USA is sick...

[spring-peeper]

Do you have another source for that information? I've never considered friends of Louis Farrakhan the best of sources.

I'm fascinated by the South American alliances etc and google several of the countries on a regular basis. The article just popped up on a google search and contained information on Cuba. No clue who or what a "Louis Farrakhan" is or was. imo, the information in the article is accurate.

I thought this was going to be a thread on Cuba and the US. I was wrong - it's turning out to be another uk vs us thread.

 

[Yossarian]

Mears and his love of GDP. It doesn't matter how many times you tell him, he still won't listen: GDP is not a good indicator of wealth.

Yep, not much use trying to teach mears new things - but what can you expect from somebody who seems surprised and confused each and every time that people are discussing countries other than their own in a world politics forum?

 

[mears]

And I'm supposed to give a shit because?

GDP is not a good indicator of overall wealth, it indicates the success of "the economy" as an entity unto itself, which usually means the wealth of the rich under a capitalist system, with the wealth and welfare of workers coming much further down the list.


Being unemployed in the US and being unemployed in the EU are two very different things (though not for long, the way things are going).

What is a good indicator of wealth? You know, I think GDP per person (or per capita) is the best measure. Its not perfect but I think its the best.

Funny, I hear a people around here complain when I use it. But an alternative offered to this measure? No way. But how about you?

So What should we use to measure wealth? What statistics are better to implement?

 

[mears]

Usual Mears case of seeing what he wants to see.

edited to add:

We don't hangups about richer people like the Brits. To be rich is fabulous. I love money for instance.

Its not others prosperity its about YOUR prosperity. And the average American is more prosperous than the avewrage Euro.

 

[Backatcha Bandit]

To be rich is fabulous. I love money for instance.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Timothy 6:10

mears is teh devil!!!!11!

 

[ViolentPanda]

mears is teh devil!!!!11!

No he's not. He's just an ordinary common-or-garden arsehole.

remember, the Devil has all the best tunes, and mears only has one:

"If I was r;ch man...."

 

[Backatcha Bandit]

No he's not. He's just an ordinary common-or-garden arsehole.

I see mears as a victim, really.

A casualty of the systematic indoctrination that seeks to convince us all that we are naught but autonomous, independent consumers engaged in an entirely 'natural' competition, expressing our needs, dreams and desires as 'preferences' within an all encompassing 'market' denominated by economic 'values' who's total dominance is subserviant to no other 'value'. 'Money' = 'Good'.

Mears is the product of this. In the mind of Mears, all things can (and should) be reduced to a purely economic value. In the world of Mears, there is no other indicator of 'value' - it is, therefore, perhaps a little unfair of us to berate Mears for his inability to perceive his errors, while he is simply incapable of understanding a different or alternative expression of 'value', as his indoctrination is so complete that he lacks the intellectual tools necessary to perceive that any alternative 'value base' could possibly even exist.

You might as well try to describe a colour to someone who has been blind since birth.

That is where the sickness lies. It's a moral cancer. Mears is a terminal case.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

I'm fascinated by the South American alliances etc and google several of the countries on a regular basis. The article just popped up on a google search and contained information on Cuba. No clue who or what a "Louis Farrakhan" is or was. imo, the information in the article is accurate.

He was one of the people who claimed that Katrina was the wrath of god.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Farrakhan

I have my doubts about Cuba and Castro because I know someone who left there as a child and the stories she has told are harrowing. Things like secret police and informants living on every block. You can't hear first hand accounts like that and not be vary of glowing accounts that don't admit problems somewhere. (Although, I'm all for improving healthcare in any way that works.)

I thought this was going to be a thread on Cuba and the US. I was wrong - it's turning out to be another uk vs us thread.

All threads in P&P are merely versions of USUK dick measuring. Its just a matter of degree.

 

[spring-peeper]

He was one of the people who claimed that Katrina was the wrath of god.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Farrakhan

Oh, lovely. That would explain some of the comments. I didn't research the writer. The piece just echoed what I'd found out from news sources.

I have my doubts about Cuba and Castro because I know someone who left there as a child and the stories she has told are harrowing. Things like secret police and informants living on every block. You can't hear first hand accounts like that and not be vary of glowing accounts that don't admit problems somewhere. (Although, I'm all for improving healthcare in any way that works.)

I'm just watching a very strong alliance grow even stronger. In simple terms -they don't like the US much and the US knows it. It's interesting to watch them go at it. It's interesting to read the media releases from both sides.

Remember that 80% of the US foriegn oil comes from the America's and right now most of the US's neighbours really don't like the US very much.

 

[mears]

I see mears as a victim, really.

A casualty of the systematic indoctrination that seeks to convince us all that we are naught but autonomous, independent consumers engaged in an entirely 'natural' competition, expressing our needs, dreams and desires as 'preferences' within an all encompassing 'market' denominated by economic 'values' who's total dominance is subserviant to no other 'value'. 'Money' = 'Good'.

