W

[Rich]

So, how many of said Americans would you say "had brains"? And then, would you say that you thought they were representative of the American population or an anomoly?

I did find this snippet

"# The United States is 49th in the world in literacy (The New York Times, Dec. 12, 2004).

# The United States ranked 28th out of 40 countries in mathematical literacy (NYT, Dec. 12, 2004).

# One-third of our science teachers and one-half of our math teachers did not major in those subjects. (Quoted on "The West Wing," but you can trust it -- their researchers are legendary.)

# Twenty percent of Americans think the sun orbits the Earth. Seventeen percent believe the Earth revolves around the sun once a day (The Week, Jan. 7, 2005).

# "The International Adult Literacy Survey ... found that Americans with less than nine years of education 'score worse than virtually all of the other countries'" (Jeremy Rifkin's superbly documented book The European Dream: How Europe's Vision of the Future Is Quietly Eclipsing the American Dream, p.78).

# Our workers are so ignorant, and lack so many basic skills, that American businesses spend $30 billion a year on remedial training (NYT, Dec. 12, 2004). No wonder they relocate elsewhere!

Twenty percent of Americans think the sun orbits the earth? Suddenly some of the opinion poll findings I see make more sense.

Read the whole piece to see why America may not "Number 1" anymore:

No. 1? In most important categories we're not even in the Top 10 anymore. Not even close.

The USA is "No. 1" in nothing but weaponry, consumer spending, debt, and delusion."

 

[ColinEssex]

I thought Casablanca was in Morroco?

Casa Blanca is Spanish for "White House" - it was a mild attempt at injecting some humour whilst Lisa was being critical over my compensation claims.

I mean, for God's sake, even I don't believe everything I hear on TV or read in the newspapers, about my own country. Why do you?

Its a well known fact your TV is censored to show only the good stuff in your governments attempt to destroy the world.
On the BBC however, we have uncensored unbiased reporting, which is why we see the full horror of what the USA is doing, whereas you don't.

We see the Iraqi children dying in hospitals in Baghdad because the USA has stopped any hope of drugs getting through via the Red Cross or Medicine Sans Frontiere.
We see people injured with limbs missing after an American attack. We see normal people shot to death in their cars because the US soldiers thought they were insurgents approaching a checkpoint.
We see people living in squalor and dying of disease because the USA has blown their house (or whole block) to pieces because they erroneously thought the 'baddies' were in there, so there is no fresh water, no sewerage so its all on the streets full of disease. Then the USA just leave the people and move on to the next killing ground.
We see people begging the BBC news reporters to broadcast that they want to get Saddam back in power to stop the American bloodshed.

Then we see this stupid tit from the white house saying how fab things are in Iraq and that things are progressing really well.

Is the White House spokesman is telling us crap when he says how fab the USA is doing? and here's us thinking that 25,000 innocent deaths was a good thing because the White House says so.

All these things are seen worldwide - except in America - thats why the USA is the most hated country on the planet and thats why Mr and Mrs Normal American can't understand it.

My response was really not directed at you

Actually I predicted you would squirm out of it

Col

 

[Rich]

We see people begging the BBC news reporters to broadcast that they want to get Saddam back in power to stop the American bloodshed.

Col

What is ironic is that under Hussein Christians were allowed to practice freely, they aren't now, even Muslim women weren't oppressed, they are now.

What I fail to understand is how Nixon was removed for a lie over some minor office break in, yet Bush

 

[ColinEssex]

I've already decided, I'm voting for Jeb if he runs, just to spite you.

Its a shame that by doing that you'll condemn at least another few thousand US soldiers to death and countless innocent people. All because you want to spite an English person? Is that how Americans vote? just to spite someone else? or do their policies and mandates ever come into the frame

There's no way Jeb will be any different from his daddy or his brother - he will want his name to live forever - in whatever light that may be.

Col

 

[lmnop7854]

Casa Blanca is Spanish for "White House" - it was a mild attempt at injecting some humour whilst Lisa was being critical over my compensation claims.

I already said I wasn't criticizing you. I already apologized.

Actually I predicted you would squirm out of it

I don't care how funny you are trying to be, Colin, this pisses me off. I am NOT trying to squirm out of anything. The fact that my post followed yours is an unfortunate turn of events, because now you're all on my butt for it. Well, as usual, you UK people can't accept an apology when you see it, and I can quote different threads that show that Rich is equally obtuse about apologies. So I can lump both of you into a universe of UK people and make the grand assumption that all of you can't forgive and forget, even when a genuine apology is made.

Lisa

 

[lmnop7854]

Its a shame that by doing that you'll condemn at least another few thousand US soldiers to death and countless innocent people.

As if one person's vote would make all the difference. Cindy was JOKING. Foreign concept for you these days, Colin?

Lisa

 

[ShaneMan]

Do you ever see the funny side of anything ?

Yes, all the time....when it's funny. Maybe I just don't think it's funny to dig and then come back and say, "oh I was only kidding." My Dad does that alot. Cuts people down and then turns around and say's I was only kidding.

 

[ColinEssex]

As if one person's vote would make all the difference. Cindy was JOKING. Foreign concept for you these days, Colin?

Lisa

A joke? - oh I see, so when Cindy said "I've already decided" she was in fact lying - ok, thats cool

One vote would have made a difference in your governments "burn the flag" debate the other day.

Also, it doesn't hurt pointing out what will heppen when the voting populace votes in yet another warmongering, money grabbing President.

Col

 

[ColinEssex]

I don't care how funny you are trying to be, Colin, this pisses me off.

I wasn't aware I had made a joke

Well, as usual, you UK people can't accept an apology when you see it, and I can quote different threads that show that Rich is equally obtuse about apologies.

