Arbeit Macht Frei

[Strike For The South]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/48842456

How creative of her, being shot out of the right vagina

I think one of her companies coalminers would gladly trade places with this gal for a week, maybe she could show them what hard work is all about

[Centurion1]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/48842456

How creative of her, being shot out of the right vagina

I think one of her companies coalminers would gladly trade places with this gal for a week, maybe she could show them what hard work is all about


even i the resident corporate fatcat wanted to punch this fat whale in the face. i would have been much happier had someone who actually made something of themselves said this. instead we get a woman who aaparently replaced beer with liquidated cheeseburgers.

[Papewaio]

This is one part I dislike with massive inheritance it's the equivalent of creating an aristocracy with zero responsibilty.

Her wealth is inherited from her father, based on demand from China for natural resources.

There is something inherently wrong when a single individual gets so much benefit at of a nations mineral wealth at the expense of others.

[Kadagar_AV]

Haven't we turned communistic all of a sudden...

[Centurion1]

Haven't we turned communistic all of a sudden...

nobody likes people who denigrate others for their lack of effort when they havent done a days hard work in their lives, its the antithesis of capitalism

[Major Robert Dump]

This fascinates me because not only is she incredibly sexy, but she really thinks about her words before she writes them. Beauty and intelligence is hard to find.

I plan on investing in Australia and New Zealand, as they both have food stuffs I need for when I open Cheap Food and Quality Hoes. Australian women like that give me hope, and make me hungry for cottage cheese and jello

[Major Robert Dump]

So, would you say that in order for capitalism to work then you need to have a fair and consistent set of rules that apply to all 'competitors' equally?

LOL NO

If no one/everyone recieves bailouts and an unreasonable safety net, then how am I supposed to become and stay number one at the expense of the very C word we pretend to espouse?

All that should matter is how much money you spend on lobbyists

[Ironside]

“There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire,” she writes. “If you’re jealous of those with more money, don’t just sit there and complain. Do something to make more money yourself spend less time drinking, or smoking and socializing and more time working.”

The comments were part of a treatise on what she sees as Australia’s decline due to high taxes, high wages and over-regulation. Rinehart said taxes should fall, red tape should be cut, environmental rules relaxed and the minimum wage should be lowered.

MRD, don't you agree that her internal consistancy is also of high quality?

[Major Robert Dump]

MRD, don't you agree that her internal consistancy is also of high quality?

Working more for less builds character. We cannot allow people to become comfortable without requiring them to work an obscene amount of time for a low wage, because then they do not come to understand the true value of work and money and corndogs like I, Fatty McFattAss, does. Why, just the other day, my houseboy called in sick and I had to walk my fat, disgusting ass all the way to the fridge to get my own corndog. I think I will fire that houseboy now, because hard workers should never get sick, what with the insurance I do not give him. F That!!!!

Just kidding, guys, I am not rich. I am a hardworker, though, and this lady is right. If I put in 20 extra hours a week, go to school at night and finish my worthless accounting degree, and cut my living expenses then I shoudl break my first million in approximately 72 years, assuming all prices stay the same and some rich guy doesn't file a frivolous lawsuit against me in civil court like they are so prone to do because it hurts me financially and they find it funny.

[Fisherking]

Obviously all these democratic notions failed. We need all to return to the natural order of things. Plutocracy!

Those who inherit wealth are naturally superior. It is in the genes for them to rule over those not genetically equipped to deal with it.

Taxes on wealth, trade unions, and minimum wage are abominations thought up by useless eaters.

The sooner they die and decrease the surplus population the better!

Any reasonable person would see this.


:whip:

I hope you understand sarcasm when you see it.

[rory_20_uk]

Exactly what countries is this not already the case? The very very rich can avoid most taxes, and in extremis domicile elsewhere.

I do think that there is the point that time is better spent on bettering oneself than complaining, but she isn't the best placed person to roll it out. Sir Alan Sugar would be a better example, although I personally find him abrasive.

~:smoking:

[Centurion1]

So, would you say that in order for capitalism to work then you need to have a fair and consistent set of rules that apply to all 'competitors' equally?

No that's not what I said though its adorable when you try to twist my words. I said that those who inherit wealth and do not create further wealth are not paragons of capitalism. Capitalism dne wealthy people. All this woman has done is be lucky enough to be formed from the correct sperm she has created no wealth for herself. Capitalism "works" in it's purest form. I am not a proponent in pure capitalism and you would find few educated people who would be, but there is nothing that prevents capitalism frOm working. It just wOrks...

