<p>Nice job Zaphod, cleaning this kid's clock. Bravo!</p>
<p>I second the bravo. You are now my hero :D</p>
<p>Now, now, Zaphod, be fair -- ALL public school isn't bad! Here in the good ol' Midwestern state of Missouri, I'd dare say public school is certainly on par with private, if not above (in my town at least). We, at least, have large enough class sizes to have debates like this one <em>points to Zaphod's fine, fine, rhetoric in post #79</em> in class, as opposed to the private school in town that has a graduating class with a grand total of...2. While the two high schools have well over 1200 seniors...</p>
<p>But on many other aspects of your argument, I heartly agree. Thank you for voicing what the rest of us wanted to say but couldn't verbalize.</p>
<p>Thanks for the kind words. :o</p>
<p>I'd pretty much stayed over on the USNA board until now, and only came over here to post that Business School article. Then I ran across this little gem, and couldn't resist.</p>
<p>Maybe I'll hang around for a while! :D</p>
<p>Zaphod, great post! What I find so sad is that this kid shows absolutely no respect for those who serve (like you) or want to serve (like many of these kids). His disdain for anyone with remotely conservative views is the same kind of close-minded thinking that has distanced the democratic party from mainstream America. That this view comes out so strongly and so angerly from a kid makes me very worried for our country... And then I remember all the other kids on this board! ;)</p>
<p>Just to be clear, I SERVED (past tense). </p>
<p>I am no longer in uniform, but you never quite give it up. It's a part of you, especially when you're a grad.</p>
<p>As for Mr. Confused over here, he is either senselessly emotional, or has been duped by the blockheaded adults around him. Yes, his disdain for the America in general and anything not communistic in particular is typical of the kind of "progressive" (they can't even be honest with themselves and use the word LIBERAL) we see far too often these days.</p>
<p>I worry for my country not because of kids like Confused, but rather because so many folks in power actually think the same way, yet pass themselves off as patriots in order to get elected.</p>
<p>You listening, Hillary, you chameleonic B*TCH?</p>
<p>By the way if you want to look at poverty and income equality look at this list of countries based on the gap between rick and poor.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_income_equality%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_income_equality</a></p>
<p>Note that America is #92 meaning that 91 countries have less of an inequality. And guess what, most of the top 10 are (gasp) socialist. Norway, Sweden, Czech Republic.</p>
<p>But if you don't like that let's look at the poverty line.</p>
<p>These are OFFICIAL NUMBERS released by the US Gov.
The official poverty rate in the U.S. has increased for four consecutive years, from a 26-year low of 11.3% in 2000 to 12.7% in 2004. This means that 37.0 million people were below the official poverty thresholds in 2004. This is 5.4 million more than in 2000. The poverty rate for children under 18 increased from 16.2% to 17.8% over that period.</p>
<p>France has a 6.5 percent poverty rale and Belgium has a 4 percent poverty rate. Both socialists. Austria-3.9 percent. What now? I thought socialism sucked. And don't mix socialism and communism, there's a difference. Socialism is the good one.</p>
<p>If you think for one second, that other country's consider poverty levels even close to the relative level of luxury that US "poverty" levels exhibit.....Rediculous!</p>
<p>You are comparing apples with olive pits.</p>
<p>what about the income inequality?</p>
<p>The following are facts about persons defined as "poor" in America by the Census Bureau, taken from various government reports:</p>
<pre><code>* Forty-six percent of all poor households actually own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.
* Seventy-six percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, 30 years ago, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.
* Only 6 percent of poor households are overcrowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.
* The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)
* Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30 percent own two or more cars.
* Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television; over half own two or more color televisions.
* Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception.
* Seventy-three percent own microwave ovens, more than half have a stereo, and a third have an automatic dishwasher.
</code></pre>
<p>Confused, </p>
<p>Being in the top 5 percent of your class and having a 2200 on your SAT is no big deal. There are lots of kids like that. Pretty much every kid who gets into a US Service Academy has those stats plus a ton of real ECs.</p>
<p>These are smart kids, just like you, but who have said they are willing to serve and perhaps die so that you can bloviate agaisnt all they hold dear. </p>
<p>The proper response to them and to their parents is simply, "Thank you."</p>
<p>west point sat range :Combined: 1160 1360 </p>
<p>west point: Top 10 percent of high school class: 49%</p>
<p>berkeley:Combined: 1200 1450 </p>
<p>berkeley Top 10 percent of high school class: 99%</p>
<p>keep in mind berkeley is my guranteed and dont even try to compare stats again, they don't even come close. </p>
<p>P.S. WP being the most prestigious MMA and Berkeley being one of my less difficult schools, the comparision speaks volumes.
