Would you rather live in America or Japan?

[Brooker]

Capricorn wrote....

the governement doseant care they will shoot you down when they feel it is nessary.

I don't know if it's as extreme as that. There have been some examples of America using extreme excessive force on its people, but they're few and far between. I was at the WTO protests/riots and the police used very aggressive but very non-harmful tactics to control the crowd (tear gas, concussion grenades, which make a very loud booom, but can't hurt you, rubber bullets, etc.). I don't think America has gotten to the point of ruling its people with an iron fist yet, but it's just becoming a little too relaxed about protecting the rights of its citizens.

We're just exchanging ideas here, there's no need for people to get all defensive.

 

[Buddha Smoker]

Is all of this really that big of deal? I mean some people like the States and some people like Japan..and other don't. I don't think it is anything to get worked up all over.

I think everybody's point is pretty clear and we should move on from there or else get everybody together hold hands and start singing a Jonn Lennon song.

 

[kirei_na_me]

Okay, let's get back on topic. Please?

I'd also like to add that Elizabeth was right on the money in her last post.

 

[Brooker]

If we're going to sing a song, the obvious choice is "We are the World".

 

[mdchachi]

this is what i remeber. if ther are 50,000 people protesting something and one person gets arrested for say thorwing a rock at a cop, then the entiere protesting crowd gets arrested. also the patriot acts alows police to arrest you for saying anything they deem "anti-american" and therefore terriost like. it allows the authortys to track you and bug your home and office because of whatever they want leiterally. it is true now that cops can pull you over for waving a confedarate flag, shoot and kill you and not a damn thing will happen to him, perfectly legal. before the patriot acts these crimes still occured but it was illegal and they kept it very quiet. they do not need arrest warrants no proabable cause nothing to arrest you, you then get sent to a prision camp where you are denied trial and interroagted. this happens often with muslims in this countrty, they are routinely arrested with no charges. everyone hates muslims now in this country and they are being denied basic human rights and rounded up and put into camps, just like the japanese were during WW2. these are just a few of the many rights we have lost because of the patriot acts. again if you love the governemnt and its policys these have no affect on you and your happy, just like communits symapahetherzers that benefit from whats going with communism were happy. its the people that disagree that get burned.

Well that explains why the situation seems so bad to you.
But all of this is totally false. You'll feel better once you start
looking at the facts. Try it, you'll like it.

 

[Shinpachi]

I'd rather live in Japan, no doubt about it. The people just seem more considerate of others around them. A big thing that I remembered today when I was in downtown Portland, is that while I was in Japan, every street was clean, even though there was a vending machine or three on every block with no trash recepticles in sight. Whereas here, there's trash all over the streets to varying degrees, and garbage cans everywhere. I think that says something, or at least that's how I saw it 4 years ago, dunno if there's much littering now.

I also hate Dubya and everyone still supporting him after everything that has happened, what with his abuse of executive orders, his misleading the country into war, and his going along with Cheney's devilishly greedy plans for Iraq, and his blatant disregard for America's economy and environment. In a logical country he'd be impeached by now. I believe he was quoted somewhere as saying to a white house aid in response to blowing off a meeting that had been scheduled for over a month "I don't care! I'm on a mission from God!" I really want to find a clip of the Pope blasting him about the middle east.

 

[Ewok85]

I haven't been to America so my vote would be pretty null, and without going my opinions are very biased.
Oh and

but can't hurt you, rubber bullets, etc.

Rubber bullets can and do kill.

 

[mad pierrot]

Man, why does everyone blame the President? Jesus, either you elected him or your apathy did. Take responsibility.

 

[Buddha Smoker]

If we're going to sing a song, the obvious choice is "We are the World".

But will the money really reach Africa afterwards.

 

[Flashjeff]

A most interesting question. I had the opportunity to live in Japan when I was in the Navy and was stationed there in the late 70's, and I found the experience most enjoyable. The sights, the sounds, the people, everything was fantastic!

Still, I have to stick with the good ol' U.S. of A., imperfect as it is. My family, my roots are here (Philadelphia, PA) and it would be practically impossible to pull up and leave for good. America isn't perfect, no country is, not even Japan, but this is home for me, so I'm content!

 

[Buddha Smoker]

A most interesting question. I had the opportunity to live in Japan when I was in the Navy and was stationed there in the late 70's, and I found the experience most enjoyable. The sights, the sounds, the people, everything was fantastic!

