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[quote=carlos primeros]hi dogs - i am sorry for you and i pitty you.
what you write here is for sure is meanwhile a widely accepted opinion in the us.[/quote]please, not so fast, carlos. don't think for a minute that all of the vitriol dogs spews represents the views of most americans.
sure, there are plenty of people who are unable to apply critical analysis and must have the administration, fox news, and rush limbaugh, and anne coulter, et al, to do all of their thinking for them.
there are an awful lot of ugly americans, and many of the rest of us are embarrassed by them. but they remain in the minority.
please remember that it is not even disputed that mr. bush received fewer votes than his opponent in 2000. and it is extremely likely that the counting was less than forthright in 2004.
there is a major battle going on within america for the soul of this nation. the right wing learned that it benefits them in elections to manipulate the feeble minded by dividing people over bogus issues such as gay rights, religious litmus tests on abortion, and racist rants over immigration.
add in the fear mongering whipped up with periodic references to 9-11 and terrorism, and you can see that the real economic and global issues have barely had a hearing in recent elections here.
our forefathers, inspired by the french, believed in the free marketplace of ideas and wrote it into the first amendment to our constitution.
they realized that the best way to deal with the inane ranting of those like dogs is to expose them to the largest amount of people possible, confident that enough people will eventually reject such nonsense.
it is a slow process, but it is effective. for example, no politician any longer dares to declare "segregation forever" in this country. it has been banished from the lexicon of political speech in this country through the enlightenment of the majority.
the conservatives are so rabid at this time because slowly but surely they are losing the culture wars in america.
instead it is the silence surrounding the most critical issues that is the real problem.
there is very little discourse on diverting our foreign policy establishment and military machine from supporting the corporate interests which have created the very "monsters" that you cited to temporarily serve their interests.
in the meantime, these businesses influence our government to invade the countries whose leaders choose not to play ball with the corporate masters.
naturally, when our government supports the ovethrow of chavez by coup, we are going to make a permanent enemy out of him. it amazes me that the conservatives just can't get their mind around that concept.
these corporate forces are so powerful that i don't know if they will ever be reigned in. i don't expect it to happen in my lifetime, anyway.
finally, let me also say that i have had the privilege to visit europe on a couple of occasions. i was pleased that the people there were easily able to discern and separate the issues surrounding our government from the essence of the american people.
everyone there treated me wonderfully!
db
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[QUOTE=Dodger Bulldog]There is very little discourse on diverting our foreign policy establishment and military machine from supporting the corporate interests . . .
In the meantime, these businesses influence our government to invade the countries whose leaders choose not to play ball with the corporate masters.
Naturally, when our government supports the ovethrow of Chavez by coup, we are going to make a permanent enemy out of him. It amazes me that the conservatives just can't get their mind around that concept.
These corporate forces are so powerful that I don't know if they will ever be reigned in. I don't expect it to happen in my lifetime, anyway.
Finally, let me also say that I have had the privilege to visit Europe on a couple of occasions. I was pleased that the people there were easily able to discern and separate the issues surrounding our government from the essence of the American people.
Everyone there treated me wonderfully!
DB[/QUOTE]
Hi Dodger. Well put.
There's a reasonably good article in The Economist today on this point. On the one hand there is the argument about whether America should be engaging in 'smallish wars of choice' at all. But it points out that the real choice for the military planners is in coping with the *likely*, not to restrict democratically elected politicians' options.
America is likely to keep getting involved in such foreign involvements. The 'Chavez coup' possibility you mention, in the language of most planners, merely means that more resources need to be devoted to possible guerrilla actions ('men on the ground') to counter the new enemies of disaffected people, as opposed to high-tech development and deployment (as used in conventional wars). This is similar to the post-invasion Iraq strategy - if the righteous occupation has pushed thousands of people into the cohorts of the terrorists, then more has to be done to combat the additional terrorists in terms of manpower and intelligence, not to avoid creating the situation in the first place.
