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Getbig Main Boards => Politics and Political Issues Board => Topic started by: George Whorewell on March 10, 2013, 05:05:53 PM
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So after a 15 year hiatus, I returned to Europe. My first time around I went to Germany and France. This time I visited Spain and France.
A few observations:
(1) Paris is absolutely beautiful. Even the airport is a sight to behold. Whatever your opinions might be of the French, Paris is still at the top of the list in terms of places you should visit at least once. From what I experienced, Spain is an abject dump. The only redeeming aspect of my time in Spain was visiting numerous historical sites (Palaces, castles, cathedrals etc.). In all fairness, I didn’t go to Ibiza or Barcelona- which I have heard from several people are both very nice places to visit.
(2) The women in France were pretty damn hot. A lot hotter than I anticipated. The women in Spain were gross-- which was a huge shock.
(3) Thank god I live in the United States.
Without turning this into a political debate, it is very obvious why the EU is an economic disaster.
In countries where part time waitresses get social security, healthcare and most people fortunate enough to have jobs work for the government and retire with pensions at age 50, it’s no wonder that unemployment is extremely high and everything is astronomically expensive. Everything is overpriced; especially transportation, alcohol and food. Five Euro's to get on the train at the airport in Madrid and travel a few stops. Here in NYC we bitch about the MTA raising the price to a paltry $2.50. Taking a moldy, cramped, bus from Madrid to a neighboring town is 10 Euro's. A bottle of decent gin which would go for 15 bucks in the US ( it was the only brand in the entire store in Spain) was an unconscionable 22 Euros. Going out to dinner with family at a neighborhood Pizzeria outside of Paris was an astonishing 50 Euros for four people with no appetizers or booze.
You can also depend on shortages of all the basic utilities that we take for granted; Water, gas, electricity etc. I think its all bullshit, but expect to be reminded about the “crisis” constantly.
Finally, if you need to buy something in Spain don’t bank on finding anything that’s open roughly between the hours of 2:30-4:30pm for siesta. Evidently, everyone eats at home and takes a nap before returning to finish up the drudgery of a 6 hour work day. Customer service must be an American invention because nobody in Europe knows the answer to your question, cares about what you’re asking or feels like being bothered because there is no incentive to doing a good job. Nobody tips, the labor laws make it almost impossible to fire anyone and people have no ambition to make something more of themselves.
There are portions alongside the highway in France that stretch for miles where people live in makeshift shelters made out of cardboard boxes and garbage. I noticed a few small stretches of the same thing in Spain, but what I saw in France was nothing short of sickening. There are beggars everywhere—in front of atms, apartment buildings, grocery stores, restaurants, tourist attractions and on public transportation to name a few places. Living in NYC I am no stranger to witnessing bums ask for spare change—but such encounters happen almost exclusively on the subway.
Biggest eye opener about Paris: To generate income for its massive welfare state, the French government has installed numerous cameras equipped with radar detectors (about 3000 of them actually) on the highway to monitor speeding. If you go above the speed limit, expect to receive a notice with a hefty fine in the mail. Many people have already figured out a way to beat the system by using apps on their phone or by installing radar detectors in their cars to warn them about upcoming speeding traps. Also, pictures of rotting teeth on every pack of cigarettes to deter people from smoking.
Biggest eye openers about Spain: If you go to the grocery store, keep some extra money in your pocket to pay for plastic bags. To avoid paying, people bring book bags, duffle bags or just carry food out in their bare hands. If you go to McDonalds, don’t expect free napkins. Also, if you go to a restaurant and the waiter puts bread on your table, don’t assume it’s free. Every restaurant I went to in Spain with one exception charged extra for bread. Oh yeah, and condom vending machines all over the place.
Eye Opener about both places: Customs is a complete joke.
Beyond the aforementioned, it should be emphasized that Americans are routinely lied to about Europe. Throughout my lifetime I have heard from various wizards of smart about how Europe is so cultured, educated and somehow more advanced than America. Another outrageously blatant lie I’ve heard over the years is about how “healthy” Europeans are.
Here is reality: As a whole, Europeans have not evolved very much from medieval times. Personal hygiene is strictly optional, nobody covers their mouth when they sneeze or cough, there is no concept of personal space or common decency and virtually no one is friendly. The people are extremely rude and (what a shock) either only speak their own language or pretend to only speak their own language as it suits them. It comes as no shock that historical treasures such as Communism and the bubonic plague are directly traced back to Europe.
A family friend is a retired Spanish Military officer. I went to visit him while I was traveling from Madrid. He has a wife and four children. All of his children are 25+ (the oldest is 34) and still live at home. His daughters both finished college and are unmarried and unemployed. His sons were both “Public Relations” majors. One is unemployed and the other works part time as a Business teacher at a local college (lol that is not a typo). The living situation was an eerie reminder of the current transformation American families are experiencing (only with two parents). Fundamentally transforming America into Spain?
In terms of being healthy, allow me to illuminate some unfortunate realities about Spain. The Spanish diet consists almost exclusively of fatty pork and bread. The only reason everyone isn’t 700 pounds is because people literally don’t have enough money to eat themselves into obesity. Every single person I came in contact with smoked like a chimney. I traveled through Madrid 100 miles southwest and back on three separate occasions. I saw a total of one gym and it was in Madrid itself.
I could continue for several more pages—but the bottom line is; don’t believe what people tell you. Go see the world for yourself. And God Bless America—Home of free napkins, plastic bags, big cars, big houses, 24 hour stores, tips, cheap booze and deodorant.
All of you American leftist turds who knock the United States and tout nonsense like nationalized healthcare and other failed European social experiments have no fucking clue what you are talking about and should kiss the ground you walk on.
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So after a 15 year hiatus, I returned to Europe. My first time around I went to Germany and France. This time I visited Spain and France.
A few observations:
(1) Paris is absolutely beautiful. Even the airport is a sight to behold. Whatever your opinions might be of the French, Paris is still at the top of the list in terms of places you should visit at least once. From what I experienced, Spain is an abject dump. The only redeeming aspect of my time in Spain was visiting numerous historical sites (Palaces, castles, cathedrals etc.). In all fairness, I didn’t go to Ibiza or Barcelona- which I have heard from several people are both very nice places to visit.
(2) The women in France were pretty damn hot. A lot hotter than I anticipated. The women in Spain were gross-- which was a huge shock.
(3) Thank god I live in the United States.
Without turning this into a political debate, it is very obvious why the EU is an economic disaster.
In countries where part time waitresses get social security, healthcare and most people fortunate enough to have jobs work for the government and retire with pensions at age 50, it’s no wonder that unemployment is extremely high and everything is astronomically expensive. Everything is overpriced; especially transportation, alcohol and food. Five Euro's to get on the train at the airport in Madrid and travel a few stops. Here in NYC we bitch about the MTA raising the price to a paltry $2.50. Taking a moldy, cramped, bus from Madrid to a neighboring town is 10 Euro's. A bottle of decent gin which would go for 15 bucks in the US ( it was the only brand in the entire store in Spain) was an unconscionable 22 Euros. Going out to dinner with family at a neighborhood Pizzeria outside of Paris was an astonishing 50 Euros for four people with no appetizers or booze.
You can also depend on shortages of all the basic utilities that we take for granted; Water, gas, electricity etc. I think its all bullshit, but expect to be reminded about the “crisis” constantly.
Finally, if you need to buy something in Spain don’t bank on finding anything that’s open roughly between the hours of 2:30-4:30pm for siesta. Evidently, everyone eats at home and takes a nap before returning to finish up the drudgery of a 6 hour work day. Customer service must be an American invention because nobody in Europe knows the answer to your question, cares about what you’re asking or feels like being bothered because there is no incentive to doing a good job. Nobody tips, the labor laws make it almost impossible to fire anyone and people have no ambition to make something more of themselves.
There are portions alongside the highway in France that stretch for miles where people live in makeshift shelters made out of cardboard boxes and garbage. I noticed a few small stretches of the same thing in Spain, but what I saw in France was nothing short of sickening. There are beggars everywhere—in front of atms, apartment buildings, grocery stores, restaurants, tourist attractions and on public transportation to name a few places. Living in NYC I am no stranger to witnessing bums ask for spare change—but such encounters happen almost exclusively on the subway.
Biggest eye opener about Paris: To generate income for its massive welfare state, the French government has installed numerous cameras equipped with radar detectors (about 3000 of them actually) on the highway to monitor speeding. If you go above the speed limit, expect to receive a notice with a hefty fine in the mail. Many people have already figured out a way to beat the system by using apps on their phone or by installing radar detectors in their cars to warn them about upcoming speeding traps. Also, pictures of rotting teeth on every pack of cigarettes to deter people from smoking.
Biggest eye openers about Spain: If you go to the grocery store, keep some extra money in your pocket to pay for plastic bags. To avoid paying, people bring book bags, duffle bags or just carry food out in their bare hands. If you go to McDonalds, don’t expect free napkins. Also, if you go to a restaurant and the waiter puts bread on your table, don’t assume it’s free. Every restaurant I went to in Spain with one exception charged extra for bread. Oh yeah, and condom vending machines all over the place.
Eye Opener about both places: Customs is a complete joke.
