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I want to let this go, I really do, but the set-up is just perfect:Where do you hide these other americans that you sell to the rest of the world as an image of your country?Texas.
;-)
HardeeHARHAR :P
For Sebastian:
Hitler was not democratically elected. (As he never won more then 50% of the vote).50% of the vote isn't the same as 'democratically elected', though, unless you force run-offs. I don't know when the last time a British PM's party won 50% of the vote or more and there's plenty of MPs that are elected with less than 50%.
Not that he was democratically elected in a way we'd recognise, so far as I'm aware.
No, Hitler did not have a solid majority. The NSDAP was the strongest party with 33% in the elections (Nov 6th, 1932) but they actually had lost votes to the last election before that. He was made chancellor on Jan. 30th, 1933, and the Reichstag (parliament) was disbanded the next day. The next elections on Mar 5, 1933, weren´t entirely free anymore, and the communists were denied their seats afterwards - but even then, the NSDAP got "only" 45% of all votes. But Hitler was able to do what he wanted because of the fear of the communists all conservative parties had and thus nobody did anything to stop him while they still could. So, he was not quite elected, but still given the most powerful position by inept and fearful politicians - he did not seize the power as much as it was given to him.
Stefan
Hey, no more knocking Texas. :)
Or Dallas.
And lots of French helped us out, too, non?
It's not an issue of tit-for-tat payback. Of all the nations on Earth, America and modern France were born of the same philosophical threads at the height of the Age of Reason. The founding documents of our nation are VERY similar to the Declaration of the Rights of Man that came out of the French Revolution. The influence of France on Revolutionary America is astounding (and vice versa), and both nations provided critical support to one another at key moments throughout history.
These bonds transcend the Revolutionary wars of both nations. They transcend World War 2. They are fundamental.
Our nations were forged in the same philosophical and political stew. They are and have been one of our greatest allies throughout history, and nothing should change that, in my view.
Sorry was just busting chops.
After the just ignore them thing I did my best ignore with not capitizing their name post, then to yours I was just down playing their value to us since we "paid" them back.
The French helped little in WWII after their surrender. Russia and England did the lion's share of the life loosing and the US spent the money needed to fund it. Of course every nation put in what they could, but France at the time was conquored and some of it even supporting Germany out of fear.
I wouldn't discount our relationship with France, it is stronger then with nearly any other nation. But our strongest by far is our relationship with England. We rebeled not because we wanted out of the British Empire, but we wanted in. The founding fathers rebeled because in their veiw they were not being treated as Englishman but instead as second class citizens.
France and the USA were forged under similar philosophical veiws but by people with vastly different understanding of those veiws. Recall the French Revolution ended when they elected an Emperor. Ours ended when we elected a President. Maybe we simply had better people leading ours.
Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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I want to let this go, I really do, but the set-up is just perfect:Where do you hide these other americans that you sell to the rest of the world as an image of your country?Texas.
;-)
HardeeHARHAR :P
For Sebastian:
** spoiler omitted **
Actually, I was going to make the more political version of the joke and say "the South," but didn't want to go there and also realized that wasn't true at all - southerners are among the most friendly people in the country, and Texans have a similar culture as far as I've experienced it. It was mostly just a jab at you and Heathy.
By far, the worst americans I have dealt with have been out of the New York/New Jersey area. In undergrad, I worked answering phones in the admissions office, and the most dreaded caller was the New Jersey Mom, followed by the Moms from the ritzy Detroit suburbs who seemed to believe their child had an entitlement to attend U of M. The southerners and the Californians were always very friendly.
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Actually, I was going to make the more political version of the joke and say "the South," but didn't want to go there and also realized that wasn't true at all - southerners are among the most friendly people in the country, and Texans have a similar culture as far as I've experienced it. It was mostly just a jab at you and Heathy.
By far, the worst americans I have dealt with have been out of the New York/New Jersey area. In undergrad, I worked answering phones in the admissions office, and the most dreaded caller was the New Jersey Mom, followed by the Moms from the ritzy Detroit suburbs who seemed to believe their child had an entitlement to attend U of M. The southerners and the Californians were always very friendly.
