Is Europe Lost?

[Johnny Tremain]

If you think Obama is bad, wait until Romney and Ryan are elected, that is if they are , which I hope won't happen. I guarantee you, these two schmucks will make our current problems look like a picnic .
They will increase poverty and unemployment by leaps and bounds, try to give more power to the awful religious right ,make the rich richer and the poor poorer and it easier and easier for people in the middle class to slide helplessly into poverty . And that's just th etip of th eiceberg. It won't be pretty . Be warned !

I've always enjoyed a nice picnic.
Aren't you running late for the latest Chick-fil-A protest?
Don't forget your spray-paint.

 

[Cruella]

Cruella, this is not "socialism". These European countries just have a very secure safety net for people, unlike the USA.

Robert Berger - From everything I've read, Europe's safety net is full of holes.

 

[Robert Berger]

Not as full of holes as ours. In America, an awful lot of people who have lost their jobs have also lost their homes.
This does NOT happen in European countries . Yes, they're having a lot of economic difficultes today . So
are we. But for different reasons.
For decades, people in western Europe and Scandinavia have done really,really well. They don't have the kind of poverty
we do in America. There's much less inequality between the rich and the less rich , much less of a gap. . These countries also have the world's
LOWEST abortion rates . The high tax rates have their benefits . People there don't have to worry if they'll be able to reach retirement age
having enough money to live comfortably . No , these countries are not paradise on earth . They certainly have their problems .
But the fact remans that people on the whole there have been much better off and live more secure lives than a lot of people in America .
But in America, we're in danger of going too far in the opposite direction, and destroying or at least greatly weakening pour inadequate
safety net . There aren't millions of lazy bums in America who don't want to work and want the government to support them generously
for life while taking hard-earned money from honest people with jobs. This is a canard invented by conservatives in America.
Obama is not trying to"redistribute wealth" the way conservatives claim. But the republicans in Washington have been redistributing
wealthy the opposite way for ages, stealing from the poor and the middle class to make the rich even richer.
I have no problem with some people being really wealthy . But I do have a problem with a country which makes too hard for the
\poor to escape their poverty and too easy for the nmiddle class to sink helplessly into poverty .
I repeat - don't assume that I'm a Marxist or communist . I've never been one nor have I ever believed in these things.

 

[Cruella]

I repeat - don't assume that I'm a Marxist or communist . I've never been one nor have I ever believed in these things.

Do you understand what a Marxist or communist is? If you aren't one, then why do I gather from your posts that you vote for them.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Do you understand what a Marxist or communist is? If you aren't one, then why do I gather from your posts that you vote for them.

One of the more curious and commonplace delusions I see about--is no knowledge whatsoever of what communism means, and is,
and how it does things.

It is NOT TAUGHT in schools because they tend to believe in it--thinking that they will somehow be in the Politburo as teachers--once again another way to game the system as government workers--and unionists.

 

[Cruella]

It is NOT TAUGHT in schools

I don't think there are any classes called "advanced Marxism" or "Communism 101", but you can bet your bippy that it's being taught in schools from an early age.

The so called liberal progressive movement is doing just that. That whole "collectivism" thing is communist brainwashing. This "subtle" form has been going on since the 60's and we have been warned about it over and over again.

 

[steveox]

Why didnt Richard Nixon install the national guard at woodstock? Thats one way to crack down those hippies back in the 60s.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

I don't think there are any classes called "advanced Marxism" or "Communism 101", but you can bet your bippy that it's being taught in schools from an early age.

The so called liberal progressive movement is doing just that. That whole "collectivism" thing is communist brainwashing.
This "subtle" form has been going on since the 60's and we have been warned about it over and over again.

You hit that nail on the head.
Those idiots I laughed at because of their simplistic ideas and stupidity became teachers
(don't all misguided and incompetent college students end up in the Education Dept.--I mean--DON'T THEY!!?)

 

[Cruella]

(don't all misguided and incompetent college students end up in the Education Dept.--I mean--DON'T THEY!!?)

My neice chose to become a teacher. She taught public school, but didn't like the curriculum or politics, so she went to private schools. Now she's a mom and homeschools.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

My neice chose to become a teacher. She taught public school, but didn't like the curriculum or politics, so she went to private schools. Now she's a mom and homeschools.

I have a number of family members and friends who teach in public schools.
I understand their mentality.

They are just very easily manipulated and tend to do as they are told.
Private schools would be the goal of any good teacher.

My best friend taught school in south central L.A. for 32 years--I am talking a god-awful pink stucco prison-style hulk down on Vernon Avenue by USC that was horrible. He taught there because he got bonuses for being a male grade school teacher and "combat pay" for teaching in the ghetto. It was interesting to follow and I knew many of his fellow teachers. So many of the children were permanently illiterate and the system had not a clue on how to move things off the dime. Not a clue.

Over the years it went from 90% black to 90% Mexican. Ahh--the joys of L.A. I knew that once -great city from the 1960's and 70's--a great time to be there. It's all gone now, sunk into the abyss of the Third World.
It will never recover from the crime of Liberalism.

 

[Gipper]

Cruella, this is not "socialism". These European countries just have a very secure safety net for people, unlike the USA.
Their current economic problems aren't the result of this alleged socialism . The problem in the USA is that we have the exact opposite
of socialism or Marxism, where if you're down on your luck, you're basically screwed . And if Romney and Ryan are elected
this November, they're going to do everything in their power to dismantle and destroy our already inadequate safety net for
people down on their luck, and this will be disastrous .
Just giving all the tax breaks to the wealthy won't create jobs or increase general prosperity in America . Conservatives in
America are terrified that Obama is trying to "redistribute wealth" . But heck, the republican party has been doing this for ages.
But as reverse Robin Hoods, staealing from the poor and the middle class to give to those already rich .
So what do we have in the uSA? A tiny handful of superrich people and millions of Americans out of work through no fault of their own,
struggling to keep their heads above water, people who have been stuck on welfare for ages and are unable to find good jobs ,
and overall misery . Think I'm a Marxist or communist ? Heck,no ! I believe in capitalism and free markets, but also in a FAIR market .

