IMHO the US is losing even more credibility

[kblanch]

And the home of the brave...........

I have been reading and had to comment. Why is a Canadian worried about what American's spends? We don’t tax Canadians for AIDS relief... And we should be spending the money in the USA taking care of our people before we spend it outside our borders; it costs the US tax payer billions of dollars for illegible coming into the country every year. The amount of money being spent yearly by our government the average tax payer cant even put their mind around it! I don’t mind helping people out but if my money is going out I think I would like to see it going to the troops and their families that protect our borders. Without them we are nation of tree huggers... is this blind patriotism? You God damn right it is! Here is the last thing that I am going to say. I am so tried of all these peeps bashing the USA. They say “the United States is a Capitalist war mongering roman nation” WTF??? Now tell me gents, what would the Romans do to these countries if Roman was still "THE" super power that it once was?? Let me tell you, there would be no debate, no time for diplomacy, countries would be conquered and assimilated just as they were in the past. So are we the warring country?? Maybe... are we the world police??? ABSOLUTELY!! How many times do we have to say you have one more chance???? Did President Bush submit false information, it sure sounds like it.. Is the middle east a safer place? yep! are our boys dying over there? Yep! Do any of you really care? Nope, not until it comes up and bites you in the ass! then it will matter won't it!! If it was not for the United States where would the world be now I ask you? Hmmmmm.... Probably speaking German or Russian... Semper Fi!!

 

[onthebottom]

Ah, back to the main topic

Back to the original post....re. distribution of 15B....OTB and SDF
are correct..Our man "W" confirmed in his presser today that there is infrastructure to establish that will be better able to absorb and efficiently/effectively utilize larger amounts of $ further down the road. Re. US pharm. companies benefitting:
sounds like a win-win to me!!

It's nice to be vindicated once in a while.

OTB

 

[onthebottom]

Re: Before you start to pillory Africa

Remember that no nation in the world spends as much on the military as the US. Meanwhile, tens of millions of its citizens have no health care. Millions starve every day. Health care is not is a basic right in this land of plenty.

At the same time, over 45 billion dollars will be spent in a military occupation of Iraq for this calendar year alone.

I guess, like Africa, the US would like to spend money on its military rather than its citizens.

Bla bla bla bla bla, Gryfin, say something original and topical. The US public said no (to Mrs. Clintons and Mr. Kennedy’s embarrassment) to socialized medicine - the people have spoken. The US spends more per capita on healthcare than any other country. The poor are protected through Medicaid, the old through Medicare and the rest of us through work insurance. And it's the best care anywhere thank you very much.

OTB

 

[onthebottom]

So

As a person born in Hong Kong, a former British colony, I was very happy when HK reverted to Chinese rule. Yes, our family came to Canada to avoid the Communists, and yes a large majority of HK people have no love for the Commies, yet, every single HK person was happy that HK was being handed over to the Chinese because HK is Chinese land and should be ruled by the/a Chinese.

When do you move back?

OTB

 

[gryfin]

You make it too easy, OTB

Over 41 million Americans have no health coverage. None, not Medicaid, not Medicare.

That you simply equate dollars spent with health care provided speaks volumes about your ability to reason.

And I'm not surprised that you started your last post to me with "bla, bla, bla. It's hard to speak with two feet in your mouth.

 

[onthebottom]

Re: You make it too easy, OTB

Over 41 million Americans have no health coverage. None, not Medicaid, not Medicare.

That you simply equate dollars spent with health care provided speaks volumes about your ability to reason.

And I'm not surprised that you started your last post to me with "bla, bla, bla. It's hard to speak with two feet in your mouth.

The simple fact is that the people have spoken. If there were a groundswell of popular opinion for socialized medicine the democrats would be all over it. The fact is that the American public does not trust the government to provide health care to a standard they require. Hell, it's even debatable if your drugs are safe enough to import ;-) The people may be wrong but those are the facts.

OTB

 

[gryfin]

So I guess you are conceding:

In regards to health care coverage, you said: "The poor are protected through Medicaid, the old through Medicare and the rest of us through work insurance"

So I guess you are conceding:

A: That there are tens of millions of Americans who are not provided with basic health care. In most developed countries, this is regarded as a basic human right. Your country has not developed morally or ethically to this point yet.

B: That the America you proclaim to exist is not the America that really exists. You should update your romantic notions to reflect the truth.

 

[submissivedave]

SD said:

yet, every single HK person was happy that HK was being handed over to the Chinese because HK is Chinese land and should be ruled by the/a Chinese.

You can't possibly believe that. [/B][/QUOTE]

Why is it hard to believe? I am pretty sure the Hindus were quite happy when the Brits left ...

I am sure everyone else were happy when the Mongols retreated.

I am pretty sure the Vietnamese were happy when the French left.

I am sure people were happy when the Dutch left Indo-China ...

I am sure the Koreans and Taiwanese were happy when the Japanese left ...

I am sure the French were happy when the Germans left ...

I can go on and on ...

Who wants to live under a colonial government? Not me !

I can only imagine how the Japanese will be when American soldiers leave Okinawa ... (yes, I know America did not "colonize" Okinawa, but who wants a foreign army stationed on their soils? Besides, US soldier rape Japanese girls and don't get trialed. Where is the justice in this? How come Americans are exempt from things that everyone else have to go through [when they commit a crime]?)

