Originally Posted By DAR Check out the price tags on these construction projects in Las Vegas. <a href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/hotels/underconstruction.html" target="_blank">http://www.reviewjournal.com/h otels/underconstruction.html</a> Personally I don't have a problem with it since these are private companies funding these projects. But it does in a way represent this country at its most obnoxious. And I say that as someone who loves Vegas. But is this a little too much.
Originally Posted By thenurmis DAR I don't know if this is the cause, but it might be a symptom. I would think the US foreign policy has more to do with the bad feelings, than the construction of casinos. How ever the fact that huge shrines to opulence are the norm in the states, can add to the conception that the dollar is viewed as the all mighty.
Originally Posted By JohnS1 American popular culture has as much to do as anything else with why other people hate us. Try watching American television for an hour while pretending you are from the middle east or some other region with completely different values and forms of entertainment - then tell me you still can't understand why so many people in the world think we are shallow, egotistical, vacuous and perverse. I am embarrassed by the awful fare offered as entertainment in this country. It makes us all look like complete self-absorbed boobs. Even the ads are embarrassing
Originally Posted By thenurmis North American ( and yes us perfect Canadians suffer from the same issues) culture is so different from much of the world, that it's hard to fathom how "they" look at us. The world has become so small and so avalable. that our cultures have not been able to keep up. I don't know why The US is more disliked on a international level than say Canada or other parts of western civilization, it could be a lot of things, but the largest complaint you read in international press is the constant issues of international policy, and the lack of willingness that America has to follow UN laws, or international agreements. There is a constant theme that the USA has a "my way or the hi-way ideal", and being that you are the big kid on the block, that comes off like a bit of a bully. Add that to the fact that Europe and the Middle East still play the "We are older than you game", and well the picture gets pretty clear. America; "the Rich kid with the big stick that will hit you if you don't play by their rules". That ideal, that concept is who the haters see the US ( and most of the west), and sadly we do little to feed it. perception is not reality, but it can effect our reality. We need to learn that the world is not as big as it once was, and the things we do effect far more than our selves.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I understand why some factions hate us. Casinos? Bawdy TV? Maybe that's part of it, especially in fanatical religious countries. But truth be told, I've no interest in rolling back the clock 10 centuries to meet their approval, thanks very much. I am interested in wise, strategic foreign policy, however, something this administration has largely made a huge mess of.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmm, when I am not at work, I think I will engage in this conversations and proffer a view of an American living in Europe. However, one quick thing - we say WDI is expensive? TDS was a bargain in comparison. And DCA was positively cheap - the refurb budget for DCA is 1/4 of one of these construction budgets - wow!
Originally Posted By wahooskipper You say obnoxious, I say entrepreneurial. If people in other countries want to hate America because of the economic success of the country, more power to them.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>But truth be told, I've no interest in rolling back the clock 10 centuries to meet their approval, thanks very much.<< Exactly. They don't hate us for what's on TV or for what we build. Islamic extremists hate us for our religion and our support of Israel. Period. Other countries might not like our government or our President, but they typically like Americans and American products. They do see us as cheap, though. We're like the rich guy who tosses a quarter to the homeless man and then says he's done a great thing.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I couldn't believe some of the stuff I was seeing on Italian tv. They supposedly initiated "restrictions" while I was there...but I didn't notice any changes. It wasn't just questionable material, but the time of day it was shown.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Just as many people in this country resent the wealthiest citizens; people from other countries resent the United States because of its wealth. That plus they want our women and we won't let them have any!! ;-)
Originally Posted By wonderingalice ecdc, that is why THIS project struck more fear in me when I read it than any other 'risk factors' facing my city: <a href="http://www.lvrj.com/news/7530232.html" target="_blank">http://www.lvrj.com/news/75302 32.html</a> Does it seem strange that, apparently, no one has gone to this company or our city fathers and asked, "Are you nuts?"
Originally Posted By DAR wonderingalice, are they going to fill up these condos and additional hotels that they're building?
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Absolutely... LV continues to grow as the premier convention and vacation destination. The current 'target' demographic is the Paris Hilton set and as young adults continue to celebrate 21st birthdays, occupancy levels (and $$ spent) will only rise.
Originally Posted By DAR I couldn't imagine living right on the strip that would be a little too crazy for me.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Not if you worked there, too... Very convenient... ;-) Some of the condo homes at City Center are expected to be fairly affordable for folks with decent incomes. And they're planning for shopping (groceries, too) and 'normal' urban community activities on-site.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<More recently, the New Frontier has been known as the home of Gilley's Saloon and Dance Hall, which features bikini bull riding three nights a week and live mud wrestling twice a week.>> A sad day indeed when the New Frontier shuts down. ;-)
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan If they remove bikini bull riding, the terrorists win! (Personally, I don't think I'd want to see a bull in a bikini, but whatever floats your boat I guess.)
