The Decline and Fall of Europe

Originally posted by SwearBear
It's not looking too good for America either.

What are you talking about? America's yearly economic growth rate is 3.5%, unemployment is 4.6%, the deficit will be terminated because budget receipts have increased and the debt burden is lower than in Europe.

Why is it that so many threads downplay each other's countries? It is like two little boys comparing penis sizes...All the world has problems. No country is without huge amounts of internal problems. China, Russia, US, EU, France, Germany, UK, etc. When your country has no internal problems, then you can tell the people who live in another country, that their country is declining due to their internal problems.

Originally posted by RetinoidReceptor
All the world has problems.

America has 2 problems:
1) The expenditures on the military are too low, they account for less than 5% of America's GDP.
2) There is a problem with Medicaid.

The first problem can be solved by reducing expenditures on administration and spending this money on the military. The latter problem can be solved by rising retirement age, which will be done.

[edit on 31-7-2006 by JimmyCarterIsNotSmarter]

Originally posted by JimmyCarterIsNotSmarter

Originally posted by RetinoidReceptor
All the world has problems.

America has 2 problems:
1) The expenditures on the military are too low, they account for less than 5% of America's GDP.
2) There is a problem with Medicaid.

The first problem can be solved by reducing expenditures on administration and spending this money on the military. The latter problem can be solved by rising retirement age, which will be done.

[edit on 31-7-2006 by JimmyCarterIsNotSmarter]

No, we also have problems with social security. Our government's lavish spending. Dollar weaknesses. Outsourcing of jobs. Huge trade deficit. And an incompetent corrupted government. So yes, even we here at the US we have problems. But so does EVERY OTHER COUNTRY. And when I mean every other country, I really do mean, every other country. That is why it is meaningless to bicker about which country is best, if the other person will just provide links to show how #ty YOUR country is, and then other person will in turn do the same thing.

Originally posted by RetinoidReceptor
Our government's lavish spending.

The deficit will be terminated because tax receipts have increased.

Originally posted by RetinoidReceptor
Dollar weaknesses.

While the dollar is weak, at least it's a stable currency.

Originally posted by RetinoidReceptor
Outsourcing of jobs.

Then why is America's unemployment rate only 4.6%?

[edit on 31-7-2006 by JimmyCarterIsNotSmarter]

The deficit will be terminated because tax receipts have increased.

I don't think it will be that easy. But if it is, then that would be great.

While the dollar is weak, at least it's a stable currency.

Sure it won't be rendered worthless as so many people on here seem to point/hope. But, it is still a problem.

Then why is America's unemployment rate only 4.6%?

Outsourcing jobs is still depending on other countries, while people in the US can do it and stimulate our economy more. It is still a problem. But the developing countries that are going to "kill us" in every way possible (according to this site), are dependent on a lot of America's consumer market(China) and outsourcing of jobs(India) for economic growth. Not saying we are the only trading partners with these countries, but they are dependent on us for growth. So nobody get their panties all up in a bunch over that statement.

Anyway Jimmy, there are countries that don't have it as bad as others. I am simply stating, we all have problems. And it is childish and stupid to bicker about whose country is better or not.

It is still a problem.

It is not. If it was, America's unemployment rate would be 10%, just like it is in France. But it's not, it's just 4.6%. There are countries where labour costs are lower, but this is not the only criterium of measuring where it's most profitable to hire people. The other criterium is the working week. America is the only country in the world where simoultaneously labour costs are low and the working week is long. Consequently, employers hire Americans and thus unemployment in America is 4.6%.

Originally posted by JimmyCarterIsNotSmarter
America has 2 problems:
1) The expenditures on the military are too low, they account for less than 5% of America's GDP.
2) There is a problem with Medicaid.

Actualy IMO we spend far to much on the DOD. We spend nearly as much as the rest of the world combined. And we're just spending it on the wrong things. Blowing billions on the F-22 and not providing our ground troops with adequate body armour. Not preparing for insurgent tactics such IED which the Chechens had been using for nearly a decade with great effect against the Russians. And not enough training regarding peacekeeping duties. The entire force of US light infantry has been woefully neglected.

