America is back!

[Dbholfo]

Bawanna, Just got back from your state last week. Went to Spokane and saw a botanical park and Yakima and saw cherries processed accompanied by my cousins. Had no trouble on United with my PM45 in the baggage. Went to Port Gamble and Paulsbo. Saw Mt. Baker and Mt Rainier, which I hadn't in 1984, 2004 or 2005. Couldn't believe how bad the traffic was in Seattle. My cousin in Marysville says they have a good range there but had no time. My brother drove up from Fresno so we saw him in Edmonds and went to my cousin's house in Renton. If I moved back I'd definitely live in the Preston or Duvall or maybe Puyallup areas and stay away from Seattle as often as I could. Did I mention Couldn't believe how bad the traffic was in Seattle?

[Alfonse]

Yes, I don't miss the traffic from the Seattle area. I only deal with it about 10 or 12 times a year now.

[Bawanna]

Dude you were all around me. Duvall is 10 minutes away, I grew up in the Lynnwood / Edmonds area.
Hung out for years in the Marysville area too.
Did you know the traffic in Seattle really sucks! I never go there cept maybe to the airport to pickup or drop off now and then and that ain't often.

You should of looked me up.

[Ron AZ]

And what % of GDP is government related?

[CJB]

I do not mean to thread hijack, but please allow me to speak a second about unemployment, and the social decay we have experienced for the last 50 to 60 years, stemming from the union run schools and given the free ride by Uncle Sam.

The Unemployable Negroe, and those like him.

Well, I gotta tell ya folks, unemployment in the "black community" (and I hate that phrase) is not a racial issue, its a cultural issue.

A series of anectodal illustrations.

My good friend I.H. from Switzerland. Young lady, 20 years young. Speaks perfect English, with a hint of British accent, and of course, her native German providing its own lilt. She sounds better than any English speaking German from Hogans heros. Sgt. Schutz she is not. So, after a bit of cultural exchange, I asked her "How is it you speak perfect English?". Answer.... its required at all ages and levels of schools. Why is that I ask? Answer... because its the language of business. Ahhh. CJB's eyes were opened a bit. BTW, she's working in training now, trying to get her cuteness into some Olympic competition. I hope she makes it!

Illustration number two. Some folks here know I like to collect, modify, diddle with and otherwise molest Seiko watches. I have made contacts in Japan for parts and whole watches. My contacts speak, read, write... perfect English. I asked.... same answer - required study in school, its the language of business.

Illustration number three. We have at present, five black employees. Two can speak English. They have higher paying positions, one a managerial assistant, the other is a high level mechanic who must deal with multiple instances of communicating with manufacturers and customers trying to get engines repaired. The rest cannot speak English. They speak some sort of urban slurry. One of them is a shipping clerk, no outside interaction with the customers. One is a driver. One is a warehouse man. Low level positions. I'll add, that the driver and warehouse man are great guys. I don't know the shipping clerk all that well, so can't comment. The other two... we're good buds at work, always have something nice to say to each other. They just can't speak the language to a degree that is required to work with our customers.... so they have jobs that use the skills they have, and sadly, those are low paying jobs.

So somebody please tell me, how the Asians and Europeans have it figured out, and teach their kids English, while here in the USA we have kids going through school speaking (supposedly) only English and they can't speak it, or read or write... when they get out. And, those same folks, who cannot speak the native language of the country, have the unmitigated gall to say that they're being racially held back? I don't get it. What I do get, is a clear picture of any person with good communication skills, and even half a brain, getting a job, and those masses, that the education system gave a free ride to, who cannot speak, read, or write effectively... being on the public dole.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, and I yield the floor back to the thread in progress. Thank you.

[yqtszhj]

CJB, you're right. My wife is SE Asian and was taught english from elementary. The end.

Oh by the way, the wife said "Well said."

[muggsy]

Every city and state that is on the verge of default is run by liberal progressive socialist democrats. End of debate.

