New Toy

[Dan Alexander]

Originally posted by John Lyon
That's absolutely true, Dan, and it can be scary, but more people are strong and long for that opportuntiy than one might assume in the abstract. Allowing people to realize their potential is real freedom (this was in response to what freedom does America have over other nations), and also yields a much higher productivity on average, which raises the tide for all boats.

Certainly true that in America one has the freedom to strive forward basically limitlessly. Where else can a man who makes computer software become the richest man in the world or where a woman who has an afternoon television show parlay that into becoming the richest woman in the world.

On the other hand what does it say about a society where all a woman has to offer is an afternoon television show and can turn that into become the richest woman in the world? Where basketball players live in palaces while most of their fans live in getto's? Where CEO's now make astronomical multiples of the daily workers salary, and without whom there wouldn't be a corporation?

The society of greed has taken over and I don't find it very attractive.

[Dan Alexander]

The disgruntled muslims who are rioting in Paris and around the world against America aren't doing it just out of religous differences and George Bush's inference that a democracy is good for everyone and should be exported no matter what. In France they see an economic disparity that thrives and feel that they have been held back because they are a less that welcome minority. Also, there is much anger against the US and the west as it is seen as the society of waste and priviledge. They watch movies and television shows and know that they will never be able to acheive a life anything like that.

[John Lyon]

Originally posted by Dan Alexander
Where CEO's now make astronomical multiples of the daily workers salary, and without whom there wouldn't be a corporation?

I agree with you on this one. I think one should only become wealthy when you create something new (like building and selling your own business), not as am employee. This is a club that needs an organized shareholder revolt (not the government) to break up. (As to the daily worker making a corporation possible, its true you do need labor, but a laborer does not create value that raises his standard of living beyond what it would have been in the middle ages. This progress is due to the rare innovators that advance knowledge and technology, and in turn, the standard of living for all.)

I also agree that much about the US culture is distasteful (TV has gotten horrible), but this goes back to what I said earlier about we are no longer worthy of our freedoms. However, perhaps a more enlightened view is that this is part of the price of freedom. If I, personally, am still free to do as I like, then the fact that sports players and other "unworthy" types are grossly overpaid, then like the worker in the vinyard, I shouldn't resent it.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by steve1
Yeah sure mate, but look at your statistics - Americans - shoot Americans......................We like Mike Moore in Australia......

Cheerio

You can have him for good. Keep the rest of the bleeding heart libs as well.

Oh yea, when the terrorists do the next bombing in Oz please do not call us for help, ammo or advise. You guys seem to know it all right ?

Someday everyone will realize that there is crime everywhere. Was just in the UK and several people were shot or held up with a gun while there. I thought that handguns were illegal in England but someone forgot to tell the criminals. Where the population is allowed to keep and bear arms, the criminals are afraid.

[dhoward]

Who are these guys?

[Dan Alexander]

we were banished here ..... how'd you guys get here

[MRM]

Originally posted by Mr. Deltoid
I have friends in Denmark that pay approx. 50% of wages in taxes.Yes it includes medical and education, but NEVER assume these programs are FREE.

I WISH I could pay only 50% of my income in taxes. I have my own business so I don't have wages, just income. But when you consider social security taxes, self-employment taxes, income taxes, state income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, etc., I would call it a great day if I could keep even half of what I bring home. Consider that for employees your payroll taxes include a Social Security contribution that you see, but also a slightly larger employer contribution that you don't see, and you will start to understand that your income tax burden is quite higher here in the land of the free than you thought.

If you do a true comparison you will find that Europeans a higher percentage of their income in all the various taxes, but they have correspondingly higher services from the government. If you do a regression analysis you find that people in the US actually pay a higher rate of taxes for the services received when you factor in the cost to us of health care vs the benefit of state-paid health care, state subsidized day care, and other benefits the Europeans take for granted.

I don't point this out to suggest that we increase taxes and increase the size of governent in the US; quite the oposite. I would prefer a slimmer, cheaper and more responsive government. I don't think the Europeans get what they pay for, but they get more of what they pay for than we do in the US.

[varmint]

Hello all,
For those that don't know, I now live in the beautiful country of New Zealand. Being from the US of A, things are different here.

As an example, there was recently a robber who came into a local gun shop (Gun laws here are INCREDIBLY STRICT) armed with a machete and demanded money. The co-owner of the shop, fearing for his life, shot the ******* in the stomache. The robber was arrested AND the shop owner. They arrested the shop owner for "discharging a firearm in a public place." If they convict the shop owner, he will NEVER be able to go into his shop or own a gun again. This is insane. In most places in the US, he would have been given a medal!

The shop owner said in the paper, in his defence, that what was he supposed to do, give him everything he asked for? The police had no comment... He is already out over $10,000 in legal fees and he hasn't even gone to court yet.

AMAZING!!!!!!

pulled this off another forum. thought it would fan the fire again.

[Rick Lee]

Plenty of places in the US would prosecute you for defending yourself and the criminal would certainly sue. The world is defined by an inverted morality.

[phoenixtexoma]

Pay attention to what JonyRR says, he knows things. He did, however, omit, the ATF as a bona fide terrorist group. No Waco, no OKC. Tim McVeigh, a U.S. Army soldier, had lots of help. I know a thing or two about ammonium nitrate devices from the perspective of having had them used against me. They are critically sensitive to sympthetic detonation when used in discrete containers like 50lb bags. Much easier to use in a solid mass. Not a job for an amateur, and not a subject taught in military ordnance classes; i.e., you have to know exactly what grade of diesel to use and in what amounts, plus the right type of detonator placed in the right location that will deliver a precise 9,000 cfs burn rate. I'd rather weld a gasoline tank half full of fuel than mess with that stuff. Anyone who believes McVeigh and his knucklehead buddy pulled this off alone is an idiot.

P.S. I was recently an expert witness for the defense in a court case where a local cop was shot and killed. The guy (rightfully) got acquitted. Turns out the cop was killed by his own partner who accidentally discharged his weapon while getting out of a patrol car in a muddy field. Mysteriously, I've been stopped several times since for various crimes like a "rolling stop", "improper lane change" on a deserted 4-lane road and "parking in the wrong direction on a residential street". Hmm.