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www.onlinetasklist.com

BrainSmashR, there's another way to get statehood...let good old Uncle Sugar conquer your butt!

Actually, I have an even more radical idea and it only affects 2 countries:

1) Annex Canada (for the oil)

2) Annex Mexico (ditto)

3) Give all American citizens 30 days to drag themselves back if they happen to be out of the country (military excluded, see next item)

4) When all are ashore that're coming ashore, bring all the military back. The Army and Marines guard the soil around the new country (Greenland, down the east coast to Guatamala, then back up the west coast to Alaska); the Navy and Coast Guard guard the water around the same territory; the Air Force guards the skies over everything.

5) For their continued support in the face of being a minority, extend possible statehood to England and Australia

6) Tell the rest of the world to go hang...we won't interfere in anything you want to do inside your country, but you get no handouts (foreign aid) at all, ever.

How's THAT for radical!

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A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part!

Bill, I like your idea. You guys are crack me up!

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...if any country can become a territory and citizens of a territory do not have to pay tax, why aren't there more territories?
Because you'd have to secede from the Union.
It didn't work in the 1860s, and it certainly won't work now.

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> The Americans didn't take any land by military force?
>
> Ever heard of the Phillipines, Cuba, and Peurto Rico?
>
> The only reason why the Americans let the Phillipines go is WWII.
> They still occupy part of Cuba, and Puerto Rico has already been covered.
>
> Ever heard the term 'Manifest Destiny'?
>
> If America had had to pay for all the technology (programmable computers, the
> jet engine, radar etc etc etc) that Britan GAVE to America during WWII, they
> would still be paying.

As an American who knows a fair amount of history, I was with you right up to the end statement. Gotta say that considering the massive amount of aid that poured into England long before America entered the war makes any percieved debt for these items pretty much a wash. There are a lot of US Navy and Merchant Marine sailors who, before 1941, "bought" this cooperation with their lives to feed and arm England. Considering the massive sacrifice by all concerned in those times, I don't think tallying a scorecard of who gave what is quite appropriate.

> As an American who knows a fair amount of history, I was with you right up to
> the end statement. Gotta say that considering the massive amount of aid that
> poured into England long before America entered the war makes any percieved
> debt for these items pretty much a wash. There are a lot of US Navy and
> Merchant Marine sailors who, before 1941, "bought" this cooperation with
> their lives to feed and arm England. Considering the massive sacrifice by all
> concerned in those times, I don't think tallying a scorecard of who gave what
> is quite appropriate.

Agreed.

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Kolch - Crunching for the BOINC@Australia team since July 2004.
Search for your own intelligence...

>if any country can become a territory and citizens of a territory do not have to >pay tax, why aren't there more territories?

Well for starters, you have to have some type of resource or strategic location to bring to the table. You see, "wanting" to become a terrority isn't enough, We have to gain some type of benefit as well since said terrority will cost us American taxpayers money,time,and resources.

> Now to make some of my own points. As an Australian citizen (born to two
> Australian born parents) I can love no country other than this great country.

Nothing wrong with loving your country, it's called nationalism.


> WWII - African Theatre, and most recently both Afghanistan and Iraq (where we
> have recently doubled our troop commitment))

The war is over. The number is 450.(link) That's less than HALF of the 950 your country still has in the middle east. A whopping 1400 grand total. There are more folks than that at the local high school.


> Our history bears similarities to the US in that we were colonised by
> Europeans in need of more land.

Hello, you were colonized by criminals who were no longer wanted in England. Instead of building more prisons and taxing their citizens, they simply shipped your ancestors to an island in the middle of no where.


>One key difference is that where US independance was won by the War of Independance, Australian Federation was secured by >petitioning of the English Parliament, and any possible future >independant Repuplic would be decided by all >Australians and again it would be a war-free process.

LAF...had we waited until 1901 like you did in Australia, then I doubt we would have had to wage war against England either. Not to mention that you're a commonwealth whereas we are an independant country. It should also be mentioned that a referendum to change Australia's status, from a commonwealth headed by the British monarch to a republic, was defeated in 1999.

In other words, you settled for less that what we have, and it doesn't appear that Australians are interested in becoming a republic.

> Now as i sit here reading this message board, on a Dell P4 3.2GHz PC, drinking
> a cold coke and watching CSI:NY while speaking to my mate on my mobile (read
> cell) phone, I wonder...Why on earth would I envy an American?

Well if material possessions are what floats your boat, then I don't suspect you are envious of people, only their possessions.

.

