Has America become relegated to third world status in recent years?

Kaybaykwah

Kaybaykwah wrote: »

What does it mean that he has 3 houses that are modest in price relative to their location, except for the Washington one?

Bernie talks a lot about the poor in the US but he's so far ahead of them in wealth. Is he rich compared to Obama? Nope... but then, Obama isn't going around championing the poor and criticising those with wealth (Obama had different detractors)

He is not a communist, he is only fighting for more fairness in Health, Education and all the stuff you knock the US for not having.

Care to point out where I have made any such comments? You might want to reread my posts. I'm typically consistent with what I refer to.

He has made money from book writing, but he is also a well-paid politician and has been since the days he was the mayor of Burlington, Vt in the seventies. He did a lot of good there, is known as the first socialist mayor of a city in the US. Nothing about Burlington screams that it is commie, but it certainly is known as one of the top small cities in the US for QOL. I know it well, it is close to my home and have gone many times. The Vermonters' mentality is a very cooperative one. His ideas, which are deemed radical in the rest of the country have a more fertile ground there, and in fact, they did implement a state law to balance the federal deficit in Healthcare by creating the first state-wide universal scheme. It was later brought down by an incoming republican Admin in 2015.

Yup. You agree with his proposed policies. Personally, I think, like many politicians, he's big on promises and short on realities. He won't have the political backing/support within the government/congress to implement most of his plans ... and if I can know that, then he would know it too..

The presidential position isn't that powerful. It's influential towards big business, because presidents typically help them (favors owed and all that). Bernie, in being the opposite will have far less political collateral to get those businesses/lobbys behind him, which creates a huge wave of opposition to many of his policy changes even before he goes looking for actual political support.

So, he's making grandiose claims of bringing about equality, helping the poor, etc, all the while not destroying the economy through his targeting of the bedrock of the US economy, ie. big business. I've had a look at his plans, looked at the analysis by people better qualified than me, and.... yeah. He reminds me a lot of SF here in Ireland... Big on promises, short on details about how it would come about.

I said it was no news, not fake news, but the piece in my mind did nothing to discredit him in spite of the negative intention.

You said it was worse than fake new, no-news. It's not worse, because it's grounded in reality.

Bernie having three houses (one of which was inherited) and being a millionaire is the greatest bollocks argument of all time. He is the poorest member of the Senate.


If you're poor and want better for the poor - you're jealous.

If you're rich and want better for the poor - you're a filthy hypocrite.


Some people just hate the poor.

Kaybaykwah

Deleted User wrote: »

Bernie talks a lot about the poor in the US but he's so far ahead of them in wealth. Is he rich compared to Obama? Nope... but then, Obama isn't going around championing the poor and criticising those with wealth (Obama had different detractors)



Care to point out where I have made any such comments? You might want to reread my posts. I'm typically consistent with what I refer to.



Yup. You agree with his proposed policies. Personally, I think, like many politicians, he's big on promises and short on realities. He won't have the political backing/support within the government/congress to implement most of his plans ... and if I can know that, then he would know it too..

The presidential position isn't that powerful. It's influential towards big business, because presidents typically help them (favors owed and all that). Bernie, in being the opposite will have far less political collateral to get those businesses/lobbys behind him, which creates a huge wave of opposition to many of his policy changes even before he goes looking for actual political support.

So, he's making grandiose claims of bringing about equality, helping the poor, etc, all the while not destroying the economy through his targeting of the bedrock of the US economy, ie. big business. I've had a look at his plans, looked at the analysis by people better qualified than me, and.... yeah. He reminds me a lot of SF here in Ireland... Big on promises, short on details about how it would come about.



You said it was worse than fake new, no-news. It's not worse, because it's grounded in reality.

What reality?

You are not allowed to own houses, now?

When did he ever claim that poverty for all is what he strives for?

As for his agenda, a lot of people were behind him, but obviously, the corporations, big pharma, were eventually going to get the better of him.
He is certainly too far left for your corporate endebted Dems. No news again.

Kaybaykwah

Kaybaykwah wrote: »

What reality?

You are not allowed to own houses, now?

