September 4, 2010

"18 Signs That America Is Rotting Right In Front Of Our Eyes."

Pravda headline, a little too close to the truth to be funny.
Once upon a time, the American people worked feverishly to construct beautiful, shining communities from coast to coast. But now we get to watch those communities literally crumble and decay in slow motion. Nothing lasts forever...
Also in Pravda:
A restaurant in Germany has been conducting an advertising campaign for people to donate body parts which will be transformed into delicious dishes at a new restaurant called Flime.... [T]he donors will be considered “members” of a new dining cult. The “members” will declare themselves willing to donate “any part of their body” while the resulting hospital costs will be borne by the restaurant which is looking for “an open-minded surgeon.”

78 comments:

David said...

"an open-minded surgeon.”

A brain surgeon, presumably.

We have open heart surgery.

Open mind surgery must be next.

David said...

By the way, my Russian friends, how is the alcoholism thing going? Have you figured out how to deal with the tuberculosis yet? How's YOUR terrorism problem working out? Are people moving back to Chernobyl? Have you figured out how to insulate all those glass houses?

Anonymous said...

The cannibal restaurant was really a vegetarian/vegan propaganda stunt.

After the "restaurant" advertised they would be serving human meat, there was the expected uproar, and then the group put out their statement: People get upset at the idea of eating human meat, but when they think it is perfectly acceptable to eat other kinds of meat. OK, so this seems like it was going to be the "meat is murder" line, but it was more subtle than that.

Back when I chose to be a vegetarian in the early 1970s, there was a popular book called, "Diet for a Small Planet" that argued that eating meat was an ineffecient use of the world's agricultural resources, since we were growing grain to feed to animals to feed to humans, and it made more sense to grow grain to feed to humans and eliminate the middle-animal.

The Flime group revived that argument, and their website (www.flime-restaurant.com) argues:

Worldwide about one billion people are starving and every three seconds a person dies of malnutrition. This is partly due to our meat-based diet. And what is even more ridiculous: there actually are enough resources to feed the world.
However, land, water and other resources are used to feed livestock. 1 kg of meat requires upto 16 kg of feed.

Automatic_Wing said...

Too true, the country's going to hell in a handbasket. Unfortunately for Pravda, Russia is far more fucked up than even we are, so no schadenfreude for you, Ivan.

Oh...and eating meat in the USA does not cause Ethiopians to starve to death. Talk about a fucking non-sequitor. That's like the old deal where Mom made you finish your meatloaf because of all the starving Africans. Everything is not your fault, Giant Peach, the world does not revolve around you. You'll feel better if you set aside your white liberal guilt.

GMay said...

"Worldwide about one billion people are starving and every three seconds a person dies of malnutrition. This is partly due to our meat-based diet. And what is even more ridiculous: there actually are enough resources to feed the world.
However, land, water and other resources are used to feed livestock. 1 kg of meat requires upto 16 kg of feed."



The problem is the misuse and distribution of resources, not a lack, despite this AGW-style propaganda. If you think world hunger would be solved if all us neanderthal meat eaters gave up our omnivorous roots, you're deluding yourself.

GMay said...

The headline may be from Pravda and Russia may have a host of it's own domestic rot, but there's some truth to their observation.

- Crumbling infrastructure

- Non responsive federal government at all levels

- Rampant government corruption

- Uncontrollable levels of public debt

- Deteriorating public education system

- Elected officials who vote on legislation without either understanding it or even reading it

Each of these points could easily be expounded upon or included with a longer list. The rot and decay is plainly visible.

Anonymous said...

I've never seen Pravada Online before this. It's beautiful! It straddles the line between seriousness and ridiculousness in a way that is sophisticated, educated, cynical, and very very naughty.

Click around a bit. The top story right now? A 2-year-old quits smoking (he had a two-pack-a-day habit!). You can consider the question: Was Stalin Right? (With a question like that you don't even need to ask "about what?") This one is National-Enquireresque: Extraterrestrial Spaceships Land and Crash on Earth Regularly.

Then there's the serious claim that the recent Wikileaks releases are being
orchestrated by the US Administration
. Which is outrageous... but true. Lots of other seriously true stuff there too, like the America-is-crumbing piece that Althouse links.

