quote:
Originally posted by Chicken Little
I'm happy to continue this, wherever. Your Scaife-bought NTU guys say that an income of $60,041 puts you in the top 25% of income earners. Baloney.
I think he stated the figures are from the IRS. I'll check the IRS website and see what the deal is. I think it also has to do with whether the CBO uses gross or adjusted income figures.
"Poor and content is rich and rich enough."
William Shakespeare "Othello", Act iii. Sc. 3.
The determining factor in poor, working poor or rich is whether one works to live or works for the peoples government and can set their own salaries and perks. We are a country of paid world travelers.
Socialism "No" that is a word we use to discredit other countries.
^What??!!
I believe he's speaking in Engrish, let me translate for you:
The pauper, the pauper or the rich determinant which works in order to live, or it works for government of the people, and how their itself salaries and it is possible to put in place benefit. We are the country of the worldwide traveler who employs. The socialism which is the word which is used for we doubting other country. Discredit other countries.
No. He is saying that there are two types of people. Those who "work to live" and those who "work in government".
He then implies that government workers set their own salaries.
He hates government. He attacks all government workers. He is confused about government and how they are paid.
I have no idea what he wrote about "discredit other countries" and "no".
Someone check the shadows IP address, I think we have the same dis-jointed poster using about four or five different user names, either that or they all get their sh!t from the same dealer.
According to this, if my math is right and remember I am a right brained artist, 1 in 50 Oklahomans is a millionair. 1 in 25 in NJ is.
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/almanacamericanwealth/2007/flash/?cnn=yes
Course a million aint what it used to be. Could be considered middle class. I once heard that in order to be considered rich, you had to make at least 5 mill a year. But I am one of the worms that works to make others wealthy by paying a mortgage, car payment etc. to those who own the mortgage and car payment companies and banks lol, so what do I know. [:P]
Lets see wasn't the "Silence of the Lamb" We have so many of the Lambs.
It takes 20 years to breed an army ready to defend a country. Remember Athens and it's goddess of love who beckoned to the sailors to help raise a army. Wealth is power and armies display power in our world today.
How long will it take with birth control to raise a native army?
Shadows is the winner of the coveted Clown of The Day post:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l195/jimmyMNSTR/homey_the_clown.jpg)
"Homey don't play dat!"
quote:
Originally posted by shadows
Lets see wasn't the "Silence of the Lamb" We have so many of the Lambs.
It takes 20 years to breed an army ready to defend a country. Remember Athens and it's goddess of love who beckoned to the sailors to help raise a army. Wealth is power and armies display power in our world today.
How long will it take with birth control to raise a native army?
Tell that to those "statistically happier and healthier" people in Sweden. Plus if we really wanted a larger army, well they are called illegal immigrants and Mexicans looking for a way to make money or become citizens.[:P]
Recycle quoted:
He hates government. He attacks all government workers. He is confused about government and how they are paid.
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Why don't you help me out by defining "That this government of the people, for the people, by the people shall not perish from the earth."
Unlike some people I believe that Washington should be a district where the representatives of the people should gather to represent their citizens for a short time each year. That they should select their employees from their local citizenry instead of aliens. Their representatives should be isolated from any form of paid lobbyist.
I guess that I do not like when government isolates itself from the citizen and becomes made up of millionaire who collect millions to remain rulers over the lowly citizens. It could be that among us are those who would tie a cable around the neck of the statue of a man, who believed in individual rights, to a tank and pull it down to the street so they could kick it.
Before you criticize those among us who think, could you identify the government by millionaires and the government of the people that are about to perish from the earth.
Quote
Tell that to those "statistically happier and healthier" people in Sweden. Plus if we really wanted a larger army, well they are called illegal immigrants and Mexicans looking for a way to make money or become citizens.
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I believe Sweden is happier as seem that every house is required to have a working gun. The happier part would be that they will not give out the names or deposition's of the worlds wealth in their banks.
On a larger army you would have to ask the prez as he thinks he needs another 125,000 + in Iraq before they reinstall the draft.
An army of illegal's and legal's? Have you ever heard the story of the Trojan Horse?
Try some yoga, drink some herbal tea, have some chocolate, take a walk, invite some friends over to have a glass of wine and to watch the sunset. And for a good movie, I think "Under the Tuscan Sun" is just what your needing.
