gov can control all communcations in an emergency.

[Doberluv]

yep.

But don't bother, Gips, when people bring up "YOU'RE TOO YOUNG TO UNDERSTAND" it's because they know heyve been shown the flaws in their thinking and are just grasping at straws.

Umm...NO. So because I see what was in years past, even while I was alive, and before... a free, prosperous and powerful country falling like a withering vine, it is because I have flaws in my thinking??? No, it is people who have not lived long enough who have nothing to compare to. A mere speck of time in comparison to a half century and more gives a picture as would a blink of the eye.

 

[GipsyQueen]

How much does it cost you to buy a rib eye or T-bone steak? A gallon of milk? What is an average rent on a 1500 square foot apartment? How much does a 2000 square foot house on an acre of land in a nice neighborhood or area cost to purchase? How much is a gallon of gas where you live? What percentage of your paycheck goes to taxes? Just curious. My ex said that in Czech Republic they have to work (I forget how many hours, but it was a LOT) to make enough to buy nice meat, for example. Since I don't have a feel for the comparison of their money to our money, he puts it in terms of how long one has to work to be able to afford certain things. And there was a huge difference. Granted, there are some things that are less. But I was just curious how it is on average in Europe.

Czech Republic doesn't = all of Europe. The Czech republic is a rather poor county. You can't see all of Europe as a whole.

Our groceries are cheaper than those in the US.

I'm not saying everything is perfect - but we have more benefits that those in the US. It was one of the many reasons we LEFT because we didn't have the same social support system there.

 

[release the hounds]

food is also held at artificial levels thanks to heavy gov't subsidizing thru our tax dollars. But let's not think about that while scream about 'socialism", marxism", "communist" dictator", muslim", Liberal commie punk president

 

[Fran101]

*edit* I popped into this thread, posted, looked back at the back few pages and went NOPE!! LOL NOT EVEN GONNA GO THERE

So.. PUPPIES!

 

[sassafras]

food is also held at artificial levels thanks to heavy gov't subsidizing thru our tax dollars. But let's not think about that while scream about 'socialism", marxism", "communist" dictator", muslim", Liberal commie punk president

You've given me an excuse to re-post one of my favorite pictures I've ever seen. Bless you.

 

[Greenmagick]

How much does it cost you to buy a rib eye or T-bone steak? A gallon of milk? What is an average rent on a 1500 square foot apartment? How much does a 2000 square foot house on an acre of land in a nice neighborhood or area cost to purchase? How much is a gallon of gas where you live? What percentage of your paycheck goes to taxes? Just curious. My ex said that in Czech Republic they have to work (I forget how many hours, but it was a LOT) to make enough to buy nice meat, for example. Since I don't have a feel for the comparison of their money to our money, he puts it in terms of how long one has to work to be able to afford certain things. And there was a huge difference. Granted, there are some things that are less. But I was just curious how it is on average in Europe.

And people who work their a$$es off here can all afford nice meat? Take a minimum wage job, heck even give them overtime. Then, make them pay their own health insurance, rent or mortgage.....do the math and tell me what they can actually afford here in the good ol USA

Personally, I would GLADLY pay more taxes to have health care for all, to have actual maternity leave to help babies get off to a good start (and help prevent PPD etc in new mothers) and a whole host of other things. Look at the areas US is really behind in and there is a direct correlation.

 

[GipsyQueen]

And people who work their a$$es off here can all afford nice meat? Take a minimum wage job, heck even give them overtime. Then, make them pay their own health insurance, rent or mortgage.....do the math and tell me what they can actually afford here in the good ol USA

Personally, I would GLADLY pay more taxes to have health care for all, to have actual maternity leave to help babies get off to a good start (and help prevent PPD etc in new mothers) and a whole host of other things. Look at the areas US is really behind in and there is a direct correlation.

Thank you.

It's not like we pay taxes into an empty black hole, where the money just sizzles away.

We get something out of our taxes. I don't even WANT to think about how much I would be paying to get the same benefits in the US if I had to pay all of that PLUS my income tax.
Even things like school... I pay 250€ a semester to go to a university. I only have to pay 250€ a semester because of government funding. I can't even imagine paying 40,000 a year to go to college.

 

[Jules]

But it's coooool to have huge student loans... Shows how smart you are.

 

[BostonBanker]

I'm not saying everything is perfect - but we have more benefits that those in the US. It was one of the many reasons we LEFT because we didn't have the same social support system there.

I think it depends on what you want out of your country and government, and obviously people are going to have different wants.

I don't doubt for an instant that many Europeans are happy.

We have friends in Sweden who are heartbroken over the way their government is run, and I often see that country raised up as "look who does it right". These are people who live very decent lives, but who see the lack if initiative in many of their friends and the friends of their children.

I don't know what the right answer is. I know what I want out of my government, and I know I'm not getting it. I know I wouldn't be happy with a lot of what I hear touted as the "European ideal" (or what many Americans describe it as). For now, I keep seeking the person feel I can support fully. I know it isn't the man in the White House now.

 

[Greenmagick]

Yes, no country is EVER going to be perfect nor is there a politician that I am ever going to totally agree with. So what one needs to do is look at actual issues that affect us and go for those. One needs to look for actual FACTS and not live in this fear.

