The Decline of the American Empire

see, right there is an example of our own self destruction... the people are at such odds, that they can't debate anything without interjecting 'their side', while blaming the 'other side'...

 

While I am sorry if my opinions and evaluation of current events and history upset you, my "Side" is reality as I see it. This was not debate in was discussion and it seems you are not very good at it.

Have A Nice Day

 

Oh, 10, 15, 20 years. I'm old and don't have all that much time remaining so 20 years longer is just fine with me. Trump will keep us strong for the next 6 years, then we can coast a few years before the "progressives" do their best to destroy us again. That's all I need.

 

In most African countries. It is in fact how government officials are paid.

 

Yes, it is mostly on the fringes of empire where the extreme suffering goes on but don't think you are immune. Parts of America already live in third world conditions. The middle class is crumbling and wages are stagnant. You have been living on consumer debt and ignoring infrastructure and social conditions for increased military spending.

Simple math tells you that this is unsustainable magical thinking.

I hope I am wrong but greater minds that I are saying this too.

 

True but often they weren't just accepted but kicked down the gates in desperation as conditions deteriorated. Could such mass movement of people happen again? We are seeing it in real time aren't we?

 

Do you really believe you live in a functioning democracy? When is the last time you voted for a candidate who actually represented your interests? Trump?

 

The electorate voted for Donald Trump and seem quite happy with their decision. That Hillary Clinton didn't win must have been disappointing for many but that's how democracy works. There'll be another election in a few days and another presidential election in two years.

If people can begin focusing on the genuine interests of the country rather than personalities and name calling then the country will continue to proper. Otherwise it will die from within. "A house divided..."

 

Youve got to be kidding..

 

Yep we are in a good company. I knew that.

 

Why would I kid about where I want to live. I love it here. Name we one place to live that would be better than the USA.

 

This ought to be good.

 

You mean a place without the hatred, racism, guns, paranoia, treachery, corruption...
Take your pick...

 

I am not trying to take any sides here but what is so wrong with the Electoral process or this country (in the bigger picture) right now? Just because your candidate didn't win is no reason to reassess the system. Thats nothing more then sour grapes.

I am not a huge Trump fan but I am not so angry that I am willing to ignore his administrations accomplishments. Other then an angry Liberal base, what exactly is so bad.

 

I am thrilled with the Trump phase. I also admit I was thrilled by the G. W. Bush phase. Bush laid the path Obama took then O took the credit. But never worry, He smeared Bush doing it.''

O heck yes, this Trump phase is magnificent.

 

It is definitely better to live somewhere in Western Europe.
People over there live in dignity, they have guaranteed health care and vacations.
They can't be sued and put in jail for no reason, like in U.S.
There is much less crime and people actually can walk on the street in the cities without fear.
Their education is much better, and food is great. It is not the case in the U.S. where most people in U.S. do not study physics, math and chemistry, so they are essentially stupid.

In U.S. people are slaves, if you like to be slave we are happy that you have found your paradise.

 

Talking to a drinks waitress in USA, I discovered that she was employed for one dollar an hour, plus tips....one dollar...unbelievable...
If she received tips, she would have a good nite/week.
She also told me that if she wanted a holiday, she could go, but was told that there would be no job when
she came back. Now that sounds like the norm for USA..really secure employment.
Of course there are other issues I could go on with...the continual spitting in the street by men,
the presence of slot machines in supermarkets, liquor in the supermarket isles, next to the canned fruit and bread...I went into various stores, and people behind the counter were wearing glocks on their hip.
Didnt see a mass shooting while I was there, but that was just luck I guess.
I could go on, but couldnt be bothered. Americans need to take off their rose coloured glasses
and see the USA from the outside, looking in....
Oh by the way, did I see a thread somewhere about a civil war coming...
and a thread about illegals heading towards the border and 600 odd paranoid responses.
Yep, great place USA..plenty to see..but you couldnt pay me enough to live there...

 

NmNeil If you think we are overpopulated what would that make China which has about the same land area as us.They also grow and produce way more food than we do.

 

I did not have a candidate so did not vote...regrettably. But when the person who gets the most votes by a couple million surplus loses an election, there is a problem with how the election was tabulated.

 

Not so sure of that. Japan seemed to me to be a very structured society. I never felt threatened walking the streets at night. There was always a feeling of a lot of energy and yet it seemed like it was channeled. China was a little more intimidating. I always felt I was more the show and curiosity and yet I found the people had a great sense of humor and were marvelous hosts. Germany I found to be very rigid and too serious. The immigrants would be holding their rallies and people arguing on the streets. The younger Germans were very confrontational with the immigrants. The older Germans seemed to be living in a underlining fear.

 

Whether due to weaknes or not, barbaric tribes were allowed t settle that then attacked .

 

Yes, even in the overcrowded areas of China that had a lot of poorer people (pre-1990s for example) there were never muggings.

I'm not saying there was never street violence in China, but when it did happen it tended to be more ordered, like a collective undertaking, a mob of people with a common purpose. And any crime was always about trying to get money, you didn't see crimes for the purposes or rape or violence sake.

East Asia has always had a degree of civility.

I talked to a person who was born in China and he said China doesn't have anything to worry about from barbarian immigrants pouring in. China simply has too many people, and second, these barbarians couldn't survive in China, the environment is too competitive and they wouldn't be able to make inroads into making a livelihood for themselves in the economy.
("barbarian" is a translation of a Chinese word)

 

Eyeballs. Go travel and see for yourself. You will find many countries with nice little homes and yet they are smaller than the average row house. The poor in American have access to medical care which would be the envy of most other countries. At one time we had one of the highest educational systems but political correctness, tenure for incompetents , teacher unions raiding the pot of money for their own pockets over the children's needs and a loss of parental involvement has ruined our standing. The poor in America take for granted cell phones, video games, nice clothes and shoes. ( Look at that caravan coming up from South America and check out how they are dressed) Do you not see the image's of the starving children and poverty in other countries on T.V. ?

 

Ever been to China?

 

Sorry, but that's a different topic and doesn't really answer my question. My question was not about starving children on tv or the caravan of people heading towards the US. I see where you're coming from though, and, yes, most countries in the world are much worse off. Back on topic: I live in Europe, I travel a lot, I've been to the US more than once and I am very shure that the poor (however we want to define this term) in the US most certainly don't have a better living standard than the middle-class or many of the middle-class in the EU (this is the topic). If there are reliable sources however, I'll gladly look into them.