Yeah, SoCals (NoCals can be douches, frankly, not nearly as laid back as the SoCals I've met), Southerners and Texans are nice, even if we all have some crazy political views from time to time.
However, my comment excluding the "Big 'D'" from that is based on personal experience (lived there for two years, visit friends a few times a year), and anecdotal experience from conversations with the same people that I mentioned in my spoiler.
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Wow, you nailed it on the head ;)Yeah Dallas is a very nice girl and she doesn't deserve to be picked on. She's going to be a cheerleader some day.Hey, no more knocking Texas. :)Or Dallas.
The two stereotypes I have heard about Germans is that they are authoritarian and anti-democracy.
Let me get back to these once more. Germans in general firmly believe in authority - we never had a real revolution (1848 hardly counts), and no monarch was ever killed by the populace AFAIK. This mindset is basically true to this day - I am working for our city government, and I´ve seen people nearly afraid stepping into my office (may have something to do with me wearing black all the time, though...), and having a very big respect for civil servants in general. So, there is some truth to that.
Anti-democracy - this one is not as easy. Many older people still remembering the Nazi era go to every election and vote with almost religious fervor, as they remember what can happen if you don´t take democracy serious. Most folks have democracy deeply ingrained today, as a direct effect of the post-Nazi education, and a lot of people engage in countless initiatives for this and that idea. But there are some voices questioning the democratic idea, as it can take a long time to reach a decisions that way. These voices are very minor and IMO deluded, but they are undeniably there. What´s more, the elections are used by less and less people, the interest in democracy is waning presently across the board - it is taken as given today, which carries a seed of danger to democracy as a whole. But overall, I think germans are quite democratic minded.
The old militarism of Prussia is gone for good - a military parade through any city in Germany today would be seen as very odd indeed (I don´t think there are any at all - maybe in Berlin if some foreign head of state visits, but that´s it), and the Bundeswehr is rather small today. A statement from early after WWII was "No war must be ever be started from German soil again", and they acted accordingly.
Stefan
By far, the worst americans I have dealt with have been out of the New York/New Jersey area.
I'm from upstate New York, practically a different planet from NJ (and we consider NYC both physically and culturally a part of New Jersey, not a part of New York). You might be surprised both at the size of the state of New York, but also at the friendliness of some of the farmers around, say, Schuylerville, or the wine growers near the Finger Lakes. Lumping, say, Oneonta in with Newark is kind of like saying some town in rural New Mexico is really part of Dallas.
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By far, the worst americans I have dealt with have been out of the New York/New Jersey area.I'm from upstate New York, practically a different planet from NJ (and we consider NYC both physically and culturally a part of New Jersey, not a part of New York). You might be surprised both at the size of the state of New York, but also at the friendliness of some of the farmers around, say, Schuylerville, or the wine growers near the Finger Lakes. Lumping, say, Oneonta in with Newark is kind of like saying some town in rural New Mexico is really part of Dallas.
Hey, you gave a shout out to my home town!
Oneonta FTW!
Kirth, but, I do hate to break it to you, Oneonta was invaded by Long Island after I left. Ain't so friendly any more ;)
I want to let this go, I really do, but the set-up is just perfect:Where do you hide these other americans that you sell to the rest of the world as an image of your country?Texas.
;-)
HardeeHARHAR :P
For Sebastian:
** spoiler omitted **
Actually, I was going to make the more political version of the joke and say "the South," but didn't want to go there and also realized that wasn't true at all - southerners are among the most friendly people in the country, and Texans have a similar culture as far as I've experienced it. It was mostly just a jab at you and Heathy.
By far, the worst americans I have dealt with have been out of the New York/New Jersey area. In undergrad, I worked answering phones in the admissions office, and the most dreaded caller was the New Jersey Mom, followed by the Moms from the ritzy Detroit suburbs who seemed to believe their child had an entitlement to attend U of M. The southerners and the Californians were always very friendly.
