CNN is so lame!

Oh my lord - I can't believe what I just read.

1. While we live in the "Americas" that does not make us Americans. Only the United States of America and its citizens are called "Americans". Where did you learn this? There is no such thing as "Canadian-Americans" I can assure you of that. The US would like to turn us all into states of the USA but at this point in time that does not exist.

2. If you look at WW1 and WW2 you will see that Canada provided a military contribution in GREATER proportion to population and economic resources than did the USA. No we have never been attacked in the last 100 years. The USA has also not been attacked on the Continental US. Hawaii is a different story. If you want to belittle the Canadian Military - while we are not great and do not have the economic resources to sustain a large military, take a look at the great job that we are doing in Afghanistan. I assume that you do know a little about Afghanistan.

3. Yes America is like the arrogant high school jock. The world hopes that America will gain some wisdom in order to be a "benevolent ruler" but that has not been seen yet.

4. Canada is nowhere near as "fascistic" as the US. Just look at your HMO structure. Look at who wins from the war on Iraq. Just think US Military Industrial complex. Think Halliburton profiting. Think industrial lobby groups. Where do "Citizens" come into play in Washington?

5. What is the logic that you use that somehow correlates your ability to play Chess with your ability to debate and discuss a topic in these forums? As a side note - being able to spell words and use proper grammar does more to indicate how much validity your comments should be given.

As a side note - being able to spell words and use proper grammar does more to indicate how much validity your comments should be given.

Normally I try to keep personal attacks out of discussions but sometimes I like to take the discussion to the "lower levels". I try to bring forth logical arguments yet you reply with pithy one liners that do not really add to the conversation.

I did not concede that the debate was going poorly for me. While I may not play chess, at least I know how to spell the words that I use in this discussion. Your arrogance about not needing to know how to spell or use grammar is also indicative of your low requirement for logical thought in discussion as well.

Notable is your arrogance and ignorance "You will always be an American to Me". What does that mean? Canadians have never been Americans. We are brothers since we spring from the same parent - Britain - but we are not one nor are we twins.

About your "coach" comment. Who is the coach? Remember that there are other teams and other coaches as well. Few teams win all the time and coaches get changed quite often. Coaches are usually the easiest and first to blame for poor team performance. The funny thing about "jocks" is that they rarely amount to much after high-school. They perpetually dwell on their high school glory because they have no other success in life - think of Al Bundy in Married with Children.

As for "lookin in through the out door." While I am envious of the powerful American economy and military I am not envious of the lack of wisdom. Sociological studies show that Americans are some of the least happiest people on this planet. I do enjoy living beside the USA but I am glad that I do not live in the USA. I can learn from the US but I do not have to be brainwashed by the US.

Normally I try to keep personal attacks out of discussions but sometimes I like to take the discussion to the "lower levels". I try to bring forth logical arguments yet you reply with pithy one liners that do not really add to the conversation.

I did not concede that the debate was going poorly for me. While I may not play chess, at least I know how to spell the words that I use in this discussion. Your arrogance about not needing to know how to spell or use grammar is also indicative of your low requirement for logical thought in discussion as well.

Notable is your arrogance and ignorance "You will always be an American to Me". What does that mean? Canadians have never been Americans. We are brothers since we spring from the same parent - Britain - but we are not one nor are we twins.

About your "coach" comment. Who is the coach? Remember that there are other teams and other coaches as well. Few teams win all the time and coaches get changed quite often. Coaches are usually the easiest and first to blame for poor team performance. The funny thing about "jocks" is that they rarely amount to much after high-school. They perpetually dwell on their high school glory because they have no other success in life - think of Al Bundy in Married with Children.

As for "lookin in through the out door." While I am envious of the powerful American economy and military I am not envious of the lack of wisdom. Sociological studies show that Americans are some of the least happiest people on this planet. I do enjoy living beside the USA but I am glad that I do not live in the USA. I can learn from the US but I do not have to be brainwashed by the US.

In ending - let's stop the personal attack and actually discuss the topic at hand.
"Dumbing Down" - see Dumbing down - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What do you mean by "Dumbing down works both ways."?

Are you saying that the American masses are not being "dumbed down"?

Dumbing down is a dysphemism for a perceived over-simplification of, amongst others, education, news and television.

dysphemism definition:
In language, both dysphemism and cacophemism refer to the usage of an intentionally harsh word or expression instead of a polite one; they are rough opposites of euphemism. "Dysphemism" may be either offensive or merely humorously deprecating, while "cacophemism" is usually deliberately offensive.

"Dumbing Down" is a fact. Of course it will be offensive if it is directed at your society and you do not know how to take criticism and learn from it. It is not YOUR fault that your society is being dumbed down. The dumbing down phenomenon is part of the government strategy for easier social control. The last thing the government wants is a highly sophisticated populace that will be able to see through the government bullshit (fascism).

I did not mean to imply that YOU are dumb. My comment was about society as a whole. It is a proven fact that Americans have some of the lowest levels of knowledge of society geography.

