usvi-on-line
- a voice from Denmark
I have now received one (1) PM from one very annoyed member who has asked me to stop stating my position.
Since said person has asked, I will comply.
Now, please continue denegrating our country.
Since said person has asked, I will comply.
Now, please continue denegrating our country.
July 2003 - Honeymoon at The Westin
July 2004 - Glenmar, Gifft Hill
July 2005 - Arco Iris, Fish Bay
December 2007 - Dreamcatcher, GCB
July 2008 - Ellison Villa, VGE
July 2004 - Glenmar, Gifft Hill
July 2005 - Arco Iris, Fish Bay
December 2007 - Dreamcatcher, GCB
July 2008 - Ellison Villa, VGE
-
California Girl
Thats' a very thoughtful post. I just wish that all of us in the US could be as thoughtful. now is not the time for one issue voting or mudslinging from either side. our country is in the worst shape it has been in a long long time.
< leaving on the 22nd of march...but too lame to figure out the ticker thing again!>
Thanks for offering your perspective. I have family in Ireland and have long been impressed with how informed Europeans are when it comes to politics.
I was in Ireland and then London when Sarah Palin was introduced. I witnessed lots of alarm and consternation.
I've been a registered Independent since I was 18 and often wish politics didn't have to be so black and white. Sometimes it's the time to vote Republican. I don't believe now's the time.
I was in Ireland and then London when Sarah Palin was introduced. I witnessed lots of alarm and consternation.
I've been a registered Independent since I was 18 and often wish politics didn't have to be so black and white. Sometimes it's the time to vote Republican. I don't believe now's the time.
Linne, thank you for sharing your viewpoint on the upcoming election. I'm glad you are a member of this forum and always enjoy reading your posts. Your opinions are important, even if you can't vote. And I appreciate you stating your opinion tactfully in a manner that doesn't attempt to demean another's point of view.
As an American who is pround of my country, it shames me to read some of the words that have been quoted and posted on this thread. Please don't judge all of us by the opinion of a few. I can assure you that most people don't share those opinions and do recognize the value of Europe's rich history and culture.
As an American who is pround of my country, it shames me to read some of the words that have been quoted and posted on this thread. Please don't judge all of us by the opinion of a few. I can assure you that most people don't share those opinions and do recognize the value of Europe's rich history and culture.
When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Kentucky, because everything there happens 20 years after it happens anywhere else. – Mark Twain
Sox – only one? Kidding! Just kidding!
With all due respect, did you ever think that maybe it was time to tone it down a little and/or change tactics when another conservative expresses fatigue with your what can be interpreted as an overbearing tone of righteous indignation?
Maybe you don’t mean it the way, but it sure comes off like that sometimes and really dilutes the validity of your case. When you draw such hard lines, it could even have the opposite effect of changing a borderline view against you. In addition, nobody likes to be lectured to or have their words parsed into something they obviously didn’t mean.
If I were you, I would take a week off from posting, enjoy my newborn (congrats!) and take care of my wife, watch the Sox in the playoffs, and consider coming back using a small hammer to make my points instead that big old sledgehammer. A little self effacement can go a long way.
With all due respect, did you ever think that maybe it was time to tone it down a little and/or change tactics when another conservative expresses fatigue with your what can be interpreted as an overbearing tone of righteous indignation?
Maybe you don’t mean it the way, but it sure comes off like that sometimes and really dilutes the validity of your case. When you draw such hard lines, it could even have the opposite effect of changing a borderline view against you. In addition, nobody likes to be lectured to or have their words parsed into something they obviously didn’t mean.
If I were you, I would take a week off from posting, enjoy my newborn (congrats!) and take care of my wife, watch the Sox in the playoffs, and consider coming back using a small hammer to make my points instead that big old sledgehammer. A little self effacement can go a long way.
When we come to place where the sea and the sky collide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
-
Marcia (Mrs. Pete)
- Posts: 1576
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:40 pm
- Location: Madison Area, Wisconsin
This has to be the most eloquent post yet. Thank you JMQ.jmq wrote:Sox – only one? Kidding! Just kidding!
With all due respect, did you ever think that maybe it was time to tone it down a little and/or change tactics when another conservative expresses fatigue with your what can be interpreted as an overbearing tone of righteous indignation?
Maybe you don’t mean it the way, but it sure comes off like that sometimes and really dilutes the validity of your case. When you draw such hard lines, it could even have the opposite effect of changing a borderline view against you. In addition, nobody likes to be lectured to or have their words parsed into something they obviously didn’t mean.
If I were you, I would take a week off from posting, enjoy my newborn (congrats!) and take care of my wife, watch the Sox in the playoffs, and consider coming back using a small hammer to make my points instead that big old sledgehammer. A little self effacement can go a long way.
Marcia (Mrs. Pete)
Missing St. John. As always.
Missing St. John. As always.
I wonder sometimes if how someone interacts on a forum is reflective of how they interact with people in their daily life. I generally suppose that it is, but can imagine that some folks unleash aspects of themselves online that they pretty well keep under wraps when dealing with people face to face.
