The US is Tops in . . .

[Don K Dyck]

Came across this great article in the New Internationalist that I thought I'd like to share with the rampant Americans here . . . my good friends and debating buddies like SIN, Ishmael, PC and all the other one eyed pro-Republican Americans who inhabit these boards . . . I will try to find a link, but have none at present . . .

AMERICA IS TOPS IN MILITARY SPENDING

The US Military accounts for $US 343 BILLION in a total budget of $US 1,900 billion in 2002 . . . that is 18% of government spending.

The rest of the world, including the proscribed rogue states (Cuba, Iraq, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, Syria total $US 14.4 billion) only spent $US 320 billion

Since 9/11 the military budget has jumped a whopping $US 46 billion.

The US military is the biggest employer in the US with 1.4 million active personnel, down from the peace-time 2.2 milion in 1987

Between 1995 and 1998 the US accounted for 48% of all conventional arms exports - compared to Russia 13%; France 11% and Britain 7%.

The US manufactures 93% of the world's armaments . . . (another source)

A war has gotta be good for the US economy . . . hope you kids enjoy conscription . . .

 

[Spinaroonie]

I heard we were number one and beat numbers two through fifteen combined, not the whole world. But that's interesting if it's true.

 

[Don K Dyck]

TOPS IN DEBT . . .

AMERICA IS TOPS IN DOMESTIC DEBT

The global economy is based on the principle that what is good for the US economy MUST BE GOOD for the whole world . . . including escalating public and personal debt . . .

Consumer debt (mostly credit cards) in the US more than doubled between June 1992 and June 2002 when it reached $US 1,713 billion (or if you prefer, $US 1.713 trillion)

This represents roughly $US 6,000 per man, woman and child innthe country. It is increasing at a rate of $US 90 billion per month.

On 13 August 2002, the US national debt stood at $US 6,161 billion ($US 6.161 trillion). This makes the USA the world's biggest debtor nation by far . . . about $US 20,000 per head of population. It increases at about $US 1 billion per day.

The annual trade deficit (imports exceeding exports) grew from $US 29.5 billion in 1991 to $US 450 billion ini 2000 - the largest in US history . . .

THe USA devoted just 0.1% GNP to overseas aid, the smallest of any of the 28 nation OECD. (Tops in miserliness)

The USA owes the UN $US 1 billion in unpaid dues.

 

[Lost Cause]

You're suprised?

We have to baby-sit the rest of the fucking world so we don't have to listen to all their cries when everything goes to shit. It's a curiously co-dependent situation that has roots back to WW1. Until the world can demonstrate it's ability to defend it's own (France/Poland/Kosovo/Bosnia etc..), we will assume they must be overwatched for our own good.
Debt? It costs $$ to wet nurse the planet, and the UN is the biggest bunch of freeloaders on the planet. The cost of keeping the children that work there is twice that of those fucking dues! Move!

 

[Coolville]

I'm sure the 20 odd million Americans living under the poverty line are very proud of those statistics.

 

[Spinaroonie]

Re: You're suprised?

We have to baby-sit the rest of the fucking world so we don't have to listen to all their cries when everything goes to shit.

No, we don't have to. The US chooses to butt in where it's not wanted and forces itself into these situations.

 

[Coolville]

Yeah, but LC's "reluctant hero" song isn't surprising. It's the basis for american culture, thanks to Hollywood. (I'm not bashing here, just stating a fact)
Just think of all the American films that feature a reluctant hero. You name it. From the Westerns to Die Hard, Fugitive.

So I guess LC has seen too many Hollywood films and buys into the myth.

 

[scylis]

Yeah, but LC's "reluctant hero" song isn't surprising. It's the basis for american culture, thanks to Hollywood. (I'm not bashing here, just stating a fact)
Just think of all the American films that feature a reluctant hero. You name it. From the Westerns to Die Hard, Fugitive.

So I guess LC has seen too many Hollywood films and buys into the myth.

oh please. we stole the idea from the Japanese. think you can name the film that The Magnificent Seven was copied off of?

 

[Don K Dyck]

NOT Tops in Poverty . . .

