Don't some states (Alaska comes to mind) have in their State Constitutions that they MUST vote on whether or not to declare a Constitutional Convention at regular intervals? If so, it doesn't seem so far-fetched to me that a bunch of states could so declare, at the same time, making whatever majority is necessary to FORCE a new government.
Oh--I forgot. This was in answer to the "turn the sky green/bring Barbie to life" poster. See, those 2 things aren't possible; revolution is.
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterThe US is doing well in many ways but a number of your points are overstated. The US is way down at place #37 in healthcare compared to other countries, largely due to its paranoid avoidance of "socialized medicine". The US military-industrial complex is spending huge amounts of money on unnecessary wars, resulting in a huge national debt.
We're leading the War on Terror, the war to cut taxes and the war against global warming cap-and-tax schemes. Our universities are superior, we have stronger unemployment numbers and higher growth than either Europe or Canada. We have better medical technologies and are providing much of the world's R&D in pharmaceuticals. Incomes are higher in t ...[text shortened]... ed States is the number of knuckleheads who envy America's prosperity and place in the world.
As for the War on Terror, the US remains a State sponsor of terrorism to this day. Shav has covered this earlier in this thread, in fact. I'll repost the link on SOA/WHINSEC:
http://www.soawne.org/SOAFacts.html
Furthermore, whilst attacking the Taliban in Afghanistan was a good move, this idiotic war in Iraq has been a huge diversion from fighting against terrorism. We knew in 2002 that Al-Qaeda had bases in around 40 countries, and Iraq wasn't one of them until Bush, Cheney and McCain decided it would be a good idea to invade it. So I respectfully disagree with your claim that the US is "leading the War on Terror".
As for global warming, Bush has earned the world's scorn and condemnation for not signing the Kyoto treaty. This is a huge pity, for many reasons, including the fact that the world's focus would have been more on India and China if the US had done the right thing and co-operated with the international community.
Originally posted by karnachzWikipedia says that China is exempt from Kyoto. Anyone know about that?
The US is doing well in many ways but a number of your points are overstated. The US is way down at place #37 in healthcare compared to other countries, largely due to its paranoid avoidance of "socialized medicine". The US military-industrial complex is spending huge amounts of money on unnecessary wars, resulting in a huge national debt.
As for the Wa ...[text shortened]... ina if the US had done the right thing and co-operated with the international community.
The current President, George W. Bush, has indicated that he does not intend to submit the treaty for ratification, not because he does not support the Kyoto principles, but because of the exemption granted to China (the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol#United_States
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Originally posted by karnachzI've lived in the US and Europe. The healthcare charges seem similar -- the out-of-pocket part. But in Europe higher-bracket tax rates run to 40% of salary. PLUS Europeans pay about $4.00/gallon in tax on petrol. So they pay for their health system every time the fill up.
The US is doing well in many ways but a number of your points are overstated. The US is way down at place #37 in healthcare compared to other countries, largely due to its paranoid avoidance of "socialized medicine". The US military-industrial complex is spending huge amounts of money on unnecessary wars, resulting in a huge national debt.
As for the Wa ina if the US had done the right thing and co-operated with the international community.
Also the experience of healthcare can be very different. Let's take something simple:
Case #1: Buying ibuprofen because you have a headache.
US -- Go to the nearest 24 hour Walgreens and buy 100 tablets at whatever strength you want, with or without any other cold medication, and with or without any other useful products you might remember you need: milk, DVDs, shoe polish, etc.
Europe -- Before 5pm, make a trip to a pharmacy where they sell medicines and skin products. You will not find anything else in the store so this is a special trip. The pharmacy is right next to the guy who makes keys and repairs shoes (nothing else). In the same street is a butcher, a baker, a hairdresser, and a bank. If you are very lucky, there will also be a small grocery that sells food (only). All of these stores are closed on Monday, Wednesday after 3pm, Thursday morning before 11, Saturday afternoon, Sunday, major saints days, on holidays, during strikes, the entire month of August and anytime the owner doesn't feel like being there*.
After 5pm, the process is a bit more complicated. All stores are now closed, so you have to try to remember where you put the list of "after hours" pharmacies. Run down the printed list to find today's date, and pick the one nearest you. Drive halfway across town. Stand in the street and ring the bell. The pharmacist will open a small window and tell you that without a prescription, he cannot help you -- however, since you are a foreigner, he will consent to give you 10 generic ibuprofen tablets for 5 euros.
Question: under which system do people have more "freedom"?
Americans have a right to be suspicious.
* and everyday between noon and 2pm in some countries, of course
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Originally posted by spruce112358Question: which system tends to have fuller employment and preserve a way of life and sense of community and protect the livelihood of generational family business? In 20 years time would the little specialist shop still likely be in business? Most likely if it was in Europe, but if it was in small town USA your "freedom" would have seen it flattened to make way for another mall.
Question: under which system do people have more "freedom"?
Has the payoff of having 24/7 convenience to buy all the cheap glittery trinkets shipped just to you by your friendly transnational corporation really been worth it to lose your small town soul?
Originally posted by AThousandYoungmostly anything you need to know about making a nuke is on the internet.
And there should be no national secrets. In fact, the details of our nuclear technology, it's limits, it's capabilities, and how a rival might reproduce it should be broadcast to the public so they can make informed decisions. Right?
Originally posted by spruce112358not true all over europe.
I've lived in the US and Europe. The healthcare charges seem similar -- the out-of-pocket part. But in Europe higher-bracket tax rates run to 40% of salary. PLUS Europeans pay about $4.00/gallon in tax on petrol. So they pay for their health system every time the fill up.
Also the experience of healthcare can be very different. Let's take something s ...[text shortened]... ht to be suspicious.
* and everyday between noon and 2pm in some countries, of course
and it remains debatable whether you trust a supermarket vendor to give you the medication you need or a pharmacist who did get a sort of education. in your example you knew what the name of the medication is. but suppose you have a symptom and you ask the vendor what would be recommended. maybe you will get tic-tacs. or maybe you will get antibiotics fit for a horse having ebola and you will get killed. maybe the pharmacist will ask you if you have any allergies whereas the vendor will not.
in europe there is medication you can get without prescription. the one you can't you shouldn't be taking anyway without a doctor to randomly prescribe it to you. there are pharmacies open non-stop although if you have an emergency at 3AM you should go to the hospital if it is serious and if it is not you should have some freakin painkillers in your house. and buying from a pharmacy means you can get advice if you want it.
my opinion