Life in the U.S. is a joke

reply to post by Becker44


I am an American living in Denmark and I think they are lightyears ahead of us i.e. goverment/media.

Not happy living in our advanced society with all of its laws and regulations? Wanting to run around naked all day long with out a bill to pay or a boss to nag you?Tired of standing in lines and paying the high price of gas?No worry's mate I have found just the place for you!

Maybe you can move to Brazil and join this tribe.Of couse you will have to get use to living in a mud hut and I doubt they have a long life span, but they don't seem to have no worry's.

Let me start by giving you a Star and Flag for this very well articulated post.

In 1989 my feet touched the tarmac in Miami. I was coming from Costa Rica, my parents, a ten year long journey from Cuba to America that took them trough Costa Rica, where my brother and I were born. We are political refugees.

I'm almost 24 now, I remember the first time I saw a television, the first time I saw a flushing toilet, the first time I saw a modern car, my first day in an American school....No uniforms... I always wondered about that.

But that's what it's all about right? That's what I thought. For many, many years. Until 9/11. I stood aside and watched. Trying to figure out my place in America, who was, and still is, very scared of foreigners...(Not without good reason mind you.). So like many I was quiet. I would occasionally say things like, "we had this coming", or "Has anybody stopped to think about why they actually hate us?", but that made no waves, and I wasn't seeking to make any.

Flash to the Iraq War... "They will greet us as Liberators, not Invaders". "Iraq has massive stockpiles of Weapons of Mass Destruction, and is poised to use them.", "I think Iraq and Al-Qaida are indistinguishable.", "We will build schools, we will rebuild their energy infrastructure, and re-organize their military forces." ..."Mission Accomplished", "Insurgency beginning to create a real problem.", "Iraq is in the midst of Civil War."

At this point my brother had already joined the Army. And by this time, a growing number of people were waking up to the reality that Bush is, in fact, lying. And that this war is nothing more or less than that. A lie.
Turns out my brother was now fighting for corporate interests, fighting to preserve the the ability of individuals and corporations both real and fake to rob the Iraqi piggy bank blind. And do the same with no-bid contracts...Billions of American Tax dollars(www.nationalpriorities.org... and this on profiteering www.abovetopsecret.com...)that are now gone.

At this point I didn't know what to think...The propaganda had actually gotten to me in a small, but rather profound way. It had put the suggestion in my mind that my brother was now part of this war, and I should support my brother, but what about this war? Does that mean I have to shut up about the war to support my brother?
In many circles it meant just that. Especially in the news media. What I have witnessed in the 20 years I have been here is a severe and forceful push toward what resembles fascism. While they attack our right to bear arms, they grant corporations the right to use deadly force on the streets. They hijack our congress, and pollute our process for a dollar amount. And America falls asleep, seemingly immune to the poison that slowly corrodes the fabric of what made this country free...Sometime ago.

I could make the choice to either abandon support for my brother and therefore America, or Abandon the very thing that makes me, me. I chose to abandon neither. I talked to my brother and I asked him what was up. What it is really all about. And what he thought of my feeling toward it. And he said, "While I fight, I need someone in my corner. Do what you gotta do, I gotta do what I gotta do. Even if I don't agree with it." And I did, and am doing what I have to do.

I'm sure some would say "But it's his responsibility to say no!" The problem is, he has two little girls. And the only way he can assure they reach their potential is to do what he's told. He loves this country. But this Government is using him. And he knows it, but unlike us, he's absorbed into a system that has full control of how his life turns out, and his life is directly tied to my two little nieces. And I can't begrudge him this.

Moral of the story? Freedom in this country is a false sense of security. We must fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, we must be their voices when they cannot speak. We must preserve with everything that makes us who we are, the very things that makes this country free. The Constitution of the United States of America, and the Bill of Rights.