Beyond the aforementioned, it should be emphasized that Americans are routinely lied to about Europe. Throughout my lifetime I have heard from various wizards of smart about how Europe is so cultured, educated and somehow more advanced than America. Another outrageously blatant lie I’ve heard over the years is about how “healthy” Europeans are.
Here is reality: As a whole, Europeans have not evolved very much from medieval times. Personal hygiene is strictly optional, nobody covers their mouth when they sneeze or cough, there is no concept of personal space or common decency and virtually no one is friendly. The people are extremely rude and (what a shock) either only speak their own language or pretend to only speak their own language as it suits them. It comes as no shock that historical treasures such as Communism and the bubonic plague are directly traced back to Europe.
A family friend is a retired Spanish Military officer. I went to visit him while I was traveling from Madrid. He has a wife and four children. All of his children are 25+ (the oldest is 34) and still live at home. His daughters both finished college and are unmarried and unemployed. His sons were both “Public Relations” majors. One is unemployed and the other works part time as a Business teacher at a local college (lol that is not a typo). The living situation was an eerie reminder of the current transformation American families are experiencing (only with two parents). Fundamentally transforming America into Spain?
In terms of being healthy, allow me to illuminate some unfortunate realities about Spain. The Spanish diet consists almost exclusively of fatty pork and bread. The only reason everyone isn’t 700 pounds is because people literally don’t have enough money to eat themselves into obesity. Every single person I came in contact with smoked like a chimney. I traveled through Madrid 100 miles southwest and back on three separate occasions. I saw a total of one gym and it was in Madrid itself.
I could continue for several more pages—but the bottom line is; don’t believe what people tell you. Go see the world for yourself. And God Bless America—Home of free napkins, plastic bags, big cars, big houses, 24 hour stores, tips, cheap booze and deodorant.
All of you American leftist turds who knock the United States and tout nonsense like nationalized healthcare and other failed European social experiments have no fucking clue what you are talking about and should kiss the ground you walk on.
I agree somewhat however i dont remember the ladies in Spain being ugly, not all of them there were some real beauties among them.
What did you think of Germany?
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Bare in mind, both countries are going through severe depression. I've heard that in Spain, the unemployment rate among young males is close to 50%. Did you find France has changed much since the last time you were there?
As for the cigarette packs with rotting teeth to discourage smoking, you should visit Canada.
We've got rotting teeth, diseased organs, cancerous lungs, hearts, tongues... really gross stuff.
Can't speak to the other provinces, but i know in Ontario, stores charge 5 cents per plastic bag. It's designed to discourage unnecessary environmental waste, ...and it works. Most people bring re-usable shopping bags when they do groceries, and many stores will actually give re-usable shopping bags when people make purchases.
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Ibiza or Barcelona - the ONLY reason to ever go to Spain. Ever. Otherwise avoid.
And yes, Paris is very beautiful. I have been about 15 times if my count is correct and never tire of it. Actually most of France as a whole is very nice. Had I booked your travels, I would have sent you to Italy instead of Spain.
If you decide to go back, please consider doing an Italian Med. cruise. Fly into Rome for a couple of days pre boarding, go to the port (about 2 hours away) sail south down the coastline and around to Venice for another few days post cruise. The Italian coastline is absolutely breathtaking.
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So after a 15 year hiatus, I returned to Europe. My first time around I went to Germany and France. This time I visited Spain and France.
A few observations:
(1) Paris is absolutely beautiful. Even the airport is a sight to behold. Whatever your opinions might be of the French, Paris is still at the top of the list in terms of places you should visit at least once. From what I experienced, Spain is an abject dump. The only redeeming aspect of my time in Spain was visiting numerous historical sites (Palaces, castles, cathedrals etc.). In all fairness, I didn’t go to Ibiza or Barcelona- which I have heard from several people are both very nice places to visit.
(2) The women in France were pretty damn hot. A lot hotter than I anticipated. The women in Spain were gross-- which was a huge shock.
(3) Thank god I live in the United States.
Without turning this into a political debate, it is very obvious why the EU is an economic disaster.
In countries where part time waitresses get social security, healthcare and most people fortunate enough to have jobs work for the government and retire with pensions at age 50, it’s no wonder that unemployment is extremely high and everything is astronomically expensive. Everything is overpriced; especially transportation, alcohol and food. Five Euro's to get on the train at the airport in Madrid and travel a few stops. Here in NYC we bitch about the MTA raising the price to a paltry $2.50. Taking a moldy, cramped, bus from Madrid to a neighboring town is 10 Euro's. A bottle of decent gin which would go for 15 bucks in the US ( it was the only brand in the entire store in Spain) was an unconscionable 22 Euros. Going out to dinner with family at a neighborhood Pizzeria outside of Paris was an astonishing 50 Euros for four people with no appetizers or booze.
You can also depend on shortages of all the basic utilities that we take for granted; Water, gas, electricity etc. I think its all bullshit, but expect to be reminded about the “crisis” constantly.
Finally, if you need to buy something in Spain don’t bank on finding anything that’s open roughly between the hours of 2:30-4:30pm for siesta. Evidently, everyone eats at home and takes a nap before returning to finish up the drudgery of a 6 hour work day. Customer service must be an American invention because nobody in Europe knows the answer to your question, cares about what you’re asking or feels like being bothered because there is no incentive to doing a good job. Nobody tips, the labor laws make it almost impossible to fire anyone and people have no ambition to make something more of themselves.
There are portions alongside the highway in France that stretch for miles where people live in makeshift shelters made out of cardboard boxes and garbage. I noticed a few small stretches of the same thing in Spain, but what I saw in France was nothing short of sickening. There are beggars everywhere—in front of atms, apartment buildings, grocery stores, restaurants, tourist attractions and on public transportation to name a few places. Living in NYC I am no stranger to witnessing bums ask for spare change—but such encounters happen almost exclusively on the subway.
Biggest eye opener about Paris: To generate income for its massive welfare state, the French government has installed numerous cameras equipped with radar detectors (about 3000 of them actually) on the highway to monitor speeding. If you go above the speed limit, expect to receive a notice with a hefty fine in the mail. Many people have already figured out a way to beat the system by using apps on their phone or by installing radar detectors in their cars to warn them about upcoming speeding traps. Also, pictures of rotting teeth on every pack of cigarettes to deter people from smoking.
Biggest eye openers about Spain: If you go to the grocery store, keep some extra money in your pocket to pay for plastic bags. To avoid paying, people bring book bags, duffle bags or just carry food out in their bare hands. If you go to McDonalds, don’t expect free napkins. Also, if you go to a restaurant and the waiter puts bread on your table, don’t assume it’s free. Every restaurant I went to in Spain with one exception charged extra for bread. Oh yeah, and condom vending machines all over the place.
Eye Opener about both places: Customs is a complete joke.
Beyond the aforementioned, it should be emphasized that Americans are routinely lied to about Europe. Throughout my lifetime I have heard from various wizards of smart about how Europe is so cultured, educated and somehow more advanced than America. Another outrageously blatant lie I’ve heard over the years is about how “healthy” Europeans are.
Here is reality: As a whole, Europeans have not evolved very much from medieval times. Personal hygiene is strictly optional, nobody covers their mouth when they sneeze or cough, there is no concept of personal space or common decency and virtually no one is friendly. The people are extremely rude and (what a shock) either only speak their own language or pretend to only speak their own language as it suits them. It comes as no shock that historical treasures such as Communism and the bubonic plague are directly traced back to Europe.
A family friend is a retired Spanish Military officer. I went to visit him while I was traveling from Madrid. He has a wife and four children. All of his children are 25+ (the oldest is 34) and still live at home. His daughters both finished college and are unmarried and unemployed. His sons were both “Public Relations” majors. One is unemployed and the other works part time as a Business teacher at a local college (lol that is not a typo). The living situation was an eerie reminder of the current transformation American families are experiencing (only with two parents). Fundamentally transforming America into Spain?
In terms of being healthy, allow me to illuminate some unfortunate realities about Spain. The Spanish diet consists almost exclusively of fatty pork and bread. The only reason everyone isn’t 700 pounds is because people literally don’t have enough money to eat themselves into obesity. Every single person I came in contact with smoked like a chimney. I traveled through Madrid 100 miles southwest and back on three separate occasions. I saw a total of one gym and it was in Madrid itself.
I could continue for several more pages—but the bottom line is; don’t believe what people tell you. Go see the world for yourself. And God Bless America—Home of free napkins, plastic bags, big cars, big houses, 24 hour stores, tips, cheap booze and deodorant.
All of you American leftist turds who knock the United States and tout nonsense like nationalized healthcare and other failed European social experiments have no fucking clue what you are talking about and should kiss the ground you walk on.
Every country has its ups and downs
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Speaking of Paris and the cigs.... the worst thing about smokers (other than the cigs and their nasty ass teeth and breath) is the way they just light up and for some unknown reason go stand in the street to smoke. >:(
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Thanks for the write-up, though it seems to me very good evidence of the theory-ladenness of observation -- what theory (or theories) we have onboard at the moment an observation is made in large part determines our interpretation of what is observed.
Thus, your already having everything figured out about the evils of leftism (deep theoretical commitments which you seem preternaturally unable to critically evaluate -- were you raised into these beliefs as some are raised into religiosity?) in large part shaped your interpretation of the observations made over the course of the trip. How else could one generalize from a small cluster of very tourist-y experiences to sweeping judgments of an entire continent's socioeconomic arrangements, vast structures that not even the 'experts' understand in full, in addition to all of the people there?
