USA no longrer of Top Tenmost economically free countries

[B. W.]

Wall Street Journal article stated...

...after seven straight years of decline, the U.S. has dropped out of the top 10 most economically free countries.

Wall Street Journal -

[RickD]

Wall Street Journal article stated...

...after seven straight years of decline, the U.S. has dropped out of the top 10 most economically free countries.

Wall Street Journal -

Must be because of the right-wing, liberalophobe administration. Or, just blame it on Bush.

[Byblos]

Wall Street Journal article stated...

...after seven straight years of decline, the U.S. has dropped out of the top 10 most economically free countries.

Wall Street Journal -

Must be because of the right-wing, liberalophobe administration. Or, just blame it on Bush.

Or Reagan.

[Kurieuo]

Just an outsider's opinion... but "it's all Bush's fault" right?

"Obama's just been trying to fix the mess Bush created."

But, I just don't get how multiplying your debt to infinity and beyond = fixing it...

Oops, I better go before I get told I have no right to comment.

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

Oops, I better go before I get told I have no right to comment.

Advice and opinions on American culture by aliens are always in bad taste (as in, ''You guys need gun control!'' or ''Hamburgers are from Hell''). It is like telling your neighbor that his wife is ugly.

Comments on economics or foreign policy by aliens are alright, if done politely. It's like telling your neighbor his tail light is burned out.

FL

[Kurieuo]

Politely? I prefer to use a lot of salt on open wounds.

When America and Australia are concerned it's fair game to take shots at each other.

American's can judge Aussies:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaIhf41ctkM[/youtube]

And Aussies will just keep taking the mickey out of their seriousness, as we get some strange pleasure seeing Americans get all serious over silly jokes.

Doesn't seem to work on Rick though.

[RickD]

Politely? I prefer to use a lot of salt on open wounds.

When America and Australia are concerned it's fair game to take shots at each other.

American's can judge Aussies:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaIhf41ctkM[/youtube]

And Aussies will just keep taking the mickey out of their seriousness, as we get some strange pleasure seeing Americans get all serious over silly jokes.

Doesn't seem to work on Rick though.

K, I remember the uproar by some Americans, over that KFC commercial. Those offended by the commercial apparently think everything outside of the US, is the same as in the US. They don't realize the racial stereotypes here, don't pertain to other cultures.
Although I have to admit, that particular commercial is hilarious when viewed through the lens of American stereotypes.

[neo-x]

As an outsider, I'd say, , every rise has a fall, every achievement has a decline, nothing stays the same.

[Gman]

Wall Street Journal article stated...

...after seven straight years of decline, the U.S. has dropped out of the top 10 most economically free countries.

Wall Street Journal -

It's actually not surprising. G-d ultimately has to judge us... We have blown it in so many ways. In fact I'm not really sure we should have "in G-d we trust" on our money anymore..

[Gman]

I was actually reading this passage in Jeremiah last night..

Jeremiah 5:12-14

12 They have lied about the Lord,
And said, “It is not He.
Neither will evil come upon us,
Nor shall we see sword or famine.
13 And the prophets become wind,
For the word is not in them.
Thus shall it be done to them.”

14 Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts:

“Because you speak this word,
Behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire,
And this people wood,
And it shall devour them.

[B. W.]

I was actually reading this passage in Jeremiah last night..

Jeremiah 5:12-14

12 They have lied about the Lord,
And said, “It is not He.
Neither will evil come upon us,
Nor shall we see sword or famine.
13 And the prophets become wind,
For the word is not in them.
Thus shall it be done to them.”

14 Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts:

“Because you speak this word,
Behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire,
And this people wood,
And it shall devour them.

1 Peter 4:17 NKJV For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

It first falls on the house of God. Remember that Revelation chapter 2 and 3 come first...

The state of the Church in America is not overly good. There are some good groups out there but by and large - the modern American Church is adrift and you could say a type of spirit of death from the world pervades.

By spirit of death, I mean what Jesus spoke about anger, being contemptuous, slandering someones character to make them a moron in the eyes of another (Matt 5:21-22) is the same as murder. Add to that the murder of relationships, destruction of the family, the murder of God's word and turning it into a self help gospel, ... How social norms crept into the church and replaced God's values and norms with the pervading culture of death that seeks to murder morality, social identity/cohesion, marriage, and yes - even love... as Apollo 13 once announced, "Houston, we have a problem". All this, from the world, attacks the Church in America and it has an effect. However, the gates of hell will not prevail as folks in the body are waking up and becoming what church was meant to be. There is judgment in the house of the Lord -- a time of dividing - who has oil and who will run out...

Amen
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[Seraph]

Is economically free the same as economically "good"? An economically free nation could very well be an anarchy with mass starvation and a nation where the government has a large degree of control over the economy (not like communist but a nation that has many socialist policies in place) might be well have a large populous satisfied with the way things are going.

I'm sure the Wall Street Journal is only taking the government into account in their assessment of economic freedom. The government isn't the only power that can have a stranglehold on an economy. Consider for example, the "too big too fail" companies in the US.

Though I should add I'm not blindly defending the Obama administration, its performance as been less than spectacular in this department...

[jcgood]

....I guess Joseph's complete control over Egypt and it's grain.....would put him down at the bottom of this "freedom" list.

I pray that all can see ....Success is not from having the right form of government or economic model....It's from having a Fear of Almighty God behind you and obeying Him...as a Christian.....
....all of Scripture and World history supports this...
but "economic freedom" and "material accumulation" have no noble or virtuous purpose...according to the wealthiest King who ever was...
....even if the U.S. had the freedom of Castro's Cuba.....as a Christian....He supplies all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus...

Joseph in Charge of Egypt

41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command,[h] and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On,[j] to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh[k] and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim[l] and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”

56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.

....even...a dictatorship works....when Almighty God wills it to....

[B. W.]

....I guess Joseph's complete control over Egypt and it's grain........

Joseph was a man of God who knew God and was empowered/tasked by God to do a limited event to save two nations...

Now the US Government outlaws the mention of God - so whom do you desire to rule?

Your argument and example is spurious...
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[jcgood]

jcgood wrote:....I guess Joseph's complete control over Egypt and it's grain........



B.W. wrote...Joseph was a man of God who knew God and was empowered/tasked by God to do a limited event to save two nations...

Now the US Government outlaws the mention of God - so whom do you desire to rule?

Your argument and example is spurious...
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B.W.....can you please give examples to back up your statements....spurious?...because....?

In what way is "the mention of God outlawed"?

Have you discerned that we have different understandings of the value of economic freedom....and therefore Joseph is a perfect ...unchanging example of
God working through any system..at any time..anywhere...?

God is ruling....He Is My Desire.......so I don't understand your question....

Is it your contention that the U.S. should be number 1...in being economically free...? if so...Why?

...again Joseph took total control.....so until America has a Christian revival and repents from ungodly democracy and from making it's unworkable by design Constitution an unchangeable canon....(melting the gold and forming the golden calf)........there's no telling what can be the end...

..We know that Israel went into captivity because of turning their back on God...

The U.S...is already in captivity.......the prison of its arrogance, fake wealth, fake security, fake wars, fake economy, fake media, and materialism....the sad thing is all the blind people that still think we're "free"......in the 21st century Sodom
Luke:17:26-29

On a lighter note....I'm traveling to Columbia later in the month...I'll check the freedom level for you...ok?.....