Ok, not football at all, but it matters, eventually.

[spaldy]

BTW, the one thing the US has that you don't is the ability to type the above. You post this and someone that's offended or in charge of monitoring "hate speech" comes down on you like a ton of bricks. Doesn't matter if what you say is right or wrong. Now you have a overlord that determines what's "correct thinking".

That's also why the US has the second amendment. You have zero ways of fighting back even if so inclined to do so. It's a little harder when your serfs are armed. Our founders did not arm us to protect our homes or put food on the table. They armed us to fight the "tyranny of government". It's a concept that many Europeans and Australians don't understand. it's also why the Aussies were able to forcibly lock people away in "camps" and even make them pay for it during covid. As disgraceful of a chapter in their history as the US internment camps of Japanese Americans in WWII.

This is dark thread and I'll bow out but your self assured nature on how right your side is and how wrong the other side in reflects a lack of understanding of the bigger picture of control of the masses.

[WTF11]

BTW, the one thing the US has that you don't is the ability to type the above. You post this and someone that's offended or in charge of monitoring "hate speech" comes down on you like a ton of bricks. Doesn't matter if what you say is right or wrong. Now you have a overlord that determines what's "correct thinking".

That's also why the US has the second amendment. You have zero ways of fighting back even if so inclined to do so. It's a little harder when your serfs are armed. Our founders did not arm us to protect our homes or put food on the table. They armed us to fight the "tyranny of government". It's a concept that many Europeans and Australians don't understand. it's also why the Aussies were able to forcibly lock people away in "camps" and even make them pay for it during covid. As disgraceful of a chapter in their history as the US internment camps of Japanese Americans in WWII.

This is dark thread and I'll bow out but your self assured nature on how right your side is and how wrong the other side in reflects a lack of understanding of the bigger picture of control of the masses.

Err, you suggest if I was to post something that was contrary to officaldom I'd get the boys coming round? Not sure which UK think I live in, but I suspect it's a good deal more "free" than your "land of the free, home of the brave". The USA is (in)famous for its litigious habit, everyone has a lawsuit out against someone else, the lawyers must be laughing all the way to the bank. The UK isn't perfect by any means, but the right to speak freely is (usually!) well observed, and (within certain understandable limits) we can say or do what we like (the recent pro-Palestinian protests are an example, even though some took it a bit too far and were arrested for causing criminal damage, all very well captured on various live news outlets).

As for your much vaunted Second Amendment, we have a policing policy the works by consent, as opposed to armed force, have had for just about the whole of the last 200 years (round about when the USA came into being), so we don't need to buy assault rifles, pump-action shotguns, sub-machine guns, "bump" stocks that seek to get round the ban on machine guns etc etc etc, and to wander round carrying lethal weapons in order to "defend themselves" from what I ask, or fighting back against?????? Worth remembering that In 2022, 48,2041 people died by firearms in the United States — an average of one death every 11 minutes. Over 27,032 people died by firearm suicide, 19,651 died by firearm homicide, 463 died by unintentional gun injury, an estimated 643 were fatally shot by law enforcement.

In the UK, there were 29 homicides by shooting in the year ending March 2023. I know where I feel safest.

I don't say I'm right about any of the nominees, simply pointing out, or questioning the suitability, of those who are happy to engage in ***ual intercourse with an under age person as long he can pay her off, or people with no experience whatsoever in the area they are expected to head up, or mysoginists, convicted felons etc etc etc are the kind of people that the citizens of the United States of America think are suitable in any way shape or form. There is right or wrong in all of this, that's for sure.

[spaldy]

Yes, you are policed ?by consent?. I?m sure the 68 million Brit?s are all on board with cameras at every street corner, Bobbie?s in horseback busting heads and arresting who they see fit. You also have strict immigration to ensure you only admit who you see fit. They also spend 3 times more on law enforcement and have an area 1/100th of the area to patrol. Quite a few of our states are larger than England. Apples to oranges.

Remind me again on who determines ?proper limits? on free speech?. Would that be the same people that police you by consent and collect taxes? Maybe the same ones that run the NHS and dictate to you what to inject in your body or when you are alliwed to leave your house or determine if you need medical treatment and how long to wait or if you are even worth treatment. Yes, it?s obvious to everyone how free you are

[WTF11]

Yes, you are policed ?by consent?. I?m sure the 68 million Brit?s are all on board with cameras at every street corner, Bobbie?s in horseback busting heads and arresting who they see fit. You also have strict immigration to ensure you only admit who you see fit. They also spend 3 times more on law enforcement and have an area 1/100th of the area to patrol. Quite a few of our states are larger than England. Apples to oranges.

