Was there Al-Queda in Iraq before the US invasion?

[BanginJimmy]

Although the British are superior to the US as of now. The Colonies was just being a *****, and decided to rebel. You make British rule sound like hell, when infact it was just an issue of taxation. Taxes are way worse now, I don't see a rebellion.

how are the British superior?

actually there is a rebellion of sorts, it just isnt being done with guns now. And I agre, taxation was the main reason we rebelled against the British, but it went further than that. It was taxation without representation. Basicly the vast minority of colonists were sick of the tax laws that they had no say in. Its happening again too with the outlandish taxes we pay and the politicians that exploit the uneducated. That why I am a supporter of the fairtax.

4th ammendment protects you from unlawful searches; I never stated that my residence was illegaly searched.

so how are your 4th amerndment rights being violated? Dont bother saying the patriot act either. As much as I hate that law I have enough common sense to know I wont be one of the ones that strike their curiosity and unless you make alot of overseas calls with certian key words you wont be either.

Every state had, slavery at one point in time. And the current prison system with disproportionate prosicution rates is in a sense, slavery. America was built on slavery, what you see today is only the result.

yes evey state had slavery into the early 1800's. There was VERY little above the mason dixon line after about 1820 though.

More blacks goto jail because more blacks commit crimes. I'll have to look it up because I dont have my criminal justice book anymore, but whites who goto trial have a higher conviction rate than blacks do. Most of the people charged with a crime, black,white and everything else, dont goto trial. Most are plea deals for shorter sentences.
How is it slavery when they goto jail after committing a crime? Sounds more like punishment to me. Also dont forget that if they behave in prison they can work jobs and get paid for it. Isnt that the opposite of slavey?

And I dont see what a practice that ended nearly 150 years ago has to do with today. Is there still racism? yes, but there are black racists too and the number of racists that are in a position of any power is so small that its pointless to consider.

Lots of people are and were raped. American Indians, African slaves, Mexican women, college girls, the list goes on and on.

American indians - happened over 100 years ago, time to move on

Slaves - ended nearly 150 years ago, time to move on

Mexican women - probably happened, but it was nearly 200 years ago

college girls - happens everyday, not the govt's fault

Torture? This one is too easy:waterboarding.
We bitched about how the Japanese used water boarding on American POWs and how it was a "war crime", and yet it goes on with the aproval of the government. So much for cruel and unusual punishment. George Bush might as well take the constitution and wipe his ass with it.

Bill of rights only applies to US citizens. Also according to the Geneva conventions rules of war each of them could be summerially executed for not being in uniform during armed conflict.

Jap's also did much worse than waterboarding. One of their favorites was bamboo under the fingernails.

Meritocracy is dead. I have read many books on this, in particular, for your further education look for "The Meritocracy Myth". In brief summary; Meritocracy is dead, because of inheretance, sexism, racism, who you know, your genetics, and your attractiveness.

Like all class systems it incorporates 1 particular trait of a caste system. Those that are born to the upper class have an advantage on those born to lower and middle classes. They also tend to have greater educational oppertunities which keeps the cycle moving. We still have a meritocracy though. Just because we dont move from poverty to wealthy in 1 generation on a regular basis you can improve you standing in society in a single generation. My cousin is a great example of it. She grew up in the lowest rungs of the middle class. She worked hard in school and received a schlorship to DePaul University where she studied English with a minor in pre law. Grad from there on the deans list and received a schlorship to Northwestern University where she again grad on the dean's list and reveived her masters in tax law. She is now working with a company or firm in Manhattan with a sign on bonus large enough for her to BUY a 2 floor condo in Manhattan.

All this can be proven time and time again, rich tend to stay rich. Women make less than men. Whites make more than blacks. Who you know is more important than what you know. Tall people land higher roles than short people. Attractive people get further in life.

rich do tend to stay rich. They also tend to have a better education which may be why they tend to stay rich. Women and minorities do tend to make less money, but that gap is closing quickly.

I like the core values of America but in America we live in today, those are buried behind thick layers of crust.

This I agree with 100%. I also think alot of that is because of liberals and politicans who are owned by lobbiests.

Considering most most American people work 40hours a week or more with less than 3 weeksof unpaid vacation if you're lucky; compared to employess residing in the EU, it is ILLEGAL to work more than 40 hours a week, and it is also ILLEGAL to have less than 1 month minimal paid vacation.

Its a known fact that the average American will work more hours per year than a citizen of any other country in the world, to include the communist countries.

People in this country are so backwards and brainwashed, the inteligence of the populus baffles me. When you're this dumb, you not only deserve to be brainwashed, but to be mandatory, just look at the current president and bear in mind how he came to office. (Not in refrence to you directly)

He came to office becuse he won the beauty contest, then stayed in office after he won it again. The president also gets the credit and blame for alot more than he should. Congress is really the ones that make the decisions. The president is just the face of the nation, not the brains so to speak.

And you are right, American people are some of the dumbest in the 1st world.