Incoming....

[callmeslick]

Why can the rest of the civilized world be, well, civilized, yet Americans find it such a tough concept to grasp.

HRM lets see, Europe has More Terrorists attacks, More rioting, More Political unrest. More Genocide, More Failing Governments, and a higher poverty rate. 14% US and an average 16% in the EU

Yep as an American I find that a tough concept to grasp.

Yet, Europe has a higher life expectancy, lower infant mortality, higher literacy rate, subsidized housing and education for all. Further, your EU figures are badly skewed because of recent additions of really poor underdeveloped Eastern European natons. Overall, our poverty rate is far worse than most of the old line
EU nations. I think I read someplace recently that our current poverty rate is equivalent to that of Estonia.
Nice, really nice. And to think, some(many, actually) on the right would like to see the vast bulk of the US populace sink to that dismal level.

[HappyHappy]

Using Europe as an example is lame.
Think about it. As a result of the european attitude
there are perhaps 300,000,000 decendants missing.
Missing as a result of two world wars and mass genocide.

So much for life expectency.

As I se it the EU is about to crumble as more and more member
nations hang their inflationary practices on the Euro Dollar.
Greece is the violent tip of the ice berg.

So much for life expectency.

HH

[callmeslick]

Using Europe as an example is lame.
Think about it. As a result of the european attitude
there are perhaps 300,000,000 decendants missing.
Missing as a result of two world wars and mass genocide.

and we did in most of the native North Americans. So what? Geez, you are thick.

[callmeslick]

http://www.credoaction.com/comics/2011/ ... -of-crazy/

[CUDA]

Yet, Europe has a higher life expectancy, lower infant mortality, higher literacy rate,

your picking the fly shit out of the pepper with those. the differences are infinitesimal at about 1% in all 3 categories.

subsidized housing and education for all.

and at what cost. there are 16 European countries that have a higher % of debt to GDP than the U.S.

Concerns about Europe’s solvency are intensifying, pushing up risk measures for Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain to “at or near danger levels,” El-Erian wrote in his piece, which was first published yesterday on ft.com’s ftalphaville website section.

Further, your EU figures are badly skewed because of recent additions of really poor underdeveloped Eastern European natons. Overall, our poverty rate is far worse than most of the old line
EU nations. I think I read someplace recently that our current poverty rate is equivalent to that of Estonia.
Nice, really nice. And to think, some(many, actually) on the right would like to see the vast bulk of the US populace sink to that dismal level.

wait a minute. you said "the rest of the world" was more civilized. I narrowed it down to just Europe because we all know how you Libs LOVE the European model. are Eastern European countries not part of Europe anymore? are you wanting to exclude certain parts of Europe because it sounds better in your argument? So whats next? do you want to make comparisons with us to only a single country in Europe??

[HappyHappy]

Using Europe as an example is lame.
Think about it. As a result of the european attitude
there are perhaps 300,000,000 decendants missing.
Missing as a result of two world wars and mass genocide.

and we did in most of the native North Americans. So what? Geez, you are thick.

The Spanish and British killed most of the natives long before
we the people got the chance to kill em off as a new nation.

Just more of the European knack for mass murder and genocide.

HH

[callmeslick]

CUDA, I said the rest of the civilized world. I have no trouble with you settling on Europe to focus on,
but just be aware that certain numbers get skewed when you look at the EU. I will admit that some of those
civilized nations have a higher debt to GDP ratio, but still, they are willing to provide a social safety net,
and the US seems less inclined. Further, the US population overwhelmingly supports Universal Healthcare and most other of the common European social structure, we are just unwilling to pay for it........

Note, today, in your local paper, a report on how the current recovery is working for the well-off. Like I have been telling you for a while, those of us who rely on investment income are up around 25% per year since 2009. The rest of the folks.......?

[Pudfark]

CUDA, I said the rest of the civilized world. I have no trouble with you settling on Europe to focus on,
but just be aware that certain numbers get skewed when you look at the EU. I will admit that some of those
civilized nations have a higher debt to GDP ratio, but still, they are willing to provide a social safety net,
and the US seems less inclined. Further, the US population overwhelmingly supports Universal Healthcare and most other of the common European social structure, we are just unwilling to pay for it........

Note, today, in your local paper, a report on how the current recovery is working for the well-off. Like I have been telling you for a while, those of us who rely on investment income are up around 25% per year since 2009. The rest of the folks.......?

Social Safety Net = Communism or the supposition that all folks are incapable of taking care of themselves. This so called (by you) "rube" has managed to do, provide that "net", independently,
with no need of any outside help or authority, for himself, wife and four children. Along with health, auto, property and life insurances. All of this accomplished without winning the lottery, suing anybody or taking a Social Safety Net "hand out"....Home is paid for along with three vehicles. Oh, and nobody has been to jail. Please explain? How this is possible on a policeman's salary?

It seems to me?
If a "rube" can do it....
Why can't everybody else do it?

When you "bargain away" the "right of self determination" in exchange for the "social safety net" ?
You have agreed to entrust your "rights" to the collective entity.....
The entity with no name, no accountability and no address.

How's that safety net working?
With "home/property" values?
Employment?
Inflation?
Yup, that 25% return you been getting?
Factor in inflation and devaluation of the dollar and how much is it?
Another, little fact...you ain't made the 25% until you cash out....
Oh, and when ya cash out...them higher taxes you propose?
Will come into "play".....
Unlike, the "Terminator"....I hope you "pull out" in time.......

This weekend, I have approximately twenty family members coming to my home to have a few meals, celebrate the fourth and have a nice visit....
Not a one of them has ever needed a social safety net....

Old Pudfark sez: " Rubes Rule....and they vote.... "

[Pudfark]

That "Social Safety Net" crap really bugs me....apparently

I guess some folks just need the hand holding...especially the ones that propose it....
I suppose?
Social engineering, federal government interference and excessive taxation are the answer?
That might be true for the mentally, morally and helpless folk....
I guess it's just convenient to forget?
That for the last couple of hundred years.....
Folks have been able to individually.....
Care for themselves and their own.....

But.........
Now........
All of a sudden........
They can't......

Old Pudfark sez: " Hmmmm......oh yeah.....that's just Slick's opinion.... "

[CUDA]

I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I travelled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.

here are my EXACT feelings on your "social safety net"

"Social safety nets" are bad for society in general. the premise of helping the poor is admirable and I do not disagree. but people learn to live to their means. and when things are given to them they Generally do not carry the same value. and I do not EVER want someone to tell me that it's "too hard" or "I don't make enough" that is an excuse I will not accept. I'm 50 years old have been married for 30 years, My wife and I have birthed and raise 8 children on my income alone. with my best year income of 72K. I have at times worked two jobs 6 days a week and evenings to provide for that Family, and have never taken Government assistance out side of unemployment and only once in that 30 years and then for only 3 months.
Make people uncomfortable in their Poverty and they will strive to better themselves. give them handouts and they become lazy and slovenly which is what this once great country is becoming.