Nuklear bomb

[Splitter]

Originally Posted by RCAF_FB_Orville

Yes Petter, its strange how the majority of US citizens are taken in by the media perpetuated fantasy that they are somehow the 'kindest people on Earth' *TM*, nowhere near in fact. as you point out proportionally the Scandinavian countries are by far the biggest givers. I'm pleased to say the UK is not too far behind. The US relative to their massive wealth are in fact extremely tight fisted. Over to you, President Jimmy Carter;

"when I travel in a foreign country, particularly Africa, my wife and I have been in 110 different countries, our nation is not looked upon as a champion of peace and as the most generous country on earth. In fact, we are the stingiest country on earth. Every time a Norwegian gives a dollar in foreign assistance for needy people, we give three cents."

Never mind, way OT, carry on.

I was waiting for someone to bring "Smiley" into the discussion lol. Carter was a disaster as president and nearly as detrimental in his post presidential life. I WILL give him the fact that he has an organization that does a wonderful job building affordable housing (I've even volunteered for that and I think the man is an embarrassment).

We have a group here in American that we call the "Blame America First" brigade. Some of you would love them . Carter is pretty close to the top of that list. He did more to harm the US in his four years both economically and mentally than any president in history.

There is a reason the Iranians held onto the hostages for 444 days but then magically decided to release them as soon as Carter was out and Ronald "the bombing will begin in 15 minutes" Reagan took over.

Even the Democrats cringe when they talk about him. Don't expect to be seeing him on any currency any time soon .

BTW, I too wish we would do away with our foreign aid programs. Even the recipients have no loyalty and, as you all have pointed out, it will never be enough to change the impression of the US in some parts of the world. We are beyond broke anyway.

I am sorry, guys, but you have the wrong impression of the American media. We have three major television networks, all are left of center and part of the blame American first brigade. Of the cable networks, two are extreme left wing. The two you probably see are CNN and FOX...CNN is about as far left as FOX is right. Of the remaining newspapers, probably 9 of 10 are leftist. The left in this country is not "pro USA" and the leftist media outlets far outnumber the right.

If any indoctrination is going on with our youth, it is through our schools and media....all dominated by the left and for the most part agreeing with you.

And this goes back to pre-WWII mentalities. "It's not our war" as a mantra.

Splitter

[AndyJWest]

I am sorry, guys, but you have the wrong impression of the American media. We have three major television networks, all are left of center and part of the blame American first brigade. Of the cable networks, two are extreme left wing. The two you probably see are CNN and FOX...CNN is about as far left as FOX is right. Of the remaining newspapers, probably 9 of 10 are leftist. The left in this country is not "pro USA" and the leftist media outlets far outnumber the right.

'Leftist' in comparison to what? How exactly was this astonishing revelation arrived at? Or is it just the opinion of someone on the right...

I notice you criticise Carter (an easy target), but don't actually answer the point raised about US foreign aid. Then again, you seem to do this with any objection to your comments.

[WTE_Galway]

Originally Posted by AndyJWest

'Leftist' in comparison to what?

LOL ... reminds of my time on a Student Union back in the 70's when two factions were fighting over control of the national body and got to the point of fire bombing each others cars and houses

The two factions fighting it out ? ... the Maoists and the Leninists
I was regarded as fairly centre/right being an anarchist at the time.

With a few exceptions like the KKK and the odd crackpot Christian blowing up abortion clinics, American politics tends to cluster around the middle.

[Splitter]

Originally Posted by WTE_Galway

LOL ... reminds of my time on a Student Union back in the 70's when two factions were fighting over control of the national body and got to the point of fire bombing each others cars and houses

The two factions fighting it out ? ... the Maoists and the Leninists
I was regarded as fairly centre/right being an anarchist at the time.

With a few exceptions like the KKK and the odd crackpot Christian blowing up abortion clinics, American politics tends to cluster around the middle.

