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Wed 13 Feb, 2008 03:05 am
"A good quote to describe America.
Posted by Clint under Politics, Quotes
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money (generous gifts) from the public treasury. From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most money from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship."
"The average age of the world's greatest civilization has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through this sequence.
From bondage to spiritual faith;
from spiritual faith to great courage;
from courage to liberty;
from liberty to abundance,
from abundance to selfishness;
from selfishness to complacency,
from complacency to apathy,
from apathy to dependency,
from dependence back into bondage."
[Currently I consider america somewhere between complacency, apathy,
and dependency, depending on who you are and, very generally, how old you are.]"
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE AMERICA?
McTag.....it depends on what?
America is a split personality, always has been. Jeckle/Hyde. Humanity's noblest aspirations run up against a wall of obstructionism. I ride a carnival ride of high expectations and despair, daily.
Consider AMerica as The cities of NEw York and San Francisco, separated by thousands of miles of ALABAMA.
This is good...I find both postings meaningful.
I'm not sure how one compares one period of history with another. I was in California during WII; in the military during the Vietnam War and in Georgia during 9/11/Iraq invasion/war. Were we equally as frustrated during all three periods of history?
Mapleleaf wrote:McTag.....it depends on what?
Your viewpoint.
It'll be nice when they get it finished.
This topic needs an entire book. I wouldn't attempt to sum it up in one short post.
Having said that- it is surprisingly conservative, for a place which is changing fast.
Esoteric geographical comparison for a woman according to her age
(in the lighter vain):
Between the ages of 18 & 21 - she is like Africa; she is half discovered but half wild.
Between the ages of 22 & 30 - she is like North America; she is mostly discovered and scientifically near perfect.
Between the ages of 30 & 35 - she is like India and Japan; she is very hot and wise.
Between the ages of 35 & 40 - she is like France; she is half destroyed after the war but still desirable.
Between the ages of 40 & 50 - she is like Germany; she lost the war but not the hope.
Between the ages of 50 & 60 - she is like Russia; she lost most of her identity.
Greatest country ever, to such extent that if we nuked the major competition, without provocation we would not be acting inordinately. True heir to Western Civilization.
The younger, more intelligent brother to England.
Two continents joined by a narrow land bridge. The whole borders on the Pacific Ocean to the West and the Atlantic Ocean to the East, the Arctic Ocean to the North and the Antarctic Ocean to the South.
farmerman wrote:Consider AMerica as The cities of NEw York and San Francisco, separated by thousands of miles of ALABAMA.
Farmerman: Is this original? Because I'm stealing it and I thought I would let you know.
Joe(whoosht- it's mine.)Nation
Joe, that was Bill Bryson. Remember
"The art of sounding profound is to steal some good **** and not get caught"--See, somebody else said that too and I just store em up like cordwood.
This is not entirely relevant but I've been looking for an excuse to post this pic!
Speaking English-required
Spelling English-optional.
And you would think "I" should be there? No way...
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