Hate to do it but..Political Rant time.

[Jax]

To be fair, I don't think anyone on these boards is worse than Sarah Palin. Except maybe the bots.

VT looks at nude models, watches porn and then talks down to the girls that do it like they should feel shame or something. Sarah Palin doesnt like it, and stands on her beliefs. VT is a hypocrite, Sarah is not.

[Bikerpunk]

Jax, seriously, if I had a vagina, I'd be doing much more than anyone here has.
No condemnation here, let it go. That was a random comment designed to get a response, don't give it to him.

[Morning Glory]

isn't this thread fun? let's all get pissed off and bash each other over the heads. ugh. I know, me too.

But one thing that I really want to know is how can I become a welfare mooch? I mean the way I always hear it it's like the government is just throwing out money to lazy people, and it sounds great to me.

I've never been able to afford healthcare, and I've never had insurance, and I've never gotten free service. So what gives? I could probably afford 150 bucks, but what the heck costs 150 bucks? maybe a check up and a some cold meds, but there's no way that any procedure, testing, or prescription w/o insurance, is going to run you that price.

I'm unemployed right now. I've put in tons of applications and I haven't been able to get a job. where's all my free government money? I've had to spend my savings, cut out all "luxury" spending and constantly borrow money from people just to pay my rent and food.

I don't mean to bitch, but if it really is so easy to get all these fabulous prizes for nothing, then how come anyone is poor still?

[Amelia G]

isn't this thread fun? let's all get pissed off and bash each other over the heads. ugh. I know, me too.

But one thing that I really want to know is how can I become a welfare mooch? I mean the way I always hear it it's like the government is just throwing out money to lazy people, and it sounds great to me.

I've never been able to afford healthcare, and I've never had insurance, and I've never gotten free service. So what gives? I could probably afford 150 bucks, but what the heck costs 150 bucks? maybe a check up and a some cold meds, but there's no way that any procedure, testing, or prescription w/o insurance, is going to run you that price.

I'm unemployed right now. I've put in tons of applications and I haven't been able to get a job. where's all my free government money? I've had to spend my savings, cut out all "luxury" spending and constantly borrow money from people just to pay my rent and food.

I don't mean to bitch, but if it really is so easy to get all these fabulous prizes for nothing, then how come anyone is poor still?

It's not easy really. Partly it is one of those things where the rich teach their children how to invest and understand stocks and corporate welfare and such. The poor teach their children how to leech off the system in different ways. The middle class teach their children to go to school and work hard.

Getting aid requires you to put yourself in a 100% vulnerable position, at the mercy of a government bureaucrat who gets to decide whether you've been trying hard enough or have certain disadvantages. If you are female, it helps to get pregnant. Get a facial tattoo and the right bureaucrat and you can get mental disability dough for life. (Obviously, I'm opposed to that on like 18 levels.) In order to get aid, you will have to lay out details of your family, friendships, lovers, living situation, bank account, etc. If you can't get a bank account, it is ironically much harder to get aid.

And, although it may cover crazy expensive medical care, generally government aid is not enough to actually live on for real. So the system only really works for people who make off-the-books money like drug dealers and certain varieties of sex workers etc.

And it is a really difficult system to get out of, once you are in it. A number of types of supposed help require you to pay the government back once you do find work or even tax you on the aid you get. To a certain extent, accepting the handout is swallowing a poison pill, something which makes you have to stay at subsistence forever.

Also, despite all the political polemic, I feel pretty qualified to say that a lot of medical care can be had for a few hundred dollars here and a few hundred dollars there. I have been uninsured for all but a few months of my adult life. When I was insured, there was not one single thing my health insurance covered. I think, if I had understood the paperwork a bit better, maybe there would have been some things I could have gotten covered, but maybe not.

On average, I probably spend a few thousand dollars on medical care a year and it is still less than health insurance would cost me. And, when I pay for the care myself, I don't have to worry that I'll pay the money and have my claim denied. Which I have had happen with car insurance. Most medical visits actually do cost $125 to $500, depending on what is being done and whether it is someone I have seen before.

A lot of people just think they have to suffer, if they do not have insurance or welfare, but the only real problem is getting the referrals to the right medical professionals then.

Re: your specific situation. I forget what part of the country you are in and, of course, the economy is pretty terrifying everywhere just now. And I've certainly had some pretty horrible job seeking experiences myself over the years. But what sorts of things are you applying for?

