Despite the American obsession with freedom, the US ranks a lowly 15th on the 2024 world freedom index.

ChatGPT reports that the reasons for the relatively low ranking is due to:

1. Political polarization and partisanship, which can undermine democratic processes.

2. Press freedom concerns, including threats and hostility toward journalists.

3. Civil liberties issues, such as privacy concerns related to surveillance and law enforcement practices.

4. Disparities in criminal justice, including systemic racism and mass incarceration.

5. Voting rights issues, including voter suppression and gerrymandering.

6. Economic inequality, which can affect access to opportunities and influence in the political system.

Shove your RuZZian propaganda horseshit up your ass.

Marla wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 7:30am:

Shove your RuZZian propaganda horseshit up your ass.

Gee, what a surprise... Not! Aggressive Yankism.

Suck it up. Mongolia ranks higher than the US on the world freedom index.

https://youtu.be/M8TeM2m0ook

Marla wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 7:53am:

[]https://youtu.be/M8TeM2m0ook[]

Trump sure knows his base...

As blood-simple as Appalachian Hills-people.

Oh, do tell us more about "American Freedom" you kangaroo rooter

Marla wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 8:12am:

Oh, do tell us more about "American Freedom" you kangaroo rooter

Yankists like to sh!t on about freedom almost as much as they like to refuse it to so many.

Some rant more about their freedom than their Jesus.

Quote:

Despite the American obsession with freedom, the US ranks a lowly 15th on the 2024 world freedom index.

15th is pretty good. There are a lot of free countries today.


Quote:

ChatGPT reports

???

freediver wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 8:42am:

Quote: Despite the American obsession with freedom, the US ranks a lowly 15th on the 2024 world freedom index. 15th is pretty good. There are a lot of free countries today.

Not to Americans, it ain't. They think they invented it.

Now tell us more about your vast knowledge of quantum physics and Shakespeare.

'I'll leave to go on a drug-induced spree you know, enjoy what's left of America and the country goes to hell.'
Shakespeare. 'Marla' Act 1 .

Marla wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 9:04am:

Now tell us more about your vast knowledge of quantum physics and Shakespeare.

Passive-affressive Yankism... You c~nts can't help yourselves.

I knew I was asking too much of you. Enjoy your Moscow apartment with no indoor plumbing and heating, Yuri

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 8:49am:

freediver wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 8:42am: Quote: Despite the American obsession with freedom, the US ranks a lowly 15th on the 2024 world freedom index. 15th is pretty good. There are a lot of free countries today. Not to Americans, it ain't. They think they invented it.

The world owes a lot to America. How free do you think we would be if they had not intervened in WWI and WWII?

Yeah, the political assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. One of America's best inventions.

Quit being retarded.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 29^th, 2024 at 10:47pm:

Despite the American obsession with freedom, the US ranks a lowly 15th on the 2024 world freedom index. ChatGPT reports that the reasons for the relatively low ranking is due to: 1. Political polarization and partisanship, which can undermine democratic processes. 2. Press freedom concerns, including threats and hostility toward journalists. 3. Civil liberties issues, such as privacy concerns related to surveillance and law enforcement practices. 4. Disparities in criminal justice, including systemic racism and mass incarceration. 5. Voting rights issues, including voter suppression and gerrymandering. 6. Economic inequality, which can affect access to opportunities and influence in the political system.

Excellent post.

I didn't think I would be agreeing with Meister in oppositon to Marla.

Poilitics makes strange bedfellows.

I might take a trip to China and check it out, maybe see a successful version of the 'socialist revolution' which went wrong in Russia.

Meanwhile poor Marla is obviously hyper-sensitive about the crippling hyper-partisanship in the US. 

freediver wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 12:05pm:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 8:49am: freediver wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 8:42am: Quote: Despite the American obsession with freedom, the US ranks a lowly 15th on the 2024 world freedom index. 15th is pretty good. There are a lot of free countries today. Not to Americans, it ain't. They think they invented it. The world owes a lot to America. How free do you think we would be if they had not intervened in WWI and WWII?

Ah, counterfactuals!

OK.

If the US had not intervened in 'The Great War', the European powers may have bloodied themselves to a stalemate, done a deal, ended the war and gone home. No hyper-reparations demand on Germany. No collapse of the status quo. No collapse of Tsarist Russia. No Lenin. No Bolshevik revolution.No Stalin. No rise of Nazism. No holocaust. No WW2. No atomic bomb. No arms race...

Quote:

may have bloodied themselves to a stalemate

Is that the most optimistic outcome you could come up with?

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 1:11pm:

freediver wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 12:05pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 8:49am: freediver wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 8:42am: Quote: Despite the American obsession with freedom, the US ranks a lowly 15th on the 2024 world freedom index. 15th is pretty good. There are a lot of free countries today. Not to Americans, it ain't. They think they invented it. The world owes a lot to America. How free do you think we would be if they had not intervened in WWI and WWII? Ah, counterfactuals! OK. If the US had not intervened in 'The Great War', the European powers may have bloodied themselves to a stalemate, done a deal, ended the war and gone home. No hyper-reparations demand on Germany. No collapse of the status quo. No collapse of Tsarist Russia. No Lenin. No Bolshevik revolution.No Stalin. No rise of Nazism. No holocaust. No WW2. No atomic bomb. No arms race...

And you'd be speaking Japanese.

Our army was training with broomsticks as there weren't enough rifles.   ::)

freediver wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 1:16pm:

Quote: may have bloodied themselves to a stalemate Is that the most optimistic outcome you could come up with?

They were all close to exhaustion as it was by 1917 - A typical European end to European hostilities in 1917 - 1918 would likely not have included harsh reparations on Germany, the more likely survival of Tsarist Russia. No Bolshevik revolution. No Nazism, no Holocaust, no WW2...

The boost that the US gave to Allied arrogance led to the Allies stomping on Germany causing the collapse of the central powers' monarchies, which evoked deep German / Austro-Hungarian resentment and the rise of fascist popularity within the former central powers.

