What Makes The USA Great?

[Mike Smith]

First off i'd like to say..please do take the time to read this and tell me what your thoughts are on this. This speech took me forever to prepare, and write, and it means a lot to me.

This is a speech i wrote in 5th grade for a Modern Woodsmen Speech Competition. I made it to the district level for schools in our area, but lost because i sped up the speech and made it 5 seconds too short =/. The topic was what makes the USA great. I had to memorize and then present this speech to a panel of judges. So heres the speech:


What Makes The USA Great?

Freedom. The dictionary defines the word freedom as, "the state or quality of being free" or "exemption or liberation from the control of some other person or some arbitrary power." There are many different kinds of freedoms, the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of the seas, free enterprise, freedom of worship and freedom of assembly.


The United States is the one country where I think people have the most freedom. The freedom that we are all given in this country is truly a great thing, but it is not without it's boundaries. It seems strange to say that freedom has boundaries but indeed it does, and it we do not live within these boundaries and we choose to step out and test them, we risk losing one of the greatest things we have in our lives today. Freedom is one thing that most people are willing to stand together and fight for, not as individuals, but as a country united.


People have come to the United States for the freedoms they find here, and some have fought and died for the freedoms we have. It is these freedoms that allow the people in the United States to be who they are. We are free to gather together and worship God any way we choose. It is because of freedom that we are allowed to stand up here today and give these speeches. Without the freedom of speech or the freedom of assembly no one would be able to express their own opinion and nobody would be able to sit and listen to what others have to say.


I am proud to live in a country where I know I have my freedom. I believe it brings people together in a way that nothing else can. We have a president and a government, but we are given a choice in how things are run. We are not ruled by a king or queen or a dictator that tells us what to do and when to do it. We have a voice in our own freedom, how we choose to use this voice is entirely up to us. Some people choose to be louder than others when it comes to this. If i ever need to speak up for my own freedom, I intend to do it in as loud a voice as possible.


I chose freedom as my topic because I believe freedom is the number one thing in the United States, it will allow me to accomplish great things with my life without the fear of being told that I can't do something. I will always have a choice and a voice when it comes to my freedom and that is what makes the United States Great.

[saysmydoctor]

So much freedom, gays can't even get married. God Bless.

[Ben09]

^ Damn straight.

[Mike Smith]

So much freedom, gays can't even get married. God Bless.

Oh come on guys, i wrote this when i was 11 and in 5th grade. Like i even knew what gay people were back then. I didnt even grasp the concept of gays and lesbians back then. I wrote this from the heart, and from my perspective of what makes the USA great. And by the way...gay marriage is legal in a lot of states now.

[DonnerParty666]

atleast you don't get burned at the stake for being gay

[samsara]

um.....

[J.C.]

gay marriage is legal in a lot of states now.

And by a lot, you mean 1 out of every 10.

[samsara]

So 5 of of 50 so 1/10 of the states. Not nearly as cool of as half or 1/4.

[Sventhegreat]

So 5 of of 50 so 1/10 of the states. Not nearly as cool of as half or 1/4.

All in good time. It's a slow process.

[GeeBee]

atleast you don't get burned at the stake for being gay

Yeah, the gays ought to just count their blessings that in America, we let them live.
:rolleyes:

[samsara]

All in good time. It's a slow process.

I hope so I know lots of gay couples that want to marry one day.

[thesafeword]

Why are you sharing this with us?

[saysmydoctor]

atleast you don't get burned at the stake for being gay
I guess those gays need to quit bitching, we let them live.

Idiot.

[FemaleCuckold]

kshqj1rIyEo

:-)

[deanster321]

atleast you don't get burned at the stake for being gay
I hate that attitude. Of course you have to keep in mind that it could get worse, but if you let that overrule everything else and transform into total complacency you'll stand for anything.

[Machu505]

The US has only really been a free county for about 45 years now. And we still have a way to go if we want to catch up with northern Europe. The amount of progress made there in the post-war period is astounding.

[DonnerParty666]

I guess those gays need to quit bitching, we let them live.

Idiot.

