I have to say, I think if the UK government stopped sitting around on their arses in parliament arguing with each other and pointing fingers about the floods and other politicians then they might actually be able to get something useful done for ONCE. Once they start getting together on things they get it done well, it's just now they're acting like complete wolves with each other (partly thanks to the media) that they end up not actually getting anything done.
Quoting people doesn't make you clever, in fact, it makes you all the more stupid for not bothering to read the quotes you post in the first place.
We can create more food than any other country in the world. We CAN manufacture every item we need inside our borders. We can be self sufficient. No Other country can state that. You guys are confusing economic growth of a capitalistic society with a need for other countries. We don't need them to survive. We want them so that we can have 269 Billionaires and the next best country has around 50. We want trade so that we can get more rich, but we don't need them. How long would other countries last without our investments? Remove every single US companies funds from other countries and watch the world collapse. Remove our purchasing of products from foreign countries and watch their economies collapse. The world needs the US consumer machine, but do not confuse that with us needing them. If somehow a person came to power in this country and declared themselves dictator/king ( and everyone actually went for it) and then proceeded to remove all of our foreign dependencies, yeah we would have some issues for awhile, but we could survive it.
Name another country that could actually do that.... (and keep in mind that the US has enough oil reserves and untapped oil under alaska to survive until we perfected an alternative).
Currently playing: LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too: Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
I love when people state that the War on Terror is such a failure and that the War in Iraq is such a mess. Guess what it is working. There haven't been anymore attacks in the States. If you think they aren't trying then you are just plain wrong. A lot of the terrorists are too busy fighting now in the Middle East to plan attacks on our soil. In that regard the war has been a resounding success.
Too many people now adays think the first Persian Gulf War is how wars are. I am sorry but war isn't normally our troops coming across their troops and then their troops just surrendering instantly. WAR is bloody. The people that sign up for it should know what they are getting into. It is ridiculous that people can't see the justification to get rid of such horrible people in the WAR. Look at Iran. Their president is nothing more then a terrorist who wants to wipe away a group of people for existing. Maybe we would of been better off just napalming all of Afganistan and Iraq. At least then the US would be worthy of all the hate we receive. I know my Grandfather's generation (WW2 generation) thought very low of this current generation that isn't willing to do the hard things to make the world a better place. That is part of what made America great. We had the "balls" to stand up to people. Now everyone doesn't like that.
Well then fine I say we withdraw all of our troops and all of our money from the world. Then we close our borders down using those troops. We then cancel and foreign trade and see how well the world can survive without the US. Because trust me the US can survive without the world.
I could have swore that our grandfathers generation didn't support the war until Pearl Harbor. I believe that many americans were neither for, nor truelly against what Hitler was doing at the start of the war. You seem under the impression that the magority of the wold actually liked the Jews during that era. No, anit-semitism didn't start during WW2, it was around for quite a lot longer. Most christians and muslims didn't much like the jews then.
Since when does one person represent every person in a country?
We've already gone into Afganistan and Iraq, and it's not doing a thing to the President of Iran, except maybe garner him a little more support from middle eastern Muslims. So how exactly would napalming those two countries solve anything in Iran? And you're right. Iran is, and was, the bigger problem in the middle east then Iraq was. But Iran has an army, and less oil I believe. Bush also coudln't spin as spooky scarey backstory to gather support for invading Iran, Iran also wasn't crippled by a decade of economic sactions.
You really think the US can survive without the world? You do realize that we depend on the world, for most everything right. We aren't the leader in electronics, automobiles, fuel, textiles etc. etc. We're exporting entire workforces and importing most all of our goods; how exactly does that put us into a position of not needing the rest of the world?
I quess we could support ourselves by shopping.
You do realize that we do this so that we can become rich. Our country has about 220 more billionaires then any other country in the world. We have more billionaires then the next 9 countries on the top 10 list combined. If our country changed from one of capitalism to a more socialistic country that wanted to be self reliant, we actually could be. You don't need to be the leader in any of those categories since we can actually produce all of those products. Name one thing that we need that we can not make within our borders. And I don't mean for cheaper I mean that we can not actually produce.
Currently playing: LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too: Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
Here is the current data on the wealthy of the world:
1) USA (432)
2) Germany (55)
3) Russia (53)
4) India (36)
5) UK (29)
6) Turkey (25)
7) Japan (24)
8) Canada (23)
9) Hong Kong (21)
10) Brazil, Spain, China (20)
11) France (15)
12) Saudi Arabia (13)
13) Australia (12)
14) South Korea (10)
15) Mexico (10)
The US has 432 Billionaires currently, with second place now at 55. So that means we have 46 more billionaires in the US then the next 16 countries combined and you actually think that the US depends on other countries?
Currently playing: LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too: Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
oh I am sorry I was looking at old data. Here is the current data on the wealthy of the world: 1) USA (432)
2) Germany (55)
3) Russia (53)
4) India (36)
5) UK (29)
6) Turkey (25)
7) Japan (24)
8) Canada (23)
9) Hong Kong (21)
10) Brazil, Spain, China (20)
11) France (15)
12) Saudi Arabia (13)
13) Australia (12)
14) South Korea (10)
15) Mexico (10)
The US has 432 Billionaires currently, with second place now at 55. So that means we have 46 more billionaires in the US then the next 16 countries combined and you actually think that the US depends on other countries?
