New Rule

[OWB]

From Real Time With Bill Maher.. I know I know, most of you don't like him, but he still makes some good points.

"America must stop bragging that it's the greatest country on earth and start acting like it. Now, I know — I know this is uncomfortable for the faith-over-facts crowd, but the greatness of a country can, to a large degree, be measured. Here are some numbers: Infant mortality rate, America ranks 48th in the world; overall health, 72nd; freedom of the press, 44; literacy, 55th. Do you realize there are 12-year-old kids in this country who can't spell the name of the teacher they're having sex with?

Now, America, I will admit, has done many great things: making the New World democratic comes to mind, the Marshall Plan, curing polio, beating Hitler, the deep-fried Twinkie, but what have we done for us lately? We're not the freest country. That would be Holland, where you can smoke hash in church, and Janet Jackson's nipple is on their flag.

And, sadly, we're no longer a country that can get things done, either. Not big things, like building a tunnel under Boston or running a war with competence. We had six years to fix the voting machines. Couldn't get that done. The FBI is just now getting email!

Prop 87 out here in California is about lessening our dependence on oil by using alternative fuels, and Bill Clinton comes on at the end of the ad and says, "If Brazil can do it, America can, too." Excuse me, since when did America have to buck itself up by saying we could catch up to Brazil?! We invented the airplane and the lightbulb. They invented the bikini wax, and now they're ahead?!

In most of the industrialized world, nearly everyone has health care. And hardly anyone doubts evolution. And, yes, having to live amid so many superstitious dimwits is also something that affects quality of life. It's why America isn't going to be the country that gets the inevitable patents in stem cell cures, because Jesus thinks it's too close to cloning!

Oh, and did I mention we owe China a trillion dollars? We owe everybody money. America is a debtor nation to Mexico! We're not on a bridge to the 21st century. We're on a bus to Atlantic City with a roll of quarters.

And this is why it bugs me that so many people talk like it's 1955 and we're still number one in everything. We're not. And I take no glee in saying this, because I love my country, and I wish we were. But when you're number 55 in this category and number 92 in that one, you look a little silly waving the big foam "Number One" finger.

As long as we believe being the greatest country in the world is a birthright, we'll keep coasting on the achievements of earlier generations and we'll keep losing the moral high ground. Because we may not be the biggest or the healthiest or the best educated. But we always did have one thing no other place did. We knew soccer was bulls***.

And...and we also had a little thing called the Bill of Rights. A great nation doesn't torture people or make them disappear without a trial. Bush keeps saying the terrorists hate us for our freedom. And he's working damn hard to see that pretty soon that won't be a problem."

 

[hatvol96]

From Real Time With Bill Maher.. I know I know, most of you don't like him, but he still makes some good points.

"America must stop bragging that it's the greatest country on earth and start acting like it. Now, I know — I know this is uncomfortable for the faith-over-facts crowd, but the greatness of a country can, to a large degree, be measured. Here are some numbers: Infant mortality rate, America ranks 48th in the world; overall health, 72nd; freedom of the press, 44; literacy, 55th. Do you realize there are 12-year-old kids in this country who can't spell the name of the teacher they're having sex with?

Now, America, I will admit, has done many great things: making the New World democratic comes to mind, the Marshall Plan, curing polio, beating Hitler, the deep-fried Twinkie, but what have we done for us lately? We're not the freest country. That would be Holland, where you can smoke hash in church, and Janet Jackson's nipple is on their flag.

And, sadly, we're no longer a country that can get things done, either. Not big things, like building a tunnel under Boston or running a war with competence. We had six years to fix the voting machines. Couldn't get that done. The FBI is just now getting email!

Prop 87 out here in California is about lessening our dependence on oil by using alternative fuels, and Bill Clinton comes on at the end of the ad and says, "If Brazil can do it, America can, too." Excuse me, since when did America have to buck itself up by saying we could catch up to Brazil?! We invented the airplane and the lightbulb. They invented the bikini wax, and now they're ahead?!