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Two amusing quotes from BrainSmashR:-

> Well if material possessions are what floats your boat, then I don't suspect you are envious of people, only their possessions.

and from an earler post....

> My only response is look at the standard of living in most of the rest of the world. I don't really care what someone who baths twice a week or rides a mule to work thinks about America....and I'm d**ned sure not ashamed to say it either.

It doesn't get much clearer than that does it? Seems to me material possessions certainly float YOUR boat!

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Unless your a Buddist monk, materialism prevades the thinking of all human beings, ergo the term "to covet." Anyone who says otherwise is a liar. Hannibal Lecter had alot to say on the subject.

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Account frozen...

Just a casual observation or three...

I checked out your "web site" smash. Looks like it's pretty much devoted to bolstering your ego. You've submitted to your "participants" to change the name of your team from something neat and trendy to something that will represent your more "commercial" venture which I noticed includes creating a user name to view the "Stripper of the day". /smile You have an anarchy symbol for a user icon, what's that all about? Patriotism? I'm confused on that one. I'm not coming down on you for any of the above, but I will say that if you want to talk the talk then walk the walk. I also noticed that though you look to be of perhaps French (which is supported by your locale) or greek or latin american heritage it contradicts the feeling I get from your posts, a bit white supremist to me. If that wasn't your intention then you might think about drafting posts on the side, sitting on them, then revising them before you post. You may not come off so agressive that way.

In a more esoteric fashion... it takes all kinds. We, as a species, have outpaced our own evolution with our technology. We shouldn't be able to get from continent to continent with such force in such a short period of time because we don't know how to act when we get there nor do we have the integrity to act with what little foresight we are caplable of to know if we should even be "there"... and on and on. Right now it seems the human condition is - ill. This country was founded by people who wanted to "get away" from something they didn't like. Plain and simple. So, what do you suppose we don't like? Being told what to do? Being made to work? Paying for the mistakes of others? Being told who/what to worship. The popular Taxation without representation (and if you think we have overcome that, think again my friend)? There are many perspectives on what is to be "gotten away from" and what is to be "moved toward". For example: I would venture to say that English will cease to be our national language in the forseable future. The obvious argument used to hold onto English was/is that nearly all of us speak English. Well, look around, that isn't really the case anymore now is it? Why? Because people who speak other languages want freedom too and when the numbers go thier way so will certain aspects of our "culture". Remember that English was not always the common language on this continent. It was, however, the common language of those who first sought to established power here on some scale, oh wait that would be the Mexicans... er... Indians oops. See what I mean? Come here for freedom and then turn right around and try to organize? Why not go your own way and have total freedom. It was not, and will never be, about freedom. It is and was about power and who controls it. Which do we choose? Which is "right"? Are both "right"?

By the way, if you think you speak English, go read the original version of Canterbury Tails by Geoffrey Chaucer. That was English too at one time, 'Yo.

Getting back to the original post. World peace would be nice. A unified economy would be nice. If we were all nice, that would be nice too but it won't happen any time soon. I think anything global/planetary is a good direction to head, I just don't think we are ready yet as human beings. If I were a small country out there struggling I'm not sure I'd want to be absorbed by us either.

Mean People Suck, don't be mean, be a people.

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I think what irritates a lot of Americans is the perception of communist ideals rampant in the rest of the world. Karl Marx, Das Kapital: "From each, according to his ability, to each, according to his need."

The United States is a rich country; there's no doubt about that. It's far richer than most of the rest of the world. Our perception is that most of the poorer countries seem to always have their hands out, expecting the U.S. to give them aid. And for the most part, we do. The dilemma is figuring out where noblese oblige ends and communism begins; it's kind of a fine line.

It's like, first you don't give enough aid, then it's not the kind of aid we want. It's just gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme more, but don't ask how we're going to spend it. To me it's just human nature: if I give you $100,000,000.00 I'd kind of like to know where my money's going.

Going back to my first post in this thread, I wasn't completely joking. There comes a point where you get tired of people telling you what you need to do for them, then criticizing you when it wasn't enough help, or wasn't the right kind of help. I was kind of wondering how the rest of the world might react if the U.S. DID make our foreign policy one of complete isolation. I think much of the world thinks the world as a whole would be a better place. Would it? I don't know. I don't think so, but again, that's just my opinion.

As I said at the start, this is my OPINION of what a lot of Americans PERCEPTION is. I'm just an average guy with average intelligence (I hope). I'm not some kind of expert on foreign relations.

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A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part!

/agree

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> Mean People Suck, don't be mean, be a people.

