Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

I agree.

notnoBuddha

If this turns into a debate in regard to any number of issues, in regard to numerous countries by people that mostly are using their bias subjective opinions as to the merits or lack in regard to any aspect of any goverment, than I would say we may well have a winner for the most long winded, go nowhere post ever on this site. If however the contest is to decide the most long winded, nonsensical run on sentence - then I would like to stand in the winners circle.

notnoBuddha

:roll:

Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

I don't intend to waste my time on a long-winded debate. But I would like a brief answer from the gentleman as to what country or countries he feels have better governments. I don't intend to debate him. I just want to know his answer.

betsout06 Loc: Pound Ridge, NY

bravo!

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

I have only 1 in the last 500 years and only from 1913 to around 1999 when the lease expired.

Hong kong. Why? Flat 5% tax
England modeled it on the us economy but just couldn't live with the no income tax thing that we got rid of in 1913 after we amended the constitution. When I was there in 1984 there was more self made millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the world.
You could by goods as much as 1/3 as what you could buy them here for.
Many of the goods back then said made in hong kong.
Nobody wanted to attack them yet they had no military to speak of.
One square mile was the densest square mile in the world.
It was not a utopia they don't exist.

I like many live in the freeest country on earth. I just don't buy into the right of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness and your neighbor paying for your medical issues and your retirement or your paying your own at the point of a gun and your right to your neighbor paying for your child's education and everything else you( maybe not you personally) think everyone should pay for.( how's that for run on) I personally think everyone should pay to expand space exploration to get the hell off this planet. It's only a matter of time and yet still I could not force you to pay for that or even vote for someone to force you to pay for that. I have traveled To Europe spent three months with a backpack on my back in 1984. In Asia 2 months there with a backpack on my back and australia in 1985. People seemed to have a lot more respect for the US. When we minded our on business. Now we call that isolationt. In the 50s a homeless person was called a bum or hobo now there homeless. After all they had no personal responsibility for there placement in life.
I guess I'm one of those wacko libertarian types that believe in an ideal that doesn't work. It's ok. I'm in good company and I still have hope.

I have been to holland as well as hong kong. The only thing I have from holland left was a pair of wooden shoes and a picture of rembrandts house.
I do think I have a old picture of Rotterdam after it was leveled by the nazis.
Hows that for random political thought? Pretty wacko huh?

Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

You're entitled to your opinions, right or wrong.

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

One other note
I worked on a coop in Glasgow Scotland in 1984. I was hanging out with a young Scottish man and we saw a man who was quite well off riding by in a Rolls Royce. The Scott looked at that man and told me he was SOB. I asked him if he knew the man. He replied "no he must be look at what he's driving" I looked at that same man and I told myself I would have two of those. I wonder where that young man is now? I would bet my bottom dollar that I have done much better than him. Much much better.
No your philosophy in life doesn't matter.