Quite Possibly the dumbest thing I have ever heard

[Thunder_Snus]

I filed a noise complaint on my neighbors once. Took the police 2 hours to respond. the party they were having had ended and dispersed an hour and a half before that so i was stuck looking like a dumbass for my complaint. I was also involved in a minor car accident about a year and a half ago. The police showed up within the minute (about 5 of them) there was no real damage we were both able to drive home and contact our insurance about repairs rather than having to get a tow. However we were stuck on the side of a busy road in the rain for quite some time waiting for.......A FIRETRUCK. Yes we could not leave the scene because a firetruck had not come and evaluated the situation (there was no fire or spill of any fluids from either car.) As for the EMT on scene he was a complete asshole. While giving him my social i mixed up the middle 2 numbers in the last 4 of my social. After i realized this i told him and he spent the next 10 minutes questioning me about if i had been drinking. Apparently noone has ever misspoke after being in shock after a car accident.

At the end of the day it comes down to one thing. People that are expected to provide a very beneficial service that are not being paid enough to do so. Sometimes its understandable sometimes its not. I totally understand the kid at mcdonalds didnt leave pickles off even though thats how i ordered it but ya know what. at 8.50 an hour to listen to people bitch and moan about the quality of their fast food i wouldnt give a shit either.

[Premium Parrots]

I filed a noise complaint on my neighbors once. Took the police 2 hours to respond. the party they were having had ended and dispersed an hour and a half before that so i was stuck looking like a dumbass for my complaint. I was also involved in a minor car accident about a year and a half ago. The police showed up within the minute (about 5 of them) there was no real damage we were both able to drive home and contact our insurance about repairs rather than having to get a tow. However we were stuck on the side of a busy road in the rain for quite some time waiting for.......A FIRETRUCK. Yes we could not leave the scene because a firetruck had not come and evaluated the situation (there was no fire or spill of any fluids from either car.) As for the EMT on scene he was a complete asshole. While giving him my social i mixed up the middle 2 numbers in the last 4 of my social. After i realized this i told him and he spent the next 10 minutes questioning me about if i had been drinking. Apparently noone has ever misspoke after being in shock after a car accident.

At the end of the day it comes down to one thing. People that are expected to provide a very beneficial service that are not being paid enough to do so. Sometimes its understandable sometimes its not. I totally understand the kid at mcdonalds didnt leave pickles off even though thats how i ordered it but ya know what. at 8.50 an hour to listen to people bitch and moan about the quality of their fast food i wouldnt give a shit either.

Was that Normal police, fire and post office you are referring to?



thats kind of an inside joke.

[Thunder_Snus]

Was that Normal police, fire and post office you are referring to?



thats kind of an inside joke.

Normal police for the noise complain. As for the car incident it was actually up in peru where that occured

[Thunder_Snus]

Just thought I'd let everyone know usps finally handed it over after refusing to wait until tomorrow and knowing it was there (the place reaked of jaks melon) Very happy its finally over and i have my package. Also I had no idea icetool cans were this badass and high quality. The thing seals like a dream.

[squeezyjohn]

Here in the UK we pay for medical insurance through taxes too - the National Health Service has it's ups and downs and we are always moaning about it - but I would defy you to find people who think it should be privatised here in any number.

As a person who's always lived under this system - I can say that I find that having my health-care as a basic fundamental right, free at the point of need, means I can just get on with my life without this big cloud over me and it helps me stay productive - coz I know I just wouldn't sort it out properly if I it was yet another thing for me to get stressed about.

Back on subject - the USPS - is that a government thing? Or just a really shit private company? Again I think a well funded national infrastructure that doesn't break down and is supported by the country is essential for nationhood and the postal service is just one of those things. Our post office here in the UK is awful because it is neither one thing or the other - but it is absolutely necessary for some kind of affordable postal service to exist and I have had dreadful experiences with other private companies that charge a massive premium and still don't deliver reliably.

Cheers

Squeezy

[squeezyjohn]

I am a raging socialist by the way .... bring on the hate USAians!

[Premium Parrots]

Here in the UK we pay for medical insurance through taxes too - the National Health Service has it's ups and downs and we are always moaning about it - but I would defy you to find people who think it should be privatised here in any number.

As a person who's always lived under this system - I can say that I find that having my health-care as a basic fundamental right, free at the point of need, means I can just get on with my life without this big cloud over me and it helps me stay productive - coz I know I just wouldn't sort it out properly if I it was yet another thing for me to get stressed about.

Back on subject - the USPS - is that a government thing? Or just a really shit private company? Again I think a well funded national infrastructure that doesn't break down and is supported by the country is essential for nationhood and the postal service is just one of those things. Our post office here in the UK is awful because it is neither one thing or the other - but it is absolutely necessary for some kind of affordable postal service to exist and I have had dreadful experiences with other private companies that charge a massive premium and still don't deliver reliably.