Remind me again on who determines ?proper limits? on free speech?. Would that be the same people that police you by consent and collect taxes? Maybe the same ones that run the NHS and dictate to you what to inject in your body or when you are alliwed to leave your house or determine if you need medical treatment and how long to wait or if you are even worth treatment. Yes, it?s obvious to everyone how free you are

You need to get a passport if you don't already have one and visit the place you quite clearly know the square root of f00k all about.

This isn't a "dark" thread it's an opportunity you have seized upon to spew delusional nonsense about a place you know nothing about . At least I have lived and worked in various parts of your country and fortunately never come across anyine who holds your views.

And of my posts in this thread.

[Monaco_Totty]

You need to get a passport if you don't already have one and visit the place you quite clearly know the square root of f00k all about.

This isn't a "dark" thread it's an opportunity you have seized upon to spew delusional nonsense about a place you know nothing about . At least I have lived and worked in various parts of your country and fortunately never come across anyine who holds your views.

And of my posts in this thread.

What decade were your working visits to USA ?

According to the USA Department of Labour, roughly 8.7 million jobs (about 7%) were shed from February 2008 to February 2010 which must have been pretty rough times back then in the States.

Historians could also argue American decline was prevalent in the 50s, 70s & 80s too - as well as the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.

So surely Spaldy would/should be entitled to express his opinion on behalf of his American folks ?

USA history not my bag but in my limited reading then then I'd suggest the1960's were arguably the years of greatest social change in American history as the country entered that decade full of idealism & hope, with the Civil Rights movement gathering steam under a 'charismatic President' who rallied the nation to explore a new frontier, many historians would argue.

My thinking is that WTF maybe the elder in years (with regard to Spaldy) so was interested what decade did WTF visit the States to exchange working schedules & guage local opinion as I know Spaldy has a hell of a 'Factotum' to gauge an overall valid opinion via having so many diverse activities with responsibilities over his career, which must be taken into account, surely in any debate ?

I'll just add when recently in UK I was talking to a person aged 50 who should be able to retire when they reach 67 but it had been estimated they would need to save an extra ?370 (370 Pounds) per month to provide an income to cover any gap income generated by her early diagnosed illness that may cause intermittent issues between ages of 63 & 67 !

Not gonna knock my country of birth but jeez, when going back home to visit London, Cambridge & York I dunno what happened to the ethic of British idealism & hope, particularly for 21 to 50 year olds currently - thats just visiting family, friends & a stay in my fee paid Medical facility who hold my contracted records for specialised ongoing medical fee paying treatments with female patients of mixed age.

Having just taken the plunge to buy property again, its certainly food for thought as the fact is I simply could not have done that in the UK but I do feel comfortable to release my capital again into securing a future by investing in realistic value among a realistic local society with human experiences to share & basically being amongst everyday people in ordinary but beautiful settings.

Just saying (as the voice of youth) on 'ere.

[Ozwhites]

WTF is an expert on Australia too. Is there any country in the world that the know-it-all isn't more educated on than those living there....and been able to tell them what they are doing wrong? Please let the poor bugger have the last say for his own peace of mind....

Nuff said...again! 😆

[WTF11]

WTF is an expert on Australia too. Is there any country in the world that the know-it-all isn't more educated on than those living there....and been able to tell them what they are doing wrong? Please let the poor bugger have the last say for his own peace of mind....

Nuff said...again! ��

No I'm NOT an expert on Australia. Never been there, never lived there, although I do have some experience of working with those who escaped back to blightly in more recent times. And as for the insult I doled out some time ago, I thought I'd already apologised for that, the red wine doings it's usual trick?

[WTF11]

What decade were your working visits to USA ?

According to the USA Department of Labour, roughly 8.7 million jobs (about 7%) were shed from February 2008 to February 2010 which must have been pretty rough times back then in the States.

Historians could also argue American decline was prevalent in the 50s, 70s & 80s too - as well as the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.

So surely Spaldy would/should be entitled to express his opinion on behalf of his American folks ?

USA history not my bag but in my limited reading then then I'd suggest the1960's were arguably the years of greatest social change in American history as the country entered that decade full of idealism & hope, with the Civil Rights movement gathering steam under a 'charismatic President' who rallied the nation to explore a new frontier, many historians would argue.