[CJB]

Well beyond the fact that the Libs will eventually run out of other peoples money to spend, their real problem (and that of the Socialist, and Communist, and to some extend the Facist...) is that they try, and inevitably fail at changing human nature.

The sign at the park reads "Do not feed the wildlife". Ask the park Ranger why. "Beause they will grow used to it, and lose the ability to care for themselves". The same government that runs the park is the same government that hands food and shelter to just about anyone with their hand out.

My Liberal mother..... used exhort me to feed the birds, to put nuts out for squirrels, to be kind (aka "nice") to God's furry creatures who don't have enough to eat. That woman used to lay a guilt trip on me! How I crawled out of her womb... is a wonder to me, but I digress.

Well, the Libs do the same thing on a mass scale... but even worse. My well meaning mom never purposefully created entire populations of little furry creatures. The Libs have.

The Hon. Victor P. Esq. has it right: "Life isn't for everyone".

Some folks feel good when they feed the birds. Unload a little (ill placed) human guilt for eat'n em I suppose. I feed birds. Then I shoot 'em, clean em and eat em. I don't think my neighbors would like it though, if I stole their bread in order to feed the birds.

The lovely Barbara H. told me once that there's always room for God's creatures.... on the plate right next to the mashed potatoes. Maybe we'll get to Soylent Green one of these days.....dunno. I want mine with gravy on it.

[kenemoore]

CJB, I'm with you brother.

[marcinstl]

"The sign at the park reads "Do not feed the wildlife". Ask the park Ranger why. "Beause they will grow used to it, and lose the ability to care for themselves". The same government that runs the park is the same government that hands food and shelter to just about anyone with their hand out."

now is you talking about the lady driving away from the market in her Cadillac with the food stamp ice cream (recurring theme on trash conservative news) or are you talking about the bailing out of the to big to fail banks? are you talking about the real estate, mortgage industry? you talking about GM(gubmint motors)? if your in anyway implying that welfare(billion$ and Trillion$ of taxpayers money)for corporations has done anything but make this country a better place, then you don't know the difference between welfare and subsidies.
let me explain this-- the farmers get subsides, business gets bailouts(even with poor management and not a care in the world, they are kept afloat). the poor folks get the welfare and have just enough to buy stuff or get it free(gubmint cheese on food pantry bread makes a fine samich).
so there ya go, that's how the economy works. if your somebody who identifies with the former middle class, your focked. get on disability or hang on for Soc. Sec., then live the good life. trust me-- there's a dirt road and a trailer for every white american- enjoy.

(gotta love some Saturday sarcasm?)

[b4uqzme]

^^^ it don't matter who you are, subsidies, bailouts, welfare...it's all the gubmint dole...and it's all destructive to our economy in the long run. Economics 101.

P.S. I like the Ranger Rick analogy.

[Armybrat]

Corporations generate jobs for the people, and prolonged welfare generates jobs for government bureaucrats.

Corporate "welfare"? That just tax relief on the revenue created by their their business activity.

Just like income tax cuts for the workers just means they are allowed to keep more of their own money. It is not the government's money to begin with.

[b4uqzme]

^^^ the ability to compete in free markets will benefit corporations more than any bailout could. Like you said...it's just giving them their own money. And no gubmint czar can duplicate a free market's ability to create wealth for individuals and corporations who actually provide value.

[muggsy]

We do have some very staunch and knowledgeable conservatives on this board. I'm proud of you guys. See you at the polls.

[marcinstl]

" Economics 101."
let me guess, got your degree from Univ. of Chicago, School of Econ., Milton Friedman, et al ? and whatever trickles down Reagans leg is good?
if any of that crap really worked or people really believed it, than the banks and corps would have been left to fail, chips fall where they may, blood in the streets (actually a market traders dream). same old disaster capitalism that's made this country what it is today.
(anybody got a Colt Cobra or Colt Agent they want to sell?)