All the data came from US NEWS World and Report, based on what was submitted to them from colleges. So don't make bs comparisions.</p>
<p>and the definition of poverty i gave was based on "America's poverty line, defined for a family of four as an income of less than $19,157" That's not exactly a radical poverty line . Since between 12, 13 percent is in range that's nothing to brag about</p>
<p>dont EVER forget that confused is better than everybody here.</p>
<p>why cant it be people like you that take bullets?</p>
<p>
[quote]
west point sat range :Combined: 1160 1360</p>
<p>west point: Top 10 percent of high school class: 49%</p>
<p>berkeley:Combined: 1200 1450</p>
<p>berkeley Top 10 percent of high school class: 99%</p>
<p>keep in mind berkeley is my guranteed and dont even try to compare stats again, they don't even come close.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Sounds to me like West Point and the other Service Academies all provide more opportunities to the masses than the hyper-elite Berkeley, who only provides opportunity to the high and mighty.</p>
<p>Interesting that you complain about the income and results disparity in the United States, but champion it for your communism factory. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Son, Don't even try to compare that *****hole with a service academy. There is no comparison. Berzerkly is composed of a bunch of Berkenstock-wearing, long-haired, maggot-infested, dope-smoking, communist idiots who hide behind tenure because reality would rape them at high noon on Sunday in front of the main gate as the marching band went by. The only place you ever see graduates from that esteemed center of complete dimentia is in liberal "think" tanks and at Bezerkley itself. The exceptions are few and far between. You won't be one of them. You're not bright enough, and you seem to have drunk the Kool-Aid along with the rest of the Young Socialists going there.</p>
<p>As for poverty in America, I'm still waiting for you to address Taffy's points made above. Of course, you won't because you can't.</p>
<p>I don't know where you got this fictious ranking from (probably some pointy-headed intellectual in the Berzerkley economics department who has never held a real job), but reality shows that you don't see the worlds poor fighting (and dying) to get into Norway. They fight and die to get HERE. Of course, when they do get here from communist countries, your side loves to send them back after storming the homes of American citizens and pointing guns at THEM. Wish you guys could muster up that much hatred for the folks who want to KILL US. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>I would rather be gutter-crawling poor in this country than the king of Norway. At least here I can pull myself up by the bootstraps and create my own success. That's possible because aside from being the richest nation in the history of this planet, we are (despite your sides desperate attempts to the contrary) still the MOST FREE. Also, if Communism and Socialism are so wonderful, please explain why the Soviet Union fell, why the emerging nations are all switching over to market economies (capitalism), and why the socialist countries of Europe find themselves no longer able to support the facade of economic success they've been holding up?</p>
<p>
[quote]
why cant it be people like you that take bullets?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Oh, my dear, dear Taffy. That would be delicious, wouldn't it?</p>
<p>But hey, these are the people who stood by as 2,500 Americans were murdered in one morning (I won't include the folks in the Pentagon because, after all, they deserved it, right?) and within a week were blaming Bush, calling the dead little Eichman's, asking why the world hated us (rather than what area of the world should we lay waste to first), and that we need a Department of Peace in the government.</p>
<p>Sadly, however, these cowards hide behind the protection offered by the very people they revile. The live under the freedom that the very nation they despise guarantees them. The enjoy the prosperity of the very system they seek to destroy. They are the highest form of hypocrite.</p>
<p>The only reason they are still alive is because it is illegal to shoot them. They are a cancer on our society. </p>
<p>Oh, and Confused (talk about an appropriate name. Should be Clueless)? I would rather crawl wounded through a muddy sewer pipe without a weapon and receiving incoming fire from the entire Republican Guard with no hope of rescue or survival with the LOWEST-SCORING West-Point NOMINEE, than sit drinking champagne with the HIGHEST-ranking GRADUATE of Berzerkley in an upscale space bar overlooking the rings of Saturn.</p>
<p>Oh, and one other thing. I like the stats you posted on Berzerkley vs. USXA. Really nice. (They wish.)</p>
<p>Let me ask you something. Which school has had a bigger impact on the history of the United States? Berzerkley or West Point? Berzerkley or Annapolis? Obviously test scores and rankings aren't everything. Being smart does not translate into being intelligent (I mean, look at YOU for Pete's sake!). Having a high SAT score doesn't mean you can think under pressure (Hell, at Berzerkley, you don't need to THINK at all, you get an "A" just for FEELING.) Just because you have a high ranking doesn't mean you can actually LEAD the people below you.</p>
<p>Always remember, sweetheart, that your precious little school is the laughingstock of everyone off-campus.</p>
<p>So what's your handle on DUh?</p>
<p>
[quote]
France has a 6.5 percent poverty rale and Belgium has a 4 percent poverty rate. Both socialists. Austria-3.9 percent.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>So what the hell are you doing posting on the internet from Los Angeles? Get on a plane and move your ass to France or Belgium or Austria! </p>
<p>Go on! Put your money where your mouth is! DO IT!</p>
<p>
[quote]
