On 12/16/2024 at 3:53 PM, scottiejohn said:

Who was that?

 

Elon Musk

1 minute ago, KhunLA said:

 

❤️

 

Off topic ... chit chattin with my brother this morning, retired years ago & doing fine, financially, but USA, what an overpriced sh!thole, if a working stiff just starting out.

 

USA is done, unfixable, and will turn into the same silly socialism of Europe.  Kind of sad really, and only taking <250 yrs.

It's the same for a working stiff starting out in Australia these days.

 

In 1973, I paid off my house mortgage in 18 months. It's a lifetime now.

 

I don't know why American react to the term socialism, as if they are asked to chew scorpions. We have had socialist governments on and off since Federation. It's the reason my year's worth of cancer medication cost me $100, instead of the $70,000 it would have cost me in America.

15 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Only rich people think socialism is silly. The rest of us, which is most of us, like a spot of socialism as long as it's not the dictator style socialist.

Can't comment without being offensive ... 😎

 

Credited to Thatcher ... "Sooner or later, you run out of other peoples (mine) money"

 

... then what do you do ?

11 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

It's the same for a working stiff starting out in Australia these days.

 

In 1973, I paid off my house mortgage in 18 months. It's a lifetime now.

 

I don't know why American react to the term socialism, as if they are asked to chew scorpions. We have had socialist governments on and off since Federation. It's the reason my year's worth of cancer medication cost me $100, instead of the $70,000 it would have cost me in America.

In USA, before even considering the inflation with one's weekly shopping, it's the RE Taxes, healthcare ins cost, if using or not, worse if you actually need to use.  Also utilities have skyrockets.  It really is silly over there.

 

My monthly living budget, is less than my brother's truck payment alone.  Or less than his monthly utility bills.   That's F'd up 

10 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Can't comment without being offensive ... 😎

 

Credited to Thatcher ... "Sooner or later, you run out of other peoples (mine) money"

 

... then what do you do ?

People danced in the street when Thatcher died. IMO she was a truly vile human being.

 

The problem with government isn't that they have socialism to benefit the poor, but that they waste vast amounts of taxpayer money on stupid or even evil things. Eg the tories wouldn't give nurses or ambulance drivers a decent wage while spending billions of other people's money on war, which is the most evil thing they could waste money on.

Answer

3 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

People danced in the street when Thatcher died. IMO she was a truly vile human being.

 

The problem with government isn't that they have socialism to benefit the poor, but that they waste vast amounts of taxpayer money on stupid or even evil things. Eg the tories wouldn't give nurses or ambulance drivers a decent wage while spending billions of other people's money on war, which is the most evil thing they could waste money on.

 

In my country they have a saying.

How do you know that it's cold?

Answer : When you see a socialist walk with his hands in his own pockets

16 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Can't comment without being offensive ... 😎

 

Credited to Thatcher ... "Sooner or later, you run out of other peoples (mine) money"

 

... then what do you do ?

A friend of mine asked me what's bad about socialists.  I told him they love to spend others peoples money.

Just now, CallumWK said:

Answer

 

In my country they have a saying.

How do you know that it's cold?

Answer : When you see a socialist walk with his hands in his own pockets

Were you born in a private hospital, or a government one with nurses and doctors paid for by the taxpayer?

Did your parents pay for your education entirely- no government subsidy? Did they get any child benefit for you?

If you went to university, was it fully privately financed, or get government subsidies?

Have you ever been in a hospital that wasn't private? Used medicine or a vaccine developed by state laboratories?

Driven on a road that wasn't a toll road,

Flown on a plane that used a government built runway, and government flight controllers?

Ridden on a railway?

Been protected by the military, or even been in the military?

Worked for the government in any capacity?

Benefited from government rescue services post natural disaster?

Had assistance from the police force?

 

Etc.

 

3 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Were you born in a private hospital, or a government one with nurses and doctors paid for by the taxpayer?

Did your parents pay for your education entirely- no government subsidy? Did they get any child benefit for you?

If you went to university, was it fully privately financed, or get government subsidies?

Have you ever been in a hospital that wasn't private? Used medicine or a vaccine developed by state laboratories?

Driven on a road that wasn't a toll road,

Flown on a plane that used a government built runway, and government flight controllers?

Ridden on a railway?

Been protected by the military, or even been in the military?

Worked for the government in any capacity?

Benefited from government rescue services post natural disaster?

Had assistance from the police force?

 

Etc.

 

 

Either that one went over your head, or you like to start an argument. My money is on the latter

15 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

A friend of mine asked me what's bad about socialists.  I told him they love to spend others peoples money.

One of the most amusing aspects of Americans railing against socialism is the fact they have a socialistic organization of 2.9 million people embedded in their society.

 

It's known as the American military.

On 12/16/2024 at 4:20 PM, transam said:

Is it a Chinese one......?.....🤔

On 12/16/2024 at 3:02 PM, simple1 said:

Interesting opinion piece...

 

GOP legislators are toying with reducing payouts under the system, including raising the retirement age and other benefit cuts. As one GOP representative recently told Fox Business Network, “we're going to have to have some hard decisions” on Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare.

 

Trump’s GOP will be making “hard” choices, meaning they will be cutting benefits, in order to fund tax cuts for wealthy donors.

 

Here's what happens when the world's richest man buys the presidency | Opinion

Nonsense. This is what happens when economies run out of money, world-wide. You need to get out more.

7 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Nonsense. This is what happens when economies run out of money, world-wide. You need to get out more.

 

There is a consistency from MAGA supporters on this forum - inability to comprehend the author and content of an opinion article posted for debate.

"Why all the negativity?" As posted elsewhere in today's forum.

It's half of human nature.