Bobby. wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 1:21pm:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 1:11pm: freediver wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 12:05pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 8:49am: freediver wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 8:42am: Quote: Despite the American obsession with freedom, the US ranks a lowly 15th on the 2024 world freedom index. 15th is pretty good. There are a lot of free countries today. Not to Americans, it ain't. They think they invented it. The world owes a lot to America. How free do you think we would be if they had not intervened in WWI and WWII? Ah, counterfactuals! OK. If the US had not intervened in 'The Great War', the European powers may have bloodied themselves to a stalemate, done a deal, ended the war and gone home. No hyper-reparations demand on Germany. No collapse of the status quo. No collapse of Tsarist Russia. No Lenin. No Bolshevik revolution.No Stalin. No rise of Nazism. No holocaust. No WW2. No atomic bomb. No arms race... And you'd be speaking Japanese. Our army was training with broomsticks as there weren't enough rifles.   ::)

Not if there wasn't a WW2.

thegreatdivide wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 12:42pm:

I might take a trip to China and check it out, maybe see a successful version of the 'socialist revolution' which went wrong in Russia.

Good luck with that.

China is edging closer to demographic and economic collapse.

You might be there to witness another historically typical Chinese dynastic collapse.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 1:29pm:

Bobby. wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 1:21pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 1:11pm: freediver wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 12:05pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 8:49am: freediver wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 8:42am: Quote: Despite the American obsession with freedom, the US ranks a lowly 15th on the 2024 world freedom index. 15th is pretty good. There are a lot of free countries today. Not to Americans, it ain't. They think they invented it. The world owes a lot to America. How free do you think we would be if they had not intervened in WWI and WWII? Ah, counterfactuals! OK. If the US had not intervened in 'The Great War', the European powers may have bloodied themselves to a stalemate, done a deal, ended the war and gone home. No hyper-reparations demand on Germany. No collapse of the status quo. No collapse of Tsarist Russia. No Lenin. No Bolshevik revolution.No Stalin. No rise of Nazism. No holocaust. No WW2. No atomic bomb. No arms race... And you'd be speaking Japanese. Our army was training with broomsticks as there weren't enough rifles.   ::) Not if there wasn't a WW2.

But there was a WW2 in SEA.
The Japs had invaded China long before 1939 and were on their way here too.

America won't be free before Palestine is free.

Uncle Sam must get the monkey off his back.

Freedom in the US was a by-product of limited government in the first instance. As government got bigger, freedom got smaller (less of it)

Bobby. wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 1:55pm:

But there was a WW2 in SEA. The Japs had invaded China long before 1939 and were on their way here too.

You mean the Sino-Japanese war.

The concept of American freedom was predicated on freedom from British rule and from all that the British had imposed on the colonists.

The first 10 amendments, the Bill of Rights were a direct reaction to British restrictions on the colonists, particularly freedom of speech, assembly, religion, the press, the freedom to petition the government, to possess and bear arms...

The descendants of revolutionary Americans to the present day still maintain the belief that the US is the freest nation on earth.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 1:28pm:

They were all close to exhaustion as it was by 1917 -

In 1918 Germany came close to winning by cutting off British supply on the coast. The US troops were possibly the balancing weight of fresh units with high morale.

But 'in 1940 the United States responded to this growing threat by instituting a full embargo on exports to Japan, freezing Japanese assets in U.S. banks'. The US forcefully crushed Japan's economy and had to use nukes to defeat Japan.  It's getting more expensive to be free.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 1:44pm:

thegreatdivide wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 12:42pm: I might take a trip to China and check it out, maybe see a successful version of the 'socialist revolution' which went wrong in Russia. Good luck with that. China is edging closer to demographic and economic collapse. You might be there to witness another historically typical Chinese dynastic collapse.

Possibly, if the CCP remains deluded by mainstream Western dogma that money creation must be reserved for private money lenders, and kept out of the hands of currency-issuing governments.

Note:   China now has the productive capacity to lift everyone into the middle class (regardless of demographic change; robots can replace a lot of workers).   

Yellen ignorantly calls it "Chinese over-capacity" because the US can't compete....and Western economists point to local government debt, which is immaterial because the Chinese Treasury can cancel Chinese-denominated debt at any time, so long as the economy remains sufficiently productive.

i dont think america has won a war since WW2

and in afghanistan?

they went there and set up university courses in gender studies and painted george floyd murals on the streets. 

they are disconnected from reality.

as to freedom ?

the northern territory is about as close to freedom as you can get

but hardly anyone wants to live there.

people prefer safety and an authority figure to think for them

most people almost throw up when they hear the term "personal responsibility"

ask carl  ;D ;D

aquascoot wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 5:28pm:

most people almost throw up when they hear the term "personal responsibility" ask carl  ;D ;D

Carl doesn't almost throw up.

Carl does, however, roll his eyes quite a bit every time he hears that - especially from you.

::)

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 1:28pm:

freediver wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 1:16pm: Quote: may have bloodied themselves to a stalemate Is that the most optimistic outcome you could come up with? They were all close to exhaustion as it was by 1917 - A typical European end to European hostilities in 1917 - 1918 would likely not have included harsh reparations on Germany, the more likely survival of Tsarist Russia. No Bolshevik revolution. No Nazism, no Holocaust, no WW2... The boost that the US gave to Allied arrogance led to the Allies stomping on Germany causing the collapse of the central powers' monarchies, which evoked deep German / Austro-Hungarian resentment and the rise of fascist popularity within the former central powers.

It was the US arguing against harsh penalties for Germany.

What makes you so sure the central powers would not have won without US involvement? They mobilised 5 million out of about 60 million soldiers from both sides. US losses seem low, so presumably they were punching above their weight.

And what makes you think European monarchies and empires would have been a good outcome for freedom?

freediver wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 12:05pm:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 8:49am: freediver wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 8:42am: Quote: Despite the American obsession with freedom, the US ranks a lowly 15th on the 2024 world freedom index. 15th is pretty good. There are a lot of free countries today. Not to Americans, it ain't. They think they invented it. The world owes a lot to America. How free do you think we would be if they had not intervened in WWI and WWII?

How free would they be if they did not?

Yank freedoms are those each side chooses to be freedoms.

Does a woman have the most basic freedom in the USA?  No.

Free to have guns, but not free to have access to books in libraries.

Free to join a workers Union?

Aussie wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 6:11pm:

freediver wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 12:05pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 8:49am: freediver wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 8:42am: Quote: Despite the American obsession with freedom, the US ranks a lowly 15th on the 2024 world freedom index. 15th is pretty good. There are a lot of free countries today. Not to Americans, it ain't. They think they invented it. The world owes a lot to America. How free do you think we would be if they had not intervened in WWI and WWII? How free would they be if they did not? Yank freedoms are those each side chooses to be freedoms. Does a woman have the most basic freedom in the USA?  No. Free to have guns, but not free to have access to books in libraries. Free to join a workers Union?

