Understanding the U.S.

Actually, I do not have the numbers.  I am not even sure a poll has been formed with that question, and if there were, I would be sceptic on its validity as I am with most polls.

And, searchanddestroy, I believe our fired bey was hinting at the fact that he believe America is occupying Iraq with that last question of his.  It had nothing to do with Lebanon.

Problem is that they are franchises. I can go anywhere in the world, buy a building and buy the appropriate things to have a fast food restaurant and then call McDonalds and ask if I can use their name and food. They'll send everything in a package and all I have to do it send some of my earnings to them. So it's their own countrymen who are buying these restaurants, McDonalds might be just advertising it though.

Hugo said the two of us would try to respond, but I must defer here.  I know a little about smaller towns, but I never lived in a rural area (brief visits). 

The only thing I would say is that rural life in the U.S. will likely be found to be diverse.  With the differences in cultural influences, I imagine rural life will vary widely from Maine to Georgia to New Mexico to Oregon.

Oh, I forgot North Dakota (Does anyone really live in North Dakota?  Has anyone ever seen a North Dakota license plate?)

Maybe I can mention something here:

When I visit my wife's family and friends in a very small town, it is surprising that no one seems to lock their doors often when they are away from home for a short time.  You don't do that in a city.  They drive slower...there are fewer cell phones in use, and they do attend church services more frequently (like weekly).  One rarely hears any profanity, and they do help each other out more readily than where I grew up, and live now.

Culturally, and in things that interest me, I don't find much attraction in the lifestyle, but most of them seem OK with it.

One thing is that it took some of them awhile to accept me as an in-law, but clannishness is not confined to rural or small town America.  I have met very few there who were not really good people.

OK then I'll ask specific questions regarding rural America.

Q1}Demographical information.

Q2}Their clout in the American politics.

Q3}Average landholdings {related to thisoes American Govt. genrally subsidise farm products,is farming controlled by Corporations or r farmers free to grow whatever they wish on their land}.

Q4}How rural Americans view urban Americans.

I saw a movie 'Beverly Hillbillies'.It was about a rural American family moving into Beverly Hills.The movie was a laugh riot.

Well, I live in a rual, suburban area, so let me see if I can help ya out.

First, I think you have to remeber not all people who live in rural areas are farmers.  In fact, I don't know of any within 20 miles of my house!

And secondly, remeber that "hill billys" are an even worse steryotype of rural areas than farmers.

When I read this incredibly stupid quote I almost went BLIND with rage.  I havent read anything so dumb is quite some time!  A two party system is barely better than a one party system.  Its a common iew among semi-literate pundits that theres only black of white, one or the other.  The two major parties we have are probably ideologically the two parties in any country MOST SIMILAIR to each other.  Most independents are smarter and have more coherant and ideologically sound views than republicans or democrats. Democrats are for expanding government power to regulate commerce and the right to self defense, republicans think everyone should be babied and raised by the states bizarre religious values.  Both parties advocate governemtn takeover of peoples lives somehow or another and to say they are the only choices shows what a total ignoramus you are and that you have no idea what democracy or liberty really is.

Should I scream RAPE?  No, just abuse!

If I am not mistaken, personal attacks on me like that are directly against the rules and will result in the deletion of your post, atleast I woudl hope.

Originally posted by cattus dems are for self defense and the republicans think everyone should be babied?    Is this correct? Btw, Bush has turned the GOP into the party of spending. He hasnt vetoed a single thing put before him.

Read what I said, Dems regulate commerce and want to infinge on the right to self defence.  Bush is the biggest spender in the universe but I didnt even get to that point.  Republicans DO baby people but not in the nurturing parent way but the authoritiarian preacher way.

the general: you are an idiot.  You have always been an idiot.  I can no longer pretend to shrug off your idiotic posts.  Whats wrong with America is people like you.  Almost every post you have ever made is either factually incorrect or downloaded from some pundits slobber.  You thought the founding fathers were catholics! Next youll join the Mormons in believing that native americans are jews in exile. I cant take it anymore, reading your posts has finally broken any self restraint I may have had.

As far as I remember the Beverley Hillbillies came from Oklahoma. They certainly hit it rich from striking oil on their land.