Avoiding war and sales of arms means massive loss of revenue. Which is maybe one of the reasons there is so little planning for it. (Using a similar type of circular logic, if military options are costly on the economy, then the financial rewards need to be made even greater.) Military options, like 'diplomacy', are geared to financial benefits. The military ones simply have added financial benefits.
I think most Europeans are aware that most (or the large contingent of) Americans don't support Bush. The U.S. is simply stuck with him. Maybe we can just hope he doesn't find a way in his remaining term to start world war three. Some of the European generosity of spirit may in part be the simmering awareness that we may (especially Brits) have to apologise for our own government when we go abroad to certain politically aware developing countries.
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Well said, even though my employment revolves around the oil industry and I have made the most money I have ever made I still cannot force myself to support this spineless moron (Bush). The only consulation we have at the moment is to hang on until he gets out. But, if we are involved in a major war will the election still be held? This could be the foundation for his proposal to invade Iran. That way the crook and Mr. Halliburton will be able to add a few more billion dollars to the oil cartel money before he gets out.
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Chavez & Clinton
Chavez ran on national health care and nationalized the oil companies.
That he is a dictator there is no doubt.
Clinton is running on national health care and wants to sieze the profits of the oil companies (nationalizing).
Is it any wonder the same lib nuts who support Cavez support Clinton?
Wait let me guess, you belive in Global Warming.
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[QUOTE=Wise Buddy]As a German all the american citizens I ask - no one has elected Mr.Bush.
In between I ask myself who has elected the president - only hillbillies and rednecks?
And about a "little war" in Venezuela.
I remember when the crew of an american warship informed Mr.Bush "mission completed".
What a lie!
The USA have their new Vietnam in Irak already, and now another Vietnam in the backyard of the US?
The US even didnt suceed in little Haiti - what a disgrace - but what can you expect from a cowardish president who never served in the miltiary?
The hypocrisy of the population of the US is that Monica Lewinsky made more opponents to the president than thousands of dead soldiers in Irak nowadays!
War seems to be better than a BJ.
Are the majority of the US poulation war mongers?
Its ridiculous.
W.B.[/QUOTE]
I don't think you'll ever run into somebody that is able to travel internationally supports Bush.
You would be shocked how many people are asleep at the wheel in this country.
They are easily fooled, easily hoodwinked!
It helps if Fox News, Bill O'Reily et al wordsmith everything to for those easily fooled (many of them in the hills of the Eastern US and Deep South). That ends up being many, many people. Combine that with shenanigans by the Republican party and you have what you have currently.
Many of us don't like it but feel powerless to stop it currently. We elected a majority Democratic Congress and what's happening? Resolutions to stop Move-on.org and beat the drum for starting war with Iran. Not passing S chip is one thing, but not stopping the veto by Bush is inexcusable.
So many of us are reaching and asking for Gore to re-run again and bullshiet like that...
The candidates that make any sense will not gain enough traction to get elected (Ron Paul and Dennis Kusinisch) we'll end up with either Hilary, or Edwards I would think and that would actually be an improvement on all fronts.
I am about ready to jump ship. My father's death has given me the income to actually consider such a move.
Some seem to think an Iran attack won't happen, I think its about 50/50 now... And the rhetoric is the same, just the words changed around a bit.
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The US is going to get less involved in foreign affairs in the coming decades, its economic presence is not as dominating as it used to be, there are other big economic players on the horizon. Part of the reason why the US was able to interfere in the affairs of smaller countries was its unchallenged economic leverage. Chavez is cooing Europe right now and the EU is buying favors worldwide. China is moving into Africa to get a hold of the continent's resources. India will be doing the same in another 20 years or so.
Don't get confused, Europeans are not out for the good of the common man, the EU is an expansionist Imperialist organization.