The last observation I'll make is that you commit the same fallacies as those simpletons who declare Europe more enlightened than America (you and I can at least agree that that meme is rather silly): (i) you assume 'Europe' is even an entity at all, as if there are properties that all so-called European countries and people share (there aren't), and (ii) you assume along with the bozos you are opposing that there is some coherent notion of 'enlightenment' which may justifiably be ascribed to entire continents, societies, or communities -- something which isn't necessarily false, but which needs justifying.
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Thanks for the write-up, though it seems to me very good evidence of the theory-ladenness of observation -- what theory (or theories) we have onboard at the moment an observation is made in large part determines our interpretation of what is observed.
Thus, your already having everything figured out about the evils of leftism (deep theoretical commitments which you seem preternaturally unable to critically evaluate -- were you raised into these beliefs as some are raised into religiosity?) in large part shaped your interpretation of the observations made over the course of the trip. How else could one generalize from a small cluster of very tourist-y experiences to sweeping judgments of an entire continent's socioeconomic arrangements, vast structures that not even the 'experts' understand in full, in addition to all of the people there?
The last observation I'll make is that you commit the same fallacies as those simpletons who declare Europe more enlightened than America (you and I can at least agree that that meme is rather silly): (i) you assume 'Europe' is even an entity at all, as if there are properties that all European countries and people share (there aren't), and (ii) you assume along with the bozos you are opposing that there is some coherent notion of 'enlightenment' which may justifiably be ascribed to entire continents, societies, or communities -- something which isn't necessarily false, but which needs justifying.
Great post.
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Without turning this into a political debate
Not at all.
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Great post.
You're barely literate so the odds of you understanding anything in that post are slim to none.
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My Aunt went to Italy for a trip recently, Rome mostly, and came home thanking heavens our anscetors came to the USA via Ellis Island back in the day.
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So after a 15 year hiatus, I returned to Europe. My first time around I went to Germany and France. This time I visited Spain and France.
A few observations:
(1) Paris is absolutely beautiful. Even the airport is a sight to behold. Whatever your opinions might be of the French, Paris is still at the top of the list in terms of places you should visit at least once. From what I experienced, Spain is an abject dump. The only redeeming aspect of my time in Spain was visiting numerous historical sites (Palaces, castles, cathedrals etc.). In all fairness, I didn’t go to Ibiza or Barcelona- which I have heard from several people are both very nice places to visit.
(2) The women in France were pretty damn hot. A lot hotter than I anticipated. The women in Spain were gross-- which was a huge shock.
(3) Thank god I live in the United States.
Without turning this into a political debate, it is very obvious why the EU is an economic disaster.
In countries where part time waitresses get social security, healthcare and most people fortunate enough to have jobs work for the government and retire with pensions at age 50, it’s no wonder that unemployment is extremely high and everything is astronomically expensive. Everything is overpriced; especially transportation, alcohol and food. Five Euro's to get on the train at the airport in Madrid and travel a few stops. Here in NYC we bitch about the MTA raising the price to a paltry $2.50. Taking a moldy, cramped, bus from Madrid to a neighboring town is 10 Euro's. A bottle of decent gin which would go for 15 bucks in the US ( it was the only brand in the entire store in Spain) was an unconscionable 22 Euros. Going out to dinner with family at a neighborhood Pizzeria outside of Paris was an astonishing 50 Euros for four people with no appetizers or booze.
You can also depend on shortages of all the basic utilities that we take for granted; Water, gas, electricity etc. I think its all bullshit, but expect to be reminded about the “crisis” constantly.
Finally, if you need to buy something in Spain don’t bank on finding anything that’s open roughly between the hours of 2:30-4:30pm for siesta. Evidently, everyone eats at home and takes a nap before returning to finish up the drudgery of a 6 hour work day. Customer service must be an American invention because nobody in Europe knows the answer to your question, cares about what you’re asking or feels like being bothered because there is no incentive to doing a good job. Nobody tips, the labor laws make it almost impossible to fire anyone and people have no ambition to make something more of themselves.
There are portions alongside the highway in France that stretch for miles where people live in makeshift shelters made out of cardboard boxes and garbage. I noticed a few small stretches of the same thing in Spain, but what I saw in France was nothing short of sickening. There are beggars everywhere—in front of atms, apartment buildings, grocery stores, restaurants, tourist attractions and on public transportation to name a few places. Living in NYC I am no stranger to witnessing bums ask for spare change—but such encounters happen almost exclusively on the subway.
Biggest eye opener about Paris: To generate income for its massive welfare state, the French government has installed numerous cameras equipped with radar detectors (about 3000 of them actually) on the highway to monitor speeding. If you go above the speed limit, expect to receive a notice with a hefty fine in the mail. Many people have already figured out a way to beat the system by using apps on their phone or by installing radar detectors in their cars to warn them about upcoming speeding traps. Also, pictures of rotting teeth on every pack of cigarettes to deter people from smoking.
Biggest eye openers about Spain: If you go to the grocery store, keep some extra money in your pocket to pay for plastic bags. To avoid paying, people bring book bags, duffle bags or just carry food out in their bare hands. If you go to McDonalds, don’t expect free napkins. Also, if you go to a restaurant and the waiter puts bread on your table, don’t assume it’s free. Every restaurant I went to in Spain with one exception charged extra for bread. Oh yeah, and condom vending machines all over the place.
Eye Opener about both places: Customs is a complete joke.
Beyond the aforementioned, it should be emphasized that Americans are routinely lied to about Europe. Throughout my lifetime I have heard from various wizards of smart about how Europe is so cultured, educated and somehow more advanced than America. Another outrageously blatant lie I’ve heard over the years is about how “healthy” Europeans are.
Here is reality: As a whole, Europeans have not evolved very much from medieval times. Personal hygiene is strictly optional, nobody covers their mouth when they sneeze or cough, there is no concept of personal space or common decency and virtually no one is friendly. The people are extremely rude and (what a shock) either only speak their own language or pretend to only speak their own language as it suits them. It comes as no shock that historical treasures such as Communism and the bubonic plague are directly traced back to Europe.
A family friend is a retired Spanish Military officer. I went to visit him while I was traveling from Madrid. He has a wife and four children. All of his children are 25+ (the oldest is 34) and still live at home. His daughters both finished college and are unmarried and unemployed. His sons were both “Public Relations” majors. One is unemployed and the other works part time as a Business teacher at a local college (lol that is not a typo). The living situation was an eerie reminder of the current transformation American families are experiencing (only with two parents). Fundamentally transforming America into Spain?
In terms of being healthy, allow me to illuminate some unfortunate realities about Spain. The Spanish diet consists almost exclusively of fatty pork and bread. The only reason everyone isn’t 700 pounds is because people literally don’t have enough money to eat themselves into obesity. Every single person I came in contact with smoked like a chimney. I traveled through Madrid 100 miles southwest and back on three separate occasions. I saw a total of one gym and it was in Madrid itself.
I could continue for several more pages—but the bottom line is; don’t believe what people tell you. Go see the world for yourself. And God Bless America—Home of free napkins, plastic bags, big cars, big houses, 24 hour stores, tips, cheap booze and deodorant.
All of you American leftist turds who knock the United States and tout nonsense like nationalized healthcare and other failed European social experiments have no fucking clue what you are talking about and should kiss the ground you walk on.
Thanks for this...very good read and an eye-opener...of course you had to go and spoil it with your last sentence where (as usual) you blame leftists for the destruction of the world...but great job overall although it IS strictly your opinion
what I find most disturbing about your post is that you live in NY city where I reside
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To be honest with you, I went in with an open mind. I have relatives throughout Europe and they all carry on about how wonderful their way of life is. My political views and preference for facts and reality aside, I tried my best to remain objective. After 15 years I was more mature, experienced and observant than I was during my last visit. I confess that I used the term European with a broadbrush--which was not my overall intention. The point was that the relentlessly false generalizations oft repeated about Americans can be easily observed through the mannerisms and behavior tendencies of the worldly and allegedly dignified Europeans. I don’t have an imaginary concept of enlightenment. I don’t subscribe it to anyone in particular. I am just one man reacting to things he was told over the course of his lifetime which have proven themselves to be completely false.
I also don't fancy myself an expert on economics. However, I am well versed in history, current events and politics-- none of which is even relevant when you are blindsided by the obvious. These "experts" who can't figure out the problem with Europe should either not be considered experts to begin with, or have a blatant agenda which directly correlates with their own personal gain. When you tax something, you get less of it-- The private sector. Since there is no public sector without private sector, as the pendulum swings from capitalism to socialism there becomes less and less incentive to enter the private sector. All the good jobs are in government. So as the 50 year old supervisor of workplace hearing safety decides to call it quits and retire on a full pension for life, the government has to somehow pick up the slack right? So what does it do? Raise more taxes, borrow money, print money or do all three. So while the size of the private sector is already getting gobbled up by government and less private sector hiring is possible, the scant few remaining profitable members of the private sector are now being squeezed into dust. 75% top marginal in France for instance. And lets not forget that all of these things raise the cost of living exponentially. The golden rule of business is that the cost increases always end up being borne by the consumer. So when you are taxed, VAT taxed and regulated up the ass, all of those extra costs are going to be eaten by those purchasing goods/ services in the private sector. Hence, the governments own anti growth policies are effectively inflating the value of its currency and hurting its citizens by making everything more costly.