In these two documents lies the very tools needed to exact justice on those who are guilty of manifesting injury on the American people, and on the World as a whole. In these two documents lies the tools we need to continue to forge a truly free society, free from indefinite imprisonment, free from fighting for the profit of a few. In this document lies the tools we need to achieve every goal we must achieve to stay the greatest, and freest nation in the world. In these two documents is also written that the true will of the United States, is for the people, by the people. And that these documents are unique in that they are built for constant revolution.


The revolution will come. The first thing we must do is kick Corporations and faith out of the system once and for all and quit pandering to them. It is these two things that politicians like to use against us the most. They divide us with our faith, they conquer us with corporate fascist entities, and use propaganda to ensure we swallow every last drop of their intoxicating, yet enslaving tonic. Tyranny.

We came to this country because a beacon really does shine. Despite what people on this site might think about America, and Americans. There is a light that brings people like my parents and I to this country. There is a beacon of light that guides people to love this country, and fight for this country, and preserve the values this country was founded upon...Maybe more so for people such as myself, who up until entering the US, had no idea we actually had the right to be treated like human beings. This is the only nation I have ever lived in that actually gives a damn about others and isn't entirely consumed by racism, or xenophobia or both. And that has to count for something.

There are however a few...A very clever and shrewed few, who have managed to gain the control of every system, and resource we hold dear. And squander it for the sake of making their pockets that much heavier.

The revolution starts, however, when people realize that an American Revolution, has nothing to do with a car, and everything to do with life and death, law and order, and the checks and balances that maintains the flow of what has come to be known by the world as the American Dream.

In the last 8 years specifically, that dream has become a nightmare for me.


[edit on 26-6-2008 by projectvxn]

LMAO. Yea, I hate America too. Because I have to pay for my college education, and I have to work steadily for five days a week for a live-able wage; and I have TV, cinema, internet, and uncensored books to read for entertainment...

All we have is the means to complain about our shortcomings, shame we ain't censored like other countries. Yea, America sucks....



[edit on 6/27/2008 by Spiderj]

reply to post by projectvxn




I definately understand where you are speaking from, and I can relate to your story about your brother. That is the position that a lot of young men and women are put in these days for volunteering to defend their country.

It is digraceful what our crooked government is doing to the people overseas in Iraq and it is disgraceful what they are forcing these soldiers to confront on a daily basis. In a situation where war is waged and life is potentially lost, there must be a clear reason for taking such action. Initially these soldiers had that reason under the guise of protecting American lives. Now the picture is far less than clear, and the true goals and intentions have been horribly distorted.

I imagine it would be difficult to go out and get shot at every day when you know in your mind and in your heart that your life has been reduced to that of a pawn in a chess game being played over oil dollars and defense contracts. 9/11 and it's aftermath woke a lot of people up and forced them to face the reality that life as we all knew it would never be the same again. It has become increasingly difficult for people to ignore what many of us now know, that we are no longer in charge of our own government.

You don't have to support the war to support your brother, he and the other soldiers are victims in all of this just like the Iraqi people as well as the American people who now have blood on our hands as a result of actions that were not our own. It should make people angry, people should be lashing out against a government that has gone rogue. Yes our rights are slowly being stripped away. Yes the world is steadily getting smaller while also getting more dangerous. I agree completely that this country needs a serious and swift overhaul. It is approaching the time to clean our own house.

But I still maintain a love for this country in spite of it all. The truth is that America has not let us down, our corrupt elected officials have. They can kill and destroy and intimidate until they turn blue in the face, but they can't change the fact that we are still Americans, and that still stands for the same thing it did in 1776 when this nation was founded. It is still the basic principles of freedom for all that truly matter. We live in a different time, but the one thing we all have in common is our belief in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Don't let these monsters take that away from you. This is OUR country, not theirs, and it is worth fighting for.

Originally posted by BlackOps719
reply to post by projectvxn

 

Don't let these monsters take that away from you. This is OUR country, not theirs, and it is worth fighting for.

absolutely

Slacker, love your avatar. I'm looking to buy a new place soon, will have the Gadsden Flag flying out front.