 

[submissivedave]

your analogies are not applicable in the case of Hong Kong. Most people living in HK lived there because they wanted to live in a capitalist society. Was it democratic- no- but it had a hell of alot more freedom than in communist china.

If the colony had been handed to the people of HK then your comments would make sense, but given that it was handed back to a ruthless and tyrannical government the people of HK were not happy. at least not anywhere close to 100% of them

I "semi-agree" with your first paragraph ...

You are right, HK itself is made up of immigrants from the Mainland. My grandfather for instance went down to HK from Canton in 1951, just two years after the Communist victory. But at same time, there were people already living in HK before the influx of immigrants. And yes, many HK residences emmigrated overseas before 1997 because they don't wanna deal with the shit the CCP brings ...

But from a cultural perspective, I am sure and positive that the HK people were very happy. I remember that my friends and I stayed up all day and night watching the hand over on TV right here in Toronto ... and we had a really good party celebrating this event.

Nonetheless, politically speaking I do agree with you. HK is in turmoil ... have you read the news about Article 23? The CCP are a bunch of idiots trying to screw things up. HK made shit loads of money for Britain. I thought HK would be able to do the same for China. But no ... them CCP had to screw things up ... sheesh !!!

Not only that ... the "Once Country Two Systems" won't work ... its rhetoric!

It's game over for HK ...

 

[kblanch]

Re: So I guess you are conceding:

In regards to health care coverage, you said: "The poor are protected through Medicaid, the old through Medicare and the rest of us through work insurance"

So I guess you are conceding:

A: That there are tens of millions of Americans who are not provided with basic health care. In most developed countries, this is regarded as a basic human right. Your country has not developed morally or ethically to this point yet.

B: That the America you proclaim to exist is not the America that really exists. You should update your romantic notions to reflect the truth.

So once again we are bashing the USA.... Figures. I have a great idea! why doesnt the united states stop helping everyone put up a freakin fence I bet we have enough money to help those millions then! and we would stop the whole influx of illegals....

 

[submissivedave]

Good article on the USA : right on topic

"The U.S. stands astride the world as a giant with its huge military muscle, staggering economic power, and cultural hegemony..."

http://www.cis.org.au/Events/JBL/JBL03.htm

 

[onthebottom]

Re: So I guess you are conceding:

In regards to health care coverage, you said: "The poor are protected through Medicaid, the old through Medicare and the rest of us through work insurance"

So I guess you are conceding:

A: That there are tens of millions of Americans who are not provided with basic health care. In most developed countries, this is regarded as a basic human right. Your country has not developed morally or ethically to this point yet.

B: That the America you proclaim to exist is not the America that really exists. You should update your romantic notions to reflect the truth.

A. is a bit arrogant of you, the US public has picked a model, you can argue that's it's suboptimal but it's our model.

B. I live here every day, do you?

OTB

 

[onthebottom]

Re: Good article on the USA : right on topic

"The U.S. stands astride the world as a giant with its huge military muscle, staggering economic power, and cultural hegemony..."

http://www.cis.org.au/Events/JBL/JBL03.htm

Great article, deflates the myth that what rises must fall. He is spot-on on the importance of projecting power, the flexibility of our economy and the drawing power of our culture. What is even more amazing than the power that the US has in these three areas is that we are accelerating our advantage in each. A quick statistic, the US provided 66 % of ALL GDP growth globally in the 90's, a truly remarkable stat.

OTB

 

[DenWa]

the most amazing part is that SubDave published the link...doesn't fit the usual outcry that we're a joke down here in the States...maybe he didn't read it thoroughly.

DW

 

[submissivedave]

Like I said in the beginning man ... I am quite pro-American.

It's just that I dislike aggressive US foreign policy and administration(s) ...

I guess in recent times, my favourite administration would be Clinton's ..... maybe because he's one of us, a horn dog who only thinks about sex. Even in the White House ... hehehe

But you Yanks don't be too proud. I believe in the "Pacific Century" where the balance of power will shift East ward ... hahahahahahaha ...

 

[DenWa]

Rest assured, Dave, that if the U.S. goes down, we're taking everyone with us...that I can guarantee...

DW

 

[TravellingGuy]

Re: Re: So I guess you are conceding:

B. I live here every day, do you?

I laughed at this. You live in the US so only you can see whats going on, yet you don't live anywhere else in the world but you believe to know whats going on there? Your views on your country and its foreign policies are skewed by your own statement above, we are the ones that your foreign policies affect, yet heaven forbid we even question your policies towards your own people,hell because we don't live in the great US of A we must not know anything right?

LOL again.

 

[DenWa]

It's not because you don't live in the USA that you don't know anything, but rather because you're Canadian...

(I'm totally joking by the way - but it popped into my head and made me laugh so I typed it...sorry TG)

 

[onthebottom]

Re: Re: Re: Good article on the USA : right on topic

Is that before or after all of the accounting restatements?

Now that's funny!

OTB

 

[onthebottom]

Re: Re: Re: So I guess you are conceding:

I laughed at this. You live in the US so only you can see whats going on, yet you don't live anywhere else in the world but you believe to know whats going on there? Your views on your country and its foreign policies are skewed by your own statement above, we are the ones that your foreign policies affect, yet heaven forbid we even question your policies towards your own people,hell because we don't live in the great US of A we must not know anything right?

LOL again.

I just don't see the sky falling like Gryfin does. I've spent several years living outside the US and have seen how other countries respond to the US.

OTB