Yeah, the gays ought to just count their blessings that in America, we let them live.
:rolleyes:

I hate that attitude. Of course you have to keep in mind that it could get worse, but if you let that overrule everything else and transform into total complacency you'll stand for anything.


haha, well i guess my statement came out way wrong.

i meant that i don't think we should totally curse the name of our country over the gay marriage fiasco.
its not perfect, but it'll get there, will it not?
i mean, we got to vote over it here in California, so atleast there was that freedom of letting teh state decide whether or not they felt it was okay. the results didn't go how alot of people wanted, but i mean... I voted, most of us did. Thats huge that it's getting so close. give it 10 years it'll be legal across the country i'm sure.


all in all, impressive essay for an 11 year old. I'm not exactly an expert on elementary school papers though, so what do i know

[exploration #4]

wunderkind has mad sweet brag

[Machu505]

Why are you sharing this with us?

This too. I think I'm gonna go find all my crayon drawings from the 2nd grade that are related to the Iraq War so I can show all you guys my old opinions on issues that I couldn't have begun to understand. Just cuz.

[doppelganger]

Freedom, Justice, America, and Taco Bell. says relient k

[QuikTrig]

man, people are dicks in this forum somtimes. pretty good speech for a fifth grader though.

[saysmydoctor]

man, people are dicks in this forum somtimes. pretty good speech for a fifth grader though.
This is a political discussion forum and he was in fifth grade. We can't really discuss the naivety of the essay since everyone here learned the same recycled lessons of America and the freedoms brought to us by three ships of pilgrims. It was a good speech--there is a composition forum.

[Mibabalou]

major league soceer ???

[J.C.]

haha, well i guess my statement came out way wrong.

i meant that i don't think we should totally curse the name of our country over the gay marriage fiasco.
its not perfect, but it'll get there, will it not?
i mean, we got to vote over it here in California, so atleast there was that freedom of letting teh state decide whether or not they felt it was okay. the results didn't go how alot of people wanted, but i mean... I voted, most of us did. Thats huge that it's getting so close. give it 10 years it'll be legal across the country i'm sure.

It shouldn't have been up for a vote to begin with so holding it up as a sign of progress is kind of silly. I could make a more compelling case that it signified a regression in our democracy. We don't put the rights of minorities on a ballot and have the majority vote on whether they want to recognize them. And that's ignoring the most relevant component of prop 8, which was the fact that is repealed a set of rights already granted to individuals by the state.

[xshady121]

haha, well i guess my statement came out way wrong.

i meant that i don't think we should totally curse the name of our country over the gay marriage fiasco.
its not perfect, but it'll get there, will it not?
i mean, we got to vote over it here in California, so atleast there was that freedom of letting teh state decide whether or not they felt it was okay. the results didn't go how alot of people wanted, but i mean... I voted, most of us did. Thats huge that it's getting so close. give it 10 years it'll be legal across the country i'm sure.


all in all, impressive essay for an 11 year old. I'm not exactly an expert on elementary school papers though, so what do i know


Yeah, they just went how the majority wanted.

[J.C.]

Yeah, they just went how the majority wanted.

Fuck Loving v. Virginia, we should've let the people vote in the 60s on whether they wanted to recognize interracial marriage.

[davidmest]

me.

EDIT: pizza hut and taco bell

[Bruised26]

What makes the USA great...hm. is it the fact that we take hard earned money from citizens and give it to undeserving people that are too lazy to work? or is it the fact that we dont even allow 2 same sex people to get married, whether we agree with it or not?

[ArTkY_]

The fact that we can be in this forum right now and complain without looking over our shoulders in fear makes the US great.

[yves.]

Yeah, they just went how the majority wanted.

turn the clock back 50 years and you'd be saying that it's what the majority wanted to keep blacks separated from whites.

[saysmydoctor]

Yeah, they just went how the majority wanted.
Well, if mostly everyone agrees we should suppress the minority, that makes it okay. That's how the world works--right?

[Mike Smith]

Why are you sharing this with us?

I shared it because i thought it was an important thing, because of the "Iraq war" still going on, and because of september 11th(Yes i was in FIFTH GRADE when that happened, hence why i wrote the essay on FREEDOM). Writing is my strong point, and always has been since like 3rd grade. I understood plenty of political things going on back then, hence why i wrote the essay.

But for some reason people seem to like to bash this speech i made, rather than discuss the pros and cons of what i had to say, or tell how they feel about the US having as much freedom as it does.

[saysmydoctor]

The US being a beacon of freedom is over-glamourized by text books. It may have been original in conception but since the US has backpedaled heavily on the idea and more recently, with laws like the PATRIOT Act and policies that suspend habeas corpus and set up unconstitutional military tribunals, it really is not that freedom.

