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Things I like about the USA

I most certainly don't think you can rely on that precedent. We have to work to make sure that the shift happens, and that includes critisizing the government when we think that it is wrong.

I just wanted to share something I try to remember when I get too angry or depressed over the political situation here. (On a side note; it appears all is not lost, the Supremes struck down the Texas anti-sodomy law today.)

And thanks, Mr. Skinny, its great to be here.
 
Re: Kucinic

blackpriester said:
I specifically like his ideas about abolishing the Death penalty, repealing the Patriot Act and restoring the wall of separation between church and state.

Most of his economic stuff is up for discussion, though - but it ain't much worse than Bush's plans ;)...

I find this statement (part of the "Reproductive Rights" section of his website) to be encouraging:

I’ve had a journey on this issue that a year ago, before I became a candidate for President, caused me to break from a voting record that had not been pro-choice. After hearing from many women in my own life, and from women and men in my community and across the country, I began a more intensive dialogue on the issue. A lot of women opened their hearts to me. That dialogue led me to wholeheartedly support a woman’s right to choose.

Not so much because I agree/disagree with his position either before or after he changed his mind but simply because it looks like he took the time to think about it and made an informed decision.

Or, again, maybe he's just saying what he thinks people want to hear and is making excuses for saying something different earlier.

Graham
 
Ricomise said:
I most certainly don't think you can rely on that precedent. We have to work to make sure that the shift happens, and that includes critisizing the government when we think that it is wrong.

I just wanted to share something I try to remember when I get too angry or depressed over the political situation here. (On a side note; it appears all is not lost, the Supremes struck down the Texas anti-sodomy law today.)

And thanks, Mr. Skinny, its great to be here.

Hi Ricomise (have I been here long enough to welcome "newcomers yet? If so - welcome!)

The Texas decision seems to be a step in the rightdirection, sure enough. Personally, I was startled some years ago when I realissed just how prevelant those kind of laws still are.

The comments of, is it Scalia (sorry, I forget his name) are very discouraging, however. Especially since he might be considered to represent the government/establishment. (I'm willing to be corrected on that last point)

Graham
 
Graham said:


The comments of, is it Scalia (sorry, I forget his name) are very discouraging, however. Especially since he might be considered to represent the government/establishment. (I'm willing to be corrected on that last point)

Graham

Uhh yeah, he is VERY MUCH representing the current government, together with his lapdog Thomas and his Godfahter Rehquist. I also refer you tho THIS http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&postid=1869974980#post1869974980 thread where the matter is discussed in more detail.
 
Re: Re: Kucinic

Graham said:


I find this statement (part of the "Reproductive Rights" section of his website) to be encouraging:



Not so much because I agree/disagree with his position either before or after he changed his mind but simply because it looks like he took the time to think about it and made an informed decision.

Or, again, maybe he's just saying what he thinks people want to hear and is making excuses for saying something different earlier.

Graham

I am myself still undecided on abortion. My "heart" says its wrong (except for in the most extreme cases - mother's life in danger etc.), my mind is weighing on the issues.

Kucinic does not strike me as someone who says what people want to hear. Not only are his opinions in GENERAL not mainstream enough for such a tactic, he is also one of the few politicians who endangered his career with acutally FOLLOWING THROUGH on a campaign promise:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18457-2003Jun21.html

I am not "endorsing" him yet, but watching closely...
 
Re: Re: Re: Kucinic

blackpriester said:


I am myself still undecided on abortion. My "heart" says its wrong (except for in the most extreme cases - mother's life in danger etc.), my mind is weighing on the issues.

Kucinic does not strike me as someone who says what people want to hear. Not only are his opinions in GENERAL not mainstream enough for such a tactic, he is also one of the few politicians who endangered his career with acutally FOLLOWING THROUGH on a campaign promise:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18457-2003Jun21.html

I am not "endorsing" him yet, but watching closely...

Does he have much hope of nomination, do you know?
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Kucinic

Graham said:


Does he have much hope of nomination, do you know?

