Brad: what, a white guy needs $100,000 to live while a black guy is content with $500? Not too sure I get your point.
Everybody needs to eat, get shelter, get health care, etc.

Can't say I know for sure, but I think one of the reasons you are 6th is your commercial health system. I believe that the health system is 100% free in all the the other top 5 countries.

To go to those population stats. It's because China doesn't seem to know what protection is

For those stats, they don't even have the space to hold them.

Sorry, had to say something.

Paxx: First off, you have no idea whether "all Iraqi's hate the US". You're passing wild speculations off as fact.

Second, regrettably there are significant standard of living differences between racial groups in the United States. The per capita income of Americans is higher than any other country btw (in 2002).

But the UN statistics take things into account such as likelyhood of being affected by crime for instance. But in the US, over half of violent crime is committed by a relatively specific group that makes up only 12% of the population. Other countries with very distinct cultural and ethnic groups have the same kinds of issues. Even Canada, where you live, has such issues. Countries like Norway, by contrast, do not have these issues because their countries are so homogenous.

The UN stats are so Euro-centric in their way of viewing things. They just close their eyes to reality and do a big old average of all the stats. And that's not realistic.

Now, someone can argue "Hey, that's the way it comes out with averages" but it kills the argument that country X is better than country Y. The fact is, from an economic, environmental, healthcare, and public safety point of view, being a European American (or Canadian) gives you a higher standard of living than someone living in Europe.

But even if that does't convince you, the UN "Stats" are just total conjecture. They're based on all sorts of nebulous things that aren't really measurable. It's politically motivated.

What do real people care about? They care about ability to provide food, clothing, and shelter for their families. They care about the likelyhood of dealing with crime. They care about being able to find a job they enjoy, that pays the bills.

Norway has a 3.9% unemployment rate. Which is good. But they also get paid considerably less for the same kind of work as Americans.

So which is better? Depends on your point of view. That's the whole thing, such arbitrary rankings are based on someone somewhere choosing that one is more important than the other.

Uh....

" regrettably there are significant standard of living differences between racial groups in the United States"

There's a significant standard of living difference in the Unite States /period/.

Unite States?

*sighs* United States. One of these days, I'm going to learn to type on this stupid notebook.

You're right, I shouldn't say "All Iraki hate the US". Let just say it's like what Americans felt about Russia in the 50's. Sure, not every Americans hated the Russians, but...

War does that to you: it simplifies your thinking. Rare are people who can feel no hatred towards a country you're at war against, even more so if the said country defeated you.

As for the UN, I think you just don't like the UN. You'd probably prefer the US to rule the World?
Duh, what am I saying? They already do...

But having said that, I agree that those ranking aren,t really relevant. Read a few posts earlier. They were made for poor contries, not the rich ones.

So why am I arguing then if we agree?
Because it seems to me that some of you can't accept that the US isn't #1 all the friggen time. You're personnaly offended that sometimes some people can be better than you. That's what troubles me.

The US is member of the United Nations, BTW. And guess where the head office is? New York city.

*BOOOOOOM-a-RAT TAT TAT TAT - eeeeeeRRRRRRRR CRUMP BOOM - bump*

Peace 101 : The Evolution of Peace by the act of making War or better know as
I kill you to lead you to freedom.



Tune in next month when we dissect the Spanish Inquisition and the polarizing affects of torture driven confesions.

Old man, sigh Ze paper.
I can't i can't you've broken all my fingers.
ld man, sigh Ze paper NOW, Siiiiiiiizzzle, Aieee My EYE my eye, old man sign ze paper and you go free.

oops

/me has YET to see one person ACTUALLY sway another on the topic of religion or politics on a forum or any other public discussion group so it seems to Shmoopy that all this huffing and self-bloated puffing is all for nothing.

yup

I'm trying to stay out of the Religion part. :hiding in cornor:
Politics you can shove somewhere. They don't interest me

Angela I doubt the goal is to sway each other but to look at the stuff from diff angles? I hate politics but being on this earth and sitting in the target zone sometimes you need to read about it (I'd like to find out when the next shuttle is leaving to the moon, when I hear/read up on some of it though)

Paxx, we do have socialized medical, it's called medicare and medicaid. Some of our tax money goes toward it. You have to meet certain qualifications to get it, but it is there. There are also very cheap healthcare plans for people who live in poverty (Michigan has one that is $5 a month). but, the person actually has to apply for it. Yes, it is not free to everyone, but it is there. There are also many managed healthcares that are less expensive and have 100% coverage. We get taxed less so that we can afford choices on what type of coverage we have. I rather be taxed less and have a choice than get taxed more.

I, personally, am not offended if another country ranks higher than the US, but it needs to be a comparison of apples to apples. I feel very strongly about our country (have a lot of family that has served in our military) so I do not like it when people compare the US to other countries and do not take all the factors into account. I also have faith in what our President is doing. I am sure that they are thinking about every angle of this possible military action. I am sure that there are many things that are said and done behind closed doors that we are not aware of. ....stepping off soap box now.....

Actually, I believe most Iraqi like the American people, it's US policy they don't like.

Another thing to bear in mind about those rankings and the European-centricness of it - they lump the United States together while countries like Norway, with a population of 4.5 million, get their own ranking. Orange County California, has a population higher than 4.5 million and is supposedly quite a nice place to live.