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[QUOTE=CBGBConnisur]The US is going to get less involved in foreign affairs in the coming decades, its economic presence is not as dominating as it used to be, there are other big economic players on the horizon. Part of the reason why the US was able to interfere in the affairs of smaller countries was its unchallenged economic leverage. Chavez is cooing Europe right now and the EU is buying favors worldwide. China is moving into Africa to get a hold of the continent's resources. India will be doing the same in another 20 years or so.
Don't get confused, Europeans are not out for the good of the common man, the EU is an expansionist Imperialist organization.[/QUOTE]
That may well be true, however just like the debate in global warming, not everybody is signaling the the death of the US as a economic and social powerhouse even in the next 50-100 years.
Most of it is the fact that China has way too many uneducated and unskilled labor. The story is the same with India. You really think these nations with large populations are all of a sudden going to leapfrog the US???
To be honest sooner or later the changes that are needed to keep America on top will be made. The last time the Republican party was in power during a war (WWI), we got The Great Depression. When policy was changed by FDR, the middle class exploded and kept progressive presidents in POWER despite being killed off (Kennedy).
When we didn't have strong progressive candidates (Not everything Nixon did was BAD, but....) something happen negatively and because of that we didn't get any real change until Carter. But as soon as the hostages were released and Regan put into office, he being apart of the New American Century was going to finally put their "new ideas" to work, we got Reganomics and the largest spending on our military in our history.
Granted we are using that first in Kuwait and now in Iraq/Afghanistan, but last I heard until new bullets/guns were made we were using ammo and guns from Vietnam now on year 4 in Iraq/Afghanistan.
Still 30% agrees with the war, believes Saddam had something to do with 9/11 and they are still making that connection whenever they can in the White House.
The other 70% are ready for real change where its needed - HERE
All we have to do is right the ship and we'll dominate because unlike those places that are usually mentioned as the next "power" in the world do not have the [b]diversity[/b] which is our strength.
The EU has in-fighting, different cultures and welfare to other countries. It will take a LONG time and they'll need the UK on board to even THINK about replacing the US as a dominating force.
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[QUOTE=DJ FourMoney]That may well be true, however just like the debate in global warming, not everybody is signaling the the death of the US as a economic and social powerhouse even in the next 50-100 years.
Most of it is the fact that China has way too many uneducated and unskilled labor. The story is the same with India. You really think these nations with large populations are all of a sudden going to leapfrog the US???
To be honest sooner or later the changes that are needed to keep America on top will be made. The last time the Republican party was in power during a war (WWI), we got The Great Depression. When policy was changed by FDR, the middle class exploded and kept progressive presidents in POWER despite being killed off (Kennedy).
When we didn't have strong progressive candidates (Not everything Nixon did was BAD, but....) something happen negatively and because of that we didn't get any real change until Carter. But as soon as the hostages were released and Regan put into office, he being apart of the New American Century was going to finally put their "new ideas" to work, we got Reganomics and the largest spending on our military in our history.
Granted we are using that first in Kuwait and now in Iraq/Afghanistan, but last I heard until new bullets/guns were made we were using ammo and guns from Vietnam now on year 4 in Iraq/Afghanistan.
Still 30% agrees with the war, believes Saddam had something to do with 9/11 and they are still making that connection whenever they can in the White House.
The other 70% are ready for real change where its needed - HERE
All we have to do is right the ship and we'll dominate because unlike those places that are usually mentioned as the next "power" in the world do not have the [b]diversity[/b] which is our strength.
The EU has in-fighting, different cultures and welfare to other countries. It will take a LONG time and they'll need the UK on board to even THINK about replacing the US as a dominating force.[/QUOTE]
Asian countries have been dominant many times in history, and they had large uneducated populations. If you really think of it, many Americans are left out in the cold compared to the rich and famous. This is nothing new. China is not a democracy, its a police state and one that works really well.
The EU infighting is minimal, they do not need the UK, in fact, without the UK, European integration would have occurred much sooner. Continental Europeans see the UK as agent of the US like Asians see Japan in the same way, although the UK is much closer with the US while Japan is moving away from America back towards Asia.
The Dollar is in its sick phase not only because of politics but because of constant trade deficits and massive debts held by individual Americans and the government. Unfortunately, we depend upon the rest of the planet to help finance this debt but now many countries do not want to do this. Bush has completely tarnished America's image for a long time. The Dollar is also the basis of much of America's influence around the globe which is diminishing rapidly.
One funny example of how the Dollar has lost its status is Gisele Bundchen, she refuses to paid in US Dollars and only takes contracts in Euros. Her business manager says its because of "dollar uncertainty".
Comparing the Vietnam Era to today is irrelevant, the USA was far more powerful than any other country or bloc during that time despite the fact that the economy in absolute terms was weak in those days. These days the world is more multipolar, it was relatively easy for the US to pull out of Vietnam and come back strong, because there was far more pro US sentiment in those days as the US was a hedge against the Soviets.
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[QUOTE=CBGBConnisur]
Comparing the Vietnam Era to today is irrelevant, the USA was far more powerful than any other country or bloc during that time despite the fact that the economy in absolute terms was weak in those days.[/QUOTE]
The economy throughout the world, but particularly in the US, was FAR better in absolute terms during the Vietnam era than it is today, CBGB.
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[QUOTE=DJ FourMoney]Most of it is the fact that China has way too many uneducated and unskilled labor. The story is the same with India. You really think these nations with large populations are all of a sudden going to leapfrog the US???[/QUOTE]
China'a rampant development can't be ignored, neither India's. Both have a well educated ambitious middle class of approx. 200 million. Entire population of the USA is 300 millions (EU 460 millions).
Especially China is eager to become an economic, strategic and political powerhouse. Goals like sending manned mission to the moon in 15 years (first Chinese lunar probe was launched two weeks ago), building world's largest dam (completed), sustained growth etc.
I would also be cautious about dismissing India, which is well known for its highly skilled IT sector. Current development in India allows many Indian engineers to stay there, and still make relatively good money. And this is only the beginning. Did you know that western corporations expand mostly in East and not home in EU or N. America?
[QUOTE=DJ FourMoney]To be honest sooner or later the changes that are needed to keep America on top will be made. The last time the Republican party was in power during a war (WWI), we got The Great Depression. When policy was changed by FDR, the middle class exploded and kept progressive presidents in POWER despite being killed off (Kennedy).[/QUOTE]
What makes you think American decision makers prefer to wait? And why not rather sooner than later?
Truth is that old concepts can't be applied to new world order. No changes are made because your leaders either can't agree on what to do, or don't have a fix-it-all solution. Simple as that.
Main problems, roughly: A comfortable middle class living beyond its means, expensive foreign policy (interventions overseas), and competition from emerging markets (cheap import from China and India).
How do you tell your voters, to work more for less?
How do you get out of Iraq and Afghanistan without losing your face?
How do you make China to devalue its currency (which is essential for the USA)?
How do you save the U.S dollar from becoming a "peso"?
[QUOTE=DJ FourMoney]When we didn't have strong progressive candidates (Not everything Nixon did was BAD, but....) something happen negatively and because of that we didn't get any real change until Carter.[/QUOTE]
And who are these "strong progressive candidates" today? Hillary, Obama, or the other camp, busy arguing over who's more conservative than just conservative?
[QUOTE=DJ FourMoney]All we have to do is right the ship and we'll dominate because unlike those places that are usually mentioned as the next "power" in the world do not have the [b]diversity[/b] which is our strength.
The EU has in-fighting, different cultures and welfare to other countries. It will take a LONG time and they'll need the UK on board to even THINK about replacing the US as a dominating force.[/QUOTE]
You have to make up your mind on diversity. Either it's a strenght or weakness, you can't have both. EU is very diversified, but to a lesser extent than the USA, in my opinion.
India not diversified? The constitution grants official status to 22 languages, just an example.
Also, if we assume diversity being such a strength, then why have all American presidents been white Anglo-Saxon Protestant Christian males, with Kennedy as the only 'deviant' (Catholic)?