At this stage, everything is doubtful.
He is just too extreme to stand a real chance anyway, I guess...
but in thimes like these, everything is possible. If he is who I
think he is, I wish him the best of luck, though.
 
but let's get back on topic...
WHAT ELSE IS GREAT about America?

I will start by adding

- general cultural openness (willingness to integrate other cultures) and

- general lack of envy (as compared to many European countries, where rich people are supposed to be ashamed)

to the list.
 
Re: I'm worried and I live here

blackadder65738 said:
Well, I'm not here to talk you out of your misgivings about where America is headed, since I share them. Unfortunately we're being ruled by a bible-beating right wing now, and nobody is paying attention. The biggest danger to us and the rest of the world is for the true xtian zealots to get their hands on the reins of power, and they're almost there. America would be a great place to live if it weren't for all the xtians.

more anti-Christian rheteric...:(
 
Originally posted by blackadder65738
Well, I'm not here to talk you out of your misgivings about where America is headed, since I share them. Unfortunately we're being ruled by a bible-beating right wing now, and nobody is paying attention. The biggest danger to us and the rest of the world is for the true xtian zealots to get their hands on the reins of power, and they're almost there. America would be a great place to live if it weren't for all the xtians.

Originally posted by LCBOY
more anti-Christian rheteric... :(

It looks to me more like anti-Christian-authoritarian rhetoric. There is a difference.
 
I think one of the best things about the U.S. is that we are probably the most diverse nation on Earth and we are able to hold it all together, despite all the negative news reports.

There certainly is a lot of shifting, and we never really shift back to the "middle" since the middle is never in the same place twice. Two hundred years ago, the middle was segregation/slavery.

I think we are very good at picking the best ideas from the Right and the Left, and dropping those ideas that don't work over time.

We have way more going for us than we do going against us.

And the small stuff is great, too. Endless highways, every kind of climate and scenery, grocery stores bigger than some small towns with hundreds of varieties of coffee to choose from, our automobiles, movies, wall-to-wall carpet, and more freedoms than anywhere else. Just about every American lives better than Julius Caesar. Don't forget air conditioning. I had no idea how rare it was even in the other industrialized nations until I travelled about. We have air conditioning everywhere, even in our cars. Some Europeans are so unaccustomed to air conditioning, they actually have a negative physical reaction to it!
Something like half the population of the world has never made a telephone call. We can't imagine a life without telephones. Our 7-11 stores are a modern marvel all by themselves.

With our telephones, we can have anything we desire delivered to our door almost immediately.

American logistics. Can't say enough about it. We are the all time champs. :D
 
WMT1 said:


It looks to me more like anti-Christian-authoritarian rhetoric. There is a difference.

Good point and I agree. But when has a "xtian zealot" ever held power in US history?
 
LCBOY said:


Good point and I agree. But when has a "xtian zealot" ever held power in US history?

How about NOW?
Whenever Bush opens his mouth, lies and "God is with us" fall out. Let's not even talk about "Calico Cat Eater" Ashcroft, who probably reads your and my Email (and the posts on this board) right now - and will accuse me of being a terrorist under the Patriot act the next time I come into the US ;).
 
Luke T. said:
I think one of the best things about the U.S. is that we are probably the most diverse nation on Earth and we are able to hold it all together, despite all the negative news reports.

There certainly is a lot of shifting, and we never really shift back to the "middle" since the middle is never in the same place twice. Two hundred years ago, the middle was segregation/slavery.

I think we are very good at picking the best ideas from the Right and the Left, and dropping those ideas that don't work over time.

We have way more going for us than we do going against us.

And the small stuff is great, too. Endless highways, every kind of climate and scenery, grocery stores bigger than some small towns with hundreds of varieties of coffee to choose from, our automobiles, movies, wall-to-wall carpet, and more freedoms than anywhere else. Just about every American lives better than Julius Caesar. Don't forget air conditioning. I had no idea how rare it was even in the other industrialized nations until I travelled about. We have air conditioning everywhere, even in our cars. Some Europeans are so unaccustomed to air conditioning, they actually have a negative physical reaction to it!
Something like half the population of the world has never made a telephone call. We can't imagine a life without telephones. Our 7-11 stores are a modern marvel all by themselves.