I care less about how many billionaires there are worldwide. But do care more about imports/exports and GNP. In the next 10 years China will surpass the world in all three areas. Many people in the U.S are barely surviving thanks to ARC,NAFTA,AEE.. I do not need to see some grade school genius tell me how the U.S is. Most likely they do not have a family , children nor a wife/husband. Better yet, I often see responses from posters who are not in the U.S.
I voted for Bush once. But hate that bastard now. NAFTA is nothing more than whats already signed the NAU. The NAU will get rid of the constitution, the U.S dollar and our borders. Billionaires are not shit when the dollar will have no value. If you are going to get money I recommend Chinas money. under-inflated as it is, it has no where to go but receive greater worth.
By the way, if you are wondering what the NAU is, here a link! www.sourcewatch.org/index.php Its well worth it to read. Because its coming and what you call freedom will cease to exist.
I would say China is still very much in the air, in terms of becoming the dominant nation in the world. Much the same was said about Japan in the 80's/90's, right before their economy collapsed...
Right now we've got a nice standoff going, as they hold a shitload of our debt, and we pretty much are propping up their economy damn near wholesale. If we got our collective shit together, and stopped hemorrhaging money on a useless, futile war we can't win, and cut our debt down, China'd be fucked.
However, the odds of that happening are pretty much nil.
Originally posted by xpowderx Well Coldmeat, We will be seeing china made cars here by mid 2008. you will really like this deal. Chrysler is in partnership with China. Read the story here. www.chinadaily.net/english/doc/2005-04/22/content_436543.htm
Just wanted to say, they signed that deal today!
Guess the Mexicans are getting uppity, and demanding 15 pesos an hour, or something...
oh I am sorry I was looking at old data. Here is the current data on the wealthy of the world: 1) USA (432)
2) Germany (55)
3) Russia (53)
4) India (36)
5) UK (29)
6) Turkey (25)
7) Japan (24)
8) Canada (23)
9) Hong Kong (21)
10) Brazil, Spain, China (20)
11) France (15)
12) Saudi Arabia (13)
13) Australia (12)
14) South Korea (10)
15) Mexico (10)
The US has 432 Billionaires currently, with second place now at 55. So that means we have 46 more billionaires in the US then the next 16 countries combined and you actually think that the US depends on other countries?
I care less about how many billionaires there are worldwide. But do care more about imports/exports and GNP. In the next 10 years China will surpass the world in all three areas. Many people in the U.S are barely surviving thanks to ARC,NAFTA,AEE.. I do not need to see some grade school genius tell me how the U.S is. Most likely they do not have a family , children nor a wife/husband. Better yet, I often see responses from posters who are not in the U.S.
I voted for Bush once. But hate that bastard now. NAFTA is nothing more than whats already signed the NAU. The NAU will get rid of the constitution, the U.S dollar and our borders. Billionaires are not shit when the dollar will have no value. If you are going to get money I recommend Chinas money. under-inflated as it is, it has no where to go but receive greater worth.
By the way, if you are wondering what the NAU is, here a link! www.sourcewatch.org/index.php Its well worth it to read. Because its coming and what you call freedom will cease to exist.
Once again I am not talking about our place in the world. I was showing that our current economic and world structure is doing what it is meant to do and that is make the rich in this country richer. I was saying that our country is one of the few if not the only one that can completely produce everything it needs within its own borders. What do you think would happen to China's economic growth if they no longer had the US to trade with? Or India's growth if we no longer outsourced jobs to them?
Secondly your attack on my personal life makes your position look a lot weaker. If you have to stoop to making ASSumptions about someone you have never met in RL and have no idea what my current life style is. Just to let you in a secret, I am married, have 3 children, serve in the US Military, and have a college degree.
Most people in the US that you say are barely surviving is because of their own fault. Iceland is a great example. People all live at the same level of income. They either work 1 job to reach it or 2-3 jobs to reach that level of income, but pretty much everyone in that country is equal when it comes to income. The people that barely make it in this country aren't willing to work the jobs that are available in most cases. I have seen it, people who are unemployed but will not get a job at McDonald's, or cleaning houses, or picking strawberries, etc. They aren't willing to work for it and would rather have it handed to them. In most cases (not including mental illness or addiction) the poor in this country have no one to blame but themselves. (and I was part of that group when I was a kid, my mom and I lived on welfare for a few months, until my mom went through a school program they had and became a medical transcriptionist, she went on to make 45-50K per year after that).
Currently playing: LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too: Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
I would say China is still very much in the air, in terms of becoming the dominant nation in the world. Much the same was said about Japan in the 80's/90's, right before their economy collapsed... Right now we've got a nice standoff going, as they hold a shitload of our debt, and we pretty much are propping up their economy damn near wholesale. If we got our collective shit together, and stopped hemorrhaging money on a useless, futile war we can't win, and cut our debt down, China'd be fucked. However, the odds of that happening are pretty much nil.
Lol Cold, we wouldn't even have to cut it down. We could call it a thank you for all we have done in the world and forgive all of our debts. What is China really going to do about it? Refuse to trade with us? Oh wait that is right they pretty much don't allow free trade when it comes to imports and what is the chance they will refuse to export to us?
Currently playing: LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too: Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
Coldmeat, when I saw it on Lou Dobbs I actually was pissed. Last year I watched Chrysler close two of its plants in my region. 10,000 people lost jobs.
I currently am so disgruntled with our current administration and our current congress I may never vote again. I see no purpose. Our government is going to pass policies on the public of this once great nation without voting or even making it a bill. By the way Coldmeat, I am a conservative. I just no longer have any party to follow.