My thinking is that WTF maybe the elder in years (with regard to Spaldy) so was interested what decade did WTF visit the States to exchange working schedules & guage local opinion as I know Spaldy has a hell of a 'Factotum' to gauge an overall valid opinion via having so many diverse activities with responsibilities over his career, which must be taken into account, surely in any debate ?

I'll just add when recently in UK I was talking to a person aged 50 who should be able to retire when they reach 67 but it had been estimated they would need to save an extra ?370 (370 Pounds) per month to provide an income to cover any gap income generated by her early diagnosed illness that may cause intermittent issues between ages of 63 & 67 !

Not gonna knock my country of birth but jeez, when going back home to visit London, Cambridge & York I dunno what happened to the ethic of British idealism & hope, particularly for 21 to 50 year olds currently - thats just visiting family, friends & a stay in my fee paid Medical facility who hold my contracted records for specialised ongoing medical fee paying treatments with female patients of mixed age.

Having just taken the plunge to buy property again, its certainly food for thought as the fact is I simply could not have done that in the UK but I do feel comfortable to release my capital again into securing a future by investing in realistic value among a realistic local society with human experiences to share & basically being amongst everyday people in ordinary but beautiful settings.

Just saying (as the voice of youth) on 'ere.

I worked in various parts of the USA (as I have already indicated earlier in this thread), and from the early 80s (when I went on my own), briefly just before the millenium and shortly thereafter, including a period covering the 911 atrocities, and on to the late 2010s when my wife and I lived in New York and Florida.

I worked with and for American companies over a period of nearly 4 decades in various capacities and delivering a variety of major projects to the rail and construction industry, not exactly the kind of industries where ?soft? as a notion of working environments springs to mind. I will take any experience Spaldy may have into account once he gives ANY kind of indication that he has such experience, by which I mean broadly equal to my decades-long experience not only of working with his countrymen and women, but those from Africa and the Far East.

Having been challenged to provide examples of where I worked and who I worked with and for, and provided the same, all I have seen from him in response is the delusional ramblings of someone I say again, who has the square root of zero knowledge of the United Kingdom save what he has been able to glean from the fervent imagination of the hacks working for Truth Media.

Have I suggested I have anything but respect for the working people of the USA? By all means try finding such an indication. Your suggestion is in any case irrelevant in the context of what Spaldy posted in post #283 and others, which haven?t made any mention of the undoubted decline in various aspects of the economies of the western world in general and the USA in particular. #283 and others DO contain virulent, misguided, totally incorrect and incoherent statements attacking MY country, without (I suspect) ever having set foot on this sceptred isle, for the reason (I suspect) that a ?limey? dared to question the wisdom of the American people in electing a mysoginist convicted felon as their future President and the ?quality? of those he has nominated for high office.

I have no issue with Spaldy expressing himself in areas that he has any relevant experience, but what he said in post #283 is so far from the truth, including the bizarre suggestion that we live under some kind of marshal law with ?bobbies on horseback busting heads?, where we are told what to have injected into us, and our ability to leave our homes is controlled by ?someone????????

You and yours have some experience of living in the UK. You may have chosen to leave as a result of personal experience and the result of the Brexit referendum, but are you telling me (and others) that you see what Spaldy wrote as in any way shape or form correct?

As to pensions, I can well imagine, as Spaldy has stated, that there are many in the USA who face uncertainty in their later years, and that is just as true here, and in many parts of Europe (my Dutch friends have similar concerns). That?s again frankly an irrelevance as to the post were are discussing as pensions weren?t referred to

As to how disappointed you might be wrt British idealism, I suspect you will find idealism much diminished the world over, again an irrelevance in terms of the statements Spaldy made wrt to the UK, where reference to idealism of any kind was significant by its omission.
And I also suspect that were you a US citizen, unless VERY fortunate to have been covered by comprehensive medical insurance from and age when most wouldn?t consider it necessary, your specialised medical treatment would be a thing of fantasy, unlike here in the UK, where ability to pay is not a factor in assessing need (albeit that huge demand creates long waiting lists (NOT the same as the statement made in Spaldys post, as I would hope you would agree)).

I?m pleased for you wrt to the investment in property, and I?d agree that it is far more viable to do so in France given the generality of property prices there, but again, looking back not only at #283, such things appear not to feature in Spaldys responses to my posts.

This is my last post on this thread (Sure you will be pleased Oz!)

[BelfastAndy]

#depressing

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Hope it?s not a case of promises waiting to be broken ?.