Re: a dumb query? pls humor me
Freddy Freeloader wrote:
> Marc Shapiro wrote:
>> hendrik@topoi.pooq.com wrote:
>>> On Sun, Mar 04, 2007 at 07:04:13PM -0800, Freddy Freeloader wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> If we do go socialistic this nation will have abandoned what made it
>>>> great. I hope you do notice that the further we move toward socialism
>>>> the more our country has declined in both moral fiber and in respect by
>>>> the rest of the world. We became great because anyone had a chance to
>>>> work and make it on their own, not by promising everyone that the state
>>>> would run every aspect of their lives. In fact, immigrants came here
>>>> because they state didn't interfere with their lives.
>>>
>>> Being rom the rest of the world, I have been losing respect for the
>>> United States because it fails to ensure a minimum standard of living
>>> for its people, and sends out armies to interfere in how the rest of
>>> the world runs its lives.
>>>
>> I am from the U.S., Hendrik, but I am with you on both counts. I
>> could certainly do with a few less invasions of other countries and
>> spending that time, effort, and money on improving things for the
>> citizens of our own country.
>>
> Ummm.... Like what? Our failed educational system? Are they going to
> plow more money into that so they can teach more things such as: Johnny
> will get his feelings hurt if he fails a grade because he didn't do the
> work, so we will pass him along even though he isn't gaining the skills
> he needs to compete in the real world?
Depends on the region and where it's priorities are. I make $58,000/yr on
my public education. Oregon's fairly unique in this county about not
passing people on who don't deserve to. Case in point, when my family
moved back from Los Angeles when I was a child, the schools here wanted to
hold me back two grade levels automatically having come from a lesser
school system. I successfully tested into the proper grade for my age
despite learning nothing from do-nothing LA schools.
> Or, how about the US is the worst country in the world? It has fought,
> gasp, wars, while failing to mention that we have poured money into
> rebuilding every country we have defeated rather than acting as the
> countries of Europe and exacting heavy tribute. You know, the very
> cause of WWII.
It's a little disingenious to hide behind the success of World War II to
whitewash over the utter failure of every military action since.
> And, if not for NATO, which we primarily funded and provided the
> military technology, they would probably not free today either. Only
> America's will, and ability to confront the Soviets militarily, kept
> them free.
More like Glasnost, but you can keep living in delusion if you'd like.
Democratic socialists defend your right to say what you're saying, even if
you are full of crap.
> That's not what you'll hear the socialist teachers in our schools
> teaching though. They teach the revisionist history that we were wrong
> to have gotten involved in any war we have ever entered, and are
> imperialistic, in spite of the fact that we have never gone to war to
> expand our borders, and that the vast majority of our wars have been
> fought on the behalf of others.
Civil War expanded our borders (confusingly adding the Oregon Territory
(Oregon, Washington, Idaho, parts of Whyoming and Montana) in 1859 by
military threat after they voted against joining the United States in
1843), as did World War II (adding territory in the pacific and West
Germany). Hawai'i wouldn't be a state had it not been coerced following
WWII. To say that America has only peacefully expanded it's borders is a
lie: History is written by the winners after all.
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