Well... let's stick to this reality for now.. you seem to be having enough trouble with it.... and sticking to what I actually wrote.

Where did I say anything about being unable to own houses? That's a second time you've misrepresented what I've said.. are we going to go for third, before you actually deal with what I did write?

When did he ever claim that poverty for all is what he strives for?

As for his agenda, a lot of people were behind him, but obviously, the corporations, big pharma, were eventually going to get the better of him.
He is certainly too far left for your corporate endebted Dems.

For my corporate endebted Dems. You're doing it again....

No news again.

Yup. I got the impression that you have fingers in your ears and you're screaming "la la la la la"

Itssoeasy

No it hasn't been relegated to third world status. Yes, there are problems with America in many ways but let's not go mad. The USA is like the old county house that's still got a presence when you look at it but needs a bit of fixing inside with problems. The issue is unlike previous presidents where they've kept the walls of the house up and made changes to the inside, trump is doing a basil falwty job on the supporting wall of the house.

The issue with America is that is has serious advantages over most if not all the countries in the world. The problem is issues that have no place being made political have become overtly political. The wearing of masks ffs is not a political issue in any other place in the world bar the USA and we can see the results of that. There was a Florida republican on CNN last night saying that wearing a mask was an infringement of some right in the Florida constitution.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Bernie having three houses (one of which was inherited) and being a millionaire is the greatest bollocks argument of all time. He is the poorest member of the Senate.


If you're poor and want better for the poor - you're jealous.

If you're rich and want better for the poor - you're a filthy hypocrite.


Some people just hate the poor.

Do you consider Bernie to be poor? If not, then nobody here is "hating the poor". You're simply elevating Bernie to sainthood and being overly dramatic.

Consider the posts made.

ckerryman wrote:

He has done well for himself.

Hardly a horrible attack on Bernie. Nor was mine. Some people here are far too sensitive.

Kaybaykwah

Deleted User wrote: »

Well... let's stick to this reality for now.. you seem to be having enough trouble with it.... and sticking to what I actually wrote.

Where did I say anything about being unable to own houses? That's a second time you've misrepresented what I've said.. are we going to go for third, before you actually deal with what I did write?



For my corporate endebted Dems. You're doing it again....



Yup. I got the impression that you have fingers in your ears and you're screaming "la la la la la"

Lol.

You're the one who came up with;

"The problem with American politicians is they tend to be wealthy themselves."

And, your Dems equals "yer Dems", so you don't keep being miscon-screwed.

Kaybaykwah

Kaybaykwah wrote: »

Lol.

You're the one who came up with;

"The problem with American politicians is they tend to be wealthy themselves."

Yes, I did... He's a millionaire, whereas the poor in the US are very far away from such a status.

But if that's all you took from my post, then i'm feeling quite vindicated in saying it all.

And, your Dems equals "yer Dems", so you don't keep being miscon-screwed.

:rolleyes:

"Why is someone who has been a congressman or senator for thirty years, earning on average c.$150,000/yr, a millionaire?"

It should be

"Why the f*ck are so many Americans so desperately poor?"

*Hint* It's because for several decades the 1% have been ciphering the wealth away from them.

In the last 30 years the 1% have increased their wealth by $22,000,000,000,000 (trillion) while the average worker has gotten poorer.


But Bernie Sanders is worth a couple of million and has three houses.

It's hilarious really. Nobody made him out to be a bad guy for this wealth... but you're jumping around trying to find excuses... against accusations that weren't even made... :pac:

funny

Kaybaykwah

Deleted User wrote: »

It's hilarious really. Nobody made him out to be a bad guy for this wealth... but you're jumping around trying to find excuses... against accusations that weren't even made... :pac:

funny

You're not saying anything now. Just skating on very wobbly skates, very thin ice.

Kaybaykwah

Kaybaykwah wrote: »

You're not saying anything now. Just skating on very wobbly skates, very thin ice.

The points I made earlier weren't addressed. Why should I add anything new?

And no.... I'm not skating on any manner of thin ice. I'm just not buying into your rather awkward attempts to steer the discussion.

Kaybaykwah

How is it a problem as 2d person said, that a lifetime of work in politics with a high salary yield a couole of million?