Isn't it funny how you express scepticism towards EU, and simultaneously have unproportional respect for the UK? This reminds me of the pre-Euro era, when basically nobody in the USA believed in EU integration nor euro currency. It didn't take long to drastically change people's mind, did it?
Besides, wouldn't it be wise to elaborate on why EU wouldn't be able to bring integration process further without the UK, instead of bringing totally unsupported (and incorrect) statements into the debate?
Everyone, both in corporate and political world, knows that you have to grow and merge to get bigger and stronger. Small nations simply don't count, and the UK leaders know it. What credible altervatives are there for the UK? Please, tell me.
Brits, sorry, the English, are the most EU sceptic nation among EU members and it's beyond my imagination why they haven't been kicked out yet. Either you want to build the organization you are member of, or you step aside. Well, here comes the tricky part.
On one hand you have a population which is obsessed with Germany (they bombed London and are #1 in EU, what?!) and France (perpetual rival and best mate with Germany), and on the other you are obliged to defend democracy and let people have their say. Today, if the government would let people vote, they most likely wouldn't vote in favour of EU membership, euro currency or whatever, just for the sake of it - But who knows, once you actually stand there and decide your own future. Tony Blair [url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/eu/story/0,,2058758,00.html]used tricks[/url] to avoid referendum and today Gordon Brown is doing [url=http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9726707]everything he can[/url], not to let people have their say. God forbid, the mob could vote in "wrong" direction, and we (the UK government) don't want this to happend, do we? After all, we do 70% of our trade with EU... just to start with...
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The biggest problem in the US is IMO the car culture. That's what causes the enormous amounts of waste and inefficiency which is preventing us from competing in a global marketplace. It also right now keeps us face down sucking on the oil titty and we can't budge.
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[QUOTE=Bango Cheito]The biggest problem in the US is IMO the car culture. That's what causes the enormous amounts of waste and inefficiency which is preventing us from competing in a global marketplace. It also right now keeps us face down sucking on the oil titty and we can't budge.[/QUOTE]
Ignore BC constant beating of the "I hate cars" drum. He isn't a car guy could never understand. It fine he doesn't have one, there others like YOU in the US which is fine, ride your bikes I don't care I don't drive in the bike lane you have nothing to worry about.
There is movement and people want change. Its hard to do when largely the mass media isn't covering this coming change.
Leu -
I agree with your comments and yes I was making general statements and using opinion, I have not done of ton of research.
Yes some of our leaders cannot agree on many infrastructure policies but the fact remains that Carter had us on a road to oil independence and Regan took down the solar panels off the White House and Bush Sr had them destroyed.
Bushies are connected to big oil, duh they are big oil. So as BC would like to say they rather have us sucking on the oil titty, it ensures maximum profit with light crude reaching almost $100 a barrel.
I believe major change will happen before we hit rock bottom. Clinton and Obama may be leading opinion polls but at the grassroots level its a different tune. Myself I am about to endorse Edwards but mostly because he has a better chance than Kucinich has at getting the nomination.
Yes Obama and Hilary seem to be Republican "Light" as the term goes. As they included HMO's in their health care reform plans (so has Edwards for that matter) but what really needs to happen is campaign reform which will help get the right people into the house ans senate and in-turn return us to how the forefathers wanted this country to run with a system of checks and balances. Not PERFECT but when it runs right its better than anybody else's idea.
How do you tell your voters, to work more for less?
[i]Work more for less? I work less and make about the same...[/i]
Give me free health care and readjust the tax system pre-Regan era and you'll solve most of that question. Both could happen...
How do you get out of Iraq and Afghanistan without losing your face?
[i]Who's worry about saving face? We already have "egg" on out faces. The fact is we Won the war part, the occupation is what is gone horribly wrong.[/i]
Just pull out and let them destroy themselves if that's what they want...Its not like the middle east is ever going to be tourist friendly area anyway.
