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For all of the people who can't stand a little negativity, I say go fly a kite. The State of Maryland is far from perfect as you seem to believe. We wouldn't be doing the OP any favors if we hid things like the exorbitant tax rate from him.
And why is pointing out the exorbitant taxes in Maryland "negativity"? It should be a good thing to the majority of Maryland voters, who continually vote for these exorbitant taxes, right?
I suspect that the people whining about "negativity" are the same ones who elect the politicians that are perpetually raising taxes. Why they think high taxes are a negative is amusing since they are the ones responsible for it. Own your mess, DaveInMtAiry and others!
For all of the people who can't stand a little negativity, I say go fly a kite. The State of Maryland is far from perfect as you seem to believe. We wouldn't be doing the OP any favors if we hid things like the exorbitant tax rate from him.
And why is pointing out the exorbitant taxes in Maryland "negativity" It should be a good thing to the majority of Maryland voters, who continually vote for these exorbitant taxes, right?
I suspect that the people whining about "negativity" are the same ones who elect the politicians that are perpetually raising taxes. Why they think high taxes are a negative is amusing since they are the ones responsible for it. Own your mess, DaveInMtAiry and others!
Trace21230, I am from the Netherlands. From my perspective the taxes in Maryland are ultra-crazily-radically low. I am talking about insanely low. If a politician talked about lowering taxes to the level of Maryland, he would be laughed at and there would be uproar. It would probably considered undo-able and an impossibly low tax rate. We probably pay 5 times as much in taxes, but probably more.
It is actually a bit of a joke we have in Europe about these Americans raving about "exorbitant taxes" when they have no idea what high taxes are. Same thing with things like "high gas (petrol) rates". You Americans pay about 1/3 or even 1/4 what we pay, yet become lunatics when the price is raised by ten cents.
So yes it seems like negativity. Have you ever lived in another "first world" country? It is hard for many Europeans to admit, but you guys have it very good. Your income is significantly higher, but you pay way less in taxes and have a much lower cost of living. And then you have these unbeatable selection of cities and climates and regions to choose from. You are a bit like the guy who lives in the biggest mansion in town, and is complaining about how bad he has it.
So if we are talking about negativity, let's talk about it. The obvious worst thing about America is the inequality especially faced by Blacks in parts of Baltimore for example. But it is always amusing that they never seem to be the ones having these whining fits like small children about how oppressive the USA government is. Sorry, but weren't they the ones who were under slavery, then apartheid and all of these things? They should be the "crazies" always making a rant, but no, it's always some nutcase gun-toting white guy who has a decent job, and a nice lifestyle out in the open country and thinks he is "oppressed" by an imaginary overbearing government like Obama or anyone who is even a centrist (still on the right in world politics) is Hitler.
Take a a year in Europe, the rest of America (Canada, Brazil), Australia, and Asia, and get back to me about how high your taxes are and how bad everything is.
Trace21230, I am from the Netherlands. From my perspective the taxes in Maryland are ultra-crazily-radically low. I am talking about insanely low. If a politician talked about lowering taxes to the level of Maryland, he would be laughed at and there would be uproar. It would probably considered undo-able and an impossibly low tax rate. We probably pay 5 times as much in taxes, but probably more.
It is actually a bit of a joke we have in Europe about these Americans raving about "exorbitant taxes" when they have no idea what high taxes are. Same thing with things like "high gas (petrol) rates".
No, not true. Although the price per gallon is much higher in the Netherlands, Americans pay on average 2.99% of their income to fuel, and the Dutch 1.69% because of more fuel efficient cars, much less urban sprawl and walkable and more livable cities.
Trace21230, I am from the Netherlands. From my perspective the taxes in Maryland are ultra-crazily-radically low. I am talking about insanely low. If a politician talked about lowering taxes to the level of Maryland, he would be laughed at and there would be uproar. It would probably considered undo-able and an impossibly low tax rate. We probably pay 5 times as much in taxes, but probably more.
It is actually a bit of a joke we have in Europe about these Americans raving about "exorbitant taxes" when they have no idea what high taxes are. Same thing with things like "high gas (petrol) rates". You Americans pay about 1/3 or even 1/4 what we pay, yet become lunatics when the price is raised by ten cents.
