The next time someone brings up the subject of us fat Americans being greedy, remember this:

[url]http://powerlineblog.com/archives/009085.php[/url]

I didn't say they were greedy :wink:

i dont think anyone thinks that Americans are greedy.. they do give alot to other 3rd world countries... and i give them huge props for that.. but

i just think that most Americans.. are very arrogant....

[quote=hear_my_name]i dont think anyone thinks that Americans are greedy.. they do give alot to other 3rd world countries... and i give them huge props for that.. but

i just think that most Americans.. are very arrogant....[/quote]

Arrogant is the wrong word. 'Ignorant' in regards to international affairs, most definently. I have approached scores of individuals and have struck up conversations about politics and what is going on in the world, and the huge majority doesn't really pay attention. I personally think that they are just too busy with other things. But, then again, so am I.

I think the huge majority of americans are so used to the easy life with our high standard of living, we have become somewhat lazy.

I think ignorant goes for more people than just Americans...

[quote=Yao]I think ignorant goes for more people than just Americans...[/quote]

I'm sure it does. But man, are there alot of ignorant simple minded people here who have no idea what the hell is going on. Who simply just don't care.

Too busy living their own lives, probably.

[quote=Yao]Too busy living their own lives, probably.[/quote]

Yep.

Ignorant is not the word. More like just plain stupid. It makes me feel like shit when my fellow Americans watch this reality TV garbage and determine who the best politician is not by what their record is, but by their personality (i.e. someone once told me "I like Bush because he is strong," and said nothing else to back it up).

[quote=cosmo][quote=Yao]I think ignorant goes for more people than just Americans...[/quote]

I'm sure it does. But man, are there alot of ignorant simple minded people here who have no idea what the hell is going on. Who simply just don't care.[/quote]

this is true for evey country..

This is somewhot offtopic, but a nice example from my own...as an Africanist I am supposed to some kind of expert on Africa (at least I'm trying to become one). I told my uncle about this investment plan for Africa me and another uncle of mine hava, and guess what he did...he started tellingme what I should look out for whe dealing with Africans! "They're different from us, they don't trade like us you know.., there's a lot of corruption there. Mark my words, you're never going to get it done!" Yes yes, the man himself has never been there, I doubt if he ever spoke more than two words to an African his whole life, and he's telling me what tot do...he has until this very day (unvoluntarily) set the standard for small minded stupidity...really.

I love the guy, but I could've killed him at that moment..

^^^^ Don't mean to be a "smart-ass", since I am not an expert on Africa, but according to what I've heard, most of Africa is rather corrupt (what else would you expect from a continent full of worthless dictatorships :wink: ) and Africans are definitely NOT the best workers on the face of our planet, in fact (again, according to what I've heard) they are quite lazy and their productivity is far beyond the Western World. However, more and more Africans seek education in the western world, but sadly most of them stay here and never return to their native countries to "spread" their knowledge and expirience.

just a few american had answer this topic....... that means they agree or what?

[quote=brakada]^^^^ Don't mean to be a "smart-ass", since I am not an expert on Africa, but according to what I've heard, most of Africa is rather corrupt (what else would you expect from a continent full of worthless dictatorships :wink: ) and Africans are definitely NOT the best workers on the face of our planet, in fact (again, according to what I've heard) they are quite lazy and their productivity is far beyond the Western World. However, more and more Africans seek education in the western world, but sadly most of them stay here and never return to their native countries to "spread" their knowledge and expirience.[/quote]

To a certain extent you're right, and I wasn't denying the existence of corruption here. In fact, we had already taken that into account, a partial loss due to corruption. But that makes it even worse, the guy trying to wanr me for that, as if I haven't learnt anything at al in 5 yrs university and a trip to Ghana. Like I was fucking retarded or something...!

My statement is: you gotta be in the system to fuck the system. So we will work through the government, and yes, we will lose a certain percentage to corruption. Our hopes are that despite that the larger part will come to the benefit of the people that need it. And I'm supposed to look after that. Fucking things up? No more money, byebye...and they WILL listen to the man with the green...and I'll try to use that against them this time.

The average NGO has an effectivity rate of 25% or less, so when you donate $100,- , $25,- will be effectively spent in Africa. If I can raise this number to, say, 50%...that is one big pile of money...even with the corruption. I'd rather have the latter one than then non-effective moral way of the NGO's. I will not go into business with people I don't trust or those involved with arms dealings, or at least try as much as possible to avoid that shit, though it is virtually impossible I guess...