[ForrestBlack]

Thought this was cute in a very healthy American sort of way.



With no smarm or irony or snark, I'd also like to see the other Vice candidate take a crack at this too.

[Jax]

Jax, seriously, if I had a vagina, I'd be doing much more than anyone here has.
No condemnation here, let it go. That was a random comment designed to get a response, don't give it to him.

Yep, Im over it;]

[inox]

VT looks at nude models, watches porn and then talks down to the girls that do it like they should feel shame or something. Sarah Palin doesnt like it, and stands on her beliefs. VT is a hypocrite, Sarah is not.

Well, I'm not going to take sides in the dispute between you two, but even if he was a horrible hypocrite, I'll take that over a fundie, anyday.

Fundies don't just tell you what they think, they want to tell you what you should be able to do.

[Bikerpunk]

I would too, but that's not cool. Sorry, but that kind of comment is out of bounds in my book, frankly.

[Mr Karl]

Amelia- I just got a job with benefits, so as soon as that kicks in next week Ill be going to the doc;]

it's as easy as that?..................don't you have to wait for months just to find a doc and then some more months for your appointment?

[Bikerpunk]

There's the question of "pre-existing condition" as well...

[Mr Karl]

it almost sounds like what you US people need is a revolution.............screw all that election crap, whoever wins is just going to fuck the people and the people are just going to take it........face it, you got 300 million(or more) people down there and 49 percent of them hates the other 49 percent.

hmmmmm..........I seem to have lost my train of thought

[Jax]

it's as easy as that?..................don't you have to wait for months just to find a doc and then some more months for your appointment?

Nope, didnt even have to wait the usual 90 days for the insurance to kick in. After I signed up, it kicks in on the next check.

And as far as pre-existing condition...I havent been diagnosed with it before, some stuff happened that has cause for concern. Ive already checked with my insurance company and everythings a go.

[Morning Glory]

Re: your specific situation. I forget what part of the country you are in and, of course, the economy is pretty terrifying everywhere just now. And I've certainly had some pretty horrible job seeking experiences myself over the years. But what sorts of things are you applying for?

Yeah, I don't really want to do that, I was just trying to make a point. thanks for giving some of the details of the situation though. I think that you are right and the only people that really make out ahead off the social support system are con artists, not just people that kick back and have it on easy street. I'm sure most of the people in that position really feel like they have no other options and they can't feel very good or proud of themselves, no one likes to be treated like a baby and having to rely on someone else for everything.

As for me I've just been putting in for minimum wage retail jobs, because that's all I have experience in. I applied twice to blockbuster, to pizza places, to target, etc., twice to the movie theater and I have 2 years experience there. I've had some interviews and then never got called back.

[Morning Glory]

PS. I might be getting a job with Frito Lay chips though. I've had some interviews and they seem to want me on board, but they've really jerked me around with setting up appointments. they are like managerial anarchy, and I don't mean in a collectivist way, I mean in a can't get shit done without going through 15 different dead ends. I'm waiting for the results of a background check, so hopefully that clears and that should be all I have to do to get me going.

[jonny.illuminati]

That wasn't really directed at you Jonny. I know you're a smart guy. that was directed against the rhetoric that only serves one thing which is to divert people away from actually thinking and doing the research that you called for.

well there is a lot more to the war than dicks pension (he's an ass)... but that would require a lot of good wine... we are actually in iraq for reasons beyond oil and greed and such... no one really cares why we are there they just want to be against it....

i know you weren't directing it at me...

iraq is only one of the many conflicts/wars/things i was involved in and even for me one of the reasons i retired was i got tired of the whole thing and didn't want to go back...

iraq is kind of like watching The Wire.... complete with stupid politics, leadership, police commissioners, drug dealers etc... you make small strides forward then get pushed back... need more coffee....