Simply put, freedom is slavery (snap snap George Orwell snap snap).

[oh...rly]

For a free country we sure can't do alot of things....

[Duexy]

This too. I think I'm gonna go find all my crayon drawings from the 2nd grade that are related to the Iraq War so I can show all you guys my old opinions on issues that I couldn't have begun to understand. Just cuz.

I don't know why, but I find it difficult to grasp that someone who was in second grade when the war was in its beginning stages is fourteen years old now. Time is going fast as hell.

[J.C.]

Ugh yeah, it was basically my senior year when the Iraq War got going.

[Nevuk]

I cheered when 9/11 happened. I was a very disturbed individual back then.

[Duexy]

tight.

[LaDiabla]

First off i'd like to say..please do take the time to read this and tell me what your thoughts are on this. This speech took me forever to prepare, and write, and it means a lot to me.

This is a speech i wrote in 5th grade for a Modern Woodsmen Speech Competition. I made it to the district level for schools in our area, but lost because i sped up the speech and made it 5 seconds too short =/. The topic was what makes the USA great. I had to memorize and then present this speech to a panel of judges. So heres the speech:


What Makes The USA Great?

Freedom. The dictionary defines the word freedom as, "the state or quality of being free" or "exemption or liberation from the control of some other person or some arbitrary power." There are many different kinds of freedoms, the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of the seas, free enterprise, freedom of worship and freedom of assembly.


The United States is the one country where I think people have the most freedom. The freedom that we are all given in this country is truly a great thing, but it is not without it's boundaries. It seems strange to say that freedom has boundaries but indeed it does, and it we do not live within these boundaries and we choose to step out and test them, we risk losing one of the greatest things we have in our lives today. Freedom is one thing that most people are willing to stand together and fight for, not as individuals, but as a country united.


People have come to the United States for the freedoms they find here, and some have fought and died for the freedoms we have. It is these freedoms that allow the people in the United States to be who they are. We are free to gather together and worship God any way we choose. It is because of freedom that we are allowed to stand up here today and give these speeches. Without the freedom of speech or the freedom of assembly no one would be able to express their own opinion and nobody would be able to sit and listen to what others have to say.


I am proud to live in a country where I know I have my freedom. I believe it brings people together in a way that nothing else can. We have a president and a government, but we are given a choice in how things are run. We are not ruled by a king or queen or a dictator that tells us what to do and when to do it. We have a voice in our own freedom, how we choose to use this voice is entirely up to us. Some people choose to be louder than others when it comes to this. If i ever need to speak up for my own freedom, I intend to do it in as loud a voice as possible.


I chose freedom as my topic because I believe freedom is the number one thing in the United States, it will allow me to accomplish great things with my life without the fear of being told that I can't do something. I will always have a choice and a voice when it comes to my freedom and that is what makes the United States Great.

Nothing makes the USA great. simple as that...well maybe Taco Bell.

[FemaleCuckold]

Nothing makes the USA great. simple as that...well maybe Taco Bell.

Well, I don't know how much weight your opinion is allowed to have because your country sorta started two world wars.. ;-)

[LaDiabla]

Well, I don't know how much weight your opinion is allowed to have because your country sorta started two world wars.. ;-)
That has nothing to do with the topic, plus I'm not going to get into: slaves, the vietnam war, the cold war, the iraq war.
So, you're comment was extremely stupid.

[FemaleCuckold]

That has nothing to do with the topic, plus I'm not going to get into: slaves, the vietnam war, the cold war, the iraq war.
So, you're comment was extremely stupid.

Haha, wow, I was joking.. but for the record virtually every nation used slaves at one point or another wtih Germany ending the practice only ~60 years before the USA, Vietnam and Iraq don't come anywhere near TWO world wars, the Cold War wasn't even a fighting war plus us landing on the moon was a product of it so that's actually a good thing, and finally nothing the USA has ever done comes close to concentration camps and attempted genocide.

Sorry, but Germany really has been the douchebag of the modern world.

[Ben09]

That has nothing to do with the topic, plus I'm not going to get into: slaves, the vietnam war, the cold war, the iraq war.
So, you're comment was extremely stupid.

...the holocaust. Being from Germany, you have no room to talk.

