[ummbikes]

We are still a very free society.

We can dissent and not get arrested.

Our healthcare system isn't too crappy.

Clean water.

Access to education for all willing to work for it.

An open dialoge on race and sex equity.

I had a conversation with a friend last nite who is a Lt. in the Air Force and as an exercise I pointed out ten or so great things about our country as a counter to the hour long "why Bush is an evil man and should be impeached" rant on my part.

I still love this place.

 

[CRUM]

Originally posted by ummbikes


I still love this place.

That's why I whine so much.

 

[ummbikes]

Crum- I'm not sure whether or not you were trying to be funny or just are being a punk. So I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are being funny.

Ha ha!

Dissenting view points are just whiny.

 

[Westy]

Originally posted by CRUM

You can call it whining or whatever you want but this country is what it is because there are individuals out there who voice a differing opinion and are willing to do something about it. But I guess the founding fathers were also whiners, Taxation without representation, waah waaah. There was not a revolutionary war, Briton just gave up because they couldn't stand our complaining asses.

 

[CRUM]

Hey folks, I was serious. I whine. We all whine. If I did not care about this country, I'd sit in the barco-lounger, stuff cheese noodles in my face and watch Lassie re-runs. If I did not care I wouldn't, at times, be the harsh critic I am. You can call it anything you want to also. I am a whiner and proud of it. And I will continue my whining without guilt. Whining will do in the face of feeling impotent and powerless to change the things I see as wrong.

 

[N8 v2.0]

What's great about America?

Everything; try living in another country for a while... you'll know what I am talking about.

 

[$tinkle]

Originally posted by N8
What's great about America?

Everything; try living in another country for a while... you'll know what I am talking about.

i did.
and i do.

 

[Jr_Bullit]

Originally posted by $tinkle
i did.
and i do.

I did too.

And ehr, to the whiney sorts....

While I know that this changes nothing about the fact that you whine or will continue to whine, but personally I strongly feel you have no right to whine unless you are willing to roll up your sleeves, wade in, and do your part to help make whatever is causing you to whine, better.

Everyone has some responsibility to their community, their family, their friends on at least some level to help with the community and make it a better place. What good does whining do? Nobody cares about your problems, so get off yer ass and go do something to make Your problems go away. Chances are, you're not the only one with Your problems and you might actually make friends that wanna participate in making a mutual problem better.

 

[ummbikes]

Taking action.

I do and I encourage others to do likewise.

 

[MMike]

Know what's great about Canada? Pretty much all the same good stuff about America but with fewer Americans!

I crack me up....

THUD THUD SPLAT THUD SPLAT <---sound of stuff being thrown at me...

My wife hates it when I say that stuff....

 

[llkoolkeg]

The rest of the world is kinda like Amsterdam for me- a Hell of a great place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. God bless the USA!

 

[Serial Midget]

I'm pretty sure it's the water and our stable currency. Even Saddam used greenbacks.

 

[BurlyShirley]

Things I like about America include, but are not limited to:

Hot Blondes
Bacon
Silicon Breasts
Big Trucks
Red Meat
Rock and Roll
Britney Spears
Ultimate Cheeseburgers from Jack in the Box
NFL football
College football
Bass Boats
Chainsaws
Man-made lakes
Smith and Wesson
Paris Hilton
Hatchets
Nachos Bel Grande
Mountain Dew
Wolverine Work Boots
Fire Trucks
Cheerleaders
ESPN
Jeep
Waffle House
Subway
Pork Products in general
WW2 documentaries
Supercross
Casinos
Fly fishing
Thanksgiving Dinner
Internet Porn
Roadkill
M1A1 Abrams battle tanks
Littering
Victoria's Secret Commercials
Victoria's Secret Catalogue
Dick Butkus
Chili Cheese Fries
Pam Anderson
Bacon

 

[RhinofromWA]

Originally posted by Westy
You can call it whining or whatever you want but this country is what it is because there are individuals out there who voice a differing opinion and are willing to do something about it. But I guess the founding fathers were also whiners, Taxation without representation, waah waaah. There was not a revolutionary war, Briton just gave up because they couldn't stand our complaining asses.

I would put the emphasis on the "do something about it" part. Whinning is empty without doing something about it.

Founding fathers were not whiners....they were doers and if that fact is lost on everyone I pitty them. The USA was built (for good or bad) on doer's.

Now stop whining.......

 

[$tinkle]

i've taken liberty & comprised a subset of your list...

