American Life : Some questions

LouBelle

There are a couple of things I'd like to know about you guys:

** Why does it seem that SO many have wooden homes?

** 401k - is this a pension plan of sorts & are you obligated to take one?

** Do most of you drive an automatic?

** Are really proud to be an American?

** Do you bother to find out about the world around you? yes there is a world outside of you guys.

** What is this American Dream & do you believe in it?

** Aren't you really just decended from the british anyways?

** Is fast food your way of life?

just prodding and poking around, doing a lil bit of ground work.

kurtbethel

There are a couple of things I'd like to know about you guys:

** Why does it seem that SO many have wooden homes?

People build with the cheapest useful materials available, lots of trees.

** 401k - is this a pension plan of sorts & are you obligated to take one?

Private pension plan. The public one is called Social Security.

** Do most of you drive an automatic?

Don't know numbers, but it is lots.

** Are really proud to be an American?

Californian. Most Americans are....those people!

** Do you bother to find out about the world around you? yes there is a world outside of you guys.

I know my way around a global map, but I am kind of strange in these parts. Most here would be hard pressed to find Peoria, much less Pretoria.

** What is this American Dream & do you believe in it?

American Dream is to own a house and be generally prosperous. It is bogus. Most Americans have almost no savings and are deep in hock to the banks to pay for "their" home.

** Aren't you really just decended from the british anyways?

Who isn't? When they were not wanking, they were breeding. Most Americans are also descended from people from almost everywhere, including natives.

** Is fast food your way of life?

Bleah!

just prodding and poking around, doing a lil bit of ground work.

Great. There is a law that they will not let you visit unless you bring 4 cases of pinotage. I happen to be a claims agent to verify it is of proper vintage and quality. Just so you know.

LouBelle

are you asking me for a bribe of some sorts? 4 cases of pinotage - huh? any specific estate sir? Always good to know whose who.

I've just ordered 6 bottles of a fabulous Merlot.

IP_SEC

** Why does it seem that SO many have wooden homes?

kurtb said it

** 401k - is this a pension plan of sorts & are you obligated to take one?

Private pension plan. The public one is called Social Security. Some ppl dont know you can opt out of Social Security. Few take the time to do it.

** Do most of you drive an automatic?

Its hard to get a manual shift trani these days

** Are really proud to be an American?

Im not American. Well I live on the N American cont but am a Texas citizen residing in Louisiana. I am not a citizen of DC (US citizen)

** Do you bother to find out about the world around you? yes there is a world outside of you guys.

Of course. People here are like people everywhere. Some are lazy and stupid. Some are not.

** What is this American Dream & do you believe in it?

Propaganda

** Aren't you really just decended from the british anyways?

I am English, German, Spanish, French, Dutch Native American

** Is fast food your way of life?

Eat it sometimes. Dont really like it.

jeeprube

We have wooden homes because we have a lot of wood.

A 401k is a pension plan in which you contribute part of your hourly wage and your employer matches that contribution, all tax free. It's a neat little way of foisting part of a retirement plan onto an employee.

Most of us do drive automatics, even though standard transmissions are more fuel efficient, last longer, and are way more fun....but hey how else can we eat our donuts and fast food breakfast on the way to work?

I am proud to be an American yes. I am not proud of George W. Bush or ANY of his Republican cronies. The beauty of our political system is on display right now. However bad it gets, we can still change it.

I do pay attention to the world outside of the U.S. Part of reason I voted for Pres. Obama was because I felt he could repair our standing within the world community. He's off to a pretty good start.

The American dream is simple.....anybody can succeed. With enough hard work anybody can find success. You can be born to the poorest of parents, and still rise to the top. This is still true despite the past eight years of Bush policies aimed at moving wealth up wards and cutting the legs out from under the middle class.

Yes we have a strong British lineage, we were a set of British colonies after all. We also have a variety of other cultures mixed in, we truly are a "melting pot." It's one of our greatest strengths.

Fast food is a way of life for far too many in our country. If you drive past a McDonald's at any time of day the drive through is full of cars, yes most people are even too lazy to get out of their car and walk inside to get their fat pills. Personally, I eat a very healthy diet, work out every day, train in martial arts, take supplements including Omega 3, and study for college classes. We're not all fat losers.

coffee_black

There are a couple of things I'd like to know about you guys:

** Why does it seem that SO many have wooden homes? Lots of trees...but it is somewhat regional...for example most homes in Florida are cement block...or mobile homes.

** 401k - is this a pension plan of sorts & are you obligated to take one? It's a pension plan that is optional.

** Do most of you drive an automatic? I've driven both. My present car is automatic.

** Are really proud to be an American? yes, but not proud of all Americans

** Do you bother to find out about the world around you? yes there is a world outside of you guys. Of course we bother. Sheesh... It's tough to find accurate information though... media is biased in all parts of the world, as is evident in the phrasing of your question. Sounds like you've fallen for the myth that we're all a bunch of fat, ignorant, self absorbed idiots.

** What is this American Dream & do you believe in it? Self sufficiency... successful career..security for self and family... It's still possible with hard work and determination.

** Aren't you really just decended from the british anyways? Nope. Swedish and American Indian here. Lots of diversity.

** Is fast food your way of life? Nope.... in fact almost never.

just prodding and poking around, doing a lil bit of ground work.

Coffee

AK - Jeff

** Why does it seem that SO many have wooden homes?

A majority of homes are wooden framed - though not all. Are you referring to homes made of logs or wooden siding? That is pretty regional in my experience.

** 401k - is this a pension plan of sorts & are you obligated to take one?

401K is a program that allows people to have a retirement funded with pretax monies - there is no obligation to participate, though many corporations match some percentage of the contribution, so most who have a plan prob take advantage of it.

** Do most of you drive an automatic?

Nope - all my cars are automatic right now - but many cars are 4 or 5 speed manual transmissions.

** Are really proud to be an American?

Yes. This is a fine country. Freedom of expression, religion, lifestyle is the law. We are not without our problems - but as long as the constitution is upheld we have a fine place to live for most.

** Do you bother to find out about the world around you? yes there is a world outside of you guys.

I know about the rest of the world - find much of it fascinating. But I confine my life to here, to home, as I suppose most people of most countries do also. America is very large, the diversity of climate and landscape is amazing - unlike many smaller countries. Many Americans travel all over the world, and the world outside loves our tourist dollars, while at the same time hating us.

** What is this American Dream & do you believe in it?

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Yes.

** Aren't you really just decended from the british anyways?

Nope. America is a melting pot. We have many cultures and nationalities pooled here. I am from German stock - my wife is from Irish family. Italians, dutch, french, polish, all proliferate here. Detroit has a large population of Iraqis. We have a lot of British immigrants here - modern ones. I have known of several families from there. But I know of no one who proclaims original british blood around here.

** Is fast food your way of life?

Not mine. Though many eat far too much fast food admittedly.

coffee_black

"A 401k is a pension plan in which you contribute part of your hourly wage and your employer matches that contribution, all tax free. It's a neat little way of foisting part of a retirement plan onto an employee"

Not all employers match the employee contribution. Some do more...some not at all... It's tax free until you withdraw it...and then it's subject to being taxed

Coffee

LouBelle

Sounds like you've fallen for the myth that we're all a bunch of fat, ignorant, self absorbed idiots.

Well that's what one is presented.....from the American media no less.

I did study a little bit of American history way back when, so I'm catching up, especially that I'll be visiting - so got to get to know what really goes on in those amercian brains.

coffee_black

"Well that's what one is presented.....from the American media no less. "

I know....it's pretty pathetic....and it is also not true. You'll find that out when you visit. Where/when are you visiting?

Coffee

American Life : Some questions

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