[LaDiabla]

Haha, wow, I was joking.. but for the record virtually every nation used slaves at one point or another wtih Germany ending the practice only ~60 years before the USA, Vietnam and Iraq don't come anywhere near TWO world wars, the Cold War wasn't even a fighting war plus us landing on the moon was a product of it so that's actually a good thing, and finally nothing the USA has ever done comes close to concentration camps and attempted genocide.

Sorry, but Germany really has been the douchebag of the modern world.

I know you were joking, but you put it in the way that Germany is the only country on this planet that ever has done anything wrong. I am in no way saying that the things Germany did aren't bad or anything. They are.
But other countries, which includes America, have fucked up pretty bad too.
And this thread is not about Germany being a great country, it's about America being a great country, which I don't think it is. And I am in a place to judge this because I have lived in America.
end of discussion, because it is pointless.
...the holocaust. Being from Germany, you have no room to talk.

lol, did anyone ask you about your opinion? No...ok there you go. please go fuck yourself.

[captainhampton]

lol, did anyone ask you about your opinion? No...ok there you go. please go fuck yourself.

wait we must first ask permission to express our opinions? Do I have your permission to express how the USA is way cooler than Germany?

[Adeniz19]

It's because of our endless appeals system.

[Ghostpsalm]

atleast you don't get burned at the stake for being gay

yet...

[neo506]

It's because of our endless appeals system.haha such a good movie

[Duexy]

That has nothing to do with the topic, plus I'm not going to get into: slaves, the vietnam war, the cold war, the iraq war.
So, you're comment was extremely stupid.


Hmm.

[saysmydoctor]

lol, did anyone ask you about your opinion? No...ok there you go. please go fuck yourself.
It's the politics forum. When you are here, communicating and discussing politics with the other users of this site, it's pretty much commonplace to get the opinion of people talking in here. If you can't handle it, find another place of discussion...and go fuck yourself.

[Nevuk]

Time for a nationalist pissing contest.

[thesafeword]

That has nothing to do with the topic, plus I'm not going to get into: slaves, the vietnam war, the cold war, the iraq war.
So, you're comment was extremely stupid.
The Cold War? Because that's comparable to the Holocaust.

[TK]

I've never understood national pride...

[saysmydoctor]

Time for a nationalist pissing contest.
http://www.albanyaerialphotos.com/US%20Flag.jpg

Jockin'

[MickShamrock]

Free refills.

[Praetor]

I thank God for freedom...beef and the Constitution...

[J.C.]

I thank God for church, World War II, and the revolution

[ostartero]

Why isn't Puerto Rico a state again?

It's the browns I'm sure.

[screamoutmyname]

Freedom, motherfuckers.

[Dan1234]

The Netherlands has fucking freedom. Legalized marijuana, gay marriage, legalized prostitution, and universal health care. Piss on america i wanna move to Holland

[Adeniz19]

I thank God for church, World War II, and the revolutionI thank God for dogs in hats, and for me and for you, and I know God thanks me tooooooo

[KevinForReal]

Anything that makes this country great is because of the hard work and integrity of those who built the USA from nothing. Everybody now is just riding the waves while each and everday you lose a bit of your rights, and at the same time are becoming monitored and watched almost around the clock.

Americans typically have the attitude that everything should come free and handed to them. I know a lot of people that complain about being broke but only work 25 hours a week. Everybody seems to have something to complain about like -drugs, gay marriage, health care, social security, the prison system, police state, PATRIOT ACT... The fact of the matter is that the United States is a giant melting pot of citizens, it's actually impossible to satisfy a large majority of people... Unless people just stop complaining, and just live their lives.

[zion the lion]

Anything that makes this country great is because of the hard work and integrity of those who built the USA from nothing.

But the fact that the half of those who built America were slaves brings the integrity level down quite a few points.

[TEAMRAMROD]

But the fact that the half of those who built America were slaves brings the integrity level down quite a few points.
Every civilization ever built used some form of slavery.

[zion the lion]

Every civilization ever built used some form of slavery.

Which is sad.

[MyWorldEntire]

I thank God for freedom...beef and the Constitution...

Winner

[Praetor]

Winner
I thank God for church, World War II, and the revolution
I thank God for dogs in hats, and for me and for you, and I know God thanks me tooooooo
I love this place.

[KevinForReal]

But the fact that the half of those who built America were slaves brings the integrity level down quite a few points.


Slaves built the United States of America?