How do you make China to devalue its currency (which is essential for the USA)?
[i]I am not an economist however as I understand it, we had a system of tarfits and such for 100 years that protected our markets until largely the Republicans looking out for their big business buddies wanted to go into cheaper labor, allow illegals into the job market and weaken US unionized labor. Well 30 years later and the only Union left with any teeth is the UAW. I worked for 2 companies that strongly discourage you to NOT join Unions or talk to Union reps or you'll loose your job on the spot.
Change a few things around and get a handle on immigration and the dollar would automatically be stronger than China's currency devaluing it instantly. Surprise however is that no matter how much stuff Walmart sells, the stuff coming out of China is largely JUNK, because companies are interested in maximum profit along with having super cheap labor.[/i]
How do you save the U.S dollar from becoming a "peso"?
Won't happen, many Americans have had it up to _____ with Mexicans and other groups form Central America. Prosecute the companies that hire these people and part of your problem is solved. Socially I don't have an answer to the many jobs MANY Americans won't do regardless of the money involved. There are image stigmas attached to alot of these careers and for men many women won't accept being married to -
Factory Worker
Shuttle Bus Driver
Long Haul Truck Driver
Farm Worker
Food Plant Production Worker
How many jobs is that in the US??? and I only listed a couple of them.
I was a Long Haul Trucker, Oh yeah I had to beat women off me, are you kidding???
As long as they feel the need to brag about the career of their husbands, the neighborhoods they live in and the cars they drive, it will force many men to shun such employment. I was listening to a radio show on Sirius last Saturday about this subject and he was like I have to hire illegals because I can't get the crank users to stop using long enough to pass a drug test and on top of that, many people won't work graveyard shifts and often back out when he needs people and this is Montana, not Los Angeles!
To be honest I am not worried about that very much because if he was paying $50,000 a year to drive a Shuttle to the Airport, I am not living in Montana to work for him.
I have standards!
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Cars are the MAJOR part of the problem but the problem in and of itself is waste and inefficiency. Cars are INCREDIBLY wasteful and the US and Canada are just about the only countries on Earth who abuse them to such an extent that we do. It is IMPOSSIBLE for any society to have the car as the major mode of transportation and be able to sustain it over the long term. It just uses too goddamn much energy. Takes up too much space. Causes too much traffic and accidents. Period. Even if cars ran on air they'd be a dumb idea as personal transport, especially in big cities where traffic can easily get unbearable.
But for some other examples, look at the way we waste paper products. And Americans have the fucking NERVE to ***** about in other countries when they get a hot dog and are handed two napkins instead of the NOVEL's worth that everybody takes.
But don't let me stop there, since I can only think about cars. Do you realize how much energy we waste by washing our clothes in hot water and taking hot showers? Both of these are under most normal circumstances completely necessary and wasteful and maybe even UNHEALTHY. People get all sorts of diseases from the shit that breeds in hot water tanks, not to mention the damage done to your skin, immune system etc. Washing clothes in hot water shortens their life exponentially. Once again, this is almost exclusively and American/Canadian phenomenon. Almost ALL the rest of the world gets by with cold water, perhaps they have a little heater that will warm the water up a little for taking a shower.
I could also get started on agribusiness and the food supply but that would be a rant that could go on for days on end almost.
If and when a government is willing to tackle THESE problems, America will start to get better again, and start experiencing REAL growth instead of just fake credit-based "growth" financed by the Japanese and Chinese and Arabs. Until then we will continue to slide. I think many countries will have surpassed us as world powers by the time we finally wake the fuck up.
And I havent even touched the more pressing issues of erosion of civil liberties etc.
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[QUOTE=Bango Cheito]Cars are the MAJOR part of the problem but the problem in and of itself is waste and inefficiency. Cars are INCREDIBLY wasteful and the US and Canada are just about the only countries on Earth who abuse them to such an extent that we do. It is IMPOSSIBLE for any society to have the car as the major mode of transportation and be able to sustain it over the long term. It just uses too goddamn much energy. Takes up too much space. Causes too much traffic and accidents. Period. Even if cars ran on air they'd be a dumb idea as personal transport, especially in big cities where traffic can easily get unbearable.
