is it true that many americans never been oversea

[izzy]

I ask this because i read so much stuff written by americans trying to explain why they are the best country in the world .. when i lived in israel they used to say that about their country too ..

I am not american bashing .. i like america .. but i always think when people make statements about their country being the best i always think these things are said in ignorance and because they have never travelled ..

then i read this statistic that said only 21% of americans own a passport .. is that true .. if so it is bloody scary

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6553

[izzy]

I think it is because in both the USA, and Is-ra-el, hyper nationalism is continually promoted. It is quite the opposite in England, therefore people there have an inferiority complex at times.

It's all down to the prevailing indoctrination...

yes i agree .. but most people in britain have a passport dont they .. and 79 % of americans according to that article do not .. i find that amazing .. and sad

[izzy]

The USA is such a vast country (in terms of land), and therefore they choose to visit other States?? I'd imagine some visit Canada too. It's expensive to fly over to Britain, Ireland and Europe etc. :)

That's my theory... :o

yea except australia is the same size as the US and most Australians have travelled ...

[w1nstonsm1th84]

yea except australia is the same size as the US and most Australians have travelled ...

Most of Australia is uninhabited though... :-/

Australia's population is around 21 million, and the USA's around 300 million.

[izzy]

Most of Australia is uninhabited though... :-/

haha that is true but there are loads of beautiful places to travel in australia .. broome .. western australia .. darwin .. the tropical rainforests in cape tribulation .. tasmania .. it has as many gorgeous places as america ..

[jhado]

Brits have to own passports , so they can all bugger off for two weeks sunshine abroad every year. Folks in the Americas and Aussie have so much more to see on their islands without need for a passport.

Saying that, I'll be holidaying in Northumbria this year.

[element]

America got mountains, forests, deserts, bit of tropical (florida), many beaches, city's. Ofcourse it's not everything, but many types of nature can be found there, and....it's big.

[izzy]

America got mountains, forests, deserts, bit of tropical (florida), many beaches, city's. Ofcourse it's not everything, but many types of nature can be found there, and....it's big.

australia has all those things and it is bigger ! and they still travel and see the world ..

[loderlive]

Well my passports ran out so technically I do not have one and would not get one if it came with an identity card.

[element]

australia has all those things and it is bigger ! and they still travel and see the world ..

Well, I'm not an american so I don't know. Just trying to think of anything reasonable. I want to see all continents myself. :D

[izzy]

Well my passports ran out so technically I do not have one and would not get one if it came with an identity card.

yea but you have a passport.. you can renew it .. that article said 79% of americans do not own a passport .. this is scary considering their foreign policy impacts all of us and the world ..

[w1nstonsm1th84]

australia has all those things and it is bigger ! and they still travel and see the world ..

Aussie Aussie Aussie, oi oi oi ! :D heh heh

[darketernal]

Izzy one of my closest lifelong friends, who happens to be a police officer in Houston, was visiting one day and I put on a David Icke steaming video for him, and the first thing out of his mouth was "I don't see why this guy is bashing on America so much... everyone knows the reason everyone hates America is because they are jelous of the freedoms we have here." I almost died laughing.

This is a man who, while being a very kind hearted and well meaning person, is responsible for enforcing the law, and at the age of 29 has never left the state of Texas. In fact, prior to me getting him to go on a two hour road trip to a ranch my family owned at the time in east Texas, when he was 20, he had never left the city of Houston.

I know countless people like this. Many Americans have no clue what impact our policies have on the world and barely realize anything exists outside of our country. As far as they are concerned people only have negative things to say about the US because those people live in countries with no freedoms and they hate freedom due to indoctrination in their respective countries.

So seeing what I see every day, I'm one of the few to say "There is a wakeup going on yes... I can feel it... however I do not know a single person offline who has any clue or is even open to the idea of the majority of what David Icke and people on this forum have to say."

[jhado]

australia has all those things and it is bigger ! and they still travel and see the world ..

I've been to Aussie often, some wonderful nature there.
Being in the Blue-mountains after a forest-fire......wow.

I could go on, however ,I have never felt any compulsion to want to live there.

[izzy]

Izzy one of my closest lifelong friends, who happens to be a police officer in Houston, was visiting one day and I put on a David Icke steaming video for him, and the first thing out of his mouth was "I don't see why this guy is bashing on America so much... everyone knows the reason everyone hates America is because they are jelous of the freedoms we have here." "

thanks for that post eternal .. that is the exact comment i hear from americans and it is why i started this thread .. what are they on about ?

i dont know anyone that hates america but they seem a bit paranoid .. maybe a passport and few months overseas would do people like your texas frind the world of good !

[izzy]

Aussie Aussie Aussie, oi oi oi ! :D heh heh

are you an aussie by any chance ?

[element]

australia has all those things and it is bigger ! and they still travel and see the world ..

Are you sure it's bigger?? Difference will be very little.

Besides that.....Australia got no bears!!!

[izzy]

Are you sure it's bigger?? Difference will be very little.

Besides that.....Australia got no bears!!!


it has ! sortof .. it has koala bears .. :D

[loderlive]

yea but you have a passport.. you can renew it .. that article said 79% of americans do not own a passport .. this is scary considering their foreign policy impacts all of us and the world ..

Is renewall a straighforward process, I was going to burn it.

[w1nstonsm1th84]

are you an aussie by any chance ?

That would be telling... ;)

[izzy]

Is renewall a straighforward process, I was going to burn it.

dont do that - it is your ticket outta here ..

[loderlive]

dont do that - it is your ticket outta here ..

to where izzy, my ticket will come in death.

[izzy]

no you two what are you talking about ... you can have agreat life here we all can ... life is a gift ..
there is enough for everyone on this planet to live fantastic abundant lives .. things are changing ..