Good points. Waiting with bated breath for "freedom values" FD's response.....

Russia had a weak democracy and German victory would have removed both Russian and French freedoms.

'U.S. Government signed the Treaty of Berlin in 1921. This separate peace treaty with Germany stipulated that the United States would enjoy all 'rights, privileges, indemnities, reparations or advantages' conferred to it by the Treaty of Versailles'. 'From 1924,  U.S. banks continued to lend Germany enough money to enable it to meet its reparation payments to countries such as France and the United Kingdom. These countries, in turn, used their reparation payments from Germany to service their war debts to the United States.'
The US is keen on being free to create $.

freediver wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 5:56pm:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 1:28pm: freediver wrote on Jul 30th, 2024 at 1:16pm: Quote: may have bloodied themselves to a stalemate Is that the most optimistic outcome you could come up with? They were all close to exhaustion as it was by 1917 - A typical European end to European hostilities in 1917 - 1918 would likely not have included harsh reparations on Germany, the more likely survival of Tsarist Russia. No Bolshevik revolution. No Nazism, no Holocaust, no WW2... The boost that the US gave to Allied arrogance led to the Allies stomping on Germany causing the collapse of the central powers' monarchies, which evoked deep German / Austro-Hungarian resentment and the rise of fascist popularity within the former central powers. It was the US arguing against harsh penalties for Germany. What makes you so sure the central powers would not have won without US involvement? They mobilised 5 million out of about 60 million soldiers from both sides. US losses seem low, so presumably they were punching above their weight. And what makes you think European monarchies and empires would have been a good outcome for freedom?

You mean, what makes me so sure the Allied powers would not have won without US involvement?

Nothing... We're into counterfactuals here.

The US provided fresh troops, economic support, a morale boost and technological and industrial strength,

The Allies may have won or, more likely, the war would have ended in a stalemate which would likely have ended the war by a more balanced negotiation.

The Allied powers' overreach in the pillaging of the central powers' treasure in war reparations caused the collapse of their economies; the loss of their territorial integrity and the overnight destruction of their governments which ultimately led to the rise of extremist governments in Europe - particularly Nazism in Germany.

It was not for no reason that the Austrians ecstatically welcomed the Anschluss in 1938.

Americans' naivety in their concept of forcing democracy on peoples that had never known it. nor fought for it, likely caused them to believe that the collapse of central European monarchies overnight would lead directly to the creation of stable democracies across Europe - this naivety was echoed decades later in Iraq and Afghanistan.

chimera wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 6:35pm:

'U.S. Government signed the Treaty of Berlin in 1921. This separate peace treaty with Germany stipulated that the United States would enjoy all 'rights, privileges, indemnities, reparations or advantages' conferred to it by the Treaty of Versailles'. 'From 1924,  U.S. banks continued to lend Germany enough money to enable it to meet its reparation payments to countries such as France and the United Kingdom. These countries, in turn, used their reparation payments from Germany to service their war debts to the United States.'

And the US called in that German debt when the Great Depression hit the American economy... Something Hitler had publicly 'predicted' the US would do if times got tough, catapulting him into national wild popularity.

aquascoot wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 5:28pm:

i dont think america has won a war since WW2 and in afghanistan? they went there and set up university courses in gender studies and painted george floyd murals on the streets.  they are disconnected from reality.

Oh, you are naughty. Guess who the special envoy for women's problems in Afghanistan was.

Yes, dear. Laura Bush.

Ooh-er, no?

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 6:50pm:

And the US called in that German debt

The U$ took the credit for the war. Literally...

The land of the free and the home of the brave:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM

That's not Hendrix, that's Marla.

chimera wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 8:27pm:

That's not Hendrix, that's Marla.

pot is for people who hate themselves so they can numb the pain of their own self hatred

pathetic drug for losers  :-[ :-[ :-[

chimera wrote on Jul 30^th, 2024 at 8:27pm:

That's not Hendrix, that's Marla.

To play the guitar like that you'd have to be on drugs.   :-[

so, had the US not intervened in WW1:

The war ends in a stalemate.
The German and Austro-Hungarian governments survive.
Tsarist Russia survives.
Austria-Hungary is not dismantled.
Italy is not handed the southern Tyrol.
Crippling reparations are not imposed on the central powers.

Would another war have erupted? More than likely - ethno-separatist wars largely - this is Europe we're talking about, so...

Would they have been as deadly and as massive as WW2? Not likely.

The Soviet Union would not have been established.

Nazism and Soviet Communism would not have developed.

Democratic republicanism would have been the driver of separatism from Austria-Hungary.

Slavic separatism would have swept Europe with Russia agitating for a democratic union of Slavic peoples - a commonwealth united by ethnicity and religion.

   

The US wasn't pushing Germany for reparations, it was France which humiliated Berlin. US wanted its money repaid from UK and France, and funded Germany to supply the cash. 

A stalemate without the US would leave Germany in Ukraine and west Belarus, Belgium and north France. There would be no EU, the German Kaiser would own Europe (with no damage inside Germany) and intermarry with Russian royals. 
...and democracy?

chimera wrote on Jul 31^st, 2024 at 2:43pm:

A stalemate without the US would leave Germany in Ukraine and west Belarus, Belgium and north France. There would be no EU, the German Kaiser would own Europe (with no damage inside Germany) and intermarry with Russian royals.  ...and democracy?

The war ended in an armistice as it was.

Even with the US not involved, Germany would have been in no economic or military position to keep non-German territory after a negotiated outcome.

Kaiser Wilhelm would likely still have abdicated in favour of his son, Prince Wilhelm.

However, the Kaiser's abdication may still have been enough to trigger the abolition of the monarchy - the French may have put it on the table as one of their conditions - at the very least the new Kaiser would have been forced to accept the role of a British-style constitutional monarch.

With the US, the allies didn't enter German territory to enforce a surrender. With no US, equal strengths and stalemate gave allies no ability to make Germany do anything.  Its position in 1918 could have been pushed as the Kaiser's success. The rise in German morale would resemble Nazi power of 1940.

chimera wrote on Jul 31^st, 2024 at 3:59pm:

With the US, the allies didn't enter German territory to enforce a surrender. With no US, equal strengths and stalemate gave allies no ability to make Germany do anything.  Its position in 1918 could have been pushed as the Kaiser's success. The rise in German morale would resemble Nazi power of 1940.

The Kaiser was deeply unpopular in Germany by 1917, with the German people blaming him personally for involving Germany in the dispute between Austria and Serbia for which the German people paid an enormous price - with almost no retainable gain.

