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Yeah, let them live on the streets; better yet, just kill them if they can't pull their own weight.
I see lots of people using the military as a social welfare program.
Get your head in the game....I was asked to provide a program that 25 year olds in good health are on......I said easy......Subsidized Housing. Don't even make me get into the benefits or what some people do with that GIFT!!!
Get your head in the game....I was asked to provide a program that 25 year olds in good health are on......I said easy......Subsidized Housing. Don't even make me get into the benefits or what some people do with that GIFT!!!
Oh please, you're going to deny it?
When you count all of the benefits, the military can't cry poor.
Most are uneducated when they enlist, have no other options; count your holiday pay and "training" days, BAH, socialized medicine, housing, etc. they're not doing so bad.
You know, it's threads like this that tend to put me off even wanting to have an adult debate or conversation with many of you (those on the right). When you start telling fellow Americans to leave and accuse them of being liberals or socialists, then go om to make sweeping generalizations about a whole CONTINENT (Europe), you lose all credibility, as far as I'm concerned.
The thing is; I'm not a liberal or a socialist (although I agree with *some* liberal/socialist views). I actually agree with true conservatives and libertarians on a lot of things, including fiscal responsibility, cutting government waste and cracking down on illegal immigration and crime. However, many on the right tend to just want to attack and make sweeping generalizations about everything and honestly, I don't like that, nor will I pretend to, just to make myself "popular" in what often seems like a forum on Bill O'Reilly's website.
I'm just tired of hearing about how awful the poor are, or how so many people actually WANT the POTSUA to fail, just to prove a point. I'm tired of the anti-liberal backlash from people who equate liberalism with communism and clearly don't know the difference between the two.
This isn't healthy debate...this is a joke...and even suggesting that your fellow Americans "leave" just for having differing political opinions than yours is even more of a joke.
Don't let the angry people on the right get to you friend. They're just upset because the "Liberals" control the Presidency, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the majority of governorships, the majority of state legislatures, the majority of county governments, and the majority of city governments.
They vent their frustrations on this board, because... well, their political ideology has been proven a failure and they will likely never again experience the kind of legitimate power that they enjoyed during the first 6 years of Bush II. In fact, if you look at the socio-political trends in this country, particularly when it concerns younger voters and minorities, it's pretty clear that republicans will remain a minority party in-perpetuity and furthermore that they will be geographically constrained to a very small part of the country.
The mere fact that the congress is even on the verge of passing national health care with widespread popular support is a clear indication of where things are headed. People now trust government more than they trust insurance companies, and that's not likely to change. In fact, most Americans don't trust the banks, don't trust the insurance companies, don't trust the oil companies, etc... Big business abused the American people's trust to the point that now there is a popular movement to reign them in and regulate. Times are changing. Gone are the days when people thought unregulated free-markets were the solution to everything. Even the stalwart neocons, like Alan Greenspan, are calling for more regulation and oversight now.
America is maturing. Like Europe, we are starting to understand the nature of our civilization a little better and what it takes to actually make things work over the long run. We are learning to accept the fact that there are no absolutes in political structures and that the only reason our nation exists at all is because we all agree to abide the communal interest. Governments, nations, empires, etc... are all artificial constructs and the people that participate in them do so because it's in their self-interest to consider the interests of others. We are beginning to fully recognize that our collective productivity is improved through organization and specialization and that we must continually try to improve our socio-economic system in order to maximize the results we are getting. This often requires us to care for our fellow citizens as much as we care for ourselves. In America's case, I think we are finally awakening to that fact and hopefully we can move forward and become a stronger, wealthier, and more unified democracy.
As we go forward, there will surely be those who will resist this maturation and wax-poetic about the days when many believed that neoconservative ideals were actually sustainable. Let them rant, they have no power and likely never will.
Kids who are tracked into the vocational schools in Germany still have a chance to go to university.
I think it works like that in most European countries.
It's always easier to go the conventional route, of course, but I know tons of people who went vocational, then took the theoretical classes to get access to college. In Denmark, college placement is merit-based (basically, your high school grade average), but there's a different placement group for those who show up with relevant job experience. (A nurse who wants to go the MD route brings some qualifications with him/her that should be considered, even if they're not grades.)
Night School grades abound, as well. In Denmark, if you're working but decide you need an MBA, you can take an accelerated night course (known as the "divorce class" due to the time requirements), which counts for more than the full-time college diploma in a lot of employers' eyes.
Hell, my cousin married an apprenticed carpenter who decided he wanted more and got himself a degree in architecture.
For the people who think that socialized health care and all the socialistic changes...
"Government for people bad, and corporations rule" was the reason the founding fathers went to war with the East India company, so Americans could have their own government and not be a puppet to big business. They won, and established a government, for the welfare of the people and set up strict rules from big businesses rearing their head again.
But, corruption prevailed, and bought the government. Now, those who continue to blindly support corporations are also the same ones who detest government controlling the welfare of the people and the natiuon. They sound and act like the direct descendents of East India Company sympathizers. It will take a smaller ship to ship THOSE folks out to Somalia, who intend to turn America into Somalia or take the country back to mid 18th century.
Right, but you said that they didn't have a chance to go to college. They do. Students who want to go to CC still have to graduate from high school, or pass their GED exam.
Oh, they do. Their standard of living is different and in many ways superior to the US.
For a few examples, there is much less crime; and if there is crime, it is not violent crime against people.
The educational system is very good: there are apprenticeship programs for clerical and technical students who don't plan to attend college. The apprenticeship program is 2.5 years of training someone to work so that they're prepared for the world when they graduate.
There's also an additional intern program for college students.
Train travel is very good and reasonably priced. If I didn't have a broken foot, I'd be in a nearby city (via train) for a festival this weekend.
I buy fresh bio fruits and juices and a good, healthy full grain bread with reasonable portions of cheese and live well within my budget.
I'm fearful of walking around at night in the US; the level of crime in unacceptable to me.
Cars here are fuel efficient and very well built, reasonably priced as well.
I pay 16% tax on each item I purchase, but the tax is included in the cost, so I know the real price to me. (I'm lucky because I have VAT forms that reimburse me for the taxes on large purchases).
People seem to live within their means better than US citizens do (generality); although that is currently changing.
The EU is pretty religious, but you don't get religious wackos trying to push their religion on you. They know that if you're looking for a church or religion, there are enough around, you'll find your own.
They expect people to accept personal responsibility. For example, all traffic doesn't stop around school buses, they expect kids to be taught to not run in front of a vehicle. Duh.
Their UHC is pretty phenomenal. I'd love to see the US adopt it.
Every few years, if you have a severe health condition, they'll send you on a "cure" to a rehab/spa facility for 2 weeks where you are physically assessed, given health information and physical therapy as needed.
Ohhh the food is great and "only" 6% tax on food...but you don't have a clue about the tax since it is incl. so it is like you don't feel you pay it....on gas, clothes, etc...the tax is 19% but also incl...so you don't feel it since it is shown like over here....
Ohhh yeah cars won't stop for pedestrians...you like that, wait till your kids dies in an accident you wish the people would be more carefull like over here...
You are scared to walk the streets at night in the USA....please feel free to do it in Holland in the cities at night...let's say after 6 pm when the stores close...see if you feel safe...I think Holland has one of the largest pick pocket crimes....what about Theo van Gogh who was killed riding a bike during the day in Amsterdam ....yeah it is really much more safe
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