"Alien" living aboard a US-flagged boat

[ssullivan]

delmarrey once whispered in the wind:
The Philippines!
Where were you?

Touche`
Pardon me for assuming. I was in Europe, mostly.

[wrevans]

I think we should be careful what we wish for when we suggest that people should leave if they disagree with our government. The wealth and prosperity of our country has been created by people with widely different political and religious views. I for one would hate to see the creative folks from California leave (California makes up 13% of the US GDP).

Much of western civilization (Western Europe and North America) are headed towards a demographic where there aren’t enough young people to support the aging. Many countries may have to open their borders to have the young people they need to maintain their standard of living. I would like to see the US as a place that is desirable for our young people and the talent ambitious young from other countries. I worry however, that this is not the case. I guess time will tell.

Bill

"If we do not hang together, surely we shall hang separately",
Benjamin Franklin

[BC Mike]

You have agreement from this quarter. Michael

[delmarrey]

Quote:
"Much of western civilization (Western Europe and North America) are headed towards a demographic where there aren’t enough young people to support the aging. Many countries may have to open their borders to have the young people they need to maintain their standard of living."

I don't like adding fuel to the fire here, BUT it seems the reason for the lack of young people is abortion and the lack of traditional family values .
How many abortions have there been in the last 20 years? What does that do to our population and the population that they would be having now, if alive?
So what do we do? We import the young from other societies. So what happens to our society? All this for money? We're sell out. And those who support this are getting their just deserves and taking the rest of us with them!

If we don't get back on track here. Yes, we're going to pay, and dearly!

[BC Mike]

Boom Bust and Echo would be a good book to read regarding demographics. We need about 2.1 births per family to sustain society at its current numbers and North America is close to that. I think we can accurately attribute the bulge in population to WW2. Italy France and Germany are the Western countries that will likely have a tough time with the baby boomers and its crunch on finances. I do not think that todays abortion is an issue with something that occured about 50 years ago. Todays budgets are an issue because we have to deal with it. There has to be a limit to the upward spiral in population and although abortion is offensive to many it is not the primary source of birth control. Are we getting too far OT with this, if so I am prepared to drop it.
Michael

[wrevans]

I recently read Jim Rogers new book “Adventure Capitalist”. I found it to be an interesting read. He is a multimillionaire who has now traveled around the world twice. First on a motorcycle and now in a fancy Mercedes Benz (SL Convertible on a 4 wheel drive chassis). He noticed some trends that I found very interesting. He believes, as many do, that China will be the next major world power. But the thing that really interested me was his take on the demographic shift in Europe. He felt that this demographic shift would severely limit the ability for many Western European countries to wage war. First there will be a shortage of young man to send to war and second there will be a shortage of tax dollars to pay for war. He also felt that the Chinese may be reluctant to wage war because of the limit they have placed on childbirth. I guess in China you are allowed one child unless it is a girl and then you may try a second time. Jim felt that the offshoot of this policy is that there are a lot of only sons in China. He felt that it is a whole different scenario to send you only son off to war and that the Chinese may not support it. Especially since they have become increasingly prosperous.

A realize that these are just opinions but Jim Rogers has pretty informed opinions and I think it would be nice to see a world with less war.

Bill

[GordMay]

wrevans (Bill) once whispered in the wind:
... I think it would be nice to see a world with less war ...
Bill

AMEN brother - and a very happy holiday season, and prosperous & healthy new year to all of us & ours.

Gord for Maggie

[delmarrey]

Now if we can only convince the terrorists!

[BC Mike]

The reality is that there is probably one billion more people who are eligible to vote today than there was in the late 80s. Yet our perception is one of concern. Why do a lot of folks worry when things are actually going pretty good. Christmas, the end of another year, shortening days, time for reflection, lack of sunlight may all play a part, but in the Southern parts it is the beginning of summer, and the oulook I bet you is different. Peace was the predominant theme of the late 80s and 90s. Let there be peace on earth for all of you. Michael