[loderlive]

no you two what are you talking about ... you can have agreat life here we all can ... life is a gift ..
there is enough for everyone on this planet to live fantastic abundant lives .. things are changing ..

but still a ticket to ride.

[darketernal]

no you two what are you talking about ... you can have agreat life here we all can ... life is a gift ..
there is enough for everyone on this planet to live fantastic abundant lives .. things are changing ..

She has a point. We are all here for a reason. On some level we all chose to be here and manifest in this experience of consciousness.

[i_am]

it has ! sortof .. it has koala bears .. :D


No we don't!! :p

Koalas are not bears. They are marsupials. They are not Koala BEARS, just koalas.

Common misconception though.

Many people think koalas are bears because they climb trees, have a thick fur coat, and are chubby-looking. Koalas are not bears! Both bears and koalas are mammals, but only the koala is a marsupial.

[izzy]

No we don't!! :p

Koalas are not bears. They are marsupials. They are not Koala BEARS, just koalas.

Common misconception though.

i know that ! :) did you know they have marsupials in america too .. one species .. i think central america ..

Marsupial - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[fenriswulf]

I have never left my country, and probably won't either. But that doesn't stop me having knowledge of what goes on in the rest of the world.
I think it's a NZ thing, it may be a hangover from feeling inferior being at the bottom of the world that we are only just getting over because of Lord of the Rings and Flight of the Conchords.
I shudder when I see young kiwis doing their 'overseas experience' holidays which basicly involves getting pissed and doing the Haka throughout Britain and Europe. Don't think they learn much about other cultures.

[lost_in_translation]

australia has all those things and it is bigger ! and they still travel and see the world ..

now you are sitting here telling me that all Australians travel.. show me your evidence. im an american living in germany.... makes u wonder..in order for an aussi to get out of his country he has to fly or hop a boat. canada and mexico can be driven to.....

[doyouknowyourdead]

I am an American living in England with my English husband. I have met many people in this country that tend to scapegoat Americans and like to look at them as less intelligent and perhaps ignorant. I remember going into a sweet shop a few months ago and the man behind the counter pointed to a jar filled with giant gobstoppers. "We call them American jawbreakers. Do you know why?" he asked.
"No," I answered. He grinned proudly, nodded his head slightly as he looked me in the eye and said "Cause of your big American mouths!" And he burst out laughing. I understand why this happens. Just a few months ago, Daley and I ventured on a three month road trip around the states and I have seen the pockets of church goin', gay hatin' folk (Texas being a very, very large pocket...) and my husband and I have gone to sleep hungry in many Wal Mart parking lots in the back of our car because all we found on our day's journey were fast food joints and diners that didn't offer vegetarian options. But on the flip side, we saw lots of people ripping away from the system in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah,on the east coast, where ever we were....
I think this hyper stereotyping is a result of programming, more divide and conquer tactics. I don't see very many differences between England, European countries, and American states. We all have similar diets, technologies, and social expectations. I think the "dumb American" stereotype is very exaggerated. I grew up in Connecticut, about an hour north of NYC, and the culture there is so similar to England that I had more "culture shock" in Alabama than here in Nottingham.

Perhaps the lack of issued passports has less to do with "worldliness" and more to do with affordability and the size of the place. Lower/middle class families that go on vacation find it much cheaper to get away by car or domestic flight than to go elsewhere. And there is a much higher rate of poverty in the States so there are vast numbers of people that couldn't even dream of getting out of the country.

The international community of truth seekers should be aware that their preconceived ideas of Americans are probably skewed, as a result of the perception being pumped out by the various media outlets...

[izzy]

now you are sitting here telling me that all Australians travel.. show me your evidence. im an american living in germany.... makes u wonder..in order for an aussi to get out of his country he has to fly or hop a boat. canada and mexico can be driven to.....

yea but you need a passport to get there and according to the original yale article .. see my first post ,, 79% of americans do not have passports .. I have met loads of americans overseas over the years ..

but they were the 21 % ..

australians do travel more then americans .. so do the brits

[izzy]

I am an American living in England with my English husband. I have met many people in this country that tend to scapegoat Americans and like to look at them as less intelligent and perhaps ignorant. I...


i was nt doing this .. btw try being a ' POM ' in australia it is the same thing .. just laugh

[izzy]

Perhaps the lack of issued passports has less to do with "worldliness" and more to do with affordability and the size of the place. Lower/middle class families that go on vacation find it much cheaper to get away by car or domestic flight than to go elsewhere. And there is a much higher rate of poverty in the States so there are vast numbers of people that couldn't even dream of getting out of the country.

The international community of truth seekers should be aware that their preconceived ideas of Americans are probably skewed, as a result of the perception being pumped out by the various media outlets...


maybe but america is a valid target for my original question .. america and her policies affects us all .. yet america has a tendancy towards isolationist policies .. that are made on the basis of strong lobbying from interested lucrative parties .. influencing politicians - to benefit america .. without a care for the rest of the world

America .. is all about america .. and i think she is unique in this in some ways given her prestige in the power mongering of the world .. again i think this is a valid criticism ..

thing is the world does not revolve around america ... btw i like america .. but even if i did nt why should you care ?

[i_am]

An Interesting article with some interesting explanations.

http://www.vagabondish.com/7-reasons-why-americans-dont-travel/

Australia is roughly the same size as the US but has less than 10% of the population. Like the US we have much diversity but Aussies do like to go OS :) Many, however, have not seen much of their own country.

Another site which gives varying stats

http://www.gyford.com/phil/writing/2003/01/31/how_many_america.php

[limelady]

Are you sure it's bigger?? Difference will be very little.

Besides that.....Australia got no bears!!!

Ah, see that's where you're wrong!!!