Altogether I think it mocks the idea of "serious thought", even on the most serious of subjects. We can think and read and ponder and write all we want, but our efforts will do nothing to change the fucked up world we live in.

NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...

"Pravda" means "truth."

Anonymous said...

Everything is not your fault, Giant Peach, the world does not revolve around you.

In defense of myself at age 19, I don't think that was the way I felt. It was more like wanting to do my part. Sort of like if you write a $50 check for diabetes research or relief for Haiti. You don't expect $50 to have an impact. But you do expect that if you and a million other people write $50 checks, it might start to have an impact. So you write the check, and hope that others feel the way that you do.

Fred4Pres said...

Thanks for being sad about it Russia.

Fen said...

I dont see the need for snark, Pravda is experienced noting the signs of a nation in decline.

Robert W. said...

What I found even more interesting than the story were the comments therein. All pretty much attacked America uniformly. What was impossible to tell though was whether these comments were coming from:

1. Russian Communists
2. European Socialists
3. American Democrats

These days such commentary appears indistinguishable.

Anonymous said...

It's comforting to know that Flime won't be open on Sunday. That would be just terrible.

888 said...

Paul,

I say let the punishment fit the crime.

jamboree said...

Any government employees willing to give up one cent of their fat taxpayer-funded pensions so we can fix some bridges and roads?

Bueller?

Education problem go so much deeper than funding and the rot on that level has been going on at least since the 80s (when I was in a public school). Even if you wanted an education, and were in a good school district, it was hard to get one. Going by my siblings, the 80s were an improvement on the 70s. The 50s/60s seems to be the last time anyone was asked to learn anything in a public school. You figure out why.

Geek creativity saved us for a while as the working people were slowly sold down the global river.

Anonymous said...

It's the bottom of the 9th, and the Hippies are leading 2 to 1. But the Independents have loaded the bases and Mama-Bear Palin is coming to the plate...

Anonymous said...

"... a little too close to the truth to be funny."

Ann, What do you mean "a little too close."

It is, in fact, the truth. Not close to the truth, but the truth.

American cities run by Democrats are rotting away. But don't take my word for it. Here is a Time Magazine photo essay on the rotting of Detroit, Michigan.

Pravda has it right, Ann. Democrats are destroying America city by city.

But we have a chance in two months to change the course of America if Americans of all political stripes can come together and do the right thing.

We need - city by city - to remove these corrupt Democrats from all positions of power. We need to remove them from every office they hold - from Congressman right down to dog catcher. Fire them all.

And then, on November 2, 2012, we need to fire head Democrat Barack Obama.

We can save America. But only if we all do the right thing.

Unknown said...

I'd regard all those items about budget cuts as a sign people are getting back on track. If localities were still blowing money the way The Zero wants, that would be scary.

As they say over there, "There is no news in Truth (Pravda) and there is no truth in News (now-defunct (IIRC) Izvestia)". Keep in mind who's calling the shots over there these days.

traditionalguy said...

A perfect pattern of today's Democrat Party is on display in Italy where the cash grants to build wind turbines as demanded by the Save the Planet cartoon world are being paid Mafia designated front men. The Democrats are the Mafia in that role here. The Russians are right about us, and our last hope is an honesty in government Tea Party and a gutsy leader. Now who could that be?

Anonymous said...

I am not surprised.

Tea-Party is becoming the new face of GOP.

The Democrats are gaining grounds - Tuesday, the day after Labor Day, the fun begins.

America can be saved. Voters need to totally reject Tea-Party/GOP - everywhere - local, state, and federal. "You are a GOP, no vote. Sorry."

Lisa said...

This anti-tax movement is a problem. We need to continuously rebuild our infrastructure but we've failed to do so and no one wants to pay to bring it back up to speed.

Same with education.

Joe said...

Yeah, yeah, yeah heard this all 40 years ago, well 35...decline, best days behind us, malaise, manage the decline, expect to have less...

Get rid of Carter II and and things will look a lot better.

Americo's Moby is still entertaining us I see...how about them generic polls showing a 10-14 point lead America's? Or the "enthusiasism gap?"

Opus One Media said...