Originally posted by BurlySurly
Things I like about America include, but are not limited to:

Hot Blondes
Bacon
Silicon Breasts
Red Meat
Britney Spears
Ultimate Cheeseburgers from Jack in the Box
Paris Hilton
Cheerleaders
Pork Products in general
Internet Porn
Victoria's Secret Commercials
Victoria's Secret Catalogue
Dick Butkus
Pam Anderson
Bacon

which tells me you just like to pork, the other white meat

 

[CRUM]

Originally posted by Jr_Bullit
I did too.

And ehr, to the whiney sorts....

While I know that this changes nothing about the fact that you whine or will continue to whine, but personally I strongly feel you have no right to whine unless you are willing to roll up your sleeves, wade in, and do your part to help make whatever is causing you to whine, better.

Where did I give the impression that I did not do my part? I own a business that employs people. I own a home and pay taxes. And probably the biggest is I vote. I have paid and continue to pay for the right to whine. Maybe you call it complaining, ranting, critisizing, or some other adjective that makes you feel better. And that's fine. I have paid in sweat and responsibilities for the right to complain, rant, critisize , and yes, whine.

Everyone has some responsibility to their community, their family, their friends on at least some level to help with the community and make it a better place.

Yes we all should pull our weight. I am more than satisfied I am carrying my fair share.

Nobody cares about your problems, so get off yer ass and go do something to make Your problems go away.

And what problems are you referring to that no one cares about? I don't recollect sharing any with you.

Chances are, you're not the only one with Your problems

It sure looks like it, Apparently you have made my problems your problems. So we know there's at least two of us with my problems. Maybe between the two of us we can solve them. Two heads being better than one. Of course if we can get someone else to join in, we can form a committee. Won't that be neat.

 

[Sideways]

What I love is the land. Big, diverse, wonderful.
I guess the people are the same, and that's pretty cool too (cept being big...that's kinda gross)

What I don't like is that we are all living an unrealistically plush life thanks to what is essentially slave labor and stolen goods. Not to mention that while we have a ton of cheap food, real food is excessively expensive and in low supply.

 

[Evel Monkey]

Go Crum!

 

[N8 v2.0]

Originally posted by Sideways
What I love is the land. Big, diverse, wonderful.
I guess the people are the same, and that's pretty cool too (cept being big...that's kinda gross)

What I don't like is that we are all living an unrealistically plush life thanks to what is essentially slave labor and stolen goods. Not to mention that while we have a ton of cheap food, real food is excessively expensive and in low supply.

- Huh..???

 

[Sideways]

Originally posted by N8
- Huh..???

Look at the country of origin label on the things you buy.
Why is it so economically obvious where to have stuff manufactured?
Because people aren't being paid fairly in some places.

Locally and organically grown food isn't common enough....there are some seriously flawed reasons for this originating in congress.

10pm wed night: Starting to drink, verbal skills declining...sorry for incomplete sentences.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Originally posted by Sideways


10pm wed night: Starting to drink, verbal skills declining...sorry for incomplete sentences.

..ah that 'splains it...

 

[Sideways]

Originally posted by N8
..ah that 'splains it...

Not entirely.

 

[ohio]

Originally posted by N8
What's great about America?

Everything; try living in another country for a while... you'll know what I am talking about.

Um, what experience are you speaking from? Have you ever lived in another country NOT on a base?

This is the greatest country on Earth, but to not recognize its faults is a failure to be the best citizen you can. Not everything is great; there is always room for improvement.

 

[looseunit]

Look at the country of origin label on the things you buy.
Why is it so economically obvious where to have stuff manufactured?
Because people aren't being paid fairly in some places.

Very true, At the other end of the scale other countries like Australia and New Zealand are at a major disadvantage with trading with USA despite being far more efficient in farming and agriculture. American government subsidies its own industries to protect jobs. This I believe has been happening with farming since the 1930s.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Originally posted by ohio
Um, what experience are you speaking from? Have you ever lived in another country NOT on a base?

This is the greatest country on Earth, but to not recognize its faults is a failure to be the best citizen you can. Not everything is great; there is always room for improvement.

Yeah I've lived in a couple countries (NOT ON A BASE)... namely Italy (Sicily), Mexico and Japan. Japan is quite clean as in has no litter, and Sicily is... well.... the Mississippi of Europe... and Mexico is... Mexico.

Sure, there are some problems with the USA but they are quite minor compared to other places in the world.

This is the greatest country in the entire history of mankind.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Originally posted by Sideways
Not entirely.

