Off topic - European vs U.S. way of thinking and food
#1
Posted 01 June 2006 - 12:13 AM
#2
Posted 01 June 2006 - 02:17 AM
Have been enjoying a visit with my brother in Brussels ... long conversation last night about the
differences between the culture in Europe, compared to the U.S.
I perceive Americans as being very optimistic, generous and bold .... (certainly not
everyone ... but generally speaking). These are qualities I love ... and Texans, especially,
like to live "large!" OK ... so, SUV's are not fuel efficient, but we seem to believe that a
magic alternative to petrol will eventually appear . And when one "believes" .... well,
who knows what will happen. I like rose colored glasses.
My brother has worked for large companies in Canada, the U.S. and now, in Belguim. His
first impression is that most Europeans see the pie as "shrinking" ... that there is not enough
for everyone ... that there is more fear and insecurity. And perhaps, as he says ... there is
some reason to fear. Regrettably, this way of thinking tends to bring on the very thing we
are afraid of .... whether that be in our personal lives, or in our progress as a nation..
The U.S. certainly has it's problems, but I have undying optimism in it's ability to tackle
these with integrity, creativity and determination. I'm not an American, but I love my adopted
Texas home and I love the American spirit.
Food, art and architecture in Brussels, however, is superb!
And I thought Whole Foods Market had the best of everything.
Good day to all, C.C.
Youre-a-peons always think there's not enough resources to go around. Makes em fight each other with xenophobia. Been that way for thousands of years. Look how many countries in that little packed space. Thats how Hitler came about.. Lebensraum and his great theory that there wasn't enough resources for everyone back then.. in 1940s lol. Few billion people later, they still think that way.
#3
Posted 01 June 2006 - 05:04 AM
Have been enjoying a visit with my brother in Brussels ... long conversation last night about the
differences between the culture in Europe, compared to the U.S.
I perceive Americans as being very optimistic, generous and bold .... (certainly not
everyone ... but generally speaking). These are qualities I love ... and Texans, especially,
like to live "large!" OK ... so, SUV's are not fuel efficient, but we seem to believe that a
magic alternative to petrol will eventually appear . And when one "believes" .... well,
who knows what will happen. I like rose colored glasses.
My brother has worked for large companies in Canada, the U.S. and now, in Belguim. His
first impression is that most Europeans see the pie as "shrinking" ... that there is not enough
for everyone ... that there is more fear and insecurity. And perhaps, as he says ... there is
some reason to fear. Regrettably, this way of thinking tends to bring on the very thing we
are afraid of .... whether that be in our personal lives, or in our progress as a nation..
The U.S. certainly has it's problems, but I have undying optimism in it's ability to tackle
these with integrity, creativity and determination. I'm not an American, but I love my adopted
Texas home and I love the American spirit.
Food, art and architecture in Brussels, however, is superb!
And I thought Whole Foods Market had the best of everything.
Good day to all, C.C.
Youre-a-peons always think there's not enough resources to go around. Makes em fight each other with xenophobia. Been that way for thousands of years. Look how many countries in that little packed space. Thats how Hitler came about.. Lebensraum and his great theory that there wasn't enough resources for everyone back then.. in 1940s lol. Few billion people later, they still think that way.
"there wasn't enough resources for everyone back then.. in 1940s lol. ..everything takes time"..
just give it time (like market tops and bottoms)..until then we can enjoy (who can)
everything has its limit (even optimism and pessimism..as reality always checks both in the end)
it all depends on one's timeframe when theorizing such things..an average lifespan (own lifespan) vs over a longer period as 1940s-now is a drop in the ocean timewise
#4
Posted 01 June 2006 - 09:04 AM
Carl Swenlin, founder of Decision Point and original Fearless Forecasters board.
#5
Posted 01 June 2006 - 09:23 AM
Mark S Young
Wall Street Sentiment
Get a free trial here:
http://wallstreetsen...t.com/trial.htm
You can now follow me on twitter
#6
Posted 01 June 2006 - 11:35 AM
Also, there are some web interviews with him that are fantastic.
http://video.google....or davis hanson
#7
Posted 01 June 2006 - 12:13 PM
Trade is NOT a zero sum game.
I'm better off owning your widgets and you're better off with my money...otherwise we'd not trade.
Man is a trader and he is nobler for the effort.
Profit is how we measure the needs of our fellow man and our ability to fulfill them.
Somewhere along the line, the Europeans forgot this and embraced the culture of looting. When you're a looter rather than a trader, you have to view life as a zero sum game--there's only so much stuff to take (because when institutionalized theft is rampant, there's little impetus to be more productive), and if you don't get it someone else will.
There's lots of stuff we can do for each other, but we have to be able to freely trade value for value. This country does that better than most, but I can only imagine the great things Europe could do if they embraced the same philosophy of rational individualism coupled with the goodwill that effective capitalists have embraced.
Dum spiro, spero.
Mark
HEAR HEAR !!
#8
Posted 02 June 2006 - 05:51 AM
Edited by calmcookie, 02 June 2006 - 05:53 AM.