GWB has improved our image with our BEST ally

/sarcasm off

Read this:

http://tinyurl.com/ejaff

or this long url:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060703/od_afp/britainuspopularitypoll;_ylt=Am8OCAPvdT9ZFR8x40pRCphvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM-

Britons tire of cruel, vulgar US: poll

Sun Jul 2, 11:12 PM ET

LONDON (AFP) - People in Britain view the United States as a vulgar, crime-ridden society obsessed with money and led by an incompetent president whose
Iraq policy is failing, according to a newspaper poll.

The United States is no longer a symbol of hope to Britain and the British no longer have confidence in their transatlantic cousins to lead global affairs, according to the poll published in The Daily Telegraph.

The YouGov poll found that 77 percent of respondents disagreed with the statement that the US is "a beacon of hope for the world".

As Americans prepared to celebrate the 230th anniversary of their independence on Tuesday, the poll found that only 12 percent of Britons trust them to act wisely on the global stage. This is half the number who had faith in the Vietnam-scarred White House of 1975.

<snip>

Well, maybe if GWB had a little _Charisma_, things would be different.
Unlike most other presidents that we've elected, GW was chosen because he was the son of another president, not because he was the best candidate, and the best communicator.

Low poll numbers are what happens when you choose a candidate just because you want to see a Hollywood moment, where the son succeeds in a 2-term presidency where the father failed.
Family-ties shouldn't be a factor when selecting a candidate.

That's okay. The US is still the number one country to move to if you want a better life for yourself and your children, making 77 percent of respondents WRONG. Oh well.

Well, unless you consider moving to some European nation and getting everything for free a better life, I guess that might be nice too.

I thought it was Luxembourg that had the highest GDP per capita of any western nation?

GDP by itself does not give the full picture however;

http://trendchart.cordis.lu/tc_country_list.cfm?ID=12

And people can be blind.... Just look at the 2004 election... How can there be 61 million blind voters???

Remember... Just because the United States has the highest productivity of any nation, its still not a good thing.

Citizens in the United States are working themselves to death.

In Europe, the average Vacation a year is 6 weeks minimun. In the United States, if you ask for more than 4 days, you are informed that you may not get that raise next year.

I believe most Europeans take their 6 Week Vacation time as 1 - 4 week peroid and then either 1- 2 week vacation later on or 2- 1 week vacations.

Theres nothing wrong with getting everything for free. And those 77% are not wrong, its just the people who move to the US are either Blind or don't know what they are doing. I would say if you want to move to the US, wait till the 2008 election. I am hopeful that we will get a President who will reverse all of Dictator George's stupid laws including the Patrorit(SP) Act.

You fair-weather country lover.

Briana Dawson

Luxembourg... lol.. well if you consider it an actual country... And unfortunately I don't see masses of immigrants lining up hoping to get into Lux, but maybe it's just me.



"Nothing wrong with getting everything for free" - dude, are you serious? Why is it okay for able-bodied individuals--which are capable of working for a living and contributing to society--to leech off of the rest of us who are working their asses off and wearing out their health trying to pay our own bills? Parasites have a bad reputation for a reason!

American immigrants are "bliind"...? That sounds like a broad sweeping veiled insult. I'd love to see you tell that to the millions of immigrants who have come here and made a better life for themselves, raised families, and provided a better life for their kids. They'd probably laugh in your face. Actually, I have alot of friends I could introduce you to for that, if you're interested... wait, wait... I just told them... yep, they're laughing now.

And here we go with the "Bush is dictator" garbage...again. You guys are starting to sound like Al-Queda, they are rather repetitive themselves: "American infidels! We will destroy you and your children, and your pet dogs! You will suffer the wrath of Allah and die one thousand painful deaths by the hands of our freedom fighter warriors! Allah akbar!" (copy + paste at the beginning of every tape recording)

I don't think you know what a dictator really is. If not, you'd probably want to go ask someone from North Korea, Iraq, or anyone who has lived under a true asshole's iron grip. You really should use the right words for things so you can at least attempt to hide your bias. Please, can we warp simple concepts some more? If he's still president after 2008, and congress is downsized to zero, THEN we can call him a dictator. Pretty simple right?

The words to describe the sheer idiocy of the above statement defy me.

Haha. Joke. Don't worry. Sorry if you live there, and I offended you.

So tell me... in specifics, how the patriot act has affected your lifestyle, please note if you changed your lifestyle based on perception then thats your own fault. I want to know how these laws have physically bulled into your life and made ________ worse for you.....

