well, you can all be happy and satisfied one day when I am president of the States.

oh, and I will be too. When I am older, I --will-- run for president, and I --will-- win.

The idea that Americans - indeed, just about any western "Democracy" have any REAL say in how they are governed is laughable. The president and the whole government are on their knees for the big corporations, and in the end, what is best for the bottom line gets done, not what is best for you.

One look at your education and health systems should tell you this. I have no faith in my own - or any - western democracy, and I personally envy Cuba (yes, I'm a socialist, don't hate me too much). Cuba would do so well for themselves (as a people) if they didn't have all those trade bans, and the Capitalist governments trying to undermine their every move.

Then again, I take comfort in that the USA is just another Imperial power, and they will eventually crumble. I will probably live to see it too, when the world's natural resources run out. Countries like Japan, who are already almost completely powered by Nuclear power, will become the new Imperial giants, and then we'll all bitch and moan about them imposing their will on us, and America will be just another crappy country noone cares about (and who no Japanese person can ever remember where it is).

This particular article, while a parody, is sadly all too true.

Amen to that.

Bush and the big corporations rule America (in fact, most of the world), and will be hard to break down. If the economy that they are based on ever starts to crumble, it won't be them that become poor. While these moronicly rich people are around, a decent government won't ever get in, and we will still have America (not the people, not the army, but the government) plundering other nations in the name of 'freedom'. Look at Iraq. They went there because there was little resistance, or at least, so they thought (it's a bit of mess now). They haven't got that straight yet, and they're already lining up Iran. A bigger threat is probably North Korea. Why haven't they gone there? Because a) There's less that they want there and they know they probably won't win. Without dropping a nuclear bomb on it (which I pray every night they don't do).

And, yes, Farenheit 9/11 is propaganda. But it makes sense. Do you really trust Bush that much that you can totally dismiss it?

I reckon I know what the biggest threat to world peace is.

er, that was supposed to be a b with a ) around it. Meh

"PATRIOT, n.
One to whom the interests of a part seem superior to those of the whole. The dupe of statesmen and the tool of conquerors.
PATRIOTISM, n.
Combustible rubbish read to the torch of any one ambitious to illuminate his name.
In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first."

Ambrose Bierce's Devil's Dictionary

PATRIOTISM- a conviction that one country is higher than the rest just because you were born there.

I totally despise Bush as President. I just do not think Farenheit 9/11 is the best means as to judge him because its impartial. It's like someone using Foxnews to point out all Bush's good points. While coorportations are big part as to the problem with America, the real problem is that the extrememes of both parties run the country and the fact that we only have two parties really. Also if you play the Christian card louder than your oponent you will more than likely win every state in the south.(It sucks living in the south as a Democrat.)

Just so you know how truly messed up American politics is, in the senate race here in Oklahoma there were three candidates. The Republican a retired doctor who had been found guilty of fraud wanted abortion to be illegal as well as do away with the welfare system. The Democrat, a lawyer who wanted to give the death penalty to any doctor who performed an abortion. I stress the fact he was supposed to be a Democrat. Then there was a woman who basically said instead of making it illegal to give abortions we should try and lessen the amount that are done. By means of educating teens and what not. Needless to say, the Republican won, by a large margin. The man did so many commercials with him in a church or talking about church. Let me stop my bitter rantings before I start on why the only reason the government wants to do away with welfare is because it helps black people. (read the book 'Why Americans Hate Welfare)

First Dan, after this term up, he can wait four years and run again if he wants. Presidents are not allowed more then two consecutive terms... It is possible to have a third term...

And honestly, enough with bashing the president, and our country. Everyone whines and complains about what this nation doesn't do for them, even forign nations, but no one considers the facts,

a.) If the US wasn't active overseas, we'd all be speaking German...
b.) If the world managed to win World War II, we'd all be speaking Russian.
c.) The growing world econmy, and the rising of nations every month out of third world status is largly in part to American Investements.
d.) Every time there is a diasaster somewhere in this world, while the UN is debating if it really happened, the US has aid there helping.

The list goes on and on...

Gwynn, sorry to tell you this, you wont see the US's fall in your life time. It is no longer an Expanding Imperial Power, but it is far far from a falling Imperial Power.

Also, if Cuba was doing so well, why are there boat loads landing in Florida every day trying to escape a 'socialist' government?

