I like COVID 19

[Docscurlock]

The US is not, and cannot be run in isolation.

Actually, I think it could be. Without the US controlling Europe, you would likely be speaking Russian. If it weren't for my tax dollars going to defending your freedom you wouldn't have what you have. The US has active military bases in nearly every country of Europe, I guess you could think of then as a benign occupying force. If we pulled back, you wouldn't have the money for socialized medicine.

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[Gregs24]

You don't offend me - it's just amusing how citizens and journalists in other countries have this silly notion that their opinion of us means anything. News flash - it doesn't!

It's amusing that you and some others have the silly notion that we can't have an opinion on the US that is valid. If it doesn't matter to you don't need to reply to me.

 

[Gregs24]

. Without the US controlling Europe,

Errr US controlling Europe ?? What sort of dreamland to you live in ?

 

[rick81721]

It's amusing that you and some others have the silly notion that we can't have an opinion on the US that is valid. If it doesn't matter to you don't need to reply to me.

Of course you can have an opinion. Whether it is "valid" or not is purely subjective!

 

[Gregs24]

You just don't get how insulting you are do you? .

You just don't get how easy to wind up you are ?

 

[Gregs24]

Of course you can have an opinion. Whether it is "valid" or not is purely subjective!

On that we can agree. Applies to both of us.

Validity can be objective or subjective. You can say that grass is orange. You can hold that view subjectively and be right in your own mind. However objectively you are wrong and that is why scientific proof is objective and not subjective.

I think Trump is a liability and flits from one direction to another. There are so many objective proofs of him saying one thing today and then the opposite thing tomorrow, there is nothing to argue about - it is fact. Whether that makes him suitable to be president, in my subjective view he isn't (nothing to do with politics or journalists) but you clearly disagree which is an equally valid subjective view. Both are valid and neither are offensive or illegal views.

So I will continue to express my opinions and laugh at your president if he continues as he has been doing. It isn't politics, it isn't journalistic bias, it isn't colonialism, it is just an observation.

 

[Gregs24]

Actually, I think it could be. Without the US controlling Europe, you would likely be speaking Russian. If it weren't for my tax dollars going to defending your freedom you wouldn't have what you have. The US has active military bases in nearly every country of Europe, I guess you could think of then as a benign occupying force. If we pulled back, you wouldn't have the money for socialized medicine.

Oh and the map you show also explains why the US want to base forces in Europe - nothing to do with Russia but completely to do with the Middle East.

 

[rick81721]

On that we can agree. Applies to both of us.

Validity can be objective or subjective. You can say that grass is orange. You can hold that view subjectively and be right in your own mind. However objectively you are wrong and that is why scientific proof is objective and not subjective.

I think Trump is a liability and flits from one direction to another. There are so many objective proofs of him saying one thing today and then the opposite thing tomorrow, there is nothing to argue about - it is fact. Whether that makes him suitable to be president, in my subjective view he isn't (nothing to do with politics or journalists) but you clearly disagree which is an equally valid subjective view. Both are valid and neither are offensive or illegal views.

So I will continue to express my opinions and laugh at your president if he continues as he has been doing. It isn't politics, it isn't journalistic bias, it isn't colonialism, it is just an observation.

Fully agree with your premise here and you have the right to express your opinions freely. But I will go back to original point - I really don't understand the obsession foreigners have with our politics. You have zero control over them, you have zero influence over them and you cannot vote here. I just think life is too short, there are far too many higher priority aspects of life to focus on. Which is why most Americans spend so little time (if any) worrying about your politics. Whatever floats your boat! In any event, this has been beaten to death.

Stay safe!

 

[Docscurlock]

Oh and the map you show also explains why the US want to base forces in Europe - nothing to do with Russia but completely to do with the Middle East.

Yes, I can see how they are strategically lined up to thwart invasion from the middle east. We have plenty of bases there too. I would pull all of them back and focus on the North American Continent, maybe SA too. Let the Russians have you guys.

 

[Docscurlock]

You just don't get how easy to wind up you are ?

You haven't even seen me wound up this is Sunday morning boredom at work

 

[Docscurlock]

Errr US controlling Europe ?? What sort of dreamland to you live in ?

Not a dreamland, just an objective observation.

 

[Docscurlock]

But I will go back to original point - I really don't understand the obsession foreigners have with our politics. You have zero control over them, you have zero influence over them and you cannot vote here.
Stay safe!

Because they feel enlightened.

 

[rick81721]

Because they feel enlightened.

I think it is more primal than that. I was thinking about this during my 44 mile bike ride in sunny, SW Florida. People have an innate psychological need to be relevant. Nobody wants to be ignored. A sports analogy is applicable here:

There are two ends of the spectrum in US football fandom - NE Patriots fans and Cleveland Browns fans. No one wants to be a Cleveland Browns fan but those born in the area or have parents who are fans have no choice. But they are jealous of NE Patriots fans because they are winners. Patriots fans don't care what Browns fans say about them, or their city, or their team and coach. So how do Browns fans gain some relevance/control with Patriots fans? They try to antagonize them - they make fun of the fans, the city, they call the coach a cheater, they call Tom Brady a crybaby. When they elicit an angry response by trolling, they feel like they have some relevance in the conversation.

We Americans live in the greatest country on earth. We don't know what it's like to live in countries of lesser importance, of lesser relevance. We don't care about politics in other countries because it doesn't matter to us. I bet if someone did a poll of Americans on the street and asked who the current PM of the UK was, as many people would say Margaret Thatcher, Boris Yeltsin, or even Dame Judi Dench was the PM as those that correctly said Boris Johnson!

In any event, we all here share one common bond - our love for Ford Mustangs. Go out and enjoy a drive!

 

[Gregs24]

Not a dreamland, just an objective observation.

Subjective I think you will find

 

[Gregs24]

We Americans live in the greatest country on earth. We don't know what it's like to live in countries of lesser importance, of lesser relevance. We don't care about politics in other countries because it doesn't matter to us. I bet if someone did a poll of Americans on the street and asked who the current PM of the UK was, as many people would say Margaret Thatcher, Boris Yeltsin, or even Dame Judi Dench was the PM as those that correctly said Boris Johnson!

In any event, we all here share one common bond - our love for Ford Mustangs. Go out and enjoy a drive!

Agree with the latter - well I would if we were not in lockdown !

Just because you live in what you believe is the best country in the world doesn't mean the rest of us don't exist, or that we may even be better. The US sure does worry about other countries and their politics - if it didn't then why would it be so involved globally. Lack of knowledge and ignorance of other countries is not something to be proud of, you never know you might learn something useful by broadening your horizons !

Interestingly in an attempt to objectivise it there has been a happiness report for a few years (posted previously) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Happiness_Report#2019_World_Happiness_Report

US manages 19th and good old UK 15th so we are a little bit happier. Scandinavian countries lead the way however and one of them (Sweden) has a very different approach to COVID that relies on the general public to act responsibly to control spread.

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