Hehe, I find it funny that peoples bash the US about "Most efficient" army.
Beside the awesome Canadian army, I don't know any army that could face the US on a 1 vs 1 basic. Not the Brits for sure as their land army is not on par and incredibly backward, not the Russians, their navy is screwed...maybe Israel or France, and that is a BIG maybe, I don't know if they can hold it in the air and I don't think they can. Now the US outnumber Canada 10 to 1, I think they deserve the military award unless we are talking about holding northen positions...that is kinda specific, isn't it?
Unless you meant, Belgium has the best army? Yeah, it must be Belgium!
EDIT: To all fanatics who are afraid of a Canadian invasion, now with the current climate would have been the ideal moment for a Canadian take over! Somehow, it didn't happen. I guess Canada never plan on taking over the US!
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
Originally posted by Fugnudz Are Americans smart? Well, they have more freedoms (1st and 2nd Amendments are examples) than any other citizens in the world. They are part of strongest economy in the world. They generally pay lowest taxes of any citizens in the world.
So, More free More prosperous Less hindered by government (in fact, government answers to The People in America)
I'd say this makes Americans at least more wise, if not smarter than most other citizens in the world.
Are you serious? Sadly, I think you are.
I lived in the US for a six and a half years so I do know whereof I speak.
What's freedom? I've asked Americans that many, many times and they stumble over the answer...usually it's things like freedom from high taxation, British tyranny, communism, etc.
But in nearly all cases, the cited freedoms aren't unique to the US, nor did they implement them first. When it comes to the vast majority of these things the US is no "freer" than than any county in the OECD.
I think the biggest freedom the US possesses over and above other first-world nations is the unfettered freedom to be ambitious.
However, I contend that the US is not a freer place than many politically. It boils down to the deep respect some of you Americans give politicians. I can walk outside in my town and yell "Fuck John Howard" (and many do, I may add) and the most I'll get is laughed at.
Do the same to George. W. Bush in parts of the US and heaven help you. You may be free to speak your mind on a politican in the US, but a lot of people will feel free to take action for offending their Dubya.
In general, I don't think Americans keep their politicians honest enough. They don't answer to the "People" anywhere near enough, and when they do it's for silly shit like sex scandals, emails about liking boys or some other peripheral nonsense.
In fact, our politicans lament the fact that Australians don't view them the same way Americans view their Congressmen. You know, actually believe what they say every know and then.
The US Government works for you? I don't know. I've been around the world and the US struck me as a place where the doctrine of what you can do for your Govt. has more meaning than vice versa. The debacle with Hurricane Katrina kind of backs me up on that one.
Patriotic? Nationalism > patriotism. Nationalism comes a lot easier and is a more potent force. Ask any European.
Oh folks, I'm not slamming the US here...ask me, and I'll slam aspects of my own country even more, just making some observations.
The biggest thing with Americans? You guys laugh at everyone but yourselves. You need to take the piss out of yourselves more often. A lot of you are way too up tight.
If the US would use the best other nations have to offer then they would use the much, much safer C, E and F power plugs, the US would use 240 V at 60 Hz (the slightly larger power usage has been nullified decades ago) in stead of using the 110 V at 60 Hz system.
Also if what you said would be true the US would use the mtric system, join Kyoto, sign the universal declaration of children's rights, adopt EU food legislations (which are very strict, but very safe), use the PAL in stead of the NTSC system and they would use the New Zealand system for medecine management.
Also, claiming that the US is not lazy because they work longer is pretty weird since it nullifies saying that they're smart. Since those European countries generally have a far better healthcare (and a cheaper one actually) than the US has. I wish the Danish people would tell the millions of immigrants coming to the US about your great socialized healthcare. Of course I hope they aren't in need of any of it for the next 7- 9 years because they'll have a little waiting period I hear. Plus a slew of other restrictions. But I guess you would have to practice some form of medical rationing when giving out such top notch care.
Actually you're mistaken. My country has the best or the second best healthcare in the world and no waiting lines. Hence the people from Holland coming over. So Top notch health care doesn't mean waiting lines. I never mentioned waiting lines. I mentioned restriction of immigration so that waiting lines dont exist.
Next up is immigration: You honestly think the EU isn't "suffering" from immigration? Tho the effects have been minimized since potential poor countries are helped financially and moved into the EU. Is somewhat easier than having millions of poor immigrants and a bunch of poor neighbours. On the other hand... According to the UN immigrants are the most productive members ( of mankind.
But many still die trying to reach the EU. Only yesterday the news over here reported a kid from Africa that hid himself in the landing gear of an Airbus trying to reach Europe. naturally he froze to death. And every day there are thousands of people trying to reach Europe in bad little boats... over 60% of them dies. Above that we have a massive influx of immigrants from Eastern-Europe and Russia. I can see why immigration would be such a threat to Belguim. When you're resdistributing wealth you have to limit your freeloaders. If you are saying that your country isn't or cant curb its immigrant population from 3rd world countries then based on supply and demand Belguim is doomed.