So if you wish to continue this conversation or make any sort of point i suggest you give a more concrete term than "work"

[Lemur]

The sooner they die and decrease the surplus population the better!
That's a rather modest proposal.

[Montmorency]

It just wOrks...

SO capitalism is like Apple products? I feel as though I should be able to crack some kind of joke here...

[HoreTore]

What an absolute retard.

With so much money, one must wonder why shehasn't spent a single dollar on her education.

[a completely inoffensive name]

There should be a tax on rudeness towards food industry employees. The proceeds go directly to food industry employees and of course, the military.

I have now solved our deficit problem, the minimum wage problem and have made life 640% less hostile and more enjoyable when in public. Give me the Nobel Prize now.

[Tuuvi]

There should be a tax on rudeness towards food industry employees. The proceeds go directly to food industry employees and of course, the military.

I have now solved our deficit problem, the minimum wage problem and have made life 640% less hostile and more enjoyable when in public. Give me the Nobel Prize now.

And retail employees, don't forget about them. We suffer too.

In other news, I liked the part where she said raising taxes on the rich doesn't hurt them that much. If I was Obama, I would be using that in my next ad.

[Sigurd]

I just don't get it why Americans are so obsessed with service. I have seen it here when we have US family over. The one thing they will go on and on about is poor quality service. IMO it is just fine. You go in, tell them what you want and when you get it, you pay. If they give you an extra smile, count your blessings.

[HoreTore]

I just don't get it why Americans are so obsessed with service. I have seen it here when we have US family over. The one thing they will go on and on about is poor quality service. IMO it is just fine. You go in, tell them what you want and when you get it, you pay. If they give you an extra smile, count your blessings.

Different standards of what counts as polite, I guess. Frankly, I don't find heavy use of "polite words"(thank you, please, etc) as very polite at all, I find it dishonest... Collecting the plates so that the waiter has an easier time, now that is an example of politeness.

I guess we value action over appearances here, Sigurd.

[Centurion1]

Different standards of what counts as polite, I guess. Frankly, I don't find heavy use of "polite words"(thank you, please, etc) as very polite at all, I find it dishonest... Collecting the plates so that the waiter has an easier time, now that is an example of politeness.

I guess we value action over appearances here, Sigurd.


There isn't anything wrong or dishonest with manners. Personally I find its often geographic. When i'm down south at home everyone has more manners and I am therefore happier as i'm a yes sir maam type. When I go up to uni the rest o the year its depressing. I had one litttle black woman look astonished when I said thank you ma'am after I got some food. I almost cried.

Regardless, people are freaking pigs. Because I wake up so early for PT in the morning i talk to the janitorial staff quite a bit. And I constantly find myself feeling like i need to apologize for the slovenly behavior of my peers because its so embarrassing. Too often I will find an attitude of "it's their job", no it is not the janitors job to clean shit off the wall or pick up piles of trash in the trash room because you were too lazy to actually put it in the can.


Different standards of what counts as polite, I guess. Frankly, I don't find heavy use of "polite words"(thank you, please, etc) as very polite at all, I find it dishonest... Collecting the plates so that the waiter has an easier time, now that is an example of politeness.

I guess we value action over appearances here, Sigurd.

Jesus your insufferable. Actually I have found Europeans are touchy, rude, dirty, and poor tippers and I hate working for them. When I worked on a sport fishing boat European tourists were hands down the worst. Americans tipped well but were often rude and East Asians tended to be the best customers hands down. I don't care if you don't tip in Europe regularly we do here and its not like a bonus most workers often need it.

[Strike For The South]

Different standards of what counts as polite, I guess. Frankly, I don't find heavy use of "polite words"(thank you, please, etc) as very polite at all, I find it dishonest... Collecting the plates so that the waiter has an easier time, now that is an example of politeness.

I guess we value action over appearances here, Sigurd.

This has to change if you want to move in with me. Manners in Texas is srs bidness

[Sir Moody]

Jesus your insufferable. Actually I have found Europeans are touchy, rude, dirty, and poor tippers and I hate working for them. When I worked on a sport fishing boat European tourists were hands down the worst. Americans tipped well but were often rude and East Asians tended to be the best customers hands down. I don't care if you don't tip in Europe regularly we do here and its not like a bonus most workers often need it.

nice to see you aren't racial stereotyping a wide and diverse population :dizzy2:

a lot like the US, Europe is made up of a wide range of different people - each with their own ideas when it comes to politeness - you will find what the French consider polite entirely different from the Poles or our Scandinavian cousins.