While I don't particularly like the act myself, my life is pretty much spinning along at the same pace it has been before the act. I've had none of the "Invasions* or abuses of power heaped onto me that everyone swears up and down the "regime" is going to do.

I don't mind you being opposed to the act, I personally am myself, but acting like your life has become so miserable, and you are so put upon since it came into existence is getting rather pase, do me a favor and sing another song. Its silly assed reactionism like this on both sides that has gotten us to where we are.

Hmm I just had to respond to this as I seem to be the only non-American in this sandbox!

I spent 9 years in the US, and overall I love the US for it's idealism and positivity - but as for saying that it is "the number one country to move to if you want a better life for yourself and your children" what complete and utter tosh!!!

How can you be so blind to the notion that most of the world choose not to live in the US??
I know your tone is playful, but you do seem to have a very naive view of how other countries and cultures view the US.

I left the United States to return to the UK for a better life for my daughter - how does that fit in with your world view?

Oh I get it, I must be a bleeding heart liberal right so my views don't count??

And yes the Daily Telegraph has the UK view on the US role in current events spot on.

Beacon of hope??? - not anymore

Well, 77 percent of respondents have it right.

But I wonder how many people reading this stuff have any clue how seriously in trouble we, and I mean especially the U.S., given our gluttonous, hopelessly inefficient infrastructure, are with the looming energy shortages?

I think not many. Not many at all.

Not yet, anyway.

But yes, we are a gluttonous, greedy people with a shocking sense of entitlement and no concept, for the most part, of how much we owe to a nonrenewable resource that's running out on us. It's sad to look around and see it with (somewhat) open eyes -- rotund little people blithely packing their agribusiness-grown, long-distance-transported groceries away in double-bagged disposable plastic without a single thought to where it's all coming from, demanding everything impatiently as though it were their birthright to be served.

Nothing to be done about it, really.

Well, maybe I am naive here! But I still like to think that the current state of affairs is temporary.

History will judge this to be a dark period of US foreign policy however, a continuation of exploits started at the turn of the 20th century under McKinley, illegal in the eyes of international law and fundamentally unconstitutional.

I see great signs of encouragement - the Supreme Court at least has taken the impartial view that the Guantanamo Bay fiasco is illegal, and fundamentally unconstitutional.

We have a lame duck Prime Minister who narrowly won the last election with a record low turnout, simply because he was deemed "safer" than the other lot for the British electorate - the lesser of two evils. No doubt he will retire soon and make a fortune in the US, offering himself out for private dinner speeches pandering to those who hold him as an example of Churchill spirit over his stance in the phoney "war on terror". This is inevitable because he has lost all credibility in the UK over his lies to parliament and the public at large over the reasons for going to war.

Far from being the staunch ally of the US and representing the British Bulldog spirit in times of adversity Tony is the Pathetic Poodle of US foreign policy.

Hopefully there will be no welcome given to him by the majority of US Citizens if they listen to what the British people are saying of him.

It is very inspiring to hear Americans challenge their leaders and try to hold them to a higher set of principles - that is the Patriot spirit that the rest of the world can respect - Not the hatefilled redneck rhetoric and vitriol that seems to spew forth on internet forums by some individuals.

What do you define as a better life?

And yes, we [The U.S.] is still a beacon of hope of to MILLIONS of people. Just look south of the border and the count goes to tens of millions.

The U.S. is the tallest poppy in the field and thus everyone attempts to cut her down first, especially in light of the Iraq issue.

We rock.

Briana Dawson

funny you mention poppies... the opium yield in taliban-reoccupied afghanistan is reportedly a record bumper-crop this summer...

The beacon of hope? - Not in a moral sense - simply a destination bourne out of economic necessity. Decades of war and poverty have led to many trying to make a living in the US, but from my experience as an immigrant in the US and talking to countless others from all over the world they would be much happier to be able to make a decent living in their own country.

As for being the tallest poppy in the field - well undoubtedly the U.S is the strongest country in the world, and so yes people expect the U.S to have a strong moral backbone and the good sense to promote fairness in the world. Yes, the Iraq issue has called this all into question.

America can Rock, and indeed Rocks these days - but only as illustrated by Team America - a path of destruction everywhere it goes!

When was the US a symbol of hope to Britons?

And yet you can't say what you define as being a better life. The differences between life in the U.K. and life in the U.S.

