h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Blackberry.

The supreme court was no more than a tool. The system is corrupt and the people are gullible.

Dave.

It's not a bad idea. Anything that puts a stop to Bush would save many thousands of innocent lives. The trouble is, Americans are sinply not willing to believe that they are fallible.

Ok Empty Sky-
" because of the prevailing attitudes are adverse to my thinking. I could visit but not live in many areas."

I have no problem standing by my statement - prevailing is not *all*

I chose by lifestyle, weather and prevailing political attitudes.
Political attitudes that *should be human ones* and not political ones or PC ones to begin with.

I am not be particuarly comfy surrounded by many things considered average because that alone does not make them right. Being in the minority or majority within a like thinking community does not automatically make you right or wrong.

Some prefer to be the different one, some want to be disguised in the flow. Some try to be true to themselves wherever that takes them.
Which way do you go?
It is also your choice.

Just about every political system is corrupt favouring the rich and powerful. I don't believe that U.S. citizens are more gullible than people elsewhere in the world although their insular nature may mean many are ignorant of foriegn affairs. Seems to me the problem is that prevailing cynicism about politicians has led many people to disengage from the political process rather than try to change things.

I keep hearing that, Lentilla - that California is another country.
The Governator may yet turn out to be not the loony tunes conservative people were expecting...Hummer notwithsatnding. We'll see.

I like your piece Berry: it strikes a few chords with my experience.

The TV film "Bowling for Columbine" made an impression on my young son. I missed it.

I am a UK EU citizen. Where would my ideal place to live be?
What would I base that decision on? Could that dream be realized?
Let's imagine I am an economic or political refugee say from a metaphorical dysfunctional state.

Answers: ideal: SEATTLE
probable: NEW YORK

based on: MEDIA IMPRESSION
personal recommendation

realization: age 50, no assets. no skills
probability nil

solution: another Political State as "free as the USA"
known options: none

How many prospective immigrants have followed this thought process.
Perhaps 100m. I just don't know.

Empty Sky, I think you are perhaps being a bit harsh - because I have two words to say - Winston Peters! Quick - where's the garlic? (Neither of us would tolerate him or certain others, for a second - but he has supporters (goodness only knows how or why...) Lentilla means well, as do others, and while I know it's easy to get really, really p*ssed at (some) Americans, don't mistake them for all!
(I know whereof I speak, Jimmy and I stayed up far too late, watching the Oliver Stone 'JFK' movie. (Awesome - 5 s by the way...)

Don't read too much into bowling for columbine. It raises a lot of important issues, but at the end of the day, anecdotes are not statistics, and I think the movie can be misleading in some ways.

dave

Acknowledged.
thanks for the advice

Della.

Quieta movere magna merces videbatur.

Just to disturb the peace seemed a great reward in itself.

Ah. I understand. BTW, what's with all the Latin around here these days? Don't misunderstand, I like it well, it's just that it's a trend I hadn't caught up with.

Anything for a laugh, eh, Empty? Next time you get bored, why not go throw rocks at your neighbor's dog? I promise it'll be much more satisfying than teasing me!

For somebody that doesn't live in the United States, you seem to know an awful lot about how life is here. I think you're talking through your... hat. Abbi is correct, and there are at least five distinct cultural regions here in the States. It's not stereotyping - it's a fact of life. You're guilty of stereotyping by refusing to look past your carefully constructed caricature of an American.

> But they did allow him to steal his way into power. For this, Lentilla is more culpable than anyone else.

Why am I more culpable than anyone else? That's ridiculous!

> It's not a bad idea. Anything that puts a stop to Bush would save many thousands of innocent lives. The trouble is, Americans are sinply not willing to believe that they are fallible.

So you're saying the ends justify the means, eh? "We had to kill the President in order to save the country?" Bushwah. Murder is unacceptable. Whether it's in Iraq or the United States, murder is wrong.

It's really easy to talk about another nation's shortcomings. Especially when you don't have to look anybody in the face. Grow up and join the human race, please.