Being born in New Jersey and living in New York I can't really argue against what you've said. My wife would agree as well, she's from SoCal and hates having to deal with New Yorkers.
The only New Jersians she deals with are me and my family who mostly live in PA now.
Sorry we live in tight spaces here, tempers flare and we say mean things. We also do elect mob members to public office. Even our gay governor didn't quit because he was gay, he quit because he was under inditement for mob related activities. ((Heck his chief of police couldn't carry a gun because he had a felony conviction and one judge he appointed got arrested when he showed up for his job because there was an outstanding warrent for him....))
I have a tendancy to say what I mean, and not care how it affects others. My wife tells me that's a New Jersey thing, I guess, I argue it's just being honest. But I can see how it could come off as rude, insenstive and not very open minded. Well it's who I am, I can lie and pretend to be otherwise, but do you really what that?
Kirth, but, I do hate to break it to you, Oneonta was invaded by Long Island after I left. Ain't so friendly any more ;)
Sad news indeed. But for anyone who assumes New York is rude, urban, and full of thick New Jersey accents, I challenge them to spend a weekend in, say, Penn Yan or Irondequoit or Ballston Spa.
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Kirth, but, I do hate to break it to you, Oneonta was invaded by Long Island after I left. Ain't so friendly any more ;)Sad news indeed. But for anyone who assumes New York is rude, urban, and full of thick New Jersey accents, I challenge them to spend a weekend in, say, Penn Yan or Irondequoit or Ballston Spa.
Upstate NY is no different than most rural, agricultural areas. The people are nice, and there are a million country music stations on the radio.
Hmmm. Maybe there's a connection between country music and outward friendliness...
Being born in New Jersey and living in New York I can't really argue against what you've said.
From your description, it's clear when you say "New York" you mean NYC (aka New Jersey east) and, not, say, Rochester.
Like I said, there's a big state out there, and it doesn't really acknowledge Guiliani's city as a part of it.
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Kirth, but, I do hate to break it to you, Oneonta was invaded by Long Island after I left. Ain't so friendly any more ;)Sad news indeed. But for anyone who assumes New York is rude, urban, and full of thick New Jersey accents, I challenge them to spend a weekend in, say, Penn Yan or Irondequoit or Ballston Spa.
My wife and I could use a spa weekend. Are you volunteering to watch our kids?
Hmmm. Maybe there's a connection between country music and outward friendliness...
Impossible. Get up into isolated parts of the Catskills (which make Deliverance seem cosmopolitan in comparison) and there's an awful lot of country music, but not a whole lot of friendliness -- except maybe the wrong kind.
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Being born in New Jersey and living in New York I can't really argue against what you've said.From your description, it's clear when you say "New York" you mean NYC (aka New Jersey east) and, not, say, Rochester.
Like I said, there's a big state out there, and it doesn't really acknowledge Guiliani's city as a part of it.
Actually, I'd lump RAWchestAH in with the Jersey/NYC crowd.
Can't stand Rochester, sorry ;)
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Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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Yeah, SoCals (NoCals can be douches, frankly, not nearly as laid back as the SoCals I've met), Southerners and Texans are nice, even if we all have some crazy political views from time to time.
Oh man, NorCal is its own little ivory tower and is second only to NYC in its belief that it is the center of the universe.
Are you volunteering to watch our kids?
Only if you're taking me on a tour of all the parts of Utah with no Mormons.
Kirth, but, I do hate to break it to you, Oneonta was invaded by Long Island after I left. Ain't so friendly any more ;)Sad news indeed. But for anyone who assumes New York is rude, urban, and full of thick New Jersey accents, I challenge them to spend a weekend in, say, Penn Yan or Irondequoit or Ballston Spa.
Sadly I have little to no accent. I'm tone deaf and have other hearing issues. A British friend of mine in college once remarked my speach has the least accent he has ever heard.
Okay. I'll take you to Park City. Maybe we'll meet Rob Redford.