I had the privilege to watch the first presidential debate with a European who is here going to school at Vanderbilt. His commentary was much more insightful and well-informed than many Americans. I was glad to hear what he had to say about the candidates and how other countries view us.
Linne, I truly appreciate the thought and effort you put into sharing your opinions with us. I appreciate your candor, and I'm sorry that some people felt the urge to be less gracious.
Linne, I truly appreciate the thought and effort you put into sharing your opinions with us. I appreciate your candor, and I'm sorry that some people felt the urge to be less gracious.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/162789
the above is a link to an excellent article/analysis regarding the Community Reinvestment Act and how it is NOT at the center of the current debacle....
the above is a link to an excellent article/analysis regarding the Community Reinvestment Act and how it is NOT at the center of the current debacle....
< leaving on the 22nd of march...but too lame to figure out the ticker thing again!>
I wrote this topic because of my interests for what happens in USA, and because I thought someone might be interested in an “outsider” view. But I hesitated, when I should use “submit”. Perhaps people would think that it was totally unimportant, what a person outside USA means and perhaps they instead would find it irritating? But if I didn’t send it, I have wasted my time writing it, so I took the chance and pressed at the button.
So I really appreciate that the reactions to my topic mostly have been positive. For me it shows that even though USA is a powerful country, you care about how “outsiders” are looking at you.
I have some further comments:
About the banks:
The reason I blame some of the banks for the crisis is that as far as I know, nearly the same has happened in USA, which has happened in DK. Some managers in the banks have had an astronomic high salary because it seems, as if they were very successful, but the loan they gave were very risky. We have had a bank, where the managers have had options as a part of the salary. It means that they wanted to press the price for the shares in the bank up. They have given loan to people, who have bought properties to unrealistic prices, people, who were known as speculators and have had problems earlier. They also encouraged their customers to take a loan to buy shares in the bank. People could see that the bank earned money, and they didn’t know how risky some of the loans were. They trusted their bank and bought shares. All that meant that the price on the shares rose, the manager sold their part to this high price and about a month ago the bank collapsed, the national bank bought it, and all the shareholders lost their money. We personally didn’t have shares in this bank, but we have shares in the biggest bank in DK. The price is now about the half of what it have been earlier, and the reason is that they together with other banks had to pay a big amount into a guarantee for the banks with problems – mostly banks which have been giving risky loans. And they also suffer a very big loss on Lehman Brothers, where I know that the manager too have had an incomprehensible high salary. So I still blame the greedy banks, where the managers mostly seem to care about themselves.
Are the customers to blame too?
I know that the government in USA has encouraged Freddie and Fannie to give these subprime loan, but I cannot understand if that means that Freddie and Fannie aren’t responsible for, which people they gave the loan. I have been working in a bank for many years, and I have many, many times been the one, who should decide, if people could have a loan to buy a house for. So I have experienced how some of the customers could be so in love with a house that they were unable to acknowledge that they couldn’t afford it, and I have experienced customers, who weren’t able to see through their own economy. But I felt that it was our responsibility in the bank to advise them and deny giving them a loan, if it was risky. Sometimes it meant that we lost the customer, and sometimes the customer was grateful, because we have told them the facts. I don’t say that the customers do not have any responsibility at all - that they perhaps should have been more cautious, I just mean that the lender has a responsibility too, when they give a loan. Both to the bank and to the customer!
Michael Jackson
I’m not sure I really understand why he is brought into the discussions. Do you think he is more popular in Europe than in USA? I don’t think so. We don’t hear much about him. And if he is more popular here, what does that prove? That the European don’t have any judgement? Or that the Europeans don’t think a man is guilty, if his guilt isn’t proofed? Personally I find he is a jerk, and I'm nearly sure that many Europeans think the same as me. I don’t like the way he behaves, and I don’t like the way he treats his children. But he was a phenomenal good singer and dancer.
Jerry Lewis and David Hasselhof
I remember Jerry Lewis as a funny person, never hear about him today. Concerning David Hasselhof, I have recently read that he is an alcoholic. I was not quite sure, who D.H. was, until I was told that he was the handsome guy in Baywatch. I don’t think many people today know him.
A high gas prize
I have told my opinion about gas prices before in another topic. I know, I will not be popular, when I repeat it. But I think, it’s not so bad if the Americans have high gaz prices like in Europe. USA use a lot of the worlds energy. But with higher prices you will try to save energy, and you are forced to find alternative ways to heat your houses. That’s good for the milieu, and I really wish that the West could be more independent of the Middle East and their oil. I find it wrong that our economy is so dependent of the oil prize. Here in DK it’s now a demand from the authorities that new houses only use a minimum of energy. And I have just been to an exhibition for people, who want to build. A big part of the exhibition was about how you save energy, and how you can heat your house using the heat from the earth, the sun and the air. It cost money to install these alternative heaters, but with our high gas price it will give you a profit after some years. So people are encouraged to do it.