Right. I just like to think about the dudes sitting around making the Bill of Rights, the men and women who sacraficed their lives, families and well being to fight in in wars that meant something. Wars like the Revolutionary War and the Civil War and WW1 and WW2 had true American Patriots. Those like me who actually get lost for a moment in time while i Hear the the National Anthem. I put my hand over my heart and truley think and give respect to those who made the United States of America just a little better.

Remember, nations and political powers don't last forever. ALso remember the USA is just 232 years old..and the first 20 were spent building and the USA has spent 100% of its exsistance fighting in war, and nearly 100 years spent fighting in major wars like the Revolutionary, Civil, American Indian, WW1 and WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Central America, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan (im not talking about Declaration, just major conflicts that used a lot of spending, human capita, legislative wear-and-tear.... korea, nam, iraq, etc)

The USA has seen major social changes in a matter of a few years....Slavery, Womans Rights, Civil Rights, Gay Rights, Native Americans, Unions ...The USA is also home to thousands of diffferent ethnicities, nationalities, cultures, from every corner of the world. So, of course there is going to be mistakes, disagreement, complaints, dissatisfication, frustrations, and clashes... I just wish the USA government, its citizens and all to be more patriotic, and wish we could all settle and solve differences as maturly as possible

[KevinForReal]

Which is sad.

It's sad but true. Like Cancer, it's sad, but shit happens.

I don't like the idea, but it's the truth. Just like humans have always had prostitutes, murdurers, rapists, and I guess child molesters- ancient and even recent societies require women to be married and birth children before age 12

[zion the lion]

Slaves built the United States of America?

Right. I just like to think about the dudes sitting around making the Bill of Rights, the men and women who sacraficed their lives, families and well being to fight in in wars that meant something. Wars like the Revolutionary War and the Civil War and WW1 and WW2 had true American Patriots. Those like me who actually get lost for a moment in time while i Hear the the National Anthem. I put my hand over my heart and truley think and give respect to those who made the United States of America just a little better.

Remember, nations and political powers don't last forever. ALso remember the USA is just 232 years old..and the first 20 were spent building and the USA has spent 100% of its exsistance fighting in war, and nearly 100 years spent fighting in major wars like the Revolutionary, Civil, American Indian, WW1 and WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Central America, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan (im not talking about Declaration, just major conflicts that used a lot of spending, human capita, legislative wear-and-tear.... korea, nam, iraq, etc)

The USA has seen major social changes in a matter of a few years....Slavery, Womans Rights, Civil Rights, Gay Rights, Native Americans, Unions ...The USA is also home to thousands of diffferent ethnicities, nationalities, cultures, from every corner of the world. So, of course there is going to be mistakes, disagreement, complaints, dissatisfication, frustrations, and clashes... I just wish the USA government, its citizens and all to be more patriotic, and wish we could all settle and solve differences as maturly as possible

I said half for a reason. Slave owners who didnt feel like fighting in a war would send in their slaves, and economically the workers built this country and made it what it is today (and for a hundred some odd years a lot of the workers were slaves).

It's sad but true. Like Cancer, it's sad, but shit happens.

I don't like the idea, but it's the truth. Just like humans have always had prostitutes, murdurers, rapists, and I guess child molesters- ancient and even recent societies require women to be married and birth children before age 12

Just because it's an ancient idea doesnt make it any less horrifying. If I came into your house as a child and took your mother and said she was mine now and she wasnt a human she was a slave, then beat her for trying to take care of you, it wouldnt matter how ancient the idea was.

As for the last thing, it's healthiest to have a baby when youre younger, if I had a baby now me and the baby would have a better chance at surviving (especially if we didnt have the modern medicine) than a 35-45 year old woman and her baby would. It was practical back then and the norm, they would probably think we were crazy to wait until our 30's to have children.

[MyNameIsRoss]

The United States is a free country? Ohhhhhh, ok. Tell that to Sherman Austin. (http://raisethefist.com/)

[MyNameIsRoss]

And by a lot, you mean 1 out of every 10.


That's almost ironic being that the experts say 1 out of every 10 people are homosexual.

[Duexy]

Gucci Mane.

[thespearkid]

Fuck America. Until health care is 100% socialized, this country can't even begin to gain my approval.

[KevinForReal]

Fuck America. Until health care is 100% socialized, this country can't even begin to gain my approval.


