Re: Problems with American Society

I think the issue with this is there aren’t really a lot of “pitched battles” in the Revolution. I think this would need to be more on the lines of the AH “Battlecry” or DOW’s “Memoir '44” based on the commands and colors “engine.”

Since the depression is global, then I do believe it is hitting China as well as it is us.

The difference, IMHO, is that China has been building up a manufacturing infrastructure while America has been disassembling ours and replacing it with a service industry infrastructure.

It is my personal opinion that a country with a manufacturing base can grow it’s GDP.  In fact, the P in GDP stands for PRODUCT, it does not stand for SERVICE.  I also, personally, determine wealth by not only money, but products owned - but in any case, it is not services received that creates wealth.  I can hire an attorney all day long, but that attorney did not give me wealth, it may have given me knowledge, but not wealth.  If I were to take that knowledge and change raw materials into some PRODUCT then that PRODUCT would give me wealth.

It’s a fine line, and I’m sure some of you will attempt to disagree with me (some because they legitimately don’t understand what I am trying to say, some because they honestly think I am wrong, and some out of pure habit.)

That said, a nation with a manufacturing basis will be able to recover from depression and experience less impact from a depression than a nation who relies on services for it’s economy.

To put it into perspective:

If Nation A makes tanks then they have tanks.
If Nation B cleans Nation A’s tanks, then they have nothing.

Like, totally, OMG Stuka! (Sorry, I don’t do Valley Girl well enough….<sob>)  Seriously it would be great if we could require the elderly to take the train, taxi, limo or bus instead of letting them drive!

As for Social Security (and like programs)  i think they should be need based, not age based if you want my honest opinion.  If you are 65 with five different kinds of cancer and a missing leg, sure, you can get Social Security!  if you are 65, in great health, physically and mentally fit and employed full time, I don’t think you should qualify.

However, I could see just an elevated age requirement.  I think we would need to look at the statistical ages people die now versus how they were in the 1940s when the program was established.  If, and this is a hypothetical because I am using IF, men typically died at 45 years of age in 1941 and the age you were allowed to collect on Social Security was 56, then we should look at the actuarial tables to determine the odds of someone living to 56 when the life expectancy was 45.  Then we should look at the tables for today and find the odds that are closest to those of the 1940s and that should be the age.

for instance.  If you had a 3% chance to live to age 56 in 1941 and you have a 3% chance to live to 93 today, then you should not be able to collect on Social Security until you reach the age of 93.

That is purely a hypothetical example with every number pulled out of my little, “bubble-butt” to demonstrate my point.  Those numbers are not to be held as cast in stone, nor are they researched.  I just grabbed numbers that seemed somewhat realistic in my mind.</sob>

One last: Jen made the point that to almost win is the same as losing. Not true. For example, if I punch someone in the face repeatedly, and ALMOST knock him out, did I somehow lose the fight? Meade’s forces were defeated on the first day… Meade was punched repeatedly on the 2nd, but stayed on his feet… Lee thought he could land the knock-out blow with Pickett, and failed.

That is basically Gettysberg, in one paragraph.

Edit:

Just to extend the metaphore further, Gettysberg was like a three-round fight:

Round 1: Lee cautiously approaches Meade. Lee lands several devastating blows. Meade staggers. Lee continues pummelling Meade, but Meade is saved by the bell. Meade retreats to his corner and regroups.
Lee wins the round.

Round 2: Meade assumes a defensive stance. Lee pummels Meade the entire round, opening up several cuts. Meade reels, staggers, drops to the ground twice, but Lee misses several knockout blows. Meade counters and bloodies Lee.
Lee narrowly wins the round on points.

Round 3: Meade keeps his defensive stance, knows Lee will go for the knockout blow to the center. Lee begins the round with a weak attack that Meade easily counters. Lee and Meade circle each other warily. Lee, unaware he is ahead on points, throws one last desperate haymaker. Meade guards his center. Lee breaks his hand on Meade’s forearm. Meade, barely conscious, has a chance to finish the fight, but is too battered, bruised and bloodied to do anything but wait for the bell.

Lee is unable to continue the fight. Meade wins a TKO.

Edited cause I like boxing.

@cystic:

Well for me it was odd as i went to typically touristic places - Disney, Harper’s Ferry and a few Civil War sites, Arches Park near Moab Utah, as well as various places in South Dakota.  Also i’m pretty chatty - i like meeting people, and i do everywhere i travel and make great friends.  Still - no non-USies did i meet while travelling in the US.  Just a weird coincidence.

You must of just had “bad” luck when going to Disney, I worked there for 2 semestesr and was just there over labor day - lots of Eurpeans.  Hell, go to EPCOT, all of the people there working the foriegn countries are straight from their original country.

I remember 15 years ago (god am I old) I was working and had to take a lost child to main street in the Magic Kingdom (that is where we take them).  It was so heart wrenching, this poor little french girl was so scared and I could say nothing to her because she did not speak English.  When they find a lost child that does not speak English they call a call center with people who are versed in all languages who told her to come with me.  She was holding my hand and I could feel her trembling.

I am getting off the point.  Just suprised you didn’t see any non Americans at Disney (there are a bunch).  Call it whatever you want, but since my Disney experience I have a dislike for Brazilian tourist (long story).

The results of the study seem to be a mixed bag. See the BJM editorial…

http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/7398/1048

The fact that the study was authorized and sponsored by proponents of California Proposition 99(Anti-Smoking group)and then dropped because of the apparent survey outcome seems to balance the equation for me.

That’s akin to a district attorney gathering evidence that contradicts the outcome s/he wishes in a case. Then not turning the results of the investigation over to the defense attorney. The facts are hiden from the jury…

For a BJM overview and acces to a BJM abridged version of the survey, see…

http://bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/326/7398/1057?ijkey=b97477b07669c0f43c8888f729d87cbc49a54ab2&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha

Sure, I’ll try and find the stats

Oh, I see now. :smile: Thanks for the clear up Yanny, but not so thanks since you can’t delete those post.