A Pilot's Perspective On Barack Obama

FLYBOYJ · 07-19-2008, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbfoot

I live in what Ren considers a socialist paridise but now the US dollar is so weak things have changed to where he might be a wee bit jealous of us . In a recent study done by Macleans magazine the Canadian equivialnt of Time or Newsweek came up with this revelation

....How do we know? You just have to look at the numbers. For our Canada Day special issue this year, Maclean's compared Canadians and Americans in every facet of our lives. We scoured census reports, polls, surveys, scientific studies, policy papers and consumer databases. We looked at who lives longer, who works more, who spends more time with friends, who travels more and who has more sex. We even found out who eats more vegetables. After digging through the data, here's what we found: the staid, underpaid Canadian is dead. Believe it or not, we now have more wealth than Americans, even though we work shorter hours. We drink more often, but we
live longer and have fewer diseases. We have more sex, more sex partners and we're more adventurous in bed, but we have fewer teen pregnancies and fewer sexually transmitted diseases. We spend more time with family and friends, and more time exploring the world. Even in crime we come out ahead: we're just as prone to break the law, but when we do it, we don't get shot. Most of the time, we don't even go to jail.
The data shows that it's the Canadians who are living it up, while Americans toil away, working longer hours to pay their mounting bills.
The wealth numbers, in particular, are shocking. As of 2005, the median family in Canada was worth US$122,600, according to Statistics Canada, while the U.S. Federal Reserve pegged the median American family at US$93,100 in 2004. Those figures, the most recent available, already include an adjustment for our higher prices, and thanks to the rising loonie Canadians are likely even further ahead today. We're ahead mainly because Americans carry far more debt than we do, and it means that the median Canadian family is a full 30 per cent wealthier than the median American family. "
Special Canada Day Report: How Canada stole the American Dream | Macleans.ca - Canada - Features
for the full article

I read that report and I think its flawed - you're comparing 25 million people to over 250 million - take the demographics in a place like Scottsdale AZ or an entire state like California (Same population as all of Canada) and you have opposite numbers. You also have other places like Montana or North Dakota where there is a very low standard of living were $35,000 of year is like $80,000 is Southern California or South Florida and the crime rate is almost zero.

In some regards I think the quality of life in Canada is better than the US but in other regards your tax base in some locations degrades this. Quebec has the highest suicide rate in North America as well as the highest taxes. It's amazing the difference between a province like Quebec and say BC with regards to taxes and the way the provincial government is run.

Right now times are tough in the US but I believe it will get better - I seen it a lot worse and with elections around the corner many politicians are going to have to put out or get the boot.

drgondog · 07-19-2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

Single mothers can take advantage of the US system the most. If they have several kids they get a benefit for each kid, so sometimes it pays for them to keep popping out kids. Many times a couple will live apart so the wife gets the benefit.

Some states have programs where you have to be looking for a job or be enrolled in an education programs, but folks take advantage of that too. The problem that I see when compared to Europe is those who are in this system are not ridiculed of scoffed by the masses in the US. Those who "live" off welfare because they are too lazy to work are looked as "being slick" as they are beating the "system." A lot of it is the mentality and ethics of the people and IMO I think many Europeans have the upper hand on Americans.

I absolutely agree.

drgondog · 07-19-2008, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Njaco

No database. The recipient has to prove they are looking for work and that leaves alot of loopholes. Second, the workers who verify this are overworked and backed up so sometimes they breeze through cases. Its a no-win all the way around.

Bill, you ought to read "Miracle in Philadelphia" - fascinating book about that summer in Philly when the Bill of Rights was hammered out. Great read!