Now, intenrally, guys you need to stop expecting the government to do everything, the best weapon agansit big buisness is the person. The governments function is NOT to make sure buisness' do not rip you off, their job is to make sure you have fire fighters, police, border defense, and post. It is not to make everyones life happy go lucky, that is the indivduals responsiblity, and that is where the problem lies in this nation.

It isn't the leadership, it isn't our helping, or fighting overseas, it isn't a President who is not the best speaker. It is the apathic me frist, screw everyone else philosphy of the American people. If you are going to complain about the problems of our nation, complain about the problems, not the scapegoats.

The gay screaming at the top of his lungs that he is the same, but then at the same time making sure everyone knows he is different.

The Black, Mexicans, Native Amaericans, all screaming they are the same, but then making everyone knows they are different.

Tolerance is not the answer, one should NOT tolerate everything. That is wrong. And when someone has the guts to stand up and say, "That is wrong to me, I do not want a part in it." They should not be sued for thinking with their own mind.

Christainty is not evil, nor is Islam, the Jewish People, etc... They only do one thing, establish a morale code to try and make the lives of those around them better. That is why I proudly wear my cross. That is why I am proud to say I am a Republican, and that is why I voted for Bush.

Also, the united states is not really a republic or a demoracy, it is closest to a Republic though. (If we did not have the executive branch we would be a Republic.)

That sounds very self-contradictory to me. You just basically said, "tolerance is only good when I want it to be. You're allowed to be intolerant, I'll be tolerant of intolerance whenever it suits me." The fact you're arguing from that perspective alone puts a bit of a downer on the rest of it.

My God that's naive.

How is that naive? Unless truth is naive, I don't see how its possible. Its not the Government's job to make life happy for you and run your life.

Look at how you just read that, and think about it. That is not the meaning of the sentenace. That is your construed meaning. I say no one, should EVER, tolerate everything. They should put up walls and say no, that is wrong. That is their right, it is their liberty, and they should not be condemned for doing so.

Oh wait I misread that. meh, shoot me, I'm stupid

Personally, I find tolerance much more important than liberty. Intolerance is just abuse of liberty. And the only reason it's a "construed" meaning is because that's the way your wording took it. If you meant something else, I'm welcome to hear a rephrasing.

Without the efforts of just about ANY of the Allies during WW2, this would have happened. America likes to think they saved the world, but they didn't do particularly more than anyone else.

Besides, I like German.



I don't see what you're getting at here...are you saying that the US is somehow solely responsible for Stalin not conquering Europe (which I doubt he would have succeeded at)?

Again, Russian is another very cool language.



In part, sure. But there are large european companies that do the same thing. Its mostly a double edged sword though, the people get screwed out of their natural resources, and just about anything of long-term economic value.



True, though there are many nations more generous than the US. In fact, statistically speaking, it is the poorest nations than give the most (in terms of GDP). Also, again, the most generous nations in terms of raw sums are the European ones, with Holland being the most generous donator, followed by Norway (I read this statistic in an article on world aide, it was for the decade from 1994-2004).



Although its economy is currently very weak, I agree, it is far from a falling Imperial power. However, at our current rate of consumption (which is set to increase), the world's oil and natural gas supplies will only last another 45 years, at best estimate. Coal will last a slightly longer 60 years. As the US is one of the few nations not to have signed the Kyoto protocol, nor to make any significant attempt to convert its industry over to a replenishable power source, and also the fact that SUCH A -HUGE- PERCENTAGE OF YOUR ECONOMY IS TIED UP IN OIL INVESTMENTS, America (like the rest of the world, really) will be absoloutely brought to its knees. I imagine they'll also show their true colours and declare war on whomever gets in the way of their consumption of the last packets of natural resources too.



Like I said, IF they didn't have the economic sanctions. Their economy is crippled by them, and thats bound to create a situation people can't stand. It would be exactly the same if they were Capitalists with those economic sanctions, so its a poor example to use against Socialism.

Nonetheless, Cuba's education and health systems are better than the USA's, with the 5th highest literacy rate in the world, as opposed to the USA, which has the 92nd highest (statistics from Encarta Encyclopaedia). They also have free education at all levels, and a great public health system that puts many other western nations to shame.