In most of the industrialized world, nearly everyone has health care. And hardly anyone doubts evolution. And, yes, having to live amid so many superstitious dimwits is also something that affects quality of life. It's why America isn't going to be the country that gets the inevitable patents in stem cell cures, because Jesus thinks it's too close to cloning!

Oh, and did I mention we owe China a trillion dollars? We owe everybody money. America is a debtor nation to Mexico! We're not on a bridge to the 21st century. We're on a bus to Atlantic City with a roll of quarters.

And this is why it bugs me that so many people talk like it's 1955 and we're still number one in everything. We're not. And I take no glee in saying this, because I love my country, and I wish we were. But when you're number 55 in this category and number 92 in that one, you look a little silly waving the big foam "Number One" finger.

As long as we believe being the greatest country in the world is a birthright, we'll keep coasting on the achievements of earlier generations and we'll keep losing the moral high ground. Because we may not be the biggest or the healthiest or the best educated. But we always did have one thing no other place did. We knew soccer was bulls***.

And...and we also had a little thing called the Bill of Rights. A great nation doesn't torture people or make them disappear without a trial. Bush keeps saying the terrorists hate us for our freedom. And he's working damn hard to see that pretty soon that won't be a problem."

100% accurate.

 

[Lexvol]

Boy those trite sterotypes are really going to get the ball rolling on some great dialogue.

 

[GAVol]

Bill Maher is very funny . . . and sometimes makes good points, but his "OK, I should be quiet now before I start seeming self important" Detector is permanently broken.

 

[volinbham]

Perhaps he could:

1) Do something other than complain (I must have missed his daily efforts to improve infant mortality rates) or

2) Move to one of those countries that ranks higher in whatever category he likes best.

Nah, why leave a country that makes you rich by b@tching? :whistling:

 

[OWB]

Perhaps he could:

1) Do something other than complain (I must have missed his daily efforts to improve infant mortality rates) or

2) Move to one of those countries that ranks higher in whatever category he likes best.

Nah, why leave a country that makes you rich by b@tching? :whistling:

Are you saying that you're happy with where the country is right now?

 

[OWB]

Bill Maher is very funny . . . and sometimes makes good points, but his "OK, I should be quiet now before I start seeming self important" Detector is permanently broken.

True

 

[hatvol96]

Perhaps he could:

1) Do something other than complain (I must have missed his daily efforts to improve infant mortality rates) or

2) Move to one of those countries that ranks higher in whatever category he likes best.

Nah, why leave a country that makes you rich by b@tching? :whistling:

Ah, yes. "Love it or leave it." The intellectually bankrupt mantra of the Bush defenders.

 

[volinbham]

Are you saying that you're happy with where the country is right now?

Simply rejecting his premise:

When we beat Hitler we weren't #1 in any of those things either but we were close to #1 in Japanese internment! Poor civil and employee rights, etc.

In short, we still do great things and we still have room for improvement in many others. Because we are probably about the most diverse country in terms of power distribution among different types of people, you will rarely see us come together on a single issue to solve. Further, the solution to things like infant mortaility spur great debate. Etc. etc.

So he can cherry pick a few issues and feel morally superior to those poor saps that take some pride in his country. Doesn't seem like much of an accomplishment to me.

 

[volinbham]

Ah, yes. "Love it or leave it." The intellectually bankrupt mantra of the Bush defenders.

Simply indicating that cynically pointing out a few problems and casting dispersions on those who don't see it that way is not very difficult.

Show me some solutions Bill Mahrer and I might listen.

 

[OWB]

Come on volinbham, I know it's not Rush, but you have to admit that some of it was funny.

 

[therealUT]

Are you saying that you're happy with where the country is right now?