Really Bobbybob...the party of big government (Rs), just not big enough for your kind, is going to dismantle the welfare state they helped build...Really? You are much too gullible. No chance my dear socialist friend.

You needn't worry about this election. Either way it goes you win. The welfare state will continue unabated (just a little slower than under Big Ears), which will only prolong the agony before the final collaspe occurs.

 

[Aus22]

I have a number of family members and friends who teach in public schools.
I understand their mentality.

They are just very easily manipulated and tend to do as they are told.
Private schools would be the goal of any good teacher.

My best friend taught school in south central L.A. for 32 years--I am talking a god-awful pink stucco prison-style hulk down on Vernon Avenue by USC that was horrible. He taught there because he got bonuses for being a male grade school teacher and "combat pay" for teaching in the ghetto. It was interesting to follow and I knew many of his fellow teachers. So many of the children were permanently illiterate and the system had not a clue on how to move things off the dime. Not a clue.

Over the years it went from 90% black to 90% Mexican. Ahh--the joys of L.A. I knew that once -great city from the 1960's and 70's--a great time to be there. It's all gone now, sunk into the abyss of the Third World.
It will never recover from the crime of Liberalism.

Johnny Treman I agree that educational standards have fallen in many advance countries like the USA. I am not American but know from my teaching experience in Australia this is true. It may be that Asian students work harder. They certainly dominate the top level of our schools. I am not sure about Europe but I do not think the problem is Liberalism .I have taught in public ad private schools and can not see much difference except the suburbs where the students come from. Those from more economically advance suburbs doing better than those from poorer suburbs in both government and private schools.

 

[Aus22]

Not as full of holes as ours. In America, an awful lot of people who have lost their jobs have also lost their homes.
This does NOT happen in European countries . Yes, they're having a lot of economic difficultes today . So
are we. But for different reasons.
For decades, people in western Europe and Scandinavia have done really,really well. They don't have the kind of poverty
we do in America. There's much less inequality between the rich and the less rich , much less of a gap. . These countries also have the world's
LOWEST abortion rates . The high tax rates have their benefits . People there don't have to worry if they'll be able to reach retirement age
having enough money to live comfortably . No , these countries are not paradise on earth . They certainly have their problems .
But the fact remans that people on the whole there have been much better off and live more secure lives than a lot of people in America .
But in America, we're in danger of going too far in the opposite direction, and destroying or at least greatly weakening pour inadequate
safety net . There aren't millions of lazy bums in America who don't want to work and want the government to support them generously
for life while taking hard-earned money from honest people with jobs. This is a canard invented by conservatives in America.
Obama is not trying to"redistribute wealth" the way conservatives claim. But the republicans in Washington have been redistributing
wealthy the opposite way for ages, stealing from the poor and the middle class to make the rich even richer.
I have no problem with some people being really wealthy . But I do have a problem with a country which makes too hard for the
\poor to escape their poverty and too easy for the nmiddle class to sink helplessly into poverty .
I repeat - don't assume that I'm a Marxist or communist . I've never been one nor have I ever believed in these things.

Robert Berger and David Bloomstrom, I agree with your analysis of the problem in Europe and the USA. I think as long as we make it hard for the poor to escape poverty we will have problems and eventually a revolution.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Johnny Treman I agree that educational standards have fallen in many advance countries like the USA. I am not American but know from my teaching experience in Australia this is true. It may be that Asian students work harder. They certainly dominate the top level of our schools. I am not sure about Europe but I do not think the problem is Liberalism .I have taught in public ad private schools and can not see much difference except the suburbs where the students come from. Those from more economically advance suburbs doing better than those from poorer suburbs in both government and private schools.

The Asians work harder--because they have known--all too well--GRINDING POVERTY.
And their parents sacrifice mightily for their children--rather than buy drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and $300 tennis shoes.
When Americans in that same situation try harder--we will all advance.
That used to be an American tradition as well.
Odd--when Asians come here they succeed, and have to learn our language, while natives fail miserably.

 

[Gipper]

I have a number of family members and friends who teach in public schools.
I understand their mentality.

They are just very easily manipulated and tend to do as they are told.
Private schools would be the goal of any good teacher.

My best friend taught school in south central L.A. for 32 years--I am talking a god-awful pink stucco prison-style hulk down on Vernon Avenue by USC that was horrible. He taught there because he got bonuses for being a male grade school teacher and "combat pay" for teaching in the ghetto. It was interesting to follow and I knew many of his fellow teachers. So many of the children were permanently illiterate and the system had not a clue on how to move things off the dime. Not a clue.

Over the years it went from 90% black to 90% Mexican. Ahh--the joys of L.A. I knew that once -great city from the 1960's and 70's--a great time to be there. It's all gone now, sunk into the abyss of the Third World.
It will never recover from the crime of Liberalism.

It is so sad that this situation is so prevalent in most of our largest cities. Many school children in poor areas have no chance at success and why? Because of liberalism and it's p-school system, which fails to educate.

I was born in Detroit and lived there for a short time until my parents moved us to the suburbs. We left Detroit for several reasons including busing, crime, and deteriorating schools. Since then, the city has descended into a cesspool.

It was once a great city with the highest home ownership of all American cities, wonderful ethnic neighborhoods, no crime, 100% employment, etc. Its all gone now.

Detroit has been ruled by one party for decades. That party does not care about prosperity. They only care about equality and enriching themselves.