At any rate, many of these arguments are universal, I'm just using them to refute your specifically US defence. The governments of this world have alot to answer for, and always have, and if you believe otherwise, you've been brainwashed by their propoghanda (Propoghanda is a huge part of Capitalism, it wouldn't function without it).

Roark, pull out some of your mad philosophy and rip Bush to shreds. I know you can do it! I believe!

But really, I don't care to draw any conclusions from any of this. Just looks like a lot of hot air to me; say a lot and have it mean as little as possible to as many people as possible while retaining some illusion of meaning.

hmmm what to reply to first?

Farenheit 9/11 is not just propganda, it is full of outright deceptive lies. 3 biggest examples would be the opinion article that was written with a size 12 font, being shown as a newspaper headline with size 24 font. The other would be the person who had both arms blown off while working on the jeeps. He has come out to say that his words were twisted and he was very upset at the way he was shown in the Movie. Thirdly, the whole thing about the orgeon coast... Its the job of the Coastguard to protect the coast, not the highway patrol.

Again, when people say "democracy and freedom" they do not mean a democratic governmnnt where every person has a vote on every issue. When they say freedom, they do not mean that you are free to burn down your neighbors house, or to oppress people. Freedom, in the use fo political rhetoric means that the population as a whole has a say in the government. America is not pushing its form of government on the rest of the world. If they were, Britain and France would be targets of American change.

"Tolerance" and "acceptance" I think are two different things. Tolerance means that you tolerant the existance of things you dissagree with. Acceptance means that you accept it as equal. I think it is very important to be tolerant of all sections of the population, but at the same time you hav to be allowed to dissagree respectfully and not be expected to have acceptance of all the people.

America is under control of "large coorperations" just as much as they are under control by AIPAC, AARP and every other large lobbyist group. Are you aware that the organization, public or private, that gives the most money to politicians is the AARP? The AARP is the American Association of Retired Persons. America, by your bizzare interpretation of what control is, is actually a large consipracy of people 65 and older. In second place would be AIPAC, which is the America Israel Political Action Commitee. So in reality, America is controled and run by Zionists over the age of 65, soon Bagles and Lox will be the only food you can eat! Ummm no.

America is a very complex country with very complex methods of checks and balances in all areas. People who are paid to speak conservative views, say the country is being overrun by Liberal Judges who want pets to have more rights than their owners, and for everybody to become gay. People who are paid to speak Liberal views say the country is being overrun by Fanatical Cooprate Christians bent on sucking you dry. I'm inclined to believe that neither is true.

I saw Bush's speach as having a backbone and a goal that is really not outside the realm of possiblity, and actually has the longterm intrests of the majority of the world at heart.

As I said before, the Middle East is the only region in the world with only 1 Democracy. That Democracy happens to be Israel. Iran, incidently has it in its law books that Israel must be destroyed, as did the Palastian National Anthem before it was rewritten in the 90s under pressure from the U.S. The point I was really getting at is that no country in the world that is considered a "Muslim country" currently has a government that is determined by the people in the country. Iraq is about to be the first of those. The Iraq constitution and government is not the same as the American constitution or government.

Its also historically accurate to say that no two "democracies" (using the loosest definition of the term) have ever declared war on eachother. Since there is only one group left in the world that is not a democracy, I don't see the tragedy and evilness in trying to help it become one.

Uhhhh.... What's wrong with that?

its a eumphamism for being under Nazi rule, and Russian is the same for being under Stalin's type of government's rule.

A. If it wasn't for America, The Allies would've lost World War II. England would've never found the supplies to win the Battle for Britian, in which case Operation Sea Lion would've gone through, and Britian would be conquered. And that'd put the invasion of USSR off, and give Germany time to develop weapons and the like, and USSR would be given a little more time, and Japan would've been given a little more time, and judging by Stalin, USSR would've been screwed since America would've not been funding USSR's war.

C. Its not Bush's fault that the economy is falling, its not the Presidents job mostly to plan out the economy, though he has a large influence on, but its in the Legislation branch. (Yes that C is related to nothing).

B. At the end of World War 2, USSR had around 15000 tanks, fully operational, and about 1000 were obsolete. So yes, I'd say USSR could've ran over Europe, since the Atom Bomb would've never been used, which is the only thing that was stopping USSR from running Europe over. America had a better weapon then them.