America in Decline: Why Germans Think We're Insane

[The_Dude 1,142]

He lives in AZ. We need to ship him to CA. Hell we should ship them all to CA. and then beg Europe to take them.

Hell yeah, anyone that disagrees with you, lets ship em to socialist california, and then to Europe.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I can't tell if that was a "kumbaya" post, or a "'Merica, love it or GTFO muslim socialist" post. I did want to add that your statistic that a majority of homeless are mentally ill is false. Depending upon the source, the actual figure will be anywhere from 20-40%. That is still a very significant number considering that only 5% of the population in general.

You came to that conclusion because I didnt think his attitude was helpful? In your eyes you probably think I dont think he deserves to be here. Not true, I just think our country would be better off without these non constructive attitudes all the while pretending they care. Oh and if you want to move my offer applies to you to. I have a really big truck that puts the G in global warming so you might want to look for other options.

Were do drug attics come into your equation? Some serious mental issues there. For a lot of them there is no recovery. You cant get them to stay in a mental facility or a homeless shelter. I think this says more about our drug problem here in America than it does about Americans not giving a **.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Hell yeah, anyone that disagrees with you, lets ship em to socialist california, and then to Europe.

First of all socialist is your word. I never used that word. Second only by will should they go to CA. Maybe stories of how great the trees are in CA. will motivate them.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I know that this is a very sensitive subject, but as somebody who lived in 7 European countries and now in the US, I think I can rightfully say "blessed are those who don't know how ignorant they are."

While setup as a unique and probably the best and most desirable country to live in on the planet, the US has steadily declined since about the 1950s. In the 1950s we had all the space one could wish for, huge luxury cars, a highway systems, kitchens with more gadgets than any other country in the world, and we were truly #1 in the World in so many things.

So what has changed?

A lot!

Corporations have gotten hold of politics. In order to run for office, any office, one needs money. This money comes from donations, unless the candidate is already a multi-millionaire. These corporate contributors will ask for a favor at some point. If the then elected candidate declines, he's done. Corporations also control the media; after all, they own them! Accusations, scandals, whatever it takes to form "public opinion."

Prison? A business! Many prisons are owned by public corporations and make huge money. Politicians get campaign donations from those corporations, judges are shareholders.

Health Care, or, better, sick care? Corporations! Big business, again.

Cigarettes, business, gasoline, business . . . pretty much everything is business these days. Not small business, but big, huge corporate business!

Education? Not really a business. The business of education today is the dummification of the electorate. Dumb people are more susceptible to propaganda, don't ask questions, don't do research.

Somebody who grew up in poverty doesn't recognize the absence of food in abundance as much as somebody who had it all and lost it all. Many Americans who shout "#### 'em" to people who lost their jobs or health benefits seem to forget that it can hit them as well.

It's true, countries who provide benefits for its citizens, whether health benefits, tuition free higher education, or a secured retirement have higher taxes in general. But the term "higher taxes" has such a bad connotation in this country, that it's become a taboo.

Even as a classic car and motorcycle collector, I, personally, wouldn't mind paying an extra dollar per gallon of fuel if I could get health care in exchange. Take a second dollar taxes of my money if I can retire without fear of poverty. So what if we pay $5 per gallon of fuel and a slightly higher income tax, if we can rest comfortably knowing that an illness or disability or loss of job or early retirement would wipe us out financially.

Some of you disagree. It's all fine as long as it's all fine. But when the sh*t hits the fan, you'll be the first screaming for help and cursing our Government for letting this happen to its citizens.

I generally agree with this, but realize too that the US was bound to decline from the 1950's. When almost every other industrialized nation crippled by the results of war, the US was setup to lead. But it was a double edge sword since other industrial nations had fresh industry by the 70's and the US had to pay the expense of retooling or shutting down.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Most homeless people are mentally ill...

Really? What do you base that on? Your perception? Can you substantiate that claim?

Yes we have our problems and we are going thru a tough time. We will get through it.

How? With tax cuts?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Really? What do you base that on? Your perception? Can you substantiate that claim?