AMERICA IS STRUGGLING TO BE TOPS IN POVERTY

There are far too many third world countries which beat the USA in the poverty stakes, but the good ole USA is doing its bit . . .

More than 31 million Americans live in poverty. The number fel sharply between 1959 and 1970, then rose again until the early 1990s. Poverty rises rapidly during economic depressions. Very little progress has been amde on tackling poverty since the early 1970s.

Second Harvest, the largest network of food banks in the US, fed 10% of the population in 1998 - and still had to turn away several million people.

In Ca, only 56% of tenants can afford the official fair market rent.

REAL wages in the US are now 12% LESS than they were in 1973.

Half the working population has no pension provision.

 

[Lost Cause]

My premise is based on history, not make believe..

But it's a typical Euro bias that goes back to the Nazis referring to us as American gangsters when we joined in the fray, based on the hollywood stereotypes that you recall even today!
And yes, history not attitude, demands our intervention welcomed or not, in the world. Based again on the last 95 fucking years of our history, do I have to draw a picture!?

Any further America bashing can be referred to this site:

http://www.literotica.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=126197

 

[Coolville]

oh please. we stole the idea from the Japanese. think you can name the film that The Magnificent Seven was copied off of?

Oh please, yourself.
Don't try to tell me that the foundation of American cinematic culture was borrowed from one Akiri Kurosawa film. (Besides, it was Sergio Leone who saw the genius of Kurosawa and started making remakes, which, in turn, were made in the States).

The 'relcutant hero' theme is as old as America itself.
I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I'm just saying it.
Mostly to find a use for all the things I learned at film school.

 

[Coolville]

Re: My premise is based on history, not make believe..

But it's a typical Euro bias that goes back to the Nazis referring to us as American gangsters when we joined in the fray, based on the hollywood stereotypes that you recall even today!
And yes, history not attitude, demands our intervention welcomed or not, in the world. Based again on the last 95 fucking years of our history, do I have to draw a picture!?

Any further America bashing can be referred to this site:

http://www.literotica.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=126197

Thanks for bashing link.
Do you have one for 'cross-border critique leading to intellectual dialogue'?
I thought not.

But yes, draw me a picture. Use your crayons.

 

[scylis]

Oh please, yourself.
Don't try to tell me that the foundation of American cinematic culture was borrowed from one Akiri Kurosawa film. (Besides, it was Sergio Leone who saw the genius of Kurosawa and started making remakes, which, in turn, were made in the States).

The 'relcutant hero' theme is as old as America itself.
I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I'm just saying it.
Mostly to find a use for all the things I learned at film school.

i am trying to tell you it, because it's the truth. hello, look at the plot!

 

[Don K Dyck]

TOPS IN PRISON POPULATION

AMERICA IS TOPS IN PRISON POPULATION

America has more citizens in prison than any other country, and second only to the Russian Federation on a per capita basis.

IN February 2000, the US prison population reached 2 million. This was 25% of the entire world prison population - from just 5% of the world's population.

More than 500,000 people are employed in the prison system - almost as many as the two largest private employers, WalMart and General Motors.

Under Dubyah Shrub, the Texas prison population rose from 41,000 to 150,000.

There were 3,600 people awaiting execution in the US in 2000 - 463 of them in Texas.

Country Year Total Prison Pop. per 100,000

USA 1997 1,725,842 645

Russia Fed 1998 1,009,863 685

Britain 1998 73,545 125

Canada 1998 34,166 115

Australia 1997 17,661 95

NZ 1998 5,236 100

Home of the Free . . .

<Sorry about the table, folks . . . can somebody please clue me in on how to align it properly>

 

[Coolville]

Re: NOT Tops in Poverty . . .

AMERICA IS STRUGGLING TO BE TOPS IN POVERTY

There are far too many third world countries which beat the USA in the poverty stakes, but the good ole USA is doing its bit . . .

More than 31 million Americans live in poverty. The number fel sharply between 1959 and 1970, then rose again until the early 1990s. Poverty rises rapidly during economic depressions. Very little progress has been amde on tackling poverty since the early 1970s.

Second Harvest, the largest network of food banks in the US, fed 10% of the population in 1998 - and still had to turn away several million people.

