USA - "laughing stock of the world?" - I THINK NOT!

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Britain's Daily Mirror claimed America is "a laughing stock. It can't make up its mind who should be its president." Referring to the confusion in Florida, the editorial concluded:

That is the sort of thing you would expect from a banana republic and could leave America in chaos for weeks. If the extra ballots, mistaken votes and recount still leave the election hung, it will have to wait for postal votes to be counted. The simplest thing might be for President Clinton to be asked to stay on for another four years. But the way things are in the States at the moment, the letter asking him to do that would probably get lost in the post.

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This is the sort of stuff that makes my blood boil. Yeah, we've had a close election, so *****ing what? We may not know who the leader of the most powerful country in the world will be for the next four years. I looks like it may be George W. Bush. Do I have to remind all you limey b@st@rds what the USA is to this world?

In 1776, this little upstart cluster of colonies kicked Britian's ass because of "taxation without representation". Since then we saved your Britian's ass in two World Wars. If it wasn't for us and people like my grandfather dying on the shore's of Normandy Beach, Britain would be "New Gremany" eating kraut and drinking Greman beer like Beck's instead of Bass! And forget about your tea and krumpets. Those would be gone too!!!

Being a superpower and being the number one country in the world sometimes sucks. My taxes goes to feed starving people that end up blowing us up a couple of weeks later. I don't see Britian trying to do anyting as far as the peace process in the Middle East. I'm not a big fan of Clinton, but at least he is trying to get the two sides to talk.

This election is a glitch. Pure and simple. When you are number one everyone is gunning for you. It will be resolved soon (within a week). Clinton will not be President for another four years. That is not how our constitution is written.

Thank you for allowing me to blow off some steam. I know that some of you will disagree with this, and that is fine. I respect your honest, intelligent opinions about this. To call the U.S.A. a laughing stock is insulting and just plain wrong.

"At least my beef isn't plauged with mad cow diease!"

I agree

Your beef - no mad cow maybe - but plenty of Growth Hormone. The Mirror may not represent the views of everyone in the UK but we do respect the right to FREE SPEECH - strange, thought you had it in your constitution.

No need to tar a whole country because of one point of view - otherwise we'd all think that you... (insert outrageous position held by Pat Buchanan here)

See what I mean?

Let's get back to spreading some harmony and international understanding.

Paul.

P.S. The 'laughing stock' bit probably comes from the inability of Palm Beach voters to ask for another form when they had cocked it up, but there are plenty of spoilt ballots in British Elections! Best maxim is "When in Glasshouses..."

P.

After reading my last post, I did not mean to tar the entire county of Britian. For that, I apologize. However, I do feel better that I let off some steam. And for those geriatric voters in Florida that "double voted" and then complained about it later, what can I say, "Get better reading glasses"?

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county of Britian

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where is this mythical place?<grin> Is it in the country of Britain?

Ho ho,

Yours cheerily,

Paul.

Sorry, I missed that "R" in Country. As far as the "i" before "a" and "i" before "e" thing, you don't want to live in a place called "Britian". I think it sounds sort of nice. I'll just call you guys "Merry 'ole England".

I'm sorry but I don't feel so compelled to be nice as these other Brits.

Apart from showing the typically arrogant 'we saved your ass' schoolboy remarks (which I think are dubious) do you know why you don't see Britain contributing to the world which your apparently US-only taxes go to help feed? Because your big fat head is stuck so far up your big fat America-is-the-world gee-wizz-aren't-we-swell ass!!

*Exhales slowly* well I'm glad yo ufelt better venting some steam; I feel better for venting some back. *Plastic air hostess voice* Have a nice day!

I think you will find that is "Merrie Olde England" <MASSIVE GRIN>.

How about: the 51st State, that place off France, the bit below Scotland, Ing-er-land (you won't get that one unless you are in to football (that's soccer to you<GRIN, GRIN, GRIN>).

Cheers,

Paul.

P.S. It's Friday p.m for us, I've had a few beers, feelin' mellow and I'm rather enjoying this!

Whoa Harry - don't forget they have the Nuclear button!!!














Oh that's OK, they've forgotten to elect anyone to press it.

Paul.

*Snicker*

(A more cutting form of snigger ;))

Harry, come on. I was just responding to an article written in one of your tabloids. If I hurt your feelings, I am truly, truly sorry. I do not want to replace Gen-X as the most outrageous person on this forum.

As far as Americans heads being up our asses, yeah its nice and warm up there.

What is the name of your country anyway? Is it Great Britain, Britain, England or "The land where everyone looks like Austin Powers?"


Seriously, I am sorry if I offened you.

right, i've had enough of this.

ALL AMERICANS ARE WANNABE CANADIAN TITS WITH DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR...and they smell of fish.

oh, and we do drink becks.

oh, and this is a joke, btw.


td.

