The NRA breaks its silence

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by ebacon

Europe is all around quieter. They have less gratuitous violence, less news channels, less advertising, less store signage, less politics in the public arena, less obnoxious car stereos, less fast food, etc.

It's peaceful. There's nothing quite like sitting at an outside pub in Europe and hearing nothing but people, bicycles, and church bells on the hour. It does wonders for the blood pressure, that's for sure.

Downtown of my home city in Germany:


Downtown of my home city in the States:


In the states we design our cities around cars and all that goes with that such as billboards, wide roads and narrow sidewalks, giant hot parking lots, dumpsters out back with garbage blowing around, etc.

Europeans on the other hand design their cities around people. Of course they were also lucky and had to do it simply because their cities were laid out before cars were invented.

Last place I lived there was an Italian woman living next door to me. One day we were talking across the fence and she made this comment;

"You know, in Europe we do a lot more walking. You don't get in the car and drive to the corner just to buy cigarettes, you walk. Unless you are going far, or planning to bring back more than you can carry, you walk or ride a bicycle. Americans drive everywhere, it is so wasteful.....(short pause.).....But, then, you are more likely to get mugged or shot in America than in Italy, so I guess it makes sense."

Just thought that was an interesting comment.

Regards,
Dave

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

I see them as one and the same and enjoy it all............

Anyone know where I can get an AK47?

Regards,
Dave

Any gunshow. No background check. I'll bet Walmart has 'em, knowing those a$$bags they've only pulled the AR15 Bushmasters from their shelves.

[merrylander]

I see that barking idiot Graham from SC is backing the NRA, why do the people down there keep sendingpeople like him to Congress, is it summat in the water

[ebacon]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Last place I lived there was an Italian woman living next door to me. One day we were talking across the fence and she made this comment;

"You know, in Europe we do a lot more walking. You don't get in the car and drive to the corner just to buy cigarettes, you walk. Unless you are going far, or planning to bring back more than you can carry, you walk or ride a bicycle. Americans drive everywhere, it is so wasteful.....(short pause.).....But, then, you are more likely to get mugged or shot in America than in Italy, so I guess it makes sense."

Just thought that was an interesting comment.

Regards,
Dave

Some of the differences are immediately noticeable. For example the size of the beltway at the market checkout aisle. In the US they are maybe two feet wide or three feet wide at places such as Costco, whereas in Europe they are only about 18 inches wide if they even have one. The perspective can be disorienting to an American seeing it for the first time. It feels like being in a doll house.

The point is that there are clear effects of a more-is-better societal mentality. Obesity and jealousy have wider statistical excursions for example.

Obesity by Country from wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ob...son_-_path.svg

Jealousy from wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jealousy

Mortality as a function of income and income inequality in US cities from wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:In...n_metro_US.jpg

[BlueStreak]

Wow! Higher stress and lots of illness due to obesity is what all of that means. Crazy. And, by all rights we should be the happiest people on earth........................

Must be the video games, or lack of prayer in the classroom?

Or, maybe it's because we place to much emphasis on the accrual of wealth?

Regards,
Dave

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by merrylander

I see that barking idiot Graham from SC is backing the NRA, why do the people down there keep sendingpeople like him to Congress, is it summat in the water

It's because he's a whore, Rob.

Regards,
Dave

[icenine]

Originally Posted by merrylander

I see that barking idiot Graham from SC is backing the NRA, why do the people down there keep sendingpeople like him to Congress, is it summat in the water

He is barking because he is afraid that an even more kookier idiot from the Tea Party wing of the GOP is going to take his seat away during the primary season.
Pretty scary when someone like Graham has to worry about that. Gee I wonder if the people in South Carolina can make the connection between Graham's refusal to cooperate on the fiscal cliff and the more taxes they will have to pay after 1 January. He and McCain have been real embarrassments to rational minds everywhere.....

[ebacon]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Wow! Higher stress and lots of illness due to obesity is what all of that means. Crazy. And, by all rights we should be the happiest people on earth........................

Must be the video games, or lack of prayer in the classroom?

Or, maybe it's because we place to much emphasis on the accrual of wealth?

Regards,
Dave

Where a dirty faction of economists, such as Larry Summers and his ilk, play games is they use good data to rationalize their bad behavior. For example research suggests that happiness does not improve much after about $70K per year (I don't know if that is per capita, just making conversation from recollection). So Larry and his ilk say great, once people get to $70K there is no point in paying people more so society might was well let the "job creators", aka corporate execs, keep the rest.

The net effect is that they blow wealth disparity out of the safe zone and jealousy and crime goes up. Then they use crackpot philosophy such as Ayn Rand's to justify their riches on the backs of others. And the disgusting part is they sit back and say geez, we don't know why there is an uptick in workplace violence and school violence. They are smart enough and have traveled the world enough to know the ingredients of healthy and unhealthy societies. They are just being dicks and trying to keep Americans fat, stupid, and in debt.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by ebacon

Where a dirty faction of economists, such as Larry Summers and his ilk, play games is they use good data to rationalize their bad behavior. For example research suggests that happiness does not improve much after about $70K per year (I don't know if that is per capita, just making conversation from recollection). So Larry and his ilk say great, once people get to $70K there is no point in paying people more so society might was well let the "job creators", aka corporate execs, keep the rest.

HA, HA, HA, HA.......! Sounds about right. I always love that argument, no matter what form it takes. I get a kick every time conservatives bemoan a waitress getting a 20% tip, but think a $15 miilion Golden Parachute for a FAILED CEO is perfectly reasonable. Amazing, isn't it, my friend?

The net effect is that they blow wealth disparity out of the safe zone and jealousy and crime goes up. Then they use crackpot philosophy such as Ayn Rand's to justify their riches on the backs of others. And the disgusting part is they sit back and say geez, we don't know why there is an uptick in workplace violence and school violence. They are smart enough and have traveled the world enough to know the ingredients of healthy and unhealthy societies. They are just being dicks and trying to keep Americans fat, stupid, and in debt.

You got that right. Why more people don't see it is beyond me. Or, are they just afraid of those people, deep down inside?

Regards,
Dave

[ebacon]

Bob Eaton took $90 million for letting Chrysler drift under his watch. He did not have the leadership skills to hold the wheel. It would have done as well with no CEO. That sort of income disparity causes big problems, particularly during union contract bargaining sessions.