken) pilots.

I've never heard of a pilot chopped up by his own combine.

Sigh! They walked into the propellors.

/BAH

Subtract a hundred and four for e-mail.

 

[Charles Edmondson]

Franz Heymann wrote:

"John Larkin" <john@spamless.usa> wrote in message
news:suvgt0d7bvh61s4p9mdnr1r4vrrku9tpt7@4ax.com...

On 2 Jan 2005 15:00:55 -0700, fburton@nyx.net (Francis Burton)

wrote:

[snip]


The reality is that in the US we are healthier,


According to our papers, you are a nation in which the wealthier are
suffering from widespread obesity whilst a very large proportion of
your population is ill-nourished.

Yep, ill-nourished. They eat too many big macs, drink too many cokes,

and don't eat enough fruit and vegetables. Of course, this has nothing
whatsoever to do with poverty, or under-fed populations, since while we
do have SOME of that in the US, it is a very small problem, often
dealing with other problems such as drug dependency (mommy spent all her
money on drugs, rather than on formula) or abuse rather than poverty.
Our success has its own set of problems.

more prosperous,
safer, and wealthier than we have ever been.


A minority , yes.
Go and study your own government statistics about the distribution of
wealth in your own country and come back when you have the facts to
hand.

[snip]

Franz


Yep, we have a government that has to keep re-formulating what is the

poverty level, since too many of our populace keep not needed the
government aid they use to buy votes. It is a sad, sad problem...

--
Charlie
--
Edmondson Engineering
Unique Solutions to Unusual Problems

 

In article <vcbacrq36vy.fsf@beta19.sm.ltu.se>,
Torkel Franzen <torkel@sm.luth.se> wrote:

Gactimus <gactimus@xrs.net> writes:

With the exception of Christopher Reeves, who supported the harvesting
of
humans for his own benefit.

An observation of striking relevance to mathematics, physics,
puzzles, astronomy, electronics, and the world at large.

Yet it does demonstrate how cranks think. Given fact x produces
conclusion y where the relationship between x and y is that
they are letters of the alphabet.

/BAH


Subtract a hundred and four for e-mail.

 

[John Larkin]

On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 21:40:12 +0100, "Frank Bemelman"
<f.bemelmanq@xs4all.invalid.nl> wrote:

"Franz Heymann" <notfranz.heymann@btopenworld.com> schreef in bericht
news:cretjq$8s$8@hercules.btinternet.com...

"John Larkin" <jjlarkin@highSNIPlandTHIStechPLEASEnology.com> wrote in
message news:4q4jt05e85kftc6d2q0dufj64rt602joh8@4ax.com...
On Sat, 1 Jan 2005 08:29:52 +0100, "Laura" <laura@nospam.me> wrote:

Ah, but we have not scooped our brains out with a runciple spoon
like
the Nazis did.

Not all of you, but you, your president, and your kindred spirit
Daniel
Joseph Min evidently have, as have a staggering number of
bible-thumping,
snake-oil selling, shotgun-toting, racoon-shooting,
pickuptruck-driving,
inbred rednecks.

Racism comes in many forms. In the US nowadays, it is contempt for
the
working class by the coastal, liberal elites, who complain that the
inhabitants of flyover territory are "too stupid to vote in their
own
interests." As if the chattering-class Ivy League snobs had any idea
what the interests of real people actually are.

America used to love those things, but signs of right-wing
nationalism are
growing steadily. The president is a religious nutcase with the IQ
and
language skills of an 8 year old. His cronies are profiteers and
corrupt to
the very core, but with minds that work somewhat better, so they
can whisper
in little Dubya's ear what to do next.

Nonsense. W has principles,

Rather poorly defined principles which he has in all probability neber
enunciated to himself.

and that very fact drives many to rage.

Stop making excuses. You elected a dangerous fool as president and
you are suffering the consequences.

Brainless peasants watching Fox News. What can you expect?

Should you be referring to me, for the record I don't watch television
news. About the only TV I do watch is the occasional Masterpiece
Theatre, which is BBC stuff on the local PBS station.

But the "peasants" comment says a lot. We don't have "peasants" in the
USA, never did. Our farmers tend to be smart and rich.

John

 

[Franz Heymann]

"robert j. kolker" <nowhere@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:33tihcF45hk79U1@individual.net...

You mean if al Qaeda sent armed groups of thugs across Amerika to
kill
its political opponents that wouldn't be terrorism? I'm glad you
cleared that up for me.

No. It would be War. We should not treat al Quedah activities any
other
way than acts of War.

It is to be hoped fervently that you will win it more successfully
that you are managing to win your war in Iraq, even with British
"help".
Or Vietnam
Or Korea
Or Afghanistan

[snip]

Franz

 

[Franz Heymann]

"Clarence_A" <no@No.com> wrote in message
news:CjhCd.5885$5R.1334@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...