I don't think it should be 100% socialized. Why should other people pay for the vast majority of health problems. Most people who abuse the health care system now are those who can get it for free -ie/ state programs, national health programs, vouchers, welfare. etc...- Just think of when it it would be come "free".... everyone and their mother would go to the doctor for the slightest reasons.... I am sure as hell not going to let my huge taxation go to people who fail to take care of themselves. Much of this country is overweight, and many health problems directly correlate with obesity. Plus, 41% of Americans over the age of 12 have tried explicit drugs, and 25% of the Population over 12 uses explicit drugs. My money is sure not going to take care of fat ass fast food eating cigarette smoking and pill and alcohol abusing losers.

I go to the fitness center 5 days a week. I run an average of 5 miles a day. I eat semi-healthy, and I steer clear of risky situations where I know I could get hurt... To me its rediculous to have my taxes pay for people who would oversaturate the hospitals, clinics, and urgent cares. Nearly 50% of Urgent Care visits are injuries that very well could have been treated at home, or easily avoided. Example: Those who go to UC for sunburn, bites, small lacerations, headaches, stomach aches, ect....

Let this not take away from the Travesty of health care however. My grandmother is 73 and can hardly afford her meds, even with UCARE, and she actually sacrafices some medications so she can pay her other bills. That is what sucks... Our elders are running out of retirement income, such as savings and Social Securtiy, and it is even going to get much worse as now the front end of the baby boomers have just started to retire....

I got a stick stuck in my leg at work once (Landscaping)...it was pretty gross..I was just going to get drunk and cut it out when I got home, A- since im badass, and B - since i didnt want to waste time/money C- Pride, I dont need some fucking DR to take a stick out of my leg, he can stick to saving lives... but I ended up going after the nagging of my mother.. 2 weeks later a bill came for $269 to cover the removal, the novacaine, and cleanup. And, I get $60/week taken from my paychecks for health insurance. Fuck that. health insurance is a broken business.

[KevinForReal]

I said half for a reason. Slave owners who didnt feel like fighting in a war would send in their slaves, and economically the workers built this country and made it what it is today (and for a hundred some odd years a lot of the workers were slaves).



Just because it's an ancient idea doesnt make it any less horrifying. If I came into your house as a child and took your mother and said she was mine now and she wasnt a human she was a slave, then beat her for trying to take care of you, it wouldnt matter how ancient the idea was.

As for the last thing, it's healthiest to have a baby when youre younger, if I had a baby now me and the baby would have a better chance at surviving (especially if we didnt have the modern medicine) than a 35-45 year old woman and her baby would. It was practical back then and the norm, they would probably think we were crazy to wait until our 30's to have children.


Birthing a child at a young age may have been healthier for the child hundreds of years ago, but modern medicine, life expentancy,and science no longer needs humans to mate and reproduce so young.. Obviously a thousand years ago they wanted to start families as young as possible because people only lived to age 45. Now our generation will live past our 80s, coupled with modern medicine and science, 12 yr old girls dont need to have kids for them to be healthy.

[TEAMRAMROD]

I don't think it should be 100% socialized. Why should other people pay for the vast majority of health problems. Most people who abuse the health care system now are those who can get it for free -ie/ state programs, national health programs, vouchers, welfare. etc...- Just think of when it it would be come "free".... everyone and their mother would go to the doctor for the slightest reasons.... I am sure as hell not going to let my huge taxation go to people who fail to take care of themselves. Much of this country is overweight, and many health problems directly correlate with obesity. Plus, 41% of Americans over the age of 12 have tried explicit drugs, and 25% of the Population over 12 uses explicit drugs. My money is sure not going to take care of fat ass fast food eating cigarette smoking and pill and alcohol abusing losers.

I go to the fitness center 5 days a week. I run an average of 5 miles a day. I eat semi-healthy, and I steer clear of risky situations where I know I could get hurt... To me its rediculous to have my taxes pay for people who would oversaturate the hospitals, clinics, and urgent cares. Nearly 50% of Urgent Care visits are injuries that very well could have been treated at home, or easily avoided. Example: Those who go to UC for sunburn, bites, small lacerations, headaches, stomach aches, ect....

Let this not take away from the Travesty of health care however. My grandmother is 73 and can hardly afford her meds, even with UCARE, and she actually sacrafices some medications so she can pay her other bills. That is what sucks... Our elders are running out of retirement income, such as savings and Social Securtiy, and it is even going to get much worse as now the front end of the baby boomers have just started to retire....

