replied to all that wasnt flung at sylis :3

I lived here 21 years, and no they're not.

What you read isn't always true, by my experience people are more selfish than generous. I base that on every single being i know and by every single day i have been alive. I don't have to read to realize it, I actually have a life were to find out about things i don't have to read an article were 80% of what the guy is writing is bull-s. I actually live through it.

People always look out for their interest first, sure there are some nice people but you can't generalize and say its all of the USA.

Christ Ducky thanks for post stealing

Ah well, you at least left me the things he aim directly at me.





I said I'd bet, meaning it was an opinion rather than a statistic. Making up statistics would be to say, "Only 5% of people on welfare abuse it."



Post subject: Re: USA, why is america bad Reply with quote
Wasn't it you who put something about the 10 forum commandments or something which stated not to make up a statistic? Kind of ironic here lol

Anyways, you underestimate the power of people's generosity. History has proven that the American people are some of the most generous people in the world. Of course that was back much more true back a couple generations when taxes weren't constantly increasing as the welfare state expanded, and when inflation was under much better control, but that isn't saying it has changed today.

Just take a look at the American Red Cross... They are so good that I would just let them take care of disaster relief instead of the government... Just have the military help in the initial disaster (they are AMAZING at that) and then kill off FEMA so they can't screw up again like after Katrina... once again, let charities and organizations do that.

And then guess what?! You are going to see a lot more people helping, and being HAPPY for helping... they are going to know that their money went directly to helping someone in need instead of being wasted up in the bureaucratic mess that is the US Government.

Once again, before you try to tell me that won't happen, history has shown perfectly well how that works just as I say. Don't believe me? Look it up.




You said you don't believe it should be a burden on others. I say imagine the world if it wasn't. If you still don't get it, your being sarcastic or stupid. Either way I'm not gonna break down the English language and simple concepts for you.





Why not cut 75% of the military funds and hire mercenary's?

Actually, that is what I am referring to.



You are thinking further back than I am. Sorry broski.

As for the slavery comment, nearly every "western" country had that. Many of our founding fathers fought to remove slavery in the writing of the Constitution, but the people weren't ready for that. That is a fact. Another fact, America has gotten rid of slavery, that was what? 140 years ago? Just doing some estimation there because I really don't care the exact length of time.

Now here is one thing that I really want to address... I am not living in the past, I am merely learning from it.

Quick question: Was the US the first to adopt a government based on unalienable human rights, freedom, and government by the people, for the people?

No.

The Israelites and the Anglo-Saxons were the only two entities who ever did so before. That is why Thomas Jefferson calls the basis for this country the "Ancient Principles." They worked for all three groups until the people allowed the government to waver away from these principles.

You see, the founding fathers learned from the past to create one of the best nations this Earth has ever known.

Anyways, to get back onto the actual reply to you guys...



How was that slippery slope? Seriously, that is a fact... people donating directly to a cause are happier than those who have their money forcibly taken (taxes) and distributed through welfare, even if they know exactly who that money is going to, and if they would have directly given it to them themselves. You underestimate the power of free will in giving happiness.



You obviously have no understanding of why the Constitution is so great, or why I believe the way that I do. Seriously, look into it, try, for ONCE in your life, to understand what the actual principles are behind the Constitution and why they are there. After you truly understand it, THEN you have the right to your opinion that it is "backwards," if you still believe that, that is. I highly doubt you will.

Also, the 13th Century... that is WAY before America... Just an FYI...



Are you insinuating that I read this in a book?

I too use my daily experiences to guide my opinions. I see a lot of people who genuinely want to do good, and who enjoy helping others. Are there genuinely selfish people out there? Yeah, you will never truly get rid of that. My point is that there is enough generosity to extremely outweigh the selfishness.



I just want to be clear here... just because someone may look after themselves first doesn't mean that they aren't extremely generous.

Most people, in my experience, might look after themselves first, but they do help others as well.



That you did, I was reading fast and missed that distinction.



Did you even read what I said?

I don't believe the mistakes of one should be a burden on ALL others, meaning welfare through government taxes. I also completely showed why the example you gave is not a burden on all others.

I am not missing the english language, or "simple concepts" but rather, I am missing how your original response even relates to my original statement. In other words, I was asking for CLARIFICATION. It was a simple way of giving you a chance to revisit your own words and fix anything you miswrote. Excuse me for giving you the benefit of the doubt.



I laughed at this statement. First I asked myself "wth is he talking about?" Then I thought "maybe he is referring to the bureaucratic mess that I referred to" and so I reread your statement. I laughed more because then you are just giving me an incredibly easy target to hit.

First things first, I took a very quick look for the estimated percentage of the US budget that is defense spending (wikipedia quick.)


So... 32%... pretty high, but then again, this is us being involved in 2 wars, and the whole war on terrorism fraud. If I had my way, that would be much lower anyways...

Back on topic though! Lets say you cut 75% of the military budget and replace them with mercenaries... Well, then you have an incredibly EASY way for corruption to rise up. If you don't understand why, then you don't understand how mercenaries work.