1 minute ago, simple1 said:

 

There is a consistency from MAGA supporters on this forum - inability to comprehend the author of an opinion article posted for debate

In which case, if true, I'm sorry for them.

On 12/16/2024 at 7:51 PM, Lacessit said:

I am merely basing my predictions on what happened last time under Trump. Perhaps you have forgotten how his trade war with China screwed American farmers, so badly they needed massive subsidies to placate them.

 

IMO it will be even worse this time around, because the people Trump appoints to various positions will need only one qualification - absolute loyalty. Competence and nous are not even on the radar.

 

As far as Harris is concerned, Americans will probably never be adult enough to elect a female leader. The Democrats failed to learn that lesson with Clinton.

An adult with brains would never vote for Hilary or the other one...Kamala. Such poor candidates. 

1 minute ago, Thingamabob said:

In which case, if true, I'm sorry for them.

 

Feeling sorry for yourself - not a constructive emotion

20 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

One of the most amusing aspects of Americans railing against socialism is the fact they have a socialistic organization of 2.9 million people embedded in their society.

 

It's known as the American military.

It's the American military that has protected us from the evil forces in the world.  Without the men and women in uniform where would we be today?

The problem is that we have lost our way and use the military to fight wars we have no business being involved in.  The military has also become a money pit because of wasteful and needless spending.  The DOD has failed every audit because it cannot account for all the money spent.

On 12/16/2024 at 2:19 AM, OneMoreFarang said:

The USA is the most expensive democracy money can buy. That is no secret.

Nobody should be surprised that the rich get what the rich pay for.

Well if the American public were to get wind of what that entails, there would be hell to pay.  You get my drift?

5 minutes ago, simple1 said:

 

Feeling sorry for yourself - not a constructive emotion

Learn to read English. I said I feel sorry for THEM, not for myself. 

27 minutes ago, Chosenfew said:

Is that you.............

1 minute ago, RetiredNavy71 said:

Well if the American public were to get wind of what that entails, there would be hell to pay.  You get my drift?

 

I remember I learned the following about Americans - I don't know if it is true.

According to what I heard many Americans believe in the American Dream. If they are poor, they can climb up and become rich. They believe it.

And it seems many think already about the time when they will be rich. And then they obviously don't want to pay so much tax to finance all those poor lazy bastards. So, they vote as if they are rich already.

 

Is it true? I don't know. But I wouldn't be surprised if that is the reason why many vote the way they do.

1 hour ago, GypsyT said:

It'll never come to the US because 10 000 000 been counters, many are Jews, 

How very revealing!

On 12/16/2024 at 4:11 AM, simple1 said:

 

Remember trump promised oil executives he would take care of them if they donated a billion dollars towards his election. Not long after we heard trump promising to "drill baby, drill'

Trump didn't have anywhere near a billion dollars for his campaign. If you're going to make stuff up at least make it plausible.

1 minute ago, runamok27 said:

Trump didn't have anywhere near a billion dollars for his campaign. If you're going to make stuff up at least make it plausible.

What did he have then........?  🤔

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

People danced in the street when Thatcher died. IMO she was a truly vile human being.

 

The problem with government isn't that they have socialism to benefit the poor, but that they waste vast amounts of taxpayer money on stupid or even evil things. Eg the tories wouldn't give nurses or ambulance drivers a decent wage while spending billions of other people's money on war, which is the most evil thing they could waste money on.

Agree there, and why I'm against most socialist programs.  Gov't run = failure.

 

Stated a few times in the past, healthcare, education should be free.   Utilities; electric, oil & gas industry should be non profit, nationalized.  BUT ... the govt programs already in existence (USA) are run so inefficiently, in the end might be more expensive.

 

Look at NASA, and all the billions they've wasted.   Space X get the same contract, at half price, and has run everything since they both got the contract.  NASA ran 1 trip to ISS, and Space X had to do the return flight, as  NASA's equipment crapped out.  

 

USA again, and the gov't has basically depleted the self funding Social Security Trust Fund ... WTF

 

How do you run up $35T deficit ... I know, by borrowing money and giving it away to foreign countries while your citizens are living in the streets 

 

And the idiots keep reelecting the same career politicians and wonder why nothing changes 

 

....   UP  THE  REVOLUTION   ...

6 minutes ago, transam said:

What did he have then........?  🤔

Enough to win.

1 minute ago, Hawaiian said:

Enough to win.

Forget his lying, the wonga.........🤑

On 12/16/2024 at 3:07 PM, Yellowtail said:

What happened when one of the world's richest men bought the 2020 election? 

Funny, never heard anything like this with all of Soros's billions donated to Democrats or buying odd DAs in Democrat areas to given lenient punishment to criminals. 

4 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Agree there, and why I'm against most socialist programs.  Gov't run = failure.

 

Stated a few times in the past, healthcare, education should be free.   Utilities; electric, oil & gas industry should be non profit, nationalized.  BUT ... the govt programs already in existence (USA) are run so inefficiently, in the end might be more expensive.

 

Look at NASA, and all the billions they've wasted.   Space X get the same contract, at half price, and has run everything since they both got the contract.  NASA ran 1 trip to ISS, and Space X had to do the return flight, as  NASA's equipment crapped out.  

 

USA again, and the gov't has basically depleted the self funding Social Security Trust Fund ... WTF

 

How do you run up $35T deficit ... I know, by borrowing money and giving it away to foreign countries while your citizens are living in the streets 

 

And the idiots keep reelecting the same career politicians and wonder why nothing changes 

 

....   UP  THE  REVOLUTION   ...

The biggest problem with government run programs and facilities, other than waste and corruption, is how long it takes to get anything started.  Too many layers of bureaucracy.