We have large, and vicious Drop Bears! ;)

Drop bear - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[i_am]

Ah, see that's where you're wrong!!!

We have large, and vicious Drop Bears! ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_bear

OMG!! How could I have forgotten them :eek:


Drop Bear - YouTube

[supertzar]

I don't currently have a passport, but I haven't had the resources to do a lot of traveling for a while. Overseas for us is a lot farther than for you, so overseas travel is generally for more privileged people.

Guess what, though? Americans think it's funny that Brits balk at driving the length of their little island. We have something called the "Road Trip" and it can be as big as you want it to be. It's one of the redeeming qualities of American life, actually.

[i_am]

I just came back from the UK, How does a 27 hour flight grab you :p

Well that was a 24 hour flight actually with 3 hours in stopovers between connecting flights

[darketernal]

I don't currently have a passport, but I haven't had the resources to do a lot of traveling for a while. Overseas for us is a lot farther than for you, so overseas travel is generally for more privileged people.

Guess what, though? Americans think it's funny that Brits balk at driving the length of their little island. We have something called the "Road Trip" and it can be as big as you want it to be. It's one of the redeeming qualities of American life, actually.

True. It is a considerable distance to go from the east coast to the west coast. Its a several day drive.

[seeker1111]

The USA is such a vast country (in terms of land), and therefore they choose to visit other States?? I'd imagine some visit Canada too. It's expensive to fly over to Britain, Ireland and Europe etc. :)

That's my theory... :o


Gotta agree with ya there...I'm from Canada and have only been to the states. However that will change when I have saved enough money to go overseas.

Lots of us are poor and it's not easy to conjur up 1500-2500 for a plane ticket plus a place to stay, eat, etc.

However I do have a passport now...

[seeker1111]

I am an American living in England with my English husband. I have met many people in this country that tend to scapegoat Americans and like to look at them as less intelligent and perhaps ignorant. I remember going into a sweet shop a few months ago and the man behind the counter pointed to a jar filled with giant gobstoppers. "We call them American jawbreakers. Do you know why?" he asked.
"No," I answered. He grinned proudly, nodded his head slightly as he looked me in the eye and said "Cause of your big American mouths!" And he burst out laughing. I understand why this happens. Just a few months ago, Daley and I ventured on a three month road trip around the states and I have seen the pockets of church goin', gay hatin' folk (Texas being a very, very large pocket...) and my husband and I have gone to sleep hungry in many Wal Mart parking lots in the back of our car because all we found on our day's journey were fast food joints and diners that didn't offer vegetarian options. But on the flip side, we saw lots of people ripping away from the system in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah,on the east coast, where ever we were....
I think this hyper stereotyping is a result of programming, more divide and conquer tactics. I don't see very many differences between England, European countries, and American states. We all have similar diets, technologies, and social expectations. I think the "dumb American" stereotype is very exaggerated. I grew up in Connecticut, about an hour north of NYC, and the culture there is so similar to England that I had more "culture shock" in Alabama than here in Nottingham.

Perhaps the lack of issued passports has less to do with "worldliness" and more to do with affordability and the size of the place. Lower/middle class families that go on vacation find it much cheaper to get away by car or domestic flight than to go elsewhere. And there is a much higher rate of poverty in the States so there are vast numbers of people that couldn't even dream of getting out of the country.

The international community of truth seekers should be aware that their preconceived ideas of Americans are probably skewed, as a result of the perception being pumped out by the various media outlets...

come to bc lower mainland. lots of vegetarian options here. :D which is great for me.

[steppewar]

I ask this because i read so much stuff written by americans trying to explain why they are the best country in the world .. when i lived in israel they used to say that about their country too ..

I am not american bashing .. i like america .. but i always think when people make statements about their country being the best i always think these things are said in ignorance and because they have never travelled ..

then i read this statistic that said only 21% of americans own a passport .. is that true .. if so it is bloody scary

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6553

Hey Izzy. You have stated that you are a Brit living in the USA. When did you move there and do you think the USA or UK is a better country to live in?

Althougth, I have never been to the USA, my perception of it is that it is a worse country to live in than the UK.

[Anders Lindman]

I ask this because i read so much stuff written by americans trying to explain why they are the best country in the world .. when i lived in israel they used to say that about their country too ..

I am not american bashing .. i like america .. but i always think when people make statements about their country being the best i always think these things are said in ignorance and because they have never travelled ..

then i read this statistic that said only 21% of americans own a passport .. is that true .. if so it is bloody scary

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6553

This confirms what I wrote in other posts:

...As David Icke said: scarcity equals control. It's easier to control the masses when there is scarcity. This means that some forces, intentionally or unintentionally, work against prosperity for the masses.

An extreme form of scarcity is food shortage. Someone said that in Ireland some hundred+ years ago there was severe food shortage which made people leave Ireland and move to America. Then I thought: whoa! wait a minute. In Sweden some hundred+ years ago there was a severe food shortage that made people move to....you guessed it.......America! Maybe the same kind of food shortage happened in many other countries that made them move to America. My guess is that these food shortages were manufactured by the elite: the elite WANTED people to move in large numbers to America.

...severe food shortages were created in Europe in the past making people move to America in great numbers. The elite wanted to quickly populate 'their' new country and it is very difficult to make people want to leave their own country so artificial food shortages were on purpose created to more or less force people out of their countries.

Being forced to leave one's own country creates a deep trauma in people. Many people in America still carry that trauma in them I believe. This hypothesis can be tested by looking at the statistics for how large percentage of the population frequently travels abroad on their vacations. Compare the statistics from the United States with for example the statistics from Europe. If my hypothesis is correct there should be a significant lower percentage in the U.S. than in Europe when it comes to vacation travels to foreign countries.