..no, really... that 'splains it.

 

[Jr_Bullit]

Originally posted by CRUM
Where did I give the impression that I did not do my part? I own a business that employs people. I own a home and pay taxes. And probably the biggest is I vote. I have paid and continue to pay for the right to whine. Maybe you call it complaining, ranting, critisizing, or some other adjective that makes you feel better. And that's fine. I have paid in sweat and responsibilities for the right to complain, rant, critisize , and yes, whine.
Yes we all should pull our weight. I am more than satisfied I am carrying my fair share.
And what problems are you referring to that no one cares about? I don't recollect sharing any with you.
It sure looks like it, Apparently you have made my problems your problems. So we know there's at least two of us with my problems. Maybe between the two of us we can solve them. Two heads being better than one. Of course if we can get someone else to join in, we can form a committee. Won't that be neat.

:eviltongu

Hate to say it darlin, but most of us pay our taxes, just as most of us here vote, and work a regular nine to five, and if that's considered giving back to the community, well then that's just dandy. Now granted, not many people own a business, and props to you for being a good ole fashioned capitalist (my favorite kind of person, because what is life without money?), as for having employees, well that goes both ways. Chances are your business wouldn't be successful without their help, and chances are they could have work elsewhere too.
I'm very happy however you feel so strongly you carry your weight well. Most people are quite satisfied to sit at home on their arse in the evenings flicking through tv channels and whining that their government isn't doing enough for them, that the roads aren't good enough, the health care isn't good enough, the cops are corrupt, and damnit why can't they run high speed internet to my house??? But since you're different from the majority well then whine away. Me? If I'm gonna whine about my government, usually I'm willing to roll up my sleeves and go do what I need to to help fix what I can in regards to the area in which I whine. Usually for me it's bike related, trail access related, and yep - I sure as heck work my li'l bunsies off trying to get trails that'll stick around and not get torn up.
As for the problems of the world that no one bloody cares about, well I don't really care - but in that particular instance I don't know that i was responding to you directly, seeing as I don't know you don't know your problems and quite frankly could give a rats ass unless I did know you. However, most people within this great country of ours assume that everyone else needs to know their problems, and should pity them for their problems irregardless of how their problems match up against the other person's or whatever. We've all got issues, problems, areas to whine about. The best among us, however, are those who keep them to themselves and put up with others who need to whine about theirs.
Now then, considering the fact that you chose to make my statement a personal attack upon yourself says plenty about whether or not you whine on a regular basis to people who probably really and truly could care less about you. I was referring to people in general, if you fall in the category, well then good for you. If your proud of being in that category, well gosh, that's even better.
What ever happened to the strong silent type of people who kept their problems to themselves or to their families and dealt with them on their own while still doing what they could to make their community a better place? Oh yeah, I forgot, the baby boomers managed to make that breed of people an endangered species with all their shrinks and psychotherapists and problems and inability to take responsibility for their part in creating their own damned problems and the desire to let the next guy fix whatever it is that ails them. If you've got an issue that isn't directly pointed at you but at your community in general, go get involved with your local gov't and fix it. (strange concept, I know).

 

[DRB]

You know what. I can whine all I want even if I don't vote, avoid paying my taxes, say racist things, and never even think about lifting a finger to help others.

And their ain't F'ck all you or anyone else can do about it.

That is what is great about this country.

 

[mrbigisbudgood]

I have a job that pays well.

I own 5.25 acres in VA with a kick ass home.

I own 380 acres in Il that makes me money from 1000 miles away.

I have 2 cars.

I have 3 bikes.

I feel safe.

I'm free to protest if I want to.

I don't feel overtaxed.

I have enough food.

I can VOTE for my leaders

I don't have AIDS, I'm not living on a grass hut, I'm not eating 150 calories a day, my government isn't taking 75% of my income. I have no right to complain. Merica is the best, even if toursists attack once in a while because we have nukaler bombs.

 

[Jr_Bullit]

Originally posted by DRB
You know what. I can whine all I want even if I don't vote, avoid paying my taxes, say racist things, and never even think about lifting a finger to help others.

And their ain't F'ck all you or anyone else can do about it.

That is what is great about this country.

True - and that's okay. I've long since known I'm not exactly holding a popular or common opinion here. It's just me and mine and a lot folks would consider me a nasty cold-hearted beotch as a result.

