Read this stuff from a REPUBLICAN congressman from Texas, and share your thoughts....


http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2005/cr012605.htm

Preaching to the choir. American boys should not be doing what Iraqi boys should be doing for themselves. Bring them all home.

Discrimination laws passed during the last 40 years ostensibly fuel the Transportation Secretary’s near obsession with avoiding the appearance of discrimination toward young Muslim males. Instead TSA seemingly targets white children and old women. We have failed to recognize that a safety policy by a private airline is quite a different thing from government agents blindly obeying anti-discrimination laws.

Governments do not have a right to use blanket discrimination, such as that which led to incarceration of Japanese Americans in World War II. However, local law-enforcement agencies should be able to target their searches if the description of a suspect is narrowed by sex, race, or religion.

What if democracy is deeply flawed, and instead we should be talking about liberty, property rights, free markets, the rule of law, localized government, weak centralized government, and self-determination promoted through persuasion, not force?

A-****ING-MEN!!

Now this guy thinks clearly... quite refreshing.

"Transportation Secretary’s near obsession with avoiding the appearance of discrimination toward young Muslim males. Instead TSA seemingly targets white children and old women."

Thats funny because when I flew this Christmas break to denver, I got stopped to get checked coming back to Austin. In the line where some Muslim guys and two hippies and me. I didn't see the any white children or old women. ;)

I didn't get a chance to read the full statement he made I'll ask my sister, who should know him, what she thinks of him before I read it all. :p

"What if" huh? It's worked so far. Don't hate the player, hate the game. America is #1 because we do it better than the rest. If we wern't on top, someone else would be. I enjoy my peace of mind and my life style. Something, many people around the world would love to see taken away. We're doing everything as well as it could be done.

"What if" huh? It's worked so far. Don't hate the player, hate the game. America is #1 because we do it better than the rest. If we wern't on top, someone else would be. I enjoy my peace of mind and my life style. Something, many people around the world would love to see taken away. We're doing everything as well as it could be done.

Please explain to me how America is '#1', as you put it. We are the only remaining superpower, yes, but we haven't maintained that position without being informed and ready for hypothetical situations such as the ones listed in this article.

I think these questions need to be asked and people need to pay attention. All of these things are possible. We can't be too optimistic, or we will be caught off guard when one of these things becomes more plausible or even true.

think for yourself...

Please explain to me how America is '#1', as you put it. We are the only remaining superpower, yes, but we haven't maintained that position without being informed and ready for hypothetical situations such as the ones listed in this article.

I think these questions need to be asked and people need to pay attention. All of these things are possible. We can't be too optimistic, or we will be caught off guard when one of these things becomes more plausible or even true.

think for yourself...

You put it best....we are the only super power left. Simple as that. That makes us #1.

What happens when China becomes #1? What will you do then?

Oh how wonderful it is to hear Republican's start to doubt the war...

Chrisnonstop:
Seriously, you need to think for yourself and think of the conciquinces of what we are doing today. Think of how much more anti-american sentiment we have caused. Think of how many lives we have lost or ruined (BOTH american and Iraqi). Think of the aliances we have lost.

And then we have to think of what we have gained: Have we really gained more security? I wont go into that because that is the real contriversial question. Have we really eliminated our biggest threat? Have we slowed the spread of terrorism? Did we find WMD's?

This is what I belive Mr. Paul is discussing in this letter, and what I believe Democrats and Republican's alike are starting to realize: that this whole war might be a big mistake.

And, as Unregistered rightly points out: America's days as the #1 superpower are very limited, and China is not far off taking over. Weather we like it or not, sometime soon we are going to have to go along with what the world says because no longer will we be the biggest bully on the block.
CHeers
-Jeff

You put it best....we are the only super power left. Simple as that. That makes us #1.

#1 military, yes. If you still think that the measure of a country is it's military, then you need to reconsider some things. It may have used to be this way when everone was trying to gain an empire, but the diplomacy and international trade neccessary in this modern world makes other things nearly as important. So military might is all that matters? The quality of life in other countries (heathcare, education, unemployment, etc) dwarfs that in the US.

It would be nice if military prowess translated to domestic, economic issues, but that isn't so. Vice-versa, however, is more than possible, so we shouldn'e be so sure of ourselves. Open your eyes.

A-****ING-MEN!!

Absolutely!

I went to the tomb of the unknown soldier in 2002 in class A's, jump boots and a pretty maroon beret. I went because I wanted to see my friend conduct the ceremony and to attend his reenlistment ceremony at Ft. Meyer shortly after.

I did this while on leave and had a ticket to go back to CA shortly after. I was late for my plane after the ceremony and had no time to change. I rushed to DCA, checked my bags and actually made up tons of time to where I was comfortable.

I waited to board the plane for about 25minutes behind what seemed like taxi cab convention and actually got thoroughly searched. I had Documents, Military I.D., Passport, CA Drivers License, did not match any of the FBI's most wanted terrorists and was in dress uniform!!!!! Meanwhile Ali Bob and his 25 brothers got onto the plane like it was cool in our nations capital!

Completely Asinine!

"The quality of life in other countries (heathcare, education, unemployment, etc) dwarfs that in the US."

Which countries are you talking about exactly?

"The quality of life in other countries (heathcare, education, unemployment, etc) dwarfs that in the US."

Which countries are you talking about exactly?

You, sir, have a lot to learn. Are you also convinced America is #1?

I did a quick search, and found this:

http://www.mercerhr.com/pressrelease/details.jhtml/dynamic/idContent/1128760

So to answer your question, depending on what is most important to you, Canada, France, Switzerland, Austrailia, New Zealand, Denmark, Austria, ... any of these countries exemplify that America is NOT #1 in many areas. Okay, 'dwarfs' probably wasn't the correct term, but we are continuing to fall behind in many of these areas.