Hmmm Pravda sounds faintly like the Republican Party's talking points and like the Republican Party, Pravda doesn't offer any solutions - just observations.

Is this what Sarah meant when she said she could see Russia from Alaska?

Joe said...

This anti-tax movement is a problem. We need to continuously rebuild our infrastructure but we've failed to do so and no one wants to pay to bring it back up to speed.

Really so the fact that "the state," at all levels, is taking an unprecedented amount of money, and yet the ANTI-TAX Movement is the problem?

No sorry, not buying that one...billions for fast rail, monorail, bike paths and the like siphon some money off that could go for "infrastructure."

Bacon-Davis and other pro-union rules drive up the cost of projects, that excess could go for "infrastructure."

Massive public sector costs and pensions eat into the money available for "infrastructure."

It's not an INPUT problem, it's an manufacturing/output problem.

Same with education.
OHRLY, even though we spend easily 50%, IN REAL TERMS, more on education now than 30 years ago? Fewer"administrators"/custodians/Gay Pride Days and the like...

How about this, VOUCEHRS...send yuor kid to where you want him to go...if no one goes to PS 183, I guess PS 183 closes.

Joe said...

Poor HD, delusional...that was TINA FEY, I know you may have trouble grasping the difference between TV and reality, at your age and as a result of all those Hippy Drugs.

Tell your nurse or care taker, would you, they may be able to prescribe something for you.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm Pravda sounds faintly like the Republican Party's talking points and like the Republican Party, Pravda doesn't offer any solutions - just observations.

Is this what Sarah meant when she said she could see Russia from Alaska?

Accusations that Palin is stupid from HenHouse?

Let me remind you that this HenHouse idiot wrote in a previous post that Muslims are the new Jews.

HenHouse, you've totally disgraced yourself with this demonstration of your own idiocy.

We're going to rely on a moron like you to verify Palin's IQ?

AllenS said...

Re: taxes

I remember gas at 24¢ a gallon. My property taxes (which fund the school) were $230 a year. Now just the taxes on a gallon of gas is 51.3¢ a gallon, and my property taxes are $2,250 a year. Just what is it about taxes that are supposed to improve things?

garage mahal said...

Poor HD, delusional...that was TINA FEY, I know you may have trouble grasping the difference between TV and reality, at your age and as a result of all those Hippy Drugs.


GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?

PALIN: They’re our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.

Link

Anonymous said...

Just what is it about taxes that are supposed to improve things?

The improvement, re HenHouse, is that somebody supposedly smarter and more ethical than you (i.e., a Democratic bureaucrat) gets to decide what to do with your money.

You're too stupid and selfish to know what to do with your own money.

Got it?

AllenS said...

So, is it true, that you can see Russia from an island in Alaska? I'll bet you can.

Anonymous said...

PALIN: They’re our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.

Palin is so stupid that she's whipping ass in just about every election where she weighs in.

What is it about fools like you, garage, that makes you think this woman will go away just because you make an ass out of yourself?

She's tougher, smarter and more skilled than you. Blowing your hot air at her isn't deterring her one bit. In fact, it seems to motivate her.

Keep it up, fool.

And, by the way, what's the proof of this incredible intelligence you keep boasting about? I don't see it.

Joe said...

Sadly lacking Garage...as Allen point out is it UNTRUE?

Did she say she could see Russia from her house?

Two simple questions, H3LL right now Alpha Lib is doing a better job of attack than you.

garage mahal said...

Here is what HD said:
"Is this what Sarah meant when she said she could see Russia from Alaska?"

Here is what you said:
"Poor HD, delusional...that was TINA FEY, I know you may have trouble grasping the difference between TV and reality, at your age and as a result of all those Hippy Drugs."

I provided the link that showed Palin said exactly what HD said she said. Who is on drugs that can't differentiate between what Tina Fey said and what Palin said?

Anonymous said...

I provided the link that showed Palin said exactly what HD said she said. Who is on drugs that can't differentiate between what Tina Fey said and what Palin said?

You haven't answered my post, garage, probably because you can't.

Palin is demonstrably smarter and more accomplished than you.

So, what the fuck do you think this gassing of yours accomplishes?

Answer, fool.

Anonymous said...