I tried all those suggestions. I do think your ideals are those you will accomplish liken the mercenaries that was such a help to the Roman Empire.
quote:
Originally posted by shadows
I tried all those suggestions. I do think your ideals are those you will accomplish liken the mercenaries that was such a help to the Roman Empire.
Exactly. Those mercenaries, those barbaric germanic hordes that destroyed Rome.... But wait, did they? I thought they was us?[:P]
Long live the Roman Empire!
(http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/4217/romanempire3wh8.jpg) Germany
(http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/3048/romanempire6pz8.jpg)US
(http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/3305/romanempireok8.jpg)Vatican
(http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/4710/romanempire2sy5.jpg)Wall Street
(http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/210/romanempireokbq4.jpg)Oklahoma
(http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/1976/romanempirespanishparjb9.jpg)Spain
(http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5405/romanempiremexicofq3.jpg)Mexico City
(http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/9275/romanempire5pb0.jpg)Oh no, here us, I mean, they come again![;)]
#65532;
Your pictures are well assorted.
You don't show a picture of the general who led the mercenaries against Rome. Nor did you show our national shrine "The Mexican Alamo."
You should note that the relations between Mexico and the USA have been strained for many years. Note in the picture that the flags are of the same level. "Who's flag will lead the march"
The point is... Rome never really fell, it evolved, fragmented, changed names and grew into different variations. The Vatican See is one, (The Pope, the Cesar) the Russian Orthidox Church another, Charlemagne (who suffered invasions of those pesky viking invaders whose overpopulation and youth searching for wealth invaded his empire, but later became just as "Roman" as well) the British Empire, the US, etc. Even when it was called Rome by name it varied in strength, size, "type", and even warred with and within itself ("You don't show a picture of the general who led the mercenaries against Rome" Justinian? Washington? Grant? Lee?). The germanic tribes and mercenaries who invaded Rome or were Roman slaves and at best second class citizens without equal rights and constantly berated by the Romans and not allowed to assimilate ( and they dared to rise up?), settled in nicely and in the end became just like those they supplanted and also carried Rome back to their homelands (there are "Alimos" in those stories as well). Their descendants ended up making Rome bigger and more powerful than it was before.
The use of mercenaries we were to employee to offset our failure to provide an army only points out that Constantine divided the empire and established the Eastern Empire which failed because it was defended by non-Romans. Attila the Hun overran the Western Empire it seems with mercenaries as Roman's believed they were untouchable Gods .
The Vatican city state is not a part of Rome but the seat of an independent country with its own government.
The point I was trying to make was that history and nature produces an army every 20 years. When any nations fails by what-so-ever means to maintain an growing army the days of that nation is limited. It is in the displaying of the standards or flags that show an army depending of those you indicated would defend us is what I intended to question.
If you have noticed in the world of journalism they refer to the three super powers; USA, China and Russia. We have been downgraded from the only superpower to one of three. Is there a message written on the wall somewhere that we need someone to read to us?
"It takes a pillage."
Atilla the Hun
quote:
Originally posted by recyclemichael
"It takes a pillage."
Atilla the Hun
I love Barbarian Week.
On the History Channel!
quote:
Originally posted by shadows
The use of mercenaries we were to employee to offset our failure to provide an army only points out that Constantine divided the empire and established the Eastern Empire which failed because it was defended by non-Romans. Attila the Hun overran the Western Empire it seems with mercenaries as Roman's believed they were untouchable Gods .
The Vatican city state is not a part of Rome but the seat of an independent country with its own government.
The point I was trying to make was that history and nature produces an army every 20 years. When any nations fails by what-so-ever means to maintain an growing army the days of that nation is limited. It is in the displaying of the standards or flags that show an army depending of those you indicated would defend us is what I intended to question.
If you have noticed in the world of journalism they refer to the three super powers; USA, China and Russia. We have been downgraded from the only superpower to one of three. Is there a message written on the wall somewhere that we need someone to read to us?
