I wasn’t speaking about you specifically. More along the lines of the lady that called the cops.
If you really think that our freedom to defend ourselves/own firearms is as curtailed in the US as it is in Canada, you’re either delusional or misinformed. No, it’s not perfect, but it’s better than any other western nation.
Number of Homicides in Canada in 2007: 594 (pop. 33.5 million)
Number of Homicides in Philadelphia: 406 (1.5 million)
I am not saying that we should outlaw guns, but stop with the blah blah blah about how the US is better than any other western nation. We aren’t. I’d like for us to be again, but sticking our head in the sand isn’t going to get us there.
@ fah_quad you replied to schwarkopf about his family immigrating here and how we try to stop anyone from south of the border from doing the same thing. Are you implying illegal? He didn’t say that his family immigrated here illegally. According to the immigration wiki, the United States accepts more immigrants than any other nation since 2006. I don’t have a problem with anyone coming to the United States of America as long as they do so legally. You also said that you believe that people can succeed anywhere. True, but why is it that so many people risk everything (legally and illegally) to come here? Especially if the the U.S.A is no better than anywhere else?
@ someone else. Someone accused someone of being un-american. I don’t see anyone here that is un-American. In fact most of the people that responded against how America is no better than another place, or how they don’t believe in America, are products of the last 30 years. This is what our schools have taught are children, this is what parents have failed to teach.
What America has lost is Patriotism. Sadly, people that do not believe in America, believe in how it started, and believe in the sacrifice our forefathers made to keep it, will be the un-doing of this great country. They will blithely reap all the rewards and benefits born to them while turning a blind eye to patriotism.
^^Point taken. I’m not really implying anything. I’m really just playing devil’s advocate. I actually agree with a lot of things said, even when I play like I don’t. But I always try and keep an open mind, and always try to give differing opinions to see who backs themselves in to a corner with blind emotional BS or Wiki “facts”, and who has valid, educated opinions and arguments. There are times when I may even change my opinion because someone gave a strong enough logical fact-based argument. That happens a lot with Swartzkopf because he knows his s h i t when it comes to history.
The one thing I believe whole-heartedly, however, is that in general, Americans think they are owed, and that the world is here for them.
In this age, with the technology we have, I believe we need to start looking at the world as a whole, not just our own piece of land.
Patriotism in the form many here express had its place when the world was not linked by the technology we have today, and when the world as a whole didn’t have the problems it does today, both in expanding populations and its total disregard for the environment, to name just a few. I consider it much like pride in the city or state. When any of our sports teams play, we stand behind them and fight for them, however we still realize that even the opposition is part of our “bigger picture” by being part of our country. Except when the Pens play Canadian teams, lol. That is my view of America. I stand behind and fight for it, but I also believe it should be, in this day and age, taking more of a part in the “bigger picture” that is the world.
So, call it faggy, un-American, tree-hugging or whatever, but I consider myself more a patriot of the world itself than the country I was born in. That isn’t saying I wouldn’t choose to live here had I been born somewhere else, so don’t start with the “then get out” BS. That also doesn’t mean I wouldn’t fight to defend my country, however I sure as hell don’t believe it is any better than any other one. And while I would defend my country from outside attack, I don’t condone many of the wars or “conflicts” we initiated on someone else’s soil without attack on us first. Don’t bring up 9/11 on me, because we never did focus on the real people behind that one.
Through it all, I am still proud to be an American *cue the music… where at least I know I’m free, bla blah blah.
What many refuse to realize is that they’d feel the same way about whatever country their ancestors came from, if they just so happened to have been born there instead. I want logic in the reasoning, not just because it’s a birthplace or their parents instilled this blind patriotism in them.
For those who say they’ve traveled… you haven’t traveled enough, or outside of the comforts of those who are just like you. Hit the non-tourist areas and see the general opinions of America and its people. There are commonalities to those opinions throughout many different countries, some of which do speak our language and share our religions. But Americans either put their heads in the sand and deny it all, or call those foreigners with that opinion “jealous” or “scared” of our freedom.
When there is such common opinion against Americans, then there has to be something to it. We’re at a time when we should all step back and look at ourselves in the ways other see us, and perhaps make changes instead of blindly believing we are the s h i t.
:bsflag: Someone needs to make this flag upside down.
Entitlement. How has it gotten this bad? Parents? Schools? Government handouts? Probably an overwhelming lack of or too much of all the above.