[Anders Lindman]

Another thing my hypothesis predicts is that Americans will on average be more willing to stockpile food than people in other countries. And whaddayaknow! The Alex Jones show for example is a lot about stockpiling food!!! :eek:

[amercury]

yea but you need a passport to get there and according to the original yale article .. see my first post ,, 79% of americans do not have passports .. I have met loads of americans overseas over the years ..

but they were the 21 % ..

australians do travel more then americans .. so do the brits


If you are a US citizen you do not need a passport to travel to Mexico, Canada, or the Carribbean if you go by land or water.

[izzy]

I don't currently have a passport, but I haven't had the resources to do a lot of traveling for a while. Overseas for us is a lot farther than for you, so overseas travel is generally for more privileged people.

Guess what, though? Americans think it's funny that Brits balk at driving the length of their little island. We have something called the "Road Trip" and it can be as big as you want it to be. It's one of the redeeming qualities of American life, actually.

ahhh but if you had had the pleasure of driving on the english rds you d know why it is a nightmare .. its like this .. traffic jam .. bollards ... traffic jam .. clear run .. traffic jam .. accident .... road closed ... clear run .. traffic jam ... etc etc etc :)

it is not the driving as such just the rubbishy rds ..

brits drive to the south of france and to spain and germany ... we do long journeys :)

[izzy]

If you are a US citizen you do not need a passport to travel to Mexico, Canada, or the Carribbean if you go by land or water.

oh ok .. how do you identify yourself as a US citizen then ?

[izzy]

Hey Izzy. You have stated that you are a Brit living in the USA. When did you move there and do you think the USA or UK is a better country to live in?

Althougth, I have never been to the USA, my perception of it is that it is a worse country to live in than the UK.


i am a brit living in britland !:D

i ahve been to the states 3 times . if you include hawaii as the states .. which technically it is .. i like america ..

[izzy]

Another thing my hypothesis predicts is that Americans will on average be more willing to stockpile food than people in other countries. And whaddayaknow! The Alex Jones show for example is a lot about stockpiling food!!! :eek:

i know americans are always going on and on about stockpiling food on forums .. never heard a brit say this ..

weird ..

interesting theory as well

[cacadores]

If Londoners fly to Bulgaria or Algeria, and all the countires like Italy and France in between they might think they're being all adventurous. And they are in a way because all these places have different languages and cultures.

But those kind of distances don't even get you from one side of America to the other. Doesn't make Americans stupid. Just air-miles-challenged.

[izzy]

If Londoners fly to Bulgaria or Algeria, and all the countires like Italy and France in between they might think they're being all adventurous. And they are in a way because all these places have different languages and cultures.

But those kind of distances don't even get you from one side of America to the other. Doesn't make Americans stupid. Just air-miles-challenged.

that is not quite true .. with respect .. i agree london to moscow is maybe the equivalent distance between LA and NY .. but Perth to Sydney is about the same .. Perth is closer to HongkONG THEN sydney ...

My original point is .. America has a disproportionate influence in a world that the majority of american citizens choose not to interact with ...

their foreign policy is all about ... how can it benefit america and americans.. points that were made in earlier posts

they have a large amount of citizens 79 % if statistics can be believed taht do not venture outside their shores ..

americans are going on a bout stockpiling food .. hunting when armagedon arrives .. the rest of the world does not use this sort of language .. in my humble experience ...

america is isolated from the world .. yet it manipulates the world .. the british empire used to hold that position of power .. in the early to mid twentieth century .. whatever you think of them .. and their ' empire ' ... they did travel .. they did send their citizens to live overseas ..

Not so america .. taht was my point .. distance is irrelevant.. and that argument is made to sound ridiculoys when you make comparisons with australia and australian citizens

plus cost is no excuse either .. we all pay $1000's for plane tickets ..

[w1nstonsm1th84]

The thing is though, holiday air travel is being condemned at the moment... and the 'elite' don't really want people to go abroad any more- containment policy?? All under the guise of Climate Change™, Carbon Footprints™ etc. etc.

Enjoy your holidays abroad whilst you can...

[costrovs]

The reasons Americans don't have passports and travel overseas, is because of inflation/economy. Honestly, the American dollar is so f*cking low right now, I can't afford $100 for a passport. Prices of food are on the rise over the past 5 years. Every thing in America has gone up in price. But our wages stay the same. Damn, I'm 20 years old living in an apartment with my dad, and its hard to pay the bills. My hours are getting cut at my job because of slow business. What used to be $500/week(not bad for no college and 25hours a week) is now $250/week.

I'm not basing this just on economy, it also has to do with how Americans think.
I know a lot of people that don't travel that far for leisure, because they are scared. YESSS SCARED!!! They are afraid of the unknown.LOL. They have never gone outside this country. So they don't know what to expect, so they don't go. Simple as that.

Honestly, most Americans are stupid.
Yes, I am American.

I base this upon,
Selfishness - Ignorance - Lazy - Greedy, and what ever else you can think of.
I live in a small town in New York state. 10,000 people. You can try to wake someone up in this town, and it won't happen. You give them all the resources they want/need to wake up, and either they don't care or give you a blank stare, like WTF are you talking about?

I know a girl that is in college for phsycology(sp?), but thinks buffalo wings really come from buffalo's. Also, Dinosaurs were never alive, they are just rocks that people carved to look like bones. She is 24 years old!!!

Honestly, if you have time and money, come over here for a week.
You will have quite the laugh at how stupid Americans are.
It'll be a fun experience, you can see first hand how FUCKED we are.

Now I know most of the people on these forums are from Britain.

There is a reason why not many Americans are on this site.
They are so thick headed.

I'm not trying to offend anyone. It's just the truth.


