Moonlight Graham Posted August 6, 2011 Report Posted August 6, 2011 In just about every country people have put up with deficits and debt by their state, and the state not doing much to pay it back. Why? Because spending money gets votes, and there's been little negative consequence felt by the state debt. Now citizens in some countries, including the US, are finally feeling real negative consequences from the debt and consequences they just can't pass down to their kids/grandkids. Crap has hit the fan, sometimes people to feel the bee-sting before they decide to get rid of the nest. Hopefully this debt crisis will sting enough to get voters in the US and elsewhere to pressure their govs to run balanced budgets. Not hopeful though since many people are so stupidly in debt (credit cards etc.) themselves. Quote "All generalizations are false, including this one." - Mark Twain Partisanship is a disease of the intellect.
bush_cheney2004 Posted August 6, 2011 Report Posted August 6, 2011 By 'historical data' you mean, of course, the period since reunification.... No....I mean other periods too...periods that saw millions of Germans emigrate to...the United States. Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Scotty Posted August 6, 2011 Report Posted August 6, 2011 That's all I'm saying....Germany obviously is not and certainly has not been an economic or political utopia, and holding it out as a great example is problematic. A "Golden Decade" only lasts ten years. I would say that the people lead a better lifestyle in most Western European countries than Americans do (or Canadians) due to their more cohesive, cooperative societies. The rat race is far slower there, and people have more time for their families and to enjoy life. Quote It is an inverted moral calculus that tries to persuade the world to demonize one state that tries its civilized best to abide in a difficult time and place, and rides merrily by the examples and practices of dozens of states and leaderships that drop into brutality every day without a twinge of regret or a whisper of condemnation. - Rex Murphy
bush_cheney2004 Posted August 6, 2011 Report Posted August 6, 2011 I would say that the people lead a better lifestyle in most Western European countries than Americans do (or Canadians) due to their more cohesive, cooperative societies. The rat race is far slower there, and people have more time for their families and to enjoy life. That's a value judgment, and history tells us that when shit hits the European fan they run to Canada, United States, and Australia. They also seem to have a problem with Muslim families....so cohesive! Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Sir Bandelot Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 Haha, the pics in that article cracked me up. Israeli protests: some people relaxing in a portable pool, and a dude working on his laptop in a tent. Compare that to Arab protests Here's a piture you might like beter, bonam- 250,000 Israelis march for economic reform Thousands of people march in the streets of Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday during a protest against the rising cost of living. Quote
Bonam Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 Here's a piture you might like beter, bonam- 250,000 Israelis march for economic reform Thousands of people march in the streets of Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday during a protest against the rising cost of living. Those are both the same picture. And yes, Israelis do know how to march, after all, military service is compulsory Quote
Sir Bandelot Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 Those are both the same picture. And yes, Israelis do know how to march, after all, military service is compulsory Yes the link and the picture are from the same article. Sometimes they change the picture displayed on MSNBC, so I thought I'd put two links there. Looks like lots of people/ countries are having financial problems around the world. Wages have been frozen for years for many, who are asked to tighten their belts. But not so for the upper eschelon, who have actually made more profit in recent times than ever before. Most people are not even aware of that. It takes a lot to get ordinary people that riled up in Canada and in the United States, it seems. Those two incidents you mentioned before, Vancouver and the G20 were both set up by black flag anarchists. But Joebob average is too beaten down psychologically to take the chance and speak out, for fear of getting arrested and consequently losing their jobs. Young people are more willing to take the chance and go to a protest. But wouldn't be surprised if this starts to happen here or in US soon. Shit coming to hit the fan near you Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 .... But wouldn't be surprised if this starts to happen here or in US soon. Shit coming to hit the fan near you Don't worry...we'll watch for it on MSNBC! Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Sir Bandelot Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 Don't worry...we'll watch for it on MSNBC! Yeah, and now that I've told you about it, you'll be ready! Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 (edited) Yeah, and now that I've told you about it, you'll be ready! Hardly....watching American networks in Canada is commonplace, so I'm sure one like MSNBC really appeals to you. Edited August 7, 2011 by bush_cheney2004 Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Bonam Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 But Joebob average is too beaten down psychologically to take the chance and speak out, for fear of getting arrested and consequently losing their jobs. That's your interpretation. Perhaps they are just content and feel no need to protest? I certainly have no inclination to do so. Life is good and only getting better. Quote