Also throw in what I can only describe as pure laziness ( 6 week paid vacations and 2 hour daily naps) or a culture which places no emphasis on upward mobility + scores of radical Islamist immigrating into the EU zone as EU leaders bend over backward to hide from its roots and culture so it doesn't "offend" and what you have is a civilization that is broken beyond repair. European culture has turned into one of shame, laziness and weakness. And the blame rests entirely in the corrupt, incompetent government officials who are running the show.
And FYI when you throw together a large cluster of countries who share practically nothing in common with one another except geography and the fact that none have standing army's anymore and force them to use the same currency, eliminate their borders, and effectively emasculate their sovereignty; when one lone productive member state is forced to carry the dead weight of practically all the others-- all that does is destroy whatever pride the people in these countries still have left. The EU is a failed socialist experiment using several countries instead of just one. Why should Germans have to pick up the slack for a bunch of brain dead, corrupt Greek bureaucrats? Why should Spain give a shit about French poverty when 5 million + Spaniards are unemployed? Why is Ireland even in the EU? The whole notion is absurd.
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Ibiza or Barcelona - the ONLY reason to ever go to Spain. Ever. Otherwise avoid.
And yes, Paris is very beautiful. I have been about 15 times if my count is correct and never tire of it. Actually most of France as a whole is very nice. Had I booked your travels, I would have sent you to Italy instead of Spain.
If you decide to go back, please consider doing an Italian Med. cruise. Fly into Rome for a couple of days pre boarding, go to the port (about 2 hours away) sail south down the coastline and around to Venice for another few days post cruise. The Italian coastline is absolutely breathtaking.
One of these days I have to do that. Staying at the Venetian in Vegas just inst the same lol.
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Thanks for this...very good read and an eye-opener...of course you had to go and spoil it with your last sentence where (as usual) you blame leftists for the destruction of the world...but great job overall although it IS strictly your opinion
what I find most disturbing about your post is that you live in NY city where I reside
I will pay for you to move to Ghana or Somalia - deal?
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Thanks for your post. I am pretty right wing, but didn't find my European trip as bad as you did, I just accepted it for what it is. Assimilate to the host population. I went in November/December of 2011 for my honeymoon to Italy and Germany for a week each. I had a fucking blast. Go somewhere knowing you're going to spend a shitload of money. I don't think we spent under $200 a meal when we went out to dinner, but you just go in saying "fuck it, when will I be back again?" So live it up. I went to Rome, Florence, Venice, Verona, Munich and Berlin and only saw one fast food restaraunt. The waiters that I dealt with, legitimately cared Bout you. For instance, when we ate at a nice place in Venice, we sat down at 715 (we had 730 reservations, and the place was dead, they turned people away and I couldn't believe it. It eventually filled up with every seat taken, so I realize why they turned the couple away). The waiter plated and deboned our fish for us(try getting a $2.13 hr college kid to do that) talked to us, and after 3 hours there, never once tried to chase us off. We sat and enjoyed our food wherever we were, which is why it's so expensive, they expect you to stay. The folks in this place, Spektakle, in Munich(bartender and our waitress) actually let us stay past closing, and we talked about bands and all sorts of other stuff. It was genuinely awesome. Berlin, the people were a bit colder, but it was still cool.
I can see what you say about the socialism aspect of things, but you can't change their way of living, as its not your place to do so. Just enjoy it while you can, and see it for what it is, the actual birthplace of our culture/colony. And I disagree about the culture part, I actually felt smarter and a renaissance when I got back. I am going for 17 days this Christmas. We are doing Rome, Vienna, Munich and Paris with day trips planned to Salzburg, Nuremberg, and possibly London. I plan on packing a lot of money, and a great attitude(no homo) and have been taking German lessons as well. I'm stoked and can't wait to go back, and I'm sorry you had a bad time. I'm actually planning on grabbing a beer with a getbigger while in Austria, so anyone else on my itinerary, feel free to hit me up, I'll buy you a beer.
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Ibiza or Barcelona - the ONLY reason to ever go to Spain. Ever. Otherwise avoid.
And yes, Paris is very beautiful. I have been about 15 times if my count is correct and never tire of it. Actually most of France as a whole is very nice. Had I booked your travels, I would have sent you to Italy instead of Spain.
If you decide to go back, please consider doing an Italian Med. cruise. Fly into Rome for a couple of days pre boarding, go to the port (about 2 hours away) sail south down the coastline and around to Venice for another few days post cruise. The Italian coastline is absolutely breathtaking.
This.
Madrid has some nice places and real shitholes, but Barcelona was by far the best.
I would also add visiting Palermo...really nice with lot's of history.
And German women are pretty hot as well, IMO.
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To be honest with you, I went in with an open mind. I have relatives throughout Europe and they all carry on about how wonderful their way of life is. My political views and preference for facts and reality aside, I tried my best to remain objective. After 15 years I was more mature, experienced and observant than I was during my last visit. I confess that I used the term European with a broadbrush--which was not my overall intention. The point was that the relentlessly false generalizations oft repeated about Americans can be easily observed through the mannerisms and behavior tendencies of the worldly and allegedly dignified Europeans. I don’t have an imaginary concept of enlightenment. I don’t subscribe it to anyone in particular. I am just one man reacting to things he was told over the course of his lifetime which have proven themselves to be completely false.
I also don't fancy myself an expert on economics. However, I am well versed in history, current events and politics-- none of which is even relevant when you are blindsided by the obvious. These "experts" who can't figure out the problem with Europe should either not be considered experts to begin with, or have a blatant agenda which directly correlates with their own personal gain. When you tax something, you get less of it-- The private sector. Since there is no public sector without private sector, as the pendulum swings from capitalism to socialism there becomes less and less incentive to enter the private sector. All the good jobs are in government. So as the 50 year old supervisor of workplace hearing safety decides to call it quits and retire on a full pension for life, the government has to somehow pick up the slack right? So what does it do? Raise more taxes, borrow money, print money or do all three. So while the size of the private sector is already getting gobbled up by government and less private sector hiring is possible, the scant few remaining profitable members of the private sector are now being squeezed into dust. 75% top marginal in France for instance. And lets not forget that all of these things raise the cost of living exponentially. The golden rule of business is that the cost increases always end up being borne by the consumer. So when you are taxed, VAT taxed and regulated up the ass, all of those extra costs are going to be eaten by those purchasing goods/ services in the private sector. Hence, the governments own anti growth policies are effectively inflating the value of its currency and hurting its citizens by making everything more costly.
Also throw in what I can only describe as pure laziness ( 6 week paid vacations and 2 hour daily naps) or a culture which places no emphasis on upward mobility + scores of radical Islamist immigrating into the EU zone as EU leaders bend over backward to hide from its roots and culture so it doesn't "offend" and what you have is a civilization that is broken beyond repair. European culture has turned into one of shame, laziness and weakness. And the blame rests entirely in the corrupt, incompetent government officials who are running the show.
And FYI when you throw together a large cluster of countries who share practically nothing in common with one another except geography and the fact that none have standing army's anymore and force them to use the same currency, eliminate their borders, and effectively emasculate their sovereignty; when one lone productive member state is forced to carry the dead weight of practically all the others-- all that does is destroy whatever pride the people in these countries still have left. The EU is a failed socialist experiment using several countries instead of just one. Why should Germans have to pick up the slack for a bunch of brain dead, corrupt Greek bureaucrats? Why should Spain give a shit about French poverty when 5 million + Spaniards are unemployed? Why is Ireland even in the EU? The whole notion is absurd.
I agree with you concerning their economy vis-a-vis ours...I can see how Europe's economies are less dynamic and how there is a lot of waste.....
but just strictly consider the human aspect...I've always wondered if we Americans are missing out on some of the things the Europeans take for granted..namely that you often get 6 weeks vacation from your job, that you do work somewhat less and therefore have more time to enjoy life and spend more time with friends and family
do you think it might be a little worth it to pay higher taxes as a nation so we could have a similar type of lifestyle?....We Americans seem to always be stressed out and in a hurry to accomplish nothing in particular..I would love to have 6 weeks vacation..LOL..whats your take on this?
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I agree with you concerning their economy vis-a-vis ours...I can see how Europe's economies are less dynamic and how there is a lot of waste.....
but just strictly consider the human aspect...I've always wondered if we Americans are missing out on some of the things the Europeans take for granted..namely that you often get 6 weeks vacation from your job, that you do work somewhat less and therefore have more time to enjoy life and spend more time with friends and family
do you think it might be a little worth it to pay higher taxes as a nation so we could have a similar type of lifestyle?....We Americans seem to always be stressed out and in a hurry to accomplish nothing in particular..I would love to have 6 weeks vacation..LOL..whats your take on this?
vacation? you dont fucking work 3 weeks of the year now! And you want time off!
