Bob

some posts just deserve to be groaned...oh well.

jurassic

1. The twisting of statistics for propaganda purposes.

2. Seeing someone ride a tractor (either a farm tractor or a lawn tractor) with a baby or small child on his or her lap. (After all the warnings, don't they know you're not supposed to do that?)

3. References to America as a "democracy." (No, it's a REPUBLIC.)

4. Gender roles.

5. The phrase "growing season."

6. The Rush Limbaugh Show.

7. People supporting the war but calling it "supporting our troops." Right, keeping them out there in harm's way is really supporting them.

8. The term "Judeo-Christian values." (No such thing.)

9. Women and girls dressing in frilly, dainty, or flashy clothing, acting ultrafeminine, wearing an amount of makeup roughly equivalent in cost to the national budget, and thinking they are so confounded pretty.

10. Seeing "Natural Flavors" on a food label. (If they are determined to put MSG in the food, then why not call it what it is?)

Now, what gets under YOUR skin.My list is a lot longer .

Roland Hulme

1. The twisting of statistics for propaganda purposes. - I personally find this ugely amusing and intend to go into this line of profitable work later in life.

2. Seeing someone ride a tractor (either a farm tractor or a lawn tractor) with a baby or small child on his or her lap. (After all the warnings, don't they know you're not supposed to do that?) - If somebody runs their own kid over, they have to deal with the consequences. Give them the freedom to be as dumb (or as careful) as they like. I grew up on a farm and rode around on farm machinary like that and I can count the number of times I got hurt on the three fingers of my left hand.

3. References to America as a "democracy." (No, it's a REPUBLIC.) Can't it be both? In fact, isn't it both?

4. Gender roles. Not into cross dressing, but I won't judge.

5. The phrase "growing season." Yes, I wish I'd bought shares in Viagra too.

6. The Rush Limbaugh Show. I actually agree with you on that one. Try listening to Mark Levin. He's even worse.

7. People supporting the war but calling it "supporting our troops." Right, keeping them out there in harm's way is really supporting them. I agree with this one too.

8. The term "Judeo-Christian values." (No such thing.) You are an idiot. Do you know what the Torah is? I suggest you google it, slap yourself around the face and then come and join the debate like an informed person.

9. Women and girls dressing in frilly, dainty, or flashy clothing, acting ultrafeminine, wearing an amount of makeup roughly equivalent in cost to the national budget, and thinking they are so confounded pretty. Don't forget presenting them with a totally unrealistic standard of beauty - either looking like a crack-addict with all her ribs showing, or a sex-feet tall fake-boobed bleached blonde transvestite hooker.

10. Seeing "Natural Flavors" on a food label. (If they are determined to put MSG in the food, then why not call it what it is?) MMmmm. MSG. I might have a chinese tonight.
Now, what gets under YOUR skin.My list is a lot longer .[/QUOTE]

Dan725

No, both wrong! Its an EMPIRE

http://www.strike-the-root.com/colum...s/miles14.html

another bloody yank

Growing season?

There is no smilie that represents how hard I'm laughing right now.....

jurassic

I deserved that, should have been,Judo-Christian,their values.

Tableland

Technically democracies and republics are not the same thing. The difference is to do with the ultimate source of sovereignty. A republic may or may not be a democracy, and a democracy may or may not be a republic. In the case of the US, I suppose you could argue it is both, to a certain extent, but you'd be safer with calling it a republic that happens to be a democracy.

Xebedee

Ha! Tis that - tho no-one here would ever admit to it.

Maybe a "gentler-kinder empire" is a better term, spreading a "pax Americana"?

jurassic

Agreed.....Lets tell the leaders

Xebedee

You need to know the secret handshake.

http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com...cietyindex.htm

Michigan Man

I lived the American dream with my family when we moved to Michigan in 1994, my salary was much better, standard of living etc. Then in 2001 I was diagnosed with cancer, and suddenly you realize how fragile the dream actually is.
If you have good medical coverage you are OK, as long as you can keep working of course....The other thing that is evident is that in Michigan you are expected to work harder and longer than in the UK - OK so the money is better so you expect to. I have heard that there is now an expression used in the UK, "to work like an American". Long hours short vacation. Having said all that I am an American citizen now, but I like to vent occasionally.

Dan725

Thats not exactly the expression I've heard.....but it serves the same purpose

snowbunny

Does anyone really believe that the Shriners and the Masons are devil-worshippers and if so, that the US is doomed because of this?

Does the growing season refer to something besides the average-time-of-last-frost to average-time-of-first-frost?

I've actually experienced far worse gender discrimination in terms of "glass ceiling" in Canada, not the US, and it's supposed to be pretty rampant in the UK as well. If you mean "gender roles" as in boys can't be fashion models and women can't be .... Charlie the ginger gardener, then maybe.

The US is a representative democracy (we elect those who then cast the direct decisive votes) and a republic of a relatively weak federal government comprised of 50 states each with its own government. Probably the average American could use many refresher courses in history and government.

What are Judo-Christian values? wrestling with one's conscience?

Xebedee

Sorry, you've completely lost me.
That link was just brain candy and totally absurd, certainly not to be taken seriously.

exexpat

I'm just speaking for myself here; I'm American, I lived in the UK for years, and I moved back to the USA last year.

My standard of living has improved immensely. I make almost twice as much money as what I did in the UK and nearly every living expense is cheaper except electricity and car insurance. I understand health expenses are an issue for many people, but my job provides excellent insurance at no cost to me.

My quality of life has also improved immensely, though I think a lot of that has to do with being close to my family again and not being treated like a second-class citizen because I'm a foreigner....y'know, just being around my own kind. I would never move back to the UK.

Overall I'm much happier here than I was in the UK, but I'm not British...so interpret all of that as you will.