So yes it seems like negativity. Have you ever lived in another "first world" country? It is hard for many Europeans to admit, but you guys have it very good. Your income is significantly higher, but you pay way less in taxes and have a much lower cost of living. And then you have these unbeatable selection of cities and climates and regions to choose from. You are a bit like the guy who lives in the biggest mansion in town, and is complaining about how bad he has it.
So if we are talking about negativity, let's talk about it. The obvious worst thing about America is the inequality especially faced by Blacks in parts of Baltimore for example. But it is always amusing that they never seem to be the ones having these whining fits like small children about how oppressive the USA government is. Sorry, but weren't they the ones who were under slavery, then apartheid and all of these things? They should be the "crazies" always making a rant, but no, it's always some nutcase gun-toting white guy who has a decent job, and a nice lifestyle out in the open country and thinks he is "oppressed" by an imaginary overbearing government like Obama or anyone who is even a centrist (still on the right in world politics) is Hitler.
Take a a year in Europe, the rest of America (Canada, Brazil), Australia, and Asia, and get back to me about how high your taxes are and how bad everything is.
Many Americans know quite well how socialist European states operate in terms of taxation, regulation, the absence of basic liberties, and we want NOTHING to do with it.
When Marylanders compare our state to the rest of the US, we see ourselves going down the Euro path. Many think this is just fine. These citizens keep electing officials that follow this political view. A minority of us don't. We get frustrated, and yes, quiet negative, because our state has changed dramatically in just the last 2-3 decades to a point where we are effectively silenced at the voting booth.
BTW, check out the term "race riots" before you go propping up black Americans as lacking in negativity. Maybe you don't consider massive acts of violence, destruction, and death as "negative" but it is a very unfortunate reality in this country's past and to some extent, our present. Give me the "nutcase gun-toting white guy who has a decent job, and a nice lifestyle out in the open country" being negative with some "whiny" words and the occasional protest over mass rioting any day.
Last edited by westsideboy; 10-20-2014 at 03:56 PM..
No, not true. Although the price per gallon is much higher in the Netherlands, Americans pay on average 2.99% of their income to fuel, and the Dutch 1.69% because of more fuel efficient cars, much less urban sprawl and walkable and more livable cities.
Translation: Americans spend more on fuel because they drive more.
No kidding Sherlock Holmes! Americans don't ride around on bikes like in Amsterdam and they live in a huge country full of open spaces. Did you even read your links? Why would anyone ride a bike when you can have a car...?
Many Americans know quite well how socialist European states operate in terms of taxation, regulation, the absence of basic liberties, and we want NOTHING to do with it.
When Marylanders compare our state to the rest of the US, we see ourselves going down the Euro path. Many think this is just fine. These citizens keep electing officials that follow this political view. A minority of us don't. We get frustrated, and yes, quiet negative, because our state has changed dramatically in just the last 2-3 decades to a point where we are effectively silenced at the voting booth.
BTW, check out the term "race riots" before you go propping up black Americans as lacking in negativity. Maybe you don't consider massive acts of violence, destruction, and death as "negative" but it is a very unfortunate reality in this country's past and to some extent, our present. Give me the "nutcase gun-toting white guy who has a decent job, and a nice lifestyle out in the open country" being negative with some "whiny" words and the occasional protest over mass rioting any day.
Making race riots sound like a regular "black" thing is about as accurate as saying "white" Americans enjoy going into schools and shooting people. It happens, but it is a unique occasion. I am well informed enough to know that race riots are a rare occurrence, and if they weren't then the events of Ferguson wouldn't have been news. Only big stories make such big news!
Funny that you try to make it sound like a regular occurrence and depict the gun-shooting far right "Christians" as only defending themselves against the dangerous and uncontrollable blacks. Nice one now where I have I heard that before?
But anyways that's all I am going to say. It's sad that a thread saying a place is nice has been derailed by some angry internet users, racists, and a guy whose every post is an attempt at bashing the USA (yes you drro, I see you are eager for any opportunity). Good thing I didn't get my impression of Maryland from the internet.
Making race riots sound like a regular "black" thing is about as accurate as saying "white" Americans enjoy going into schools and shooting people. It happens, but it is a unique occasion. I am well informed enough to know that race riots are a rare occurrence, and if they weren't then the events of Ferguson wouldn't have been news. Only big stories make such big news!