Mears is the product of this. In the mind of Mears, all things can (and should) be reduced to a purely economic value. In the world of Mears, there is no other indicator of 'value' - it is, therefore, perhaps a little unfair of us to berate Mears for his inability to perceive his errors, while he is simply incapable of understanding a different or alternative expression of 'value', as his indoctrination is so complete that he lacks the intellectual tools necessary to perceive that any alternative 'value base' could possibly even exist.

You might as well try to describe a colour to someone who has been blind since birth.

That is where the sickness lies. It's a moral cancer. Mears is a terminal case.

You see me as a victim Someone who has inherited a good chunk of change.

I really love money and the independence it brings. I come from money and make pretty good money. I can fly off to Zurich tomorrow if I want or tell my boss to piss off and not worry about it. I am 34 and don't plan on working past 40.

But I will tell you that money can't buy happiness. Material products don't buy happiness. I know plenty of very rich miserable people. They believe material goods will bring them peace and it does not. The only thing money can buy you is freedom from the 9 to 5 grind and piece of mind in case of emergency.


Money invites envy and jealousy. Its never good to advertise wealth, and I certainly do not.

 

[Barking_Mad]

We don't hangups about richer people like the Brits. To be rich is fabulous. I love money for instance.

Its not others prosperity its about YOUR prosperity. And the average American is more prosperous than the avewrage Euro.

Does the word EQUALITY mean anything to you? Are so you vain and self centred that you put your love for money ahead of that of your fellow man who was born into poverty and has no true means of escaping from it?

You can't take it with you when you're gone you know.........

 

[Barking_Mad]

I see mears as a victim, really.

A casualty of the systematic indoctrination that seeks to convince us all that we are naught but autonomous, independent consumers engaged in an entirely 'natural' competition, expressing our needs, dreams and desires as 'preferences' within an all encompassing 'market' denominated by economic 'values' who's total dominance is subserviant to no other 'value'. 'Money' = 'Good'.

Mears is the product of this. In the mind of Mears, all things can (and should) be reduced to a purely economic value. In the world of Mears, there is no other indicator of 'value' - it is, therefore, perhaps a little unfair of us to berate Mears for his inability to perceive his errors, while he is simply incapable of understanding a different or alternative expression of 'value', as his indoctrination is so complete that he lacks the intellectual tools necessary to perceive that any alternative 'value base' could possibly even exist.

You might as well try to describe a colour to someone who has been blind since birth.

That is where the sickness lies. It's a moral cancer. Mears is a terminal case.

Spot on matey. As much as Mears frustrates me I really do feel genuine sorrow for him. I hope some of what we say touches some part of his soul and that he looks around him and realises there's more to defining yourself than what you can afford to buy.

 

[fela fan]

Funny, I hear a people around here complain when I use it. But an alternative offered to this measure? No way. But how about you?

So What should we use to measure wealth? What statistics are better to implement?

Mate, stop measuring life. Live it.

Wealth is a figure, it's a concept, it's nothing to do with living life. There are the walking dead, and the living. Which one do you wanna be?

 

[fela fan]

Its not others prosperity its about YOUR prosperity. And the average American is more prosperous than the avewrage Euro.

And the average american and the average european spends virtually their whole life working. What's the point of having loads of money with no time to spend it? Do you want an excess of money, or sufficient money with an excess of time to enjoy your life?

You know, to me the US is work work work consume consume consume money money money. Is there anything else? What a heartbreaking waste of life.

 

[fela fan]

I am 34 and don't plan on working past 40.

But I will tell you that money can't buy happiness. Material products don't buy happiness. I know plenty of very rich miserable people. They believe material goods will bring them peace and it does not. The only thing money can buy you is freedom from the 9 to 5 grind and piece of mind in case of emergency.

Aha! Well, there's a lot of hope for you then mate. I hope you manage to stick to your plan. It's an exceedingly admirable one.

As for the 9 to 5 grind, well all i can say is that in this one post you've showed more sense than all your previous ones combined!

And forget zurich, that's europe. Go somewhere real, like africa or asia...

[your money will go a lot further too]

 

[fela fan]

Spot on matey. As much as Mears frustrates me I really do feel genuine sorrow for him. I hope some of what we say touches some part of his soul and that he looks around him and realises there's more to defining yourself than what you can afford to buy.

Read post #70 of his mate, you don't need to spend any energy feeling sorry for him. I think he's on the right path!

 

[JoePolitix]

Read post #70 of his mate, you don't need to spend any energy feeling sorry for him. I think he's on the right path!

In that post Mears describes himself as "Someone who has inherited a good chunk of change." and adds "I really love money and the independence it brings. I come from money and make pretty good money. I can fly off to Zurich tomorrow if I want or tell my boss to piss off and not worry about it. I am 34 and don't plan on working past 40."

And then rather bizarrely adds "Money invites envy and jealousy. Its never good to advertise wealth, and I certainly do not." Err you just did mate

 

[fela fan]

In that post Mears describes himself as "Someone who has inherited a good chunk of change." and adds "I really love money and the independence it brings. I come from money and make pretty good money. I can fly off to Zurich tomorrow if I want or tell my boss to piss off and not worry about it. I am 34 and don't plan on working past 40."