I admit, I really disliked W (and was often called unpatriotic and a traitor by the same people who are now making jokes about Obama's assasination..hypocrite much??). As much as I disliked him I am not going to base that on ridiculous hooey or somehow make him into this larger than life boogey man. Obama is NOT muslim (which even more disturbing to me is so what if he was!!!), he is NOT marxist, he is NOT foreign or any other of the myriad of fear driven propaganda out there. There is so much just complete and utter BS going around about him, about things that are being passed it is mind boggling. Disagree with him all oyou want but do it based on actual truths, not fear and propaganda. Dont post stupid FB things about Congress being exempt (they are not) about him not having a birth certificate (he does), on and on and on. People all against the whole affordable health care act (without understanding it usually) who are all about Romney even though its based on many of his ideas...its just ridiculous.

yes, I am not happy with many things that have not happened or that have continued into this administration but I am happy with many other things and feel we are at least moving in the right direction on many important issues. I really dont understand anyone who supports a politician who thinks they have the right to treat women as subcitizens incapable of making their own decisions

 

[Doberluv]

Before WW11 Czechoslovakia was the third richest country in the world...lots of manufacturing. Germany is doing quite well now because they are still manufacturing things that other people/countries want. Unfortunately, America, once the manufacturing giant now has sold out to China and we make very little. We buy from other countries and there isn't that much that we make for other countries. The Czech Republic is a lot better off than they were before the fall of communism.

Well, to refer to the original topic, if you're okay with the government taking control of all communication....well...that's incredible....amazing.

 

[release the hounds]

Yes, no country is EVER going to be perfect nor is there a politician that I am ever going to totally agree with. So what one needs to do is look at actual issues that affect us and go for those. One needs to look for actual FACTS and not live in this fear.

I admit, I really disliked W (and was often called unpatriotic and a traitor by the same people who are now making jokes about Obama's assasination..hypocrite much??). As much as I disliked him I am not going to base that on ridiculous hooey or somehow make him into this larger than life boogey man. Obama is NOT muslim (which even more disturbing to me is so what if he was!!!), he is NOT marxist, he is NOT foreign or any other of the myriad of fear driven propaganda out there. There is so much just complete and utter BS going around about him, about things that are being passed it is mind boggling. Disagree with him all oyou want but do it based on actual truths, not fear and propaganda. Dont post stupid FB things about Congress being exempt (they are not) about him not having a birth certificate (he does), on and on and on. People all against the whole affordable health care act (without understanding it usually) who are all about Romney even though its based on many of his ideas...its just ridiculous.

yes, I am not happy with many things that have not happened or that have continued into this administration but I am happy with many other things and feel we are at least moving in the right direction on many important issues. I really dont understand anyone who supports a politician who thinks they have the right to treat women as subcitizens incapable of making their own decisions

Couldn't agree much more than I do

 

[release the hounds]

Well, to refer to the original topic, if you're okay with the government taking control of all communication....well...that's incredible....amazing.

Nobody here was ok with the gov't taking control of all communication. In case you didn't notice, it was the half truth based propaganda garbage that gets pulled straight from propaganda blogs to the chazhound dog forum that put it on a bit of a sidetrack.

It doesn't surprise me though that you'd arrive at that conclusion.

 

[sillysally]

Before WW11 Czechoslovakia was the third richest country in the world...lots of manufacturing. Germany is doing quite well now because they are still manufacturing things that other people/countries want. Unfortunately, America, once the manufacturing giant now has sold out to China and we make very little. We buy from other countries and there isn't that much that we make for other countries. The Czech Republic is a lot better off than they were before the fall of communism.

Well, to refer to the original topic, if you're okay with the government taking control of all communication....well...that's incredible....amazing.

Quoted from the National Association of Manufacturers, "The U.S is the world’s largest manufacturing economy, producing 22 percent of the world’s manufactured products. U.S. manufacturing employs nearly 12 million workers and contributes more than $1.6 trillion to the U.S. economy annually."

DH and I both hold manufacturing jobs. The company we work for exports all over the world (yes, even China).

 

[Kaydee]

Just checking in on this thread kids...and it's going the way I thought it would...somebody started this just to antagonize people...zombie punch all around...I have friends that are conservatives, I have friends that display the rebel flag, and we just don't talk politics...and that's okay... life would be boring if everyone looked liked everyone else, talked like everyone else...lighten up kidz

 

[GipsyQueen]

Quoted from the National Association of Manufacturers, "The U.S is the world’s largest manufacturing economy, producing 22 percent of the world’s manufactured products. U.S. manufacturing employs nearly 12 million workers and contributes more than $1.6 trillion to the U.S. economy annually."

DH and I both hold manufacturing jobs. The company we work for exports all over the world (yes, even China).

It does, BUT:
The US is the second largest export country (with china in 1st place and Germany in 3rd) but it's also the top import country. So while the US does indeed export alot of it's products, the import rate is higher, leading to a trade deficit. So the US also has the highest trace deficit in the world.
This means, if the US cannot compromise it's deficit by it's national market, the countries debt rises in comparision to the rest of the world.
China (top exporter) and Germany (3rd largest export country) both have a trade surplus.

 

[release the hounds]

our trade deficit is definitely a problem

 

[Shai]

our trade deficit is definitely a problem

Yeahhh historically those never work out well...

 

[release the hounds]

no, they sure don't

 

[sillysally]

our trade deficit is definitely a problem

Oh, it definitely is. However, anyone who says that manufacturing is dead in the US is not very familiar with manufacturing. DH goes to manufacturing conferences every year, and one of the key problems facing the industry is older workers retiring and not enough new, competent workers coming in. Otherwise good candidates are often scared off by the media and their high school guidance counseler proclaiming that manufacturing is a bad career path. Yes, some manufacturers are going under, but many are in fact rising to the challenges of a changing economy.