American prisons suck too? Ours are shite. The prison guards of big prisons go on strike from time to time, because the security is often pretty low quality, and there are not nearly enough guards, making it dangerous for the ones that want to do the job. Also, we don't have enough prisons, whereas the Netherlands have empty prisons. Certain prisoners are being transfered to Dutch prisons these days, because obviously it's not far away. It's great to be a Belgian in many ways, but the jurisdiction over here and the situations in prisons suck big hairy balls.
Hell yeah I'd do Sarah Palin. There's a reason she's called the "Arctic Fox". I found "McCain/MILF" campaign signs (pictures, photoshopped) online, but if I had found a real one, I would have bought it in a second. Her daughters are (or will be, depending on which one you're looking at) pretty good-looking, too. Well, save Bristol, but maybe before/after the pregnancy, oh yeah. I don't think she was the best candidate for the job, but McCain was too liberal to get the conservative vote, so they needed somebody to bring the ticket somewhat to the right -- and they were against either a female in Hillary (well, sort of) or a black in Obama, so they figured that a minority on their ticket would avoid some of the accusations of prejudice. I think it worked a little. Se didn't have the experience to take over for McCain, if something were to happen -- but she's still got more related experience than Obama did. And I'd much rather have her in office than Biden. Or even worse, Nancy Pelosi. And she was made out to be much, much less intelligent than she really is. If you saw her entire interview with Katie Couric, the network did quite a bit of editing to try to make her look like a moron, and she really wasn't nearly that bad. Most of the "quotes" that make her look stupid have been either taken out of context, manipulated, or simply fabricated.
You'd do Sarah Palin? O_o And I don't have a prejudice towards Sarah Palin or anything. I don't think she's a moron. She's made some unfortunate statements. But would you really want her to replace McCain if something had happened to McCain? Come on. She didn't even know what Gaza was. I don't want a president in the US that is not familiar with foreign politics.
When have I behaved like that? And the 'kid' thing seems more like another way to work out your frustration about people who don't fully agree with you. Just being honest here, kid.
People that act like children -- you know, by doing childish things like hurling general immature insults at members of an opposing political party -- deserve to be called out on it. If I'm ever childish enough to generalize everybody who disagrees with me as racist (or anything else), I hope to be called out on it.
Why do you insist on calling people you disagree with 'kids'? That's not something an intelligent person should do, in my opinion. And giving me bad rep for criticising SOME Americans. I should've seen that one coming.
I knew I shouldn't have used the word 'experiences', but I'm pretty sure I have a realistic image of it all. The 'American Dream' is one of America's greatest assets. Or that's what they try to tell the rest of the world. Although Europe (at least the Western part, not including the UK) isn't any different in terms of economic liberty, there is a difference in life standard. You have to admit that the amount of poor regions in the US kind of contradicts the whole 'American Dream' idea. Maybe you, as a (white) American, have a naive, romantic image of it. Maybe I, as a happy Belgian, am too biased. Who knows. But trying to get good grades in High School, when your cousins are all trying to be the man in some gang war, doesn't seem like the perfect environment to get rich. The 'die trying' part seems more likely. Also, the US has a funny educational system. There are a lot of possibilities in High School. But your grades in High School actually matter when you want to go to college. They call it 'applying for college' over there. (As they do in the UK, btw.) Over here (mainly talking about Belgium and The Netherlands), anyone can study whatever they want, on whatever university they want, as long as they can pay the 600 euros tuition and can pay for all the books and everything that comes with it (which makes around 1000 euros in total for one year I think.) It has been like that since the 60s. University is not for the rich people only. And before you try to insult our universities, we have some of the oldest and best universities. It's not elitist like Harvard or any of the Ivy LEague universities. Or at least, the atmosphere isn't anything like that. But the University of Leuven is among the best ones in the world. I'm happy with where I live, but I would be too if I was poor. (Not that I'm rich, we don't really have a class war like the UK still has.) but I'm wondering if you would be happy to live in the US if you were poor. And I think it's pretty ignorant to say that 99% of all poor people put it upon themselves...