The Kaiser was already despised for his arrogance and incompetence as a political leader and supreme commander and was forced to abdicate by the German High Command and the chancellor of Germany.

3000km from Calais to Rostov is what Mr Adolf gave to Germany and was not a bad deal for the Kaiser in 1918. He would have the Atlantic and Black Sea for his navy and boots on the ground.

chimera wrote on Jul 31^st, 2024 at 4:35pm:

3000km from Calais to Rostov is what Mr Adolf gave to Germany and was not a bad deal for the Kaiser in 1918. He would have the Atlantic and Black Sea for his navy and boots on the ground.

Germany would never have been allowed to keep non-German territories in Europe.

The US could easily have remained out of the war but supplied Britain, France and Russia with arms to ensure Germany would be forced to return to its pre-war borders.

Germany may then have been allowed to keep its overseas territories.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 31^st, 2024 at 1:26pm:

so, had the US not intervened in WW1:

That's the basis for your comments. How could a 'stalemate' allow Uk France to force Germany out? By definition, no-one would have an advantage.

chimera wrote on Jul 31^st, 2024 at 6:41pm:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 31st, 2024 at 1:26pm: so, had the US not intervened in WW1: That's the basis for your comments. How could a 'stalemate' allow Uk France to force Germany out? By definition, no-one would have an advantage.

Not intervening, as in boots on the ground, doesn't mean the US would not provide materiel support to the UK and France.

intervene 'take part in something so as to prevent or alter a result or course of events.'

stalemate 'a situation in which further action or progress by opposing or competing parties seems impossible'.

chimera wrote on Jul 31^st, 2024 at 7:57pm:

intervene 'take part in something so as to prevent or alter a result or course of events.' stalemate 'a situation in which further action or progress by opposing or competing parties seems impossible'.

Seems impossible...

With the threat of the Allies capable of further prosecuting the war with materiel supplied by the US.

Combined with the threat of Germany losing all of its overseas possessions.

https://www.powerthesaurus.org/move_the_goalposts

Hilarious!

Trump walks on stage to the sound of Lee Greenwood's "God Bles the USA" with its chorus, "I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free"

Harris signs on with Beyonce's "Freedom" and its refrain "Freedom, freedom".

I guess Americans are a-hankerin' for a-somethin' they ain't so good at deliverin'.

'Not intervening, as in boots on the ground, doesn't mean the US would not provide materiel support to the UK and France'.
'so, had the US not intervened in WW1 : The war ends in a stalemate'.
'The US could easily have remained out of the war but supplied Britain, France and Russia with arms to ensure Germany would be forced to return to its pre-war borders.'
'With the threat of the Allies capable of further prosecuting the war with materiel supplied by the US.'


I'm just a little bit confused here.  The US was in the war by supplying arms but that's not intervening in the war.  The supply would make a stalemate and ensure Germany is forced back by further war breaking the stalemate.  

Would you be confused if road-works has a man with one sign saying Stop and another sign saying Slow at the same time?

chimera wrote on Aug 1^st, 2024 at 2:51pm:

'Not intervening, as in boots on the ground, doesn't mean the US would not provide materiel support to the UK and France'. 'so, had the US not intervened in WW1 : The war ends in a stalemate'. 'The US could easily have remained out of the war but supplied Britain, France and Russia with arms to ensure Germany would be forced to return to its pre-war borders.' 'With the threat of the Allies capable of further prosecuting the war with materiel supplied by the US.' I'm just a little bit confused here.  The US was in the war by supplying arms but that's not intervening in the war.  The supply would make a stalemate and ensure Germany is forced back by further war breaking the stalemate.   Would you be confused if road-works has a man with one sign saying Stop and another sign saying Slow at the same time?

Intervening means boots on the ground or weapons specifically used by a state against another.

The US and NATO are supplying Ukraine with materiel. Russia cannot claim they are intervening while they do not deploy combat troops in Ukraine or fire missiles into Russia from foreign soil except in self-defence.

It's why Iran uses proxies against Israel.

'Not intervening, as in boots on the ground, doesn't mean the US would not provide materiel support to the UK and France'. Not intervening means providing materiel and not intervening means not providing materiel.
'Intervening means boots on the ground or weapons specifically used by a state against another'.
Stop . Go.  which one?

'The US and NATO are supplying Ukraine with materiel. Russia cannot claim they are intervening'.
 A website says 'NATO prepares direct intervention into Russia-Ukraine war.
“Russia can and must suffer strategic defeat in Ukraine,” the Sofia communiqué declared. It called for a “clearly stated strategy premised on the goal that Ukraine must be provided with all that it needs, as quickly as possible and for as long as it takes for it to win.” The Sofia communiqué advocated “lifting some restrictions on the use of weapons provided by NATO Allies to strike legitimate targets in Russia.” 
(You need to have a talk with Meister Eckhart, urgently). 

chimera wrote on Aug 1^st, 2024 at 4:58pm:

'Not intervening, as in boots on the ground, doesn't mean the US would not provide materiel support to the UK and France'. Not intervening means providing materiel and not intervening means not providing materiel. 'Intervening means boots on the ground or weapons specifically used by a state against another'. Stop . Go.  which one? 'The US and NATO are supplying Ukraine with materiel. Russia cannot claim they are intervening'.  A website says 'NATO prepares direct intervention into Russia-Ukraine war. “Russia can and must suffer strategic defeat in Ukraine,” the Sofia communiqué declared. It called for a “clearly stated strategy premised on the goal that Ukraine must be provided with all that it needs, as quickly as possible and for as long as it takes for it to win.” The Sofia communiqué advocated “lifting some restrictions on the use of weapons provided by NATO Allies to strike legitimate targets in Russia.”  (You need to have a talk with Meister Eckhart, urgently).

A website, eh!

Do they quote 'anonymous sources'?

Neither the US nor NATO has intervened in the Ukraine war nor has any European nation.

Iran and North Korea both supply Russia with weapons and materiel but neither has intervened in the war.

Is English your first language?

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 31^st, 2024 at 4:39pm:

The US could easily have remained out of the war but supplied Britain, France and Russia with arms to ensure Germany would be forced to return to its pre-war borders.

'Neither the US nor NATO has intervened in the Ukraine war nor has any European nation.'

So the US was in WWI by supplying materiel but not in Ukraine war where it is supplying materiel.

If US materiel forces Germany back, why does that prevent US and France demanding reparations?