Well if the left is totalitarian and the right is anarchy with democracy smack in the middle, our country was founded right of center (republic). However, the movement currently is toward socialism which is obviously about that same distance left of center.

It's true that we have few communists/Nazis and fewer still anarchists. Our politics generally go from socialist on the left to "constitutionalist" on the right.

We swung about as far left as we have ever been thanks to Bush's second term and are pretty far down the road to socialism. Now the rubberband is snapping back and our legislative body will probably be right of center after November. Obama's approval ratings are in the Bush second term range so chances are he is a one term president....just like Carter.

BTW....people need to stop calling Nazi's "right wing". They hang out on the extreme left with the communists. The extreme right is reserved for anarchists with no government involvement.

(So how were you slightly right of center as an anarchist? lol. Cool anecdote)

Splitter

[AndyJWest]

BTW....people need to stop calling Nazi's "right wing". They hang out on the extreme left with the communists.

An outright lie. Worthy of Joseph Goebbels himself. Learn a little history...

[Hunden]

Originally Posted by AndyJWest

An outright lie. Worthy of Joseph Goebbels himself. Learn a little history...

Wow!!! you are beyond hope if you believe that. You are a product of the sixties, to many drugs and not enough hugs?

[WTE_Galway]

Originally Posted by Hunden

Wow!!! you are beyond hope if you believe that. You are a product of the sixties, to many drugs and not enough hugs?

Ok ... I am totally failing to see how the NSDAP can possibly be seen as left wing. Even modern Neo-nazis are regarded as extreme right.

Unless you redefine "left wing" to mean "everything conservative America disagrees with regardless of actual ideology".

[Friendly_flyer]

Originally Posted by Hunden

Wow!!! you are beyond hope if you believe that. You are a product of the sixties, to many drugs and not enough hugs?

Would you care to back that up with some kind of credible sources?

[WTE_Galway]

Originally Posted by Splitter

(So how were you slightly right of center as an anarchist? lol. Cool anecdote)

Splitter

At the time I was inclined to Libertarian Socialism not Anarcho-Capitalism. The first is definitively left wing and the second clearly right wing.

As for the NSDAP, they claimed to draw on both the right and left but are in reality clearly right wing rejecting liberalism and Marxism with strong support at the time by the traditional supporters of the far right (the military, big business, the established church).

The fact that both the right and left at that point in time tended towards totalitarian states does not mean they share the same political ideology. That would be like saying fanatical Christians and Muslims are identical because they both tend towards fundamentalism.

[Splitter]

Originally Posted by WTE_Galway

At the time I was inclined to Libertarian Socialism not Anarcho-Capitalism. The first is definitively left wing and the second clearly right wing.

As for the NSDAP, they claimed to draw on both the right and left but are in reality clearly right wing rejecting liberalism and Marxism with strong support at the time by the traditional supporters of the far right (the military, big business, the established church).

The fact that both the right and left at that point in time tended towards totalitarian states does not mean they share the same political ideology. That would be like saying fanatical Christians and Muslims are identical because they both tend towards fundamentalism.

While I do not agree with your assertion, let me say this:

I am impressed with your ability to argue your points with your logic. While I may not agree, I find the level of sophistication in your thinking refreshing. Yes, for the most part, Americans need to go outside of their own country for such discourse. Sadly. At one time, we put much thought into "government" but now it is mostly rhetoric that sways opinion.

So then let me say this: You are making the political spectrum too complicated for anyone anywhere except those of us who are "geeks" about this sort of thing.

In basic terms, the further left you go, the more government involvement you seek (social or economic). The further right that one goes, the less government involvement.

"Most" of us agree that the extremes are not desirable. The arguments rest in the middle.

There is also a huge problem with the terms "liberal" and "conservative" as those terms have been corrupted over time. As an example, John Kennedy (most around the world know of him I assume) would be a modern day "conservative" even though he is a martyr for the liberals in our country (Democrats).

If we go back in history, those two terms meant far different things than they mean today.

Splitter