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I agree with you concerning their economy vis-a-vis ours...I can see how Europe's economies are less dynamic and how there is a lot of waste.....
but just strictly consider the human aspect...I've always wondered if we Americans are missing out on some of the things the Europeans take for granted..namely that you often get 6 weeks vacation from your job, that you do work somewhat less and therefore have more time to enjoy life and spend more time with friends and family
do you think it might be a little worth it to pay higher taxes as a nation so we could have a similar type of lifestyle?....We Americans seem to always be stressed out and in a hurry to accomplish nothing in particular..I would love to have 6 weeks vacation..LOL..whats your take on this?
I agree with you on that. We as Americans work ourselves to death. I talked to quite a few people, and a couple on our train from Verona to Munich, and they were talking about being on six week holiday(the were Australians) and I asked how do you get away for six weeks? She told me that she had trained a chick for the last year to do her job while she was gone. I told her in America, she would've just trained her replacement.
I'm with you Andre, I would pay a bit more to get a lot more. Everybody should travel, and see how the rest of the world lives. I work for myself and have been doing one week of vacation a year(other than my honeymoon) and his year I said fuck it. I have a competent person who can handle what goes on in our downtime, we close Xmas through New Years, and I'm going on a long vacation. I've told myself I'm taking a minimum of 4 weeks a year from here on out.
Also, most people rent over there, so they don't have a crushing mortgage that keeps them house poor.
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Andre unemployed?
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http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/13a9bcb0-8a53-11e2-bf79-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2NI8jYUeD
bbbooommmmmmmm
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Speaking of Paris and the cigs.... the worst thing about smokers (other than the cigs and their nasty ass teeth and breath) is the way they just light up and for some unknown reason go stand in the street to smoke. >:(
Agreed. I'm also disgusted with the "Vape" smokers who think he's okay to spit their 2nd hand lung-water everywhere they go. Yes, it's not smoke. No, it doesn't mean you can do it in vars and grocery stores.
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vacation? you dont fucking work 3 weeks of the year now! And you want time off!
so says the stay-at-home-shut-in :)
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I agree with you on that. We as Americans work ourselves to death. I talked to quite a few people, and a couple on our train from Verona to Munich, and they were talking about being on six week holiday(the were Australians) and I asked how do you get away for six weeks? She told me that she had trained a chick for the last year to do her job while she was gone. I told her in America, she would've just trained her replacement.
I'm with you Andre, I would pay a bit more to get a lot more. Everybody should travel, and see how the rest of the world lives. I work for myself and have been doing one week of vacation a year(other than my honeymoon) and his year I said fuck it. I have a competent person who can handle what goes on in our downtime, we close Xmas through New Years, and I'm going on a long vacation. I've told myself I'm taking a minimum of 4 weeks a year from here on out.
Also, most people rent over there, so they don't have a crushing mortgage that keeps them house poor.
Good post..... I do believe our political system and social system is far superoir to the Europeans but I have always had this feeling that we Americans have been brainwashed into thinking that we should work so hard and settle for one weeks vacation every year (two if youre lucky)....my family is from the caribbean and they too take two hour breaks every day from 12pm to 2pm for siesta.....I was shocked at this when I visited....I'm just saying that we as Americans seem to be working MUCH HARDER than the rest of the world for not that much more benefit....I wish I could spend more time with family, have more time for myself and my hobbies and be able to get together and meet with friends everyday....maybe this in and of itself would improve our quality of life?..plus you make a good point about being able to travel more...that would be awesome....
Also to pay a little more so we could all retire at 50? Count me in!
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Andre unemployed?
nope....employed...math teacher/social worker.
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Good post..... I do believe our political system and social system is far superoir to the Europeans but I have always had this feeling that we Americans have been brainwashed into thinking that we should work so hard and settle for one weeks vacation every year (two if youre lucky)....my family is from the caribbean and they too take two hour breaks every day from 12pm to 2pm for siesta.....I was shocked at this when I visited....I'm just saying that we as Americans seem to be working MUCH HARDER than the rest of the world for not that much more benefit....I wish I could spend more time with family, have more time for myself and my hobbies and be able to get together and meet with friends everyday....maybe this in and of itself would improve our quality of life?..plus you make a good point about being able to travel more...that would be awesome....
Also to pay a little more so we could all retire at 50? Count me in!
Andre, why do you believe the political & social systems are superior to those of Europe?
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So after a 15 year hiatus, I returned to Europe. My first time around I went to Germany and France. This time I visited Spain and France.
A few observations:
this thread stinks of arrogant bastard.
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this thread stinks of arrogant bastard.
Says the bloated corpse of a central American dictator.
Better to stink of arrogance than smell like death.
I don't know if its worse to be Hugo Chavez, or attempt to emulate him on an internet message board.
I'll let someone less arrogant figure that one out.
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Thanks for your post. I am pretty right wing, but didn't find my European trip as bad as you did, I just accepted it for what it is. Assimilate to the host population. I went in November/December of 2011 for my honeymoon to Italy and Germany for a week each. I had a fucking blast. Go somewhere knowing you're going to spend a shitload of money. I don't think we spent under $200 a meal when we went out to dinner, but you just go in saying "fuck it, when will I be back again?" So live it up. I went to Rome, Florence, Venice, Verona, Munich and Berlin and only saw one fast food restaraunt. The waiters that I dealt with, legitimately cared Bout you. For instance, when we ate at a nice place in Venice, we sat down at 715 (we had 730 reservations, and the place was dead, they turned people away and I couldn't believe it. It eventually filled up with every seat taken, so I realize why they turned the couple away). The waiter plated and deboned our fish for us(try getting a $2.13 hr college kid to do that) talked to us, and after 3 hours there, never once tried to chase us off. We sat and enjoyed our food wherever we were, which is why it's so expensive, they expect you to stay. The folks in this place, Spektakle, in Munich(bartender and our waitress) actually let us stay past closing, and we talked about bands and all sorts of other stuff. It was genuinely awesome. Berlin, the people were a bit colder, but it was still cool.
I can see what you say about the socialism aspect of things, but you can't change their way of living, as its not your place to do so. Just enjoy it while you can, and see it for what it is, the actual birthplace of our culture/colony. And I disagree about the culture part, I actually felt smarter and a renaissance when I got back. I am going for 17 days this Christmas. We are doing Rome, Vienna, Munich and Paris with day trips planned to Salzburg, Nuremberg, and possibly London. I plan on packing a lot of money, and a great attitude(no homo) and have been taking German lessons as well. I'm stoked and can't wait to go back, and I'm sorry you had a bad time. I'm actually planning on grabbing a beer with a getbigger while in Austria, so anyone else on my itinerary, feel free to hit me up, I'll buy you a beer.
I honestly couldn't care less if Euro Zone decides to replace all of its current leadership with squirrels. I don't want to change their way of life. My only point is that they can keep it. I didn't spend my vacation time ranting in English to the natives about how pathetic Europe is. Also, my experiences in Europe are limited to 3 countries. I haven't been to Italy and I know for a fact that some of the European countries outside of the Euro zone are great places to live and visit.
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Good post..... I do believe our political system and social system is far superoir to the Europeans but I have always had this feeling that we Americans have been brainwashed into thinking that we should work so hard and settle for one weeks vacation every year (two if youre lucky)....my family is from the caribbean and they too take two hour breaks every day from 12pm to 2pm for siesta.....I was shocked at this when I visited....I'm just saying that we as Americans seem to be working MUCH HARDER than the rest of the world for not that much more benefit....I wish I could spend more time with family, have more time for myself and my hobbies and be able to get together and meet with friends everyday....maybe this in and of itself would improve our quality of life?..plus you make a good point about being able to travel more...that would be awesome....
Also to pay a little more so we could all retire at 50? Count me in!
Andre, if you're a math teacher-- please explain how our economy could possibly withstand duplicating the ass backward European approach to economics? Government workers in America (for the most part) don't retire until age 65 and usually only get half their salary+ social security. The government workforce is smaller than the private sector and as it stands now the country can't afford to pay them. What do you think will happen if the retirement age drops to 50? And just pay a little bit more? Dude, wake the fuck up and smell the coffee. You'll always end up paying "just a little bit more" to expand the welfare state until it collapses under its own weight. Look at the world around you. The socialist model fails every single time because there is never enough money.
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Andre, if you're a math teacher-- please explain how our economy could possibly withstand duplicating the ass backward European approach to economics? Government workers in America (for the most part) don't retire until age 65 and usually only get half their salary+ social security. The government workforce is smaller than the private sector and as it stands now the country can't afford to pay them. What do you think will happen if the retirement age drops to 50? And just pay a little bit more? Dude, wake the fuck up and smell the coffee. You'll always end up paying "just a little bit more" to expand the welfare state until it collapses under its own weight. Look at the world around you. The socialist model fails every single time because there is never enough money.
Andre lives in Mott Haven and still thinks socialism works. ::) ::)
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When traveling to foreign countries as often as I do, I never even bother to pay attention to their political climate. I won't be living, investing or voting there so I could care less. One thing that I have noticed in those places that universal health care has going for it is that in those countries the emphasis is put on it being highly PREVENTIVE care. Unlike here where most people see a doctor only when they have a problem, most (or rather most of the smart ones) in the universal care system see docs regularly (along with massage therapists, acupuncture specialists, ART therapists, etc..) before they have a problem they need a physician or the hospital for.