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 29^th, 2024 at 10:47pm:

Despite the American obsession with freedom, the US ranks a lowly 15th on the 2024 world freedom index. ChatGPT reports that the reasons for the relatively low ranking is due to: 1. Political polarization and partisanship, which can undermine democratic processes. 2. Press freedom concerns, including threats and hostility toward journalists. 3. Civil liberties issues, such as privacy concerns related to surveillance and law enforcement practices. 4. Disparities in criminal justice, including systemic racism and mass incarceration. 5. Voting rights issues, including voter suppression and gerrymandering. 6. Economic inequality, which can affect access to opportunities and influence in the political system.

:D :D


Lowly 15 - out of 210?

ChatGPT "reports", eh??  :o :o

"American freedom", with the highest prison population in the world.

??

(google):

With nearly two million people behind bars at any given time, the United States has the highest incarceration rate** of any country in the world. We spend about $182 billion every year — not to mention the significant social cost — to lock up nearly 1% of our adult population.

** the US rate/100,000 is actually a bit lower than  El Salvadore and Rwanda, all 3 countries are >500 per 100,000. 

The concept of freedom pervades every aspect of American public life.

From their pledge of allegiance, recited by schoolchildren from their earliest age to nearly every national and state political speech, from their songs, and national myths, to their core sense of self.

They are almost born with the notion that the US is the freest nation not only currently anywhere in the world but the freest nation that has ever existed.

When questioned about this notion they commonly refer to the 2nd amendment, comparing their constitutional right under that amendment with all other nations, none of which grant a similar right.

Unsurprisingly. it comes as a shock to many of them that the World Freedom Index rates them as low as 15th.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2024 at 1:10pm:

The concept of freedom pervades every aspect of American public life. From their pledge of allegiance, recited by schoolchildren from their earliest age to nearly every national and state political speech, from their songs, and national myths, to their core sense of self. They are almost born with the notion that the US is the freest nation not only currently anywhere in the world but the freest nation that has ever existed. When questioned about this notion they commonly refer to the 2nd amendment, comparing their constitutional right under that amendment with all other nations, none of which grant a similar right. Unsurprisingly. it comes as a shock to many of them that the World Freedom Index rates them as low as 15th.

The real problem is "they" - ie the American 'public' - fail to see the class divisions  tearing the community apart,  which the "freedom" narrative ignores.

(microsoft news)

TV icon declares Democrats have 'kind of lost' the working class vote
©YouTube

Mastromonaco, who worked for Obama from 2011 to 2014, defended the use of the label "wierd" (used by Harris to describe Trump and Vance), while Couric (a devout Liberal) , visibly unamused, suggested Democrats had more pressing matters at hand than pandering to social media users and Gen Z.

'You can think their behavior and their rhetoric is weird,' Couric said, 'but you can also do a better job of reaching out to disaffected voters who are non-college educated White people, in particular who feel left out.' Back in April, Couric, 67, appeared on another podcast where she spoke about the election, this with fellow liberal Bill Maher. 'The socio-economic disparities...and class resentment...and anti-intellectualism and elitism is what is driving many of these anti-establishment [people] — which are Trump voters (from the working class)' she said at the time. 'I mean globalization and the transition from an industrial to a technological society — I don't know if you've ever been jealous of someone else or resentful — it is such a corroding and bitter, almost bile feeling'

......

Reminds me of Trump's statement in 2016 when he said "You are living in poverty, your neighborhoods are like war zones...." ( referring to inner-city black ghettos); Hillary merely said "The Dems are the party of the underdog".

Both Michael Moore and  I knew Trump would win after that, because the mainstream neiloberal Dems - like the mainstream neoliberal Repugs - were indeed as useless as an ashtray on a motorbike, as far as dealing with the 1st world rust-belt issues which had destroyed well-paying working-class jobs, were concerned. 

The Harris-Walz team has shifted from the heavy-duty burden of  'saving democracy' to 'Freedom and Joy'.

To cap it off, the Harris-Walz visual dynamic is one of 'coach and his black woman athlete protege' - a powerful visual in the American psyche.

Walz is now greeted with chants of 'COACH!' - a deeply admired honorific in the American psyche second only to 'CHAMP!' which, by implication, is being bestowed on Harris herself.

Their hope-laden message of 'freedom and joy' is inspiring and reinspiring Americans of all generations, but most particularly with Gen-Z and late Millennials who are turning up to events in their tens of thousands -which increasingly have the atmosphere more of rock co0ncerts than political rallies.

Senior Republican politicians, including senators, governors and mayors, sensing the mood of the people, are turning on their own party and urging traditional Republicans to cast a Harris-Walz vote and help destroy what remains of the now hopelessly corrupted Republican Party under Trump such that old-school Republicans can, over at least the next 4 years, rebuild it from the ashes of the old.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13^th, 2024 at 8:07am:

The Harris-Walz team has shifted from the heavy-duty burden of  'saving democracy' to 'Freedom and Joy'. To cap it off, the Harris-Walz visual dynamic is one of 'coach and his black woman athlete protege' - a powerful visual in the American psyche. Walz is now greeted with chants of 'COACH!' - a deeply admired honorific in the American psyche second only to 'CHAMP!' which, by implication, is being bestowed on Harris herself. Their hope-laden message of 'freedom and joy' is inspiring and reinspiring Americans of all generations, but most particularly with who are turning up to events in their tens of thousands -which increasingly have the atmosphere more of rock co0ncerts than political rallies. Senior Republican politicians, including senators, governors and mayors, sensing the mood of the people, are turning on their own party and urging traditional Republicans to cast a Harris-Walz vote and help destroy what remains of the now hopelessly corrupted Republican Party under Trump such that old-school Republicans can, over at least the next 4 years, rebuild it from the ashes of the old.

Recapturing some of the young Left's enthusiasm for Bernie Sanders in 2016, when the mainstream Dems put forward Hillary instead.

Another theme of the Harris-Walz ticket's 'freedom and joy' is its apparent carrying forward of Obama's 'hope and change' torch.

These united aspirations, combined with the ticket's ethnicity and gender dynamics, are evoking the idealistic spirit of the '60s civil rights movement and Johnson's 'Great Society'.

Americans, being fundamentally optimistic idealists - at least in terms of collective national aspirations - appear to see Harris-Walz as a furtherance of the most fundamental American ideals - 'opportunity, liberty and justice for all'.

American freedom?

When?

Fat chance?

Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13^th, 2024 at 1:39pm:

American freedom? When? Fat chance?

Asians would not understand.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13^th, 2024 at 8:07am:

The Harris-Walz team has shifted from the heavy-duty burden of  'saving democracy' to 'Freedom and Joy'. To cap it off, the Harris-Walz visual dynamic is one of 'coach and his black woman athlete protege' - a powerful visual in the American psyche. Walz is now greeted with chants of 'COACH!' - a deeply admired honorific in the American psyche second only to 'CHAMP!' which, by implication, is being bestowed on Harris herself. Their hope-laden message of 'freedom and joy' is inspiring and reinspiring Americans of all generations, but most particularly with Gen-Z and late Millennials who are turning up to events in their tens of thousands -which increasingly have the atmosphere more of rock co0ncerts than political rallies. Senior Republican politicians, including senators, governors and mayors, sensing the mood of the people, are turning on their own party and urging traditional Republicans to cast a Harris-Walz vote and help destroy what remains of the now hopelessly corrupted Republican Party under Trump such that old-school Republicans can, over at least the next 4 years, rebuild it from the ashes of the old.

got a link for that

not saying it isnt true but that could be true or total fake news

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13^th, 2024 at 1:40pm:

Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:39pm: American freedom? When? Fat chance? Asians would not understand.

America won't allow freedom for Asians?

Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13^th, 2024 at 1:43pm:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:40pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:39pm: American freedom? When? Fat chance? Asians would not understand. America won't allow freedom for Asians?

Asians don't allow freedom for Asians.

Theirs are traditionally collective societies ruled by autocrats.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13^th, 2024 at 1:40pm:

Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:39pm: American freedom? When? Fat chance? Asians would not understand.

chinese are free to serve chinese interests as defined by Xi

Jack ma  was free to be a billionaire but when he questioned banking regulations, he had a 1 yr rehab imposed on him

it , does, however , make people mindful of bigger goals


the west , by giving people (everyone) a good standard of living , has created  a system where business has to market to consumers and pander to them

and people who are pandered to, will always regress to being entitled little bitches

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13^th, 2024 at 1:46pm:

Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:43pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:40pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:39pm: American freedom? When? Fat chance? Asians would not understand. America won't allow freedom for Asians? Asians don't allow freedom for Asians. Theirs are traditionally collective societies ruled by autocrats.

Imposed by CIA coups?

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi?
Malcolm Fraser?

aquascoot wrote on Aug 13^th, 2024 at 1:43pm:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 8:07am: The Harris-Walz team has shifted from the heavy-duty burden of  'saving democracy' to 'Freedom and Joy'. To cap it off, the Harris-Walz visual dynamic is one of 'coach and his black woman athlete protege' - a powerful visual in the American psyche. Walz is now greeted with chants of 'COACH!' - a deeply admired honorific in the American psyche second only to 'CHAMP!' which, by implication, is being bestowed on Harris herself. Their hope-laden message of 'freedom and joy' is inspiring and reinspiring Americans of all generations, but most particularly with Gen-Z and late Millennials who are turning up to events in their tens of thousands -which increasingly have the atmosphere more of rock co0ncerts than political rallies. Senior Republican politicians, including senators, governors and mayors, sensing the mood of the people, are turning on their own party and urging traditional Republicans to cast a Harris-Walz vote and help destroy what remains of the now hopelessly corrupted Republican Party under Trump such that old-school Republicans can, over at least the next 4 years, rebuild it from the ashes of the old. got a link for that not saying it isnt true but that could be true or total fake news

try googling 'Republicans for Harris'. The hits get higher by the day.

2024 will likely not only be a landslide victory for Harris-Walz but herald the end of the current Republican Party, as FDR's and Truman's Democrat administrations did nearly 100 years ago - ultimately recovering only by Barry Goldwater's conservatism of the 60s.

Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13^th, 2024 at 1:52pm:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:46pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:43pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:40pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:39pm: American freedom? When? Fat chance? Asians would not understand. America won't allow freedom for Asians? Asians don't allow freedom for Asians. Theirs are traditionally collective societies ruled by autocrats. Imposed by CIA coups? Mohammad Reza Pahlavi? Malcolm Fraser?

Imposed by thousands of years of collective societies ruled by autocrats.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13^th, 2024 at 1:56pm:

Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:52pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:46pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:43pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:40pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:39pm: American freedom? When? Fat chance? Asians would not understand. America won't allow freedom for Asians? Asians don't allow freedom for Asians. Theirs are traditionally collective societies ruled by autocrats. Imposed by CIA coups? Mohammad Reza Pahlavi? Malcolm Fraser? Imposed by thousands of years of collective societies ruled by autocrats.

CIA is thousands of years old?

MeisterEckhart would benefit from treatment by Bobby's Phrenologist.

Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13^th, 2024 at 2:00pm:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:56pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:52pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:46pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:43pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:40pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:39pm: American freedom? When? Fat chance? Asians would not understand. America won't allow freedom for Asians? Asians don't allow freedom for Asians. Theirs are traditionally collective societies ruled by autocrats. Imposed by CIA coups? Mohammad Reza Pahlavi? Malcolm Fraser? Imposed by thousands of years of collective societies ruled by autocrats. CIA is thousands of years old? MeisterEckhart would benefit from treatment by Bobby's Phrenologist.

Asian collective societies ruled by autocrats are thousands of years old.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13^th, 2024 at 2:02pm:

Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 2:00pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:56pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:52pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:46pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:43pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:40pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:39pm: American freedom? When? Fat chance? Asians would not understand. America won't allow freedom for Asians? Asians don't allow freedom for Asians. Theirs are traditionally collective societies ruled by autocrats. Imposed by CIA coups? Mohammad Reza Pahlavi? Malcolm Fraser? Imposed by thousands of years of collective societies ruled by autocrats. CIA is thousands of years old? MeisterEckhart would benefit from treatment by Bobby's Phrenologist. Asian collective societies ruled by autocrats are thousands of years old.

No they are not.

India and China cover >50% of Asian population. Many Asian countries ar democracies.

Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13^th, 2024 at 2:16pm:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 2:02pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 2:00pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:56pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:52pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:46pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:43pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:40pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 13th, 2024 at 1:39pm: American freedom? When? Fat chance? Asians would not understand. America won't allow freedom for Asians? Asians don't allow freedom for Asians. Theirs are traditionally collective societies ruled by autocrats. Imposed by CIA coups? Mohammad Reza Pahlavi? Malcolm Fraser? Imposed by thousands of years of collective societies ruled by autocrats. CIA is thousands of years old? MeisterEckhart would benefit from treatment by Bobby's Phrenologist. Asian collective societies ruled by autocrats are thousands of years old. No they are not. India and China cover >50% of Asian population. Many Asian countries ar democracies.

