The government should get credit when the government does something good, and the people should get credit when the people do something good.

I agree with you on the teaching a man to fish vs. feeding him a fish. But you don't learn to fish instantly, and you need something to eat when you're learning. Welfare should not be used as a long-term solution to a person's problems, but it's still important to have as a short-term way to keep their head above water until they can solve their own problems.

But the government is supposed to be the people, so the point is moot.

Besides, the government gets tons of credit when it does well. It's just been very rare these days.I don't disagree with you at all on this. Unfortunately, though, welfare has become an end unto itself. I have a problem with that.

The wealth of a nation is measured by counting your assets and deducting the liabilities .
Do the huge liabilities your country has negate the value of all the assets?
If so then you have negative wealth , but some stupid people don't get that.

Sorry didn't mean to get you riled up. :DL

:O:

Every tax in the world is the same:

Too high.

In the U.S. self reliance and personal freedom is still (albeit a closer margin in these sad days) valued over being taken care of (on the terms of others) from cradle to grave.

I believe in the wisdom of the individual to make the right decisions in his life without the "wisdom" of the powerful "elite" who "know" what's best for everyone--always connected with the increase/ preservation of their own power. This is especially true when the government is not rewarding bad behavior and saving people from the consequences of their choices.

So give me another historical example of a country who rose so fast in less than seven generations as did the U.S. Plus we did it largely with the citizens that Europe put on "waivers".

Money the government spends/wastes is taken from the people. The people generally spend it much better and creat much better results--both for them and their fellow citizens.

Amen brother! And it wasn't about spreading the wealth around. It was about the Individual!!!!!

Most Americans are very happy--but are rarely satisfied. We strive for more not only in our lifetimes but from generation to generation.

My grandfather was kicked out of first grade because he could not speak English, but only German. By the way this was done by other Americans who had come from Germany. He never finished high school and started his working life painting outhouses for the Soo Railroad Line.

My dad was the first person in our family to attend (and graduate) from college.

I and two of my brothers are lawyers. Another of my brothers is even more successful in the business world. Both of my sisters are also doing very well. All six of us have college degrees and 5 of the 6 of us have graduate degrees.

This sort of thing happens all the time in the U.S. How common is it in "happy" Europe?

Come over and see for yourself. :|\\

I've been there 4 times in my life, once for a three year stay. Europe is nice enough but it always seemed so fragile to me. Like it was ready at any moment to explode into war and destuction like it has so many times in the past.

I haven't ever regretted going but I was always darn glad to get back to the States.

I have been--including the Netherlands (enjoyed your naval museum) and hope to again.

It ain't bad, but it sure ain't Texas.

As we swedes say:

Borta bra, men hemma bäst.

Unless you hate your home, you're bound to prefer it, no matter where you go. I've been to the U.S a great number of times (lost the count really), last time was in January this year. I've also been to England, Thailand, Greece, Denmark, Germany, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy, and Jamaica. I for one have no real desire to move outside Sweden. I can see it happen, but it certainly isn't a goal I strive for.

And that's the way it should be imo.

Indeed, I guess we can agree on that. It's never fun when someone feels they have to leave their home, rather than having the choice to do so.

Can you imagine a world where every country was the same? How utterly boring that would be.

I've been keeping up with this topic but I do not see what this has to do with Texas Around the World. :hmmm:

hoho, made me chuckle, good on you sir!:)

But as you said August, the world would indeed be very boring if every place were like the other. Fortunately, this is not the case, I know from my own experience:03: Also good is that we live on a planet that is rather large, and there's bound to be a place suitable for everyone. I'm lucky enough to live at a place more than suitable for me. Then ofcourse, your opinions and views of life will often be altered by your surroundings. Maybe I'm best suited to live in Sweden (a traditionally socialistic country) simply because I was born there:know:

Part of the US average might be misleading. If this is an income tax graph, its averaging in states like WY and TX (zero income tax) to counter states like NY an, MA, and CA.:hmmm: It would be interesting to break the US by state, THEN redo the graph with the individual US states in there.:hmmm:

...and then show economic output~growth vs tax rate.


At that point I yell: "Get to the choppa" Nice avatar Neal.:yeah: