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So, exactly how many other countries have had regularly scheduled elections for over two hundred years, with a peaceful handover of power to the duly elected successor--every time?.
San Marinos been doing that for seventeen hundred years. Two hundred is maybe a good start. Give it another thousand.
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Originally Posted by marcopolo
How many other countries were founded on ideals based on the sanctity of individual rights, including the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?.
Revolutionary France, the Soviet Union, communist China...they didn't do so well on providing them though. Which countries do best in actually providing these things for their citizens?
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Originally Posted by marcopolo
How many other countries are composed mostly of people who came from all other nations on Earth, each seeking a better life, or their descendants?
Just asking.
Funny fact...despite the USA having the advantage of the globabl language, it is not among the most popular destinations for immigrants. It has about the same fraction of foreign-born as Germany and Sweden. About number 40 form the top. Less than Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia.
So if a company spends tens of millions of dollars developing a treatment for cancer that cut mortality rates by 80%, they would be wrong to charge for it? Not just wrong, but evil?
If it saved lives, and they chose to withhold treatment from people because they couldn't pay (making them die), it would be not only wrong, but essentially murder. Yes, it would be pure evil. It is perverse to let someone die because they don't have the money for an expensive treatment. Your scenario illustrates exactly why a for-profit pharmaceutical and healthcare industry is inherently unethical. I support nationalizing all pharmaceutical companies for that reason.
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What are you, 15?
No, I'm in my 20s. I'm an adult, just haven't bowed to "the system" yet -- and I pray I never do.
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I never understood the objection so many people have for paying for expensive (yes, they cost a lot of money even in places with national healthcare) and modern medical treatments. If you are willing to spend money on a car or a house why are you opposed to spending it on your health or your life?
Healthcare is essential for life. A car isn't. If you can't see the difference . . .
We are exceptional. That's why so many people are trying to get in.
I'M sorry that you don't see it.
In terms of capitalism, it is not capitalism in the US, or the lack thereof in foreign countries, that makes the US "better" than other countries. They have other external factors such as government, colonialism, or the US/Foreign influences which makes their country less attractive to live in. But, there are many countries on equal footing as the US, too. We can't knock it until we have tried it.
I have not been everywhere, so I could never make use a superlative for one country over all others.
If it saved lives, and they chose to withhold treatment from people because they couldn't pay (making them die), it would be not only wrong, but essentially murder. Yes, it would be pure evil. It is perverse to let someone die because they don't have the money for an expensive treatment. Your scenario illustrates exactly why a for-profit pharmaceutical and healthcare industry is inherently unethical. I support nationalizing all pharmaceutical companies for that reason.
No, I'm in my 20s. I'm an adult, just haven't bowed to "the system" yet -- and I pray I never do.
Healthcare is essential for life. A car isn't. If you can't see the difference . . .
The result of your utopia will be that NO cancer treatment will be discovered. Why spend your time, intellect and money (because these things cost money) to discover a cure, when it will just be stolen from you to give to people that were too lazy, dumb or unmotivated to even try?
You may be in your 20s, but you're not an adult yet. Move out of your parent's basement, get a few years removed from your college indoctrination, and actually meet some of those hard-working, America-loving citizens that you think aren't so terrific. Then you might come to realize that this country IS exceptional, in spite of what you and our president might think.
The result of your utopia will be that NO cancer treatment will be discovered. Why spend your time, intellect and money (because these things cost money) to discover a cure, when it will just be stolen from you to give to people that were too lazy, dumb or unmotivated to even try?
You may be in your 20s, but you're not an adult yet. Move out of your parent's basement, get a few years removed from your college indoctrination, and actually meet some of those hard-working, America-loving citizens that you think aren't so terrific. Then you might come to realize that this country IS exceptional, in spite of what you and our president might think.
I would like to respectfully say that I think you are a little out of line on this one.
One, it does NOT take money to cure anything; time and intellect, yes, but money...no. That is the big issue with capitalism; typically, with it comes greed. What it takes to find a cure for illnesses is knowledge, understanding, resources and motivation. The big problem is people "claim" natural resources as their own personal possession and, knowing people's need for it, hog it and sell to those in need of it. Next, if it takes monetary payment, aka material wealth, to "motivate" an individual, then a human being is far less than any "lower animal" on the planet. Cancer has not been "cured" since its discovery, which has been since capitalism has been in place. So, capitalism motivates nothing but personal gain.
Human beings has been progressive/productive without capitalism. Humans have gone from houses to villages to complex communities without capitalism. It did not take capitalism for man to discover fire or to craft such devices as the wheel; they did it out of necessity. Man has been giving birth to and burying people for thousands of years before capitalism came along and found a "profit" in it; charging people ridiculous amounts of money for activities that would occur even without capitalism to motivate it.
The result of your utopia will be that NO cancer treatment will be discovered. Why spend your time, intellect and money (because these things cost money) to discover a cure, when it will just be stolen from you to give to people that were too lazy, dumb or unmotivated to even try?
You may be in your 20s, but you're not an adult yet. Move out of your parent's basement, get a few years removed from your college indoctrination, and actually meet some of those hard-working, America-loving citizens that you think aren't so terrific. Then you might come to realize that this country IS exceptional, in spite of what you and our president might think.
I'm 24 years old, I've lived on my own (in another state) since I was 18, I work full-time (50 hours per week) and I graduated from college years ago. You don't know me, so lay off your arrogant assumptions.
Also, you can't assume that everyone who's less fortunate is dumb or lazy. Proud, ignorant attitudes like yours are why I think this country sucks.
Last edited by northstar22; 03-11-2011 at 08:23 AM..
I would like to respectfully say that I think you are a little out of line on this one.
One, it does NOT take money to cure anything; time and intellect, yes, but money...no. That is the big issue with capitalism; typically, with it comes greed. What it takes to find a cure for illnesses is knowledge, understanding, resources and motivation. The big problem is people "claim" natural resources as their own personal possession and, knowing people's need for it, hog it and sell to those in need of it. Next, if it takes monetary payment, aka material wealth, to "motivate" an individual, then a human being is far less than any "lower animal" on the planet. Cancer has not been "cured" since its discovery, which has been since capitalism has been in place. So, capitalism motivates nothing but personal gain.
Amen. We are not animals, and we should be motivated by things other than selfish gain. I can't speak for any of you, but if I was a medical researcher, I would work to cure cancer just because it's the right thing to do. I couldn't give a flying frick about making money off it. I know the pain cancer causes families, friends and society in general. I know people who have suffered and died from cancer -- honoring their memory is compensation enough.
I'm so disgusted I can't take reading this thread any more.
Amen. We are not animals, and we should be motivated by things other than selfish gain. I can't speak for any of you, but if I was a medical researcher, I would work to cure cancer just because it's the right thing to do. I couldn't give a flying frick about making money off it. I know the pain cancer causes families, friends and society in general. I know people who have suffered and died from cancer -- honoring their memory is compensation enough.
I'm so disgusted I can't take reading this thread any more.
What are you doing with your time for the betterment of the collective?
Throughout the thread, all you have been talking about is what everyone else should be doing and how they should be doing it.
Typical socialist drivel.
What are you doing with your time for the betterment of the collective?
This is actually a good, challenging question. The truth is, I don't do nearly enough. I volunteer at church, but I really should do more to help others. No sarcasm intended. Thanks for challenging me.
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