If you ever visit places like Capri, Amalfi, Corsica, Venice, etc.. (places where the residents walk almost everywhere) it is amazing to see people in their 60s that still look like they are in their early 40s.
Their vacation time allotment is also great. Which is the only reason I took my current employer over the other two that were interested in me. I have been here 7 years and have 6 weeks annual now. I asked for 6 weeks during the hiring process. They offered me 5 weeks to start and an extra week for every 5 years I worked. The second one offered 2 weeks per year plus and extra year for every 5 years I worked, and the third one offered a basic 2 week per year and an extra week every 10 years that I was employed. (Needless to say they didn't even get a call back from me)
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Andre, why do you believe the political & social systems are superior to those of Europe?
I do believe that our system here is far superior in terms of social stratification, upward mobility, and just our freedom in general.....I think its much easier to rise to the top here than in Europe since Europe is more of a class society than we are....I think over there you tend to stay in the bracket you are born into.....I also hate teh parliamentary system where you have so many different parties who all want a say....I much prefer the stark contrast of the two-party system....I also think we are just so much more free here....
But as I stated..I do think we need to begin examining the way our lives are structured over here.....so much work and so little time....and we do need to do more to take care of each other (such as with the universal healthcare)...and again I would love to retire at 50...but of course I would wrok another job or start a business
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Andre, if you're a math teacher-- please explain how our economy could possibly withstand duplicating the ass backward European approach to economics? Government workers in America (for the most part) don't retire until age 65 and usually only get half their salary+ social security. The government workforce is smaller than the private sector and as it stands now the country can't afford to pay them. What do you think will happen if the retirement age drops to 50? And just pay a little bit more? Dude, wake the fuck up and smell the coffee. You'll always end up paying "just a little bit more" to expand the welfare state until it collapses under its own weight. Look at the world around you. The socialist model fails every single time because there is never enough money.
the point you bring up is the age-old dilemma for socialist governments...how to take care of everyone and pay for it at the same time.....I honestly don't have an answer....no one does which is why socialism in practice is very tough to pull off...and when I said retire at 50, I was just musing...thats too early...but 55.....I think is doable....but we have to rein in massive entitlements.....and really spend every dollar wisely to make that happen
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When traveling to foreign countries as often as I do, I never even bother to pay attention to their political climate. I won't be living, investing or voting there so I could care less. One thing that I have noticed in those places that universal health care has going for it is that in those countries the emphasis is put on it being highly PREVENTIVE care. Unlike here where most people see a doctor only when they have a problem, most (or rather most of the smart ones) in the universal care system see docs regularly (along with massage therapists, acupuncture specialists, ART therapists, etc..) before they have a problem they need a physician or the hospital for.
If you ever visit places like Capri, Amalfi, Corsica, Venice, etc.. (places where the residents walk almost everywhere) it is amazing to see people in their 60s that still look like they are in their early 40s.
Their vacation time allotment is also great. Which is the only reason I took my current employer over the other two that were interested in me. I have been here 7 years and have 6 weeks annual now. I asked for 6 weeks during the hiring process. They offered me 5 weeks to start and an extra week for every 5 years I worked. The second one offered 2 weeks per year plus and extra year for every 5 years I worked, and the third one offered a basic 2 week per year and an extra week every 10 years that I was employed. (Needless to say they didn't even get a call back from me)
Agreed....in order for us to change our way of life and to become more socialist, we would have to be smart with how we spend money...and preventive care would make healthcare so much more efficient....as with making those people do public service who get welfare..maybe four hours per day cleaning parks, sweeping streets, cleaning out abandoned lots, etc...
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Agreed....in order for us to change our way of life and to become more socialist, we would have to be smart with how we spend money...and preventive care would make healthcare so much more efficient....as with making those people do public service who get welfare..maybe four hours per day cleaning parks, sweeping streets, cleaning out abandoned lots, etc...
How about you move to a socialist country and leave the rest of us alone.
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Agreed....in order for us to change our way of life and to become more socialist, we would have to be smart with how we spend money...and preventive care would make healthcare so much more efficient....as with making those people do public service who get welfare..maybe four hours per day cleaning parks, sweeping streets, cleaning out abandoned lots, etc...
The problem our country has with how this could work is that the people here (the ones contributing the biggest strain on society) are just lazy fucks. It isn't a political issue or a left or right personality and lifestyle because the lazy fucks encompass both parties. We have the best healthcare in the world available. However if it were free, getting these people to get off their asses for preventive care is going to be impossible. Hell you could send mobile vans to these people's homes and they still wouldn't even bother to open the door or make any effort to improve themselves. Preventive care costs very little up front and certainly saves a ton of money down the road before a little problem turns into a ER/hospital one. But those savings and the benefits will never materialize as long as people refuse to take advantage of it.
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Millions of Europeans Require Red Cross Food Aid
Spiegel.de ^
Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 7:47:43 AM by DeaconBenjamin
European Union families and individuals are increasingly reliant on charity organizations like the Red Cross for basic needs like food, water and shelter. While Germany is relatively unaffected, unemployment and austerity in countries like Spain make the problem even more severe.
Two-thirds of national Red Cross societies within the European Union distribute food aid -- a sign that the economic crisis in Europe has an alarming effect on poverty.
Yves Daccord, Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said that the scope of food distribution is the highest since the end of World War II.
The Spanish Red Cross supports 3 million Spaniards with food aid. Daccord said Spanish needs are so great that the organization solicits donations for domestic and foreign operations.
Middle Class Hard-Hit By Crisis
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies provides more detail on the food need. Last year, the Spanish Red Cross provided 73 million pounds of groceries to the needy. It also supported 21,500 people with water and electricity, or with financial aid in paying rent.
The organization's counterpart in Romania has operated a donation-based food distribution program since 2009. Three million people live in absolute poverty, according to the aid group, a figure that constitutes 14 percent of the country's total population. The relative poverty rate in Romania is also shockingly high, at 40 percent. Last year, the Romanian Red Cross distributed more than 1.1 million pounds of food to more than 81,000 needy families.
The IFRC also noted a rise in poverty in previously middle-class families and individuals. In Italy, the group noted a rise in the homeless population includes "separated and divorced men who end up impoverished or on the streets as they struggle to maintain themselves while keeping up child support and alimony payments."
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
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So after a 15 year hiatus, ....
seems you spent some time effort and money to keep your mind closed. Would it not have been easier cheaper and less stressful to just keep it closed at home ?
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I do believe that our system here is far superior in terms of social stratification, upward mobility, and just our freedom in general.....I think its much easier to rise to the top here than in Europe since Europe is more of a class society than we are....I think over there you tend to stay in the bracket you are born into.....I also hate teh parliamentary system where you have so many different parties who all want a say....I much prefer the stark contrast of the two-party system....I also think we are just so much more free here....
Interesting. And what do you consider as 'rising to the top'? Do you mean financially, socially, politically?
C'mon Andre, do you really believe the US 2 party system is superior to a multi-party parliamentary style system wherein all voices are heard, and co-operation is a MUST? I would think given what's been taking place lately, the merits of having a true alternative would be self-evident.
More free how? :o
I think there is more a perception of freedom, because that's what everyone is programmed to believe, but look around? Are you really free... or do you simply have the illusion of freedom?
- Can you drive without permission of the state, or do you need permission or license to do so?
- Can you marry without permission, or do you need permission in the form of a marriage license to do so?
- Can you choose to buy & consume a large sugary drink if you want? ok, but look how close you came.
- Can you choose to NOT have health insurance?
- Are you living within 100 miles of a US border or coastline, designated as a Constitution-free zone wherein your rights are denied?
But as I stated..I do think we need to begin examining the way our lives are structured over here.....so much work and so little time....and we do need to do more to take care of each other (such as with the universal healthcare)...and again I would love to retire at 50...but of course I would wrok another job or start a business
That's the problem... our lives are far too frequently "structured" for us rather than by us
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Agreed....in order for us to change our way of life and to become more socialist, we would have to be smart with how we spend money...and preventive care would make healthcare so much more efficient....as with making those people do public service who get welfare..maybe four hours per day cleaning parks, sweeping streets, cleaning out abandoned lots, etc...
I like the fact that you said "smart with how we spend money", as opposed to "smart with how we spend our money. I think that's one of the biggest problem, ...inappropriate spending, and the mistaken belief that the people's money is actually the government's to spend. Even today, people are looking at Social Security as some form of government benefit. They've even changed the name to "Federal Benefit payment" when it is infact your own money that was taken from you and spent without your permission.
Pay attention to your next Social Security income, whether you get a check or an electronic deposit....note what it is now called. Have you noticed, your Social Security check is now referred to as a "Federal Benefit Payment" ??? The government is now referring to your Social Security checks as a “Federal Benefit Payment.” This isn’t a benefit – its earned income! Not only did you all contribute to Social Security but your employers did too. It totaled 15% of your income before taxes. If you averaged $30K per year over your working life, that's close to $180,000 invested in Social Security. If you calculate the future value of your monthly investment in social security ($375/month, including both you and your employer’s contributions) at a meager 1% interest rate compounded monthly, after 40 years of working you'd have more than $1.3+ million dollars saved! This is your personal investment. Upon retirement, if you took out only 3% per year, you'd receive $39,318 per year, or $3,277 per month. That’s almost three times more than today’s average Social Security benefit of $1,230 per month, according to the Social Security Administration (Google it - it’s a fact).