I can say that the reason our country is not leading the pack in every category is because people place that responsibility upon the government instead of themselves. Bill Maher is making a living propogating the following line of thinking: "If I vote right, they'll learn my kid to read good." If you want higher literacy rates, make it a priority with your children. If you want good health, exercise and eat right. If you want your children to live past infancy, lay off the booze and put the crack pipe down when you are pregnant. I do not believe the gov't needs to step in and outlaw trans fats, alcohol, and drugs in order for these things to be accomplished.

 

[hatvol96]

Simply indicating that cynically pointing out a few problems and casting dispersions on those who don't see it that way is not very difficult.

Show me some solutions Bill Mahrer and I might listen.

He's presented as many solutions to those problems as the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

 

[volinbham]

Come on volinbham, I know it's not Rush, but you have to admit that some of it was funny.

Some was funny. I wish he'd stick to comedy. As for thoughtful political analysis - I didn't see much in there.

 

[volinbham]

He's presented as many solutions to those problems as the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Um sure ok.

 

[OWB]

I can say that the reason our country is not leading the pack in every category is because people place that responsibility upon the government instead of themselves. Bill Maher is making a living propogating the following line of thinking: "If I vote right, they'll learn my kid to read good." If you want higher literacy rates, make it a priority with your children. If you want good health, exercise and eat right. If you want your children to live past infancy, lay off the booze and put the crack pipe down when you are pregnant. I do not believe the gov't needs to step in and outlaw trans fats, alcohol, and drugs in order for these things to be accomplished.

I don't really disagree with this but there are some things that the government is responsible for. There are some things that we have no control over. The power of the people has been lost somewhere along the way. I'm not blaming any certain person or any certain party, but it's true.

 

[OWB]

Some was funny. I wish he'd stick to comedy. As for thoughtful political analysis - I didn't see much in there.

It's hard on a comedian to talk serious politics with Bush in office. The guy is a walking highlight reel.

 

[therealUT]

I don't really disagree with this but there are some things that the government is responsible for. There are some things that we have no control over. The power of the people has been lost somewhere along the way. I'm not blaming any certain person or any certain power, but it's true.

I believe that most of the power of the people has actually been brought about by actually empowering the individual voter. Nowhere in the Constitution is there a call for a popular vote for the President. It clearly states that electors for each state should be chosen by the Representatives of said state. As the voting population grows, it inevitably becomes less educated. As it becomes less educated, less worthy candidates are elected. Unworthy legislators are easily swayed by the masses and by lobbyists...

 

[OWB]

it inevitably becomes less educated. As it becomes less educated, less worthy candidates are elected. Unworthy legislators are easily swayed by the masses and by lobbyists...

Why do you think that we as a population are becoming less educated and do you think that the government prefers it to be that way?

 

[hatvol96]

Why do you think that we as a population are becoming less educated and do you think that the government prefers it to be that way?

1. Because we as a society don't value education.
2. Yes, absolutely.

 

[therealUT]

What he said!

 

[volinbham]

Census data suggests that educational attainment has steadily risen since 1940.

 

[therealUT]

Educational attainment probably has risen. However, I believe that a college graduate today is less of a thinker than a college graduate 50 years ago.

 

[hatvol96]

Census data suggests that educational attainment has steadily risen since 1940.

Common sense and anecdotal evidence tells me that quality of eduction falls with each passing day. Of course "attainment" has risen. Teachers are essentially forbidden to fail academic spelunkers.

 

[OWB]

1. Because we as a society don't value education.
2. Yes, absolutely.

I'll agree that we as a society don't value education, but why is that? While we all agree that the government most likely prefers us to be uneducated, do you all think that they go to lengths to actually aid in that?

Personally, I feel that college is too expensive for most. Why do that when you could cut a rap album or play football for millions of dollars right? Then again, some of the richest people in the country produce some of the most boring things imaginable, like shower curtain rings or pencils or cardboard boxes. Perhaps the problem is that people today are too obsessed with money.

I'll agree with TRUT that people should educate themselves, but we all know that many many people in this country aren't capable of doing so. That is why we have teachers afterall (for better or for worse)