It's the problem part I am having trouble with. You said it was Okay to ditch the so called dirt on him, that it was newsworthy, I told you it was non news, and the flatness fell even flatter with your pussy footing.

lalababa

America has a lot of problems and inequalities. It's 'good to live in' world rankings has been dropping steadily over the years from close to top 15 heading to 50th with no end in sight.
Tough country for the poor/sick/old/disadvantaged etc. But also an over competitive /crap mainstream news/media/paranoid/Mamon worshipping society for all wealth brackets.
Still tis a good place to live in certain areas and for certain people...overall not too bad.
They just need a couple of nudges in the right direction..ie towards a Finland/Sweden model.

Overheal

Deleted User wrote: »

"Why is someone who has been a congressman or senator for thirty years, earning on average c.$150,000/yr, a millionaire?"

It should be

"Why the f*ck are so many Americans so desperately poor?"

*Hint* It's because for several decades the 1% have been ciphering the wealth away from them.

In the last 30 years the 1% have increased their wealth by $22,000,000,000,000 (trillion) while the average worker has gotten poorer.


But Bernie Sanders is worth a couple of million and has three houses.

Consider that attorney salary averages $150k/year, that lawmakers make the laws that attorneys rely on, the pay scale is really far from the biggest scandal in government.

As you say the problem is so many Americans who aren't breaking $20k/yr, not lawmakers making $150k.

listermint

Manic Moran wrote: »

If they're living around the world, even in Africa, what's their grounds for understanding what it's like to live here, which isn't around the world or in Africa?

I'm quite happy here and am not about to move back to Europe. Yes, healthcare costs are in dire need of rectifying, and yes, our effectively-two-party system is doing a crappy job of representing the population at large with increasing levels of tribalism.

There is, however, much more to living here than worrying about hospital bills. I am under no uncertainty that my quality of life in the US is better than it would have been had I stayed in Ireland.

Oh, as to the food, it depends on where you are. West Coast will nail Asian food like you wouldn't believe. You may think you have good Chinese or Vietnamese near you in Ireland, you probably don't. Then again, Texas has atrocious Asian, but kills it on BBQ or Eastern European foods. I live in a UNESCO "World City of Gastronomy", how many are in Ireland?

Often amused by the quality of life argument when ones keeps a loaded pistol by their bedside table.

There is much more to living i suppose though..

UNESCO is head quartered in the US, amazing how many UNESCO locations are .... in the US! Mad i know! And as for the food, well we wont go into the quality of food argument because its noxious..

Foxtrol

Deleted User wrote: »

Bernie having three houses (one of which was inherited) and being a millionaire is the greatest bollocks argument of all time. He is the poorest member of the Senate.


If you're poor and want better for the poor - you're jealous.

If you're rich and want better for the poor - you're a filthy hypocrite.


Some people just hate the poor.

Problem with Bernie was his rhetoric that left him open to those attacks. He painted the rich as being the enemy, when he himself was one of those rich.

There is a fundamental difference between saying you'll raise taxes on a certain group and making that group out to be the big bad wolf. Politically when you do the latter and you fall in or close to 'the enemy' group you better make sure you are up front about it.

It is however Bernie's style, it is one of the key reasons he did well in both 2016 and 2020 primaries but ultimately failed both times.

YellowBucket

listermint wrote: »

UNESCO is head quartered in the US, amazing how many UNESCO locations are .... in the US!

Its headquarters are in Paris and it’s headed by a former French minister for culture, Audrey Azoulay.

There are 24 sites in the USA and around 400 in Europe (most of which are in the EU). Italy alone has, unsurprisingly, more than 50.

Ireland has a history of not applying for UNESCO recognition btw. We’ve two! The U.K. has 32 and many of them would have similar counterparts in Ireland but we seem to just not even apply for the status and failing to do so has a definite negative impact certain aspects of tourism, especially with the growth of online articles that tend to league tables.

Sean.3516

Why do we care about inequality?

Because we’re jealous and depraved.

Sean.3516

Sean.3516 wrote: »

Why do we care about inequality?

Because we’re jealous and depraved.

Because humans like to chase that which is impossible to attain.