And your retirement fund would last more than 33 years (until you're 98 if you retired at age 65)! I can only imagine how much better most average-income people could live in retirement if your government had just invested your money in low-risk interest-earning accounts. Instead, the folks in Washington pulled off a bigger Ponzi scheme than Bernie Madoff ever did. They took your money and used it elsewhere. They “forgot” that it was YOUR money they were taking. They didn’t have a referendum to ask you if you wanted to lend the money to them. And they didn’t pay interest on the debt they assumed. And recently, they’ve told you that the money won’t support you for very much longer. But is it your fault they misused your investments? And now, to add insult to injury, they’re calling it a “benefit,” as if you never worked to earn every penny of it. Just because they “borrowed” the money, doesn't mean that your investments were a charity!
As for making people do public service who get welfare ... that's simply another form of slavery imo.
I think a social safety net should be just that... a net to catch those who fall, ...and help them to fly agin, but it appears the way these programs are administered, it has become more of a net to catch people and ensure they remain caught.
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seems you spent some time effort and money to keep your mind closed. Would it not have been easier cheaper and less stressful to just keep it closed at home ?
Telling the truth is being close minded? I suppose I should have returned home and purchased a Che Guevara tee shirt and Obama / Biden bumper sticker to prove to the world how open minded I am. ::)
In that same vein, you could have saved some time and effort by not bothering to post a response in my close minded thread.
Hope this helps.
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Telling the truth is being close minded? I suppose I should have returned home and purchased a Che Guevara tee shirt and Obama / Biden bumper sticker to prove to the world how open minded I am. ::)
In that same vein, you could have saved some time and effort by not bothering to post a response in my close minded thread.
Hope this helps.
are you always this charming or did you make a special effort for this occasion?
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are you always this charming or did you make a special effort for this occasion?
You must be new here.
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BUMP for Socialism!
Millions of Europeans Require Red Cross Food Aid
Spiegel.de ^
Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 7:47:43 AM by DeaconBenjamin
European Union families and individuals are increasingly reliant on charity organizations like the Red Cross for basic needs like food, water and shelter. While Germany is relatively unaffected, unemployment and austerity in countries like Spain make the problem even more severe.
Two-thirds of national Red Cross societies within the European Union distribute food aid -- a sign that the economic crisis in Europe has an alarming effect on poverty.
Yves Daccord, Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said that the scope of food distribution is the highest since the end of World War II.
The Spanish Red Cross supports 3 million Spaniards with food aid. Daccord said Spanish needs are so great that the organization solicits donations for domestic and foreign operations.
Middle Class Hard-Hit By Crisis
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies provides more detail on the food need. Last year, the Spanish Red Cross provided 73 million pounds of groceries to the needy. It also supported 21,500 people with water and electricity, or with financial aid in paying rent.
The organization's counterpart in Romania has operated a donation-based food distribution program since 2009. Three million people live in absolute poverty, according to the aid group, a figure that constitutes 14 percent of the country's total population. The relative poverty rate in Romania is also shockingly high, at 40 percent. Last year, the Romanian Red Cross distributed more than 1.1 million pounds of food to more than 81,000 needy families.
The IFRC also noted a rise in poverty in previously middle-class families and individuals. In Italy, the group noted a rise in the homeless population includes "separated and divorced men who end up impoverished or on the streets as they struggle to maintain themselves while keeping up child support and alimony payments."
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
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Millions of Europeans Require Red Cross Food Aid
Spiegel.de ^
Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 7:47:43 AM by DeaconBenjamin
European Union families and individuals are increasingly reliant on charity organizations like the Red Cross for basic needs like food, water and shelter. While Germany is relatively unaffected, unemployment and austerity in countries like Spain make the problem even more severe.
Two-thirds of national Red Cross societies within the European Union distribute food aid -- a sign that the economic crisis in Europe has an alarming effect on poverty.
Yves Daccord, Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said that the scope of food distribution is the highest since the end of World War II.
The Spanish Red Cross supports 3 million Spaniards with food aid. Daccord said Spanish needs are so great that the organization solicits donations for domestic and foreign operations.
Middle Class Hard-Hit By Crisis
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies provides more detail on the food need. Last year, the Spanish Red Cross provided 73 million pounds of groceries to the needy. It also supported 21,500 people with water and electricity, or with financial aid in paying rent.
The organization's counterpart in Romania has operated a donation-based food distribution program since 2009. Three million people live in absolute poverty, according to the aid group, a figure that constitutes 14 percent of the country's total population. The relative poverty rate in Romania is also shockingly high, at 40 percent. Last year, the Romanian Red Cross distributed more than 1.1 million pounds of food to more than 81,000 needy families.
The IFRC also noted a rise in poverty in previously middle-class families and individuals. In Italy, the group noted a rise in the homeless population includes "separated and divorced men who end up impoverished or on the streets as they struggle to maintain themselves while keeping up child support and alimony payments."
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
All this poverty & lack, and not because Europeans weren't working themselves to death... but because their countries leaders betrayed them, and put them on the hook for debts that are not their own. The problem is not that they are lazy as many in the west imply... the problem is they have been enslaved by bankers, ...as is transfolding in the west. The USA is Greece x 1000
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BUMP for Socialism!
But I bet you didn't have a problem with socialism during Hurricane Sandy? or did you? ???
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All this poverty & lack, and not because Europeans weren't working themselves to death... but because their countries leaders betrayed them, and put them on the hook for debts that are not their own. The problem is not that they are lazy as many in the west imply... the problem is they have been enslaved by bankers, ...as is transfolding in the west. The USA is Greece x 1000
Sorry, spent too much of my life growing up in Europe to buy this bullshit. They are lazy. Not maybe. Not kinda. They are flat out lazy.
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Wtf, I thought this thread was about euro tripping? Lets bring this back to life with talk of previous trips. I am actually looking into buying a two bedroom place over there, but am not sure so I am planning more visits. Place is awesome, and if you don't feel smarter when you get back, you're either doing it wrong or you forgot to pack your brain.
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Sorry, spent too much of my life growing up in Europe to buy this bullshit. They are lazy. Not maybe. Not kinda. They are flat out lazy.
Maybe they were simply not programmed to work their asses off for corporate overlords?
How is wanting to have some quality of life lazy?
People should work to LIVE, ...not live to WORK.
Where in Europe did you grow up?
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But I bet you didn't have a problem with socialism during Hurricane Sandy? or did you? ???
Disaster relief aid for domestic emergencies such as Sandy are financed by two sources: money the government has already confiscated from the tax payer and through voluntary charitable donations. In any case, the aforementioned does not equate socialism. Hurricane's Sandy doesn't happen for generations at a time. Bad weather isn't going to collapse the United States of America. And providing funding to help citizens who are truly in need does not result in a a mysterious increase of catastrophic storms. With respect to socialism, it's the exact opposite. While socialism is purportedly being used for the good of "all" people its real world application always ends up being implemented for the continued dependency of one group at the expense of another. By putting a humanitarian spin on what is essentially soft tyranny, the socialist model runs every country who follows its tired formula into the ground by attempting to alleviate problems that are either (a) unsolvable or (b) can't be solved by raising taxes.
Disaster relief aid won't encourage Sandy's unisex sibling Pat to destroy the eastern sea board every two weeks in order to get more funding. Hurricanes don't have a lobby in Washington. Yet with socialism its the same old story: The bigger government gets the more it needs and the worse things turn out.
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With respect to socialism, it's the exact opposite. While socialism is purportedly being used for the good of "all" people its real world application always ends up being implemented for the continued dependency of one group at the expense of another. By putting a humanitarian spin on what is essentially soft tyranny, the socialist model runs every country who follows its tired formula into the ground by attempting to alleviate problems that are either (a) unsolvable or (b) can't be solved by raising taxes. .
Agreed, the "social safety net" is great in theory, but it's practical applications makes one question it's real reason for being. That said, you have to admit some forms of socialism do work... fire departments for instance. Even the disgusting & corrupted police depts have a purpose no?
I just think it hardly paints an accurate picture to blame the ills of Europe on socialism when it has been corporate elitism that has created the fiasco... it's a takeover by those who "do God's work", and they've got people so pre-occupied with fighting each other, they're not even recognizing their true enemy.
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Sorry, spent too much of my life growing up in Europe to buy this bullshit. They are lazy. Not maybe. Not kinda. They are flat out lazy.
I have relatives in Italy. They are lazy panzie pukes. I thank God daily my ancestors came here and left that mess.
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Sorry, spent too much of my life growing up in Europe to buy this bullshit. They are lazy. Not maybe. Not kinda. They are flat out lazy.
Did you work in Europe also?
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I have relatives in Italy. They are lazy panzie pukes. I thank God daily my ancestors came here and left that mess.
So because YOUR relatives are lazy pukes, that means ALL Italians are lazy? ::) ::)
At least the Italians are smart enough to elect their own genuine grass roots leader outside of the corporate elite.
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So because YOUR relatives are lazy pukes, that means ALL Italians are lazy? ::) ::)
At least the Italians are smart enough to elect their own genuine grass roots leader outside of the corporate elite.
Most zips in Italy are lazy.