I begin we are reaching a time when we shouldn't be so self-assured, and our country should put effort toward competing in these areas, rather than continuing to exemplify we are '#1' militarily. If you think I'm being unamerican by pointing this out, well, then there's no helping you. You are still in denial, I've moved on to step two.

"Okay, 'dwarfs' probably wasn't the correct term..."

That's what I was getting at. :)

PS
http://www.economist.com/images/20050129/TAB1.gif
:)

Damn, almost 11% of germans are unemployed. If you really think it sucks here... well, go somewhere else. Psst, it's probably true that 4.something % of america is on drugs or nuts, but It's also true that socialism takes car of alot of these people. We've got alot of bums in this town, but we have a state hospital too. HMMMM. I wonder what it is in Holland?

"Okay, 'dwarfs' probably wasn't the correct term..."

That's what I was getting at. :)

Okay, my mistake, disregard 'dwarfs' , replace with 'is better than,' then please respond to everything else I had to say, where I made my point.

taken from: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0778562.html:

The Human Development Index (HDI), published annually by the UN, ranks nations according to their citizens' quality of life rather than strictly by a nation's traditional economic figures. The criteria for calculating rankings include life expectancy, educational attainment, and adjusted real income.

“Most Livable” Countries, 2004
1. Norway 16. France
2. Sweden 17. Denmark
3. Australia 18. New Zealand
4. Canada 19. Germany
5. Netherlands 20. Spain
6. Belgium 21. Italy
7. Iceland 22. Israel
8. United States 23. Greece
9. Japan 24. Singapore
10. Ireland 25. Portugal
11. Switzerland 26. Slovenia
12. United Kingdom 27. Korea, South
13. Finland 28. Barbados
14. Austria 29. Cyprus
15. Luxembourg 30. Malta


here is a similar ranking, only by city: http://www.zuerich.com/specials/mercer_2003.pdf






So, lets see.... Here, it says we're #8. Or, since we can blow anyone else above us off the planet, does that make us #1?

oops double post

"Or, since we can blow anyone else above us off the planet, does that make us #1?"
I never said anything like that, just wanted to correct you on the dwarfs part.

"Or, since we can blow anyone else above us off the planet, does that make us #1?"
I never said anything like that, just wanted to correct you on the dwarfs part.


Sorry, I wasn't directing that toward you, since you didn't make the original '#1' proclomation based solely on military prowess. Now will you stop nit-picking and give an insigtful response? I know, the former is MUCH easier than the latter, I've been inclined to do the same lately. Except when people make it this easy [chrisnonstop]. :D

So, you agree with everything I said if you make that change (from 'dwarfs' to 'is better than')? Even with that change, my point stands. You concur?

I wonder how many people that believe the US is the best country in the world to live in have lived abroad?

I wonder how many people that believe the US is the best country in the world to live in have lived abroad?


???? - probably not that many?... what's the point?

I have family in Riyadh, and it really sucks for them.

I didn't get a chance to read the full statement he made I'll ask my sister, who should know him, what she thinks of him before I read it all. :p


So what was your sister's take?

I wonder how many people that believe the US is the best country in the world to live in have lived abroad?

I wonder how many people who live in some of the 3rd world countries, and have never left there to see what the rest of the world is like, really know what they're missing?

I wonder how many people that believe the US is the best country in the world to live in have lived abroad?

I wonder how many people that have emmigrated from a piss ant country now complain how much the US sucks?

I wonder how many people that have emmigrated from a piss ant country now complain how much the US sucks?
No sh!t, illegal aliens even get free healthcare here. But yet I still see a buttload of guys flying those flags with the bird eating the worm on the 4 of july while whistleing at and harassing my wife and her friends, give or take a few inbreds with the confederate flag hanging off thier F-150s.

I wonder how many people who live in some of the 3rd world countries, and have never left there to see what the rest of the world is like, really know what they're missing?

Did you ever stop and think that they may think thier way of life is better than ours? In many ways, it is. There aren't near the same socio-economic responsbilities for each person, no need to find a career, no taxes, no 'clock-watching' lifestyle. However, they do give up many technological 'advancements' and conveniences. Like, instead of running down to safeway for some fishsticks, they have to go catch their dinner. You can't say their 'missing out' on things, or else you are judging them by our own cutural standards and customs. Search this forum for 'ethnocentrism,' it was discussed at length.

I studied a southern pacific island group called 'nanumea' in a cultural anthroplogy class, and learned how westernization had mixed effects. On one hand, modern conveniences made many things much easier on them. On the other hand, this was at the cost of thier own cultural values AND the ecological well-being of the environment around them, which they had relied on up until 'the white man' came.

I can see what you're getting at, but assuming our way is the best way might not be the right thing to do. Especially when it comes to imposing our way of life on people that are vulnerable (due to war, famine, etc). Of course they will accept our help, but it is our responsibility to not go beyond assistance and imply they should live like us.

Sorry for the rant (again), but I noticed you were missing something that is QUITE important to understand, if our country is going to improve it's image (I assume you'd like that, No?)

I wonder how many people that have emmigrated from a piss ant country now complain how much the US sucks?

Don't get me started. :)

So what was your sister's take?
I have not talked to her of late. She is busy with buying a house and planning for her wedding. She is the head adminstrative aid of a representive in Texas so she should know him. Shrug.

On a side not her and her fiance are looking into a house in central austin for 300g I believe. The size? 900sq ft. 2 bed rooms 1 bathroom 1 living room and 1 kitchen. OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!!!!

I wonder how many people that have emmigrated from a piss ant country now complain how much the US sucks?


I can sure complain about the way US carries itself in this war. ;)