Well you kind of missed my point about the Vatican, but anyway. To your point... One of my history professors once said,"If you really want to understand what is, or was, going on, follow the money. Another said, "He who has the most people wins." I think you are saying that because the US has a smaller army it is in danger of not being "the" superpower. It has been apparent to me that the US's days as top dog are numbered. You seem upset by this or think that there is a solution to this, like having lots of children perhaps lol. I just think its the inevitable march of history. Ever since the 80's it has been obvious to me what is likely to happen. The US is now kind of like the British Empire was at one time. We will someday be like Britain is today (or France, god help us). Barring some unforseen disaster or war, China and India will be the superpowers within this next century.
We seem to have this attitude that we are so much more prosperous and further ahead because of some "innate superiority". Its actually a fluke in a way that the US became the superpower. Before the two world wars, the US was looked upon as a minor power. If Europe hadn't destroyed itself, while we profited, we would still be a minor country. It amazes me that such small countries like France, Germany, Italy, are still wealthier economies than China or India. Once Europe recovers and pulls itself together, it too will more than likely outpace the US once again. So I bet that within 100 years the US will be the numero 4 dog.
Is this reason to panic? Not in my opinion. But many US citizens may not like getting back what we have dished out.
Here I am going to play the "what could happen in the future" game. I predict that China will continue to grow for a bit, now is kind of like their (roaring 20s). Then because of bad banking practices and other things, their economy will collapse(the great depression). Unless Europe and India have strengthened enough to counter this collapse, the whole world will go into a depression. Some really bad things can happen during this time, but if they don't completely destroy us, or the world hangs in there. Then China will become a superpower, equal to or greater than the US, Europe, and India (kind of like we did in the 50's). Roaring 20s, Great Depression, bit of some chaos, then US like Perfidious Albion is today.
Someone told me once that the Spanish are genetically closest to the ancient Romans. Even more so than Italians.
Ancient Rome was brought down by potato farmers. Northern Europe, mighty eater of potato.
Today most of the world that I've seen is peopled by descendants of the Potato Eaters and the Romans. And I swear that's what we look like to me. Potato eaters and Romans.
Wow, can you imagine, the Roman language is still spoken today.
Anyway, I read somewhere that our economy will be swamped by the Chinese economy by about 2050. And some where I read that United Europe is already wealthier than we are.
We used to hear a lot about our standard of living in comparison to the rest of the world. But we don't hear about it now, for obvious reasons. The Republicans have been very successful in knocking the working people in the U.S. down to a more competitive position in the World Economy. Ouch.
Pssst Hometown:
1) The potato is an South American crop. It wasnt introduced to the America's until the 16th century. It is unlikely that 5th century Goths had access to them.
2) The Chinese economy will probably be larger than our own much sooner than that.
3) The 14 nations of the EU zone, while in competition with the US for GDP, is not nearly as affluent. The average citizen of the EU lives on $29,300 USD a year. The average American on $43,500. The story will hold for China far after their GDP surpasses our own. We remain a rich people by all standards.
4) Given the above facts and the recently announced 14% annual rate of increase for real wages - do you have to retract your closing statement? Not that I'm content with the workings of the Republican party, but pretending they somehow eliminated our economic dominance is ignorant.
XoXo,
Another 'rich' American.
quote:
Originally posted by Hometown
Someone told me once that the Spanish are genetically closest to the ancient Romans. Even more so than Italians.
Ancient Rome was brought down by potato farmers. Northern Europe, mighty eater of potato.
Today most of the world that I've seen is peopled by descendants of the Potato Eaters and the Romans. And I swear that's what we look like to me. Potato eaters and Romans.
Wow, can you imagine, the Roman language is still spoken today.
Anyway, I read somewhere that our economy will be swamped by the Chinese economy by about 2050. And some where I read that United Europe is already wealthier than we are.
We used to hear a lot about our standard of living in comparison to the rest of the world. But we don't hear about it now, for obvious reasons. The Republicans have been very successful in knocking the working people in the U.S. down to a more competitive position in the World Economy. Ouch.
Those of us who are optimistic and who take advantage of every opportunity to succeed always do succeed. Those who don't sit around and ***** about how the government or political parties who don't share their ideology are screwing them out of a good income. Quit coming up with excuses and blaming others for why you earn crappy wages.
If you aren't flourishing in today's economy, then you must be paralyzed from the neck up.