As to tipping - you have to account for the fact it differers country to country - in the UK we tend to tip around 10% the value of the order - my German relatives tend to tip less (no idea why) and some countries in Europe use "Service charges" which puts the tip automatically onto the bill - they may not realise they haven't tipped

As to Horetore's comment, I think you are exaggerating here - I am a very traditional "p's and q's" type but even I found the constant "Have a nice day!" in false cheery tones to grate on my nerves after a while on my last visit to the states - it is very much a cultural thing...

[Vladimir]

As to Horetore's comment, I think you are exaggerating here - I am a very traditional "p's and q's" type but even I found the constant "Have a nice day!" in false cheery tones to grate on my nerves after a while on my last visit to the states - it is very much a cultural thing...

I believe that's the point. The false tones betray their intent. A polite person will generally mean it.

[Kralizec]

As to tipping - you have to account for the fact it differers country to country - in the UK we tend to tip around 10% the value of the order - my German relatives tend to tip less (no idea why) and some countries in Europe use "Service charges" which puts the tip automatically onto the bill - they may not realise they haven't tipped.

People here generally just round the figure on the bill upwards, and only tip extra if the meal was "good" and not just "okay". I've not actually put much thought into this but 10% seems like the maximum, anything more would be considered a lot.

The "service charge" thingy seems very common in the more tourist-dependant regions in Europe. I wondered some times wether it wasn't just a scam to advertise with false prices, and that the service charge actually ends up in the establishment's coffers. In any case I'd rather have they just incorporated it into the prices they display - it's not a tip and it's not voluntary, ergo it's part of the regular price and should be displayed as such.

[Kadagar_AV]

In Austria, a man would run across a busy street to help a woman with a heavy bag. He wouldn't mind elbowing his way past her in the lift line though.
In Sweden, a man would just walk by the same woman, but respect her spot in the line.

Having worked in an extremly international work where I spend long hours of quality time with people from all over the world, I have learnt to respect differences, and to assume the better of people in situations where I am unsure of their motives.

Russians it took me LONG to understand, they came off as extremely rude to me in the beginning, not to say cold and arrogant. After a while though, I started to understand how they worked, and I now see them as warm and friendly.

As an example, it took me some time to figure out that when they were standing in front of me, staring at me with a grim look on their face, murder in their eyes, looking like they were planning just how to cut up and hide my body... They were actually paying me respect by showing that they were completely focused on what I wanted to teach them.

The US polite culture is actually the culture I have most issues with still. When everyone is acting friendly it's hard to know which people are actually genuinely friendly, and who's just faking it.

Instead give me a stone faced Russian, if they smile at you and ask you about your day, you can take it at face value.

[Sigurd]

I believe that's the point. The false tones betray their intent. A polite person will generally mean it.

I have quite the beef with "American" behavior. But... I will not vent them all here as I would just be blasting the stereotype.
I am sure you have all sorts of types of Americans, but the ones who gets to me is the cheery, flowery, everything is positive kind.

I just cringe when they ask: "How are you doing"? WTH... do you really want to know? No... it's just a meaningless phrase and you are forced to answer in a positive way... "I am just wonderful, thank you very much" even though you are racked with arthritis and have just undergone heavy handed treatment for suppressing your bone marrow for producing too much blood cells.

[Strike For The South]

I couldn't imagine going anywhere without the small talk.

How do you people function?

When you go into a shop, or the bank, what do you say to eachother?

In Texas these develop into full blown conversations. In West Texas, you need to budget time simply to talk.

When I go to Europe I will speak to everyone

[Kadagar_AV]

I couldn't imagine going anywhere without the small talk.

How do you people function?

When you go into a shop, or the bank, what do you say to eachother?

In Texas these develop into full blown conversations. In West Texas, you need to budget time simply to talk.

When I go to Europe I will speak to everyone

I was just at the food store, and small talked with the person in the till... I did not, however, pretend to care for her well being overly much as I never had seen her before...

Don't get me wrong, the American culture have benefits to. Coming to a party where you don't know many people can be quite a daunting task in Europe, but less so in the states, as an example.

