Time For Some of You...

[lawdog77]

Lawdog,  are the homeless sleeping on cardboard or in shelters?
Are they on the street or subways?  Are they living in cars or tents?
My point is we can and should do better in a number of areas.

Of course we should do better. I think if we fix problem 1 (free healthcare, and the ability to find a doctor), that will help many of the other areas on the list.

[JWags85]

Of course we should do better. I think if we fix problem 1 (free healthcare, and the ability to find a doctor), that will help many of the other areas on the list.

Luxembourg has higher homeless per capita than the US and it has fantastic healthcare and one of the highest per capita GDP in the world. Homelessness is a very difficult problem because it crosses so many different causes and factors.  The US can do better but it's certainly not alone or even one of the worst offenders among the Western world.

Also, not for nothing, I don't support completely segregating neighborhoods by income or neglecting lower socioeconomic areas, but "wealthy and poor living side by side" is almost always a disaster. And I've seen that across the world. From the US, to Europe, to Asia.

[Pakuni]

America is a wonderful place for lots of us.

I know of countries where everyone gets health care.
I know of countries where the population is not armed and dangerous.
I know of countries where people get good free educations.
I know of countries without homeless people spending the nights sleeping on cardboard.
I know of countries where the wealthy and the poor live side by side.

For some of us America leaves a lot to be desired.

America has plenty of flaws.
Some of us want to make it better. Some of us bristle at the mere suggestion that America has flaws and fight tooth-and-nail against any change in the status quo.
But one of the great things about America is that the former have always bested the latter. Always.
Sometimes it takes too much time. Sometimes it takes too much suffering. But we always win.

[vogue65]

Of course we should do better. I think if we fix problem 1 (free healthcare, and the ability to find a doctor), that will help many of the other areas on the list.

We agree.

Yesterday I had a telehealth appointment with the V.A..  The doctor had my blood work in front of her, my meds. and history.  We had a helpful, short conversation. 

I remember when doctors would ride in ambulances and made house calls.  Now we have air ambulances and Telehealth Appointments.

It seems to me that the V.A. is ramping up for national health care.  The hospital waiting room looks like the Admirals Club at the airport, they even have Starbucks. 

When the old farts, known as patriots, pass on, everyone can feel like a patriot, citizens of a great country.

[The Sultan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AvTezD4XIU

[keefe]

America is a wonderful place for lots of us.

I know of countries where everyone gets health care.
I know of countries where the population is not armed and dangerous.
I know of countries where people get good free educations.
I know of countries without homeless people spending the nights sleeping on cardboard.
I know of countries where the wealthy and the poor live side by side.

For some of us America leaves a lot to be desired.

Then get the f#ck out since it is such a hideous place.

[keefe]

to count your blessings.


https://youtu.be/gs0fxy8rHo8

Amen, Doc.

I have lived all over the world and traveled to more. The USA stands for something.

God bless men like George Washington, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson for envisioning a better society.

[withoutbias]

Amen, Doc.

I have lived all over the world and traveled to more. The USA stands for something.

God bless men like George Washington, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson for envisioning a better society.

Well, it used to, anyway. Up until about 4 years ago. Now you won't even be able to travel to all these terrible places all over the world because they don't want us entering their country. Sad!

PS why'd you live in all these places that stood for nothing? Maybe people stay for their job. Or their families. Or the hope that we only have to put up with "Trump First" for 4 years and not 8.

[Its DJOver]

Never really understood the whole "if you don't like it then get out" response by people whenever they see anything remotely critical of this country.  I love this country, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, I'm even a sucker for the types of songs linked in the OP.  At the same time, I'm under no illusion that this country is perfect, and if I had the power, there are more than a few things I would change.  You can love something and still see flaws in it and wish for it to improve. 

[wadesworld]

Never really understood the whole "if you don't like it then get out" response by people whenever they see anything remotely critical of this country.  I love this country, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, I'm even a sucker for the types of songs linked in the OP.  At the same time, I'm under no illusion that this country is perfect, and if I had the power, there are more than a few things I would change.  You can love something and still see flaws in it and wish for it to improve.

Hah. No kidding. Some people get triggered by the dumbest stuff.

[Jockey]

Then get the f#ck out since it is such a hideous place.

There is a huge difference between hideous and imperfect.

Intelligent people know what that is. Simplistic people like "holier than thou" platitudes.