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Wtf, I thought this thread was about euro tripping? Lets bring this back to life with talk of previous trips. I am actually looking into buying a two bedroom place over there, but am not sure so I am planning more visits. Place is awesome, and if you don't feel smarter when you get back, you're either doing it wrong or you forgot to pack your brain.
BINGO!!!
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Did you work in Europe also?
Only when we were in Greece.
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Only when we were in Greece.
What was your experience from that?
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You're barely literate so the odds of you understanding anything in that post are slim to none.
This is a thread for people who have actually been outside their trailor park. Now go back to fucking your mother/sister.
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This is a thread for people who have actually been outside their trailor park. Now go back to fucking your mother/sister.
Haha, you're an illiterate moron. Get a fucking job already, parasite.
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What was your experience from that?
Lot of good people and I'm not trying to bash, but they are very lazy as a whole. It's a good place to visit/vacation but certainly not to live there.
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This is a thread for people who have actually been outside their trailor park. Now go back to fucking your mother/sister.
Dude, this isn't the G&O...keep the family shit outta here.
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Dude, this isn't the G&O...keep the family shit outta here.
My bad.
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Dude, this isn't the G&O...keep the family shit outta here.
Nope, it's the politics board where trolling, name calling & ad hom attacks are not supposed to be permitted either.
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Nope, it's the politics board where trolling, name calling & ad hom attacks are not supposed to be permitted either.
Neither are your veiled advertisements for gold products and the other various, off-topic ramblings you've been posting.
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Wtf, I thought this thread was about euro tripping? Lets bring this back to life with talk of previous trips. I am actually looking into buying a two bedroom place over there, but am not sure so I am planning more visits. Place is awesome, and if you don't feel smarter when you get back, you're either doing it wrong or you forgot to pack your brain.
1. Would the property be an investment, a vacation home, or both? I assume you'll speak with professional on the matter as buying property overseas can be a tricky proposition (the relevant variables can and do vary widely between countries, even within Europe: what a country's rules are for foreign ownership, what entity would you want to own the property, taxes and treatment of rental income, etc.).
2. It isn't readily apparent to me what you mean by feeling 'smarter' when you return from a trip to Europe. Are you referring to the prototypical Western European countries? I assume so, since there are a variety of places where you'll feel dumber upon returning.
While it's true that new and interesting experiences stimulate the brain in a variety of ways and can preserve/enhance cognitive function, it still isn't clear in what sense you intend 'smart' to be taken. I certainly won't return and say, be able to do mental math any better. Maybe you really mean something like 'cultured'?
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Neither are your veiled advertisements for gold products and the other various, off-topic ramblings you've been posting.
Topical events taking place in the world are not advertisements veiled or otherwise.
So many of you have been so mind controlled & programmed to produce pavlovian responses and to see boogie men where none exist. Your even trying to mention gold is off topic. ::) ::)
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seems you spent some time effort and money to keep your mind closed. Would it not have been easier cheaper and less stressful to just keep it closed at home ?
;D
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I like the fact that you said "smart with how we spend money", as opposed to "smart with how we spend our money. I think that's one of the biggest problem, ...inappropriate spending, and the mistaken belief that the people's money is actually the government's to spend. Even today, people are looking at Social Security as some form of government benefit. They've even changed the name to "Federal Benefit payment" when it is infact your own money that was taken from you and spent without your permission.
Pay attention to your next Social Security income, whether you get a check or an electronic deposit....note what it is now called. Have you noticed, your Social Security check is now referred to as a "Federal Benefit Payment" ??? The government is now referring to your Social Security checks as a “Federal Benefit Payment.” This isn’t a benefit – its earned income! Not only did you all contribute to Social Security but your employers did too. It totaled 15% of your income before taxes. If you averaged $30K per year over your working life, that's close to $180,000 invested in Social Security. If you calculate the future value of your monthly investment in social security ($375/month, including both you and your employer’s contributions) at a meager 1% interest rate compounded monthly, after 40 years of working you'd have more than $1.3+ million dollars saved! This is your personal investment. Upon retirement, if you took out only 3% per year, you'd receive $39,318 per year, or $3,277 per month. That’s almost three times more than today’s average Social Security benefit of $1,230 per month, according to the Social Security Administration (Google it - it’s a fact).
And your retirement fund would last more than 33 years (until you're 98 if you retired at age 65)! I can only imagine how much better most average-income people could live in retirement if your government had just invested your money in low-risk interest-earning accounts. Instead, the folks in Washington pulled off a bigger Ponzi scheme than Bernie Madoff ever did. They took your money and used it elsewhere. They “forgot” that it was YOUR money they were taking. They didn’t have a referendum to ask you if you wanted to lend the money to them. And they didn’t pay interest on the debt they assumed. And recently, they’ve told you that the money won’t support you for very much longer. But is it your fault they misused your investments? And now, to add insult to injury, they’re calling it a “benefit,” as if you never worked to earn every penny of it. Just because they “borrowed” the money, doesn't mean that your investments were a charity!
As for making people do public service who get welfare ... that's simply another form of slavery imo.
I think a social safety net should be just that... a net to catch those who fall, ...and help them to fly agin, but it appears the way these programs are administered, it has become more of a net to catch people and ensure they remain caught.
interesting and informative....great job...good post
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How about you move to a socialist country and leave the rest of us alone.
how about you weigh in with some intellect instead of putdowns?
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This is a thread for people who have actually been outside their trailor park. Now go back to fucking your mother/sister.
;D
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Every country has its ups and downs
AKA as long as the country has plenty of large cock, your down.
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1. Would the property be an investment, a vacation home, or both? I assume you'll speak with professional on the matter as buying property overseas can be a tricky proposition (the relevant variables can and do vary widely between countries, even within Europe: what a country's rules are for foreign ownership, what entity would you want to own the property, taxes and treatment of rental income, etc.).
2. It isn't readily apparent to me what you mean by feeling 'smarter' when you return from a trip to Europe. Are you referring to the prototypical Western European countries? I assume so, since there are a variety of places where you'll feel dumber upon returning.
While it's true that new and interesting experiences stimulate the brain in a variety of ways and can preserve/enhance cognitive function, it still isn't clear in what sense you intend 'smart' to be taken. I certainly won't return and say, be able to do mental math any better. Maybe you really mean something like 'cultured'?
1. Depending on which country I decide to buy will determine whether or not I will use it as a rental propert. From what I understand, some countries are a bit different when it comes to rights of the tenant and rights of the owner. I am more likely to buy a condo in St Maarten because of proximity to the states and the lack of propert taxes etc. Europe is probably more of a pipe dream at this point, but still on my list of goals.
2. It may have been better for me to use "learned" after visiting. The amount of knowledge you gain and sights you see ( I did private walking tours) and the subsequent reading on these subjects after visiting gave me a feeling of being more educated. So no, it didn't help me solve any math problems, but I definately gained a wealth of knowledge by going, and as you said, "cultured".
Have you ever been, or do you live there now?
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Due to many of the nice(r) places in EU being located where they have cold weather at times of the year, I couldn't imagine purchasing property there. There is really no "investment" property there. To do so would require one to enlist a managing agency to rent the place out during the year. When is it most likely to be rented? The nice and warm months. When are you most likely to visit? The nice and warm months. See what I mean? However, buying a little pied-a-terre in Paris would be the best bet if you are single and want an escape place for the summers.
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Europe is probably more of a pipe dream at this point, but still on my list of goals.
I'd say it is liable to remain a pipe dream, and rightfully so: the laws are complex (EU rules are layered on top of country-specific statutes), acquiring finance is difficult, the value of the property you buy will to be tethered to the outcome of the Eurozone crisis, and once management fees and local taxes are factored in, it isn't clear how much profit potential even exists anyway -- except perhaps in the distressed peripheral countries, though they may simply keep falling rather than recover in full.
I will soon own a rental property there, but merely due to an Act of Zeus (God is overrated) creating a convergence of factors such that it was worth it rather than proper overseas investment acumen. It just doesn't seem a worthwhile proposition for most pure outsiders.
Interestingly, Central and South America supposedly contain great opportunities for real estate investment, though I don't know about you, but I have approximately zero interest in spending any time in these regions.
2. It may have been better for me to use "learned" after visiting. The amount of knowledge you gain and sights you see ( I did private walking tours) and the subsequent reading on these subjects after visiting gave me a feeling of being more educated. So no, it didn't help me solve any math problems, but I definately gained a wealth of knowledge by going, and as you said, "cultured".
Yes, that sounds more reasonable.
Have you ever been, or do you live there now?
I lived in the Mediterranean for over a year and have traveled to the majority of the prototypical tourist destinations on the continent, albeit for a short period of time per location (breadth rather than depth).
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Personally, I love to travel both across the U.S. and to Europe. I cannot remember ever having a bad experience while abroad. My son lives in a small village in Bavaria, which is extremely bucolic and welcoming. His wife has a lot of family there. When my wife and I visit we are always treated exceptionally well and with warmth and respect. Perhaps this sets a tone for our European travels.
My aunt lives in rural France. The hard part about visiting her is leaving when it is time to travel on. She lives in a 300 year old plus family country home with eleven bedrooms and situated on forty acres. It is considered the castle of the village. There is nothing quite like the French countryside.
All of the above being said, after a month or so of traveling, it is always great to be home again. I guess there is no place like home.