OFF TOPIC - The IOC sucks. - Page 11

CaptSpoogy · #**101** July 21st, 2001, 03:12 PM

I thought it fitting that I should have the 100th post. And, of course, this is just a shameless post to help increase my rank sometime in the future.

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Marty Ward · #**102** July 21st, 2001, 06:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by capt_spoogy:

This is because they simply come to the US to make MONEY as I mentioned earlier. They don't care about patriotism or freedom or voting. They want to make MONEY.
[This message has been edited by capt_spoogy (edited 21 July 2001).]

capt,
When you find the country that you don't need money to live in would you tell me?

Puke · #**103** July 21st, 2001, 09:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by capt_spoogy:
after awhile, they moved to Canada to enjoy the cultural mosiac that exists here. In Canada, they're able to find more of their people's infrastructure, while it be temples, support Groups etc, so it's similiar to where they came from, but with all the benefits of a first world country.

maybe i should go spend some time in canada, but when I look around here (granted, here = coastal cities of california) I see plenty of cultural diversity. Asians are not all lumped together, different nationalities all have their own neighborhoods (sure, some people call them ghettos, but they are mainly middle class) in downtown San Francisco. San Jose supports a range of Middle-Eastern and Indian cultures, and I see temples all over the place. even in the suburban parts of the peninsula I see temples for different religions and different cultures in different neighborhoods. In LA.. well, anyone who is looking for cultural acceptance in LA should have their head examined. San Diego has much the same cultural diversity, but with Hispanics and Portugese instead of Easterners.

I dont think its that the support infrastructure is missing here, I think its an attidute difference. I suppose I would have to spend some time in Canada to really understand.

AJC · #**104** July 21st, 2001, 09:59 PM

quote:
Originally posted by capt_spoogy:

The US is a melting pot. When you immigrate to the US, they expect you to become American in almost every way.
[This message has been edited by capt_spoogy (edited 21 July 2001).]

Who ARE "They" ? Who is this mysterious evil entity called "they" that rules the USA? Every country that accepts immigrants expects compliance to their laws and some respect for the host countries culture. IN the US, in normal everyday life , no one tells you how to believe or what your culture should be. 250,000,000 people and alot of freedom WILL always add up to some issues. Most of those issues are overblown by the media. An average US citizen does not worry that the bus stop they are waiting at will be blown to bits, or a bomb set off at the local diner, or that they are going to be mugged walking in the park. I am an immigrant from the UK , 1966. Not once Have I ever been asked or told to change my beliefs or stop any customs my family may practice. If someone did it would violation of the Bill of rights.
Every country has dumb politicians who make very bad decisions. Look at Russia and Chechnya. China and Tibet, Israel and the occupied territories.

I think those that are on the I hate the USA kick should stop "calling the kettle black" so to speak.
The US meddles no more or less than other major world powers in world affairs, often the US is asked by the UN to intervene. Kosovo is a good example - most of Americans dont want to see our guys there, when Bush hinted that we may pull out most of us were happy to hear it but the EU screamed bloody murder. Its the politicians in other countries who are as much to blame for the worlds problems, be it war, pollution, starvation, crime. The US gets the visibility because it the big kid on the block. But dont worry all you USA haters, In a few more years china will be militarily the most powerful country. With that power will come alot of responsibility. It will be interesting to see how the Chinese handle their new found status. Tiawan will be a good test, lets just hope that if they succumb to the power - that the US sits back and lets it happen, let the rest of the world figure out what to do, wouldnt want those horrible nasty Americans interfering now...would we?

BTW - those of you who think life portrayed on the silver screen by hollywood is how life really is in the US is sadly dis-allusioned. If you think that what you watch on your countries news isnt tainted with propaganda...I am sorry to say its sad to see it worked, You really need to think and know your facts before passing judgement on others. The US is a typical western country with its good points and bad, but After seeing the US news propaganda about the rest of the worlds problems - I cant think of a place I would rather live.

Dragonlord · #**105** July 21st, 2001, 10:23 PM

I take a somewhat different view. I too am an immigrant to the US, though I have only been here for 9 months. I have been very frustrated by the immigration laws and here, and the work culture which is *very* different from Europe. I came seeking the American Dream (which maybe 5% of the population actually obtains) and being frustrated every step of the way. America is a very opportunistic, cold-hearted money-driven country.
(of course I may be somewhat prejudiced since I recently fell victim to the rounds of lay-offs in the IT industry, which is why I play SEIV all day).

