Welcome to my the bottomless pit that is my mute list Tettleton.
I'd say it was nice knowing you or nice talking to you, but I'd quite honestly rather poke out my eye with a fork than ever have to think about you again.

Oh yeah, let's all move to some country that don't let foreigners in.

By the way the reason Danes are cheerful is that they are drunk most of the time.

I never said move there. I just said it was a great country. It's probably so great because they don't have open immigration.

And I completely agree about them being drunk. They're a blast to take a night off with.

Oh my God the new Satw is perfect for this discussion: http://satwcomic.com/

Great webcomic, highly recommend, but you definitely have to see today's =P

I figured that statment from Humanity in Action .org would have the desired affect.
Geofram, I guess you don't realize that the United States Steel industry was reduced by about 75% in the 1970's so the Chinese buying a steel firm in Mississippi isn't a blip on the radar screen for Americans.

The other thing that you don't seem to realize is that foreign investment in the United States is a good thing not a bad one. Everyone talks about a "trade deficit" as if it represents money leaving the United States when in reality it shows the absolutely massive inflows of foreign capital and goods into the United States.

The government deficit is something completely different, but since it's pretty obvious you either haven't taken Macro or slept through it I'll leave it at that so your not embarrassed.

I wonder if you understand who is the dependent nation in the China-American relationship. If the relationship ended tomorrow China's economy would collapse because it is completely export driven. When you look at the percentage of internal consumption in Chinese GDP it's insignificant. America wouldn't be able to finance Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare if the relationship faltered. That's it. Nothing more.
Germans are pretty infamous for overreaction just like you. I guess you try to ignore the past when it comes to Germany but you do so at your own risk.

Denmark has overt, rigid discrimination. What a great country, right! LOL!
We had that in America a half century ago, but saw the light. I guess that means there is hope for Denmark.

Geofram, Why is China buying anything in the United States? That is the question. Shouldn't China be investing every dime it has in China? If China is such a great economy then the Chinese don't need to go anywhere else to invest do they? They would invest every single dime they could in the dynamic economy you fantasized about.

As a matter of fact China is dependent on the US market. They sell their exports here. The United States can buy from any market that thrives on cheap labor and they exist all over the world.

Whose bonds will China buy if not United States treasuries? Euro deonominated bonds? Pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase.
Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain, and Italy are making a mockery of the Euro as a currency and Euro bonds as investment vehicles.
China could buy German bonds, I do, but there aren't enough German bonds. The German economy isn't big enough.
Only the American economy can absorb China's level of investment and provide a return.
China literally is trapped in its relationship with the United States. We are the only economy large enough to absorb China's exports and investments.

Nah, the Danish racist policies are fairly recent. So any residual greatness stems from olden days.

By the way. Night? I was talking about daytime.

Yes I know. I was talking about my experiences.
It is definitely not residual greatness. Denmark continues to be one a fantastic country for all of the reasons I mentioned previously. Even if they are racist.

I was just pointing out that all of the things you mentioned do not stem from their racist policies.

By the way do you know of _any_ country who has open immigration?

New Zealand.

If by open you mean "will accept anyone."
Spain, UK, France, Norway, Canada, the US, and many many more see huge immigrant growths every year.

No, not quite what I meant. NZ wants skilled labour, they don't have open immigration.

But NZ has the least red tape, I'll grant you that.

Can you show up on their shore and instantly become a citizen? Of course not.
But if you're of good character and haven't been to prison, they'll grant you a permanent residence visa that lets you live there until you're eligible or want to become a full citizen.

Oops. Forgot I was on an account I'm sitting.

No they don't. They allow the work to residence if you are a skilled migrant, or already have a job in NZ. Which is what I meant by stating they want skilled labour.

Still, it's a lot better than most if not all other countries in the world.

Right. Because showing evidence of being skilled at labour requires what? A grade school education? It's not like you get a new birth certificate that says you're a skilled labourer.

I don't understand your question.

Probably because I actually have read the NZ immigration policy. They have an excellent website by the way, you can even take a test to see if you are qualified.

Returning to the topic at hand, people actually consider voting for Mitt the Shit? The man who is only an 'm' from being only a moron instead of a complete retard?
Good luck with that.

It wasn't a question, it was sarcasm. I was 120 of the 100 required without answering yes to anything about job qualifications, trade skills, or higher education. Had I dropped out of grade school, grabbed my GED, and worked at anything for 5 years (not consecutive or at the same job) then I'd be allowed in.

So you're right. If you're some village boy that doesn't know how to read or write, they don't want you. But if you've had a job and at least a grade school education, they'll let you come live and work and if you've held the job for a year, you're in.

@ obiwan

Herman Cain is no idiot. They don't exactly hand out master's degrees in mathematics.

I'd rather have an intelligent businessman who believes in America running the country than Comrade Obama.

Geofram's typically elitist European view doesn't stand up to the reality test.
Of course it's to be expected from a continent that gives out "titles" based on birth and not merit. How utterly ignorant, but that's Europe.
As far as qualifications to immigrate there are literally millions of immigrants in America who came here with nothing by crossing the southern border illegally and have made successful lives for themselves and enriched the country enormously.
They now own homes, businesses, and have families, and they never would have passed some stupid tests.
Who needs ignorant European engineers who think a piece of paper establishes worth.
Let them all go back to the home of Marxism and Fascism. Who needs them? The US certainly doesn't.

Herman Cain could create more jobs in a year than Obama could in two terms.

Still Tim Pawlenty for me at least

Tim Pawlenty is a much more realistic choice than Cain. I'd vote for Tim in a heartbeat over Jimmy Carter Jr. Barack.

Obi I believe distance should make no difference in moral terms.

Maybe in the 12th century if I heard about a disaster in China I could say well, I hope they're alright. But this is the 21st century, and I can be in China in 24 hours if I want. So distance should no longer matter in terms of human morality and compassion.

I care about West Africa because they have a history of being unfairly fucked in the ass despite enormous potential for self-actualization and development. I also care because so few others care. I care about Ghana, thusly, because Ghana is a model for the rest of West Africa - I admire what they have accomplished and would love to support them as a citizen and join their national project.

There are obviously other regions of the world that are in dire need of help too, Oceania, SE Asia, poor Indians and Chinese, central Asians, Middle Easterners, and poor Central Americans. And urban poor the world over. But although distance should be no obstacle, time certainly is, and one cannot devote his life to every cause.

Your statement that you basically only care about the western world, I find that disquieting. The Western world doesn't need to be cared about we're already too rich for our own good.

Put another way - I interpret an oath of allegiance as a promise to devote every ounce of effort to the betterment of the country.

I simply think Ghana needs/deserves this a bit more than the United States.

You yourself might know that Kant (I think it was Kant) thought it unfair that citizenship is foisted on unconsenting newborns. He would have preferred a free choice of citizenship after coming of age. In today's world that is possible.