With our telephones, we can have anything we desire delivered to our door almost immediately.

American logistics. Can't say enough about it. We are the all time champs. :D

Luke, I beg to differ on (y)our cars.
They are crap. Which is pretty much summed up by
the fact that NOBODY anywhere outside of America buys them.

To get back to the positive:
I want to add "good food through cultural diversity" to your list, though. Many Euros believe the American cuisine consits of McDoalds mainly.... and are shocked and surprised when they come to a city like San Francisco with over 4000 restaurants of every coleur.
 
American Cars

My wife (who's Canadian) and I often "discuss" the relative merits of American and European cars. Needless to say, of course, she's always right :p

There is one thing American auto-makers do better than europeans though and that's big ol' trucks. My father-in-law used to have an old Ford truck, like the one below - the thing was an absolute beast, I loved it.

Of course, it broke down all the time and the engine sounded like an airplane trying to take off but that's American cars for you ;)
 
Re: American Cars

Graham said:
My wife (who's Canadian) and I often "discuss" the relative merits of American and European cars. Needless to say, of course, she's always right :p

There is one thing American auto-makers do better than europeans though and that's big ol' trucks. My father-in-law used to have an old Ford truck, like the one below - the thing was an absolute beast, I loved it.

Of course, it broke down all the time and the engine sounded like an airplane trying to take off but that's American cars for you ;)

OK, I did forget the trucks because I personally never had a need for them - and neither do you see them on the road here in Germany.

But I guess a Ford pickup is the non-plus-ultra if you are somewhere in Montana, trying to take care of mile-long-fences :)
 
Luke T. said:
I think one of the best things about the U.S. is that we are probably the most diverse nation on Earth and we are able to hold it all together, despite all the negative news reports.

*snip*

American logistics. Can't say enough about it. We are the all time champs. :D

As regards the first, how much of a delicate balancing act do you think it is? How much do you think it would take for it all to break down and factionalise? Do you think that the many and various minorities have been held in check by the fact that they are overwhelmingly outnumbered by W.A.S.P.'s? What do you think will happen as that balance shifts over the next 50 - 100 years (or do you think it will?)?

Air Conditioning is tops, right enough. We don't have much call for it over here though. The old central heating pretty much covers all the temperature control we need.

Generally high standard of living is a good point though. I remember when I used to live in Vancouver and we used to pass through East Van or places like Hastings & Main downtown I used to think it was pretty much dumpsville. It is, of course, but recently my mom took a trip to Russia and brought back stories and pictures of just what real poverty is. It's something else entirely.

I'd like to add a general lack of cynicism as one of America's redeeming qualities. Of course that has negative consequences too but sometimes it's refreshing.

Graham
 
What is good about the USA?

The sheer size and variety of technical mastery, Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Monument Valley and Arches NP, New England when the colours turn, my wife says New York, freeways are actually FREEways and go everywhere you need (and are usually well signposted), the vast majority of people are extraordinarily friendly and helpful and are just "ordinary folks", shopping variety - you can get anything at all that you want at any time.

What is so-so about the USA? These are things that some people like, some don't - it's a personal thing!

Banknotes the same size and colour (easy to mis-tip!), "Have a nice day!", lotsa food with sugar and cream and fat and sheer food volume, the complaint gene - Americans WILL complain voluably about service and quality, etc.


I'm not going off the topic to list any negatives. They have probably been done to death on other forums here and on TV and on radio and....

Zep
 
Zep said:
What is good about the USA?

freeways are actually FREEways and go everywhere you need (and are usually well signposted),

Zep

Speed limits suck, though ;).
I would add a positive abundance of Freeways within cities, wideness of even small streets and "generous" architecture (Skyscrapers et al) to the "Positive" list.
 
I like the health insurance. If I lived in, say, the Andean highlands I'd probably have to surrender a guinea pig just for an enema administered by a pulchritudinous Otavaleño bruja. Here in the USA, that unexplained 27% hike in my health insurance premium guarantees that I will still pay merely $800 out of pocket for my wife's blood test.
 

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