Americans are stupid.




RANTING!!

[w1nstonsm1th84]

There's the genuine fear of not wanting to get blown up too by 'terrorists' too I suppose...

[doyouknowyourdead]

that is not quite true .. with respect .. i agree london to moscow is maybe the equivalent distance between LA and NY .. but Perth to Sydney is about the same .. Perth is closer to HongkONG THEN sydney ...

My original point is .. America has a disproportionate influence in a world that the majority of american citizens choose not to interact with ...

their foreign policy is all about ... how can it benefit america and americans.. points that were made in earlier posts

they have a large amount of citizens 79 % if statistics can be believed taht do not venture outside their shores ..

americans are going on a bout stockpiling food .. hunting when armagedon arrives .. the rest of the world does not use this sort of language .. in my humble experience ...

america is isolated from the world .. yet it manipulates the world .. the british empire used to hold that position of power .. in the early to mid twentieth century .. whatever you think of them .. and their ' empire ' ... they did travel .. they did send their citizens to live overseas ..

Not so america .. taht was my point .. distance is irrelevant.. and that argument is made to sound ridiculoys when you make comparisons with australia and australian citizens

plus cost is no excuse either .. we all pay $1000's for plane tickets ..


Izzy, I understand your point and I am disgusted with the government, which is one of the most aggressive branches of the New World Order outfit. But you have to understand, and I am sure that you do, that it is not us "normal" people that dictate policy. I would have to say a vast percentage of the population is completely against the aggressive and psychopathic policies that are in place in this country. "We" the people (in the UK and USA) have no say in international affairs. We are struggling against the economy, working hard to support ourselves to stay afloat...
Just because the NWO wants to rule the world and the American branch is spearheading the operation, doesn't mean we all want to and surely it doesn't mean we are then we should all be encouraged to tour around the places that the elite are trying so hard to dominate.

I think it would be great it we all had the opportunity to travel the world, but we don't, do we? Additionally, there is an eclectic bilingual population here made mostly of immigrants (1st, 2nd, 3rd generation) and it is not as if we have never seen people of different races and/or socio-economic levels.

I wish earnestly and gravely that our government(s) weren't tyrannical psychopaths, but I don't think Americans need to justify that by jet setting across the ocean.

The reasons Americans don't have passports and travel overseas, is because of inflation/economy. Honestly, the American dollar is so f*cking low right now, I can't afford $100 for a passport. Prices of food are on the rise over the past 5 years. Every thing in America has gone up in price. But our wages stay the same. Damn, I'm 20 years old living in an apartment with my dad, and its hard to pay the bills. My hours are getting cut at my job because of slow business. What used to be $500/week(not bad for no college and 25hours a week) is now $250/week.

I'm not basing this just on economy, it also has to do with how Americans think.
I know a lot of people that don't travel that far for leisure, because they are scared. YESSS SCARED!!! They are afraid of the unknown.LOL. They have never gone outside this country. So they don't know what to expect, so they don't go. Simple as that.

Honestly, most Americans are stupid.
Yes, I am American.

I base this upon,
Selfishness - Ignorance - Lazy - Greedy, and what ever else you can think of.
I live in a small town in New York state. 10,000 people. You can try to wake someone up in this town, and it won't happen. You give them all the resources they want/need to wake up, and either they don't care or give you a blank stare, like WTF are you talking about?

I know a girl that is in college for phsycology(sp?), but thinks buffalo wings really come from buffalo's. Also, Dinosaurs were never alive, they are just rocks that people carved to look like bones. She is 24 years old!!!

Honestly, if you have time and money, come over here for a week.
You will have quite the laugh at how stupid Americans are.
It'll be a fun experience, you can see first hand how FUCKED we are.

Now I know most of the people on these forums are from Britain.

There is a reason why not many Americans are on this site.
They are so thick headed.

I'm not trying to offend anyone. It's just the truth.


Americans are stupid.




RANTING!!

I know what you mean, believe me I do. But having lived in the UK (which I enjoy) and traveled by camper van throughout Europe, I would have to disagree that it is only us Americans that are greedy, ignorant, and thick headed. There's plenty of that in the entire Western world. They're not any lazier or dumber here. BUT....In the UK, Europe, and US, I dare say there are many more hard working, intelligent folk. Let's not paint too bleak a picture of the human population!!!!!!!

[izzy]

There's the genuine fear of not wanting to get blown up too by 'terrorists' too I suppose...

sure .. but very few people get blown up by terrorists .. and most of them right now are in iraq if we are honest .. that is people getting blown up ..

so i would argue that is not a genuine fear ..

[izzy]

[QUOTE=doyouknowyourdead;432753]........ But you have to understand, and I am sure that you do, that it is not us "normal" people that dictate policy. I would have to say a vast percentage of the population is completely against the aggressive and psychopathic policies that are in place in this country. "We" the people (in the UK and USA) have no say in international affairs. We are struggling against the economy, working hard to support ourselves to stay afloat...

I do understand that .. i know it is not a simple black and white answer - that is why i find the posts in this thread so interesting.

Actually - i have come to believe more and more that the opposite is true .. and i am sure you will agree with me .. yes on one level have no say in international affairs .. but on another level we are very responsible .. in the UK as well as America ..

we sanction the politicians by voting for them .. and then when they clearly display sociopathic meglomaniac tendancies .. we in our apathy allow them to continue their rule ..

actually i think when we the people start realising HOW VERY POWERFUL we are ... we will demand decent .. leaders .. who are humane and egalitarian and forward thinking and fair ..