I would say China is still very much in the air, in terms of becoming the dominant nation in the world. Much the same was said about Japan in the 80's/90's, right before their economy collapsed... Right now we've got a nice standoff going, as they hold a shitload of our debt, and we pretty much are propping up their economy damn near wholesale. If we got our collective shit together, and stopped hemorrhaging money on a useless, futile war we can't win, and cut our debt down, China'd be fucked. However, the odds of that happening are pretty much nil.
Lol Cold, we wouldn't even have to cut it down. We could call it a thank you for all we have done in the world and forgive all of our debts. What is China really going to do about it? Refuse to trade with us? Oh wait that is right they pretty much don't allow free trade when it comes to imports and what is the chance they will refuse to export to us?
Hi Cabe to help you out. Our Imports to China are at a 25% Tariff rate, while the Chinese import to us at a 2.5% Tariff rate. Fair? Who is getting the best deal.
I would say China is still very much in the air, in terms of becoming the dominant nation in the world. Much the same was said about Japan in the 80's/90's, right before their economy collapsed... Right now we've got a nice standoff going, as they hold a shitload of our debt, and we pretty much are propping up their economy damn near wholesale. If we got our collective shit together, and stopped hemorrhaging money on a useless, futile war we can't win, and cut our debt down, China'd be fucked. However, the odds of that happening are pretty much nil.
Lol Cold, we wouldn't even have to cut it down. We could call it a thank you for all we have done in the world and forgive all of our debts. What is China really going to do about it? Refuse to trade with us? Oh wait that is right they pretty much don't allow free trade when it comes to imports and what is the chance they will refuse to export to us?
Hi Cabe to help you out. Our Imports to China are at a 25% Tariff rate, while the Chinese import to us at a 2.5% Tariff rate. Fair? Who is getting the best deal.
Hmm I am not quite following what you are saying there. You import to your country and export to other countries. So are you saying that China has a 25% tariff rate on the goods we send to China and we have a 2.5% Tariff rate on the goods we receive from China? Because if so then you are supporting what I have stated. Which is that China couldn't survive if we stopped accepting their goods, while their market isn't a very large one for our goods since they have such a High tariff and artificial value on their currency we can't really compete in their market. If China was forced to actually value the dollar at fair current value then China would fall into a recession. The last value i saw was that China still does currency exchanges at the 1995 rate between their currency and the dollar.
Currently playing: LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too: Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
I would say China is still very much in the air, in terms of becoming the dominant nation in the world. Much the same was said about Japan in the 80's/90's, right before their economy collapsed... Right now we've got a nice standoff going, as they hold a shitload of our debt, and we pretty much are propping up their economy damn near wholesale. If we got our collective shit together, and stopped hemorrhaging money on a useless, futile war we can't win, and cut our debt down, China'd be fucked. However, the odds of that happening are pretty much nil.
Lol Cold, we wouldn't even have to cut it down. We could call it a thank you for all we have done in the world and forgive all of our debts. What is China really going to do about it? Refuse to trade with us? Oh wait that is right they pretty much don't allow free trade when it comes to imports and what is the chance they will refuse to export to us?
Hi Cabe to help you out. Our Imports to China are at a 25% Tariff rate, while the Chinese import to us at a 2.5% Tariff rate. Fair? Who is getting the best deal.
Hmm I am not quite following what you are saying there. You import to your country and export to other countries. So are you saying that China has a 25% tariff rate on the goods we send to China and we have a 2.5% Tariff rate on the goods we receive from China? Because if so then you are supporting what I have stated. Which is that China couldn't survive if we stopped accepting their goods, while their market isn't a very large one for our goods since they have such a High tariff and artificial value on their currency we can't really compete in their market. If China was forced to actually value the dollar at fair current value then China would fall into a recession. The last value i saw was that China still does currency exchanges at the 1995 rate between their currency and the dollar.
There is about a 40% difference between the Yuen and the Dollar. A yuen is worth only about 60 cents of a U.S dollar. That is a rise in the past two years from 33 cents on a dollar to 60 cents. By 2010 the Chinese will have surpassed our dollar, but then again by 2010 the Amero will be our new currency.
Originally posted by xpowderx By the way Coldmeat, I am a conservative. I just no longer have any party to follow.
I can relate. I now belong to the Angry, Angry Motherfucker party. Also a member in good standing with the Beer, Steak, and Strippers party.
Which is likely who I will be continuing to vote for in '08 since there is no candidate that isn't going to either A)carry on with business as usual B)be completely ineffectual because they are against business as usual, or C)royally screw things up even worse than Bush. And in all likelihood, more than one of the above will end up being the case.
I would say China is still very much in the air, in terms of becoming the dominant nation in the world. Much the same was said about Japan in the 80's/90's, right before their economy collapsed... Right now we've got a nice standoff going, as they hold a shitload of our debt, and we pretty much are propping up their economy damn near wholesale. If we got our collective shit together, and stopped hemorrhaging money on a useless, futile war we can't win, and cut our debt down, China'd be fucked. However, the odds of that happening are pretty much nil.
Lol Cold, we wouldn't even have to cut it down. We could call it a thank you for all we have done in the world and forgive all of our debts. What is China really going to do about it? Refuse to trade with us? Oh wait that is right they pretty much don't allow free trade when it comes to imports and what is the chance they will refuse to export to us?
