What do you consider to be the most progressiven nation?

[Az]

There is a big problem with european countries, generally.

Your birthrates, people. Your natural population is plummeting, and I am not sure that many of the people migrating to replace you will hold the same attitudes due to the difference in culture. So you'll have either boost growth, or loose the 'cultural diverisity', and start educating all people to behave like europeans.

[Dinner]

But it's much easier to let them chant "Allah Ackbar" and death to the Great Satan. It is far more difficult to educate people about western values.

[Gangerolf]

Japan. Very hi-tech. Not too poor either, I think.

[Az]

But it's much easier to let them chant "Allah Ackbar" and death to the Great Satan. It is far more difficult to educate people about western values.

wouldn't be so damn blatant about it, but there is such an option, esp. since it seems that the demographic and the sociological structure of the new immigrant population doesn't change, despite the improved economic situation in relation to the countries they come from, and the exposure to western values.
And the most weird think is that people are not willing to pursue this, not willing to say: "Our way is the correct way".

[Gangerolf]

And the most weird think is that people are not willing to pursue this, not willing to say: "Our way is the correct way".

It's (unfortunately) not very PC to say that you know

[Az]

It's (unfortunately) not very PC to say that you know

yes, well, they will have no such problems, I am certain.

[Gangerolf]

what do you mean

[Az]

I am certain that if the cultural balance is shifted, their community leaders will have little problems to enfoce their morality.

I see it in my country with the religious population.

Why do you think that muslim clerics are better in their perception of the world than christian? They're always about forcing their view. No matter who do they represent.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Oerdin
I'd bet the U.S. is very near the top once you look at things in that light.

What kind of light? GDP per capita is not an indication of how socially progressed a nation is. It tells a person nothing of how the society is treating the minorities, the disabled, the most disadvantaged, and those on the fringes. Education, crime rate, public transport are not touched. That is one of the worst possible indicators, if not the worst.

[Pekka]

Oh if you look at it that way, then I guess we are very progressive. Everyone is taken care of, disabled, drunk, old people, no one is left behind. At least this is what we try to do, and succeed in .. pretty good taking reality into consideration. We have no crime, education is free and pretty good too, and you get actually paid and supported by the gov, and not pay for it. Public transport is excellent in cities etc, in other areas I don't know.

Of course we pay for this dearly, like everyone does free military service/civil service, everyone soon pays $8 for gallon of gas etc etc etc.. No one really makes good money, and so on. Choice we have made.. and that's why I feel pretty alienated from my country
So if you like super socialist thing, come here. If you're not a commie, don't come... wait.. if you're commie, stay away too. Just don't come ok?

[DuncanK]

Pekka,

What's the difference if you pay for it or not? Anyone would pay for that.

[Sava]

I don't understand how anyone can say the US. You could populate a lot of those smaller European countries with the number of poor just in the US.

That's not even counting the amount of people that are killed by firearms in a year. About 11-12k are murdered... but counting suicides and accidents, the number is about 30-35k.

And in all areas, things are getting worse.


On a side note.
Floyd, your selfish attitude sickens me. You're making a mistake by thinking all poor people are simply lazy. Also... welfare programs work, BTW. Only about 10% of people that receive welfare are chronically poor. It's easy to stereotype people in the ghetto having children to make money on welfare, but that simply isn't what the vast majority of welfare collectors are. And I think that the amount of taxes taken out of my paycheck is certainly worth the money considering the children that will be able to eat and go to school because of my sacrifice. Although you may go to church more, I'm certainly more "Christian".

[Pekka]

DuncanK, it also means taxing is so hard in everything, that you can't afford .. anything.

[SlowwHand]

Oh, it just has to be Cuba.

[Sava]

Cuba has some programs that would be beneficial in the US. But I'd rank it below the US in a poll like this.