Cheers

Squeezy

The post office here is government owned not private. They are usually very good. I've shipped out over 1500 packages thru them and not a single one was ever lost or stolen. Thats a dam good record imo. I sent thunder his package the same time I shipped yours. His went priority mail yours was sent regular mail. You got yours 2 days before he did. WTFs up with that? A package can go overseas in a few days while a package goes 150 miles[to Normal Illinois] in a week. I think his local post office or mail carrier is just lazy.

[Thunder_Snus]

Here in the UK we pay for medical insurance through taxes too - the National Health Service has it's ups and downs and we are always moaning about it - but I would defy you to find people who think it should be privatised here in any number.

As a person who's always lived under this system - I can say that I find that having my health-care as a basic fundamental right, free at the point of need, means I can just get on with my life without this big cloud over me and it helps me stay productive - coz I know I just wouldn't sort it out properly if I it was yet another thing for me to get stressed about.

Back on subject - the USPS - is that a government thing? Or just a really shit private company? Again I think a well funded national infrastructure that doesn't break down and is supported by the country is essential for nationhood and the postal service is just one of those things. Our post office here in the UK is awful because it is neither one thing or the other - but it is absolutely necessary for some kind of affordable postal service to exist and I have had dreadful experiences with other private companies that charge a massive premium and still don't deliver reliably.

Cheers

Squeezy

As i understand squeezy our sender sent both our packages at the same time. mine traveled about 100 miles your traveled about 2000. You got yours 2 days before i did. USPS is a government run service. I'm not sure how other countries handle monopolies but they CAN exist in the US if they are heavily regulated (example: one power company can supply power to a whole town so there arent 20 companies power lines running through the city, but the price will be carefully monitored)

As far as differences in countries free health care really isnt something a vast majority of people here want. There are programs that help people who otherwise could not afford it. It's definitely something that could work but not something many here are willing to accept. It's just a difference of how things work. Social security was something nobody wanted but most cant depend without it. I dont lean one way or the other on free health care because I'm not in a situation where it would vastly effect me.

As far as difference in countries sometimes you just accept what you country does. I've been reading about sweden a lot lately and as i understand there isnt a lot of competition sport or work wise. Most people make nearly the same amount of money and people are fine. In america its all about the competition. I want to sell more than my coworker so i'm seen as better and get a bigger raise. I want to be the one that concocts a plan and shares it with everyone when ive completed everything. In sweden its more of a team thing. the team did well who cares if one individual did the best it was the team that reached the overall goal. But Compeition drives our workforce here in the states, its the reason people with business, engineering, and economics degrees earn more and the people with liberal arts, foreign culture, psychology, and philosophy degrees are laughed at. I can definitely see every countries side to their customs because it obviously works and i think i could definitely adapt to anything but free health care in the states? We're looking at another civil war if that happens

[squeezyjohn]

Well - Thunder_Snus - thanks for that precis - very informative!

All I can say is ... if what you write is true ... your country and it's voters needs to grow up and accept it's responsibility to all of it's society not just those who are already rich, naturally gifted or plain lucky. There are plenty of people who can be a positive asset to the country who are failing under the current system and by not supporting them you will ultimately lose out as a country when times get better if you let them fail now.

People can bash socialism and point to the communist countries that have failed under extreme socialism - but you have to remember that the current financial crisis is a complete proof that unregulated capitalism also does not work at a fundamental level. In the west - our whole economy is based upon debt, not fixed assets like a reserve of gold as in the days of old. That was fine as long as everything was booming and whole generations made their fortunes on the seemingly never ending increase in property prices - but now it is proving to be the biggest bubble that has ever happened.

The USA as well as the UK have spent government money in the billions to buy up the banks in order to stop the illusion of wealth coming to an abrupt end. They are so scared of a popular uprising because the banks failing would open all of our eyes to what's already happening. In Iceland they let their banks fail. That country licked their wounds and is now booming whilst most of the rest of the west is still crippled.

I truly believe that true socialsim has a place in all progressive societies.

Cheers

Squeezy

[lxskllr]

Back on subject - the USPS - is that a government thing? Or just a really shit private company? Again I think a well funded national infrastructure that doesn't break down and is supported by the country is essential for nationhood and the postal service is just one of those things. Our post office here in the UK is awful because it is neither one thing or the other - but it is absolutely necessary for some kind of affordable postal service to exist and I have had dreadful experiences with other private companies that charge a massive premium and still don't deliver reliably.

Cheers

Squeezy

It's a fascist system. A private company that's controlled by the government. That way we get the worst of both systems. I like USPS, and consider that a basic function of any government. My experience has been virtually flawless, and they're my shipper of choice. USPS needs to be fully under government control with an oversight committee to keep cost in check. With some tweaking of the system, it could be self sustaining, and still provide service to everyone in the country, though perhaps not as personalized as it is now.

Edit:
By "private" I mean not tax payer funded. It's its own weird thing, but fascist is closest.

[Roo]

Normal police for the noise complain. As for the car incident it was actually up in peru where that occured

Peruvian cops asked you for your social security number? I think I missed something.

[Thunder_Snus]

Peruvian cops asked you for your social security number? I think I missed something.

Yeah i figured i should have elaborated. Peru is a town just north of where im from and probably an hour south of where PP is

[Thunder_Snus]

Well - Thunder_Snus - thanks for that precis - very informative!