[jonny.illuminati]

People keep talking about universal insurance and suchlike, but insurance IS the source of the problem. It is just a legalized protection racket and we know those are not really to protect anybody. If we did not have insurance to supposedly help out those of us who were sufficiently inside the system, then doctors and hospitals would have to charge reasonable rates, rates people could pay or they would be out of business, like any business. In addition, when you look at countries where people do pay for healthcare, there tends to be a lot more respect for the patient as the actual customer, plus a lot more options to make a hospital stay less dehumanizing and unpleasant.

i completely agree that the insurance system itself is a major part of the problem! and so are the Docs and clinics! the wife and i are both in SAG and she is also IATSE... we get our insurance through Motion Picture (it's better than my retirement benefits)... every time we get anything done, the doc double bills motion picture or bill insurance and sends us a bill as well... when we call they always say... "oh so sorry it was a glitch in the computer"... it's fraudulent is what it is!

i'm going to medical school in 2 years (gotta finish my pre-med) and i want to be an ER doc (save life instead of take it)... i will also try to volunteer to do free health care sometimes... and of course my friends will get taken care of as well...

[Ajax Knucklebones]

Yeah, I don't really want to do that, I was just trying to make a point. thanks for giving some of the details of the situation though. I think that you are right and the only people that really make out ahead off the social support system are con artists, not just people that kick back and have it on easy street. I'm sure most of the people in that position really feel like they have no other options and they can't feel very good or proud of themselves, no one likes to be treated like a baby and having to rely on someone else for everything.

As for me I've just been putting in for minimum wage retail jobs, because that's all I have experience in. I applied twice to blockbuster, to pizza places, to target, etc., twice to the movie theater and I have 2 years experience there. I've had some interviews and then never got called back.

Hey MG, wanna hear something fucked up about people cheating the system? I saw this hispanic girl that I hadn't seen in a while. I asked her how everything was going. Well.....Her husband works full-time making piles of money almost all off the books. She works full-time as a office manager. Together, I KNOW they make alot more than me and my wife. Well....She goes on to tell me that she's on welfare, medicare, her kids get free medical, gets food stamps, and like in a whole slew of other freebies from the government. I looked at her and said, "You know you give other hispanics a bad name." She laughed like I was making a joke. Of course, I was fuckin' serious.

[Ajax Knucklebones]

i completely agree that the insurance system itself is a major part of the problem! and so are the Docs and clinics! the wife and i are both in SAG and she is also IATSE... we get our insurance through Motion Picture (it's better than my retirement benefits)... every time we get anything done, the doc double bills motion picture or bill insurance and sends us a bill as well... when we call they always say... "oh so sorry it was a glitch in the computer"... it's fraudulent is what it is!

i'm going to medical school in 2 years (gotta finish my pre-med) and i want to be an ER doc (save life instead of take it)... i will also try to volunteer to do free health care sometimes... and of course my friends will get taken care of as well...

I would go back and become a dentist. I hear that dentists actually make more money than doctors now because of the high insurance doctors must pay for due to getting sued. It's a crazy world when a man who just plays with your teeth makes more than a doctor who saves your life.

[Buster Friendly]

I applied for unemployment for the first time in my life last year. Man that was some pain in the ass bullshit. First off, I don't make enough money for half of that to be enough to live on. Secondly the fucking horse shit I had to put up with from those people didn't justify the pittance they were so reluctant to give me.

The thing that convinced me to do it was the fact that my father pointed out that I had already paid the taxes that would cover my unemployment, and that it was essentially my own money being handed back to me. I rarely complain about being taxed, as much as I despise society I do appriciate certain things like running water, waste disposal, even the fucking police who keep my fellow citizens from thinking they can cut my throat in my sleep with no repercussions.

Man what a pain in the ass. I'd rather work. Now, mind you I work at a job that has scheduled "lay offs" and rehires, so I knew when I was going back to work.

And I AM a lazy mother fucker too, I work at the job I have because it's easy, and has been paying my rent, and cheap ass living expenses "o-kay" for a few years now... (no cable, free wi-fi internets, no cell phone, no insurance, no car etc.)

The only thing I hate worse than going to work, it looking for work. It's 5x more work than actually working, and you don't get paid. Fuck job hunting. I'd rather just work.

Ranty, rantity, mcranty rant rant...

And I'm a big dicked socialist to boot! Fuck Sarah Palin (I wouldn't) she's a fucking fundie christer neo-nazi. Fuck all.

[jonny.illuminati]

I would go back and become a dentist. I hear that dentists actually make more money than doctors now because of the high insurance doctors must pay for due to getting sued. It's a crazy world when a man who just plays with your teeth makes more than a doctor who saves your life.

malpractice is one of the reasons i like the idea of ER medicine...don't have to pay it... hospital does

trauma medicine is what interests me because of my military background... faster pace... i would kill myself if i was a regular doc...

