Onhwy61 - Please don't mention Chevy Vega. I'm still trying to forget the one I had in 80s. Same goes for 1986 Ford Taurus - even bigger piece of shit. My current 16 year old Toyota Avalon, built in Kentucky, works like Swiss watch. No repairs, no rust - perfection. It all depends on design and management. China makes some bad stuff but also makes Apple computers. Stereophile mentioned once that quality of one of the British audio companies actually improved when they moved to China (perhaps modernizing assembly line). Surface mount electronic assembling is a very well controlled process and it practically doesn't matter where executed. When I have a choice I always try to buy "Made in USA" but won't buy another Ford ever, sorry. |
So we're guilty of not being healthy? That's really funny.
That way you can explain absolutely everything. For instance: "Poverty is bad and people shouldn't do it" |
"Yeah, who do you think taught Japanese how to make cars"
You mean cars like Edsel, Chevy Corvair., Ford Maveric, Ford Pinto, Ford Tempo, Ford Taurus, Chevy Vega, Chevy Chevette, Chevy Citation, AMC Pacer, AMC Gremlin, Doge Omni, Plymouth Horizon, Pontaic GTO, Cadilac Eldorado?
They must've been not listening when we taught them. |
"Not sure who taught them how to screw up with nuclear power though"
Perhaps we did.
In 1979 "Three Mile Island" accident we managed to make meldown and release of radioactive gases plus 40,000galons of radioactive waste into the river without any Earthquake or Tsunami.
Japan had 3 nuclear accidents so far, we had 10. |
"Kijanki, are you listening to what we are saying or what? "
Yes, I do, but understanding you is the hard part. |
Magfan,
Imagine, that restaurant you own poisoned and killed many people. There are many lawsuits against you, but you announced bankruptcy, judge waived off any legal action against you (while restaurant still operates) and next day you register the same restaurant as a new business with the same name and owner. Impossible? GM did just that. Why would you even attempt manufacturing safe cars when you know that at the end nothing is going to happen to you.
In 1975 Toyota made safety standard for the rest of the world with Corolla - a car that can hit wall at 40mph without any injury to driver. At the same time similar exercise with Chevy Chevette virtually guaranteed dead of the driver.
Japanese did not put Coke bottles or nuts for a joke - they believed in what they were doing and it shows today.
We cannot even comprehend dedication to work they have. Manager of water supply in Tokyo committed suicide after being unable to provide water to residents. |
"Where and when?"
1979: Three Mile Island, nr. Harrisburg, Pa.: one of two reactors lost its coolant, which caused overheating and partial meltdown of its uranium core. Some radioactive water and gases were released. This was the worst accident in U.S. nuclear-reactor history. (approximately 2.5 million curies of radioactive gases, and approximately 15 curies of iodine-131 plus 40,000 gallons of radioactive waste into Susquehanna River). Cleanup cost - $1 billion.
That's two major accidents. There were 8 others smaller accidents with deaths or steam release. |
"Let us be French for a change"
After God created France, he thought it was the most beautiful country in the world. People were going to get jealous, so, to make things fair, he decided to create the French. |
Inna, joke aside I don't mind being French. Somehow they work shorter hours, have longer vacation, eat at the restaurants, have safe retirement and free healthcare - best in the world, according to World Health Organization.
Japan is not the country I'd like to live in, in spite of having nephew there. |
According to their statistics we are at #37 just before Slovenia. Statistics include hospital errors, premature deaths, still born children etc. but it is not really that relevant since 40 million cannot afford any insurance at all. It is partially because it costs us twice more than in the other countries for the exactly same thing (we're suckers). Insurance is not really insurance when they find out that you have terminal illness. First you loose job then Cobra, then nobody signs insurance with you since your expenses are guaranteed and not statistical. It happened to Firefighter in my neighborhood - first he lost job, then insurance, then life savings and home (to voluntary pay for treatments) and finally died leaving family without a penny living under the bridge. Can you imagine that we have families that cannot afford prescription glasses for children or take them to doctor when they feel bad. We also have senior citizens that have to choose between food and medication. I have good job and insurance and recently had double insurance both medical and the dental but I am not selfish and just cannot watch what is happening to less fortunate because healthcare is treated like business. When healthcare is business it makes no sense to cure asthma because treating it brings more money. You need kidney transplant? - with no insurance you're not even in line for it. You cut yourself? - prepare needle and thread, many people do. |
"vast majority of us don't like that Classe move"
- most likely. I was not happy either finding that my Metabo drill was made in PRC (they avoid word China as much as possible) since it was pride and tradition of making them in Germany. Quality wise drill is absolutely amazing. Many people have Audioqest cables being sure it is US made. After finding that Audioquest makes them in China for many years cables suddenly start sounding worse.