The benefit to having a dumb society is that you can more easily amuse them with "Bread and Circuses". That is why sports and celebrities are so popular in the USA. There is more reporting about sports and celebrities than on "Real News". I laugh when I see guys that can talk about sports statistics and players for the last two decades but they have no clue about political or world issues. (Note- having an opinion does not mean actually knowing something of relevance)

Why is America so powerful still? It imports a lot of BRAINS. Just look at all the engineers that come to USA from other countries in the world. Once you start putting all these pieces together you will realize that I am right.

The concept "dumbing down" can point to a variety of different things but the concept always involves a claim about the simplification of culture, education, and thought.

It is a proven fact that Americans have some of the lowest levels of knowledge of society geography.

Why is America so powerful still? It imports a lot of BRAINS. Just look at all the engineers that come to USA from other countries in the world. Once you start putting all these pieces together you will realize that I am right.

The Wiki discusses what the concept of "dumbing down" is. It does not discuss which societies are being dumbed down. Just because the wiki does not state that the US is being dumbed down does not mean that it has not been dumbed down.

Social geography is an important topic for a nation that wants to claim world superpower status. How do you expect people to make informed political decisions when they vote if they do not know where countries are or what the issues are. Do you even know the history of the Middle East?

Is it a big conspiracy? It is a big issue but when the power-base in Washington i small then it is not difficult to carry out the agenda. In society you only need about 5% to 10% of the people to be intelligent to help the society move forward and for technological development to occur. The informed opinion of the educated and sophisticated is later outweighed by the votes of the unsophisticated masses.

The premise of democracy is that one thousand idiots can make a better decision than one educated man.

Did you watch the documentary "Century of the Self"?
I am serious - watch that and then return to discuss.

The Wiki discusses what the concept of "dumbing down" is. It does not discuss which societies are being dumbed down. Just because the wiki does not state that the US is being dumbed down does not mean that it has not been dumbed down.

Social geography is an important topic for a nation that wants to claim world superpower status. How do you expect people to make informed political decisions when they vote if they do not know where countries are or what the issues are. Do you even know the history of the Middle East?

Is it a big conspiracy? It is a big issue but when the power-base in Washington i small then it is not difficult to carry out the agenda.
I would say i know more then the average person about the middle east if not then is a click button away..

In society you only need about 5% to 10% of the people to be intelligent to help the society move forward and for technological development to occur.

The informed opinion of the educated and sophisticated is later outweighed by the votes of the unsophisticated masses.

The premise of democracy is that one thousand idiots can make a better decision than one educated man.

Did you watch the documentary "Century of the Self"?
I am serious - watch that and then return to discuss.

Are you saying that it is a good thing that the dumb people keep the smart people in check

I can't believe that understanding geopolitical politics is not essential.

I do not want to spend time educating you when I would rather debate.

Are you saying that it is a good thing that the dumb people keep the smart people in check?

Are you sure that the American Democracy is not in fact a charade? A facade that gives people th impression of political power when in fact they actually have none?

I can't believe that understanding geopolitical politics is not essential.

Tell me this - would you prefer to read the Bible yourself and draw your own informed conclusions or that a priest reads the Bible and then tells you what to think? In the same way - CNN and other US media sources do not give you all the facts that you need to create your own opinion. They are very good though at telling you what to think.

Is there anyone else here that is interested in discussing
Or is this place not very active?

I do not want to spend time educating you when I would rather debate.

Are you saying that it is a good thing that the dumb people keep the smart people in check?

Are you sure that the American Democracy is not in fact a charade?

A facade that gives people th impression of political power when in fact they actually have none?

I can't believe that understanding geopolitical politics is not essential.

Tell me this - would you prefer to read the Bible yourself and draw your own informed conclusions or that a priest reads the Bible and then tells you what to think?

In the same way - CNN and other US media sources do not give you all the facts that you need to create your own opinion. They are very good though at telling you what to think.

Is there anyone else here that is interested in discussing
Or is this place not very active?

If you can't get passed me your chances aren't very good. Maybe you should of said you would like to discuss with others like minded? I'm as active as they get, wanna rock and roll?

There are reasons that someone can't get past you.

I bet I could also not discuss quantum physics with you either.

Are you located some where in North AMERICA? If you are that makes you American. Even if you lived in South America, guess what, your still American.

That's nice coming from some one who has never had to defend himself because your big brother is around.
You forgot, "and will kick your ass at the slitest provocation", LOL.

[SIZE="2"]Nice Try, but since when? This is one nation that the US has never beaten, not for lack of trying. Even the use of sophisticated military equip requires ambition and intelligence, both missing from the US landscape for quite a few years[/SIZE]

So why were you in the military, still had some jock itch from high school?

Welcome to North AMERICA Now sit down and eat your spinich so you can do some thing about it.

Using your definition Canada falls into it as well. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

What's worse, Not knowing where your going or following some one who knows not where there going?

Keep picking your self up higher, your almost on a pedastal. You think your the first to figure out mass media?

Care to play this dumb American a game of chess? Being as i was probably not taught right i should get the first move right? If any of the stuff i said offends you try and think instead of feel!