As hypocritical as your average troll. You've been PLONKED!

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me@rescam.org

>> I was kind of wondering how the rest of the world might react
> if the U.S. DID make our foreign policy one of complete isolation.

I wouldn't waste too much time wondering, bill.

We're far too interested in 'coveting' other's resources.

It's been said that if we ever do discover another dimension, first thing we'll do is try to rip off the resources in said 'nother dimension.

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To play devil's advocate, you could look at it another way. If one chose to, one could consider imperialism nothing more than Darwinism on a national scale. It's kind of like why the dog lick's his rear.....because he can.

That's why in nature the big ones eat the little ones.....because they can. That's nature's way.

I'm not being an advocate for imperialism either way; just posing another thought.

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A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part!

I've never thought that conversations about imperialism, fascism, and torture would spring so easily to mind when speaking of my country.

My country used to fight against those things.

My country used to stand as an example to the rest of the world....

Not so much, anymore. Now things have changed.....

I'm not playing anyone's advocate, I'm sickened to my core by that fact.

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> I've never thought that conversations about imperialism, fascism, and torture
> would spring so easily to mind when speaking of my country.
>
> My country used to fight against those things.
>
> My country used to stand as an example to the rest of the world....
>
> Not so much, anymore. Now things have changed.....
>
> I'm not playing anyone's advocate, I'm sickened to my core by that fact.
>

Well said.

OT: This having to scroll to the bottom of the page to type my message is becoming rather frustrating.

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Kolch - Crunching for the BOINC@Australia team since July 2004.
Search for your own intelligence...

we're discussing fascism and torture........ and you're frustrated by a bulletin board?

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> we're discussing fascism and torture........ and you're frustrated by a
> bulletin board?

While i agree that fascism and torture are horrible things to be confronted with, they aren't something i have to deal with on a daily or even more frequent basis. Frustatingly scrolling to the bottom of this board is. :-P

Believe me, I was saddened to read of the treatment of captured Iraqi's as it distracted from the fact that good work had been done in that country. Also my country's strongest and closest ally had let itself down. I felt less concern for the actual victims of said treatment as i believe that were the situation reversed, similar poor treatment would have been afforded to our soldiers.

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Kolch - Crunching for the BOINC@Australia team since July 2004.
Search for your own intelligence...

> It doesn't get much clearer than that does it? Seems to me material
> possessions certainly float YOUR boat!

Not sure what planet you are from, but bathing regularly certainly is not a material possession. It's a requirment for leading a healthy life.

It's why crap like Ebola and AIDS comes from Africa and not America.

Likewise, the company van I drive to work everyday is owned by the state, not me,and not a material possession of mine.

>I checked out your "web site" smash. Looks like it's pretty much devoted to >bolstering your ego. You've submitted to your "participants" to change the name >of your team from something neat and trendy to something that will represent >your more "commercial" venture which I noticed includes creating a user name to >view the "Stripper of the day". /smile You have an anarchy symbol for a user >icon, what's that all about? Patriotism? I'm confused on that one.

Well for starters, It's my website and it serves no other purpose than to provide me with entertainment. I DO take offense at you saying my site is a commercial venture, did you have to pay to register, or see any advertising or are you just running your mouth without any first-hand knowledge? There's even a donations block...care to tell us how much money I'm making from my 'commerical venture" or do you want to wait and let the others see what a fool you are for themselves?

As for my Boinc team...what can I say other than I'm the only Nukecops member on that team. 3 members total, and I am 2 of them, the third is my neighbor. Had you read my forum instead of jumping to conclusions, you would be well aware of the fact that my team members will more than double once I get a chance to talk them through the setup process.....and who does that benefit, me or SETI?

You see, if you liberals would stick to issues you actually have some knowledge of instead of assuming you know how the system works, since you made one trip to my site,then I wouldn't hate your kind so much.

As for the Stripper of the Day, in America, it's illegal to expose minors to pornography. Before anyone sees the images, they must register a FREE account, and in the process, agree to my COPPA agreement as well as my TOS. Yes, a child could lie and gain access to questionable material, but I've got his IP and "signature" to prove he intentionally misrepresented his or herself.

Now, if I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times. An avatar is a cool image, NOT a representation of me. Just like I don't consider your lack of one to be a sign of your lack of intelligence.

>I'm not playing anyone's advocate, I'm sickened to my core by that fact.

And yet, you're still here even though we have flights heading to all 4 corners of the globe, multiple times a day. Do you think it's because America is the best there currently is or ever was?

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