And then rather bizarrely adds "Money invites envy and jealousy. Its never good to advertise wealth, and I certainly do not." Err you just did mate

You missed out this bit that he wrote:

"But I will tell you that money can't buy happiness. Material products don't buy happiness. I know plenty of very rich miserable people. They believe material goods will bring them peace and it does not. The only thing money can buy you is freedom from the 9 to 5 grind and piece of mind in case of emergency."

Which shows that he has more awareness than most rich people.

Furthermore, i personally hate money and what it does to people, yet i'd love a big whack of it. Coz i'd then retire well ahead of being an old man.

 

[kakuma]

mears you're a fucking prick

compare cuba to grenada or haiti which did lose wars to the US to impose their system on them. they are all fucking skint as well, as are most americans.

 

[spring-peeper]

You missed out this bit that he wrote:

"But I will tell you that money can't buy happiness. Material products don't buy happiness. I know plenty of very rich miserable people. They believe material goods will bring them peace and it does not. The only thing money can buy you is freedom from the 9 to 5 grind and piece of mind in case of emergency."

Which shows that he has more awareness than most rich people.

Furthermore, i personally hate money and what it does to people, yet i'd love a big whack of it. Coz i'd then retire well ahead of being an old man.

Yes, I must admit in a bit jealous as well - retiring at 40? Well done!!!

But I fail to see what his financial status has to do with the topic on hand.

 

[mears]

Does the word EQUALITY mean anything to you? Are so you vain and self centred that you put your love for money ahead of that of your fellow man who was born into poverty and has no true means of escaping from it?

You can't take it with you when you're gone you know.........

I pay a lot of money in taxes, and I have never taken a handout from the government. I do give to charity.

People with money also create jobs. You ever got a job from a poor person?

They have to pay their share but not so much where its detrimental to economic growth

 

[mears]

In that post Mears describes himself as "Someone who has inherited a good chunk of change." and adds "I really love money and the independence it brings. I come from money and make pretty good money. I can fly off to Zurich tomorrow if I want or tell my boss to piss off and not worry about it. I am 34 and don't plan on working past 40."

And then rather bizarrely adds "Money invites envy and jealousy. Its never good to advertise wealth, and I certainly do not." Err you just did mate

But you don't know me, I just go by the name of "Mears" around here. If we met in person I would not make any statement about personal wealth. If we were going out to a resteraunt and I picked you up in my car you would find it quite normal, not fancy at all. You would not find me wearing any fancy jewelry or gucci loafers.

And though I do like money, I would hope we would spend the evening talking about sports, politics, dating, your significant other, anything but our bank accounts.

The people I work with have no idea that I have inherited money. Some close friends have figured it out however.

When people think you have more money things can change rather quickly. It seems to be human nature.

 

[mears]

Aha! Well, there's a lot of hope for you then mate. I hope you manage to stick to your plan. It's an exceedingly admirable one.

As for the 9 to 5 grind, well all i can say is that in this one post you've showed more sense than all your previous ones combined!

And forget zurich, that's europe. Go somewhere real, like africa or asia...

[your money will go a lot further too]

Yes, maybe I will visit you in Thailand

 

[fela fan]

Yes, maybe I will visit you in Thailand

Hopefully i'll not be working by that time! Two years is my aim.

But if you do mate, the topic will not be US vs europe.

No, we have many other things to discuss here!! And never political...

... and with your money mate, the beers are on you...

 

[Fez909]

And so it comes out, mears: With you constant crying of "we're the lucky ones" (meaning westerners), I guess you just meant "I'm the lucky one."

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

So what about Canada?

We have so-so healthcare, but our agriculture, GDP, political structure and currency are fine, thank you.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

so mears, now you've run out of your stock responses to any unflattering comparative criticism of your country, what DO you think of the fact that the US lags behind Cuba in secondary education and healthcare?

If Cuba's education system is so good, where is their Bill Gates or Jonas Salk?

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Seems it's so good US students are even studying medicine in Cuba now
leyes:

How do they do that, when it's illegal for Americans to travel to Cuba?

A medical degree won't do them much good in prison.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Very much OT, but I've never understood why Castro lets the US theocrats use his land to house their kidnap and torture victims, are they just bunging him a shitload of money ?

Just read up on google; it's all explained there.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

One thing, though: travel agents etc warn canadians planning to travel to the US, to ensure that they purchase excess health insurance to cover the trip. Something happens to you down there and you don't have it, you're facing the poorhouse.

When I used to drive down there with my buddies, we wouldn't get health insurance, and would joke that so long as it wasn't fatal, it was only a one or two hour flight back to a Canadian hospital. I know people who've done that - fallen sick in the US, and rushed to an airport, not a hospital.

Not to say the care is bad: it's excellent, probably the best in the world. It just costs a few bucks.

By contrast, a relative took sick on a flight, and ended up in a hospital near Heathrow. She said it was a pretty bleak place, but the care was good, and it was free.