As a model for government, I think the socialism of western Europe is best, though that has problems of its own.

Alpha Kodiak · #**106** July 22nd, 2001, 12:51 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Dragonlord:
I take a somewhat different view. I too am an immigrant to the US, though I have only been here for 9 months. I have been very frustrated by the immigration laws and here, and the work culture which is *very* different from Europe. I came seeking the American Dream (which maybe 5% of the population actually obtains) and being frustrated every step of the way. America is a very opportunistic, cold-hearted money-driven country.
(of course I may be somewhat prejudiced since I recently fell victim to the rounds of lay-offs in the IT industry, which is why I play SEIV all day).

As a model for government, I think the socialism of western Europe is best, though that has problems of its own.

I'm sorry to here that you are having problems, but I have to ask you what you think the American Dream is if only 5% attain it. If it is wealth beyond your wildest dreams, then you are right, few attain it. If it is a comfortable life with freedom to live and be what you want, I believe that the percentage is dramatically higher.

A friend of mine is from China. He also fought with the INS to get his permanent residency status. For some reason, the past few years have been worse than previous times, and have actually brought about a Congressional investigation into the INS, as I understand it. He stuck with it, though and is happy to be living here.

While the current INS bureaucracy may be incompetent, that should not be an indictment against the US as a whole.

I can definitely relate to the frustration about lay-offs. I have been laid-off in the past, and I just survived a lay-off in the company I am working for now. The IT industry is extremely vulnerable to market down-turns. Many of the companies are small and do not have much in cash reserves. At the same time, research and development costs are high and take time before they start returning on the investment. When sales slow down the companies have two choices, let people go, or get to the point that they can't pay the people they have.

None of that is particularly consoling when you have lost your job. The only positive I can relate is that 3 of the 5 programmers we lost are working elsewhere after a few weeks. I have not had contact with the other 2, so I do not know how they are doing. Depending on where you are, and what your skills are, there is work to be had, but it can be tricky to find.

CaptSpoogy · #**107** July 22nd, 2001, 01:05 AM

The INS (as I mentioned before: The worst bureaucracy in the western world) is designed to keep people out of the US...

I spent nearly a year of time just trying to get the proper documents to work legally while I was staying with my fiance in the US...it never happened. I went through so much crap and every INS officer seemed to give me a different answer to my questions. One day I traveled to the INS office in Seattle and was suprised to find it heavily guarded (don't bother bringing your nail file or any other shrap object) as if it was a military base. They offer no help and treat you like trash. It was a horrible experience.

Fortunately, my wife and I decided to move to my home in Toronto and within two months of submitting her papers - boom - she had a job and free health care.

I enjoyed living in the US (especially the Northwest) - but I really hated the way the government was set up. They never get anything done, ever. And, it's too easy for special interest Groups to influence the government (NRA, Christian Right etc)...

Quikngruvn · #**108** July 22nd, 2001, 01:06 AM

quote:
Originally posted by AJC:
I think it is a good thing that the IOC gave the olympics to china , it gives the people of china exposure to the world...

And it will give the rest of the world a chance to see a part of China they may not see otherwise, mainly her people, her culture, and her history.

quote:
Originally posted by Atrocities:
Ya, lets just hope that the Chines don't drive the tanks into the Olympic park and kill everyone their because they think they are revolting.

Not with the TV cameras of the whole world watching. As has been mentioned before, the Chinese are not stupid.

Quikngruvn

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"That which does not kill you will make you stronger." -- Nietzsche

Phoenix-D · #**109** July 22nd, 2001, 01:19 AM

"And, it's too easy for special interest Groups to influence the government (NRA, Christian Right etc)..."

I would have to wonder how you propose to fix that.

The obvious answer to that sort of thing, really, is more influence.. in the other direction.

Phoenix-D

Noble713 · #**110** July 22nd, 2001, 02:09 AM

This might be slightly off-topic. But:

If I was considering emigrating to another country, where Online would a look for things like:

-government system (like does the Congress have 2 Houses or one)
-basic laws and freedoms, such as firearms ownership
-things that the government provides for you (health care, education)
-statistics (average income, culture/language breakdown, etc.)

Is there any one (or few) sites that have all of the above for the world's major nations?