However this will only happen when people wake up and realise and i am not saying this in a cliched way i mean this literally ,,, that we are all the same .. we all want love .. the best for our families .. safety ..we all want friends .. we all want to eat well .. to have comfortable secure homes .. and rewarding work .. and a world that is clean and alive and abundant with beauty and wildlife ...etc etc


Just because the NWO wants to rule the world and the American branch is spearheading the operation, doesn't mean we all want to and surely it doesn't mean we are then we should all be encouraged to tour around the places that the elite are trying so hard to dominate.I

i think the elite are very scared of how very powerful we are that is why they are making life harder for us right now and keeping us focused in survival mode .. credit crunch .. burd flu .. you name it .. whatever ..

the media are going into overdrve to terrify us .. in britain .. jobsworths are coming into their own .. and rules and fines .. and cctv and criminalisation of everything is also in overdrive .. the elite are so scared of our power .. they are doing more and more and more to control us cos they know the truth ..

that is they are history and they are losing their grip .. and they are going down because a new world is arriving and it is kinder and better then the men in grey suits world ..


I wish earnestly and gravely that our government(s) weren't tyrannical psychopaths, but I don't think Americans need to justify that by jet setting across the ocean.

i think if more americans travelled .. it would be good and travel is the best education .. in so many ways ...

[izzy]

.


Americans are stupid.

RANTING!!

great post .. but i dont think americans are stupid how can 280 mill or however many there are of you be stupid :)

I just wish american people enmasse would stop being scared of the world and join in the world ..

if i hear another bible bashing armaggedon ranting american .. on a forum .. i will scream !!!!!!!:eek:

plus if i hear another american talking about hoarding food and hunting for survival .. i will scream again .....:eek:

even if there was a massive catastrophic event .. would they really be able to get back home to scoff their food ... i dont think so ... it is just fear mongering ..

anyway thats my rant over :rolleyes:

[izzy]

The thing is though, holiday air travel is being condemned at the moment... and the 'elite' don't really want people to go abroad any more- containment policy?? All under the guise of Climate Change™, Carbon Footprints™ etc. etc.

Enjoy your holidays abroad whilst you can...


i know

[noobcybot]

I have a view on this, and I wonder if our American friends noticed it too.
I suppose you might have to understand though what America meant to some of us in other countries. As a kid America was a place of fantasy to me, giant cheeseburgars, cowboys and Indians, you know, that Planet Hollywood shit. When I finally got to go there, it was everything I expected it to be. It was the land of plenty and I swear everyone had an amazing attitude and the place seemed to buzz with a great energy. It made England look like the dark ages........and then, after 9/11, to me it seemed the American people changed, as did the energy of the country. It sounds stupid but the American dream turned into a nightmare. Even in Florida and such, the money had just upped and gone, in a matter of two years the amount of immigrants from South America reached something like 40 percent. People were still nice in big money tourist areas and such, but they seemed to be just acting nice, whereas before everyone seemed genuinely contented and happy with life.
I feel very sorry for the Americans, I fear they will be amongst the first to go if the agenda goes to plan. But yes, the majority of Americans seem very out of touch with reality in the world. I will also say that Americans seem to panic at every possible situation, real fearmongers, also they seemed to complain easily and are only just realising exactly how easy they have had things in some places.

[doyouknowyourdead]

I have a view on this, and I wonder if our American friends noticed it too.
I suppose you might have to understand though what America meant to some of us in other countries. As a kid America was a place of fantasy to me, giant cheeseburgars, cowboys and Indians, you know, that Planet Hollywood shit. When I finally got to go there, it was everything I expected it to be. It was the land of plenty and I swear everyone had an amazing attitude and the place seemed to buzz with a great energy. It made England look like the dark ages........and then, after 9/11, to me it seemed the American people changed, as did the energy of the country. It sounds stupid but the American dream turned into a nightmare. Even in Florida and such, the money had just upped and gone, in a matter of two years the amount of immigrants from South America reached something like 40 percent. People were still nice in big money tourist areas and such, but they seemed to be just acting nice, whereas before everyone seemed genuinely contented and happy with life.
I feel very sorry for the Americans, I fear they will be amongst the first to go if the agenda goes to plan. But yes, the majority of Americans seem very out of touch with reality in the world. I will also say that Americans seem to panic at every possible situation, real fearmongers, also they seemed to complain easily and are only just realising exactly how easy they have had things in some places.

That is an interesting point of view because it tells me much about how propaganda can be produced and maintained. Personally, I feel that sort of image of America is incredibly simplified and packaged with preconceptions. It is very similar to how I imagine the Cold War was portrayed in that I think certain elements of society are exaggerated and generalized to produce a specific vision of a society to outside foreigners, thus keeping them divided and conquered. I think you are right, that there are messages being sent out to the international community that package America in a certain way. But perhaps, what America meant to you in England is actually a very skewed vision of the country. It is my opinion, as a native to the country, that it is far from that image.

You stated that Americans are real fear mongers and like to complain a lot, and you also said they don't know how easy they have it. I know you visited the states a number of times, but I wonder if you only stayed in places similar to The Strip in Las Vegas or perhaps Disney World in Orlando, FL. There are certain tourist areas that are renowned for the "main stream stereotype" because they attract a demographic that fits it (i.e. people that have enough money to take themselves or their families on vacation and go to very famous tourist landmarks). But I am nearly certain you have the wrong idea of America at large, beyond the stereotypes. Like we have been saying, it is a rather large country. It is almost like 7 or 8 countries (maybe more...) in terms of ecology/workforce/religion/general culture. There will always be the "American Idol"/corporate/Disney world/cheeseburugers/cowboys types, but there is a large part of the country that is a bit wiser, a bit less patriotic, a bit more organic, and less by the book. Just like everywhere else. It is no different.