I will and thx for the tip

renrich · 07-19-2008, 11:43 AM

Over and over, I have to bring this up but even if the statistics quoted are indicative of the real world, you have to look at demographics. In Canada, your population does not resemble ours very much. Do I have to get specific? Canada may be very good for Canadians and when I visited in BC I liked it very much and the people also. I will stick with my country. No, I don't have a high regard for a large portion of our voter's acumen. I do trust the market and people's self interest, which proves my point about the left's desire to make decisions for all of us. The left absolutely does not understand human nature and will never do so. That blind spot is in their DNA.

proton45 · 07-19-2008, 12:02 PM

I have only read the first 6 pages (or so) but this thread really disappoints (and upsets me) me... I just don't know what to think.

Personally I don't think that politics should be discussed here...it distracts me from my research.

ToughOmbre · 07-19-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by proton45

I have only read the first 6 pages (or so) but this thread really disappoints (and upsets me) me... I just don't know what to think.

Personally I don't think that politics should be discussed here...it distracts me from my research.

proton,

Where are you coming from? First of all, this is the POLITICAL section of the forum. If it "distracts" you, don't read the thread.

And what disappoints and upsets you?

TO

Messy1 · 07-19-2008, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by proton45

I have only read the first 6 pages (or so) but this thread really disappoints (and upsets me) me... I just don't know what to think.

Personally I don't think that politics should be discussed here...it distracts me from my research.

I guess you should not be reading posts under the political section of this forum then if huh?
It's easy enough for you to fix! Don't click on the politics section.

proton45 · 07-19-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToughOmbre

proton,

Where are you coming from? First of all, this is the POLITICAL section of the forum. If it "distracts" you, don't read the thread.

And what disappoints and upsets you?

TO

Your right...I shouldn't read it. It was an emotional response to some of the issues...I was bothered by the comment "ToughOmbre" made about "a father who got a white girl pregnant and deserted her". Why does it matter if the girl (or woman? How old was she?) is white or black? White fathers desert their children all the time...and what does that have to do with Obama? Are children from broken homes not fit to be president?

And what does money have to do with it? If you can find me ONE presidential candidate who hasn't got more money then they know what to do with I would be very surprised.

Like I said it was an emotional response...

ToughOmbre · 07-19-2008, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by proton45

I was bothered by the comment "ToughOmbre" made.....

I guess I should tell you that I didn't make "the comment". The "Pilot's Perspective" was sent to me in an email and I shared it with the members of this forum.

I guess you're a B. Hussein guy from the sound of your post.

TO

Njaco · 07-19-2008, 01:51 PM

Better question to get upset with is why Obama - who has a black father and a white mother - insists on being called African American. No pride for being white? and why not? Disrespecting an entire race is not PC in my opinion.

proton45 · 07-19-2008, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToughOmbre

I guess I should tell you that I didn't make "the comment". The "Pilot's Perspective" was sent to me in an email and I shared it with the members of this forum.

I guess you're a B. Hussein guy from the sound of your post.

TO

I'm not really happy with any of the choices...

Danielmellbin · 07-19-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Njaco

Better question to get upset with is why Obama - who has a black father and a white mother - insists on being called African American. No pride for being white? and why not? Disrespecting an entire race is not PC in my opinion.

Could it be that he has run into more hurdles in his life due to his african heritage as opposed to his white heritage? And that he is proud that he got this far inspite of this "racial disadvantage" and therefor wants to highlight it...

P.S.
Who is B. Hussein?

ToughOmbre · 07-19-2008, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danielmellbin

P.S.
Who is B. Hussein?

Short for Barack Hussein Obama.

TO

Njaco · 07-19-2008, 02:28 PM

Barack Hussein Obama - B. Hussein.

Quote:

Could it be that he has run into more hurdles in his life due to his african heritage as opposed to his white heritage? And that he is proud that he got this far inspite of this "racial disadvantage" and therefor wants to highlight it...

and thats being a bigot in my book.

proton45 · 07-19-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Njaco

Barack Hussein Obama - B. Hussein.

and thats being a bigot in my book.

Do you think that Obama is intolerant of other races (non-African American)?

I don't think that identifying more strongly with his African heritage shows an intolerance for other races...

I'm sure that on a "day by day basic" most people identify him as an African American...not white.