Don't get me started with Canadians. I'll really prove how far "my head is up my ass" with my honest convictions about Canadians.

Actually, that's not all true. I named my dog after your greatest export. His name is Molson. I was going to name him Bass, but I didn't want him to be gay.

Gosh, that's a refreshing change.... well err... apology acceptd, and returned, I thought you meant it in a way in which you clearly didn't :)

Err... just call it whatever you like really, I think the usual term is the UK nowadays, but we're not all that united ;) I'm sure you have animosity over there too. Do Kentucky folk and Texans ***** about each other, or anything ilke that? Actually mainly it's just the other countries complaining about England. Except Wales of course, but they deserve everything they get. Especially if they're ginger ;)

Do ginger people in the US get the piss taken out of them? It's something of a tradition over here.

OK Geography lesson.

We are citizens of:

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK or colloquially (wrongly) Britain).

This is part of

The British Isles (UK plus Eire (Reublic of Ireland))

Great Britain was formed by the Union of the Crowns of England and Wales with that of Scotland in 1707 (Note that the monarch of England and Wales also ruled Ireland (the whole of it), much to Irish distress).

Wales was independent until the late 13th Century when it was conquered by Edward I (you may have seen a pastiche of him in Braveheart (yeucch))

England and Wales have a common legal system but Wales has its own legislative assembly. Scotland has its own legal framework and a Parliament of its own.

Northern Ireland was directly ruled until recently, when the Northern Ireland Assembly took over. Both the Welsh and Northern Irish assemblies look to the Westminster parliament for tax raising. England has no assembly of its own, although there was a Great Council of the North, which last sat properly under Henry VIII.

The Queen is also Queen of Canada, Australia and loadsa other places, but does not rule them.

England is the largest constituent country of the UK.

Hope that is clear <G R I N>

Paul.

P.S. I can name all fifty states, bet you can't name the English Counties!

P.

Aww, looks like I'm too late to do any serious yank bashing.

Actually, Harry, it's usually "Thank God for Mississippi".

Paul, your counties aren't big enough to remember, Just
like I don't remember the counties in Oregon....which is
slightly larger than Great Britain.

Except, of course, for the one named after the steak sauce.

DerFarm

Sam, it's never too late for yank bashing. Thats why it's such good sport. You can play it anytime, and it's so easy to score because there's so many goals, each one being about a mile wide!


td.

Thank you for the history lesson. I am always interested in something that I didn't know before. I'll just call you guys the UK. It's simple and easier to spell. :)

I think I can explain why it seems I have calmed down so much. My ancestry is half Irish and half British. That is why I am hot headed (Irish - Mom) a lot of the time and end up apologizing ten minutes later (British - Dad).

So you're not of Canadian descent then?

;-)

td.

quite frankly i'm rather embarassed to be American right now, they've taken a simple process of voting for a president and turned it into a circus. Fine have a recount, which the original recount was NOT called for by Gore but a matter of state law when an election is that close, but if 19,000 people don't know enough to vote for 1 candidate then screw them! In this day and age to think that they are voting by using a whole punch on a piece of paper just gives me the shivers, why don't we just send smoke signals in to election headquarters. The media is making it even worse yet by their constant coverage of any half-wit politician who wants to throw his opinion in, just flip a friggin' quarter have the candidates call it in the air, they're both morons anyway or the thing wouldn't have been so close to start with...


P.S.
Any country that could give us Monty Python is OK by me!

[Edited by PJB on 11-10-2000 at 01:18 PM]

Maybe they gave us MontyPython, but the also agave us
Richard Harris.....singing.


DerFarm

Don't forget about Culture Club

or The Morticians, for that matter.

DerFarm

Let us not forget that it was the Americans who are responsible for the global plague of pish boy bands.

As an apology for this grave crime against humanity, all yanks should personaly pay $1 to every
other person in the entire world.


td.

Hey, TD? can I pay in Euros?

DerFarm

i'll accept just the apology...


td.

Well...

One thing that Americans can't do very well. Take the piss out of themselves. We are the acknowledged masters of self-deprecation.

Oh, and I think next time I'll run for President. The illiterate half of America would probably vote for me :).

Funny British things:

Prince Charles
Royal Guards with that resemble Marge Simpson's hair
Queen Mother
Punk Rock
calling cigarettes "fags"
tea
driving on the wrong side of the road
police officers not having guns

Woa! Bush is not a moron! It's clinton and his attack dog Al that need to be locked up. Gore could have ended this whole stinkin goose chase by conceding. Instead, he concedes and then changes his mind! what an idiot.

Yeah! What an idiot! Everyone knows that when you concede,
its all over with! Oh....wait, its not. Doesn't matter
whether you concede or not......

Never Mind.

DerFarm

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driving on the wrong side of the road

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But we can since we're on an island. Plus, we're right, you're wrong :).