Jea48 - Yes, they got the same disease. The reason I don't care much for Japan is life governed by tradition and obedience. There is nothing sadder than watching Japanese Rock and Roll band with pretend moves and emotions. On the top of that government that always knows better, police that beats prisoners (while nobody minds) and your company that you have to share your private life with. Not for me. |
Rok2id - That would be step in the right direction and I agree there should be some deductible but in many countries it is completely free and it works just fine being much more effective than our health care. I hear often this mantra "Our system is the best in the world" but there is no data to back it up. It is insurance companies propaganda to protect their interest. The truth is that in the world of business doctor has no incentives to make you healthy. He makes more money when you're sick. Objective is just wrong. I went few times to doctor who doesn't recognize me, writes things in the file during conversation but next time doesn't even read it. Elderly people who cannot afford medication go to Canada with prescriptions to buy exactly the same brand for 1/2 the cost getting it confiscated at the border on the way back. It is shame, and please do not come with horse analogies. When horse is dead unmounting it seems to be the best strategy. |
Inna, Welfare system in this country is completely screwed up promoting laziness. We are responsible for what we do with our life and should be rewarded accordingly but with few exceptions we're not responsible for disease or genes we have. Healthcare cost skyrockets while at the same time profits of insurance companies do the same. For many people the best chance to resolve health issues is to get to prison. We should stop this insanity. |
One of the important statistics is infant mortality rate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_infant_mortality_rate
Please notice where we are. Many says that gov. run healthcare would not work but it does in Europe, it does for our Veterans and seems to be appreciated by our Congress. |
Another interesting point is that our healthcare cost twice more per person than most European countries:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_total_health_expenditure_%28PPP%29_per_capita |
Nonoise, It was obvious to me. I even suspected that whole reform was just to throw in this one sentence about government not to interfere with market mechanisms making collective bargaining illegal and sending drug companies profits thru the roof. "Scam" is about right. |
Nonoise, If collective bargaining is such bad things why then 5 states that have teachers collective bargaining ban resulted in combined SAT/ACT as follows:
South Carolina -- 50th
North Carolina -- 49th
Georgia -- 48th
Texas -- 47th
Virginia -- 44th |
Andr,
It is all global. Oil companies drill in US for free on governement (common) land with all gov. subsidies (tax breaks) but can sell oil wherever they want. It was shown recently that US became net oil exporter. We still import crude oil but export a lot of oil products.
China is expanding in exponential rate. They're building 50 nuclear power stations, many solar power stations and became world largest car manufacturer. It might be smart to start learning Chinese. |
Only about 30% (4 Trillion) of our debt is foreign - rest we owe to companies and individuals that are in the Federal Reserve program. People and Companies that lend this monies (with gov. guaranteed interest) want, like any lender to increase size of the loan (debt). This is done by lowering government income so that we have to borrow more. The only government income are taxes. Now it becomes obvious why some want to lower taxes as much as possible.
I might be wrong on this but when stock market was over-speculated and bubble burst in 30s government placed tight regulations and we had no problems for 50 years until Reagan started deregulating financial sector in 80s. Same Reagan left us with 3.7 Trillion debt. Housing crisis started not because people suddenly got less responsible but because banks started giving questionable loans knowing they can sell them to other banks (lack of regulations). Classe! (on the subject) |
Many successful people automatically assume that person complaining about social injustice has to be unsuccessful. They just cannot comprehend that other people, like Warren Buffet, see more than themselves. |
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