^^^ hey don't forget many of them over there still send those "investment" or "my uncle, king of blazrakia died and has $10 million in his estate" emails...:CrackUp:

Those are fun...I've had them numerous times :CrackUp:

[quote=Yao]To a certain extent you're right, and I wasn't denying the existence of corruption here. In fact, we had already taken that into account, a partial loss due to corruption. But that makes it even worse, the guy trying to wanr me for that, as if I haven't learnt anything at al in 5 yrs university and a trip to Ghana. Like I was fucking retarded or something...!

My statement is: you gotta be in the system to fuck the system. So we will work through the government, and yes, we will lose a certain percentage to corruption. Our hopes are that despite that the larger part will come to the benefit of the people that need it. And I'm supposed to look after that. Fucking things up? No more money, byebye...and they WILL listen to the man with the green...and I'll try to use that against them this time.

The average NGO has an effectivity rate of 25% or less, so when you donate $100,- , $25,- will be effectively spent in Africa. If I can raise this number to, say, 50%...that is one big pile of money...even with the corruption. I'd rather have the latter one than then non-effective moral way of the NGO's. I will not go into business with people I don't trust or those involved with arms dealings, or at least try as much as possible to avoid that shit, though it is virtually impossible I guess...[/quote]

Well, that's the only way to do it, paying the "corruption tax"... :) But tell me now, what are you planning? A business? Or charity? Or something combined? Oh, and I don't think there are really that many people in Africa, that you can trust and can do business with. Most trustworthy ones are usually the poor ones or die... :(

Re: Those Greedy Americans

I think a lot of the arguments made in this thread have failed to consider the historical events that have lead to the circumstances being discussed. As mentioned, America does enjoy a high standard of living, but so do a lot of other developed nations. Depending on how you look at it....America has been fortuitous in that it is geographically isolated from most of developing world. The seas have provided the U.S. with a natural barrier to politically volitile situations as well as culturally diversity. I don't think the "ignorance" of Americans can be discussed without considering this. I'm certainly not justifying the situation. . . I'm only sayin'.....

With regard to Africa, who do you think is responsible for the ubiquitous existence of dictatorships and continuing starvation.
If you live in in England, France, or the Netherlands, just remember... the colonization and plundering of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. I'm pretty sure that has had something to due with current state of affairs...

To both previous posters:

Brakada: I'm well aware of the fact that people will call themselves my friends just to get some money out of it. I'm not doing it for them, but if I can use them to improve circumstances for those who really need it: so be it. They are intruments. Just like I am an intrument to them.

It's not charity, and I don't think I should tell more about it untill we have actually made it happen. I first wanna see for myself if it works...

Hoodednight: Welcome, I see your new here! First of all: keep in mind that I'm an African Studies student...I know what we're talking about here. :wink:

Nobody here is accusing the US for the situation in Africa: that would be hypocrisy at it's best. Europe, the Middle East and Asia are the ones to blame, and despite all the initiatives to improve the situation there, I still believe they act mostly in their own interest, not that of Africa. But the latter goes for all aiding countries.

I'll try and look something up on NEPAD, the latest debt relief initiative founded by Thabo Mbeki, who is also the spiritual father of the African Renaissance: African solutions for African problems.

Looking forward to some good posts from ya!

[quote=fishingnut][quote=cosmo][quote=Yao]I think ignorant goes for more people than just Americans...[/quote]

I'm sure it does. But man, are there alot of ignorant simple minded people here who have no idea what the hell is going on. Who simply just don't care.[/quote]

this is true for evey country..[/quote]

thank you fishingnut...how in the world can anyone single out Americans for being stupid or ignorant or arrogant? Every country on the planet has people that are any one of those three...I have friends from the U.K., France, Japan, Brazil, and Spain that don't pay attention to anything that's going on in the world, and they don't really care anyway...I'm a news junkie and [i]I'm[/i] American....I have many friends here in the U.S. that are well informed of the events that go on....I think calling people as a whole from any country arrogant, ignorant, or stupid shows ignorance, stupidity, and arrogance on the accuser's part....

Spot on gokada...

[/quote]

thank you fishingnut...how in the world can anyone single out Americans for being stupid or ignorant or arrogant? Every country on the planet has people that are any one of those three...I have friends from the U.K., France, Japan, Brazil, and Spain that don't pay attention to anything that's going on in the world, and they don't really care anyway...I'm a news junkie and [i]I'm[/i] American....I have many friends here in the U.S. that are well informed of the events that go on....I think calling people as a whole from any country arrogant, ignorant, or stupid shows ignorance, stupidity, and arrogance on the accuser's part....[/quote]

that's what i'm talking about :D

every country has its greed...it's naive and ignorant to say it's an american thing.

It's mostly stupid Europeans or crazy extremists saying that. And Michael Moore.