I provided the link that showed Palin said exactly what HD said she said. Who is on drugs that can't differentiate between what Tina Fey said and what Palin said?

You haven't answered my post, garage, probably because you can't.

Palin is demonstrably smarter and more accomplished than you.

So, what the fuck do you think this gassing of yours accomplishes?

Answer, fool.

Joe said...

Garage, "Is this what Sarah meant when she said she could see Russia from Alaska?"-She didn't say she could see Alaska, now did she?

She said you can see Alaska from an island in Alaska...it's different, isn't it?

garage mahal said...

Joe
What the hell are you talking about?

Anonymous said...

garage,

Come on, tell us how it is that you are the judge of Palin's IQ.

Answer, fool.

What are your incredible intellectual achievements, fool?

You keep telling us how fucking smart you are? What's the proof, fool?

Joe said...

Is this what Sarah meant when she said she could see Russia from Alaska?

"They’re our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska."

Not SHE could see (Tina Fey), rather YOU (from an island)....

So you're reading ability needs some work...they are two different statements.

Me, I wouldn't try to defend HD...he's a nasty miserable liar, who will say anything to attack and denigrate his opponents. I'd let him fight his own fights...

Anonymous said...

garage,

Come on, fool, tell us about your glorious intellect?

What's the proof?

You keep bragging about your fucking IQ.

Tell us, oh great genius, how we are to judge your incredible IQ?

What have you done that matches Palin's achievements?

garage mahal said...

Come on, fool, tell us about your glorious intellect?

What's the proof?


I know the difference between what Tina Fey said and what Sarah Palin said. You're particularly crotchety this morning, everything alright?

Anonymous said...

I know the difference between what Tina Fey said and what Sarah Palin said. You're particularly crotchety this morning, everything alright?

I'm fine.

I'm fed up with fools like you crowing about your IQ.

Put up or shut up.

Joe said...

Garage, you understand the difference, then why defend HDHouse? HE didn't...or just wanted to score a cheap rhetorical point...

What HE said and what YOU quoted are two separate concepts aren't they?

You almost had me I wa about to apologize to I went and read both statements here on Althouse...

HDHouse is paraphrasing Tina Fey, you're quote demonstrates that, as she never said "I can see Russia (from my house/office/or any where)"

Again nice try...and good thread jacking.

So anyway, after CarterII is gone and Reagan II is in office I'd expect about 7 years of economic growth....leaving Pravda, the PRC and most other nations gasping...

Carter II will join Carter I in a bitter politcal exile, no doubt each complaining about how America didn't understand them or her (America's) sins, and America didn't deserve them...but the Venezuelans and Libyans and any other authoritarian government that is equally "misunderstood" by dim-bulb Americans can appreciate them.

Unknown said...

garage, let it go. The Tina Fey thing implied Miss Sarah saw Russia from her front porch. A look at a map of the Aleutians will tell you, yes, you can see therefrom here.

And shout is right. She is kicking Lefty ass and taking names.

roesch-voltaire said...

Joe could you please provide the link that shows city funding of bike paths in Madison takes money from retro fitting bridges in other parts of Wisconsin? And I believe the bridge failure of I-35W occurred before money was set aside for "fast rail". Here is a quote form Stephen Flynn in Popular Mechanics that I think more accurately sums up the problem: The fact is that Americans have been squandering the infrastructure legacy bequeathed to us by earlier generations. Like the spoiled offspring of well-off parents, we behave as though we have no idea what is required to sustain the quality of our daily lives.

Opus One Media said...

shoutingthomas said...
"What have you done that matches Palin's achievements?"

dare I even enquire as to what Sarah's "achievements" are? It can't be much of a list once you get past fleecing simple minded republican zealots out of their money....and I guess dethroning other republicans in political races in favor of some god-awful creepy moonbeams...

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 there I provided the numbers...you fill in the blanks.

Anonymous said...

Palin's achievements:

She won an election to Governor of Alaska.

She did this despite hailing from a very small town in the middle of nowhere.

What have you done in comparison?

Absolutely nothing, right?

HenHouse, you've already displayed your gross, embarrassing stupidity, with your Muslims are the new Jews fart.

How do you continue to show your face around here after that one?

You clearly don't have the intelligence to wipe your own butt.