Funny that you try to make it sound like a regular occurrence and depict the gun-shooting far right "Christians" as only defending themselves against the dangerous and uncontrollable blacks. Nice one now where I have I heard that before?
But anyways that's all I am going to say. It's sad that a thread saying a place is nice has been derailed by some angry internet users, racists, and a guy whose every post is an attempt at bashing the USA (yes you drro, I see you are eager for any opportunity). Good thing I didn't get my impression of Maryland from the internet.
*Yawn* Yup, I must be a racist because I believe black people in America can be just as negative as white people, and use mass acts of violence and outrage that have been and continue to be part of our nation's history as evidence to support my hypothesis.
Black folks have gotten the shaft in America for centuries, the riots are periodic purges of this frustration, anger, and negativity, far too often directed at their own neighborhoods. It only makes sense that the greater the level of current and historic crimes against them would lead to more negative counter reactions.
But yeah, I must be racist because I didn't ohh and ahh when I saw my first "rapper" on the streets of Baltimore, and don't think some negative WORDS from "nutcase gun-toting white guy who has a decent job, and a nice lifestyle out in the open country" are a very big deal. It is called FREEDOM OF SPEECH, it is pretty common here in America. I know in the Netherlands, you can get jail time for calling the Queen an angry, socialist, syphilis infected sow. Here in America, such a claim is just another letter to the editor in our daily papers.
Last edited by westsideboy; 10-20-2014 at 05:15 PM..
Good God you guys suck. Poster hit the nail on the head, he starts a complimentary thread about our state and it turns into the usual pissing match with the usual participants.
Oranje: Check your PM. If you want to have a civil conversation offline I'd be happy to help you.
I liked living in Maryland, but I hated the government there. There's both positives and negatives to this state. Some people only focus on one or the other. I don't know why we can't see a more balanced view of this state.
Good God you guys suck. Poster hit the nail on the head, he starts a complimentary thread about our state and it turns into the usual pissing match with the usual participants.
Oranje: Check your PM. If you want to have a civil conversation offline I'd be happy to help you.
This is what offends me Dave,
Quote:
So if we are talking about negativity, let's talk about it. The obvious worst thing about America is the inequality especially faced by Blacks in parts of Baltimore for example. But it is always amusing that they never seem to be the ones having these whining fits like small children about how oppressive the USA government is. Sorry, but weren't they the ones who were under slavery, then apartheid and all of these things? They should be the "crazies" always making a rant, but no, it's always some nutcase gun-toting white guy who has a decent job, and a nice lifestyle out in the open country and thinks he is "oppressed" by an imaginary overbearing government like Obama or anyone who is even a centrist (still on the right in world politics) is Hitler.
until this claim, I had no part in this converstion
Some guy who claims to be from Europe comes to our country and makes the claim that is white people who are the only "negative ones" here, while black Americans are our very entertaining "rappers" who he nearly fell over in excitement when he saw one in person.
Any and all Americans can be negative. Heck, go check out the PG threads if you want to see some negative African-Americans, the board is full of them. But no, we get the typical Euro-Left stereotype that the white conservtive guy with the gun and gripe is the enemy and is the "crazy." Goodness forbid people aren't happy with their government and dare express it in a negative way. America was founded on the same. No doubt the English thought our "negativity" over their taxes and regulations of us were "crazy" as well. Today white people don't have the stomach for any real organized violence. They go out and complain, then go home and get on with life. Big deal, welcome to Amurica!
I think you know that the same as I do.
As for you, good for being a positive person, seriously. You have a nice balanced perspective on life and have admitted you don't really care for politics and aren't very concerned how government affects your everyday life, because you are OK. I applaud it.
My life and concerns a bit different: I see my corner of the state, where my ancestors have lived since the Revolution, continue to decline and know how the State of Maryland's political climate has changed over the last 20 years, and how that has negatively affected MY home. Is our relationship with the State all bad? No, it isn't, but it is trending down, as our land is seen more and more as the "King's Forest" and our residents as those annoying peasants who trespass on it and want to make a living from some of its resources. So, I am a bit negative, sue me! That is a American tradition as well.
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