I found Americans easy to approach, but hard to get past the shallow surface.

[Vladimir]

I couldn't imagine going anywhere without the small talk.

How do you people function?

When you go into a shop, or the bank, what do you say to eachother?

In Texas these develop into full blown conversations. In West Texas, you need to budget time simply to talk.

When I go to Europe I will speak to everyone

Thank you. In San Antonio I got into so many random conversations with total strangers it was wonderful. Just offer a bit of kindness up front and you're in.

Some people need more time in the sun.

[Papewaio]

We don't tip in Australia the vast majority of the time other then loose change.

Politeness tends to go down as the population density increases.

If you are in Sydney, men will not stand for women in trains unless they are definitely pregnant. Even then only some men will make the effort.

On the other hand if you are driving in the Outback each driver tends to give a small wave as thu pass. On dusty roads with Road Trains, the Road Trains will move to the right to let you pass in a car on the inside.

So politeness various with context and situation.

[Major Robert Dump]

Amen to that. I've lived all over the United States, and there is no substitute for Texas hospitality. From San Antonio to El Paso, it is impossible not to make friends.

Apparently I need to travel more than a mile from the base, then. I scared.

I always tip. Not tipping a waiter because your food sucks is absurd, as the waiter did not cook it.

I could care less about people's friendliness in fast service or general service areas. Just don't treat me like I disgust you and we will be fine. Other than that, give me my food/groceries/bill and let me be on my way. I will be polite regardless.

I find that people who go out of their way to pick on service workers, or who expect service wrokers to kiss their butts with overfriendliness, tend to be people who have self esteem or class status issues.

Of course, really old people are the exception to all of this. They are wierd

[Ironside]

I couldn't imagine going anywhere without the small talk.

How do you people function?

When you go into a shop, or the bank, what do you say to eachother?

In Texas these develop into full blown conversations. In West Texas, you need to budget time simply to talk.

When I go to Europe I will speak to everyone

Depends on the nation. Sweden got a very high level of rigidness when it comes to talking with strangers. People acting as ice-breakers are a bit odd, even if people motly responds friendly with them. But 10 strangers waiting 20 min on the buss without anyone saying a word is normal. Getting past that part and people will act much more friendlier.

I wonder if part of the missing to tip is not realising how ingrained it is in the US. Here it's never rude to not tip (even if it's nice doing it) and tipping outside the resturant buissness? What? It's also bonus compared to part of the salary issue.

[Tuuvi]

I have quite the beef with "American" behavior. But... I will not vent them all here as I would just be blasting the stereotype.
I am sure you have all sorts of types of Americans, but the ones who gets to me is the cheery, flowery, everything is positive kind.

I just cringe when they ask: "How are you doing"? WTH... do you really want to know? No... it's just a meaningless phrase and you are forced to answer in a positive way... "I am just wonderful, thank you very much" even though you are racked with arthritis and have just undergone heavy handed treatment for suppressing your bone marrow for producing too much blood cells.

I'm guilty of this. I say it to customers all the time, because I want to be friendly, but I don't know what else to say and a simple "hello" just doesn't seem good enough. Every once in a while some grumpy old man will get mad and start complaining about his horrible life/day, and then I don't know what to say because sometimes they're joking and sometimes they're perfectly serious.

[Sigurd]

I couldn't imagine going anywhere without the small talk.

How do you people function?


It is the overly fake positive small talk that bothers me...


HI!! How are you? It's soooo Good to see you... WOW! you look soooo good, what ? you been training or something?
This is a fantastic day.. everything is just fantastic... I love your country. The nature is soooo wonderful.



STOP!! shut your pie hole for a second... Let's do this our way.


*nod a greeting* Terrible weather we're having... Sad that they killed that girl.. damn hope they get caught. The Psyciatric care in this country just keep taking blows. When will the politicians wake up and do something about it?
C'ya...



I got into a conversation with a complete stranger from Sunnmøre the other day.
He wanted to know where the bus to the airport stopped.. It ended with me basically giving him a mini sightseeing of Bergen... We can be friendly too... you just gotta know which buttons NOT to press.

[Sigurd]

In America it is considered rude to discuss politics or religion with people you don't personally know well. Although I guess this is less true than it used to be.