[edit on 6/27/2008 by Spiderj]

Originally posted by slackerwire


It is in fact a victimless crime. People who choose to victimize themselves are the irresponsible ones. Much like alcohol, only retards destroy their lives through irresponsible drinking.

Should something be completely banned because some people are irresponsible? No.

Well,, now you're talking plane silly it is NOT a victimless crime, not even close. IS theft is rampant because of meth users, they will steal from their own mother. Then there is the healthcare they need from time to time that taxpayers and the insured have to pay. The company they work for (if they haven't lost the job yet) suffers. Then there are the traffic accidents and the lives ruined forever.

Retards don't destroy there lives drinking, people with a predisposition to alcholism do.

They start out like most of us, casual drinks after work or at a club and they seem like anyone else but not everyone's makeup is the same. Some have a much bigger problem with it and they discover they do after it's too late. The same with people who have had back surgery and are prescibed pain killers. Some can get off them, others have a HUGE problem with it. You can talk all smug and get cocky like that but when I see people wracked by drug addiction I just think by the grace of God there go I.

Should something be completely banned because some people are irresponsible? No.

This sounds so oxymoronic you should be embarrassed just saying it. The fact is no one is a responsible drug user and drinking is a drug. The only way you can stay within the legal limit is to drink so little what is the point. Then you COULD drink at home but that isn't realistic as most won't. Prohibition didn't work they say. The war on drugs was and still is a failure. So what do we do? We make them legal. Drugs like nicotine, Booze, now Pot is another in some areas. Our country is addicted to drugs and that's it the one villified the most now is meth where if you are on heroine they treat you as a patient and give you Government Grade Heroine called methadone. But Crystal meth users are looked upon as pond scum and are pretty much empty shells of what they once were.

I have seen many bounce back to there former youthfull vibrant appearance but not very likely in most cases. One of the biggest victims of that drug is the children of the addicts,,

how sad that gets

Meth can be eliminated as a drug problem in one day all over and people would get over the common cold the same they they did before all that ephedrine products came out.

That is the right thing to do

but they won't do it

- Con

Originally posted by whiteraven
reply to post by mopusvindictus

 

Hey Mop...that was a good read. It took me a bit to figure out the jist of it but I must say I really enjoyed your point of view.

I'm just not sure I understand why so many people feel so down about the future... Things are cyclical, these are just hard times...

don't get me wrong, I think the war on drugs is stupid, I think that war time is a bad thing, I think we were robbed and things are stricter and more controling then they have ever been...

But the way people act, as if, no one has ever had to buck up and overcome hard times before, and these times are not all that awful...

just faced with everything, i'm optimistic, this is not ww3, the loss of life is not 10's of millions and probably won't be, we have faced down far tighter confrontations like the Cuban missile crisis, and come through without the "event" happening...

the economy is bad but it is also global and there are opportunities... they just lay in technical sectors..

so maybe.. I mean the Thread says it all "slacker" maybe it's just tough to face the reality that it's time to not be a slacker right now... I was a "slacker" so no offense k? But to me it all just makes me feel like growing up and getting over my youth and taking it seriously...

and.. you know it's just not that depressing to find out I can't be a slacker right now, I have partied too much, if they are watching me and i'm at risk, well... maybe I did get stoned a bit too much and let them... maybe it's time to just not get high for awhile and get to the task of changing the system from within, the proper way and not by freaking out and starting a revolution lol, just talking... sober

and you know I have seen allot of movies and played allot of games and had allot of sex and watched more porn then I ever needed too and... well, I have about an inch I could loose if food is expensive...

times are tough... but not so tough, not so bad that if we just wake up, drink some coffe and really work hard to fix things it can't all be different very quickly...

I mean, people are taking adavantage in America... we were on the couch mostly while they were doing it, their aren't death camps, no one is knocking down our door... thievery, corruption... we all are guilty of sleeping late for a decade or so....

It will all be fine, perhaps slacker, what your really mourning is the end of the "slacker" generation... it's cool, me too man. I just have gotten over it... I'm excited to show what I can do... and these years, you know... in a knowledge economy it takes a long time to learn what you need... perhaps a prolonged time to grow up is part of the new world, no guilt, no blame... I learned allot in front of the discovery channel and a & e and through 8 years of college and on the internet... lol

I think i'll come up strong, I think we all will...

my generations predicament reminds me of Bill and Teds lol, "maybe if we are going to change the whole world with our music it's time we learned how to play guitar"

All of our problems aside... we have abilities and opportunities as the first generation to grow up with the internet to make allot of money, learn anything we need for free and go do something

It's really just not so depresing to say goodbye to the "slacker" days, it actually feels kind of good, having embraced it.. I feel better about myself and my life... I'm just not very depressed or worried.

Originally posted by whiteraven
reply to post by jsobecky

 

Not "because of their stance". It's because people have short memories

Wow. I love your logic. You take two flaming statements that strike every North American as true; both of wich, because of the strong iconic arctype raise a feeling of an aggresive emote; and you use that as some sort of proof that the Dixie Chicks are now doing very well because people "have short memories"!

Is that a gift....or are you trained!

[edit on 26-6-2008 by whiteraven]

You can't teach that kind of genius, kiddo. It's called facts.

If you've seen SICKO, then you know how horrible our health care system is. Everything is run by the huge pharmaceutical corporations.

Originally posted by jkrog08
reply to post by slackerwire

 

While I agree some what with your post(meaning if things continue the way they are I can see the country becoming like you say,although I don't see it as bad yet as you say)could you explain this comment for me please?

People are arrested and sent to prison for a very long time for committing victimless crimes.

Sure thing:

How about people being sent to prison for crimes such as -

- possession of a "controlled" substance (that the government has no Constitutional authority to prohibit anyways)?

- Possession of a concealed weapon without the proper permit? (why does someone need government permission to pull their shirt down over a gun?)

- Prostitution (private contract between 2 consenting adults)

-While no one was sent to prison, government agents seized quite a bit of money, arrested, and fined people for simply playing in a home poker game (Can't have gambling taking place unless the government gets their cut)

- How about "obscenity" laws? Big thread here on ATS about a porn producer named Max Hardcore who was found guilty after cops in a different state ORDERED his videos and then charged him with a crime. If they dont like it, dont watch.

I could go on and on. Hope it helped

[edit on 6/27/2008 by Spiderj]

Originally posted by Conspiriology



Well,, now you're talking plane silly it is NOT a victimless crime, not even close. IS theft is rampant because of meth users, they will steal from their own mother. Then there is the healthcare they need from time to time that taxpayers and the insured have to pay. The company they work for (if they haven't lost the job yet) suffers. Then there are the traffic accidents and the lives ruined forever.

Then prosecute them for the THEFT, or the DUI just like you would for an alcoholic. Does every meth addict do those things? Of course not. Thinking otherwise is just plain ridiculous.

Should something be completely banned because some people are irresponsible? No.

The fact is no one is a responsible drug user

That is simply absurd. NO ONE?????????

Lets see your source for that senseless statement.

The only way you can stay within the legal limit is to drink so little what is the point. Then you COULD drink at home but that isn't realistic as most won't. Prohibition didn't work they say. The war on drugs was and still is a failure. So what do we do? We make them legal. Drugs like nicotine, Booze, now Pot is another in some areas. Our country is addicted to drugs and that's it the one villified the most now is meth where if you are on heroine they treat you as a patient and give you Government Grade Heroine called methadone. But Crystal meth users are looked upon as pond scum and are pretty much empty shells of what they once were.

Meth addicts are pond scum, but that is their CHOICE.

I have seen many bounce back to there former youthfull vibrant appearance but not very likely in most cases. One of the biggest victims of that drug is the children of the addicts,

If the children are neglected, then prosecute them for that crime. The Constitution doesn't give the feds any power whatsoever to dictate what people can do to their own bodies.