Hi Cabe to help you out. Our Imports to China are at a 25% Tariff rate, while the Chinese import to us at a 2.5% Tariff rate. Fair? Who is getting the best deal.
Hmm I am not quite following what you are saying there. You import to your country and export to other countries. So are you saying that China has a 25% tariff rate on the goods we send to China and we have a 2.5% Tariff rate on the goods we receive from China? Because if so then you are supporting what I have stated. Which is that China couldn't survive if we stopped accepting their goods, while their market isn't a very large one for our goods since they have such a High tariff and artificial value on their currency we can't really compete in their market. If China was forced to actually value the dollar at fair current value then China would fall into a recession. The last value i saw was that China still does currency exchanges at the 1995 rate between their currency and the dollar.
There is about a 40% difference between the Yuen and the Dollar. A yuen is worth only about 60 cents of a U.S dollar. That is a rise in the past two years from 33 cents on a dollar to 60 cents. By 2010 the Chinese will have surpassed our dollar, but then again by 2010 the Amero will be our new currency.
Where did you get your exchange rate? Everything I read and have looked at puts the Yuen at 1 yuen equals .13 dollars. which places it a lot less then what you stated of 60cents. That makes a 87% difference and not a 40% difference.
Currently playing: LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too: Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
Lol, I actually voted for Nader the past two times, so you can't blame anything on me.
And just so you know I am a constitutionalist. So I may vote for Ron Paul this time if he wins the nomination. I don't know though. I may just vote for Bloomberg if he runs as an independent. I want to see more of where he stands first. Although you have to love someone who states that political contributions should be capped and then when someone says isn't that hypocritcal since you spent 150Million on your campaign in NY, he said that everyone should go out and become a Billionaire before running for office then.
Currently playing: LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too: Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
Biggest problem I have with Ron Paul is his wanting to open a Pandora's box by repealing Roe v Wade.
You want to reduce abortion rates? How about starting with education, and making birth control easily available for teens? I realize personal responsibility isn't in vogue. And I understand that deluded parents all live in Mr Rodgers Neighborhood where their kids ain't screwing their brains out at every opportunity, but the reality of the situation is that they are.
People want to opt out of Sex Ed, because little Johnny and Suzy will be getting their education in sex at Planned Parenthood after having a few to many jello shots at little Johnny's party? Well, then little Suzy, and Johhny's parents can support Not-so-little Suzy and her little waterhead miracle love child for the rest of their lives, cause that bitch ain't getting no free ride on welfare. Cause welfare is out the door too. If they opt for abortion, fine. And fines. Call it the Lack of Common Sense, and Personal Responsibility Fine. It will provide the State, and Federal gov'ts more than enough funds to repeal income tax, etc. And it places the onus on the individual, rather than the group.
Biggest problem I have with Ron Paul is his wanting to open a Pandora's box by repealing Roe v Wade. You want to reduce abortion rates? How about starting with education, and making birth control easily available for teens? I realize personal responsibility isn't in vogue. And I understand that deluded parents all live in Mr Rodgers Neighborhood where their kids ain't screwing their brains out at every opportunity, but the reality of the situation is that they are. People want to opt out of Sex Ed, because little Johnny and Suzy will be getting their education in sex at Planned Parenthood after having a few to many jello shots at little Johnny's party? Well, then little Suzy, and Johhny's parents can support Not-so-little Suzy and her little waterhead miracle love child for the rest of their lives, cause that bitch ain't getting no free ride on welfare. Cause welfare is out the door too. If they opt for abortion, fine. And fines. Call it the Lack of Common Sense, and Personal Responsibility Fine. It will provide the State, and Federal gov'ts more than enough funds to repeal income tax, etc. And it places the onus on the individual, rather than the group.
Keep in mind as a constitutionalist (I can't spell worth a damn) the reason he wants to repeal roe vs wade isn't because he thinks the government should ban abortions, it is because it isn't the right of the fed gov't to tell the states if they can legalize or ban it. The federal law should be repealed an instead there should be 50 states with laws determining what the state population thinks on the subject.
Our federal government has become to bloated and no longer serves the purpose it was designed to serve. There are only a few things the federal government should do and the main one is in a time of war they should be in charge of the military to defend our country. Otherwise almost all of the laws should be state based and not federally based. I would even say that federal income tax should be repealed and instead there only be a state income tax.
Currently playing: LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too: Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
I'm ok with States Rights to an extent on certain things, but I think there are some things that just should be uniform across all states. Just because Georgia votes to go back to hanging blacks for dating whites, and drinking from white water fountains, and so forth, doesn't make it a good idea. I see the Constitution as a living document that evolves over time, as the needs of the Nation evolve. The world we live in is vastly different from what it was 200 years ago. And the framers did a good job of making the Constitution into something that can evolve as the country does. Yes the Federal Gov't is bloated, and in many ways vestigial, and needs lanced like a boil on the arse of Lady Liberty, but using a chainsaw to do it isn't the way to go.
All that would happen is people would just go to the next state over, and get an abortion. Much like gays go to Oregon, or Vermont, etc, to get married, even if it isn't recognized in their home state. Plus, I believe you'd see the country become incredibly divided, as various groups ended up pooling into a small handful of states. And at some point, some state is gonna get a burr up it's ass about the homos, or the atheists, or blacks, or whatever, next door, and then it's just a downward spiral until some mini-civil war breaks out.
They need to do away with income tax, and just use sales tax. That way it's fair to everyone. Most importantly, immigrants, illegal or otherwise, have to pay fekkin' taxes just the same as everyone else. No more free rides for the rich, or those that know how to exploit loopholes, because there are no more loopholes to exploit.