I got a stick stuck in my leg at work once (Landscaping)...it was pretty gross..I was just going to get drunk and cut it out when I got home, A- since im badass, and B - since i didnt want to waste time/money C- Pride, I dont need some fucking DR to take a stick out of my leg, he can stick to saving lives... but I ended up going after the nagging of my mother.. 2 weeks later a bill came for $269 to cover the removal, the novacaine, and cleanup. And, I get $60/week taken from my paychecks for health insurance. Fuck that. health insurance is a broken business.
Well put.

[thespearkid]

I don't think it should be 100% socialized. Why should other people pay for the vast majority of health problems. Most people who abuse the health care system now are those who can get it for free -ie/ state programs, national health programs, vouchers, welfare. etc...- Just think of when it it would be come "free".... everyone and their mother would go to the doctor for the slightest reasons.... I am sure as hell not going to let my huge taxation go to people who fail to take care of themselves. Much of this country is overweight, and many health problems directly correlate with obesity. Plus, 41% of Americans over the age of 12 have tried explicit drugs, and 25% of the Population over 12 uses explicit drugs. My money is sure not going to take care of fat ass fast food eating cigarette smoking and pill and alcohol abusing losers.

I go to the fitness center 5 days a week. I run an average of 5 miles a day. I eat semi-healthy, and I steer clear of risky situations where I know I could get hurt... To me its rediculous to have my taxes pay for people who would oversaturate the hospitals, clinics, and urgent cares. Nearly 50% of Urgent Care visits are injuries that very well could have been treated at home, or easily avoided. Example: Those who go to UC for sunburn, bites, small lacerations, headaches, stomach aches, ect....

Let this not take away from the Travesty of health care however. My grandmother is 73 and can hardly afford her meds, even with UCARE, and she actually sacrafices some medications so she can pay her other bills. That is what sucks... Our elders are running out of retirement income, such as savings and Social Securtiy, and it is even going to get much worse as now the front end of the baby boomers have just started to retire....

I got a stick stuck in my leg at work once (Landscaping)...it was pretty gross..I was just going to get drunk and cut it out when I got home, A- since im badass, and B - since i didnt want to waste time/money C- Pride, I dont need some fucking DR to take a stick out of my leg, he can stick to saving lives... but I ended up going after the nagging of my mother.. 2 weeks later a bill came for $269 to cover the removal, the novacaine, and cleanup. And, I get $60/week taken from my paychecks for health insurance. Fuck that. health insurance is a broken business.
I refuse to be proud of a country where someone can be refused medical treatment just because they don't have as much money as someone else. That's a fucking travesty when you think about it.

[TEAMRAMROD]

I refuse to be proud of a country where someone can be refused medical treatment just because they don't have as much money as someone else. That's a fucking travesty when you think about it.
If it were 100% socialized, I think the question would be: how do you determine who really needs the medicine and who's just mooching?

[Plodbax]

Thank you for Smoking

[TEAMRAMROD]

Thank you for Smoking
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o304/janetduvall/Thank-You-For-Smoking.jpg

[thespearkid]

If it were 100% socialized, I think the question would be: how do you determine who really needs the medicine and who's just mooching?
I'm confused by the question.

[jwicklun]

bacon cheese burgers
baconayonase
bacon salad
basically bacon makes America so awesome

[TEAMRAMROD]

I'm confused by the question.
I was going off what Kevinforreal was saying. Many people seek medical attention who don't really need it. If medical care was free, how would you determine who really needs it and who doesn't? Why should the people who really need it wait a long time because there are people abusing the system?

[jwicklun]

That has nothing to do with the topic, plus I'm not going to get into: slaves, the vietnam war, the cold war, the iraq war.
So, you're comment was extremely stupid.
lets not forget the birth of Hitler.

[thespearkid]

I was going off what Kevinforreal was saying. Many people seek medical attention who don't really need it. If medical care was free, how would you determine who really needs it and who doesn't? Why should the people who really need it wait a long time because there are people abusing the system?
In Canada's system, there actually aren't really long waits. That's actually a right-wing myth. Life-saving surgeries receive top priority.

[TEAMRAMROD]

In Canada's system, there actually aren't really long waits. That's actually a right-wing myth. Life-saving surgeries receive top priority.
Good to know. I would assume though, that some would have to wait much longer than they'd like to for moderate situations.