Ok, lets have a look and decide.

So I can lump both of you into a universe of UK people and make the grand assumption that all of you can't forgive and forget, even when a genuine apology is made.

You are entitled to your opinion whether it be true or false

Col

 

[Kraj]

I'm still not sure I understand how someone can get elected with a minority share of the vote.

It's because in the UK they have more than two major policital parties. (In fact, there are currently a total of 10 different parties who hold seats in the House of Commons. Only three have significant number, though.) It is the rule, not the execption, that the PM gets elected with a minority of the popular vote since the other two candidates combined usually garner a larger vote. Margaret Thatcher, for example, defeated the incumbent in 1979 with 43.9% of the popular vote.

Casa Blanca is Spanish for "White House" - it was a mild attempt at injecting some humour whilst Lisa was being critical over my compensation claims.

Oh I know. I was just being a smartass.

Its a well known fact your TV is censored to show only the good stuff in your governments attempt to destroy the world.

To paraphrase a logical fallacy, repeating something over and over doesn't make it true. You love to claim American TV is censored but have no real proof. Is there is difference between what is shown on UK and US TV? Absolutely. But you completely mistake the reasons. For our TV broadcassts to be censored, the government would have to intervene and dictate what can and cannot be seen. They do this to a small degree, but largely affect only network stations; cable/satelite broadcasts (including CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, BBCA, etc.) more or less can show anything they damn well please.

They don't show the things you list not because the government tells them not to, but because it would hurt their ratings. We don't want to see such things on television. If American TV news doesn't give the American people the full story, don't blame the governement and don't blame the news, blame the American people.

 

[ShaneMan]

The USA is "No. 1" in nothing but weaponry, consumer spending, debt, and delusion."

Thanks for taking the opportunity to not answer Ms. G's question but once again point out "your opinion" of how war crazy, broke, indebt, and the lack of thinking clearly, us Americans are. Would have been disappointed if you would have done it any other way.

 

[MrsGorilla]

# Twenty percent of Americans think the sun orbits the Earth. Seventeen percent believe the Earth revolves around the sun once a day (The Week, Jan. 7, 2005).

Am I the only one who finds this hard to believe? I wonder who they polled to come up with that?

 

[ColinEssex]

Oh I know. I was just being a smartass.

no change there then

You love to claim American TV is censored but have no real proof.

See the film Fahrenheit 9/11 - Michael Moore gives proof of doctored press releases, government hush-ups etc etc.

We don't want to see such things on television

Maybe you should - it brings home the true horror and stupididy of war

Col

 

[ColinEssex]

Thanks for taking the opportunity to not answer Ms. G's question but once again point out "your opinion" of how war crazy, broke, indebt, and the lack of thinking clearly, us Americans are. Would have been disappointed if you would have done it any other way.

Sounds like you knew that already without Rich's clarification

Col

 

[Brianwarnock]

So I can lump both of you into a universe of UK people and make the grand assumption that all of you can't forgive and forget, even when a genuine apology is made.

Lisa

Please don't do that Lisa,why tar yourself with their brush as only two UKers spend their time having a go at America at every opportunity, and it has been known for some of us both to give and accept apologies on this site.

Brian

 

[Bodisathva]

Here ya go
http://www.audiosparx.com/sa/play/play.cfm/sound_iid.4741

Thanks, Kraj. Well done!

...maybe I can get the language bar to play that sound when it reads Col & Rich's posts?

 

[Kraj]

See the film Fahrenheit 9/11 - Michael Moore gives proof of doctored press releases, government hush-ups etc etc.

*Sigh* I avoided seeing that movie for the simple fact that I already hated Bush with a passion and didn't really want to spend two hours learning why I should hate him even more. Perhaps, though, it's time I give it a try and see for myself what I think about it.

Maybe you should - it brings home the true horror and stupididy of war

No argument on that one. I have a feeling that it would simply be lost on the general populace, though. When I see a movie like Saving Private Ryan or even Titanic, I think to myself, "This happened. I may be watching actors on a screen right now, but somebody's son had his chest explode at Normandy." What I see on the screen isn't real, but it did happen.

Most people I've observed do not experience things that way. Images on a screen are just images on a screen. That exploded chest wasn't someone's son, it was just something "cool" or "gross". Whether you make a documentary about Iraq or show a battle in full swing on CNN, people will still look at it like images on a screen. The only way for such people to really experience the true horror and stupidity of war is to be in one. Or maybe to lose a loved one in one.

 

[Rich]

and I can quote different threads that show that Rich is equally obtuse about apologies. Lisa

I await with baited breath and wonder why an American brings the topic down to a personal level of attack

 

[Rich]

Thanks for taking the opportunity to not answer Ms. G's question but once again point out "your opinion" of how war crazy, broke, indebt, and the lack of thinking clearly, us Americans are. Would have been disappointed if you would have done it any other way.

Now I know we've discussed just how poor the standard of education is these days in the States, but what makes you think the quote is attributable to me.
Had you read the thread more slowly you would have noticed several uses of the term "we", i.e. an American talking about America.
I know this will come as something of a shock but I'm not American

 

[Rich]

By the way, I'm sure we've covered this before, but do you have helmet laws over there?

Why did you have to bring motorbikes into the conversation, I had a dream last night because of it.

There we were about to set off on our bikes when a voice from behind said,
"hiyalllllllll, howya doin", I recognised it immediately, it was that Kenny Higg fellow.
We invited him to come out on the bikes with us, he jumped up on the bike and delivered a speech about how no government was going to tell him what to wear and declined to join us.
Having delivered his sermon on the mount he jumped on the plane and buggered off back home again saying I only popped in to say hello anyway.

Either I need help or it's that bloody Californian wine