Noone said bad. Aaaanyways, if you start counting number of survived wars as a rule of intelligence... My country (small as it may be) has survived more wars than the US has known battles. Wars have been raging here for 2000+ years. Also, surviving the cold war was more the USSR's fault than it was the US's achievement. Wow, so the number of wars a country gets involved in is now the measure of intelligence? I definitely did not expect this for you Madace. Wouldn't you agree a better benchmark of intelligent design is shown by a government that hasn't needed to change its structure for over 200 years. The US currently has the oldest living government system. Dude... I didn't start using the number of wars as a measurement of intelligence... I pointed out how fucking absurd it was by giving my own country as example. And If I'm not mistaken the country with the oldest governmental structure is lesotho. But I think many prefer evolution.
Ok, my mistake, your not Danish (and -by-the-way, Im not a dude). I thought you had used Denmark as a shinning example in past threads and therefore assumed you must be Danish. And no lestho is not the oldest government. I dont know how you came to that conclusion. Its changed governments every few years for the past 100 years.
.
I'm not Danish.
Kidna nice you agree on my other points.
Dont go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first. (Mark Twain)
Originally posted by Anofalye Hehe, I find it funny that peoples bash the US about "Most efficient" army.
Beside the awesome Canadian army, I don't know any army that could face the US on a 1 vs 1 basic. Not the Brits for sure as their land army is not on par and incredibly backward, not the Russians, their navy is screwed...maybe Israel or France, and that is a BIG maybe, I don't know if they can hold it in the air and I don't think they can. Now the US outnumber Canada 10 to 1, I think they deserve the military award unless we are talking about holding northen positions...that is kinda specific, isn't it?snip...
I'm happy you said a BIG maybe.
The Brits have a backward military? Since when? They actually have one of the best trained and equipped all-volunteer militaries in the world, but there's no point in telling you that, is there?
Russia may not be able to beat the US one on one, but the US would have a dog of a time trying to defeat Russia. Its size and terrain and climate have always been it allies. Ask Napoleon, Charles XII of Sweden and Hitler about that one. The only mob that did manage to overrun what is now Russia where the Mongols and even they didn't get all over it.
Not to mention the legendary tenacity of the average Russian.
In fact, if you want to talk about powerful militaries, let me throw Turkey in the mix, and maybe Indonesia, apart from the PRC, of course.
If the US would use the best other nations have to offer then they would use the much, much safer C, E and F power plugs, the US would use 240 V at 60 Hz (the slightly larger power usage has been nullified decades ago) in stead of using the 110 V at 60 Hz system.
Also if what you said would be true the US would use the mtric system, join Kyoto, sign the universal declaration of children's rights, adopt EU food legislations (which are very strict, but very safe), use the PAL in stead of the NTSC system and they would use the New Zealand system for medecine management.
Also, claiming that the US is not lazy because they work longer is pretty weird since it nullifies saying that they're smart. Since those European countries generally have a far better healthcare (and a cheaper one actually) than the US has. I wish the Danish people would tell the millions of immigrants coming to the US about your great socialized healthcare. Of course I hope they aren't in need of any of it for the next 7- 9 years because they'll have a little waiting period I hear. Plus a slew of other restrictions. But I guess you would have to practice some form of medical rationing when giving out such top notch care.
Actually you're mistaken. My country has the best or the second best healthcare in the world and no waiting lines. Hence the people from Holland coming over. So Top notch health care doesn't mean waiting lines. I never mentioned waiting lines. I mentioned restriction of immigration so that waiting lines dont exist. Haven't seen a waiting line due to immigration yet. Maybe it's different in Denmark, but I can't see how. It's is true that many immigrants put a strain on social security. But it's a far smaller problem than is perceived over here. I know because I worked for the social security here for a while. Personally I'm not a big fan of immigration. If the immigration is regulated and the immigrants are helped integrating.
Next up is immigration: You honestly think the EU isn't "suffering" from immigration? Tho the effects have been minimized since potential poor countries are helped financially and moved into the EU. Is somewhat easier than having millions of poor immigrants and a bunch of poor neighbours. On the other hand... According to the UN immigrants are the most productive members ( of mankind.
But many still die trying to reach the EU. Only yesterday the news over here reported a kid from Africa that hid himself in the landing gear of an Airbus trying to reach Europe. naturally he froze to death. And every day there are thousands of people trying to reach Europe in bad little boats... over 60% of them dies. Above that we have a massive influx of immigrants from Eastern-Europe and Russia. I can see why immigration would be such a threat to Belguim. When you're resdistributing wealth you have to limit your freeloaders. If you are saying that your country isn't or cant curb its immigrant population from 3rd world countries then based on supply and demand Belguim is doomed. Hold it. Although there are many problems connected to immigration, few are actually caused by it. There have always been lower social classes and now there is an extra distinction between them, being national origin. And this is largely because of the Belgians. Someone from Belgium (epspecially from Flanders) would probably breath fire simply because I say that (which doesn't stop me from saying it anytime and anywhere I want). I for one know a whole lot of immigrants and I think different cultures and an influx of new people can be extremely beneficial, given that the government pushes and pulls the right levers...
Noone said bad. Aaaanyways, if you start counting number of survived wars as a rule of intelligence... My country (small as it may be) has survived more wars than the US has known battles. Wars have been raging here for 2000+ years. Also, surviving the cold war was more the USSR's fault than it was the US's achievement. Wow, so the number of wars a country gets involved in is now the measure of intelligence? I definitely did not expect this for you Madace. Wouldn't you agree a better benchmark of intelligent design is shown by a government that hasn't needed to change its structure for over 200 years. The US currently has the oldest living government system. Dude... I didn't start using the number of wars as a measurement of intelligence... I pointed out how fucking absurd it was by giving my own country as example. And If I'm not mistaken the country with the oldest governmental structure is lesotho. But I think many prefer evolution.
Ok, my mistake, your not Danish (and -by-the-way, Im not a dude). I thought you had used Denmark as a shinning example in past threads and therefore assumed you must be Danish. And no lestho is not the oldest government. I dont know how you came to that conclusion. Its changed governments every few years for the past 100 years. My mistake, but what exactly do you mean with "government system"? I didn't come to that conclusion but I read somewhere some small country had the oldest form of a working government. Might as well have been Denmark. xD (they actually have the oldest monarchy in the world...)
Comments
Hehe, I find it funny that peoples bash the US about "Most efficient" army.
Beside the awesome Canadian army, I don't know any army that could face the US on a 1 vs 1 basic. Not the Brits for sure as their land army is not on par and incredibly backward, not the Russians, their navy is screwed...maybe Israel or France, and that is a BIG maybe, I don't know if they can hold it in the air and I don't think they can. Now the US outnumber Canada 10 to 1, I think they deserve the military award unless we are talking about holding northen positions...that is kinda specific, isn't it?
Unless you meant, Belgium has the best army? Yeah, it must be Belgium!
EDIT: To all fanatics who are afraid of a Canadian invasion, now with the current climate would have been the ideal moment for a Canadian take over! Somehow, it didn't happen. I guess Canada never plan on taking over the US!
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
Are you serious? Sadly, I think you are.
I lived in the US for a six and a half years so I do know whereof I speak.
What's freedom? I've asked Americans that many, many times and they stumble over the answer...usually it's things like freedom from high taxation, British tyranny, communism, etc.
But in nearly all cases, the cited freedoms aren't unique to the US, nor did they implement them first. When it comes to the vast majority of these things the US is no "freer" than than any county in the OECD.
I think the biggest freedom the US possesses over and above other first-world nations is the unfettered freedom to be ambitious.
However, I contend that the US is not a freer place than many politically. It boils down to the deep respect some of you Americans give politicians. I can walk outside in my town and yell "Fuck John Howard" (and many do, I may add) and the most I'll get is laughed at.
Do the same to George. W. Bush in parts of the US and heaven help you. You may be free to speak your mind on a politican in the US, but a lot of people will feel free to take action for offending their Dubya.
In general, I don't think Americans keep their politicians honest enough. They don't answer to the "People" anywhere near enough, and when they do it's for silly shit like sex scandals, emails about liking boys or some other peripheral nonsense.
In fact, our politicans lament the fact that Australians don't view them the same way Americans view their Congressmen. You know, actually believe what they say every know and then.
The US Government works for you? I don't know. I've been around the world and the US struck me as a place where the doctrine of what you can do for your Govt. has more meaning than vice versa. The debacle with Hurricane Katrina kind of backs me up on that one.
Patriotic? Nationalism > patriotism. Nationalism comes a lot easier and is a more potent force. Ask any European.
Oh folks, I'm not slamming the US here...ask me, and I'll slam aspects of my own country even more, just making some observations.
The biggest thing with Americans? You guys laugh at everyone but yourselves. You need to take the piss out of yourselves more often. A lot of you are way too up tight.
Kidna nice you agree on my other points.
Dont go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first. (Mark Twain)
I'm happy you said a BIG maybe.
The Brits have a backward military? Since when? They actually have one of the best trained and equipped all-volunteer militaries in the world, but there's no point in telling you that, is there?
Russia may not be able to beat the US one on one, but the US would have a dog of a time trying to defeat Russia. Its size and terrain and climate have always been it allies. Ask Napoleon, Charles XII of Sweden and Hitler about that one. The only mob that did manage to overrun what is now Russia where the Mongols and even they didn't get all over it.
Not to mention the legendary tenacity of the average Russian.
In fact, if you want to talk about powerful militaries, let me throw Turkey in the mix, and maybe Indonesia, apart from the PRC, of course.
Edit: crappy board quoting
Kidna nice you agree on my other points.
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