"From my experiences, the US is a pretty tough country to live in if you're poor." -What exactly are your experiences of being poor in the U.S.? The problem with being poor in the United States is that nobody has to be poor. I've literally seen people go from homeless to college graduate. I've seen people go from the ghetto to owning their own business. Sure, sometimes it ain't easy, but the United States lives up to its "land of opportunity" label. Not only are there tax rebates and perks for poor people (as in, they take money from the successful and redistribute it), there are programs that people can't get into unless their income is under a certain amount. College tuition is somewhat high, but there are myriad ways to get money for college, from scholarships to grants to student loans -- and every college town will have plenty of employment opportunities. I don't have any sympathy for the poor in America -- 99% of the time, the people that are poor in America deserve to be poor. The other one percent, there are plenty of (TOO many) government programs to help them.
"Most likely because of their own actions" I have to disagree with this one. From my experiences, the US is a pretty tough country to live in if you're poor. Though you could specualte about the definition of poor. College tuitions are amazingly high, though I'm not sure how community college works. And the scale of your country is totally different from anywhere else in the world. Everythings bigger, so it's harder to get out of a poor/dangerous environment. "Because if you think Britain has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, damn, I've got some stuff to teach you." Haha. I'm indeed from Belgium, and you would have every right to teach me some stuff if I thought Britain had a good heath care system. I'm a socialist, but I feel no connection to what happens over in the UK, even though they call themselves socialists... Isn't it pretty ridiculous to censor a word, when everyone knows what word is being said? America is funny in that respect, that it has this fear of anything that might be seen as offensive. A few days ago, some newsreporter (don't know what channel) apparently apologised for saying "colored people". I was like, "Oh so that's offensive?". But then I found out that "people of color" is the politically correct way to say it. I was like wtf. You have to admit that the US can be pretty anal about that stuff. Not only racial. I mean in general. "That's kinda ... dumb, ain't it?" Yes it is. But if you consider that Belgium is about 2 times the size of New York City, and the Netherlands are right above us (as in North of us), it makes more sense. Totally agree with you on the Marijuana thing.
"You think it's not one of the services the government should provide, I think it is/" -I think that governments (and this is how the American government WAS set up) are there to protect the rights of their citizenry. Not their health, but their rights. Taking my money to provide healthcare to somebody who, most likely because of their own actions, cannot or simply does not pay for their own, violates my rights. "I know we have one of the best health care systems in the world ..." -You're not in Britain, are you? Because if you think Britain has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, damn, I've got some stuff to teach you. Belgium, right? "And I wonder, are breasts shown on the news an issue? Like if they were to show a clip from a beach and there would be people in monokini." -Bikinis and such are usually fine, but you could only see nudity on certain, specific cable channels. Just like cusswords -- they don't censor "ass" or "damn" or "bitch", stuff like that, but the more "severe" ones they do ... again, unless it's on specific channels (not just regular cable, but extra packages -- HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, etc.). "Oh, and do you have like a national tv channel, funded by the state?" -It's PBS (Public Broadcasting System) here. Usually it's full of children's educational shows, but sometimes they'll have news or science shows -- and they're pretty liberal. "And what I meant about the marijuana, was that over here, we can smoke it, but we can't grow or sell it." -That's kinda ... dumb, ain't it? "So do you want the marijuana industry in the US to be in the hands of (mostly) criminals, or do you want the business to be recognised as a legitimate industry, with taxation and even unions if you will?" -Well I'm no fan of unions, and I wouldn't want the government to see it as yet another thing to suck money from (like they do with tobacco), but ... I'd rather see it legalized to the point that growing it, selling it, AND using it are legal. So the people involved in each process wouldn't be criminals. But at that point, there would have to be standards governing every aspect of it, like making sure it's not laced with shit, stuff like that, so the government would have to step in anyway. It'd become a crop and industry just like tobacco or alcohol, I assume.