All only within the last 80 years or so, some only within the last 30-40  - and most of them precarious democracies at best.

Modi is moving India towards a nationalist-religious authoritarian state.

Singapore has always been democracy's bastard child living in the basement.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 13^th, 2024 at 1:36pm:

Another theme of the Harris-Walz ticket's 'freedom and joy' is its apparent carrying forward of Obama's 'hope and change' torch. These united aspirations, combined with the ticket's ethnicity and gender dynamics, are evoking the idealistic spirit of the '60s civil rights movement and Johnson's 'Great Society'. Americans, being fundamentally optimistic idealists - at least in terms of collective national aspirations - appear to see Harris-Walz as a furtherance of the most fundamental American ideals - 'opportunity, liberty and justice for all'.

Yet close to 50% of them are passionate MAGA  Trump supporters.

They don't believe in your postulated 'fundamental American ideals'?

One of the misunderstandings of The US two-party system is that it is, well... a two-party system.

It is, in fact, broad coalitions of left-leaning/right-leaning groups that align themselves roughly between being liberal (Democrat) and conservative (Republican) during an election cycle.

The MAGA movement is only one group of the conservative groups whose chief defining characteristic is loyalty to Donald Trump - his so-called 'base'. They do not represent 100% of Republican voters.

During the 30s, FDR inspired many black voters to switch from Republican-leaning to Democrat-leaning.

Barry Goldwater did the reverse among white voters in the southern US states in the 60s.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 14^th, 2024 at 6:00pm:

One of the misunderstandings of The US two-party system is that it is, well... a two-party system. It is, in fact, broad coalitions of left-leaning/right-leaning groups that align themselves roughly between being liberal (Democrat) and conservative (Republican) during an election cycle.

You said: "Americans, being fundamentally optimistic idealists - at least in terms of collective national aspirations -...."

Latest polls shows the race between the total of left-leaning groups (whether socialist or not), and the total of right-leaning groups (whether MAGA or not)  to be neck and neck, with the Harris ticket slightly ahead of Trump. 

You claimed ALL Americans are "fundamentally optimistic", yet they are also divided c.50-50, which means they must also be fundamentally confused....

It seems some people conflate American optimistic idealism with leftist progressivism.

Reagan, a dyed-in-the-wool conservative, used the campaign slogan 'Morning in America' and... 'Let's Make America Great Again'.

In 2004 George W Bush's was 'Yes America Can'.

In 2016, Trump channelled Reagan with MAGA.

On the Democratic side, there was Obama with 'Yes We Can' and 'Hope and Change'.

In 2024 Harris is using 'Freedom and Joy' and, 'We're not going back' - a swipe at MAGA nostalgia for 1950s America, but referring directly to the chaos and low optimism of the Trump years.

The American sense of optimistic idealism is a latter-day echo of Virgil's quote, “Possunt quia posse videntur” - "They can because they think they can", but neither side of American politics has a mortgage on the sentiment. It is fundamental to the American psyche.

Whichever side triggers that sensibility the most will win a US election in a landslide (mindful, of course, of Lichtman's keys).

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 15^th, 2024 at 3:30pm:

It seems some people conflate American optimistic idealism with leftist progressivism.

No, your proposition re American optimism is mere political rhetoric about "freedom" - the result of your own delusions about "freedom".   


Quote:

Reagan, a dyed-in-the-wool conservative, used the campaign slogan 'Morning in America' and... 'Let's Make America Great Again'. In 2004 George W Bush's was 'Yes America Can'. In 2016, Trump channelled Reagan with MAGA. On the Democratic side, there was Obama with 'Yes We Can' and 'Hope and Change'. In 2024 Harris is using 'Freedom and Joy' and, 'We're not going back' - a swipe at MAGA nostalgia for 1950s America, but referring directly to the chaos and low optimism of the Trump years. The American sense of optimistic idealism is a latter-day echo of Virgil's quote, “Possunt quia posse videntur” - "They can because they think they can", but neither side of American politics has a mortgage on the sentiment. It is fundamental to the American psyche. Whichever side triggers that sensibility the most will win a US election in a landslide (mindful, of course, of Lichtman's keys).

"The American sense of optimistic idealism"...is mere delusion, which is why they insist on the "right" to bear arms for self-defence against their own countrymen...

The American predisposition towards optimistic idealism is often hair-trigger evocable, such that even three-word optimistic campaign slogans can ignite a national movement.

To outsiders, those slogans are simplistic and ridiculous, and yet...

No people as disparate in ethnicity, circumstance, history and outlook can be as easily and sustainably united by a shared sense of empowered self-agency.

Nothing confirms and affirms the societal value of American optimistic idealism more than how the concept captivates and fascinates so many other cultures, to the point where very divergent cultures feel compelled to imitate, or at least mimic, the sense of vitality it evokes by adopting or appearing to adopt the same sensibility.

Its ideology is very clearly recognisable and understandable in Anglospheric, particularly Australian, cultures – given the shared cultural/societal values - but most laughable is when it is mimicked by the likes of Asian cultures under totalitarian rule.

The viewing of Chinese state media propaganda pieces extolling the virtues and sophistication of Chinese modern culture betray the obvious and risible attempts to portray contemporary Chinese society as free, open and optimistic… y’know… ‘just like America… with Chinese characteristics’.

Of course, any independent media creators who reveal the dark side of Chinese totalitarianism quickly find themselves chased out of the country at best… At worst: arrested, imprisoned and/or disappeared.

Well, 'Freedom and Joy' is the 'slogan du jour'.

You're hearing it repeated everywhere, from podcasters to mainstream media, it's all about the 'joy' the Harris campaign has brought to US politics, 'in just 4 short weeks'.

The 'freedom' component of the slogan is currently targeted at 'the freedom to make your own health choices without government interference'.

With its second theme of 'we're not going back', the Haris campaign is beginning to echo one of Reagan's 1984 campaign slogans - “It’s Morning Again in America” with its ending tag line 'Why would we want to return to where we were, less than four short years ago?'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUMqic2IcWA

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 16^th, 2024 at 6:10am:

The American predisposition towards optimistic idealism is often hair-trigger evocable, such that even three-word optimistic campaign slogans can ignite a national movement. To outsiders, those slogans are simplistic and ridiculous, and yet... No people as disparate in ethnicity, circumstance, history and outlook can be as easily and sustainably united by a shared sense of empowered self-agency.