Joe said...

roesch-voltaire, Federal and state funds for "infrastructure" come from GASOLINE taxes...created by commuters like me. Now that "pot" of money,what I take to be infrastructure in this case, ALSO pays for fast rail, monorail, and bike paths...in short money for infrastructure is being siphoned off for pet projects of the well-to-do, but not used for broader infrastructre...as to your specifics, they don't address the general issue I raised...nice try, bad argumentation, but nice try.

I notice you didn't mention any of the other factors...

And to the idea of broader infrastructure...let's try building the Godlen Gate Bridge, the Oakland Bay Bridge or the Hoover Dam, today...I believe those are all New Deal Projects...or the TVA.

Let's see Pelosi see them to her "Progressive/Green Base"...no instead we get "green energy" jobs like ZBB.

garage mahal said...

garage, let it go. The Tina Fey thing implied Miss Sarah saw Russia from her front porch. A look at a map of the Aleutians will tell you, yes, you can see therefrom here.

Yes, Tina Fey is a comedian. She made a joke. The bigger joke is that her handlers thought that being geographically close to Russia was a foreign policy qualification for being next in line to the Presidency.

Anonymous said...

Big Diomede Island, Russia, as seen from Little Diomede Island, Alaska.

Automatic_Wing said...

The bigger joke is that her handlers thought that being geographically close to Russia was a foreign policy qualification for being next in line to the Presidency.

Fair point, but didn't Obama point to living in Indonesia when he was 10 years old as one of his big foreign-policy credentials?

Anonymous said...

So, these are the twin arguments of our brilliant HenHouse, garage and OmegaLiberal:

1. I'm incredibly smart. You're stupid.

2. You're a bigot. I'm a saint.

Boys, I keep asking you, how does behaving this way cast any credit upon you? You seem to think that it does.

I'm going to ask you fools again, and maybe this time you'll answer.

Proclaiming your own incredible intelligence and sainthood is the mark of a jackass.

Why do you keep doing it? Why do you keep making a public display of you jackass status?

How do you think this brings credit upon you? How do you think that it argues for your political positions?

Do any of you have a clue?

This strategy seems to be the Democrat's plan for winning this fall. I suspect that it won't work.

garage mahal said...

Fair point, but didn't Obama point to living in Indonesia when he was 10 years old as one of his big foreign-policy credentials?

I believe he did and no I'm not defending it.

Opus One Media said...

shoutingthomas said...
Palin's achievements:
1. She won an election to Governor of Alaska.
2. She did this despite hailing from a very small town in the middle of nowhere.
You clearly don't have the intelligence to wipe your own butt."

Excellent work there ShoutingThomas... just for clarification:

1. She quit as govenor didn't she? Like just said...bye bye..I quit? Walked off the job?

2. Almost all towns in Alaska are in the middle of nowhere.

and to the last spendid bit of verbal sparring...(oh god you are sooo easy)...why should I when I can wipe it on you are leisure.

Anonymous said...

HenHouse,

You missed the relevant point, which was comparing Palin's achievements to your own.

I'm trying to discern your incredible intellectual achievements that justify your position as judge of Palin's IQ.

When did you win an election to Governor of anything? I gather you never had the opportunity to quit such a position.

Care to try again?

roesch-voltaire said...

Joe still waiting for the link. But considering that many bike paths are built over abandon rail lines, and we users have to pay a fee to use them the amount of money siphoned off of bridge building is a drop in the bucket. You might think the rhetorical generalities you throw around make for a good argument but they don't. You make the argument as one of either or: bike path or bridge, but as you point out a it is more a matter of governmental will such as the New Deal projects you cite, and which included everything from big dams to smaller one built by CCC kids. In terms of your labour argument, one only has to look at the recent construction of the I-35W bridge, which came in under budget and before the deadline using union labour combined with smart planing and new pre-cast techniques.

Opus One Media said...

shoutingthomas said...
"You missed the relevant point, which was comparing Palin's achievements to your own."

1. I didn't quit as governor of Alaska - true a huge plus for Alaska in her case
2. I didn't grow up in a small town in the middle of nowhere.

but I think the question asked was what were Sarah's great accomplishments that you alluded to? You said she had some...you named one - the govenor one - and she quit that...so perhaps you would care to enlighten us as to the rest.