[edit on 27-6-2008 by slackerwire]

Bro, nothing your pointing out is wrong, every issue here... I agree with you 100%

There is so much retarded nonsense to deal with... i just personally hit a point this year where I decided to stop complaining and actually do something about it, that's all...

Because truth be told... pot will never be legal if i'm stoned all the time... as an example...

I think we all have allot of personal balme in the states for things being a bit out of hand, many people, not saying you... but many live with a sense of entitlement and really on close examination, it wouldn't take much for the generation under 40 (i'm 37) to economically empower ourselves even if it means over working, to avoid the pitfalls by just being good...

my personal strategy for all this...is to make myself better than it... it is a very policey state, and thee conomy does suck and...heck, I have gotten in trouble for a few stupid minor things and well, the effects of that carried with me for years...still does...

LOL I got picked up and almost got a misdemeanor in NY right after 9-11, by cops that had a THC dector... LOL, they didn't supply Uranium detectors which btw were 800.00 cheaper, but they were testing a device to sense thc on your skin 6 hrs after use... LOL

I was given 1 year of anger management classes for... lol for nothing man... I feel you...

But my way of dealing with it, is to just be the best guy I can... I can work hard and prosper right in the middle of this, I cn turn the other cheek and smile I can fight within the system and have a voice...

so the rules are retarded? I know... but if you know substance A is for some moronic reason illegal, just avoid it, be sober, it's the only proof you have it's not addictive

The way to win is to best it, that's all, I have it in me, we all do... the simple example is weed being illegal, the ridiculousness of this... we would live in such a more open society if nicotine and booze weren't the way of the walk, everything would be diffferent... 30 years now people just keep smoking and don't do much about it, self control and discipline is the way to win...

lets face it, power is had by control freaks, we have to control ourselves to win this fight, make more money, work with new technology, innovate, stay clean, don't party... beat the system man and change it for your kids...

the other awnser is revolution, death, decay, ruination...

remember, your opponents are Old people, you will out live them, you can be involved... we, us, we have the bio tech on our side, we will be young at 60 and 70... it is a good time to be a bit conservative if you wish to accomplish liberal goals, beat them at their own game, they aren't very smart, they don't have your energy and they don't have youth on thier side and yes 30 is youth in todays world...

they can only make it hard...so enjoy it, at somepoint to build a life will reqire work, if they wont to clamp down i'm going to rise over it and I am getting that job done in my own life...

invent your way out of this bro... they can control not your heart and mind my friend

reply to post by TroyB


"well one example, a mother's right to carry breast milk in a container on a plain without tampering with it or classifying it a 'dangerous substance'."

This makes you upset ?

Very well said. Here in europe things are very much the same and the turning point was the moment the euro was forced upon us. the whole situation reminds me of how the drugs busines works. The money is collected at the top of the ladder and that is exactly what is going on with groceries and whatever a person needs. The gradually loss of rights and freedom, the oil price and everything else is being controlled by the same 'happy' few. These people are well organized and control the world. Everything that happens and matters in the world is connected with these people. And my personal belief is that they are steering the world economy in a certain direction. Taking away the freedom and rights of people is part of this big master plan they have. They might need those new laws to protect themselves and to ensure control when the # hits the fan.

reply to post by calcoastseeker



Hey calcoast.

These tribes have some secrets that many who have vistited find astounding.

I have a very close pub friend from Scotland who spent a lot of time in Central and South America with some of these "forgotten" tribes. I will not take the time to disclose all that he and others have discovered yfet suffice it to say they are very knowledgeable in areas that are LOST to us in "civilization".

He, my buddy, is finishing his book on his trek with a tribe that lives on the Costa Rica border down to Nicaragua!