Europe versus USA
I think it’s difficult to compare countries. But it’s not so bad to live in Denmark, and I don’t think it’s so bad in the rest of Europe either. Denmark has had a very strong economy for some years, the only thing who threaten our economy is that we have manpower shortage. But now the crisis, which BTW started in USA, probably will solve that problem. It’s really worrying what happens just now!!
Best wishes!
Linne
So I really appreciate that the reactions to my topic mostly have been positive. For me it shows that even though USA is a powerful country, you care about how “outsiders” are looking at you.
I have some further comments:
About the banks:
The reason I blame some of the banks for the crisis is that as far as I know, nearly the same has happened in USA, which has happened in DK. Some managers in the banks have had an astronomic high salary because it seems, as if they were very successful, but the loan they gave were very risky. We have had a bank, where the managers have had options as a part of the salary. It means that they wanted to press the price for the shares in the bank up. They have given loan to people, who have bought properties to unrealistic prices, people, who were known as speculators and have had problems earlier. They also encouraged their customers to take a loan to buy shares in the bank. People could see that the bank earned money, and they didn’t know how risky some of the loans were. They trusted their bank and bought shares. All that meant that the price on the shares rose, the manager sold their part to this high price and about a month ago the bank collapsed, the national bank bought it, and all the shareholders lost their money. We personally didn’t have shares in this bank, but we have shares in the biggest bank in DK. The price is now about the half of what it have been earlier, and the reason is that they together with other banks had to pay a big amount into a guarantee for the banks with problems – mostly banks which have been giving risky loans. And they also suffer a very big loss on Lehman Brothers, where I know that the manager too have had an incomprehensible high salary. So I still blame the greedy banks, where the managers mostly seem to care about themselves.
Are the customers to blame too?
I know that the government in USA has encouraged Freddie and Fannie to give these subprime loan, but I cannot understand if that means that Freddie and Fannie aren’t responsible for, which people they gave the loan. I have been working in a bank for many years, and I have many, many times been the one, who should decide, if people could have a loan to buy a house for. So I have experienced how some of the customers could be so in love with a house that they were unable to acknowledge that they couldn’t afford it, and I have experienced customers, who weren’t able to see through their own economy. But I felt that it was our responsibility in the bank to advise them and deny giving them a loan, if it was risky. Sometimes it meant that we lost the customer, and sometimes the customer was grateful, because we have told them the facts. I don’t say that the customers do not have any responsibility at all - that they perhaps should have been more cautious, I just mean that the lender has a responsibility too, when they give a loan. Both to the bank and to the customer!
Michael Jackson
I’m not sure I really understand why he is brought into the discussions. Do you think he is more popular in Europe than in USA? I don’t think so. We don’t hear much about him. And if he is more popular here, what does that prove? That the European don’t have any judgement? Or that the Europeans don’t think a man is guilty, if his guilt isn’t proofed? Personally I find he is a jerk, and I'm nearly sure that many Europeans think the same as me. I don’t like the way he behaves, and I don’t like the way he treats his children. But he was a phenomenal good singer and dancer.
Jerry Lewis and David Hasselhof
I remember Jerry Lewis as a funny person, never hear about him today. Concerning David Hasselhof, I have recently read that he is an alcoholic. I was not quite sure, who D.H. was, until I was told that he was the handsome guy in Baywatch. I don’t think many people today know him.
A high gas prize
I have told my opinion about gas prices before in another topic. I know, I will not be popular, when I repeat it. But I think, it’s not so bad if the Americans have high gaz prices like in Europe. USA use a lot of the worlds energy. But with higher prices you will try to save energy, and you are forced to find alternative ways to heat your houses. That’s good for the milieu, and I really wish that the West could be more independent of the Middle East and their oil. I find it wrong that our economy is so dependent of the oil prize. Here in DK it’s now a demand from the authorities that new houses only use a minimum of energy. And I have just been to an exhibition for people, who want to build. A big part of the exhibition was about how you save energy, and how you can heat your house using the heat from the earth, the sun and the air. It cost money to install these alternative heaters, but with our high gas price it will give you a profit after some years. So people are encouraged to do it.
Europe versus USA
I think it’s difficult to compare countries. But it’s not so bad to live in Denmark, and I don’t think it’s so bad in the rest of Europe either. Denmark has had a very strong economy for some years, the only thing who threaten our economy is that we have manpower shortage. But now the crisis, which BTW started in USA, probably will solve that problem. It’s really worrying what happens just now!!
Best wishes!
Linne
Linne,
I for one LOVE hearing your perspective on things. One of my strong worries is the perception of the USA throughout the world. I think we had the sympathy and support of most of the world in the aftermath of 911 and for the most part that good will has been squandered by our current president.
Thanks for taking your time to share.
I for one LOVE hearing your perspective on things. One of my strong worries is the perception of the USA throughout the world. I think we had the sympathy and support of most of the world in the aftermath of 911 and for the most part that good will has been squandered by our current president.
Thanks for taking your time to share.