 

[DRB]

Originally posted by Jr_Bullit
True - and that's okay. I've long since known I'm not exactly holding a popular or common opinion here. It's just me and mine and a lot folks would consider me a nasty cold-hearted beotch as a result.

I'd never call you a nasty cold-hearted beotch........ unless you told me to.

 

[mrbigisbudgood]

Originally posted by DRB
You know what. I can whine all I want even if I don't vote, avoid paying my taxes, say racist things, and never even think about lifting a finger to help others.

And their ain't F'ck all you or anyone else can do about it.

That is what is great about this country.

You're either part of the problem or your part of the solution.

 

[DRB]

Originally posted by mrbigisbudgood
You're either part of the problem or your part of the solution.

Did you read that on some inspirational calendar that they gave you at work? Turn to the next month, I bet it says something else clever like "Lead, follow, or get out of the way."

But until you can show that to me in the US constitution.....

 

[ohio]

Originally posted by N8

Sure, there are some problems with the USA but they are quite minor compared to other places in the world.

I'd almost agree with you, but I have two exceptions:
1. American public secondary education is SO lacking...
2. Legacy of racism. Not talking affirmative action issues... talking about the way people view or focus on race and color from the PC-freaks on down.

Any other complaints of mine are pretty marginal...

 

[RhinofromWA]

Originally posted by DRB
I'd never call you a nasty cold-hearted beotch........ unless you told me to.

*sound of a cracking whip* Thank you maddam. May I have another?

LOL!

 

[DRB]

Originally posted by RhinofromWA
*sound of a cracking whip* Thank you maddam. May I have another?

LOL!

I was going to use this smiley

but it wasn't wearing leather boots which is sort of what was running thru my mind at the time.

 

[RhinofromWA]

Originally posted by DRB
I was going to use this smiley

but it wasn't wearing leather boots which is sort of what was running thru my mind at the time.

haha I needed that this morning.

 

[ummbikes]

Originally posted by Jr_Bullit
:eviltongu

Usually for me it's bike related, trail access related, and yep - I sure as heck work my li'l bunsies off trying to get trails that'll stick around and not get torn up.

Wow! You are a saint!

While us whiners in hear are atempting to come to terms with creeping imperialism, terrorism, stolen elections and other minor topics, it is good to know you are doing the real work up in your ivory tower and saving trail access. :evil:

But seriously, there are people in this forum who not only whine but write letters to representives, volunteer with various causes, serve in military, actively protest in streets, are involved in politics professionaly and God knows what else.


It's rather presumptious to come in here and claim to have us pegged as whiners who are not active in atempting change.

 

[RhinofromWA]

Originally posted by ummbikes
Wow! You are a saint!

While us whiners in hear are atempting to come to terms with creeping imperialism, terrorism, stolen elections and other minor topics, it is good to know you are doing the real work up in your ivory tower and saving trail access. :evil:

But seriously, there are people in this forum who not only whine but write letters to representives, volunteer with various causes, serve in military, actively protest in streets, are involved in politics professionaly and God knows what else.

It's rather presumptious to come in here and claim to have us pegged as whiners who are not active in atempting change.

Trail access is a issue she has chosen to work on....and to somehow lessen the validity is wrong. It is part in keeping you with dirt to ride on. I realize you are partially kidding but it is in poor taste.

Write letters to representatives - simple and can be a form of whining.

Volunteer for causes - up from me 'cause I should do more.

Actively protest in streets - changing location for whining.

Served in military - honorable vocation, but I don't see how this is changing what bothers you about the country. Gets you employeed and pays for schooling...in reality.

Professional politicians - I guess all of us have a hard time respecting that one.

Her point was that instead of whining about trail access and shrinking oportunities for riding...she is actively involved in meeting most of us would stop going to after 2 tries. Building legal trails recognized by land owners. That is more than writing letters, donating $, or complaining about trail access will ever do...not saying she isn't doing that too.

Rhino "complainer " from WA

 

[ummbikes]

Originally posted by RhinofromWA
Trail access is a issue she has chosen to work on....and to somehow lessen the validity is wrong. It is part in keeping you with dirt to ride on. I realize you are partially kidding but it is in poor taste.


Rhino "complainer " from WA

Rhino, I knew you would jump in.

I simply threw back in her face in as polite as possible the same arguement she was using to slam the users of this forum.

She doesn't know me or anyone else besides you in this thread and I thought it rather crass on her part to make assumptions on our level of involvement in making change.

For that matter Rhino shame on you for questioning my "taste".

Jr. can more than handle herself I don't think she needs your protection.