amideislas

Yep, that's true - US tobacco companies sell vastly more tobacco abroad than in the US. Agreed.

But you still don't find many US imports on the shelves here. Those that we do have are far more expensive than the European equivalent. And those that aren't are almost always manufactured in Europe, by European manufacturers.

Whereas, you do find many European imports on the shelves in the US, at similar prices to what they are sold for in Europe.

I'm only illustrating that there is a big difference in trade "character", and that Europe is far more protectionist in its trade character, and that is one of Europe's problems. We hate competition. And it shows.

Hotscot

http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/doc...doc_113465.pdf

('hate' is such a strong word.)

SultanOfSwing

No, it wasn't. Ad hominem means to the man/person. Sally didn't say you were bilge, she said the content of your post was. What she did was ad doctrinas.

Pulaski

Are you even reading what I post?

EUROPEAN cigarette brands are made with tobacco from the USA!

Owen778

In general, even this "fact" that you are so sure of, from what seems to be one visit, is simply not true outside the richer parts of the big cities or other areas where many expats live. Where there is a large range, it results from catering to the desires of recent immigrants, not from bringing exotic goods to your average American.

That's a lot of words, but I'm afraid I don't see how they're relevant. The only obvious conclusion to draw from the two links you provided are that German companies are doing well in the US and US companies are doing poorly in Europe because the US economy is doing better than the European one. How that relates to finding European goods in the US, I'm not sure, especially when you consider that many of those companies would be considered multi-nationals, not German or American, and many of them provide services, not goods.

Another irony of your statements is that you dislike the negative prejudices of the Spanish and German locals but seem perfectly willing to believe their positive prejudices that the USA is a classless society of opportunity and tolerance, even when people who know better explain to you that you are mistaken.

amideislas

Oh almonds! I missed that! I have a directly relevant story about the benefits of American almonds to Almond producers here.

Stay with me, I'll try to be brief...

My neighbour has a huge almond grove. (actually most of Spain is awash with almond groves) I have no idea how large but it's many many hectares, been in the family for generations. But he never harvests them. Over a drink one evening, I asked him why. This is good.

He doesn't harvest them because California Almond producers are so efficient, and produce such high quality products, that the Almond industry here simply can't compete. So...

He gets a subsidy of about €75K per year for not harvesting them, and has since the 70's. He has to do nothing. No equipment, no employees (for which he's have to pay €16 per hour minimum AND support them during the off-season). Life is good. Needless to say, He has nothing but good things to say about California.

Now, you can take that in any way you wish, but I can't help but think "protectionism". Rather then encourage efficiency and productivity, just pay 'em off to avoid competition. That's Europe, folks. And explains a lot about the state of our economy.

I should add that almonds ain't cheap here either. Funny, because we're surrounded by almond groves.

Bob

No, it's simply most people are douchebags and I don't like people.

There's nothing really anything deeper than that.

Either way, you're reading to deep into things and you are making wrong assumptions about wrong knowledge and people have told you that you are wrong.

You can either accept that you're wrong, or continue in lala land.

amideislas

Well, she is suggesting that my point doesn't exist, but it most certainly does and that's not a debatable point.

but I can understand that she may be more offended by my "tone" which would aspire to dismiss the entire premise on that basis of that perceived "error".

SultanOfSwing

I think to even attempt to suggest that something so subjective as 'a point' doesn't exist would be beyond the esoteric

Bob

And no, I didn't say he was probably a douche for being rich. He's probably just a douche because most people are, regardless of wealth.

You have a serious lack of comprehension that it's getting a little tiresome, bordering on a second rate troll :/

amideislas

Well, your view is rather mirroring of the European mindset. Anyone, richer or poorer is likely to be "questionable" in some way, just on that basis alone. And that is class division. It is socially heavily embedded here, as I illustrated earlier. And frankly, people will openly discuss it. It's not a secret.

I suspect you are somewhat unique, however, because we are close friends with quite a few Americans of many different economic classes, and it's quite obvious that they are far less mindful of those distinctions than our European equivalents.

SultanOfSwing

Class, wealth or otherwise doesn't come into it. If I see someone that's a person, that's enough to suggest that they're probably a ****.

Owen778

Your post, yet again, replies to a statement that he didn't make. You seem to be making a habit of that.

markonline1

OMG, hell yeah. The Americans would like the world to think there is no class system and that everyone is equal, but certainly in my neck of the woods, there is an air of entitlement with some. Of course, they are nearly always the well off. It's an air of entitlement I never encountered in the UK (although I'm sure it exists). If that isnt a class divide, I don't know what is.

amideislas

Again, that's a bit ad-hominem, because you dismiss the entire premise on the basis of his correction of intent.

But the premise is still valid, even if he truly doesn't despise people of another class (although if that's true, why would he mention it in that context?).