A Proper Introduction...

[ottohauser1977]

....

Seems I've gotten off on the wrong foot with certain folks.

So let me get things back on track, as they say here in America.

I'm Otto. 31 years old. I'm from the former East Berlin. So, yes, I'm a Prussian, with all that indicates. My father was a minor member of the ruling Socialist party, though he always had to be careful about losing his membership. I left Germany in 1998, after Schroeder's victory (at the time, I had rebelled against my father by embracing rightist politics).

I like porn, as you can see. I am venturing into writing, with a new story. My kinks include adultery, pregnancy, orgies, MILFs, anal sex, bondage, and incest. I am not too keen on male homosexuality, though lesbianism has its voyeuristic appeal. I like male dominance in a marital and adulterous context, but female dominance in terms of incest. Don't ask, because I can't explain it.

I prefer not to discuss my marital status for now. I have no children.

I consider myself a disgruntled progressive Democrat, and less than happy with Obama's mixed record and hypocrisy. I am especially less than thrilled about his weakness on health care and the environment. And his corrupt links to the Cook County machine. I backed Kucinich for the nomination, and now support Ralph Nader. Though I didn't vote for him in 2000. I backed Gore in that year, which was about the start of my leftward shift. (I say "backed", because I couldn't vote in 2000. I wasn't naturalized yet. In fact, this is the first Presidential election in which I was eligible to vote.)

I like to write about the world as it should be, not the world as it is. What else is the imagination for, if not to escape the madness and perversity of society?

 

[ottohauser1977]

For the record, I strongly believe that the Government should nationalize all health insurance companies and provide subsidized medical care to all Americans. That's the only way to have socialized medicine and not throw people out of work.

That people can profess concern for small business and oppose socialized medicine in the same breath, when single payer will finally take the burden of medical care off the entrepeneur's shoulders, is beyond me. It's as big a burden, if not more than the capital-gains tax. Though I'm an odd progressive who also wants to scrap the capital-gains tax, too.

This will also cut payroll taxes, as we won't have to maintain Medicare. We can just merge Medicare with the overall National Health Insurance Corporation.

I also favor federally provided universal college and trade school education.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I'd say that puts you a tad left of center on the AH spectrum. Not so bad, Otto. Welcome to the AH.

 

[ottohauser1977]

I'd say that puts you a tad left of center on the AH spectrum. Not so bad, Otto. Welcome to the AH.

Thanks, VM. Nice girl in the sig, by the way.

 

[tickledkitty]

I'm probably one of the most non-political folks you'll find here. I don't read most of the political threads, so I don't know who you've offended and don't really care.

Welcome.

 

[only_more_so]

I'd say that puts you a tad left of center on the AH spectrum. Not so bad, Otto. Welcome to the AH.

Actually, I think he sounds pretty center compared to the Lit average. Of course, the Lit average is so far to the left, that I have trouble seeing that far.

 

[Boxlicker101]

For the record, I strongly believe that the Government should nationalize all health insurance companies and provide subsidized medical care to all Americans. That's the only way to have socialized medicine and not throw people out of work.

That people can profess concern for small business and oppose socialized medicine in the same breath, when single payer will finally take the burden of medical care off the entrepeneur's shoulders, is beyond me. It's as big a burden, if not more than the capital-gains tax. Though I'm an odd progressive who also wants to scrap the capital-gains tax, too.

This will also cut payroll taxes, as we won't have to maintain Medicare. We can just merge Medicare with the overall National Health Insurance Corporation.

I also favor federally provided universal college and trade school education.

Hi, Otto, and welcome to Lit. and the AH in particular.

Many small businesses don't provide health insurance. I have had some dealings with Single Payer when I worked for Medi-Cal, and I see it as a giant boondoggle. I particularly remember all the podiatrists being paid handsome sums to cut people's toenails.

 

[ottohauser1977]

I'm probably one of the most non-political folks you'll find here. I don't read most of the political threads, so I don't know who you've offended and don't really care.

Welcome.

Thank you, very much.

 

[rgraham666]

Welcome to the AH, Otto.

I agree with your take on healthcare. But I live in Canada where we already have it so I would. I'd be dead if I lived in the States.

 

[gauchecritic]

Hi Otto (I said eyup in the other thread).

Now you've put Amicus (and others) in a right quandary. Going to America is what all freedom loving Euros do, but you can't be freedom loving if you support any kind of welfare state. Such a deal.

As long as you're not rabidly political (unlike TK for all her posturing) you might actually enjoy the AH, lots of us do however much we moan about it.

Seems I've gotten off on the wrong foot with certain folks.

Naa, you didn't get off on the wrong foot there (can't say about which foot you got off on with your politics) just pressed one of the current "hot topic" buttons inadvertantly.

You'll be fine if you can stand your corner. (mine's bitter [not that yellow water they call beer over there])

For future reference you may want to note that I eschew smilies so you have to decide for yourself if I'm joking or not.

 

[neonlyte]

Yo

Eyup

Missed the fun! Did you get abused?

Welcome anyhoo.

 

[Liar]

I'm Otto. 31 years old. I'm from the former East Berlin. So, yes, I'm a Prussian, with all that indicates.

I'm aftraid I'm epically unaware of what that indicates.

But hello and welcome anyway.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Hi Otto, welcome to the AH.

I'm from Chicago and followed Obama on the way up, and I'm rather baffled as to your reference to his ties to the Cook County Machine. He came up through Hyde Park/U of Chicago which has nothing to do with the machine, so I'm kind of curious as to where you're getting your information.

--Zoot

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

OTTOHAUSER

Word of advice.

Unless youre a LEMMING-OID the Usual Suspects here will never accept you. With them its all about dominance and newbies grabbing their ankles in submission.

