Everyone knows I’m not big on politics. I figure I’ve been voting indirectly ever since I was 20 years old…..with my feet.
That’s what economists say. You ultimately vote with your feet. If people don’t like something they eventually just get up and leave. Voting is for the actively complacent to mildly dissatisfied. The real dissenters go somewhere else.
Anyway, did anyone see that Cat Stevens (now known as Yusaf Islam) is on a government watch list and his plane from Bangkok to Washington was diverted to prevent him from entering the country?
It seems Cat Stevens is a threat to national security! The man sang a song called “I love my dog” for heaven’s sake. So what if he’s grown his hair a little long and wears a robe nowadays? Might as well put all of San Francisco on a government list too if that’s the case.
So what does that have to do with voting? I’m getting really close to thinking that all this has gone too far. I’m certainly not saying Vote Kerry cause I can’t say he’d be any better and I don’t like to give concrete advice…it’s too self-indulgent, but shit….Cat Stevens?? Have you ever listened to his music? He retired and moved to London and raised 5 kids. I don’t see anything all that subversive in that.
He did go Muslim and changed the name….but so what? Prince changed his name to a fucking symbol!!! Nobody put him on a list (probably because they couldn’t figure out how).
I know in the past he has said some public and negative things about the US. Ok. He is a turbinwearing Muslim and doesn’t love the US.
Let’s examine those negatives (because otherwise he is a law abiding father and husband living in London for decades with no criminal record and a history of speaking and singing about peace).
He is Muslim: Freedom of religion. Ever heard of it?
He said negative things about the US: Freedom of speech. Ring a bell?? Maybe not.
Sorry…I got off on a tanget. Don’t let me talk about politics. I prefer to vote with my feet. Anyone know a good emigration lawyer? Leave phone numbers if you do.
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As bad as the U.S. is it is still best country in the world. Can’t see getting an emigration lawyer to leave to go to France where taxes are greater than 50%.
Wow. This coming from a man who may have spent a month out of this country his entire life…..and has never lived abroad.
How would you know the US is the best country in the world? What basis for comparison do you have?
I think I would be the one to make this judgement.
The median tax wedge in the US is around 40%. So what if France’s is 50% (it is actually 48%)? They work 35 hours a week, have national health care and are protected from the trauma of unemployment by government support.
In the US this year more people will declare bancruptcy than will graduate from college, 1 out of every 7 citizens goes without health insurance, and 1 of every 4 children lives below the poverty level.
All this in the richest nation on the planet…with about triple the GDP of the next richest nation. With a whopping 11 trillion of wealth we argue about tax cuts for the rich and whether Cat Steven’s should be let into the country.
You think taxes are bad because in the US we don’t get anything for our money…because you’ve always been told they’re bad. In other countries people gladly pay their taxes….and that isn’t just heresay. I’ve had real people tell me that.
Leave the US, live in a few other countries for a year or two….and then I’ll be happy to have this conversation with you.