Either way though, as much of a destruction of value that the military is, I do not in any way condone the removal of it. The military is all about protecting what already exists as value (when used correctly... cough*) and is absolutely necessary to maintain when considering who else is in the world, and what other types of government are in use.

just like to say... NICE POST ITS FREAKING HUGE!!!

and... yay me first :3


thats not charity, its payment. its like scientology claiming its money is based on charitable grounds (they actually do, WTF). sure, some is good will, but a good hefty sum is forced by sociological standards.


i beg to differ. yes you are learning from the past, but your obsession seems to be that
"it has worked before, if we copy it, it will work again
it used to be NO welfare and USA did fine.."

<history :3>

my point was that what worked before wont work again with integrated markets, china as another domineering force using capitalism against capitalism (its actually more like fascism if i say so myself (pssst, corporationism made my uncle a multimillionaire, china is great if you support the party))


funny cause your reply to number 1 points in the DIRECT OPPOSITE.

as for the constitution, while it serves a very important purpose, such a rigid although somewhat flexible piece of legislation does not work well with the changing world that is today. if USA kept to the "we only fight wars in defense", USA would have no trading partners today.. if you do want to play by the rules do you know how hard it is to pass a referendum or amendment through? by then you could have lost everything. im just saying, it has its uses, its uses are limited.


so the native americans dont count do they? jokes, i was exaggerating, part of exaggerating is that you fluff a fact so it is false. welcome TO THE FUTURE! (see the exaggeration again?)


ie. Bill Gates (rampaged over competition, now helps the starving and poor in africa) its good to have something to back up a claim rather then just claim it in opinion.

i know you are directing stuff at sylis but let me pipe in :3

USA spends 49% of the worlds total budget on military.
Nato is like 28% (made up-ish, element of truth here)
Russia sucks up a good amount also.
everyone else is near negligible.

just saying... OVERKILL!!!


mercenaries+bureaucracy=awesome failure
mercenaries get paid on a terrorist by terrorist salary with a baseline pay.
there are reports of people that the mercs state are definitely terrorists, they get held in gitmo as a trophy to the world that the politicians are doing something... then... a couple years later after some light torture they get released on the condition they sign some things that say they can never tell their story or they face proper incarceration that has reason (the "terrorist" told people about the injustice )

Haha, I just wrote what my responses were... thanks?



Although I admit I could have written that statement much more clearly, you effed up BAD. I was trying to say that I was referring to those who are not societally pressured. Does that make some more sense now?



Once again, you do not understand the Constitution. I am done trying to explain this because it is obvious you do not want to understand it, if you did then you would listen, and maybe even do a little work yourself to understand it.

BTW: Never try to summarize an argument that you don't understand ever again, because it has worked before, if we learn from it, possibly improve it by using real scrutiny and experience as a guide, it will work again, possibly even better. In fact, in every example in history, those "ancient principles" were the single most successful principles on the face of this earth. That is why I believe so strongly that we should return to those principles, and to limit the government from diverting from them ever again, not by changing the Constitution, but by educating the people.

Also, I am not saying that no welfare is a good idea... I am just saying that everything needs to be in moderation, and everything needs to be looked at from as many sides as possible.

But just as a side note here... I want you to look up "Prosperity Economics" and educate yourself a little bit about it... Just get to the point that you understand the major points, and then come back and have a discussion about welfare and other socialistic tendencies with me.

As for your picture though, I hope that was just an attempt at being funny... the only good example of that picture is the great depression, and that was a very different picture than nearly every other time in US history.



And my point is that you say that because you don't understand how these things actually work.

As for China's style of economics, (btw, capitalism and fascism are entirely different things anyways) they have many capitalistic principles coupled with their communist governmental style (and yes, they are communist... the opposite of fascist...) Other than that I don't have much to say, I don't pay enough attention there.



I say again, you do not understand the Constitution.



Slippery slope. Sorry buddy, had to say it.

Also, I never said that wars should only be in defense. I believe that for the most part they should be, because having troops in over 120 countries in the world (don't remember the exact number, just know its above 120) is just absurd, and fighting 2 wars, one of them justified, is just stupid, etc. etc.



Just saying, you don't understand the Constitution.

The whole purpose of the Constitution is to limit the government in a way that keeps people's freedom while allowing governmental power to still exist. The point is that government cannot be too big or too small, because either of those possibilities causes major problems.

Seriously, look into what the Constitution is all about.



I fully understand exaggeration, as well as sarcasm. I also understand that it is incredibly hard to portray either of those through text and have it be received as such by the reader. That is why I try to leave them out of my posts (unless I just can't resist it.)



Its good, but I honestly don't care enough... if people want to dispute what my experiences are, well... more power to them I guess, they are just idiots for it.



Me too. There is no reason (as stated earlier) why we should have troops in most countries in the world. There is no reason why we should be the world's police force (we suck at it anyways...)

Although, when you consider how much of that money is wasted by corruption, or just plain inefficiency, it becomes more understandable why there is so much money put into it... lol



Other than the first statement, I have no comment on this... I don't know enough about the subject

But the equation is quite good. Props.

Meh , i heart America !
They have the best entertainment (movies , games) of the world
I love the english language (dont even dear mention the UK.....)
and the people are nice =3


As far as politics go with my country , they support NATO to protect us.
But , we did lose some soldiers supporting the US in Iraq , so thats negative...

ummm.... delete that post??

geez, look at the TOS please...