I never claimed my country is a beacon of hope even though the truth is that the U.S. is a beacon of hope for many countries that wish they had a the freedom we have under deomcracy.

oh another thing, being "the strongest country in the world", has not relation with the moral backbone of this country.

Morality and fairness have nothing to do with foreign policy.

Briana Dawson

Of course I can say what I mean by having a better life in the UK, but for you to understand what I mean, you would have to step out of the United States and experience life overseas.

I enjoy countless benefits in the UK that were not available in the U.S


The main ones are centred around raising a child
I should emphasise that I lived in Los Angeles, which is a horrible place to raise a child. There are many good places in the US to raise a child no doubt, but not L.A - a good place to work though? yes!, alot of the positivity of Americans in general comes out in the workplace.

The only entertainment I could get for my daughter in LA was Restaurants and Theme Parks, you have to pay through the nose for these activities. A trip to the seaside was a no-no for the most part, as there are so many restrictions on what you can and can't do when you are there - the journey there in itself was a two hour crawl in traffic.

Parks for children to run around in and make friends? Forget it! most of the city is in lockdown mode and generally unsafe. People are generally very suspicious of each other. You even hear stories of people getting shot for asking for a glass of water from neighbours during a heatwave.

Schools for children with a good basic level of education within a safe environment? - nope, that is not available unless you pay for a private education.

Healthcare for children ? - nope

In contrast I enjoy a higher salary in the UK and I can expect services to be provided by my government out of my taxes, (which are only a little bit higher than in the U.S)

There is free entertainment and services for children aplenty.

There is beautiful countryside for families to enjoy, have picnics in, or take trips to the beach. People are friendly on the whole.

There are many truly beautiful historic sites to visit, castle ruins to explore, old medieval streets to navigate.

I have five weeks holiday entitlement each year and I take at least two trips abroad, as I love to experience other climes and practice languages. When I worked in the U.S I had two weeks entitlement each year - but usually had to take pay in-lieu

I have good healthcare available through my taxes

In general I like the fact that in Britain noone is really treated all that differently from each other. Throwing money around in the hope that this will get you more attention won't really work.

I live in a country where I feel safe - this in spite of several terrorist attacks in recent decades. This is put in perspective - people don't really worry about this as much as the government would like us to.

I enjoy my work, as it provides plenty of time and money for me to enjoy my life, but the activities I really enjoy here don't cost a penny!

I can criticise my government and not be labelled unpatriotic.

I don't have to worry about stupid little laws like jaywalking.

My children do not have to swear allegiance to a flag each day.

I don't need to show a permit if I wish to stage a protest......

These are just a few of the benefits I enjoy in the UK, and the UK is certainly not unique in having all these opportunities.

I should point out that generally I love America, I just couldn't see myself going back there to live. There are many great places that offer some of the benefits that I have outlined above. For me San Francisco and Chicago are two outstanding cities with vibrant city centres and there are many beautiful small towns to live in. I am sure I would love Boston too, and I wouldn't mind visiting New York again.

"Morality and fairness have nothing to do with foreign policy."

Well, yes, I think we can both agree on that one!

do not base your opinion of the US on LA, you should travel around the country and experience other regions outside of Cali. I wouldn't raise my children anywhere else than here in the US, and I have traveled the globe some. The only place that I could ever see myself living, besides the US, is Australia, Britian is way down the list.

I enjoy 2 months worth of time off here, healthcare is wonderful you just get it through your employer instead of the government. You say Britian has more beautiful countryside? Your entire country is smaller than the State of Oregon. So those beautiful landscapes seem very large now? As for the historic sites in England, yeah yall have only been around for 500 some odd years longer than the US. You also lived in one of the newest sections of our country. Come down here to the South or up in the Northeast if you want US historical sites.

I don't mean to rant, but you've misjudged our country based on living in LA, ever been to Atlanta? or Charlotte? or PRE-hurricane New Orleans? They are great places to live and raise children, I know I've done it.

If you don't criticise the government, people think there's something wrong with you.

Well, unless it's within the Westminster Exclusion Zone.

Wasdale in the Lake District: http://semiskimmed.net/albums/lakes/above_wasdale2a.jpg
Morecambe Bay, Lancashire: http://www.mfgc.net/pages/half%20moon%20bay.jpg
The moors on Kinder Scout, Derbyshire: http://www.simonedwardes.plus.com/photos/KinderScout.jpg
the Point of Stoer, Scotland: http://www.lowefoto.com/konica/suther08.jpg

I could go on.