Heh. I never liked that guy... useless Paul Newman hanger-on...
Paul Newman, on the other hand, was one seriously cool dude.
Being born in New Jersey and living in New York I can't really argue against what you've said.From your description, it's clear when you say "New York" you mean NYC (aka New Jersey east) and, not, say, Rochester.
Like I said, there's a big state out there, and it doesn't really acknowledge Guiliani's city as a part of it.
Actually not currently. I live in the Catskills. :)
The rest of the state might not acknowledge NYC but they do pay for it. The amount of my tax dollars that goes to the city is sickening.
One thing I would say to all you busting on NJ. If your from the USA you owe NJ, big time. The amount of tax dollars NJ pays in to the Fed compared to the amount they get back is silly. They pay per person more, and receive less then just about any other state. And it's been like that for most of my life. CA on the other hand pays less but gets more. So you may not like us, but we're paying for you so maybe that is why we aint so happy. Maybe it's time you pick up the check for a change.
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Being born in New Jersey and living in New York I can't really argue against what you've said.From your description, it's clear when you say "New York" you mean NYC (aka New Jersey east) and, not, say, Rochester.
Like I said, there's a big state out there, and it doesn't really acknowledge Guiliani's city as a part of it.
Actually not currently. I live in the Catskills. :)
The rest of the state might not acknowledge NYC but they do pay for it. The amount of my tax dollars that goes to the city is sickening.
One thing I would say to all you busting on NJ. If your from the USA you owe NJ, big time. The amount of tax dollars NJ pays in to the Fed compared to the amount they get back is silly. They pay per person more, and receive less then just about any other state. And it's been like that for most of my life. CA on the other hand pays less but gets more. So you may not like us, but we're paying for you so maybe that is why we aint so happy. Maybe it's time you pick up the check for a change.
I live in Texas, we get less than we pay. And I lived in Jersey (Mom's from Newark/South Orange). So, I feel I am allowed to cap on the "Garden State" if I wish. ;)
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Ah, also, one of my biggest american surprises (no innuendo, sorry) was when I was visiting Chicago. After a hellish weekend (the hotel we online-checked in was on strike; got intoxicated after eating chinese, my credit card was rejected even with money and later, my wallet stolen; yet since I don't know if the culprit(s) was(were) american, I don't blame them), I was walking down a street, depressed, with my girlfriend by my side (she went along), because nothing had gone right in that whole visit. Suddenly, a guy comes along and asks for spare change.
Without thinking twice, I acted like if I were in my country and said "Perdón, no traigo cambio" (sorry, I don't have change). Which was true because not a single ATM accepted my card. The guy, an afroamerican, spoke back in spanish to me. That was... unsettling. And funny, in retrospective.
I have, as you see, a rather... interesting view of your country.
I live in Texas, we get less than we pay. And I lived in Jersey (Mom's from Newark/South Orange). So, I feel I am allowed to cap on the "Garden State" if I wish. ;)Being born in New Jersey and living in New York I can't really argue against what you've said.From your description, it's clear when you say "New York" you mean NYC (aka New Jersey east) and, not, say, Rochester.
Like I said, there's a big state out there, and it doesn't really acknowledge Guiliani's city as a part of it.
Actually not currently. I live in the Catskills. :)
The rest of the state might not acknowledge NYC but they do pay for it. The amount of my tax dollars that goes to the city is sickening.
One thing I would say to all you busting on NJ. If your from the USA you owe NJ, big time. The amount of tax dollars NJ pays in to the Fed compared to the amount they get back is silly. They pay per person more, and receive less then just about any other state. And it's been like that for most of my life. CA on the other hand pays less but gets more. So you may not like us, but we're paying for you so maybe that is why we aint so happy. Maybe it's time you pick up the check for a change.
Anyone can. Texas pays about what it gets back, 0.94 dollars on the dollar it pays comes back. NJ gets 0.61 dollars. It aint close. NJ since 1981 has ranked 48-50th on the scale of dollars recieve from the Fed vs dollars paid in. And has been ranked 50th since 2001.
Actually not currently. I live in the Catskills. :)
I'll be daggoned. And you're right about taxes in New Jersey -- I'd be angry all the time, too, if I had to put up with that!
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Ah, also, one of my biggest american surprises (no innuendo, sorry) was when I was visiting Chicago. After a hellish weekend (the hotel we online-checked in was on strike; got intoxicated after eating chinese, my credit card was rejected even with money and later, my wallet stolen; yet since I don't know if the culprit(s) was(were) american, I don't blame them), I was walking down a street, depressed, with my girlfriend by my side (she went along), because nothing had gone right in that whole visit. Suddenly, a guy comes along and asks for spare change.
Without thinking twice, I acted like if I were in my country and said "Perdón, no traigo cambio" (sorry, I don't have change). Which was true because not a single ATM accepted my card. The guy, an afroamerican, spoke back in spanish to me. That was... unsettling. And funny, in retrospective.
I have, as you see, a rather... interesting view of your country.
Well, we have probably the most diverse ethnic and cultural mix on the planet. You never know, maybe the guy had a Hispanic parent or grandparent, or maybe he remembered his high school Spanish.
;)
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Anyone can. Texas pays about what it gets back, 0.94 dollars on the dollar it pays comes back. NJ gets 0.61 dollars. It aint close. NJ since 1981 has ranked 48-50th on the scale of dollars recieve from the Fed vs dollars paid in. And has been ranked 50th since 2001.
Still, if we're getting back $0.06 on the dollar less, we aren't taking anything from Jerseyites. And part of the reason Jersey gets less back is they TAX THE HELL out of everyone on the state level. I guess the pols in Trenton figure they don't need the Fed tax money back ;)
Just out of curiosity, can you link that for me? I'm curious what the other insane tax state, Massachusetts, gets back in Fed dollars.
Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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France and the USA were forged under similar philosophical veiws but by people with vastly different understanding of those veiws. Recall the French Revolution ended when they elected an Emperor. Ours ended when we elected a President. Maybe we simply had better people leading...
Well, Napoleon sort of named himself emperor. I don't really think you can say he was "elected" in the traditional sense.
As for our founding fathers being "better people" than Bonaparte, you'll get no argument from me!
As for our founding fathers being "better people" than Bonaparte, you'll get no argument from me!
Ted: "You ditched Napoleon?!"
Kid Brother: "He was a dick!"
Anyone can. Texas pays about what it gets back, 0.94 dollars on the dollar it pays comes back. NJ gets 0.61 dollars. It aint close. NJ since 1981 has ranked 48-50th on the scale of dollars recieve from the Fed vs dollars paid in. And has been ranked 50th since 2001.
Where can I view this info? I'm curious to see where my state stands.
Both. He is smarter, and his image is better portrayed.Okay, what has he done to prove he is smarter?
Mmm... Well he was editor of the harvard law review. He lectured in constitutional law at the university of chicago. And he was a good oritor.
Now i know some people beleive Bush might be dyslexic, and that might explain his lack of oritory ability, I know it gets in the way of mine(i'd rule the world be now if it were not for getting tongue tied i tell you) but in general Obama has done more to distinguish himself as an interlectual than Bush. That is why there is a perception of his intelligence. On i tend to believe is accurate.
With regards to why we like him. Beyond talking the talk and the berlin speech(do not underestimate the effect that speech had on the zitgist in europe), his movement on dealing with guantanimo bay would be at least one nameable change. The stimulus also contained really fairly substantial amounts of money for scientific research which i think is something a lot of europeans picked up on.
France and the USA were forged under similar philosophical veiws but by people with vastly different understanding of those veiws. Recall the French Revolution ended when they elected an Emperor. Ours ended when we elected a President. Maybe we simply had better people leading...Well, Napoleon sort of named himself emperor. I don't really think you can say he was "elected" in the traditional sense.
As for our founding fathers being "better people" than Bonaparte, you'll get no argument from me!