Another note on your comment that Americans are just realizing exactly how easy they have had it. Many European and British citizens hold an opinion that Americans "have it easy," and while there is a substantial but as of late dwindling percentage of the population that have middle class cushy lives, there are much, much higher levels of poverty in America than anywhere in Western Europe. I don't have facts and figures but I saw first hand this spring just how poor the standard of poor is getting in America. And it is getting to the point where in every major city, there are congregations in the hundreds, some reaching nearly 800 hundred, of people building homes on the sidewalks out of blankets and card board boxes. It blew us away to spot these "tent cities," in L.A., Las Vegas, New Orleans, and even in much lesser known areas such as Ontario, California. And while this might be a new phenomenon, it is not the only one in recent times that has kept poor Americans DIRT POOR. And lots of them.

Look at the welfare laws in the states as compared to England. In England you can claim unemployment (be "on the dole") for your whole life if you are able to prove that you have not yet found suitable employment. In the states, you can claim unemployment for 2 years. It is only a temporary allowance. I remember when my mom was unemployed. After her two year benefits, she was forced to move into a (grouchy) friend's garage. She was almost on the streets. There are many cases where people aren't so lucky and after awhile unemployment = tent city or dependent on someone else.

I can't stress this issue of poverty enough. It is lower than Western European standard by miles. I've spent months driving in camper van traveling round both continents, and this is what I have gathered

I think it is possible you are tuning in a little too much to the stereotypes, and probably by no fault of your own. If you haven't fully experienced anything that would challenge your opinion, you'd reinforce it. Unfortunately, we are encouraged and trained to use specific countries as a scape goat, just like we are now using Muslims as a scape goat for "The War on Terror."

I remember being in France last November/December and feeling a sense of snobbery from the French people Many French people we interacted with became very unfriendly when they found that my British husband and I were English speakers. I got to thinking about why the French can't tolerate English and/or Americans. It is just because they are probably told more or less that all English speaking countries have corrupted the world. Obviously we know it isn't that black and white. Sure, some English speakers in positions of power have indeed corrupted the world, but it isn't because they speak English or walked on English speaking soil!

We are all primed to feel certain ways about certain places and sometimes these feelings seem incredibly accurate. But we must remember they are skewed. The tourist zones WILL mirror the Television, no question about it. But the camera is only on what they want you to see.

[doyouknowyourdead]

I would love to comment on more posts, including Izzy's, but it is late and there are many things to do in the morning.

Bye for now.

PS I am not just "stirring the pot." I am very fascinated in this theme.

[izzy]

I would love to comment on more posts, including Izzy's, but it is late and there are many things to do in the morning.

Bye for now.

PS I am not just "stirring the pot." I am very fascinated in this theme.

yea me too and thanks for that post very interesting ..

[izzy]

A few people being 'blown up', is a few people too many.

The British government warn us that there a hundreds here... and they are told similar stories in the United States of America. After they were traumatised by the events of September 11th (the aeroplane crashes, endlessly repeated on the television)- I'm sure that it is a genuine fear for many people. Are you saying that the 'elite' will never pull some sick crap off like that again?

Perhaps people don't wish run the risk of being to be cavity searched either... :-/

i know .. but you must get what i am saying ... you are more likely to die by falling down the stairs and landing head first in a bucket of water and drowning .. statistically:rolleyes:

[amerigirl]

I'm fascinated by your conversations as well.
So please don't let my question stear this TOO far "off topic" b/c I'm very interested in what's being said here.
The reason my family has never been out of the country (and I'm not talking Canada or the tropical parts of Mexico ie Montego Bay) is because of how much it costs. Since the new laws earlier in the year we can't afford to travel to those countries now b/c they require a passport and ones for my whole family would be about $400. ANYWAYS, my question is (to the ones who have traveled multiple destinations) is if we were to save $7000 or so, where do you suggest we go?? Where do you think we'd get the most bang for our buck so to speak to open ours eyes more? Like a one week venture that we probably couldn't afford to do again until our daughter is grown.

Thanks :)

[w1nstonsm1th84]

i know .. but you must get what i am saying ... you are more likely to die by falling down the stairs and landing head first in a bucket of water and drowning .. statistically:rolleyes:

There are:- Lies; damned lies; and statistics! :p ;)

[izzy]

I'm fascinated by your conversations as well.
So please don't let my question stear this TOO far "off topic" b/c I'm very interested in what's being said here.
The reason my family has never been out of the country (and I'm not talking Canada or the tropical parts of Mexico ie Montego Bay) is because of how much it costs. Since the new laws earlier in the year we can't afford to travel to those countries now b/c they require a passport and ones for my whole family would be about $400. ANYWAYS, my question is (to the ones who have traveled multiple destinations) is if we were to save $7000 or so, where do you suggest we go?? Where do you think we'd get the most bang for our buck so to speak to open ours eyes more? Like a one week venture that we probably couldn't afford to do again until our daughter is grown.

Thanks :)

HI Amerigirl ...

I think youhave to ask yourself that question .. where would you most love to go .. Peru ? Mexico ? The Amazon ? I dont know :)

Personally i would love to visit the Amazon .. and Peru .. and Argentina ... Chile .. I could go on ....:)

They are all on your continent ..

[izzy]

ive just thought .. maybe it is because many americans only get two weeks holiday .. a year .. is this true ??
If it is i think it is blatantly contravening human rights .. seriously .. does anyone know if this is true ?

[jvx19]

Oh I could go on for days about this. I am an american living in Poland, but I am full of piwo (beer) at the moment. So, I'll comment later.

[amerigirl]

ive just thought .. maybe it is because many americans only get two weeks holiday .. a year .. is this true ??
If it is i think it is blatantly contravening human rights .. seriously .. does anyone know if this is true ?

Personally for us, we only get 14 days paid a year, then 7 "sick" days (non paid). But I think its differant for everybody, but thats the average.