Medicaid should be reformed towards preventative care rather than reactive care. You do that you could greatly increase the level of care poor Americans receive and reduce costs. Remember the old addage a ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Medicare should digitize medical records saving upwards of $20 billion a year.

Social Security should be just that for people who need it. When it was founded the retirement age was set at 65yrs of age. In 1933 the average age an American was expected to live to was 65yrs. Now its in the late 70's. IMO it should be gradually raised to the average life expectancy of the average American. There should also be a cap on assets a person owns to qualify.

Welfare should be completely overhauled. Fire all the government bureaucrats and give every American who isn't incarcerated $10000 a year.

End of the welfare state

Originally posted by Radekus
The government doesn't want to help me
because I'm a student. But, I don't live with my parents,
So I need to survive ya? Their excuse is that my parents are
responcible for me. I am an adult, not a child, the gov should help me,
it doesn't. And better yet, my medical inssurance costs me money,
but it should be free cause I'm a student right?

Interesting, I am a citizen of a European country, and a student like you, my eduction is not free. Lately, I saw a documentary on an American channel, which was about a girl whom had to spend her spare time as a whore to be able to go to university, pay her bills, tuition fee, books, and apartment, just because other jobs didn’t earn enough to pay all of her costs.
The country I live has a great system to solve this problem. Every single student that goes to college or university receives a basic scholarship from the government of around $100,- a month. If your parents earn an average or low level income you’ll automatically get an additional scholarship varying between an addition $100- $600 a month. Furthermore, the public transport is free for each and every student, and optionally, you can borrow another amount of $600 a month, which you have to repay within a period of ten years after you’ve finished your study.
That’s a great solution isn’t it? One side note: in case you don’t successfully finish your study you’ll have to repay the entire amount.

Originally posted by danwild6
We have a health care system. It may not be as comprehensive as the one you have in the UK. But it is of higher quality. I mean I was watching ITV news and every other day they were talking about the MRSA epidemic throughout UK hospitals. MRSA is virtually unknow in the US. Your doctors and nurses need to wash their hands more.

The US healthcare system is rubbish, read this:

NEW DELHI -- Three months ago, Howard Staab learned that he suffered from a life-threatening heart condition and would have to undergo surgery at a cost of up to $200,000 -- an impossible sum for the 53-year-old carpenter from Durham, N.C., who has no health insurance.
So he outsourced the job to India
Taking his cue from cost-cutting U.S. businesses, Staab last month flew about 7,500 miles to the Indian capital, where doctors at the Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre -- a sleek aluminum-colored building across the street from a bicycle-rickshaw stand -- replaced his balky heart valve with one harvested from a pig. Total bill: about $10,000, including round-trip airfare and a planned side trip to the Taj Mahal.
www.washingtonpost.com...

[edit on 1-8-2006 by Mdv2]

Originally posted by RetinoidReceptor
Why is it that so many threads downplay each other's countries? It is like two little boys comparing penis sizes...All the world has problems. No country is without huge amounts of internal problems. China, Russia, US, EU, France, Germany, UK, etc. When your country has no internal problems, then you can tell the people who live in another country, that their country is declining due to their internal problems.

Exactly what I am wondering. Is this a hate site?

Well, consider this: The American Dream is assasinated in these times of NWO.
Take for sure, it will affect the economy at some levels - if not all.
Look at the aftermath of Katrina, it sure is a disgrace to human nature.

Don't turn your dream into lie - or it will become The American Nightmare.

About the demagognisme of America Bob Dylan once said:
"Our founding fathers would turn in their graves" (if they knew what's happening to your constitutional rights and civil liberties).

Please, be sane and sound in your judgement.

[edit on 10/9/06 by khunmoon]

Originally posted by Mdv2
The US healthcare system is rubbish

Each system has its strenghths and weaknesses. Unfortunately this mans situation isn't unique. He's in the group most Americans are. That is to well off to receive quality healthcare from the state and too poor to buy it on his own.