That way, those that don't want to pay taxes can just grow their own food, sew their own clothes, and so on.
We constantly hear that so called terrorists "hate freedom" and "hate democracy and justice". Yet this week an Australian (Indian born) doctor who is in all other respects what anyone would describe as a model citizen, has been held for 7 days and counting without charge. This is more or less unprecedented in Australia and could not have happened except for the new anti terror laws. http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22009081-952,00.html The point of my post is that I just boggle at the dualistic notions we are presented with in western democracies when we hear : "We will not let our way of life be altered by these terrorists" followed shortly aftter by : "we are changing the laws (thus our way of life) to reduce the presumption of innocence and allow for detention without charge". I was listening to a former CIA agent who postulated that the reason people like doctors are attracted to the ideology of groups like Alqieda is that they see a duplicity in western society perpetuated by governments that preach freedom and yet march across the globe reducing it at every turn. The Australian defence minister had a very freudian slip this week when he said "oil was a reason for Australian troops being in Iraq". http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22027741-5005961,00.html Little wonder the people perpetraing acts of terror feel like they are on the right track when western governments come out with stuff like this.
There are many things in this new world that many can not and will not accept. There is a price for not feeling fear, which is the biggest one. There are many fears in this world and most "ism"s are not the cause. You elected these people, so take them out office. I thank god that American presidents are limited to two terms, because surely we would have had another civil war again.
Don't make the mistake of judging China by western values, capitalism is not their goal here. Firstoff, under Mao's cultural revolution China went through an inward looking era again, and fell behind technologically. They did not have an automotive industry, steel industry, or aircraft industry. Their shipbuilding potential was very limited. In the mid 1970's, when they invaded Vietnam, they got their ass kicked because they lacked the mechanised divisions necessary to operate in the North. Airborne Divisions, Airmobile Divisions, China didn't have. But they do now......
Fast foreward to today. By partnering with the west they now have the ability to mass produce armored vehicles, jet fighters, helicopters, long range bombers, missiles, warships, and are milking us for the techmological aspects, such as the night vision goggles a US defense contractor illegally subcontracted out to them (to save a buck). Combine that with a society that values boys over girls to the point they have quite a reserve of unemployed young men, and guess what, you have an army.
It's taken about 50 years, but they finally have a space program, and can put a man in orbit around the earth. How about shoot satelites out of orbit?
China wants to be a player, they don't care if the Chinese people suddenly loose all those conveniences and goodies derived from a capitalistic economy. What do you think the average Chinese citizen is going to do, run out to Tienaman Square and protest? Demand change from their government?
The Chinese military gives them options, the US debt to China gives them the leverage to use the options. Do you really think America will die for Taiwan, S Korea, or anyone else, if China takes military action? Do you really think the American people will stand up and say, "we're not going to take it", if China threatens us economically? One thing is for sure, the Chinese people will definately not stand up and complain about their government's actions.
Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do.
oh I am sorry I was looking at old data. Here is the current data on the wealthy of the world: 1) USA (432)
2) Germany (55)
3) Russia (53)
4) India (36)
5) UK (29)
6) Turkey (25)
7) Japan (24)
8) Canada (23)
9) Hong Kong (21)
10) Brazil, Spain, China (20)
11) France (15)
12) Saudi Arabia (13)
13) Australia (12)
14) South Korea (10)
15) Mexico (10)
The US has 432 Billionaires currently, with second place now at 55. So that means we have 46 more billionaires in the US then the next 16 countries combined and you actually think that the US depends on other countries?
Thanks for providing excellent proof of a massive income inequalityin the US. Way to take care of your people.
Comments
I have to say, I think if the UK government stopped sitting around on their arses in parliament arguing with each other and pointing fingers about the floods and other politicians then they might actually be able to get something useful done for ONCE. Once they start getting together on things they get it done well, it's just now they're acting like complete wolves with each other (partly thanks to the media) that they end up not actually getting anything done.
Quoting people doesn't make you clever, in fact, it makes you all the more stupid for not bothering to read the quotes you post in the first place.
We can create more food than any other country in the world. We CAN manufacture every item we need inside our borders. We can be self sufficient. No Other country can state that. You guys are confusing economic growth of a capitalistic society with a need for other countries. We don't need them to survive. We want them so that we can have 269 Billionaires and the next best country has around 50. We want trade so that we can get more rich, but we don't need them. How long would other countries last without our investments? Remove every single US companies funds from other countries and watch the world collapse. Remove our purchasing of products from foreign countries and watch their economies collapse. The world needs the US consumer machine, but do not confuse that with us needing them. If somehow a person came to power in this country and declared themselves dictator/king ( and everyone actually went for it) and then proceeded to remove all of our foreign dependencies, yeah we would have some issues for awhile, but we could survive it.
Name another country that could actually do that.... (and keep in mind that the US has enough oil reserves and untapped oil under alaska to survive until we perfected an alternative).
Currently playing:
LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too:
Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
I could have swore that our grandfathers generation didn't support the war until Pearl Harbor. I believe that many americans were neither for, nor truelly against what Hitler was doing at the start of the war. You seem under the impression that the magority of the wold actually liked the Jews during that era. No, anit-semitism didn't start during WW2, it was around for quite a lot longer. Most christians and muslims didn't much like the jews then.
Since when does one person represent every person in a country?