Ah, Della - now that there's somebody on staff that can speak Latin, we can now post Latin sentences without being moderated for being in another language. Like 'Sodomy non sapiens.' Or 'morituri nolumnus mori.'

I Latin. I barely understand it, but I love it.

Apparently its okay to flood the airwaves of my country with the stars and stripes non-stop and to plaster old glory on anything that will stand still long enough, but I shouldn't wear my maple leaf pin south of the border - talk about being able to dish it out but not take it!
http://www.canada.com/national/story.asp?id=D333BE79-44EE-407B-B960-BF1FA49CAE39

Lentilla, when I say you are most culpable I am quite serious. You typify the average dumb American who stood by and let Bush make a mockery of the democratic system. You claim not to support Bush but you are perhaps more useful to him than anyone else. And while you continue to believe that Americans are somehow superior and infallible, the true horror of your government’s actions will never be quite real to you. Evil will flourish. (Obviously I mean a collective, plural “you”.)

When I agreed with Dave’s suggestion of assassinating Bush, obviously that was tongue-in-cheek.

Empty
Are you in Canada now then or are you UK side?
Your'e lucky woman.
Alledgedly I am an anti-Christ.
I hope the Feds are recording this stuff!

Oh my word!

Lentilla not everyone blames you for whats gone on with Bush.

Lets get this straight the people who could have done anything to stop bush and his band of theives stealing the presidency arent likely to be hanging around on H2G2 anyway.

Ask not what others are doing think about what you are doing. Are you spreading knowledge or spreading division and hate. If you are pointing the finger then you are doing the second. Its sounds as if Lentilla is a fairly sensible person who in possesion of the facts would make decent choices. Why are people here getting on her back.

If a team mate of mine makes a mistake I forgive the mistake and try at the next training session to educate them so they can improve the way they do things. I dont start slinging insults around.

Americans have been hood winked on the whole while masses of children are fed lies that pass for education at school and we in the rest of the world think they should be doing more to save the world.

European and old Soviet block countries export weapons too. The Russian army has been in Chechnya longer than the coalition has been in Iraq. The French secret service blew up a The Rainbow Warrior. It would be as foolish for us to hold individuals from either of those nations accountable for those acts of aggression.

If you really want change do something constructive.

Think about it like this while we pick on Americans here Dubya and the forty theives sit inside their guarded mansions and bullet proof limos laughing their b*ll*cks off.

Okay, I know this is like scootching up to a rabid badger's lair and asking if he'd like to play, but here's a serious question for Empty Sky: For those (approximately 50.0001 percent of U.S. voters) who didn't vote for Bush, how should they have "stopped" him?

My god, what a surprise. Someone else has discovered how insulting Empty Sky is. This is fantastic. The really great part is being able to watch him repeat his tactics on someone else. Way to go Lentilla!! You've maintained a much higher level of discourse than I was able to! Keep up the good fight.

dave

I do not want to seem politically incorrect folks but I'm getting mixed up as to the precise gender of the posters on hootoo. I thought Empty Sky was a woman for instance. And I was accused yesterday of sexual prejudice.

Generally I get the feeling that gender issues are a "tender spot" on hootoo. In that sense Europe is way ahead of N America. All the "glass ceilings" have been smashed on this side of the pond. Relax legal sexual deviants everywhere.

Blicky I cannot dispute your post as usual. Governments need people like you. I hope you succeed in that sphere.

Rev. I musy say the Canadian press stuff you and your compatriots post up is better than I am used to in the UK. All too often the press here is partisan. As to the content about flag waving. I believe Canadians are the only nation to decal on luggage. In the UK cars used to carry a Maple sticker. But I've "flown" the Saltare the Scots flag on my car too. My wife is off Celtic stock.

Furthermore the Scots fishing fleet will fly the Saltair and often the French Tricoleur because of long held ties between the Scots and the French. I love the Scots by the way and they have always loved me. I am one of the few that could step onto Harris Isle and never return.