But for some other examples, look at the way we waste paper products. And Americans have the fucking NERVE to ***** about in other countries when they get a hot dog and are handed two napkins instead of the NOVEL's worth that everybody takes.
But don't let me stop there, since I can only think about cars. Do you realize how much energy we waste by washing our clothes in hot water and taking hot showers? Both of these are under most normal circumstances completely necessary and wasteful and maybe even UNHEALTHY. People get all sorts of diseases from the shit that breeds in hot water tanks, not to mention the damage done to your skin, immune system etc. Washing clothes in hot water shortens their life exponentially. Once again, this is almost exclusively and American/Canadian phenomenon. Almost ALL the rest of the world gets by with cold water, perhaps they have a little heater that will warm the water up a little for taking a shower.
I could also get started on agribusiness and the food supply but that would be a rant that could go on for days on end almost.
If and when a government is willing to tackle THESE problems, America will start to get better again, and start experiencing REAL growth instead of just fake credit-based "growth" financed by the Japanese and Chinese and Arabs. Until then we will continue to slide. I think many countries will have surpassed us as world powers by the time we finally wake the fuck up.
And I havent even touched the more pressing issues of erosion of civil liberties etc.[/QUOTE]
I agree with you on the bases that we have REAL problems.
Cars are a big issue, however you can change what the cars run on, releasing us from outsourcing our oil reserves and E85 is cleaner burning and made locally. Cellulosic Ethanol is part of a overall answer, along with Solar, renewable energies, etc, etc.
I would run my own car on E85 and I already have the forms and approval from the Feds to make my own. However I can't just setup boilers and shhh at the house just yet. When I can and when I switch all the cars at home to run on E85 I am activity doing my part and I will have fun at the same time. I will re-tune all the cars to run on E85 or even E100 and they'll make more power and get back some of the energy lost which will improve mileage. It will make my car faster because its turbocharged, I can run more boost :)
I want to build a house that runs on 90% Solar power and the rest cheap for the west coast Natural Gas and there are affordable ways to do this and not pay $400,000 for a shack in South Central LA like I saw on "Flip That House" on TLC yesterday. My option would be CHEAP if DONE CORRECTLY and cost less overall.
I support public transportation and would use it, if we had anything that looked like London's Underground or Germany's Die Bahn system.
So don't think I just wanna pollute and continue down the same path because its the most convenient. I can blend my lifestyle with conservation without turning my life upside-down.
On the Political side, all I can really do is vote and bug my local rep. When people change how things are run in Washington then my single vote will carry more weight than it does now.
Yes I am concerned about my civil liberties and a member of several newsgroups that keep track of things.
Oh well, I just like my car and I am not like the many other people that should use public transportation but don't. In reality those people really don't need a car. My sister is doing just fine without one in New York....
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The US Dollar is falling because of Mexican immigrants??? Give me a break, the Dollar is falling because of the excessive amount of debt that individual Americans and the government have created over the past 30 years. It also has to do with America spending more than they produce. If you wanted to single out a country for the Dollar's fall, look at China, they have the largest reserves of US dollars on the planet, and are slowly selling them off. Of course if they dumped it the dollar would collapse and they would screw themselves, but they are slowly getting out of the dollar and diversifying, as are all the OPEC countries.
India and China now produce more scientists and engineers than the US, even in the US the smartest students at the universities often come from Asian backgrounds. Many of these international students often get asked to go home once they finish, so their education and training benefit their home countries instead of the US. Every MAJOR US AND EUROPEAN CORPORATION has substantial operations in both countries.
The USA will still be a well off country if it plays its cards well but global competition is heating up.
The UK is the most anti EU nation, its an impediment to the EU more than a benefit. If it wasn't for the UK, the EU would have been integrated much sooner.