We've already gone into Afganistan and Iraq, and it's not doing a thing to the President of Iran, except maybe garner him a little more support from middle eastern Muslims. So how exactly would napalming those two countries solve anything in Iran? And you're right. Iran is, and was, the bigger problem in the middle east then Iraq was. But Iran has an army, and less oil I believe. Bush also coudln't spin as spooky scarey backstory to gather support for invading Iran, Iran also wasn't crippled by a decade of economic sactions.
You really think the US can survive without the world? You do realize that we depend on the world, for most everything right. We aren't the leader in electronics, automobiles, fuel, textiles etc. etc. We're exporting entire workforces and importing most all of our goods; how exactly does that put us into a position of not needing the rest of the world?
I quess we could support ourselves by shopping.
You do realize that we do this so that we can become rich. Our country has about 220 more billionaires then any other country in the world. We have more billionaires then the next 9 countries on the top 10 list combined. If our country changed from one of capitalism to a more socialistic country that wanted to be self reliant, we actually could be. You don't need to be the leader in any of those categories since we can actually produce all of those products. Name one thing that we need that we can not make within our borders. And I don't mean for cheaper I mean that we can not actually produce.
Currently playing:
LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too:
Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
oh I am sorry I was looking at old data.
Here is the current data on the wealthy of the world:
1) USA (432)
2) Germany (55)
3) Russia (53)
4) India (36)
5) UK (29)
6) Turkey (25)
7) Japan (24)
8) Canada (23)
9) Hong Kong (21)
10) Brazil, Spain, China (20)
11) France (15)
12) Saudi Arabia (13)
13) Australia (12)
14) South Korea (10)
15) Mexico (10)
The US has 432 Billionaires currently, with second place now at 55. So that means we have 46 more billionaires in the US then the next 16 countries combined and you actually think that the US depends on other countries?
Currently playing:
LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too:
Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
_____________________________________
"Io rido, e rider mio non passa dentro;
Io ardo, e l'arsion mia non par di fore."
-Machiavelli
I care less about how many billionaires there are worldwide. But do care more about imports/exports and GNP. In the next 10 years China will surpass the world in all three areas. Many people in the U.S are barely surviving thanks to ARC,NAFTA,AEE.. I do not need to see some grade school genius tell me how the U.S is. Most likely they do not have a family , children nor a wife/husband. Better yet, I often see responses from posters who are not in the U.S.
I voted for Bush once. But hate that bastard now. NAFTA is nothing more than whats already signed the NAU. The NAU will get rid of the constitution, the U.S dollar and our borders. Billionaires are not shit when the dollar will have no value. If you are going to get money I recommend Chinas money. under-inflated as it is, it has no where to go but receive greater worth.
By the way, if you are wondering what the NAU is, here a link! www.sourcewatch.org/index.php Its well worth it to read. Because its coming and what you call freedom will cease to exist.
I would say China is still very much in the air, in terms of becoming the dominant nation in the world. Much the same was said about Japan in the 80's/90's, right before their economy collapsed...
Right now we've got a nice standoff going, as they hold a shitload of our debt, and we pretty much are propping up their economy damn near wholesale. If we got our collective shit together, and stopped hemorrhaging money on a useless, futile war we can't win, and cut our debt down, China'd be fucked.
However, the odds of that happening are pretty much nil.
Well Coldmeat, We will be seeing china made cars here by mid 2008. you will really like this deal. Chrysler is in partnership with China.
Read the story here. www.chinadaily.net/english/doc/2005-04/22/content_436543.htm
Just wanted to say, they signed that deal today!
Guess the Mexicans are getting uppity, and demanding 15 pesos an hour, or something...
I care less about how many billionaires there are worldwide. But do care more about imports/exports and GNP. In the next 10 years China will surpass the world in all three areas. Many people in the U.S are barely surviving thanks to ARC,NAFTA,AEE.. I do not need to see some grade school genius tell me how the U.S is. Most likely they do not have a family , children nor a wife/husband. Better yet, I often see responses from posters who are not in the U.S.
I voted for Bush once. But hate that bastard now. NAFTA is nothing more than whats already signed the NAU. The NAU will get rid of the constitution, the U.S dollar and our borders. Billionaires are not shit when the dollar will have no value. If you are going to get money I recommend Chinas money. under-inflated as it is, it has no where to go but receive greater worth.
By the way, if you are wondering what the NAU is, here a link! www.sourcewatch.org/index.php Its well worth it to read. Because its coming and what you call freedom will cease to exist.
Once again I am not talking about our place in the world. I was showing that our current economic and world structure is doing what it is meant to do and that is make the rich in this country richer. I was saying that our country is one of the few if not the only one that can completely produce everything it needs within its own borders. What do you think would happen to China's economic growth if they no longer had the US to trade with? Or India's growth if we no longer outsourced jobs to them?Secondly your attack on my personal life makes your position look a lot weaker. If you have to stoop to making ASSumptions about someone you have never met in RL and have no idea what my current life style is. Just to let you in a secret, I am married, have 3 children, serve in the US Military, and have a college degree.
Most people in the US that you say are barely surviving is because of their own fault. Iceland is a great example. People all live at the same level of income. They either work 1 job to reach it or 2-3 jobs to reach that level of income, but pretty much everyone in that country is equal when it comes to income. The people that barely make it in this country aren't willing to work the jobs that are available in most cases. I have seen it, people who are unemployed but will not get a job at McDonald's, or cleaning houses, or picking strawberries, etc. They aren't willing to work for it and would rather have it handed to them. In most cases (not including mental illness or addiction) the poor in this country have no one to blame but themselves. (and I was part of that group when I was a kid, my mom and I lived on welfare for a few months, until my mom went through a school program they had and became a medical transcriptionist, she went on to make 45-50K per year after that).