ER docs get paid an average of 250,000 a year... but like being in the military i'm not doing it for the money. my disability pay and retirement are pretty decent so anything i make after that is just for fun...

[jonny.illuminati]

Ranty, rantity, mcranty rant rant...

And I'm a big dicked socialist to boot! Fuck Sarah Palin (I wouldn't) she's a fucking fundie christer neo-nazi. Fuck all.

i hate when the folks an unemployment try to make you feel like your a looser for applying... your dad is right it is your money...

i would do sarah palin just to say i did... and of course because like all right winger fundamentalists she is probably pretty freaky with all those pent up secret desires and fetishes... crazy sex...

[Ajax Knucklebones]

I just put up an "Obama" sign on my lawn. Like I said before, I'm not crazy about him, but I'm just not gonna vote for a Republican this time. Mostly I did it to piss off my neighbors. Most of them are die hard Republicans and they have "McCain" signs up and down my block.

[Amelia G]

PS. I might be getting a job with Frito Lay chips though. I've had some interviews and they seem to want me on board, but they've really jerked me around with setting up appointments. they are like managerial anarchy, and I don't mean in a collectivist way, I mean in a can't get shit done without going through 15 different dead ends. I'm waiting for the results of a background check, so hopefully that clears and that should be all I have to do to get me going.

Frito Lay has to do a background check? Are you going to be doing sensitive research for them i.e. like in their new products lab? Or do they just have a big ongoing problem with workplace violence and theft?

I once didn't go permanent at EDS, after working there for three months, because I just couldn't deal with their whole background check. They did government contracting, so they had to do a whole big thing, including drug testing. I didn't do drugs at all, didn't even eat poppyseed bagels or anything that could cause a false positive (although I started craving them as soon as they told me to skip them before my test), but I ultimately found I just couldn't bring myself to hand an employer my urine. It seemed like more of an exercise in domination and humiliation than security. I mean, I'd been working there as a contractor for three months already. What kind of spy wouldn't have already boxed up and mailed off whatever secrets they were going to by then anyway?

In retrospect, I should have just peed in the fucking cup, but I was young and full of, uhm, piss and vinegar, and ethically opposed to workplace testing of that sort.

[Morning Glory]

nope,. nothing cool like that, i'm just the guy that puts chips on a shelf. pretty much everyone does it these days. I don't know if they are doing it for me, but I know on some people they even run a credit check. I had to do a BG check when I applied at blockbuster too.

[grebo]

Ya know, it actually kind of bugs me that some folks act like they should never have to pay anything whatsoever for medical care. I know women who think nothing of dropping $60 at MAC but would never pay for the dermatologist unless their work's health insurance covered it. Even if the dollar amount were exactly the same.

I was directing that advice to Jax specifically. She has lived in both Arizona and California, which are both states with higher-than-average incidence of skin cancer. Jax is a capable person who can come up with a way to get $150, even if it is a struggle. Heck, she could pretty easily probably sell BlueBlood.com some photo sets, if we are being specific.
A few hundred dollars is a pretty low price to pay in order to not die.

so true!
i admit i have been known to bitch about paying some stuff while wasting on other stuff, but medical/dentist stuff is essential and id rather be alive and poor than dead with nice stuff

[Velvet-Tongue]

VT looks at nude models, watches porn and then talks down to the girls that do it like they should feel shame or something. Sarah Palin doesnt like it, and stands on her beliefs. VT is a hypocrite, Sarah is not.

Sorry for that sounding so abrasive but I was at a loss as to how you could be an alt model/punk/film porn etc then want to help vote in a far-right, incredibly religious woman. I don't know if your lifestyle has changed or just priorities but it feels like you're leaving behind everything you seemed to support.

Calling me a hypocrit because I said you did exactly what you did just sounds retarded.

Oh well, you're entitled to your beliefs in this country and I know I'm not going to be changing any of them. I'm just happy you're voting for what you believe in even if I disagree with it. Thats what makes the country work.

[Velvet-Tongue]

Sorry for that sounding so abrasive but I was at a loss as to how you could be an alt model/punk/film porn etc then want to help vote in a far-right, incredibly religious woman. I don't know if your lifestyle has changed or just priorities but it feels like you're leaving behind everything you seemed to support.