Still, I have to stick with the good ol' U.S. of A., imperfect as it is. My family, my roots are here (Philadelphia, PA) and it would be practically impossible to pull up and leave for good. America isn't perfect, no country is, not even Japan, but this is home for me, so I'm content!

Well, home is where you make it.

 

[Lina Inverse]

Is it really getting that bad back there? It's been a long time since I've been in the States?

Yes, it is, especially since Dubya is in power
I strongly recommend you to read the books by Michael Moore to get a good idea of the current situation. Here are the Amazon.co.jp links:
All books by Michael Moore
Stupid White Men: And Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation! (extended version of the original "Stupid white men")
Dude, where's my country?
Downsize this!

So, Dubya, to say it with the pope's words:

 

[Ewok85]

I like his work but it is a bit one sided... but still very very scary. I wouldnt mind seeing Fareignheit 9/11 (spelling :S use celcius already you zany people!)

 

[Brooker]

mad pierrot wrote....

Man, why does everyone blame the President? Jesus, either you elected him or your apathy did. Take responsibility.

I didn't vote for him and we could question whether or not he was actually elected anyways (which isn't even really the point). The misleading and mishandling of Iraq IS HIS FAULT. I'm not sure who else the blame should be placed on other than other people beneath him. But ultimately, he's the one in charge, so when things go bad, he gets the blame. That's the burden of power.

 

[kirei_na_me]

*agrees with Brooker*

Anyways...

 

[Jean-Francois]

Japan is clean and safe, and the food is great!

However, I had lived in the United States on and off for eight years and I miss my crazy American friends very much. In fact I am moving back to Manhattan at the end of 2005.

 

[mdchachi]

Yes, it is, especially since Dubya is in power
I strongly recommend you to read the books by Michael Moore to get a good idea of the current situation.

Moore is the last person you should read for good information about the current situation. He plays very loosely with the facts and is a master of deception. When confronted about it, he claims that he is just "entertaining" people and not to be taken so seriously.

I consider him to be Rush Limbaugh's twin.

See
http://www.hardylaw.net/Truth_About_Bowling.html

 

[mad pierrot]

Ah, my favorite hobby!

Fishing for replies!

I really dislike the vast amount of blaming Bush that is going on now. Not because I like our current President. This wave of anti-Bush sentiments in dangerous in an entirely different way. The problem isn窶冲 a single person. The problem is the big ugly machine that got him into office, the corporate elite/ military industrial complex/ whatever you want to call it. This big headless monster was around before George Bush, and it will continue to function after he is gone. I fear this wave of finger pointing at the Bush administration will lead people to believe the problem will be fixed after he is voted out of office. And, as much as everyone wants to blame 窶廛ubya窶 for all our foreign policy, when was the last time anyone paid attention to Congress? Have you been watching the way your other elected representatives have been voting? For example, last year: Senate vote #386, October 16, 2003
Clean Government: Halliburton, the oil company Vice President Dick Cheney ran, continues to receive billions in no-bid government contracts for work in Iraq, even after it was cited for overcharging taxpayers and providing unsanitary facilities to U.S. troops. At the same time, Cheney is receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in deferred compensation from the company and holds roughly 400,000 Halliburton stock options. More troubling, internal memos now show that Cheney's office was directly coordinating Halliburton contracts. When the Congressional Research Service ruled the situation represented a "potential conflict of interest," the Senate considered legislation that would have forced the termination of the Cheney-Halliburton relationship. It was voted down.

(Example respectively taken from "When Ignorance Isn't Bliss" by David Sirota.)



Sorry for straying so much off topic!

:sorry:

 

[CujoLink]

Have not been to Japan yet, I leave in 18 days. I might be able to answer when I get back.

 

[Buddha Smoker]

Have not been to Japan yet, I leave in 18 days. I might be able to answer when I get back.

Never know...might see you around. What part are you heading to?

 

[CAPRICORN]

mdchaci, it is not false it is fact. now weather or not you beleive it is another story.

 

[Buddha Smoker]

mdchaci, it is not false it is fact. now weather or not you beleive it is another story.

Good way to put it.

 

[Golgo_13]

Of all the places I've lived in, I like California the best.

So that means I like living in Mexico.

 

[mad pierrot]

LOL

Viva La Mexico!

 

[mdchachi]

mdchaci, it is not false it is fact. now weather or not you beleive it is another story.

If you could show me the text of the patriot act that supports your statements, I would believe it. But you can't. So you resort to blind faith and scare mongering.

Who is John Galt?