You think it's not one of the services the government should provide, I think it is. I'm not sure how it works over here though. We've got a couple of health care 'companies' (for lack of a better term), but we're obligated to have it. I don't think it's a private business though. I know we have one of the best health care systems in the world, it's what our politicians are always pointing out when they're in trouble not getting other stuff done etc. And I wonder, are breasts shown on the news an issue? Like if they were to show a clip from a beach and there would be people in monokini. I've always wondered if the context of the 'improper' item mattered for your censoring. Oh, and do you have like a national tv channel, funded by the state? (Like the BBC in the UK, and others in other European countries) And what I meant about the marijuana, was that over here, we can smoke it, but we can't grow or sell it. So that's kind of a paradox. We still have to drive to the Netherlands to get it, and we're only allowed to carry like 3 grams (not sure), so a trip is hardly worth it. So do you want the marijuana industry in the US to be in the hands of (mostly) criminals, or do you want the business to be recognised as a legitimate industry, with taxation and even unions if you will?
"Then why not stop paying taxes altogether?" -Because it's the obligation of the government to provide certain services to its people. Healthcare is not one of them. "Besides, if anything, the US has more censorship in all media than probably any Western European country." -The only "censorship" is of things deemed "improper" -- you can't turn on the TV to watch porn, you won't hear cursing and such through TV or over the radio, stuff like that. The news -- as in, the stories they cover -- isn't censored at all. "I mean, do you want it to become legal to smoke it, or do you want the growing industry to become legit too?" -Well I'd rather the government not look at it as another way to take money, if that's what you're asking.
Then why not stop paying taxes altogether? If 'stealing' is what you call it. Do you think it's alright for the government to steal your money to fund a war? I'd say paying taxes for health care is a better way to contribute. And the 'freedom' you talk about, that's all relative. Besides, if anything, the US has more censorship in all media than probably any Western European country. And definitely the Netherlands and Belgium. I'd say your first amendment is more applicable to Europe than to the US. And indeed, Marijuana doesn't solve anything. It's just a drug, just like alcohol. Only less unhealthy (granted, if you conveniently leave out the smoking part) and way less dangerous. I'm surprised you are for legalisation. Are you for taxation as well? I mean, do you want it to become legal to smoke it, or do you want the growing industry to become legit too?
Freedom ... freedom to keep more of our own earnings, freedom to choose our own healthcare, freedom to own/carry/use firearms, etc. etc. While I don't think marijuana should be illegal, I'm not one of the dopey bastards who considers it a cure-all or thinks that it will solve every problem anybody could think of. There are people like that, though. I just think it should be a personal choice, like alcohol. If and when it's made legal, I'll be happy to go out and light up, but until then, nobody can claim to be a responsible citizen while their day-to-day life consists of breaking laws.
And sorry I didn't get back to you on these a week or so ago, I got hurt, then went on a road trip. I'm actually in Alabama right now, driving back home tomorrow. "Cause you have to admit, most of them(/you?) are fundamentalists who have no clue about what they're talking about." -You have to admit, most of EVERYBODY is stupid. Stereotyping conservatives as "fundamentalists" or ignorant, but not including any other group, is just plain dumb. "Anyway, did you hear about that Republican guy, claiming how he got beat up so badly that he needed lots of sedatives and someone to talk for him ... ? But the thing is, he was protesting against Obama's health care reform. And now, he's collecting money on a website because he needs it for 'surgery' etc. Wtf did he complain about if he didn't have health care anyway? The change would only be in his advantage." -No, I didn't hear anything about that. But apparently, the guy prefers to ASK for DONATIONS instead of FORCE other people to pay for his medical care through extra taxation. I have more respect for somebody who asks for my money than I do somebody that tries to force me to give it to him ... Hell, I would have more respect for a mugger who steals my money directly from me than somebody who simply votes to have the government steal my money and redistribute it to them.
