Can we Create an America that can Lead the World

[Ben Kenobi]

DuncanK-

It's the protestant ethic which is keeping us from advancing our society. There is nothing wrong with family, but when you treat your non-family members like they are the enemy that's not civil at all and its no basis for society.

Personal responsibility does not have to be diferent from social responsibility. This is only a Protestant ethic. It is really unique to America.

Duncan, in what sense is neglecting society a 'Protestant' ethic? There are surely Protestants who are concerned about the social welfare of those worse off.

[Willem]

Originally posted by obiwan18
DuncanK-



Duncan, in what sense is neglecting society a 'Protestant' ethic? There are surely Protestants who are concerned about the social welfare of those worse off.

You better not get him started, he's a communist. They don't like you Christians.

[Daz]

I suggest a thread named:

CAN WE STOP AMERICA THAT WANTS TO LEAD THE WORLD?

[Dry]

Originally posted by Iron Chancellor
What does Luxemburg make or do, other than postage stamps? (No offense to Luxemburgers)

Banking.

[Tattila the Hun]

Finland should rule the world!

(And we will... )

[Daz]

Iron chancellor: Too late, offense taken!

Being the military big-cheese of Luxemburg temporary living abroad I hereby declare war to evil USA.

[Iron Chancellor]

Oh, dear, the Luxemburger army, second only to the militaristic Swiss and imperialistic Lichtensteiners. It's time I activated our defense pact with Andorra and the Vatican City. Now, no one can stop us.

Seriously, though, banking was what I thought. Is there a grand duke of Luxemburg?

I'm glad I'm a careless bastard of a Presbyterian, which allows me to stiff the poor and trample widows and orphans, despite the fact that, you know, I give to charity and do community service. I love demonizing Communist propaganda, don't you?

[Willem]

All right, it looks like we finally shut him up, the communist uprising has been repelled!

[Ned]

Originally posted by Azazel
Would you prefer the east German forces to go into west Berlin to, you know, send them home?

Seriously, though, I am against the shooting part, as well, but there is nothing wrong with building the wall, and punishing those that try to exit.

Azazel, I am beginning to lose respect for you big time.

[DuncanK]

Originally posted by obiwan18
Duncan, in what sense is neglecting society a 'Protestant' ethic? There are surely Protestants who are concerned about the social welfare of those worse off.

Some people reject it, but the Protestant work ethic is very real even today.

[DuncanK]

Originally posted by Ted Striker
Man this feels like one of Roland's threads.

The CIA factbook lists the 2001 PPP numbers, probably the USA has gone down since then:

Luxemburg $43,400
USA $36,300
San Marino $34,600
Switzerland $31,100
Norway $30,800

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/...elds/2004.html

Well this list uses PPP. I forgot what that is exactly, but it obviously makes a big difference. 2k per capita for US.

[DuncanK]

PPP calculates the exchange rates of the national currencies. The US GDP per capital with PPP is higher because of the strong dollar. When you take the factor out it drops considerably.

[Iron Chancellor]

PPP means Purchasing Power Parity, it's the theory that states everything costs the same in different currencies, i.e. if a Big Mac costs one pound in Britain and two dollars in the US, the exchange rate is fixed at 1:2.


By the way, I recommend you read some O'Rourke, specifically Eat the Rich, but also All the Trouble in the World. Great reads, and also quite enlightening as to the effects of centralized planning and socialism on both people and the environment.

[DuncanK]

IronC,

No it justs assumes that things cost the same everywhere. There is a difference.

[Iron Chancellor]

Excuse me, what I meant to write was that everything has a single value that varies in different currency amounts, but should fundamentally remain at one value, and that the exchange rates should reflect that.