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Prince Charles

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Well, as long as he doesn't become King (*shudder*).

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police officers not having guns

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Yeah, but a) less Britons have guns, and b) we do have the SAS, who could whip anything the USA has got any day. So, if there's any trouble anywhere, our boys (and occasionally girls) wade in and blow the crap out of them.

PS: I think we've grown out of Punk Rock now.
PPS: I'll admit that a lot of good stuff comes out of America. Fortunately it's all on TV :).

I can understand why some people might have misunderstood the way the ballot was made (The old, the slow , the blind hehe ;) ) BUT!!! the most of them are stupid...why in the f uck could you not see what hole was for what candidate!!
My god..do some people need to be held by the hand and TOLD WHAT THE F UCK TO DO!! GOOD GOD.

And the Reverend Jesse Jackson is whining about civil rights violations in florida because of the way the ballot form was made!!!

WHAT THE FLYING F_UCK!!!

CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!!!! HOW DOES THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH A VOTING BALLOT!!!

he wants to have the west palm beach florida county judge to stop the election untill they are treated right again.


Bunch of whining maggots.

P.S. Jesse if you are reading this... i have one thing to say to you

GET A REAL JOB!!


ok ..hehe since everyone is exploding.. i though i would do the same ;)

And about all this U.S. Bashing... all i have to say is

Wow ..big deal... let them talk.

I love my country.. but i am not going to let some words get me angry and want to go and kill every foreign person i see.



Am out

Hey parksie what's SAS stand for?

Special Air Service.

There's also the Special Boat Service (SBS) who are slightly less famous but just as hard.

we have "special" buses here, probably the same thing :)

Bjwbell - to see just how hard, read either "The One that got away" or "Bravo Two Zero".

First about the driving thing:

Originally everybody walked on left side of the road. And guess why? To get hand fast on the sword in case of robbery!

First Americans changed the rules just to annoy Brits. Later rest of the world did the same.


Then, Americans seem to take too much care about what is happening elsewhere. Other annoying thing is that everything is VERY commercial. You're getting new president? Who cares? Nobody really. We know all that it's going to be the same, whoever is in the house.


And last for my defence, I'm not Brit or American, I'm a Finn. You probably don't know we had elections for a new president, right? Atleast most of you don't.

That's about it. It's my birthday, so please, be gentle :)

I loved reading this thread. It's always fun to hear what others think from different parts of the planet.

Here's my 2 cents:

I have yet to find a country with a perfect government. I find the people from various countries are much easier to get along with and that the politicians everywhere seem, more often than not, to hinder foreign relations.

I'm originally from South Dakota, USA (it's mostly farm and ranch country). When I was younger, I thought that us 'country raised folk' seemed to have more common sense than the rest of the idiots. Once I grew up and saw a bit of the world, it didn't take long to discover that idiots can be found anywhere and that 'Common Sense' isn't all that common. I guess that is sort of a pessimistic view.
I guess it can be said that you usually find what you're looking for... if you're looking for things that are bad about a person or country, it really isn't to hard to find several examples. The same goes for looking for the good things.

Now, while I love my country... I've got a complaint about the U.S. Why the hell haven't we switched over to the Metric System? When I was in grammar school in the '60's I had to learn the metric system because it was soon going to be the standard in the U.S. Where the hell is it? I've been waiting almost 40 years to use it! If the politicians are claiming that it's to expensive to change over, they are probably forgetting the Billions of tax dollars wasted when NASA launches a project that blows up or crashes because some idiot used English Standard measurements in their calculations while another used metric. Let's just quit calling NASA a space agency and call them what they really are... a very expensive fireworks manufacturer. I'm not sure, but I think that the U.S. is one of the last industrialized countries that still hasn't adopted the metric system.

Well, that's about it for me. Have a good night everyone.

the rest of the world thinks both America and England are laughing stocks.

Example:

England: The English Cricket team, (and rugby team after the weekend hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe).

USA: L.A....sorry Dave had to mention it....and Ronald Reagan, was this guy born stupid or did the US system make him an idiot.

also need to include a few other countries here

Canada: You are meant to win gold at your own olympics.

Finland: Have no idea, but why name a country after parts of a fish.

Australia: Who in their right mind would have Alexander Downer as foreign minister.

New Zealand: The whole sheep thing.

That's it l am migrating to Ireland, at least they have some decent beer.

P.S How can a country which can put a man on the moon, produce a voting slip like the one in Florida.

The democrats now claim that the voting was unfair to elderly voters because they weren't strong enough to punch the holes in the voting slip.

What idiots.

And yes, we do have a bollocks cricket team :(

Although I would like to stand up for the Brits, I can't think of anything!!! I moved to S.A. when I was 3 so this is basically my country. At least we have a good cricket and rugby team!