Die in Britain, Survive in the US

posted by RetinoidReceptor

All the world has problems: [the US has]
1) The expenditures on the military
2) There is a problem with Medicaid.

The first problem can be solved by reducing expenditures on administration and spending this money on the military. The latter problem can be solved by rising retirement age, which will be done. [Edited by Don W]

We have problems with social security. Our government's lavish spending. Dollar weaknesses. Huge trade deficit. An incompetent and corrupt government. Yes, even here in the US we have problems. But so does EVERY OTHER COUNTRY. [Edited by Don W]

The looming Medicare problem will be first for the US to face. Presently Medicare Part A (hospital only) is financed by a 1.45% tax on wages, matched by employers or 2.9% on self employeds. Workers pay premiums all their working life, when they retire, they have a paid up hospital policy. It is a 100% pay policy. Part A is in surplus.

Medicare Part B (doctors, outpatient, etc) is paid 25% by recipient and 75% from the General Fund. The 2006 Part B premium paid by individuals is $88 a month; to rise to $98 in 2007. It is an 80/20 pay plan which means there is a thriving supplemental insurance industry not found in foreign countries. I pay $150 a month for one, for example.

Medicare Part D (medicines) is new and it is not certain how much it will cost. Individuals pay part of it, the Treasury the rest. It is so screwed up the Dems will have it on top of their “to fix” list if they gain control of Congress this November 7.

Since the early 1990s, general inflation has been 2%-4% a year, but health care inflation runs 8%-10% a year. If Congress won’t address this issue, perhaps we need a commission to study the phenomenon to see if there is any way we can control it, lest it drive us into bankruptcy. The US spends about 15%-`18% of GDP on health care, yet our health care is ranked no better than about 10th in the world. Germany spends #2, about 11% and ranks near the top of the list. Most other countries are in single digits. The important factor is that in bidding on projects or jobs outside the US, our companies are handicapped 8%-10% going in because of our higher health care costs compared to all other countries.

Medicaid is for poor people, a sort of last resort health care system. It is paid entirely out of the General Fund and has nothing to do with Medicare or Social Security. Medicaid was never popular with doctors or hospitals but the funds have been severely cut the last few years so that it is now very difficult to get treatment in a private hospital and many doctors will no longer accept Medicaid. This very much life and death issue for America's poor seems to be of much more concern to Blue State types than it is to Red State types.

Military spending can be solved by us resigning from the Last Super Power Policeman of The World Dominator position we inherited in 1991. We should bargain with the 4 other veto powers on the Security Council, to end the veto power and we would then "re-join" the United Nations. The Russian’s have adopted a rational and proper military budget. Pro peace. The Russian Federation is to be praised for that. I’d like to see our pro WAR budget cut to about $150 Billion. Still far too much, but we’d never get it lower what with all the pro-war attitudes in the Red States and the influence the rich defense - antonym - industry lavishes on Congress.

For Ref See: www.washingtonpost.com...



[edit on 9/12/2006 by donwhite]

The baby-boomer retirement isn't such a problem. Yeah, they retire - SO WHAT? It's just an issue of healthcare, but hey, we are experiencing an immigration wave of doctors, so just employ them and the waiting lists won't get longer. And if the current govt. doesn't know what to do, rise the retirement age by 20 years.

Steady on there don and get with the program; our brand new (trolling?) member won't stand for anything that isn't a EU/Europe bash.

Remember - everything about and to do with the USA at all times = good.
- everything about and to do with the EU/Europe at all times = bad.

(with a little amusing vague confusion about where the UK fits into all of this)

Originally posted by sminkeypinkey
Steady on there don and get with the program; our brand new (trolling?) member won't stand for anything that isn't a EU/Europe bash.

Well looks like PatrioticAmerican had a short stay Hopefully the MODS took down his IP and will be watchng for it. We don't need another El Tiante-ElTiante(that was a little to obvious).