The French had more issues then the Americans really to be totally fair. Compared to the chaos that the French Revolution inspired Bonaparte likely seemed like an improvement. Many of the leaders of the French Revolution were more in it for themselves then for their nation. They started killing first royals and nobles and them each other. Fear and chaos was everywhere in Paris in those days, compared to that a strong leader any leader likely sounded like a good deal. I can't fault them, unlike the US which had a government of sorts to start the revolution the French didn't. Without any government chaos is bond to be a real issue.
...says the envious Okie.
Vive le Roi!
Anyone can. Texas pays about what it gets back, 0.94 dollars on the dollar it pays comes back. NJ gets 0.61 dollars. It aint close. NJ since 1981 has ranked 48-50th on the scale of dollars recieve from the Fed vs dollars paid in. And has been ranked 50th since 2001.Still, if we're getting back $0.06 on the dollar less, we aren't taking anything from Jerseyites. And part of the reason Jersey gets less back is they TAX THE HELL out of everyone on the state level. I guess the pols in Trenton figure they don't need the Fed tax money back ;)
Just out of curiosity, can you link that for me? I'm curious what the other insane tax state, Massachusetts, gets back in Fed dollars.
Just google it, that's all I did. It's out there easy to find. Jersey on whole feels it should pay it's own way, so they do. They also want to do things their own way.
The French had more issues then the Americans really to be totally fair. Compared to the chaos that the French Revolution inspired Bonaparte likely seemed like an improvement. Many of the leaders of the French Revolution were more in it for themselves then for their nation. They started killing first royals and nobles and them each other. Fear and chaos was everywhere in Paris in those days, compared to that a strong leader any leader likely sounded like a good deal. I can't fault them, unlike the US which had a government of sorts to start the revolution the French didn't. Without any government chaos is bond to be a real issue.
France and the USA were forged under similar philosophical veiws but by people with vastly different understanding of those veiws. Recall the French Revolution ended when they elected an Emperor. Ours ended when we elected a President. Maybe we simply had better people leading...Well, Napoleon sort of named himself emperor. I don't really think you can say he was "elected" in the traditional sense.
As for our founding fathers being "better people" than Bonaparte, you'll get no argument from me!
Thurgon, the People's Government of Galt has issued a warrant for your arrest and subsequent execution for your clear lack of sensitivity and political acuity. They suspect you are in fact an Andoran sympathizer.
Viva la revolucion! (Wait, is that French or Spanish?)
I'm from New Jersey, the only sensitive New Jersians are dead, they annoyed the rest of us.
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Just google it, that's all I did. It's out there easy to find. Jersey on whole feels it should pay it's own way, so they do. They also want to do things their own way.Anyone can. Texas pays about what it gets back, 0.94 dollars on the dollar it pays comes back. NJ gets 0.61 dollars. It aint close. NJ since 1981 has ranked 48-50th on the scale of dollars recieve from the Fed vs dollars paid in. And has been ranked 50th since 2001.Still, if we're getting back $0.06 on the dollar less, we aren't taking anything from Jerseyites. And part of the reason Jersey gets less back is they TAX THE HELL out of everyone on the state level. I guess the pols in Trenton figure they don't need the Fed tax money back ;)
Just out of curiosity, can you link that for me? I'm curious what the other insane tax state, Massachusetts, gets back in Fed dollars.
Link here.
Yeah, looks like New England in general pays more than they take in. The Mid-Atlantic and the Great Lakes States as well. Florida and Texas are the only Southern states in the red.
Texas likes to do things their own way also, but we also get a lot of Fed money for our border and we have quite a few military bases, so that may skew the results for us a bit, and the ICE/CBP stuff for the other border states.
For the record, California apparently only took in $0.80 to the dollar, so that was inaccurate.
Yeah, god ol' Taxachusetts send out lots of cash, and now the Massachusetts state govt wants to up our sales tax 20% and institute 19 cents a gallon extra gas tax to make up for budget shortfalls. Joy ...