I gave you the numbers to list them...just tell us oh sage...

Unknown said...

Yes, and the number 1 reason we are crumbling is because we are emulating your country, Pravda!

Anonymous said...

Quit avoiding the question, HenHouse:

What are your accomplishments in comparison to Palin's? You can't answer, which is the answer in itself.

Accomplishment 2: Palin has parlayed quitting the governorship into a multi-million dollar book contract and, probably, an equally lucrative contract with Fox News.

Somehow, I think she's defeated you there, too.

Shall we attribute all of your spitting and cussing to it's true source: Jealousy.

You don't have any intellectual accomplishments to speak of, do you HenHouse?

garage mahal said...

You might think the rhetorical generalities you throw around make for a good argument but they don't.

We never even get to the actual legitimate arguments on how to build things better or smarter. Doyle is proposing a massive one billion project of widening I-39/90 one lane each way from Madison to the Illinois border, that has bi-partisan support. No one ever seems to blink an eye. But even propose a high speed rail alternative to that and suddenly you're a damn kook. Why aren't these highway projects ever called a "boondoggles"? Walker even demands we turn down this impossible-to-get federal money - he even has a notrain website. Whatever.

Here is a good link you may like.

ricpic said...

There's never a lack of appetite for end of days speculation. But it's simply not true that infrastructure maintenance is not ongoing here in America. In my backyard, upstate New York, road crews have been stripping down and repaving many important state roads in the past several weeks. They work at top speed and do a beautiful job. Sorry, those who love to revel in decline. It just ain't happening.

Opus One Media said...

shoutingthomas said...
"Accomplishment 2: Palin has parlayed quitting the governorship into a multi-million dollar book contract and, probably, an equally lucrative contract with Fox News."

I see. Well that is a lifetime of good work by golly ya'betcha.

Got anything that will actually "float"?

Automatic_Wing said...

But even propose a high speed rail alternative to that and suddenly you're a damn kook. Why aren't these highway projects ever called a "boondoggles"?

Because US population density is, with a few notable exceptions, far too low to make passenger train service economically viable. Plus, our existing rail infrastructure is optimized for freight so true high-speed train service isn't even possible in most cases.

And highway projects aren't (usually) boondoggles because people actually use them. And pay for their upkeep through their gas taxes.

That's why.

Anonymous said...

HenHouse,

You keep avoiding the question.

What have you done in comparison. You repeatedly refuse to answer, which is the answer.

Perhaps you're just a bigot.

Being outperformed by a woman, particularly a Republican woman, is more than you can bear, right?

Opus One Media said...

shoutingthomas said...
"Being outperformed by a woman, particularly a Republican woman, is more than you can bear, right?"

outperformed at what? quitting? naw. I don't quit. Sarah quits. Have I been selected to be a nominee for VP? nope. Sarah's got me there. But I haven't lost an election yet so its an unfair comparison. Other than that she has more kids but mine appear to be much smarter..so I'm confused.

Your point is what? I asked you to name her accomplishments so I could answer and you list elected govenor and quit as govenor to make money and be on Faux Noise. I really didn't see quitting an elected office as an accomplishment and as Faux Noise is often referred to (when referred to at all) as Felon News...I'm not sure again what is an accomplishment there.

Just asking ya'betcha!

DADvocate said...

Interesting that the first 16 reasons point out failures of overreaching government programs.

I wonder who Michael Snyder, the author of the article, is. I found one bio. How or why does a person get two law degrees from the same university? He has a blog which is all gloom and doom about the U.S. and seems awfully professionally done. Is he just a paid propagandist for Russia or some left wing group?

Anonymous said...

HenHouse,

You've established that you are a complete idiot.

You're jealous of Palin. That's obvious. She's left you in the dust.

You don't know her children. Pretending that you do, and that you have some standing to judge them only makes you look like more of an idiot.

It really galls you, doesn't it bigot? This woman, a Republican from the middle of nowhere Alaska has left you in the dust. You've got every right to be jealous.

She even played point guard on a high school state champion.

Jesus, she makes you look small.

I think I've wasted enough time on you, twerp.