Currently playing:
LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too:
Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
Lol Cold, we wouldn't even have to cut it down. We could call it a thank you for all we have done in the world and forgive all of our debts. What is China really going to do about it? Refuse to trade with us? Oh wait that is right they pretty much don't allow free trade when it comes to imports and what is the chance they will refuse to export to us?
Currently playing:
LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too:
Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
Coldmeat, when I saw it on Lou Dobbs I actually was pissed. Last year I watched Chrysler close two of its plants in my region. 10,000 people lost jobs.
I currently am so disgruntled with our current administration and our current congress I may never vote again. I see no purpose. Our government is going to pass policies on the public of this once great nation without voting or even making it a bill. By the way Coldmeat, I am a conservative. I just no longer have any party to follow.
Lol Cold, we wouldn't even have to cut it down. We could call it a thank you for all we have done in the world and forgive all of our debts. What is China really going to do about it? Refuse to trade with us? Oh wait that is right they pretty much don't allow free trade when it comes to imports and what is the chance they will refuse to export to us?
Hi Cabe to help you out. Our Imports to China are at a 25% Tariff rate, while the Chinese import to us at a 2.5% Tariff rate. Fair? Who is getting the best deal.
Lol Cold, we wouldn't even have to cut it down. We could call it a thank you for all we have done in the world and forgive all of our debts. What is China really going to do about it? Refuse to trade with us? Oh wait that is right they pretty much don't allow free trade when it comes to imports and what is the chance they will refuse to export to us?
Hi Cabe to help you out. Our Imports to China are at a 25% Tariff rate, while the Chinese import to us at a 2.5% Tariff rate. Fair? Who is getting the best deal.
Hmm I am not quite following what you are saying there. You import to your country and export to other countries. So are you saying that China has a 25% tariff rate on the goods we send to China and we have a 2.5% Tariff rate on the goods we receive from China? Because if so then you are supporting what I have stated. Which is that China couldn't survive if we stopped accepting their goods, while their market isn't a very large one for our goods since they have such a High tariff and artificial value on their currency we can't really compete in their market. If China was forced to actually value the dollar at fair current value then China would fall into a recession. The last value i saw was that China still does currency exchanges at the 1995 rate between their currency and the dollar.
Currently playing:
LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too:
Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
Lol Cold, we wouldn't even have to cut it down. We could call it a thank you for all we have done in the world and forgive all of our debts. What is China really going to do about it? Refuse to trade with us? Oh wait that is right they pretty much don't allow free trade when it comes to imports and what is the chance they will refuse to export to us?
Hi Cabe to help you out. Our Imports to China are at a 25% Tariff rate, while the Chinese import to us at a 2.5% Tariff rate. Fair? Who is getting the best deal.
Hmm I am not quite following what you are saying there. You import to your country and export to other countries. So are you saying that China has a 25% tariff rate on the goods we send to China and we have a 2.5% Tariff rate on the goods we receive from China? Because if so then you are supporting what I have stated. Which is that China couldn't survive if we stopped accepting their goods, while their market isn't a very large one for our goods since they have such a High tariff and artificial value on their currency we can't really compete in their market. If China was forced to actually value the dollar at fair current value then China would fall into a recession. The last value i saw was that China still does currency exchanges at the 1995 rate between their currency and the dollar.
There is about a 40% difference between the Yuen and the Dollar. A yuen is worth only about 60 cents of a U.S dollar. That is a rise in the past two years from 33 cents on a dollar to 60 cents. By 2010 the Chinese will have surpassed our dollar, but then again by 2010 the Amero will be our new currency.
I can relate. I now belong to the Angry, Angry Motherfucker party. Also a member in good standing with the Beer, Steak, and Strippers party.
Which is likely who I will be continuing to vote for in '08 since there is no candidate that isn't going to either A)carry on with business as usual B)be completely ineffectual because they are against business as usual, or C)royally screw things up even worse than Bush. And in all likelihood, more than one of the above will end up being the case.
Lol Cold, we wouldn't even have to cut it down. We could call it a thank you for all we have done in the world and forgive all of our debts. What is China really going to do about it? Refuse to trade with us? Oh wait that is right they pretty much don't allow free trade when it comes to imports and what is the chance they will refuse to export to us?
Hi Cabe to help you out. Our Imports to China are at a 25% Tariff rate, while the Chinese import to us at a 2.5% Tariff rate. Fair? Who is getting the best deal.
Hmm I am not quite following what you are saying there. You import to your country and export to other countries. So are you saying that China has a 25% tariff rate on the goods we send to China and we have a 2.5% Tariff rate on the goods we receive from China? Because if so then you are supporting what I have stated. Which is that China couldn't survive if we stopped accepting their goods, while their market isn't a very large one for our goods since they have such a High tariff and artificial value on their currency we can't really compete in their market. If China was forced to actually value the dollar at fair current value then China would fall into a recession. The last value i saw was that China still does currency exchanges at the 1995 rate between their currency and the dollar.
There is about a 40% difference between the Yuen and the Dollar. A yuen is worth only about 60 cents of a U.S dollar. That is a rise in the past two years from 33 cents on a dollar to 60 cents. By 2010 the Chinese will have surpassed our dollar, but then again by 2010 the Amero will be our new currency.
