$140 Oil going to $170

[74AMX304V8]

bull8042, I don't listen to talk radio, and hardly any radio anymore. but I have coworkers and relatives that have done several tours in the sandbox and have relayed info to me. it's is a shame that so many Americans have their heads up their butts. what happened to the questioning, rebelling , protesting generation of the 60's? I guess too many are driving around in their Escalades, thinking "I got mine,too bad for you".

[Dean Smith]

This is intended to replace my inappropriate comment.

[nevis]

I agree mmmmeat!

[MPrice2984]

People who claim to be conservatives or liberals both love power, money and control over others. Unfortunately neither leave room for middle of the road thought. I am very comfortble, have a great job, have owned a varity of cars and think all hard working people should have the same rights as I do.
History will be good to Lyndon Johnson, it will not be to Reagan, Bush, etc.

[jwight]

Originally Posted by mmmeat

I agree. In fact, I believe that you're too low. Gas should be $10,000 a gallon. No, $50,000. Because it's important that we teach people their place. Even better than simply raising the price artificially: let's wall in the cities so they can't get out. And we should categorize them by race, creed, culture and religion as well. That way we can track them and make sure they don't don't do anything we don't think they should do.

Your pal,
Meat.

So, it's obvious that because the EU countries have "socially engineered" their gas prices that they've "...wall in the cities so they can't get out. And we should categorize them by race, creed, culture and religion as well. That way we can track them and make sure they don't don't do anything we don't think they should do." No, they haven't; they've simply assured the majority of EU cars are smaller and more fuel efficient. They haven't outlawed big gas guzzling autos - anyone can buy one if he or she can pay the price and taxes.

And last but certainly not least, which has the booming economy & strongest currency, the US or the EU? They must have a clue (or several) that our elected officials just might have missed.

Your eternal friend,
jwight

[vwW12]

Originally Posted by jwight

which has the booming economy & strongest currency, the US or the EU?

The average person in the U.S. is much better off than the average person in Europe.

"It will take the EU until 2072 to reach US levels of income per capita, and then only if the EU income growth exceeds that of the US by 0.5pc,"

For instance, the average German is in a dead-heat with the average Arkansan... and Arkansas is the fifth poorest state in the Union.

One should be careful about what one wishes for.

[MPrice2984]

Is that why 20% of all children in the US live under the poverty line? Those Germans are also guaranteed health care unlike the US where medical care is now a privilage.

What happens to the Germans is their business. Our leaders at the behest of the all powerful just sweep the poor and more under the carpet and pretend the problems don't exist.

[Dunerunner]

Originally Posted by MPrice2984

Is that why 20% of all children in the US live under the poverty line? Those Germans are also guaranteed health care unlike the US where medical care is now a privilage.

What happens to the Germans is their business. Our leaders at the behest of the all powerful just sweep the poor and more under the carpet and pretend the problems don't exist.

Medical facilities are very good in Germany, but they are expensive. Health insurance is compulsory, and most workers have this included in their contract. It is necessary to show evidence of your health insurance in order to obtain a residence permit.

The majority of German nationals are insured under the national health insurance programme, which is subsidized by the Government. It is compulsory for everyone earning less than EUR3,825 per year to enrol in this scheme. Employers pay half of their employees' contributions, which amount to around 14% of monthly earnings and are tax-deductible up to a certain limit.

The rate of income tax in Germany increases progressively, ranging from 0% to 45%. The so-called solidarity surcharge (Solidaritaetszuschlag) at a rate of 5.5% of income tax has to be paid on top of this. No income tax is charged on the basic allowance (poverty level), which is EUR 7,664 for unmarried persons and EUR 15,329 for jointly assessed married couples.

The value-added tax rate VAT generally in force in Germany is 19%. A reduced tax rate of 7% applies e.g. on sales of certain foods, books and magazines.

The number of poor in Germany has been growing since 1970, when the number of those receiving social assistance reached its lowest point of 750,000. In the early 1990s, one study estimated that in 1992 there were 4.6 million recipients of various kinds of social assistance, nearly 700,000 of whom lived in the new Lander . Households with three or more children and single parents were the most likely recipients of social assistance. The population of Germany in 2003 was estimated by the United Nations at 82,476,000. So, approximately 5.5% of the population of Germany is considered to be living in poverty.

Germany’s unemployment rate slipped to 8.8 percent in June, from 9.1 percent in May, in a sign of better times for the country’s economy, according to the New York Times. The US Department of Labor Statistics for May 2008 lists the U.S. unemployment rate at 5.5%.

Take your pick!

[MPrice2984]

DuneRunner - Thanks for the great stats. I realise that Germany has had terrible unemployment problems for years, but at least they (and the rest of the EU) are
trying to deal with the energy, health, etc problems. The fact that the Germans owned up to the looming energy problems and mandated the use of alternate electrical sources years ago says a lot for them. I think the US needs a new Marshall Plan to spur new energy research and funding. I don't know what the answer is to the US medical insurance problems are, but the time is long past to sit idly by and let the 'free' market take it's course.

[Red_fortwo]

Originally Posted by MPrice2984

DuneRunner - Thanks for the great stats. I realise that Germany has had terrible unemployment problems for years, but at least they (and the rest of the EU) are
trying to deal with the energy, health, etc problems. The fact that the Germans owned up to the looming energy problems and mandated the use of alternate electrical sources years ago says a lot for them. I think the US needs a new Marshall Plan to spur new energy research and funding. I don't know what the answer is to the US medical insurance problems are, but the time is long past to sit idly by and let the 'free' market take it's course.

You say that "at least" they are trying to deal with the social problems as to imply that we are not, that we are sitting "idly by". What would be your first step under this Marshall Plan? The problem with health care is that on the whole, we have some of the best in the world. We can keep people alive and kicking long after they stopped being able to afford it. So who pays then?