I understand your "little joke" (said with a Tico accent)..and I laughed but their is a reason that these tribes are being "kept"!!!!

reply to post by slackerwire


Couldn't agree with you more, my exact thoughts; almost gives me an eerie feeling. But I have thought of America as a pitiful nation for a long time greatly based on pop culture and the media which can and are tearing this nation apart. I respect every topic you hinted on but especially the quote about the average american being quite stupid and naive; the greatest truth you wrote, how else could our government do as much as they please without so many sheeple to stand by and allow it to happen. I've said time and time again on these forums that I wouldn't be aposed to a revolt at the slightest; our governemnt needs to be changed one way or the other to a none party system. Segrigating groups only calls for more prejudice and more of a split state; they say we're united but then why so many different parties. If people would convince me they'd follow I'd start a revolt right now.

The most disgusting words i ever heard: If you dont like it, leave.

I'l tell you what, it is because AMERICA is so powerful and great, that it has drawn the entire world to her for a better life. Its the shinning STAR, the last hope people from most nations have at a chance at a good life. Having said that, WHY ON GODS GREEN EARTH DO WE ALLOW THIS EDEN, THIS GARDEN PARADISE WHERE ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO BE RAPED of its constitutional freedoms, and why, why, doesnt anyone do anything about it???

The attitude is FREAKING LEAVE???

NO! That's not the way to save a great country- the way to save this great country is for all people to stop being sheep, mindless bufoons, and come together, EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS COUNTRY, and damn it,
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW!!

WE OUTNUMBER THEM- If people, all people, rise up and demand a change NOW, they wont have a choice but to put that miserable clown out of the Whitehouse, that's right.

But, i tell you, if nobody, or as long as we continue debating something, and as long as we do not do anything, and i am not calling for violence.
But if we all take the same path, because if we dont we know we are screwed, WE WILL BE HEARD. WE WILL BE HEARD!!!!!

I wrote this on another thread about fathers day, but I thought it applied here as well.

The problem is that people who do things in the physical world are the only ones taking responsibility these days. In other words, the people who make things happen are the risk takers. It seems that the popular technique these days of most people is to avoid ever doing anything, so that they can avoid any responsibility. Not only do you see this in your personal relationships and your family, but even more at work. One awsheeit wipes out 100 attaboys. It is far easier to play politics then to roll up your sleeves and go to work. The big money is in playing politics and avoiding work. Working people, blue collar workers are ridiculed. We have become a nation of con artists. This is the nature of the corporate world.

Big media has us by the throat. People are bombarded everywhere they go with images and symbolism that tells people what the media wants people to hear. The smart people see through the lies, but most do not. You have to teach your children that the television, magazines, music, and the rest of the media all tell lies, and mainly are designed to manipulate you. You can't escape from the media, you can only learn how to translate what you are hearing and seeing into an understanding that it is an attempt to manipulate you.

As a teenager, you think the lyrics to your favorite songs are giving you a glimpse of the truth, but they are not. There are vast numbers of extremely talented musicians out there in the world, but only a select few get to be famous. Those who get to be made rock star gods are the ones who cater to what big media wants to present. You want to unwind at the end of the day, start into the fire (the boob tube), and you get bombarded with subliminal messages. Big media bombards your kids and your wife constantly, while you are lucky to have a few hours of quality time with your kids in a week. Big media has far more leverage in their influence on everyone, than we have on each other. The only answer is to teach your children how to translate what they are hearing and seeing as the subliminal messages that they are.

Do you think it was an accident that party animal Jim Morrison was made a hero to the hippy generation? You want to be a rebel? The answer is to do lots of drugs and burn your brains out, NOT! Drop out, don't bother getting involved in the machinations of power. Thus the rebellion was quietly squashed.

Now days it seems that the media is doing everything it can to undermine the image of the male, and especially the white male. Now days, the white male is the symbol of the arrogant aggressor. For a long time now the media has portrayed Dad as the person that no one should trust.

The only heroes these days are cartoons. The message of big media these days is that the men who fought to build a free nation were not heroes, they were bigoted oppressors. There is no hope for freedom. Play the game, be a survivor, be a backstabber. You can get everything you want as long as you are willing to sell out to big corporations. Mickey Mouse is your hero, not your dad, not George Washington. America's principles of freedom are a myth.