Hurrah!!!!! Rudy hints at getting out

[Xanith]

Nobody is worse than Rudy, I lived under his reign for 8 long years!!!


Good riddance to Bad Rubbish!!!!!

I'm still trying to figure out what you didnt like about the guy. I was never a Rudy supporter but I did see he had some strong points. I know the guy was very polerizing for people in New York and its quite obvious that you hate the guy, but he did cut taxes and clean up the city rather well.

And McCain is worse. I mean we are going to have a choice between Hillary and McCain? Thats not a choice, thats a ticket.

X

[Tom Sawyer]

And McCain is worse. I mean we are going to have a choice between Hillary and McCain? Thats not a choice, thats a ticket.

Your country has an electoral system that was specifically designed to keep power concentrated in the hands of a few select rich people while maintaining a pretense of democratic choice for the rest of the population and for over 200 years has been doing exactly what it has been designed to do.

The nature of your comment suggests that at some previous point in history you actually had some form of choice and your vote somehow mattered. When was that?

[homer13j]

Your country has an electoral system that was specifically designed to keep power concentrated in the hands of a few select rich people while maintaining a pretense of democratic choice for the rest of the population and for over 200 years has been doing exactly what it has been designed to do.

Ouch... What perfectly enlightened country do you happen to be from, eh?

I can name quite a few examples of people who grew up dirt poor in the US who became very prominent and powerful political figures. I would even argue that it's far more likely to happen here in the US than anywhere else in the world. Maybe you just watch too much CNN...

[SurfDemon]

....I would even argue that it's far more likely to happen here in the US than anywhere else in the world. Maybe you just watch too much CNN...

Really? I always got the impression that US elections where more about who can raise the most money for advertising...... many other countries have very strict limits on political spending, thus evening out the playing fields....

Furthermore, those countries that have a free higher education system are far more likely to provide political opportunities to "dirt poor" citizens by allowing them to persue any career they wish. Be it doctor, lawyer or even computer programmer. Given that a good education is often (but not always ) linked to political life, this would appear to be another deciding factor in favour of other countries having more political opportunities... but oh, hang on, I forgot, America is the land of the free, isn't it How silly of me to question that

[Mark Gambo]

. . . I forgot, America is the land of the free, isn't it How silly of me to question that

Don't forget, if it wasn't for the USA, a lot of countries today would be speaking German, Russian, or some sort of Middle Eastern Dialect, eh SurfDemon? I guess during the period of 1940 to 1945 our political system was functioning very efficiently, eh SurfDemon.

[SurfDemon]

Don't forget, if it wasn't for the USA, a lot of countries today would be speaking German, Russian, or some sort of Middle Eastern Dialect, eh SurfDemon? I guess during the period of 1940 to 1945 our political system was functioning very efficiently, eh SurfDemon.

Ah, we have the old chestnut. "If it wasn't for us you would be speaking German.". Really? Funny, but the when many countries stood up to be counted in 1939, the US was notable by it's absence. Is it likely you would have joined the war if you weren't attacked? Therefore I would say that no, your political system wasn't functioning very well then either. Or am I missing something?

Strangely enough, most people in Britain, whilst greatful for the late US help, and recognising that it did certainly lop a few years off the war, attribute the fact that they still speak English to the British, Canadian, Russian, New Zealand, Australian and Refugee European troops...... but hey, I know you want to believe that Britain would have fallen without you

[Mark Gambo]

Funny, but the when many countries stood up to be counted in 1939, the US was notable by it's absence.

Lend Lease, it was in all of the papers.

[Xanith]

Furthermore, those countries that have a free higher education system are far more likely to provide political opportunities to "dirt poor" citizens by allowing them to persue any career they wish. Be it doctor, lawyer or even computer programmer. Given that a good education is often (but not always ) linked to political life, this would appear to be another deciding factor in favour of other countries having more political opportunities... but oh, hang on, I forgot, America is the land of the free, isn't it How silly of me to question that

Haha you think its free higher education huh? A lot of these socialistic countries that you are talking about have tax rates upwards of 40-60%. When will people learn that nothing is free, everything is getting paid for one way or another. I for one would rather have the choice to go to any college I want, paying as much or as little as I decide, not what the government decides.

And even the very poor in the US can get a great college education. There are so many grants, scholarships, and low interest loans available to those that work hard and get good grades in high school (which is “free” for everyone in the US).

There is a reason why people from all over the world come to the US for higher education, even though it is not “free”. I guess it’s the same reason why people come to the US for medical care, the “free” education that other countries doctors receive is just not the same as it is here in the US.

X

[SurfDemon]

Haha you think its free higher education huh? A lot of these socialistic countries that you are talking about have tax rates upwards of 40-60%. When will people learn that nothing is free, everything is getting paid for one way or another. I for one would rather have the choice to go to any college I want, paying as much or as little as I decide, not what the government decides.

Riiiiggghht. So a country with free eduction is a socialist country now is it? Funny definition, but there you go.... funny a quick glance at that socialist country of Britain shows that it's tax rate is 22% up to about $100,000. Which if I'm not mistaken is lower than the US tax rate for a comparable income.... strangely enough, it also has free medicine..... when will you stop harping on about that?

Oh hang, that's all very socialist isn't it? I get the impression that you think if anyone does anything different from the US, then it's "socialist". You see, it's very simple. Free higher education equals higher earning workers. Higher earning workers bring money into the country and pay a percentage of it in taxes. I have no doubt that the British government got the cost of my Computer degree back many times over in taxes... (at 22%), rather than if I had stuck to a lower paying job....

I'm curious. What's your policy on privatising other aspects of public service? Or is it just "Socialist" when it's anything different from the way the US does it at present?

How about privatising the police force? How different are they really from doctors and nurses in that they provide a service?

I know, what about privatising the fire-brigade? They would have lots of nice new equipment and they would only go out to those who paid their subscription. So is it socialist the fact that your fire-brigade isn't privatised?

What about NASA. Shouldn't that be privatised and made to fend for itself?

[homer13j]

I always got the impression that US elections where more about who can raise the most money for advertising......

That's right... who can RAISE the most money has the best shot, not who HAS the most money. We have (largely unconstitutional) campaign spending laws, too. If that wasn't the case Steve Forbes would have been president for the last 8 years and nobody would have ever heard of Dennis Kucinich (I can dream, can't I? ).

So a country with free eduction is a socialist country now is it?

Compared to us y'all are socialists... With the exception of maybe Australia.