Sir Bandelot Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 I certainly have no inclination to do so. Life is good and only getting better. "I'm alright Jack, keep your hands off my stack..." Quote
Sir Bandelot Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 Hardly....watching American networks in Canada is commonplace, so I'm sure one like MSNBC really appeals to you. It's not that great. Quote
Sir Bandelot Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 watching a criminal civilization be hung for its crimes... Pray for justice. Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 It's not that great. Then why do you watch it? Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Sir Bandelot Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 Then why do you watch it? When they're lying, I know that the opposite is the truth. Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 When they're lying, I know that the opposite is the truth. Whatever...the "truth" is way overrated anyway. Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Sir Bandelot Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 Whatever...the "truth" is way overrated anyway. For you it is. To each their own Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 For you it is. To each their own Exactly...and you sure as hell won't find it on TV...American or Canadian. Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Bonam Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 "I'm alright Jack, keep your hands off my stack..." I'm unfamiliar with the reference. Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 I'm unfamiliar with the reference. Pink Floyd - Money Kids! Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Jack Weber Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 I'm unfamiliar with the reference. Pink Floyd... Dark Side of the Moon... The song "Money"...Among other things,it's about personal greed within society... Quote The beatings will continue until morale improves!!!
Guest American Woman Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 (edited) Pink Floyd... Dark Side of the Moon... The song "Money"...Among other things,it's about personal greed within society... Ummmmm.... so what are you saying? That anyone with a good life that's only getting better is guilty of personal greed within society? By your remarks, I can only assume that a) you don't think your life is good and getting better or your life is about personal greed within society ..... Edited August 7, 2011 by American Woman Quote
Sir Bandelot Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 Ummmmm.... so what are you saying? That anyone with a good life that's only getting better is guilty of personal greed within society? By your remarks, I can only assume that a) you don't think your life is good and getting better or your life is about personal greed within society ..... I don't think he meant that but Since I raised the reference let me explain what I meant. I empathize with those people who, coming from meager beginnings and having worked hard to achieve what they can, now lost their jobs as company executives outsourced, then cut and run with big, big money. Some lost their life savings in Madoff-like scandals while the investors and banks got bailed, using tax money collected from working people. Despite their failure the top execs still got bonuses. Now facing the prospect of huge cuts to services, which their tax dollars paid onto while they were working. Does that mean they pay, by proxy, for the huge deficits created by years of irresponsible leadership? To blow this off by saying "I'm alright Jack", and denying that the problem even exists, is either foolish or ignorant. Quote
Guest American Woman Posted August 7, 2011 Report Posted August 7, 2011 I don't think he meant that but Since I raised the reference let me explain what I meant. I see it was you who raised the reference, and as such, my post should have been directed at you. So I stand corrected. I empathize with those people who, coming from meager beginnings and having worked hard to achieve what they can, now lost their jobs as company executives outsourced, then cut and run with big, big money. Some lost their life savings in Madoff-like scandals while the investors and banks got bailed, using tax money collected from working people. Despite their failure the top execs still got bonuses. Now facing the prospect of huge cuts to services, which their tax dollars paid onto while they were working. Does that mean they pay, by proxy, for the huge deficits created by years of irresponsible leadership? What huge cuts to what services? To blow this off by saying "I'm alright Jack", and denying that the problem even exists, is either foolish or ignorant. He was responding to your claim: Joebob average is too beaten down psychologically to take the chance and speak out, for fear of getting arrested and consequently losing their jobs. He's right. That IS "your interpretation." No more, no less. It certainly isn't the reality of the average American (which I can only assume is what you meant with your reference to "Joebob average"). So the only thing he was "blowing off" was your interpretation - and there was nothing foolish or ignorant about it. Quite the opposite, actually. Quote
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