All I can say is ... if what you write is true ... your country and it's voters needs to grow up and accept it's responsibility to all of it's society not just those who are already rich, naturally gifted or plain lucky. There are plenty of people who can be a positive asset to the country who are failing under the current system and by not supporting them you will ultimately lose out as a country when times get better if you let them fail now.

People can bash socialism and point to the communist countries that have failed under extreme socialism - but you have to remember that the current financial crisis is a complete proof that unregulated capitalism also does not work at a fundamental level. In the west - our whole economy is based upon debt, not fixed assets like a reserve of gold as in the days of old. That was fine as long as everything was booming and whole generations made their fortunes on the seemingly never ending increase in property prices - but now it is proving to be the biggest bubble that has ever happened.

The USA as well as the UK have spent government money in the billions to buy up the banks in order to stop the illusion of wealth coming to an abrupt end. They are so scared of a popular uprising because the banks failing would open all of our eyes to what's already happening. In Iceland they let their banks fail. That country licked their wounds and is now booming whilst most of the rest of the west is still crippled.

I truly believe that true socialsim has a place in all progressive societies.

Cheers

Squeezy

I can definitely see your point and most likely agree with it to a certain extent. I guess the fundamentalism of every country is really what the vast majority thinks at a certain time when things are decided. If you look back at the inception of the U.S.A it pretty common to todays society "ok the british brought us here supported us for quite some time but ya know what we dont need them anymore." 2 Business partners may divide because one things he no longer needs the other and so forth. As far as giving everyone health care though? We dont even have the means to be able to support our social security/medicare/medicade system we currently have in the year 2030. That coupled with the fact that there are a vast majority of opinions on if it should pass and from there why? Misconceptions that are escalated by the media change everyones opinion away from what the idea actually is. For week people were outraged at the "death panels" that would supposedly be part of this health care reform where a panel of people decided if you were worth saving.

Even without our country's current defecit the idea of adding more benefit to people is just not something we could afford, and to make cuts to other things would send the same amount of people into an outrage. I'll go back to using sweden as an example because that is the only other economy i would say I have a good knowledge of. The strange twist on socialism that works for sweden is unique in its own. The government will pay for you to learn a new skill to find a different job, take care of you when unexpected unemployment hits, looks out for you if you are going to be terminated from your employment. It's a very good system that works for them and the reason that is is because of their common history and heritage. They all have very similar values and morals passed down from their parents that all also shared similar values and morals. They WANT to work and be "duktig" which i believe translates into "be good" Noone wants to be a strain on society. It was noble of an old viking to commit suicide when he could no longer provide as to not put a strain on everyone elses resources.

A system like Swedens implemented in America would turn this country into the DRC. We already have a welfare system that almost everyone can take advantage of (much like Australia.) The ones who do work are being taxed to shit to pay for the people that simply refuse to. People are given benefits to buy bread, milk, butter, etc and find easy ways to exploit it into beer, crack, prime rib and whatever else they can get with these benefits. Whenever i present this idea people perceive me as a racist but i rather see myself as just being logical that sweden suceeds because they have a system everyone agrees on because they have a culture and moral values in common that strive them towards a common goal. When you group people with different background customs and ways of thinking into one country and try to rule it all by just giving people what they want you find you eventually dont have the funds for shit that could actually benefit people who need it. To fund that you would need to increase taxes which sends everyone else into a frenzy. All of this is then of course coupled with the fact that we have a 2 party political system. Sure the man in charge changes every 4 years but over and over its just a competition between a douche and a turd sandwhich. Most people define themselves as republican or democrat. one side likes this and the other doesnt. Theres never any middle ground and everything turns into this party wants this so if you dont you should support the other.

Its a complex system much like im sure it is everywhere else and while i can completely agree with your logic that everyone should just grow up and help eachother out, its just not something thats feasibly possible.

[Zimobog]

The US has not now or ever had a true free market. The US market failure was YET ANOTHER Socialist failure.

[squeezyjohn]

I cannot deny that the whole situation is really complex. But I think you can have good socialism and you can have bad free-market capitalism because real life is not that simple. It all depends on where you put the dividing line between what should be government responsibility and private enterprise - healthcare lies slap bang in the middle ground along with public libraries and the postal service. I don't think any right-thinking person would suggest that you fund your own police force - just as nobody would suggest that snus should be produced by the state and distributed evenly (although that would be nice).

A country can only afford the services it chooses to provide if it pays for it by taxation. When you say the current security/healthcare plans cannot be afforded - you mean by the state at current US taxation levels. If the system was abolished there would still be enough money in the majority of people's pockets to afford healthcare - it's just how you choose to pay for it. You can complain about people playing the system; but if it's a question between that and a poor old lady who's fallen on hard times being left without proper care I know I'd choose the imperfect but caring system over the hard-nosed "look the other way and charities will probably sort it out" system all day long.

its just a competition between a douche and a turd sandwich.

^^^ now that is something I think we can all agree on - and that holds true for almost every country I can think of!

Cheers

Squeezy