Calling me a hypocrit because I said you did exactly what you did just sounds retarded.

Oh well, you're entitled to your beliefs in this country and I know I'm not going to be changing any of them. I'm just happy you're voting for what you believe in even if I disagree with it. Thats what makes the country work.

**Also a note: I never condemned what you did, or what anyone here does with there bodies (beyond illegal things). I obviously like all these women and this culture or I woulden't spend alot of time browsing forums/promoting etc.

[Jax]

And just on a serious note: Jax you were a woman who made money showing her vag and tits off and getting fucked by ugly dudes on cock brutality.

Yeah, that doesnt sound abrasive at all. But whatever.

I havent left anything behind. Sarah Palin isnt running for President. John McCain is. Id rather risk Sarah getting into office for a short amount of time than Obama in office for a full term.

[Bikerpunk]

I think what he's getting at is, he was suggesting that you're far from the conservative norm.

You're focussed, rightly, on the abusive part. But he has a point. You're not exactly what the church-going, preachin, tattoos is against the Bible gun nuts look to as an ally, which is why your position mystifies me too, although I'm not being judgmental about your lifestyle past or present (and am not ungentlemanly enough to describe it such)

[Mr Karl]

US politics sure is entertaining

[mystoo]

NO shit eh?
I can't wait to see what happens next.

[helcyon]

I can't wait to see what happens next.

Neither can I... so I'm not

Ok so...

1. I don't vote in Aus or NZ although I'd be eligible for both
2. Therefore I don't get partisan about domestic politics. I don't mind having a political discussion or opinion or talking about what I've heard or looked up but I am uncomfortable ranting about any of it usually. If I'm going to start well I'll go register first and then I'd have a leg to stand on and I would if it suited me.
3. It doesn't suit me so I'd rather sleep in on voting day and not complain about the outcome (until the day that something comes up that changes that, as I say, but it hasn't yet... so far i can deal with what's dealt out).
4. I am sick of the media overkill we have here about your US election. I'm sure an interested general observer here would have as much idea of what's going on as an interested general observer there which is embarrassing for here
5. I like unpopular people often. I think I'm the only person in the world who likes dubya - he goes along with the jokes folk make about him and that's endearing. some of the folk around him are awful... enough to get me voting against him in theory.
6. I don't like Pailin much at all. She seems horrible. The first dude seems really off too. I wouldn't want to vote for her knowing the first dude would show up along with her and his ididerod dogs. the whole hockey mom thing is a cringe. So is Joe "$quarter mill" plumber.
7. McCain seems nice enough - he seems to have a good feel about him. Sure campaigns stoop to desperate measures when they get desperate like now but he doesn't come across as too much of a sleaze. He's probably left (been given) his run a bit late as his age seems to be the biggest thing against him. Obamy wan Kenobe and him seem to get along OK too which is nice.
8. Barry wan Obamy is unfortunately too tainted by Oprah for me to see him as he is. Oprah puts the kybosh on any candidate in my opinion. I can't abide her so her endorsement is fatal. See how meaningful I am? Plus they reckon you don't get to the top of Chicago politics by accident.
9. I am bemused by the way some folk here get so uptight about stuff and at each other. To me this is a place to come into and have a discussion sometimes or a laugh most times. I can hone my material on bots when they pop up or just be fucking stupid. I don't think whatever we say is going to change anybody or anything much overall but that doesn't matter - a vehicle for stimulating discussion or having a laugh is completely valid and would be missed if it went away. I hear about all sorts of stuff and opinions here. Sure in rare moments I've flamed one or two twerps pretty hard but absolute dicks do cut through - like that cretin who thought it was cool to pretend he set roaches on fire
10. I think this acid is working and I'm having a massive reality crash. I am not allowed to post seriously for a while if at all. I don't do serious too good i may have little idea at all... in fact i think i don't

[Buster Friendly]

[*]McCain seems nice enough - he seems to have a good feel about him. Sure campaigns stoop to desperate measures when they get desperate like now but he doesn't come across as too much of a sleaze. He's probably left (been given) his run a bit late as his age seems to be the biggest thing against him. Obamy wan Kenobe and him seem to get along OK too which is nice.[/LIST]

You've obviously never met WcCain.