In Ca, only 56% of tenants can afford the official fair market rent.

REAL wages in the US are now 12% LESS than they were in 1973.

Half the working population has no pension provision.

LOL! Gotta love that little smiley face at the end of a long list of dismal stats!

 

[Coolville]

i am trying to tell you it, because it's the truth. hello, look at the plot!

Sure, the plot is similar in theme. You're right. I'm not debating that.
I'm saying that the 'reluctant hero' theme did not stem from one Japanese film. It existed in literature and theatre and film before that.
That's all. Kurasawa's influence merely adding to it.

 

[scylis]

Sure, the plot is similar in theme. You're right. I'm not debating that.
I'm saying that the 'reluctant hero' theme did not stem from one Japanese film. It existed in literature and theatre and film before that.
That's all. Kurasawa's influence merely adding to it.

it's not just similar, it's a fucking remake!

oh, and... jesus. some people! gotta beat them do death with fuckin' sarcasm, practically!

 

[Coolville]

It's official. You bore me senseless.
I could stay here and try to educate you or I could go and make a cup of coffee.
Tough choice.

 

[Don K Dyck]

LOOKING AFTER THE RICH MATES . . .

LOOKING AFTER THE RICH MATES

During recent years, the super rich have got even wealthier while the wages and welfare values have decliined or stagnated.

Dubyah Shrub had made tax cuts giving 43% of the tax cuts to 1% of Americans, while cutting

$US 700 million from public housing repairs,

$US 200 million from training programmes for dislocated workers,

$US 500 million from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Gotta get your priorities correct . . .

 

[scylis]

gods.

thought he'd never leave!

now, if i could do something about the wanker...

 

[Coolville]

Re: LOOKING AFTER THE RICH MATES . . .

LOOKING AFTER THE RICH MATES

During recent years, the super rich have got even wealthier while the wages and welfare values have decliined or stagnated.

Dubyah Shrub had made tax cuts giving 43% of the tax cuts to 1% of Americans, while cutting

$US 700 million from public housing repairs,

$US 200 million from training programmes for dislocated workers,

$US 500 million from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Gotta get your priorities correct . . .

Hey, ozzie don! Howzit goin, mate?
Where do you find all these stats?

 

[Don K Dyck]

Tops in Health EXPENDITURE . . .

Hey, ozzie don! Howzit goin, mate?
Where do you find all these stats?

Hi Coolville, how's the mermaid??

Got onto a copy of New Internationalist November 2002, "The Other America, The Facts", pp18-19.

New Internationalist

AMERICA TOPS IN HEALTH EXPENDITURE

In 1998, combined public and private health expenditure was $US 4,180 per person, more than $US 1,441 more than the closest rival, Switzerland, and by far the highest in the world.

In 2000, 38.7 million people, including 3.8 million children, were without health insurance.

When unemployment rose from 6 million in march 2001 to 7.7 million in October 2001 (the first months of Dubyah Shrub, how quaint) 725,000 workers lost their health insurance.

In March 2002, 1.36 million healthcare wrkers (including some doctors) had no health insurance - an increase of 98% since 1998.

You gotta hand it to Americans, they always look after the rich . . .

 

[Mad_Jack_Rabbit]

The US military is the biggest employer in the US with 1.4 million active personnel, down from the peace-time 2.2 milion in 1987

Does this mean that the smart people left when it the job got dangerous?

 

[Don K Dyck]

Re: Re: The US is Tops in . . .

Does this mean that the smart people left when it the job got dangerous?

No, MJR, I think that the government felt that it could better use the money in some public area like education, or public housing or the like . . . the US military has always ahd far too much influence over Republican governments and under the Democrats they were reduced to a more manageable size . . . Dubyah Shrub has of course reversed the trend . . . and gone back to a wasteful military policy for the benefit of the mates in the NE industro-military complex . . .

 

[Mad_Jack_Rabbit]

Quite right too!

Wasting money on education and social housing! Disgusting!

Prisons and grunts.

Maybe it's some new social reform - recruit from the homeless and jobless and then pack off to war. Kill two birds with one stone.