Its a lot more fun to poke them in the eye with a stick and laugh at their rage.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Hey Otto, welcome to the U.S., Lit, and the AH!

We're passionate folks around here, and that passion, lately, has been channeled into politics. We usually don't talk politics so much, actually, so if you don't wanna talk sex and fluff, you might get bored with us after the election.

I have misgivings about the health care thing, in either direction, either completely socialized or completely privatized. I really don't know the answer, wish I did. I just know our premiums and deductibles are way too high for the "coverage" we get, and we actually had to declare bankruptcy a few years ago when hubbie had a near-death experience three days before the 90 day waiting period for getting insurance at his work was up.

The system sucks, it needs fixing. But I think that probably applies to most "systems" of anything.

 

[ottohauser1977]

Welcome to the AH, Otto.

I agree with your take on healthcare. But I live in Canada where we already have it so I would. I'd be dead if I lived in the States.

Thanks, rgraham666, or should I call you Rob, as most here do?

I love America, don't get me wrong, but growing up with socialized medicine (which we Germans have had since the 19th century, thanks to that great Marxist, Prince Otto von Bismarck - oops, did I mention that we Berliners tend to be sardonic and sarcastic at times) and other aspects of a welfare state, and then coming to America made me appreciate why it is such a plus to have that kind of security. It was a factor in my leftward realignment.

Not that I hate America or freedom, as some seem to think. I would just like my new fellow countrymen to have the same security that every other major industrial power has. Don't the American people deserve this? They are the backbone of the world's greatest economy, after all.

I suppose that you could say that I agree with those who think that the best way to maintain a modern democracy against revolutionaries and demagogues is to ensure that the people are happy and safe. It worked for Bismarck. And the welfare state was a factor in saving Western Europe from Communism, by adopting a mixed economy. Think about it. The closest Western Europe ever came to true Marxism was in Portugal, and there the people wisely sided with the Socialists against the Communists in the end.

That's the same basic argument for the Great Society, and while that was bloated and corrupt at times, it was still a great idea in general. LBJ was a true anti-Communist, battling it at home by improving social justice and abroad (though misguidedly) by waging a war against Communist aggression in Vietnam. Living in Texas now, I get a whole new respect for that man. Being a liberal in such a conservative state proves real moral courage.

I firmly believe that the New Deal also saved American capitalism during the Great Depression, precisely through Social Security and regulatory reforms. And Roosevelt wisely chose men who knew Wall Street to clean it up. He didn't pick Bolsheviks or anything, contrary to what the GOP claimed at the time.

Of course, this is through my studies of American history (kind of a prerequisite for US citizenship, you know, but I really took to it).

Anyway, thanks, gauchecritic, Selena, liar, Dr. Mabeuse, and others.

P.S. to Dr. :

I just got that impression from what I'd read and heard about Obama and Chicago politics. My understanding was that you couldn't get elected dogcatcher in Chicago if you weren't part of the Cook County machine. If I am wrong, feel free to correct me.

P.S. to gauche: Yes, I suppose that does confuse my new American friend amicus (is this name supposed to be ironic, because he doesn't strike me as the amicable type). That one could relish the spirit of American free enterprise and yet want to make it work even more effectively through improving the lives of its backbone, the middle and lower classes, apparently doesn't make sense to them, though it does to me.

Mind you, there is a sectional aspect to this, too. While reunification is good in general, we Prussians aren't too thrilled at going from the top to the bottom of the German pecking order, especially since we created the modern German state. Living in America, I can escape such anxiety, or at least forget it for the most part.

I also think that European unity needs to continue its advance. It's the only alternative to being subjugated by Russia one day, and, yes, Russia is in itself a geopolitical threat, even without Communism and the Warsaw Pact. Nietzsche understood this, and on this point (though not on many others, in my opinion), he was quite right. It's not fair to America to thrust the weight of permanently defending Europe on its shoulders, and frankly not too many Europeans want to be dependent upon America's protection forever, too. Nothing anti-American- it just hurts their (I almost said "our", since I'm still adjust to my new nationality) pride, that's all. Nor do I think that Americans want to maintain large military forces in Europe forever.

 

[trysail]

...Of course, this is through my studies of American history (kind of a prerequisite for US citizenship, you know, but I really took to it)...

You're already waaay ahead of the average American (whose knowledge of history, in all too many cases, extends all the way back to last year). Welkommen!

 

[jomar]

Welcome Otto. You can say whatever you want and if you do it with respect you'll be fine here. If you want to get nasty and insulting, the General Board is the place to post.

 

[cloudy]

Welcome to the AH.

(just a suggestion: try not to make so many sweeping generalizations, and you'll get along fine)

 

[ottohauser1977]

You're already waaay ahead of the average American (whose knowledge of history, in all too many cases, extends all the way back to last year). Welkommen!

Thanks. And I believe that educational reforms may one day correct this problem. It's mainly an educational flaw, I think. History and government courses are minimized too much in schools. Just my impression.

 

[ottohauser1977]

Welcome to the AH.

(just a suggestion: try not to make so many sweeping generalizations, and you'll get along fine)

Thank you.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Hi otto, welcome to the AH.

As a previous poster said, during election time, the political threads run rampant and then die down (thankfully) a little while after the election is over. There are many of us that don't even venture into those threads (I am one of them.)

You might want to check out the AH Library thread that is stickied at the top. It holds a lot of useful information (and it's a work in progress so excuse the as yet empty categories.)

 

[MagicaPractica]

Hi Otto, welcome to the AH.

 

[fieryjen]

Welcome to the AH.

(just a suggestion: try not to make so many sweeping generalizations, and you'll get along fine)

I'm perfectly willing to start over if you heed Cloudy's advice.

So, for what it's worth, welcome.

 

[ottohauser1977]

Hi Otto, welcome to the AH.

Danke