I think he meant that a high percentage of mentally ill are homeless. It doesn't work in reverse.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Really? What do you base that on? Your perception? Can you substantiate that claim?

and addicts which in a lot of ways is one in same. Now before you start throwing statistics at me lets take a look at what you posted.

Yes, some amount. I see the flocks of homeless people around these parts and refuse to believe that they are all homeless by choice. They're not. I am aware of the tens of thousands of Americans that are left for dead each and every year for we don't care that they need medical treatments to live that they can't pay for. It's their own fault, right?

You dont have to be on the streets to be homeless. Keep that in mind when you read the statistics.

Your questions above ignored the point I was trying to make. The people you see on the streets often have had people in there lives that have tried help them thus making your statement that Americans dont give a ** simply not true.

How? With tax cuts?

No we will just tax the hell out of the rich so that they move.

Edited December 29, 2010 by _Simpson_

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

and addicts which in a lot of ways is one in same.

So I take that as: No, you cannot substantiate your claim.

[_Simpson_ 250]

So I take that as: No, you cannot substantiate your claim.

I explained myself. Scroll up and read.

You addressed nothing so I guess I let you go on thinking your a saint because you're one of the few Americans that give a dam.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I explained myself. Scroll up and read.

You addressed nothing so I guess I let you go on thinking your a saint because you're one of the few Americans that give a dam.

Simpson, you should know by now that pulling statistics out of your ####### is a foolish way to make your point. If you are going to use them to try to legitimize your argument with statistics, at least post a source to verify. Otherwise, it's just you making things up...

[_Simpson_ 250]

Simpson, you should know by now that pulling statistics out of your ####### is a foolish way to make your point. If you are going to use them to try to legitimize your argument with statistics, at least post a source to verify. Otherwise, it's just you making things up...

And by now you should know to read all the posts before jumping in and making a comment. You like Big Dog didnt address the point I was making but instead you go looking for chinks in the armor.

Big dog was addressing the homeless people on the street that we supposedly just left there to die. Dont let the statistics fool you, just because you're homeless doesnt mean you're living on the streets.

[The_Dude 1,142]

And by now you should know to read all the posts before jumping in and making a comment. You like Big Dog didnt address the point I was making but instead you go looking for chinks in the armor.

Big dog was addressing the homeless people on the street that we supposedly just left there to die. Dont let the statistics fool you, just because you're homeless doesnt mean you're living on the streets.

Simpson, the point is, don't pull factoids out of your ####### if you aren't going to cite it. How is anyone supposed to take you seriously if you're making up statistics?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Big dog was addressing the homeless people on the street that we supposedly just left there to die. Dont let the statistics fool you, just because you're homeless doesnt mean you're living on the streets.

There are people that aren't homeless and still left to die. Some 45,000 anually according to a recent Harvard analysis. That's one every 12 minutes. Not a sign of much care on part of the nation, is it? Growing homelessness is not a statistic to fool anyone, it's a fact of life that you apparently choose to ignore or to excuse with an unsubstantiated claim that those folks are mostly mentally ill and/or addicts. If you make such claim, back it up. You don't because you can't.

[mawilson 2,133]

No we will just tax the hell out of the rich so that they move.

Move where? Somalia?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

The USA is a tax heaven for the rich and super rich.

A bit simplified, for every $Milion you make per year, you pay only $350K in taxes in the US, yet $590K in Sweden, and 600K in Denmark. If the US would tax the super rich a bit more, We The People would actually benefit from it. I make decent money, and I wouldn't mind at all having to pay a bit more taxes if in return the public services would benefit from it. As I said before, I wouldn't mind paying $2 per gallon MORE just in taxes, if that would give the American people universal health care or a secure retirement. I don't know exactly how many gallons of fuel is sold in the US per year, but my guess is that this is a number with a lot of zeros.

Then there's the Estate Tax, now killed thanks to the Republicans. Good news for the likes of Paris Hilton: she saves about $100 Mio of her not so hard earned money when daddy passes.

We've got to help the mulit-Millionaires and Billionaires. Hug the rest.