Anonymous said...

What alternative universe is this where highway projects never get called boondoggles? One where Robert Byrd and Bud Shuster never existed?

garage mahal said...

Because US population density is, with a few notable exceptions, far too low to make passenger train service economically viable.

Yer here in Wisc we will spend 1 billion at minimum, just to widen a 50 mile stretch of highway. Presumably to accommodate more people traveling on it.

garage mahal said...

Yet*

Ambrose said...

Joe:
Carter II will join Carter I in a bitter politcal exile, no doubt each complaining about how America didn't understand them or her (America's) sins, and America didn't deserve them.

And blame the jooos.

roesch-voltaire:
bike paths are built over abandon rail lines, and we users have to pay a fee to use them

You live in Madison - I still get back there regularly, so tell me:
where can I find the Bike Path Toll Booths?

Cedarford said...

David said...
By the way, my Russian friends, how is the alcoholism thing going? Have you figured out how to deal with the tuberculosis yet? How's YOUR terrorism problem working out? Are people moving back to Chernobyl? Have you figured out how to insulate all those glass houses?


Like it or not, the Russians are the world experts at seeing for themselves a great Empire slowly rot down into collapse - then the slow, painful rebuilding.

They see all the signs in America. Not that Russians may best understand the causes...and Pravda predictably focuses on dwindling socialist services at the local level from government. Nor are Russians the "experts" on solutions.

But Americans should be smart enough to realize that "Free Trade!!" has killed job growth for the middle class. That we cannot afford Open Borders. We cannot afford to be some vast military empire devoted to being a free 9/11 service, disaster relief freebie, and "price is no object" nation building service for noble savages.

We should be smart enough to know we cannot continue to let banking elites create bubbles that eventually result in taxpayers saddled with the tab for fixing the destruction of the bubbles. And we cannot remain a nation where the middle class is expected to be the backbone of society while being sabotaged by wealthy elites offshoring their career jobs to China and India, wages undercut by an invasion of illegals with free healthcare and schooling, and by Fed government employees regulating away job growth who make 60% more than private sector jobs.

We cannot afford the perversion of US law into Talmudic endless due process from swift and sure. It ossifies America in a rapidly changing world. We cannot rebuild one measly little destroyed city block in 10 years when whole cities were rebuilt in 5 after WWII.

Cedarford said...

Shouting Thomas - "Accomplishment 2: Palin has parlayed quitting the governorship into a multi-million dollar book contract and, probably, an equally lucrative contract with Fox News.

Somehow, I think she's defeated you there, too."

That is like saying once Tom Daschle bailed on the Senate, he "defeated" all the Republicans by becoming a premium speaker to wealthy progressive Jews and liberals -- and a multimillionaire lobbyist whose influencees waited on Daschle's every word.

Phil 314 said...

Pravda?!

In other news on decline

Freder Frederson said...

I remember gas at 24¢ a gallon

Just another example of an idiot who doesn't realize how good he has it. Back in the good 'ol days when gas was 24 cents a gallon (I assume you mean in the '60s), the federal gas tax was 4 cents a gallon or about 17% of the pump price. The federal gas tax is currently 18.4 cents a gallon, about 7% of the pump price.

All taxes (which vary by region) average a little over $.50 a gallon, or about the same bite out of a gallon of gas that federal taxes alone took back in those wonderful low tax days you remember so fondly.

You might want to check out the income tax rates in the days you remember so fondly too.

Paco Wové said...

Pravda should be quaking in their boots. Who knows to what extremes zombie America will go to ease the pain of rotting?

roesch-voltaire said...

Ambrose you wrote:You live in Madison - I still get back there regularly, so tell me:
where can I find the Bike Path Toll Booths? Of course we do not have toll booths, but a series of small shelters placed along the bike paths where you can fill- out a form and pay either for a day pass, $4, or a seasonal pass $20, which will be mailed to you house and which you keep on your person each time you hit the trail. The system is probably too trusting for most folks who like make fun of Madison.
At times, I am told, the police stop and ask for permits to encourage the honor system.

Matthew Noto said...

"At times, I am told, the police stop and ask for permits to encourage the honor system."

If a police officer in Arizona did that,he'd be called a racist.