I work with an NYPD detective who was assigned to WcCain's security detail when he was in town. Dude came back from that job to where we work (he does security on the side with us) and told all of us to not vote for WcCain no matter what because the guy was such an ass. Mr.Detectiveman doesn't want to vote for Obama, he's a conservative cop, but WcCain pissed him off so bad that he tried to convince us all to not give him our votes.

I've read butt loads of stories about WcCain's personal conduct, which paint a "less than friendly" picture of the man. But anyone can write anything, the above story was someone I knew. I'm being fairly subdued in my descriptions here.

Anyway, WcCain was never going to get my vote based on policy alone, on the "character" issue he loses too. (In other words FIVE AND A HALF YEARS! doesn't cancel out being a fucking asshole.)(who ruined our enconomy. Keating 5 look it up.)

[Morning Glory]

I like McCain because of his war record- the one that nobody has seen because he passed a law to have all such records sealed from the public, including the families of soldiers.

[jonny.illuminati]

I like McCain because of his war record- the one that nobody has seen because he passed a law to have all such records sealed from the public, including the families of soldiers.

exactly... but i have seen it

[Morning Glory]

cool... so want to share the dirt, or is it one of those things where if you told me you'd have to kill me?

[funkatron]

What's probably most disappointing to me is that there are actually very few practical differences between the two major party candidates when it comes to policy. This is especially frustrating on the GOP side, which has gone far away from the governmental/fiscal conservatism, and focused primarily on *moral* conservatism. It's shit like this that's driven folks like Colin Powell away from the GOP.

[Jax]

This makes me laugh.

[Ajax Knucklebones]

Neither can I... so I'm not

Ok so...

1. I don't vote in Aus or NZ although I'd be eligible for both
2. Therefore I don't get partisan about domestic politics. I don't mind having a political discussion or opinion or talking about what I've heard or looked up but I am uncomfortable ranting about any of it usually. If I'm going to start well I'll go register first and then I'd have a leg to stand on and I would if it suited me.
3. It doesn't suit me so I'd rather sleep in on voting day and not complain about the outcome (until the day that something comes up that changes that, as I say, but it hasn't yet... so far i can deal with what's dealt out).
4. I am sick of the media overkill we have here about your US election. I'm sure an interested general observer here would have as much idea of what's going on as an interested general observer there which is embarrassing for here
5. I like unpopular people often. I think I'm the only person in the world who likes dubya - he goes along with the jokes folk make about him and that's endearing. some of the folk around him are awful... enough to get me voting against him in theory.
6. I don't like Pailin much at all. She seems horrible. The first dude seems really off too. I wouldn't want to vote for her knowing the first dude would show up along with her and his ididerod dogs. the whole hockey mom thing is a cringe. So is Joe "$quarter mill" plumber.
7. McCain seems nice enough - he seems to have a good feel about him. Sure campaigns stoop to desperate measures when they get desperate like now but he doesn't come across as too much of a sleaze. He's probably left (been given) his run a bit late as his age seems to be the biggest thing against him. Obamy wan Kenobe and him seem to get along OK too which is nice.
8. Barry wan Obamy is unfortunately too tainted by Oprah for me to see him as he is. Oprah puts the kybosh on any candidate in my opinion. I can't abide her so her endorsement is fatal. See how meaningful I am? Plus they reckon you don't get to the top of Chicago politics by accident.
9. I am bemused by the way some folk here get so uptight about stuff and at each other. To me this is a place to come into and have a discussion sometimes or a laugh most times. I can hone my material on bots when they pop up or just be fucking stupid. I don't think whatever we say is going to change anybody or anything much overall but that doesn't matter - a vehicle for stimulating discussion or having a laugh is completely valid and would be missed if it went away. I hear about all sorts of stuff and opinions here. Sure in rare moments I've flamed one or two twerps pretty hard but absolute dicks do cut through - like that cretin who thought it was cool to pretend he set roaches on fire
10. I think this acid is working and I'm having a massive reality crash. I am not allowed to post seriously for a while if at all. I don't do serious too good i may have little idea at all... in fact i think i don't

It always amazes me when I hear about how much U.S. news gets funneled into other countries on a overkill basis. I'm sick of it here, but I live in the U.S. You must be REALLY sick of it there.

[Mr Karl]

actually, I think the rest of the world is sort of in awe of the fact that a big country can actually be run the way the US is.

as long as the madness doesn't spread..................