What now? I thought socialism sucked.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It does. You're just too stupid to realize it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
And don't mix socialism and communism, there's a difference. Socialism is the good one.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yeah. Communism is what immediately follows when the people get fed up with the government taking everything they have and giving it to those who don't deserve it (Socialism), and then decide to say so. Besides, wasn't it you touting the COMMUNIST manifesto above, and espousing how wonderful it all is? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>You do realize you're comparing systems that support populations smaller than most STATES in this country, right?</p>
<p>And I already told you to use better sources then Wikipedia. If you don't listen to good advice, then it's no wonder you're so clueless.</p>
<p>Oh, and if you're going to Berzerkley, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING CONTAMINATING THIS FORUM? Why aren't you over there in THEIR forum planning the next "Impeach Bush, Kill-the-Troops, and Burn-The-Flag" rally?</p>
<p>Confused, </p>
<p>Lighten up. My point wasn't that you have to be smarter to go to a Service Academy than to go to Berkley, but that there are lots of smart kids who don't think the same way you do. </p>
<p>Moreover, if you go back and look, I didn't make a catagorical statement. Your statistics prove my point. A lot of kids who get into West Point could get into Berkley. Or anywhere else.</p>
<p>For crying out loud, that is what makes this country great -- we all don't think the same but we all have the same right to be as smart or stupid as we choose to be.</p>
<p>Oh, and what basis in fact or experience, do you have to say one Academy is more prestigous than another?</p>
<p>
[quote]
A lot of kids who get into West Point could get into Berkley.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>They could, but only if they only thought "correctly". :rolleyes:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Oh, and what basis in fact or experience, do you have to say one Academy is more prestigous than another?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'll answer this one on its own.</p>
<p>Generally speaking, the more well-known a school is, the higher the prestige, assuming all other things are equal. Let's remain (as your question does) strictly within the realm of the Service Academies.</p>
<p>So, we have West Point, Annapolis, Air Force, Kings Point, and Coast Guard.</p>
<p>West Point is, undoubtedly (and much to my chagrin), the most well-known among them. After all, it appears in the history of the revolution and is very prominent in any history of the Civil War. Oftentimes people have heard of "West Point" but have no idea what the United States Military Academy is. They DO know, however, that special people come from there (I can hear the Woop egos inflating as I type! ;) )</p>
<p>The close second in terms of recognizability (and nothing else, dammit!) is my beloved alma mater, Annapolis. In our case, we really didn't make an impact by name on the history books until WWII, when guys like Halsey, Nimitz, Spruance, and the like got on the stage. Sad considering we were founded before the Civil War began. Oh, well. Much like the Point, however, most people recognize the name "Annapolis" more than they do United States Naval Academy.</p>
<p>Pet peave: </p>
<p>"Where did you go to school?"</p>
<p>"The Naval Academy."</p>
<p>"Cool! Which one?"</p>
<p>:rolleyes:</p>
<p>Sometimes (and this frosts me to no end), I have to describe the place as, "You know how the Army has West Point? Well, we have Annapolis." Of course, I always add "We're better!" ;)</p>
<p>Then comes the Air Force, which is well-known primarily because they play against Army and Navy (remember, I'm talking strictly OUTSIDE the military community). They've only been around since the 60's, yet they have developed the (quite accurate) reputation as a great engineering school.</p>
<p>Now, if I lay my biases aside, I can tell you that West Point probably deserves the reputation as the best LEADERSHIP school, and that Air Force may deserve the reputation as the best ENGINEERING school, but USNA probably deserves the reputation as having the best combination of BOTH. That is what I've seen, and even with these differences, they are usually lost in the moment when a person realizes just where that ring on your finger is from. Within the Service Academy community, there is that level of extremely-grannular comparison, but otherwise the differences are so small as to be insignificant. To us, anyway.</p>
<p>Now come the other two upstarts. ;)</p>
<p>The fact is that hardly anyone has heard of the Coast Guard Academy (Oh! Annapolis!). Sad, but true. It also has the reputation for being a bit more specialized to its mission. Again, details only those inside would really know.</p>
<p>Then there is King's Point. To give you an idea of just how unknown it is, I applied to USNA, USCGA, and SUNY Maritime College (which is DIRECTLY ACROSS THE WATER from USMMA), and I didn't know where on Long Island it was. However, if some of what I've read here is true, then that is a sad fact because apparently USMMA (perhaps due to the nature of what it prepares its grads for) puts out some SERIOUSLY qualified BUSINESS leaders.</p>
<p>So there they are. Best in their respective missions among equals, and I'll stack them man for man against any (and I do mean ANY) other university on the planet. </p>
<p>You want high-quality, extremely proficient geeks? Go see MIT. You want outstanding business/finance types? Go see Wharton. You want fantastic IT types? Go to Carnegie-Mellon.</p>
<p>You want the best combination, as well as work ethics and senses of honor without peer? Come see us.</p>
<p>And yes, Navy is STILL the best! :D</p>
<p>Well done Zaph, </p>
<p>My point was only that his basis for the statement about the prestige of WP was so far removed from anything he really knew anything about it was laughable.</p>