Is a shift to socialism inevitable?

[Eupher]

They THINK it because the MSM/DNC (but I repeat myself) has TOLD them what to think.  Most Americans don't see the day-to-day lives of most Euros.  They get this rosy picture of something like western Germany; decent wages, modern, etc., not realizing that German cities (and most of Europe, for that matter) is expensive as HELL.  I knew a guy when I was in the Navy who ended up with orders to London--he saw how much he would be getting in COLA and thought he was getting a great deal, until he looked at the cost of living there.

I've never been stationed there, but I'm sure that TRG and you could give excellent examples of just how hard it would be to live off the economy would be if you're making what the locals make.  I know what costs were like in Japan, Korea, etc., and there's no way in hell I'd want to live that kind of lifestyle.

What the German locals live under:
1.  Unless you make a shitload of money, don't even think of having a car. Take public transportation (it's admittedly a lot better than what's available in the U.S., but then again, Germany's a lot smaller too). Gasoline is taxed to the ridiculous point and then beyond, meaning if you can't afford the gas to put in the car and the insurance, see the above about public transportation.
2.  Unless you make an even bigger shitload of money, don't even think of owning a house. Most people in the larger cities rent apartments. I remember one gal who actually heated her apartment with COAL. And thought nothing of it.
3.  "Handy's" (what the Germans call a cell phone) aren't provided by the gubmint. You want one? With a data plan? Better have yet another shitload of money.
4.  Taxes -- whoa, now there's a good topic. Mehrwertsteuer, or the "added value tax" is 19%. And we bitch about 9.25% in Tennessee. Payroll taxes - 41% in Germany (15% for the alleged "free" socialized medicine) and 26% for social security (retirement plus unemployment).

Add all that up and you can see why most Germans don't have our X-boxes, our SUVs, our big-assed houses, our cell phones with the data plan, and 55" TV sets with the $150 cable bill.

[Dori]

What the German locals live under:
1.  Unless you make a shitload of money, don't even think of having a car. Take public transportation (it's admittedly a lot better than what's available in the U.S., but then again, Germany's a lot smaller too). Gasoline is taxed to the ridiculous point and then beyond, meaning if you can't afford the gas to put in the car and the insurance, see the above about public transportation.

Awhile back I made friends with a couple from Sweden.  We were talking about menus or recipes and they mentioned how they don't keep much food on hand.  They said they have to shop almost every day, because they have to use the bus to go to the market and can only get what they can carry. 

That made me realize something I take for granted.  I hate shopping, so I like to do a large shopping when I have to go.  It would drive me nuts to have to take a bus to the store everyday.


 

[DumbAss Tanker]

Awhile back I made friends with a couple from Sweden.  We were talking about menus or recipes and they mentioned how they don't keep much food on hand.  They said they have to shop almost every day, because they have to use the bus to go to the market and can only get what they can carry. 

That made me realize something I take for granted.  I hate shopping, so I like to do a large shopping when I have to go.  It would drive me nuts to have to take a bus to the store everyday.


 

It actually fits with the traditional European shopping style, which was for the housewife to go to the local market every day.  American shopping styles and job patterns are pretty different; it doesn't bother the Europeans because it fits their traditional pattern.  Even their fridges and freezers are small, like large dorm fridges (Table-top height) here, because of that pattern.

Eupher's on the money about the car thing, though a great many middle-class people do have them - however, they are not used for long-distance driving very often basis because of the brutal fuel prices, and commutes that are considered routine here would be totally out of the question there.

[obumazombie]

What the German locals live under:
1.  Unless you make a shitload of money, don't even think of having a car. Take public transportation (it's admittedly a lot better than what's available in the U.S., but then again, Germany's a lot smaller too). Gasoline is taxed to the ridiculous point and then beyond, meaning if you can't afford the gas to put in the car and the insurance, see the above about public transportation.
2.  Unless you make an even bigger shitload of money, don't even think of owning a house. Most people in the larger cities rent apartments. I remember one gal who actually heated her apartment with COAL. And thought nothing of it.
3.  "Handy's" (what the Germans call a cell phone) aren't provided by the gubmint. You want one? With a data plan? Better have yet another shitload of money.
4.  Taxes -- whoa, now there's a good topic. Mehrwertsteuer, or the "added value tax" is 19%. And we bitch about 9.25% in Tennessee. Payroll taxes - 41% in Germany (15% for the alleged "free" socialized medicine) and 26% for social security (retirement plus unemployment).