"John Larkin" <john@spamless.usa> wrote in message
"Clarence_A" <no@No.com> wrote:
"Franz Heymann" <notfranz.heymann@btopenworld.com> wrote in
"John Larkin" <john@spamless.usa> wrote in message
(Francis Burton) wrote:

[snip]
The reality is that in the US we are healthier,
According to our papers, you are a nation in which the
wealthier
are
suffering from widespread obesity whilst a very large
proportion
of your population is ill-nourished.

Chinese philosophy.

"If you believe everything you read,
better not read."

There are some over-weight, about 25% by some figures, however
the
medical people keep changing the weight tables. I was normal
for
my age and height, now I am 30 pounds over the new value they
have
decided on. Note that I also work out and have very little
belly
fat. My doctor said I shouldn't diet, I am not really over a
reasonable weight.

As to undernourished, I know there will always be some who
would
rather spend their money on drugs or booze than food, but food
is
not expensive here or in short supply. So besides the
"chicken
littles" I know of no significant number with any difficulty
obtaining food a plenty. If your income falls below a certain
level you get food vouchers, or if you over retirement age you
and
call a local number and three meals will be delivered free. To
be
undernourished you would have to be stupid or mentally ill
without
anyone to make the call for you.

Why do you think Illegal aliens cost us 25 billion a year?
Between food and medical costs it is a major burden!

Right. First-generation immigrants from poor countries - and we
have
tens of millions - drag down the median income. Their kids do
fine.

Without this vast amount of immigration, the social profile of
the USA
would be a lot different.
John

These are the criminal element! 22% of State prisons in CA, 18%
of state prisons in OR, large percentage in AZ and elsewhere! All
guilty of violation of Federal Regulations.

Yes, I agree, without them everything WOULD be much better!

Also pathetic. You used to do better

Franz

 

[Franz Heymann]

"robert j. kolker" <nowhere@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:33timbF45hk79U3@individual.net...

Everett Hickey wrote:


There is a higher level of obesity in the US primarily because of
the market
saturation with fattening food (often because it's what people
want the most
and find it hard to avoid when innundated with it), because of the
sheer
availability of food (for the most part it's cheap, and if you're
on low
income and eat cheap, it's cheaper than almost anywhere else in
the world),
and because even for the poor much of our work force is engaged in
sedentary
positions that don't work off many calories.

Those who care about their health eat healthy. Those who do not
sicken
and die. It is Darwinian selection taking place. Survival of the
fittest. Those who eat salads instead of greasy hamburgers.

Salads make you fart and have very little by way of protein.

Franz

 

[Franz Heymann]

"Gactimus" <gactimus@xrs.net> wrote in message
news:lrqdnTX-Sqrl8UncRVn-ow@rcn.net...

[snip]

If you regard it as percentage of GDP, then it's lowest of the
industrialized countries. Poor little Spain has promised more
aid to the tsunami victims.

With all their bitching, they're lucky they get anything at all.

You are a bloody disgusting piece of crap made in USA
You are so low that you could walk under the shadow of a snake's arse
with an umbrella over your head.

Franz.

 

[Richards Noah (IFR LIT ME]

"Gactimus" <gactimus@xrs.net> wrote in message
news:2Y2dnd2is6r44kncRVn-ig@rcn.net...

"Franz Heymann" <notfranz.heymann@btopenworld.com> wrote in
news:cr1u07$he3$1@hercules.btinternet.com:

"Frank Bemelman" <f.bemelmanq@xs4all.invalid.nl> wrote in message
news:41d453f9$0$6205$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl...

"Gactimus" <gactimus@xrs.net> schreef in bericht
news:stCdnSNiyuMl00ncRVn-gA@rcn.net...

"Frank Bemelman" <f.bemelmanq@xs4all.invalid.nl> wrote in
news:41d43f7b$0$6217$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl:

"John Larkin" <john@spamless.usa> schreef in bericht
news:nm98t0l324e1c9a8355ut9tmrrjbg032e2@4ax.com...

Also, Bush has been famous for budgeting money and then refusing
to spend it,

So he's bad for spending and bad for not spending. I get it.

He's bad because he is a war criminal.

I can see how a terrorist sympathizer like yourself could come to
that conclusion.

Drop dead, you miserable piece of shit.

I second that. He is precisely the kind of jingoistic prat who gives
the US such a bad name in international circles at all levels.

I see, but calling President Bush a war criminal is somehow "intelligent
discussion".

It is much more intelligent than calling somebody a terrorist sympathizer.

Calling Bush a "war criminal" refers to the actions of the American
military, of which Bush is the commander in chief. While he did support
that claim with facts, it is legitimate (and contestable) claim.

Calling somebody a "terrorist sympathizer" because they believe the above or
disagree with Bush is weak. Of course, the "drop dead" response wasn't
really necessary. More fitting would be something along the likes of "Oh,
crap. Somebody get the mop. Looks like Gactimus has spilled stupidity all
over the forum."

 

[Laura]

"robert j. kolker" <nowhere@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:33nh9tF42ms6jU4@individual.net...

Laura wrote:

America used to love those things, but signs of right-wing nationalism
are
growing steadily. The president is a religious nutcase with the IQ and
language skills of an 8 year old. His cronies are profiteers and corrupt
to
the very core, but with minds that work somewhat better, so they can
whisper
in little Dubya's ear what to do next.

Bullshit. THe administration has made it easy for illegals from Mexico
to stay and it is the Democrats who are shitting in their britches.

Bob Kolker

What republican home is complete without its own Rosita doing the cleaning
and cooking while José does the gardening?
Mexican immigrants are also great for businesses, being a source of cheap
labor. And, best of all, they are guaranteed not to be moslem.
A country can be nationalist and still have a lower-class immigrant
population, there to serve their masters.

 

[Mark Fergerson]

John Woodgate wrote:

I read in sci.electronics.design that Mark Fergerson <nunya@biz.ness
wrote (in <2kZAd.24799$Cl3.6946@fed1read03&gt about '[OT] I hate being
American', on Thu, 30 Dec 2004:

And we know why there are so many "Irish-Americans", don't we; look
how well your government treated the Irish historically, and treats the
few that remain.

That last bit is way off.

I take it you have no issues with the remainder of my rant?

Most of Ireland is a separate country, of
course, that has done very well indeed out of EU membership.

Why not all of it?

The
remaining problems with the Six Counties are now very clearly down to
the political representatives of the majority of the inhabitants, not
the British government. This is democracy at not-work.

Strikes me that's a problem for the Irish to solve. But
they won't solve it soon because of two other problems; they
have long memories, and some terrible things to remember.

The Reverend Ian Paisley has the same attitude as Yasser Arafat, and the
only solution may be the passage of time.

If it isn't solved ballistically first. But that would
just be another terrible (in some people's minds) thing to
remember.

Memories can be such good and bad things. Oh, well.

Mark L. Fergerson

 

[robert j. kolker]

That's why the Amerikans are picking on the Moslems this time?
Or all the complaints about "those damn immigrants"?
Republicans don't like immigrants, except when they need cheap
labor.

Who is picking on whom. It was Islamofascist terrorsts who came into our
house on 9/11 to do evil deeds. We are simply defending ourselves
against them.

And the thousands of Asians who came from Thailand, Cambodia and Viet
Nam were not imported as cheap labor. Many of them are quite prosperous
now and proving again that the U.S. is a land of opportunity to those
who are energetic and smart enough to seize opportunity.

Bob Kolker

 

[John Larkin]

On Sun, 2 Jan 2005 20:41:31 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
<notfranz.heymann@btopenworld.com> wrote:

"mc" <mc_no_spam@uga.edu> wrote in message
news:41d427dc@mustang.speedfactory.net...
Case in point: compare the US response to the SE Asian tsunami
disaster to
that of the nations that pitch the "Americans are a-holes" creed -

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11810352%255E1702,00.html
Check out France's embarrassing $175,000 national effort! They
sure put
their money where their mouth is - namely, up their own a**. It's
a damned
shame Singleterry and the rest of his ilk weren't born there.

In fact, amazon.com, on behalf of the Red Cross, collected US $2.6
million
for tsunami relief in voluntary donations (apparently almost all
from
Americans) in one day.

The Brits have been contributing privately at 1M UKP *per hour* for
nearly three days continuously now to one charitable fund only. I
have to confess that it is now beginning to drop. But there are other
funds as well..........

That is on top of the U.S. Government's "stingy" contribution
($35M?) and
the money coming through other U.S. charities.

That is out of date. The US government has at last been shamed to a
sufficient extent to have brought its contribution more or less into
the same ball park as those of other nations. But boy, did it take
some shaming!

Franz

That's absurd. The $35m was just for starters, when the extent of the
disaster wasn't known, and some fathead at the UN jumped the gun.
Meanwhile, Kofy Anan spent three more days skiing at Jackson Hole.

John

 

[Jeffrey Turner]

robert j. kolker wrote:

Old Major wrote:


Unless you work for a living.

People are managing.

People are borrowing heavily.

The growth of the economy is steady and the rate of
job production is rising.

The average number of weeks unemployed is climbing back towards 20 and
the mean number of weeks unemployed is climbing back towards 10. Even
three years after the "end" of the recession.

It is true we are not having a go-go decade
like during the 90's but the dot.com thing was all smoke and mirrors
anyway.

Things have been going downhill since '68 but when Reagan cut taxes and
borrowed like crazy to get a short term boost for the economy things
have basically been accelerating in a negative direction. Borrow and
spend, voodoo economics is the root of the problem. Bush is Reagan on
steroids but even with an annual deficit of half a trillion dollars the
economy isn't picking up very well. As fuel costs continue to escalate
because we're up against peak production and increasing demand from
China things are going to get increasingly worse. The '90s were kind of
like the Roaring 20s (including the repeal of Glass-Steagall) and this
decade is what followed with allowances for what remains of the safety
net. Bon voyage.

--Jeff

--
It is only those who have neither
fired a shot nor heard the shrieks
and groans of the wounded who cry
aloud for blood, more vengeance, more
desolation. War is hell.
--William Tecumseh Sherman

In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.
--Jose Narosky

The urge to save humanity is almost
always a false front for the urge to
rule.
--H.L. Mencken