The main American predisposition is towards violence in order to get whatever you want.
The extrinsic culture has driven america down in living standards.
The selfish, immature, artificial superficial desires of america is rapidly destroying a country that had some of the worlds best resources.

Having watched some of Walz's public speeches before his selection as Harris's running mate, it's clear that the 'joy' component of their campaign's 'freedom and joy' slogan was his contribution.

He is a natural at evoking enthusiasm and optimism in his audience and directly references having a sense of joy in learning, striving to develop life skills, and working to give back to your community.

Two examples of his public addresses that exemplify this are when he signed into law universal free school lunches in Minnesota and his public address at an ESRI conference in Detroit.

Adding to this is the sheer number of his former students who have recently publicly praised Walz and attributed their success in life in large part as a direct result of having been inspired by Walz and/or his wife, Gwen - both former teachers.

These students also unanimously confirm that the Walz the world sees on the campaign trail is exactly the man Walz has always been.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 19^th, 2024 at 12:50pm:

Well, 'Freedom and Joy' is the 'slogan du jour'. You're hearing it repeated everywhere, from podcasters to mainstream media, it's all about the 'joy' the Harris campaign has brought to US politics, 'in just 4 short weeks'. The 'freedom' component of the slogan is currently targeted at 'the freedom to make your own health choices without government interference'.

Isn't the Harris/Dem position pro universal health care funded by government?

Universal Healthcare is not government interference/intervention.

The Harris-Walz campaign slogan, tilting freedom towards autonomy over personal health, focuses on access to birth control and lowering the cost of pharmaceuticals.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 21^st, 2024 at 10:48pm:

Universal Healthcare is not government interference/intervention.

Er.... to quote you know who: "please explain".

By definition, governments need to fund health care for people who can't afford it - roughly half the population in the US living paycheck to paycheck.

Hillary Clinton tried to push a bill throught the Senate more than a decade ago, Obama got a half-baked measure through.

[quoteThe Harris-Walz campaign slogan, tilting freedom towards autonomy over personal health, focuses on access to birth control and lowering the cost of pharmaceuticals.[/quote]

Yes: and the US has the highest cost, and least  affordable health care system in the world.

Courtesy of YOUR delusional "freedom" ideology, neverlone the US's. 

Asians from totalitarian regimes have an obsession with the 'delusion' of freedom more than Americans live for it.

Those Asians whose nations have transitioned to democracy freely choose to defend it.

The Chinese faking free society images and scenarios for state-controlled media is a blatant 'tipping of the hat' to American-style freedom.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2024 at 2:16pm:

Asians from totalitarian regimes have an obsession with the 'delusion' of freedom more than Americans live for it.

Interesting - your diversion to the CCP, showing your incompetence; the fact remains the US health care system (based on "personal autonomy") is twice as expensive and the least affordable in the world. 


Quote:

Those Asians whose nations have transitioned to democracy freely choose to defend it.

The rest of the first world has government managed healthcare, what are you on about? 


Quote:

The Chinese faking free society images and scenarios for state-controlled media is a blatant 'tipping of the hat' to American-style freedom.

Yep -  your total incompetence confirmed; you totally diverted from the issue of necessary government intervention re health care,  in a vain and desperate attempt to defend "personal autonomy" and 'American- style freedom'...

https://www.internationalinsurance.com/health/systems/#:~:text=The%20Best%20Healthcare%20Systems%20in%20the%20World%20in%202024&text=According%20to%20this%20assessment%2C%20what,came%20in%202nd%20and%203rd.

The Best Healthcare in the World: Country Rankings

According to this assessment, what country has the best healthcare?

Singapore comes in at No. 1! Japan and South Korea came in 2nd and 3rd.

In this assessment, The USA came in 69th!


...despite it being the most expensive....


Proving your conception of "freedom values" is  delusional.

And deplorable.   

The Chinese at least have this over the Russians:

When Chinese totalitarianism collapses in on itself, the Chinese people will have the ethnically similar nation of Taiwan to turn to as a role model for them to rebuild their society from the ashes of the old, based on democracy.

When that happens, Chinese media will not need to fake images and videos of Chinese political freedom.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2024 at 1:59pm:

The Chinese at least have this over the Russians: When Chinese totalitarianism collapses in on itself, the Chinese people will have the ethnically similar nation of Taiwan to turn to as a role model for them to rebuild their society from the ashes of the old, based on democracy. When that happens, Chinese media will not need to fake images and videos of Chinese political freedom.

Hopefully, they won't adopt the American conception  of "autonomous freedom" which you love,  and which Harris and the Dems want to amend...

Australia makes it to the 221st place in World rankings on health care, perhaps we should be worried about that.

While Australian culture includes personal, political and societal freedom on which the culture is based, we are generally muted in expressing it.

Not a day would go by in the US when Americans are not hailing freedom from rooftops - more often than muezzins chant the Islamic call to prayer.

Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2024 at 2:55pm:

Australia makes it to the 221st place in World rankings on health care,

um..
the ranking started from the last place (Bikini Atoll, home of green shiny bones).  Oz Medibank ranks top of the cyber hack health-care under Freedom Of Russian Information Dictation.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2024 at 3:39pm:

While Australian culture includes personal, political and societal freedom on which the culture is based, we are generally muted in expressing it.

More waffling.

Gough Whitlam wanted universal, government-funded health care, and a majority supported him - against the wishes of "automous freedom" ideologues like you.   


Quote:

Not a day would go by in the US when Americans are not hailing freedom from rooftops - more often than muezzins chant the Islamic call to prayer.

Yeh - and so we see the Jan 6th storming of the Capitol, the largest prison population in the world, and greatest rate of gun deaths of any 1st word nation.

Time to stop waffling aout "autonomous freedom", while  ignoring the hyperpartisanship and violence it creates.

thegreatdivide wrote on Aug 24^th, 2024 at 12:23pm:

............... Yeh - and so we see the Jan 6th storming of the Capitol, the largest prison population in the world, and greatest rate of gun deaths of any 1st word nation. Time to stop waffling aout "autonomous freedom", while  ignoring the hyperpartisanship and violence it creates.

and they rank 23rd in quality of life

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/rankings/quality-of-life

but as long as they have more guns and can abuse and lie constantly, that is good for them.
This is the result of an extrinsic culture