Add all that up and you can see why most Germans don't have our X-boxes, our SUVs, our big-assed houses, our cell phones with the data plan, and 55" TV sets with the $150 cable bill.

Even the most supposedly "poor" in the US, they have all that and more.

[txradioguy]

There are a lot more diesel cars and SUVs over here. Gas runs about €1.50 a liter.

There's also a lot more older cars on the road. If you see a German with a new car...they're leasing it 9 tomes out of 10.

[NHSparky]

It actually fits with the traditional European shopping style, which was for the housewife to go to the local market every day.  American shopping styles and job patterns are pretty different; it doesn't bother the Europeans because it fits their traditional pattern.  Even their fridges and freezers are small, like large dorm fridges (Table-top height) here, because of that pattern.

Eupher's on the money about the car thing, though a great many middle-class people do have them - however, they are not used for long-distance driving very often basis because of the brutal fuel prices, and commutes that are considered routine here would be totally out of the question there.

I can't even BEGIN to consider what it would cost me to drive back and forth to work in Europe, 45 miles each way in a full-sized pickup.

And pulling a camper?  Yeah, don't see too many of those in Europe, do ya?  Wonder why?

[DumbAss Tanker]

I can't even BEGIN to consider what it would cost me to drive back and forth to work in Europe, 45 miles each way in a full-sized pickup.

And pulling a camper?  Yeah, don't see too many of those in Europe, do ya?  Wonder why?

Yeah that...though the only full-size pickups I ever saw over there belonged to GIs, who could get subsidized gas for them.  Outside of commercial vehicles, anything with an engine over about three liters is rare as hen's teeth.

[obumazombie]

There are a lot more diesel cars and SUVs over here. Gas runs about €1.50 a liter.

There's also a lot more older cars on the road. If you see a German with a new car...they're leasing it 9 tomes out of 10.

A story with a happy lease ending.

[b-ONE-b]

this country is screwed.

Kiss it goodbye.

The population is growing, the efficiency of the employee is improving.

The ratio of dead weight Americans to working Americans is growing.

This electorate will vote with their back pocket. They will vote for the most free shit.

And when the libtards cite Europe as an example... well I've been all over Europe including the Northern Europe socialist ones. And you know what? I didn't see any welfare sucking ghetto living baby making check cashing human debris there. None. I saw hordes of people dutifully riding their bikes to work on city streets in the morning and the Germans... lol they LIVE to work (meaning the real Germans, not the imported variety)

So yeah, the USA is screwed. Make a kindergarten class a democracy and give them a budget. The teacher will watch as the little crumbcrunchers drink soda, eat chips, crap on the floor, break windows, play video games and learn curse words. THAT'S the future of the US.

Here's how it's going down... if the Republicans can win in 2014 and 2016 they can delay the inevitable but by 2020 or 2024 the dead weight electorate will be heavy enough to tilt states like Florida, Texas and Arizona permanently. The Dems will take power and print money and give shit away for 4-8 years running business and economy into the ground and capital will leave the nation leaving behind a bunch of dead weight Americas with their hands out...

Within 30-40 years the USA will be weakened and be in austerity negotiations with the EU and China. Yeah, we're ****ed.

[txradioguy]

this country is screwed.

Kiss it goodbye.

The population is growing, the efficiency of the employee is improving.

The ratio of dead weight Americans to working Americans is growing.

This electorate will vote with their back pocket. They will vote for the most free shit.

And when the libtards cite Europe as an example... well I've been all over Europe including the Northern Europe socialist ones. And you know what? I didn't see any welfare sucking ghetto living baby making check cashing human debris there. None. I saw hordes of people dutifully riding their bikes to work on city streets in the morning and the Germans... lol they LIVE to work (meaning the real Germans, not the imported variety)

So yeah, the USA is screwed. Make a kindergarten class a democracy and give them a budget. The teacher will watch as the little crumbcrunchers drink soda, eat chips, crap on the floor, break windows, play video games and learn curse words. THAT'S the future of the US.

Here's how it's going down... if the Republicans can win in 2014 and 2016 they can delay the inevitable but by 2020 or 2024 the dead weight electorate will be heavy enough to tilt states like Florida, Texas and Arizona permanently. The Dems will take power and print money and give shit away for 4-8 years running business and economy into the ground and capital will leave the nation leaving behind a bunch of dead weight Americas with their hands out...

Within 30-40 years the USA will be weakened and be in austerity negotiations with the EU and China. Yeah, we're ****ed.

Your enthusiasm is inspiring. :rolleyes: