10-30-2016, 04:33 PM
(10-28-2016, 02:20 PM)Cricket Wrote:(10-28-2016, 12:47 PM)barq Wrote: I've noticed a massive increase in people sleeping on the streets in the last couple of years. Some speak very little English, others have told me the "help" available from the state isn't for them. I knew a guy who found the homeless shelter too intimidating. He was simply too afraid to use them and took his chances sleeping in a burned out factory. Other people don't meet some arbitrary criteria and get nothing from the government.
The question I have is this. Why can our country take OUR tax dollars to help people in countries all over the world, but do little to nothing for Americans that are homeless and starving? What's wrong with this picture?
I especially hate the way our returning soldiers are treated. They risk their lives fighting for the rich and powerful to get richer and more powerful, yet are left to live on the streets and get terrible health care for any injuries they have from fighting for these SOB's.
I have no problem with helping others, but dammit, take care of our own 1st. It's disgusting. I wonder what they'd do if we all stopped paying taxes and refuse to go fight their wars for them. It goes to show you that our government doesn't give a rats behind about us and just use us for THEIR benefit.
America and everything it stood for, is done.
Cricket (one pizzed off bug)
In the UK the justification for spending money on overseas aid (beyond the humanitarian one), is that it is a form of "soft power". I suppose that where we have invaded certain countries we have a moral obligation to help put things back together (although ISIS has shown we haven't done a good job). Certain things make total sense to help abroad, like when there was the ebola outbreak. I think that stopped it hitting America and Europe. Ideally I'd want to do both, help at home and abroad.
I liked Michael Moore's idea that politician's sons should be the first soldiers sent into battle (his Trumpland film/show is now on YouTube, which is quite interesting whatever your politics). Anyway I'm sure it would make them think twice before declaring wars. I agree that any government has a sacred pact to look after their soldiers. In the UK the medical side is taken care of because we have a national healthcare system. But I know soldiers who have really struggled afterwards. If you have been in combat, then coming back to being a civilian is tough for some.
Back to TV... I think older British comedy (e.g. Benny Hill) is harder to understand. I agree Eddie Izzard is brilliant (and I'm very honoured to have met him in person - wearing pink lipstick and a beret to match). UK sitcoms have much shorter runs than in the USA because they tend not to have a team of writers, but maybe one or two people behind it.
My recommendation is "Black Books" (2000-2004) set in a bookshop with an owner who hates customers, new worker who is very enthusiastic (played by Bill Bailey, a great comedian whose other work people might enjoy), and their friend from the shop next door. It is surreal but also slapstick.
If you like darker comedy, then try "The League of Gentlemen" (1999-2002) which is set in a fictional village where there are some very strange goings on. A small cast play a set of grotesque characters. I find it hilarious. But comedy is very personal. We all agree on tragedy, but what is funny for one person is totally unfunny to the next.
All the best,
barq