Stephen Davis wrote: >Whooaahh!!! Just a cotton', pickin' minute there, Carl!! >YOU are the ones who invented TV's????? >I think a certain Scottish gentlemen, were he alive today, might >have something to say about that, namely, one John Logie Baird!!
>And, as you are clearly taking exception to Mike Joy's tone about the US, >what about your comments about the US having lower taxes than the welfare >states of Europe?? >Though this is undoubtedly true, couldn't critics point to the record >deficits the US economy is experiencing at the moment?? Something you >conveniently forgot to mention?? >The USA is a great country, but I do wish a certain number of its residents >could learn to take criticism without immediately going on the defensive, >especially as some seem only too willing to dish it out to others!! Good point about the TV's. Terry explains the issues quite well (thanks for the info). I should have included a disclaimer in my original email, but I didn't: I haven't researched who invented what, but it doesn't really matter for what I'm saying. I am showing what an American would probably think in response to Mike Joy's comment, "Where's the proof?" That's why I put it in quotes and used the third person: 'They would say'. Most people don't know who exactly invented TV's and stuff, but they do understand that, as the CIA factbook says, "The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world...US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment." I am *not* trying to brag about how cool America is here. Let me make sure this is clear. I am *not* trying to brag about how wonderful America is. I am just trying to show that if a person says "You're supposed to be the 'greatest' nation on Earth aren't you, so where's the proof?" there will be plenty of things to cite in response. I gave a list of things a person would likely say. In other words, I don't think Mike wasn't making his point very convincingly in his letter. I love the fact that the EU is coming together, that SE Asia is beginning to break out of its poverty, that many countries are becoming democratic and stable. I would like other countries to become stronger economically, because in a free market that will improve everyone's standard of living. But I just don't believe it when people imply that the U.S. is a backward country, because it isn't and we know it (except for kilopascal). If our measurement system is one of our most backward things, we're doing pretty well in the big picture. By the way, Terry, I was indeed referring to microwave ovens, since I was quoting a hypothetical average citizen using non-technical language. In colloquial speech, 'microwave' refers to the home appliance which uses microwave EM radiation to heat food. Carl