[i_am]

Personally for us, we only get 14 days paid a year, then 7 "sick" days (non paid). But I think its differant for everybody, but thats the average.


You don't get sick pay ???? :eek:

[darketernal]

You don't get sick pay ???? :eek:

There are no laws that I know of that require paid sick days. Some companies offer a few. My last company before becoming disabled gave us 5 paid sick days per year for employees who had worked for the company for over one year.

[noobcybot]

Hey, DYKYD, I agree with what you are saying for the most part. When I was younger America was somewhat sold to me, and yes, when I was younger I only went in tourist areas, but later I did see some borderline poverty and the fact that medical care had to be paid for as such, did appear to be a scary prospect. Also going to the gun ranges and the bail bonds places was also a shock to me. Being around a bunch of gang members in a shooting gallery was one of the scariest situations in my life ( the prospect of gun crime didnt really exist in England, most had been made illegal for a while by then, only Manchester and London really had any experience with that). So, I did see a dark side that could easily flip my saying Americans had it easy and turn it on England,but what I really meant there was America had food and wealth in an abundance that was frankly awe inspiring.
What I posted though DYKYD was a genuine observation from me, yes, patently influenced in some ways. I really want to get across the shift in the American people I noticed since 9/11. The customs officers used to the happiest airport personnel you could ever meet, then they turned into badass robots all armed with pistols straight out of any 1984 style film. This was reflected in most people we met.
Did you notice this?

[izzy]

Personally for us, we only get 14 days paid a year, then 7 "sick" days (non paid). But I think its differant for everybody, but thats the average.


hi ameri and eternal .. no wonder americans dont have passports .. they are too exhausted to go on holiday if taht is all they get ..

it is out rageous ... it is a human rights violation .. and seriously .. i mean that ...

I work for an american company they give me 5 weeks paid holiday .. 10 days public holidays .. and 6 months paid sick pay [ 3 months full time and 3 months part time ] in any 12 month period ...

[izzy]

i am so furious on your behalf ... you have no idea .. :confused:

[i_am]

Some pretty scary statistics on sick leave in the US.

http://www.drummajorinstitute.org/injusticeindex.php

[izzy]

Some pretty scary statistics on sick leave in the US.

http://www.drummajorinstitute.org/injusticeindex.php

yea its rubbish .. the US should have sick pay and free health .. its outrageous

[amercury]

oh ok .. how do you identify yourself as a US citizen then ?


Well when I drove to Mexico I just stopped at the border and showed my driver's license and answered questions about where I was going and what I was going to do there. I also went to Canada by boat once, and if I recall correctly they just asked me what my citizenship was when I came off the boat.

I'm surprised by the high percentage of people that this article claims do not have passports. I would say probably 80% of the people I know have passports and are well traveled. I have been to many different countries, but there are still many places in the US I haven't been and would like to travel to in the future. There are also places in the US that I have been to and felt like I was in a foreign country:D

Like someone else in this thread said, it is a big country with a lot of people who hardly get any vacation time. There are many that are isolated in different parts of the country, and yes I have met many people with the mentality of 'why would I want to go to some god forsaken foreign country when I live in the best country in the world' :eek:
I've even met people who would never even travel out of their own state, much less the country. These are my fellow citizens who live in a very narrow frame of consciousness and are unwittingly helping the assholes in power destroy the world.

One must immerse his or herself in another culture to understand it well....yet people all over the world hold beliefs about other peoples and places that they have never encountered. Dangerous stuff.:(

[izzy]

thanks amercury .. excellent post

[cacadores]

Perth is closer to HongkONG THEN sydney ....Further:
Perth to Hong Kong: distance: 5,818 km / 3,615 miles
Perth to Sydney:.... distance: 3,301 km / 2,051 miles .

But still, Oz is pretty unfeasably wide.:)

[doyouknowyourdead]

I'm fascinated by your conversations as well.
So please don't let my question stear this TOO far "off topic" b/c I'm very interested in what's being said here.
The reason my family has never been out of the country (and I'm not talking Canada or the tropical parts of Mexico ie Montego Bay) is because of how much it costs. Since the new laws earlier in the year we can't afford to travel to those countries now b/c they require a passport and ones for my whole family would be about $400. ANYWAYS, my question is (to the ones who have traveled multiple destinations) is if we were to save $7000 or so, where do you suggest we go?? Where do you think we'd get the most bang for our buck so to speak to open ours eyes more? Like a one week venture that we probably couldn't afford to do again until our daughter is grown.

Thanks :)

Hey-

I haven't been anywhere yet that I can recommend hands down, but if I were you, I'd try Cuba. Apparently you can go there with a US passport if you fly from Canada. Imagine what an experience that would be. Their technologies are very behind the rest of the West and their sense of family/community is supposed to be extremely strong (due to economy and other conditions...). I think they would be an interesting people to spend time with.I've never been so I don't know if you'd want to take children.

I'd also love to experience India, the whole of South America, and Bougainville!

Bougainville has got to be a special place. It is an island off Papa New Guinea and within the past 20 years, has undergone a grass roots revolution. The imperialistic mining companies were fought off by local guerrillas who were concerned for their people and environment. After driving the mining corporations out, Bougainville experienced complete isolation as Western companies refused to import anything on the island. So the locals turned to their most bountiful natural resource: the coconut. They use it for fuel, cooking, almost everything....There's not much news on this place, though. It is isolated and virtually illegal to travel to. But it has got to be such a cool place!!

Anyway....if you are not opposed to traveling within the borders, I'd go to Utah for some really amazing wildlife. Unreal scenery. It will be cheaper than anywhere in Europe...(I know this is quite an ironic suggestion for a thread that questions why more Americans don't have passports...)

Got to run....