America in Decline

[galdre]

It's definitely a very beneficial language to learn, but the Chinese are learning English by the tens of millions per year.

so they'll be able to tell us what to do in our own language - that's convenient

 

[Julius Gandi]

My quick response to the OP

I actually heard the opposite, that many Europeans don't see the USA in decline. In reality both are likely true. That any perceived decline is really just the rest of the world catching up. On top of that, even if our economic power is in decline, the USA still has a massive military. The USA has a long way to go before we are a second rate world power.

I think anyone fearing America no longer being the supreme super power needs to relax. Take a look at most of the last few centuries major powers. They may not be the juggernauts of the past, but most have great living conditions and their people are happy.

 

[Rashiminos]

You cannot put a farm in a garage.

I believe they are working on solutions to this issue: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_farming

 

[Julius Gandi]

Depends on what's being grown.

Ah you beat me to it. I would say garages and basements are the most fertile fields for certain illicit crops.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

It uses perfectly clear English. You can't really expect them to write in a way that will satisfy second-year foreign students of the language or the dyslexic at the cost of removing their ability to use the nuances of the language.

Im not a foreign student or dyslexic.

 

[RedRalph]

Im not a foreign student or dyslexic.

you are foreign to him (and me)

 

[Theige]

so they'll be able to tell us what to do in our own language - that's convenient

I don't think they'll ever be telling us what to do, in any language

 

[Flying Pig]

Im not a foreign student or dyslexic.

They were examples: it's in decent enough English so that almost all people living in an English-speaking country with a decent standard of education can understand it; that's the standard to which they need to write. If you can't understand that, frankly, you're enough of a minority that it's not worth accommodating you in their writing style.

And of course, you are a foreigner to me!

I don't think they'll ever be telling us what to do, in any language

They might, but we can tell them where to stick it in our own

 

[Rashiminos]

Thats good. But why does it use such hard sentences to say something that's not significant?

I'm not sure if you picked up on this, but I get the feeling Bill was being sarcastic.

 

[Dachs]

I certainly don't think he was.

 

[Bill3000]

Neither do I, I'm just laughing at how right on the mark aimee got it

 

[Rashiminos]

Why not?

I believe the 1930s just knocked at the door.

 

[Theige]

I believe the 1930s just knocked at the door.

And were politely told to GTFO.

 

[Rashiminos]

And you can have France when you can take France. Had the US ever gone up against the French it might have been realised there's a slight glitch in that plan.

To what extent is France prepared for an invasion from underneath?

 

[Dachs]

Well, I'm Swedish and we have Carl Hamilton and Arn Magnusson, who will thoughtfully, while making astute-seeming comments about international politics, make short work of those two gentlemen, probably, while probably also making ironic comments about Hollywood fiction.

I thought all that Arne Magnusson did was yell at people and take credit for things Gordon Freeman did.

 

[Verbose]

I thought all that Arne Magnusson did was yell at people and take credit for things Gordon Freeman did.

Nonono.

Arne Magnusson:

Arn Magnusson:

See?

 

[Verbose]

To what extent is France prepared for an invasion from underneath?

They turn them into Frenchmen of course. Have been at for a century and a half already.

 

[Dachs]

Nonono.

That was a joke.

 

[BasketCase]

basket case is the guy who plays the lottery week in week out.

Pssh. Never did, never will. Selling lottery tickets, on the other hand..... (The old saying that there's a sucker born every minute? Pish posh. There's a sucker born every fifteen seconds, and I cater happily to each of them.....)

Oh not that stupid argument again. For every Microsoft there were ten thousand failed businesses and bankrupt people.

And for every Microsoft there were how many successful businesses? Your whole line is worthless because you left that out.

...which does not translate into "anyone can do it." Good lord, why is that so hard for you to understand?

Because it also doesn't translate into "nobody can do it". And the part I underlined was a loaded question, to which I reply: sod off.

Once again I ask you, since you failed to explain it before: where would the money for that land come from?

Once again: I don't have to show where it comes from. The creation of thousands of new small businesses every year (successful ones) proves that it is somehow happening. I don't have to prove how it's happening. It is happening. If you can't figure out how, that's your fault.

(Here's a hint: Whole Foods got started with 20 people pooling their money. And it's now a profitable company in several American states)

 

[amadeus]

Oh not that stupid argument again. For every Microsoft there were ten thousand failed businesses and bankrupt people.

About half of new businesses fail within the first five years and two major problems in small businesses is (a.) poor management and (b.) insufficient operating funds. Not everyone is cut out to run their own business -- so does that mean you have to abolish business? I'm not very good at baseball, but that doesn't mean I want to castrate those that are good at it.