[thespearkid]

Good to know. I would assume though, that some would have to wait much longer than they'd like to for moderate situations.
Moderate surgeries like knee-replacement typically wait less than a year. It depends on how well it would be organized. I'd rather have people wait for moderate surgeries than have a single person die just because they didn't have as much money as another person. The thought of it disgusts me, to be honest.

[The Personist]

This country is a heteronormative shithole.

[TEAMRAMROD]

Moderate surgeries like knee-replacement typically wait less than a year. It depends on how well it would be organized. I'd rather have people wait for moderate surgeries than have a single person die just because they didn't have as much money as another person. The thought of it disgusts me, to be honest.
I agree. I'm just trying to look at it from both sides of the fence. If a wealthy person needed a knee-replacement, I'm sure he'd be pissed to have to wait in line even though he's more than capable to pay for the operation right away.

[WarpSpeedChewy]

I'll be brief about this but our country is absolutely imperfect as is our history, but we do get to see it by it's light in this country. It easy to bring up slaves without mentioning the civil rights movement and the fact this has and will be a land of opportunity for a lot of people. The idea that this country is a melting pot is another reason why I'm proud to be apart of it. I don't necessary think of the action and identity of this country aren't always the same thing, but we do have incredible important ideas to which we do not always live up to, but the fact we keep trying different ways to try is what makes it a great country.

The US being a beacon of freedom is over-glamourized by text books. It may have been original in conception but since the US has backpedaled heavily on the idea and more recently, with laws like the PATRIOT Act and policies that suspend habeas corpus and set up unconstitutional military tribunals, it really is not that freedom.

Simply put, freedom is slavery (snap snap George Orwell snap snap).
I still don't think people realize the price we citizens have for having a free country, and we are far too willing be distracted from them.

I thank God for freedom...beef and the Constitution...

I thank God for church, World War II, and the revolution
Hahahahaha THIS!

[thespearkid]

I agree. I'm just trying to look at it from both sides of the fence. If a wealthy person needed a knee-replacement, I'm sure he'd be pissed to have to wait in line even though he's more than capable to pay for the operation right away.
I grew up poor so of course, I empathize more with the people whose lives would be saved than with the people who would have a mild inconvenience added to their already privileged lives.

[KevinForReal]

I'll be brief about this but our country is absolutely imperfect as is our history, but we do get to see it by it's light in this country. It easy to bring up slaves without mentioning the civil rights movement and the fact this has and will be a land of opportunity for a lot of people. The idea that this country is a melting pot is another reason why I'm proud to be apart of it. I don't necessary think of the action and identity of this country aren't always the same thing, but we do have incredible important ideas to which we do not always live up to, but the fact we keep trying different ways to try is what makes it a great country.


I still don't think people realize the price we citizens have for having a free country, and we are far too willing be distracted from them.




Hahahahaha THIS!


Good Point.

[Losing Streak]

" The dictionary defines the word freedom as"

You might want to lose this type of opening when you get to college.

[Duexy]

sweet criticism on a 5th grader's paper bro

[PunkyPoo]

The fact that we can be in this forum right now and complain without looking over our shoulders in fear makes the US great.

Yep!

We have given more of our blood and more of our money to help people across the world that we don't know than ANY other country ever on this planet. Matter of fact, I would dare to guess that we've given more humanitarian aid than probably all other countries combined. We are a giving people. And we deserve to be proud of that heritage.

Are we perfect? Nope. But I'll take this country with our blemishes any day of the week.

[Duexy]

if we're talking about how much aid we give per capita then we're up there with the portugal in the stingiest nations.

[veronica.mars]

The way the USA does their university system where you can take a diverse range of courses.

[coryatlarge]

I thank God for freedom...beef and the Constitution...

I thank God for church, World War II, and the revolution

I thank God for dogs in hats, and for me and for you, and I know God thanks me tooooooo

hahaahahahaah i love each and every one of you.

[fightinirish217]

The Nathans Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island, that's what makes America great!

Who else saw my boy Joey Chestnut win the three-peat today with a world record 68 hot dogs?!

[thespearkid]

http://www.classicwwf.com/uploaded_images/kurt1-778042.jpg

Happy 4th of July!

[apsterling]

Everybody go out and buy the book The Long Emergency.

[TeachBirds2Fly]

What Makes The USA Great?
.

Read A People's History of the Unites States By Howard Zinn