It's like when they rank Luxemberg. It's a city for crying out loud basically.

Regarding Iraq and how they feel, Paxx unless you're prepared to present some evidence to show how the average Iraqi feels, you're just presenting your gut feeling as fact. For all you know, the average Iraqi likes Americans. You think the Kurds and Shites like Saddam better than the US? The Bathe party only represents something like 20% of the population. The rest are quite hostile to the regime.

There is no data to indicate how the average Iraqi feels about the US or its policies. It's just empty speculation. It's not like "Russia in the 50s" (and again, even then how does one compare? Do you have statistics from Russia in the 50s or are you just making assumptions? You think that Ukrainians, who were part of the Soviet Union, were enthralled with Moscow's views? Given that the countries that seem to like the US the most these days were former Soviet satellites one might argue that the people of the USSR liked Americans.)

Did the people from the Russia know Americans? And vice versa. Unlikely, they just got what the media fed them.

<? include("rants/media_is.evil")>

As for those stats. US = country, Norway = country, ergo they can be compared.

I see the country I moved out of last week (moved into my space station orbiting Terra Barbaria, too many dumb people on the surface) is number eight on that list. Must be the bad weather. Now how come there are no tropical islands up there?

Brad....it's quite safe to make the assumption that most Iraqis hate the USA....just as it is safe also to assume that most Palestinians hate the Israelis or the English hate the IRA....etc, etc.

Obviously, there will be some, perhaps many who 'understand' the US-side of the situation [as it were], but that does not mean that they will consequently 'agree' with US policy/opinion.

When a really big country kicks the living 'crap' out of a smaller country it is a safe assumption the latter will despise the former, no matter what 'validation/justification' the bigger country claims.

Victims only see the hurt.....it's one of those arguments for why hitting a child is supposed to be 'wrong' and counter-productive.

The problem with every act, good or bad, is that a thinking man will 'find' justification to appease his conscience...and an ignorant fool knows no better.

Both sleep well...

aren´t a lot of people in the US living in trailer parks? not really a high standard of living in my eyes ...

no, more live in getto's

the Appalachian mountains are full of people living an existance just above the worst thrid world nations forgotten...

what does a tax break do for them? nothing, they haven't any taxes to break because they are beyond broke.


anyway....

Luxembourg is a definatly a country, Frogboy, and it has cities. It may not be a big country (2,500 sq km), but there are quite smaller countries, like Monaco (2 sq km) and San Marino (60 sq km).

Population has nothing to do with it. They make an index, in pro rata of the population. Sure there are differences between states, as there are differences between cities, towns, neighbourhoods. Internaly in the US, you have your own tools to rate States (I've seen some of those ratings) for different purposes. Would a West coast guy say that the ratings are East-Coast centrist? Would the rural farmer say that the ratings are too city-centrist? Would the red neck say that the tests are too Yank oriented?

Having a lower population does not advantage the US nor does it disadvantage it. It's just that there are some high degrees of poverty in the US. Sure, you're home of the richest men on the planet, but some of the poorest also live in your lands. Compared to more "social" oriented countries such as Norway, Sweden and Canada where the rich aren't as rich (although rich enough IMO) but the poor a little less poor, nor as many.

Karma: the problem with targeted help (for health care) is that there are always the in-betweens. For example if those who earn less that $12,000 get all medical and medication paid for. What happens if you earn $14,000/year and receive a $100,000 bill from the hospital? The guy who earns only $2,000 less gets it for free while you have to sell your house to pay the hospital, if you have a house. Or just decalre bankrupcy.

I personnaly prefer to pay more taxes and get something for it. I know someone who pays $3,000 per year in property taxes, but he gets nothing. He has to pay extra for a private company to collect his trash. Why the heck does he pay taxes for?

"I'm sure the 'US' knows exactly what it's doing....they've done it before..."

...And failed.

"I dont think that Iran will get into it, but i am more worried with what N. Korea might try once(if) we are preoccupied with Iraq. Has anyone thought of that?"

And exactly what is Korea going to 'try'? All they have done is forcefully take their privacy back. Not everyone other than Americans are evil, psychotic portents of the devil you know...sheesh!

Paxx: Population certainly has a lot to do with it. The bigger, more varied the population, geographical area, and cultural diversity, the more meaningless averaging gets.

As for how the average Iraqi feels, do you hate Iraqis? I don't hate Iraq. And I favor military action against its government.

well, I guess Iran won't make a move.

I am not to sure about North Korea. (Democratic Peoples Replublic of Korea; D.P.R.K.)

I think they will do something. I think the leaders main goal is to not end up like Iraq so they will try MANY things to make them militaraly powerful.

In the mean time DPRK will sell arms to anyone with money.

I really hope there is a statagy for DPRK if or when they deside to front an attack (by use of threat or using some sort of covert operation to destroy a part of the US)



On the issue of population, I feel that size matters and demographics matter as well. Of course a country who has mostly one culture and one race will seem peaceful. Rural areas tend to be very quiet. Cities tend to be very violent. The more cultures there are the more misunderstandings (and therefore more violence)


I love politics! Arguing points and talking to people. Making connections and hopefully really representing those who can not speak for themselves and doing something positive for everyone.

I want to be president of the UN one day