whoosh!

You make quite an assumption that I enjoy more liberties. Maybe I don't. Maybe I came from a place where everyone had too much freedom and there was chaos and there is no stability and I look at China as a possible alternative. Maybe not the best alternative, but better than the stale poverty that exists. I see India with the biggest democracy in the world, yet also the biggest bureaucracy and heavily corrupted politicians. Where progress occurs but there is slower rate of progress and constant clashes between groups.

And I think about my own home and think, if I could choose one path for the country, I would prefer China's path versus India's. Maybe you disagree, maybe your experiences and values have shaped you so much that you can't even fathom why another person would view differently. But then, I feel sorry for your lack of ability to understand others.

Many here would think anyone that supported the Chinese government's positions are brainwashed, yet they can't conceive of themselves being heavily biased or maybe they don't have the intellectual ability to see from other perspectives. My post is not flamebait. What it is, is a view contrary to your own from someone who has different experiences and different values. Maybe your biases have shaped you so much that you can't see the world in all its many forms.

It's like being friends with a bully and joining the gang. You go around and help the bully. And then one day, the bully smacks you down in front of others reminding you he's the leader. Only then do you call the bully out for his aggressive nature. It's complete fucking BS and the fact that so many are buying the story is pathetic.

However, having said that, I'll add that I am one of the few that think China is in the right. China still have a lot of poor people but they're developing rapidly. The last thing it needs right now is a bunch of tea-bagger like idiots protesting the government. The people don't need others to cause unrest or impede growth. Contrary to most Americans, most Chinese value stability and economic progress to certain liberties. Obviously, with as big a population as China has, even a small percentage of people that prioritize liberty would still number in the tens of millions. But life isn't fair and it sucks to be them. Hopefully they can find some form of happiness in their lives.

Did you even read what I wrote? Do you lack reading comprehension skills and just love to rant?

I stated that Asian countries consider image more than the US. So for the commenter to pick out the US and its people is a form of bashing when most humans behave that way and Asian cultures more so than their American counterparts.

Second, form and style is one of the criteria of "merit". For you, it may be lower on your value and priority scale than it is for someone else. But to automatically label something penis envy is just as stupid as to buy an SUV because you think it's safer.

Maybe you misunderstood. It is ugly. And that is why people in Nepal would not buy it. Looks matter A LOT. However, even if something is ugly, if it can raise your status and image because it is expensive or rare, then people might buy it.

There are lots of motorbikes in India that are under $1000 USD. And they use regular petrol/gas so you can use them like any other vehicle. Pay a few hundred more and the bikes can go fast enough for highways. Bajaj Pulsar is one of the most popular models. This site has prices as well. But it's in Indian currency. You can use Google to convert INR to USD.

What the fuck is with this need to bash countries? Especially when it's so far off the mark.

People are MUCH more superficial and image conscious in southeast Asia than the US. I live in Nepal and you would be hard pressed to find one person to buy that based upon its looks. In Nepal, cars are damn expensive since they're taxed 250% as luxury items as imports. A "cheap" Hyundai would cost $18K-$20K. But the roads in Nepal are filled with middle class families buying cars for status.

If someone wants fuel efficiency, they'll buy a model of Hero Honda Splendor or Bajaj XCD. Both of them give over 60-70 km/l. But even then, people don't buy low powered bikes that save fuel.

Nowadays, in Kathmandu, people seem to prefer 180cc to 220cc even though they will never use the power. Personally, I have a Bajaj Pulsar 150cc. Based upon my own weight, road conditions, hills and so forth, I figured 150cc is plenty. I rarely go over 55 kmph since it's hard to find a straight stretch much less clear roads. During the day, it's usually 20-30 stop and go traffic and occasionally 40. While most of India doesn't have the hills of Kathmandu, it does have the congested traffic.

In India, you can get 10% interest from certain banks. What can you get in the US? What are the mortgage rates in India and how does it compare with the rates for education loans? So many important factors you've left out in your comparison.

And this doesn't began to cover issues like normal salaries and cost of living and how that relates to whether education is affordable or the job market competition afterward and ability to pay off loans. It's nice to have simple comparisons or explanations. But often, they're biased, grossly inaccurate or a small glimpse which is misleading.

What disappointed me more was what he wrote. Because either he was dishonest about his reasons when trying to show honesty (which is worse than regular dishonesty) or he showed his first signs of stupidity saying this bill passes needed tools.

The real reason to pass the bill is simple. Because the country needs to move forward and look to the future. Sometimes, one needs to let bygones be bygones, even on such egregious crimes such as this. Even though Bush and Cheney deserve impeachment and many in this administration deserve to be brought on charges, that will only divide the country and the gridlock would be devastating (moreso on missed opportunity costs). Obama, above all, is pragmatic. If he wants to enact legislation, if he wants the country to change, then he can't have the country divided as it's been.

But I believe he was dishonest about why he is supporting the bill. Usually he laces his statements with nuances, so he can make minor shifts and I can understand where is he coming from (though most people don't take well to the nuances). However, here, he not only completely flipped his position, he later straight up lied about why. But he's still better for the US and the world than any of the other candidates.

On a 2CV (my favorate car) the gear shift is a sort of upturned umbrella thing sticking out the dash bourd