Yeah... My wife's uncle (in America) is a born and bred Republican, anti-Royalist, Air Force Lt.Colonel.
Discussing Politics or Religion with him is prohibited (by order of my wife) :sneaky:
Apparently he we'll go off like a small nuclear blast.

[Vladimir]

It is the overly fake positive small talk that bothers me...


HI!! How are you? It's soooo Good to see you... WOW! you look soooo good, what ? you been training or something?
This is a fantastic day.. everything is just fantastic... I love your country. The nature is soooo wonderful.



STOP!! shut your pie hole for a second... Let's do this our way.


*nod a greeting* Terrible weather we're having... Sad that they killed that girl.. damn hope they get caught. The Psyciatric care in this country just keep taking blows. When will the politicians wake up and do something about it?
C'ya...



I got into a conversation with a complete stranger from Sunnmøre the other day.
He wanted to know where the bus to the airport stopped.. It ended with me basically giving him a mini sightseeing of Bergen... We can be friendly too... you just gotta know which buttons NOT to press.


You need new friends.

How was your day?

[Kadagar_AV]

In America it is considered rude to discuss politics or religion with people you don't personally know well. Although I guess this is less true than it used to be.

Last I checked, open debate where you respect the other persons view was imperative for a democracy to work. I guess that explains the rampant political dualism going on then..

Of course this will polarize and create an abyss between the now much simplified two political sides of the debate, if a persons idea of taking an interest for politics is tuning in to whatever TV-station support his views and ridicule the other.

Sorry if I don't see that as a positive mate.

[Sigurd]

You need new friends.

How was your day?
Ya know... had to crack a few jokes to melt the ice.

- Do you know why people from Sunnmøre are flat in the back of their heads?
- No
- They keep getting the toilet lid in their head trying to drink water.


- Or the man from Sunnmøre who thought it was too cold outside and placed himself at a house corner because he knew it had 90 degrees?

Ok.. here is your bus. Now get on it and never come back.

[Montmorency]

*nod a greeting*

I prefer nodded greetings, but it's not pleasant to have someone you've acknowledged walk up ostentatiously with outstretched hand two minutes later...

[Centurion1]

Last I checked, open debate where you respect the other persons view was imperative for a democracy to work. I guess that explains the rampant political dualism going on then..

Of course this will polarize and create an abyss between the now much simplified two political sides of the debate, if a persons idea of taking an interest for politics is tuning in to whatever TV-station support his views and ridicule the other.

Sorry if I don't see that as a positive mate.

Discourse in the proper forum or with people you actually know is a different beast from a stranger you just met.

[PanzerJaeger]

And I thought the Occupy movement had withered...

[Major Robert Dump]

Last I checked, open debate where you respect the other persons view was imperative for a democracy to work. I guess that explains the rampant political dualism going on then..

Of course this will polarize and create an abyss between the now much simplified two political sides of the debate, if a persons idea of taking an interest for politics is tuning in to whatever TV-station support his views and ridicule the other.

Sorry if I don't see that as a positive mate.

The problem is no one open debates, they just repeat some tag line they heard from a biased news source, and hope either n one is smart enough to counter or that no one feels like it

[Strike For The South]

And I thought the Occupy movement had withered...

Says the grown man with a tank in his signature

You are lucky you are beautiful.

Any uglier and we would be cross :)

[HoreTore]

In America it is considered rude to discuss politics or religion with people you don't personally know well. Although I guess this is less true than it used to be.

Hsving worked quite a few years in stores now, I'd say half the small talk I have with strangers are about politics or society in some way. The other half is sports and weather, and sometimes various professions.

The customs vary quite a lot though. For example, where I've grown up, a standard question is what job the stranger has. The standard follow-up then is how much they make in that profession. Asking about wages is considered rude in several places, though. Took some getting used to growing up...

[Tellos Athenaios]

Discourse in the proper forum or with people you actually know is a different beast from a stranger you just met.

Well yes, but still: democracy as we know it was conceived in and founded on a culture of debates with "strangers" in café's, salons and clubs, opinion pieces in and letters to magazines and so on. That 18th/19th century stuff is at the heart of the concept of "public opinion", and it was a key ingredient in the independence of the USA, in the abolition of slavery, in all of the big social debates on which the premises for our modern societies are built. So as we in the West are increasingly looking to restructure our society again to better fit new economic (and political) realities, perhaps a little dose of civilised, well informed debate in polite but unfamiliar company could be just "what the doctor ordered"?