With the emphasis on education over the last 20 years, nobody wants to get a degree and then go be a landscaper or roofer. If you are educated you are now too good to do those jobs and people would rather be unemployed and collect money, rather than paying their own way.
Our society provides no incentive to go do better for yourself. Given the choice what do you think happens most of the time? Pick one.
Work hard, overtime or second job, responsible, and struggle every week to have the stuff you need but never really have the stuff you want.
Have you house mostly paid for, have your food mostly paid for, have your utility bills mostly paid for, and have $3200 a month in spending money, WITHOUT DOING A DAMNED THING.
Sadly most Americans pick the second option, and it is going to get worse.
That’s what has been happening for the last 8 yrs. Now a lot of people were hit where it hurts most, like their pocket books or jobs and they elected change.
sweet. so lets cut off welfare entirely. give tax credits or a very small amount of grants to organizations like Salvation Army, United Way or (groan) Faith based organizations so that they can directly help the people that ACTUALLY need help. These people can stretch a dollar and will make sure their resources are going to the neediest. Also give tax breaks to people that donate to these organizations.
Now of course when people suggest this, they always say “well what about the kids?” **** the kids. Figuratively, not literally… :hsugh: kids are just little adults, and if they grow up with parents that teach them to leech off the system then they will turn out to be equally scummy. My family had some very hard times, but we never went on welfare. There were holidays where there were no presents, and times when the gas or electricity got shut off. Yeah it sucked at the time but after having gone through that, I now have a great work ethic, a sense of pride, and the knowledge that you don’t start a family when you’re in your mid 20’s unless you are VERY stable.
Ahh, how sad, darkstain has a sad story to tell about his life and how hard it was for him and how he turned into this awesome person today :greddy: bo****inghoo
Darkstar, you are such and ideologue it’s pathetic. What, are people going to stop having sex? They are kids and do what feels good. Yeah, they don’t have mommy and daddy to bail them in case of accidents, because most of the families aren’t fully together to begin with. Ever go into a social workers office? Ever actually talk to them? You aren’t going to just eliminate these issues muchacho. They don’t go away like a bad rash. In reality terms, a lot of these ‘leeches’ as you call them, don’t have good role models in their life. That’s what makes it hard for them to succeed. Look at your boy Obama. If it wasn’t for his grand parents, he would have been on another RAP video right now singing HOVA HOVA or some dumb ish like that! That’s why they need to institute these things like improving the AmeriCor, service in college programs and the like…
:ugh2: Yeah, It was quite the story. Times got tough, we buckled down and got through it. I learned from that. How is that some “woe is me” story?
Darkstar, you are such and ideologue it’s pathetic. What, are people going to stop having sex? They are kids and do what feels good. Yeah, they don’t have mommy and daddy to bail them in case of accidents, because most of the families aren’t fully together to begin with. Ever go into a social workers office? Ever actually talk to them? You aren’t going to just eliminate these issues muchacho. They don’t go away like a bad rash. In reality terms, a lot of these ‘leeches’ as you call them, don’t have good role models in their life. That’s what makes it hard for them to succeed. Look at your boy Obama. If it wasn’t for his grand parents, he would have been on another RAP video right now singing HOVA HOVA or some dumb ish like that! That’s why they need to institute these things like improving the AmeriCor, service in college programs and the like…
I’m an idealogue? I offer a couple of things we could do to make things better, and I’m an off the deep end idealogue, and then you turn around and do the same thing. Explain to me, boy genius, how the AmeriCor and college programs are going to help inner city youths and white trash rednecks that can’t stop pumping out babies? It won’t. Much like a bear that has been fed by humans, these people have lost the capability/intelligence/dignity to make their own ways in life and are relying on the generosity of others. The only way to get the bear to go back to hunting it’s own food is to cut off it’s supply of free, easy food. Either it will learn to hunt again or it will starve to death. And these pieces of **** will either get jobs, start using condoms, or they will live their lives in destitute f ucking poverty. The infrastructure in this country is falling apart. If we could start some big highway/bridge/school repair/expansion projects and take all of the able workers on the welfare rolls off of their government subsidized asses and put them to work, this country would be infinitely better off.
But I’m just a crazy idealogue with me “ideas” and s hit. :ugh2:
That’s what has been happening for the last 8 yrs. Now a lot of people were hit where it hurts most, like their pocket books or jobs and they elected change.
It’s been happening alot longer than that bro…and what’s unfortunate is that even our elected “change” is based in apathy- I think that alot of folks voted for “anything different”, rather than actually analyze the person they voted for.