Where did you get your exchange rate? Everything I read and have looked at puts the Yuen at 1 yuen equals .13 dollars. which places it a lot less then what you stated of 60cents. That makes a 87% difference and not a 40% difference.
Currently playing:
LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too:
Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
Lol, I actually voted for Nader the past two times, so you can't blame anything on me.
And just so you know I am a constitutionalist. So I may vote for Ron Paul this time if he wins the nomination. I don't know though. I may just vote for Bloomberg if he runs as an independent. I want to see more of where he stands first. Although you have to love someone who states that political contributions should be capped and then when someone says isn't that hypocritcal since you spent 150Million on your campaign in NY, he said that everyone should go out and become a Billionaire before running for office then.
Currently playing:
LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too:
Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
Biggest problem I have with Ron Paul is his wanting to open a Pandora's box by repealing Roe v Wade.
You want to reduce abortion rates? How about starting with education, and making birth control easily available for teens? I realize personal responsibility isn't in vogue. And I understand that deluded parents all live in Mr Rodgers Neighborhood where their kids ain't screwing their brains out at every opportunity, but the reality of the situation is that they are.
People want to opt out of Sex Ed, because little Johnny and Suzy will be getting their education in sex at Planned Parenthood after having a few to many jello shots at little Johnny's party? Well, then little Suzy, and Johhny's parents can support Not-so-little Suzy and her little waterhead miracle love child for the rest of their lives, cause that bitch ain't getting no free ride on welfare. Cause welfare is out the door too. If they opt for abortion, fine. And fines. Call it the Lack of Common Sense, and Personal Responsibility Fine. It will provide the State, and Federal gov'ts more than enough funds to repeal income tax, etc. And it places the onus on the individual, rather than the group.
Our federal government has become to bloated and no longer serves the purpose it was designed to serve. There are only a few things the federal government should do and the main one is in a time of war they should be in charge of the military to defend our country. Otherwise almost all of the laws should be state based and not federally based. I would even say that federal income tax should be repealed and instead there only be a state income tax.
Currently playing:
LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too:
Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
I'm ok with States Rights to an extent on certain things, but I think there are some things that just should be uniform across all states. Just because Georgia votes to go back to hanging blacks for dating whites, and drinking from white water fountains, and so forth, doesn't make it a good idea. I see the Constitution as a living document that evolves over time, as the needs of the Nation evolve. The world we live in is vastly different from what it was 200 years ago. And the framers did a good job of making the Constitution into something that can evolve as the country does. Yes the Federal Gov't is bloated, and in many ways vestigial, and needs lanced like a boil on the arse of Lady Liberty, but using a chainsaw to do it isn't the way to go.
All that would happen is people would just go to the next state over, and get an abortion. Much like gays go to Oregon, or Vermont, etc, to get married, even if it isn't recognized in their home state. Plus, I believe you'd see the country become incredibly divided, as various groups ended up pooling into a small handful of states. And at some point, some state is gonna get a burr up it's ass about the homos, or the atheists, or blacks, or whatever, next door, and then it's just a downward spiral until some mini-civil war breaks out.
They need to do away with income tax, and just use sales tax. That way it's fair to everyone. Most importantly, immigrants, illegal or otherwise, have to pay fekkin' taxes just the same as everyone else. No more free rides for the rich, or those that know how to exploit loopholes, because there are no more loopholes to exploit.
That way, those that don't want to pay taxes can just grow their own food, sew their own clothes, and so on.
Win/win.
Don't make the mistake of judging China by western values, capitalism is not their goal here. Firstoff, under Mao's cultural revolution China went through an inward looking era again, and fell behind technologically. They did not have an automotive industry, steel industry, or aircraft industry. Their shipbuilding potential was very limited. In the mid 1970's, when they invaded Vietnam, they got their ass kicked because they lacked the mechanised divisions necessary to operate in the North. Airborne Divisions, Airmobile Divisions, China didn't have. But they do now......
Fast foreward to today. By partnering with the west they now have the ability to mass produce armored vehicles, jet fighters, helicopters, long range bombers, missiles, warships, and are milking us for the techmological aspects, such as the night vision goggles a US defense contractor illegally subcontracted out to them (to save a buck). Combine that with a society that values boys over girls to the point they have quite a reserve of unemployed young men, and guess what, you have an army.
It's taken about 50 years, but they finally have a space program, and can put a man in orbit around the earth. How about shoot satelites out of orbit?
China wants to be a player, they don't care if the Chinese people suddenly loose all those conveniences and goodies derived from a capitalistic economy. What do you think the average Chinese citizen is going to do, run out to Tienaman Square and protest? Demand change from their government?
The Chinese military gives them options, the US debt to China gives them the leverage to use the options. Do you really think America will die for Taiwan, S Korea, or anyone else, if China takes military action? Do you really think the American people will stand up and say, "we're not going to take it", if China threatens us economically? One thing is for sure, the Chinese people will definately not stand up and complain about their government's actions.
That the US depends on other countries:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_deficit#United_States_trade_deficit
Now guess... Does the US export more oil than they import it? Aaaand... do they use more than they produce?
List of countries by GDP (nominal)
List of countries by GDP (PPP)
List by the International Monetary Fund
List by the World Bank
Your figures tell nothing.
In the real world it's impossible not to depend on other countries.
CLICK HERE TO GET A LIST OF FREE MMO LISTS!!!