[Pakuni]

Amen, Doc.

I have lived all over the world and traveled to more. The USA stands for something.

God bless men like George Washington, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson for envisioning a better society.

The great irony you're unable to grasp is that these men all decided they were living in a deeply flawed society and, rather than doing what the Loyalists ans the Crown told them to do (probably something far less clever than "Get the f#ck out since it is such a hideous place!") they took enormous risks and made great sacrifices to create a better nation.
Your attitude is more Thomas Hutchinson than Thomas Jefferson.

[Uncle Rico]

The great irony you're unable to grasp is that these men all decided they were living in a deeply flawed society and, rather than doing what the Loyalists ans the Crown told them to do (probably something far less clever than "Get the f#ck out since it is such a hideous place!") they took enormous risks and made great sacrifices to create a better nation.
Your attitude is more Thomas Hutchinson than Thomas Jefferson.

And Thomas Jefferson, were he alive, would be aghast at America today

[The Sultan]

I like it here.

I would probably like a lot of places if I grew up there too.

[keefe]

The great irony you're unable to grasp is that these men all decided they were living in a deeply flawed society and, rather than doing what the Loyalists ans the Crown told them to do (probably something far less clever than "Get the f#ck out since it is such a hideous place!") they took enormous risks and made great sacrifices to create a better nation.
Your attitude is more Thomas Hutchinson than Thomas Jefferson.

You seem unable to grasp the delicious irony that one among us has three Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars with V devices which demonstrates a willingness to 'take enormous risk and make enormous sacrifice' to defend this nation.

[Hards Alumni]

You seem unable to grasp the delicious irony that one among us has three Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars with V devices which demonstrates a willingness to 'take enormous risk and make enormous sacrifice' to defend this nation.

Oh trust us, we know.

You never shut up about it.

[Pakuni]

You seem unable to grasp the delicious irony that one among us has three Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars with V devices which demonstrates a willingness to 'take enormous risk and make enormous sacrifice' to defend this nation.

Wait... you served? Why are we just hearing about this now?

Rest assured, I have little doubt you'd have served King George with distinction.  Put those whiny colonists in their place.

[4everwarriors]

Both of you have crossed the line.

[Golden Avalanche]

You seem unable to grasp the delicious irony that one among us has three Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars with V devices which demonstrates a willingness to 'take enormous risk and make enormous sacrifice' to defend this nation.

You should be careful about publicizing that kind of thing whilst the current administration is in office.

They revel in demonizing and demoting people with those kinds of accolades. Better to have committed war crimes. 

[Hards Alumni]

Both of you have crossed the line.

Oh please.  I'm glad there at people like him willing to put themselves on the line for country, but he lords it over everyone like we should worship him.  Screw that.  All of my family members who have served don't pull that crap because they have class.  Enough with the hero worship of the military. 

[4everwarriors]

Next time we're at war dial 1-(800)-Ghostbusters, hey?

[Pakuni]

Both of you have crossed the line.

Nah.
I'm pretty sure keefe isn't the only Scooper who's served. But he is the only one who feels the need to bring it up over and over and over and over again. Or use it to belittle others.
I have plenty of friends and family who've served as well. Not one of them acts like keefe.

[Jables1604]

You seem unable to grasp the delicious irony that one among us has three Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars with V devices which demonstrates a willingness to 'take enormous risk and make enormous sacrifice' to defend this nation.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Your shtick is tiresome.

[Uncle Rico]

Nah.
I'm pretty sure keefe isn't the only Scooper who's served. But he is the only one who feels the need to bring it up over and over and over and over again. Or use it to belittle others.
I have plenty of friends and family who've served as well. Not one of them acts like keefe.

As my grandfathers and great uncles got older, I would ask about their service in WWII and Korea.  They always brushed it off.  Had many a family member make the service their career.  My dad fought in Vietnam and never talks about it.  I'm proud of everyone of them.  I'm grateful for men like Keefe who served.  Always puzzled by the different reactions from those that served.

[rocky_warrior]

Nailed it, Doc. Our country Scoop has work to do. It always will. But there's no place in the world that offers the freedom and the opportunity to her citizens that America Scoop does. There a whole lot of "privilege" out there. Race, IQ, looks, personality, athletic ability, etc., etc., etc. Being born in the USA on Scoop or relocating here is one we should all be grateful for. Hope we can all celebrate that!

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