I didn’t vote for Obama, but I hope he turns out to be a great President.
Why is it necessarily apathy? People did analyze the situation to the best of their abilities. All 100+ million who voted. You can seriously tell me that Palin didn’t weigh down McCain? Or the fact that he sold his beliefs and his ‘maverickism’ to win this election? What a phony he became during this election, it was actually embarrassing. But, I am digressing. I agree with you, no matter who you voted for, I hope that Obama hits the ground running and attacks the issues we face today. We have many challenges ahead of us, and I just hope they are willing to concentrate on them instead of worrying about partisanship…
How the **** do you know what will help these people? Have you ever lived in a seriously poverty stricken place? Have you experienced it with your own eyes? You are making plenty of assumptions. You are showing over and over again that you are a colossal ass! Read a sociology book before you start propagating more of flatulation. The infrastructure of this country isn’t falling apart because of handouts. Don’t blame one thing for the problem of the masses. I do agree that it would be great for us to have some hwy project like post '29 crash, or we could enter a war to help put jobs out there for people, but that’s only 1/2 the battle to begin with. You have to start it from the ground up. You are an idealogue, because things don’t work this way, it’s not just that simple and the point you are making is fistulated. It sounds good, but it has no substance.
:blah: :blah: you’re a colossal ass :blah: :blah: Your responses have no ****ing substance. And you even agreed with me on the entire point I was trying to make.
You offer nothing, you offer regirgitated rhetoric from Ron Pauls speeches. I never claimed to have all the answers, that’s your job to do on this site. I agreed with you on a hypothetical approach that isn’t even realistic right now, just historical facts, good points you make… :stick:
regurgitated Ron Paul rhetoric? whatever. I guess you could say I’m quoting Libertarian principles, which I make no qualms about, but my points are valid, and you agree with my “proposal”, so I fail to see what you’re getting so worked up about.
the welfare issue is a touchy subject. i know people who have no job, dont want to get a job, wont go to school but have 5 kids, live in the projects which they pay like 30$ a month in rent for because the govt gives them that. hell this one guy i know gets his welfare money and he would buy all kinds of steaks and stuff, come over to my friends house for cookouts and just provide the food. meanwhile he had 3 small kids at home that could be going to feed. 24yrs old, no job just sits on his ass all day and does nothing. then again they all grew up with the mentality that its ok to do this. their parents did it, their parents parents did it ect…
its sad
for a lot of people its an excuse to be lazy and as long as they are getting their money they dont care to do anything with themselves or become a productive member of society. now im not saying thats everyone and im sure you couldnt come up with a reasonable % that actually do this but ive seen this happen for years and years around here. if your working or at least trying to do something and you need some assistance then its fine. when its abused thats when its the problem but its not like football practice here. if one person ****s up you cant make the whole team run. maybe some better regulations could cut down on it being abused but ill leave that up to the suits in washington.
i dont wanna come off on a poor me story here but my mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and she is actually getting her surgery wed. she has no health benifits and if it wasnt for government assistance of some kind they wouldnt be able to do the surgery. is my mom a lazy unproductve person? no. but she doesnt have health benifits and going through the system was the only way for her to have done what she needed.
thats why i am glad that we have this because its helping people that ACTUALLY need it. you wouldnt believe how much bull**** she had to go through to even get it. which makes me wonder how people get this so easily that dont need it.
there is always going to be people that when you give them an inch they take a mile. this subject is no different. so i guess my point is that it pisses me off that people are abusing something meant to be helpful. i just hope they dont try to elminate it on the other hand because i know there is good people out there that need some help.
I offer a couple of things we could do to make things better, and I’m an off the deep end idealogue, and then you turn around and do the same thing. Explain to me, boy genius, how the AmeriCor and college programs are going to help inner city youths and white trash rednecks that can’t stop pumping out babies? It won’t. Much like a bear that has been fed by humans, these people have lost the capability/intelligence/dignity to make their own ways in life and are relying on the generosity of others. The only way to get the bear to go back to hunting it’s own food is to cut off it’s supply of free, easy food. Either it will learn to hunt again or it will starve to death. And these pieces of **** will either get jobs, start using condoms, or they will live their lives in destitute f ucking poverty. The infrastructure in this country is falling apart. If we could start some big highway/bridge/school repair/expansion projects and take all of the able workers on the welfare rolls off of their government subsidized asses and put them to work, this country would be infinitely better off.