Like you're really at the top of the food chain Conan. You're a working smuck like most of us but you vote like you think you're the CEO of a major corporation.
And Cousin, the funny part is that I hear I'm doing pretty good for Tulsa.
Cannon I started to research the history of the potato and then I thought oh give it up. I bow to your superior knowledge of the spud. Hi Americas, I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Potato.
How do Latinos describe gringos? Boiled potatoes with no salt.
I am the potato king, I can do anything.
Yes, you are a truly magnificant Potato King Cannon and I hope I can count you among my growing list of Republican friends. I love you all no matter how misguided you may be.
Where's Cousin Conan? Doubtless he's jetting off to some glamorous center of commerce to be with other major Republican donors.
It was never my intention to start a history discussion but only to where it is relative to the rise and fall of all empires through what we have call the dark ages.
Artist does well reading the hand writing on the wall. We entered into two world wars with new blood after those engaged had depleted their resources. We are not invincible but have the most robust economy among the nations of the world. We invented the plastic credit card where we can spend the money today our grandchildren will be making in the future. Average wage $21.00 per hour. There sure must be a lot of employees in government jobs that make in assess of $31.00 per hour.
HT- Yep working schmuck here and bottom-feeding troll- so far as you know. I work my 40+ at something I love to do and I make a good living for my level of education. George Kaiser wouldn't wipe his a** with my paycheck, and yet there are others who would think I'm well off.
I'm fortunate, my job doesn't really feel like work to me since I enjoy it as much as I do. According to my boss, I earn every penny I make and I was a wise investment for him. My needs are met, I have about all my wants, and my savings are growing. All in a "crappy" economy. [xx(]
I believe once you mentioned you do or did some sort of legal clerical work, yes? Why didn't you or why don't you go to law school and put yourself in a position to collect a larger part of the fees the firm generates and be the one who distributes the pittance to the minions in the firm, instead of being one of the minions collecting it?
Please don't say you don't have the opportunity to return to school and better your skills. Millions of people have worked and attended school simultaneously. Many people have earned baccalaureate and post-graduate college degrees well into their 50's and 60's, so don't say you are too old to go back and do it.
If you are over 23 and under-employed or on the dole, you can get financial assistance for school. If you have to pay to keep a roof over your head, you have to make the the personal sacrifice in the hours which are required to work and go to school for a few years.
Do yourself a favor: quit living in a fantasy world that Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton is suddenly going to improve your standard of living in 2009. What will your excuse be then? That Bush tanked the economy so bad that the new President couldn't assure you a better job if he or she wanted to?
I seriously doubt you were really doing that much better when you lived in San Francisco, considering how high the cost of living is out there. Only your own ambition and motivation are going to improve your personal economic picture.
George Bush isn't the reason I'm doing well, nor was Bill Clinton, Bush I, or Reagan. I'm doing well because I have many marketable skills, figured out which one was my best asset, and decided long ago on the standard of living I wanted for myself and my kids and refused to settle for anything less. Anyone can gain a variety of job skills if they have the motivation and/or inquisitiveness to learn something new.
I went through one period of near destitution, not because of the government or economy, but because of a poor personal and business decision on my part.
My wife does well for herself and has a degree that took her the better part of ten years to earn because she had two small children at home and was working full time. If she hadn't done that, she would still be earning $8 an hour working at a florist with no benefits.
Yet she is back in school looking to further her education at a great personal sacrifice in her discretionary time to do it. It's because she has better goals and aspirations above and beyond where she is at now, not necessarily financially, but for personal achievement and flexibility it may afford her later. She's an example of someone who overcame overwhelming odds to get to where she is and she isn't stopping till she reaches her ultimate goal. She also knows her own betterment isn't going to fall into her lap. She knows she has to earn it.
Me, I'm just a comfortable slob, I have no intentions of going back to school. If for some reason the company I work for was ever sold and it came down to having to further my education to remain at my standard of living, I'd sure as hell do it and not snipe about how politicians aren't allowing me to earn what I'm worth.
I didn't grow up in a socialist society expecting the government to keep potatoes and cabbage on my table. You grew up in the same America I did.
for the record - I'm Libertarian not Republican.
But you can add me to whatever 'friend' list you so desire. [:)]