Quote from: Solar on December 20, 2014, 08:22:02 AM
I''m going to guess you're in your early 20s?
The world we, as Americans see today, is 180 degrees of what it was just 40 short years ago.

Still don't know what do you mean? You want to say the world has been better 40 years ago?

Quote from: european101 on December 20, 2014, 08:19:43 AM
Tipical for Americans. Strong engines and 4x4 pick ups

Yep, most of America is still unsettled wilderness, and a 4X4 truck is a necessity if you want to live outside the city.
My neighbor had family visiting from Germany, when they saw me unloading a bunch of lumber from my truck while building my home, the whole idea to them was ludicrous according to my neighbor.

I inquired as to why, and they had told him that in Germany, it was illegal to build ones own home due to Govt established Unions, and in building your own home was literally seen as stealing food from the mouths of the construction worker as well as illegal.
As foreign, the idea is to me in being dependent upon govt for a job, the idea of my individualism in building my own home all by myself, is seen as selfish in the eyes of the socialists.

Quote from: Solar on December 20, 2014, 08:33:09 AM
I inquired as to why, and they had told him that in Germany, it was illegal to build ones own home due to Govt established Unions, and in building your own home was literally seen as stealing food from the mouths of the construction worker as well as illegal.

Actually I don't belive that.

Quote from: european101 on December 20, 2014, 08:39:21 AM
Actually I don't belive that.

I looked it up myself after he told me that, and yes, you can build yourself, but, not by yourself, you have to use govt/union certified tradesmen, and pay the prevailing wage, which winds up costing more in the long run because of the permit process involved as well as delays.
It favors contractors where permitting is concerned, because they move ahead in line over the individual trying to go it alone. It's also a lot cheaper to go prefab from a factory, so the old way of building, contracting, is disappearing as well, but thats happening here too.

I think you'll find this article epitomizes the issue where building in Germany is concerned. Too much red redundant tape in an overly bloated bureaucracy.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/de-meuron-von-gerkan-and-ingenhoven-on-german-construction-headaches-a-905472.html

Quote from: Solar on December 20, 2014, 08:54:43 AM
I looked it up myself after he told me that, and yes, you can build yourself, but, not by yourself, you have to use govt/union certified tradesmen, and pay the prevailing wage, which winds up costing more in the long run because of the permit process involved as well as delays.
It favors contractors where permitting is concerned, because they move ahead in line over the individual trying to go it alone. It's also a lot cheaper to go prefab from a factory, so the old way of building, contracting, is disappearing as well, but thats happening here too.

I think you'll find this article epitomizes the issue where building in Germany is concerned. Too much red redundant tape in an overly bloated bureaucracy.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/de-meuron-von-gerkan-and-ingenhoven-on-german-construction-headaches-a-905472.html

Regulations like the above is exactly why Europe is in the mess it is in right now. We have too many in the US who want to embrace that entire structure. That is why we have TEA to fight those ideas.

Quote from: supsalemgr on December 20, 2014, 09:28:09 AM
Regulations like the above is exactly why Europe is in the mess it is in right now. We have too many in the US who want to embrace that entire structure. That is why we have TEA to fight those ideas.

Yep, you can't seem to do anything without the govt having their finger prints all over it.
Oh wait, that sounds like the US as well.

Quote from: european101 on December 20, 2014, 08:19:43 AM
Tipical for Americans. Strong engines and 4x4 pick ups

LOL  you must be a city boy. 

Quote from: walkstall on December 20, 2014, 11:10:39 AM
LOL  you must be a city boy.

Not at all but pick ups are mostly sold in America. I've always thought the reason for that is becouse you like to give certain things on the back. But then again you've always loved big cars.

They are too big for our narrow streets and spend too many fuel. I personally love American cars from the 50's and 60's

Quote from: european101 on December 20, 2014, 11:58:31 AM
Not at all but pick ups are mostly sold in America. I've always thought the reason for that is becouse you like to give certain things on the back.

They are too big for our narrow street and spend too many fuel.

In the South it is necessary to have a pickup bed as a place for empty beer cans so we will not litter.

Quote from: supsalemgr on December 20, 2014, 12:02:49 PM
In the South it is necessary to have a pickup bed as a place for empty beer cans so we will not litter.

Haha are you from the South? How many degrees do you have?

Quote from: european101 on December 20, 2014, 11:58:31 AM
Not at all but pick ups are mostly sold in America. I've always thought the reason for that is becouse you like to give certain things on the back. But then again you've always loved big cars.

They are too big for our narrow streets and spend too many fuel. I personally love American cars from the 50's and 60's

Well we don't have to do this.   

Quote from: walkstall on December 20, 2014, 12:23:14 PM

Well we don't have to do this.   

Haha   

Quote from: european101 on December 20, 2014, 11:58:31 AM
Not at all but pick ups are mostly sold in America. I've always thought the reason for that is becouse you like to give certain things on the back. But then again you've always loved big cars.

They are too big for our narrow streets and spend too many fuel. I personally love American cars from the 50's and 60's

We have always favored big cars because Americans just do big stuff. We built big roads to accommodate big cars and big trucks and lots of traffic.

On the other hand, most European situations involve cart paths or pedestrian walkways between rows of buildings. The only country in Europe that has seriously embraced the concept of free individual travel on modern highways is Germany, and that was in the 1930s.

On the third hand (I have three), Europe is a pretty good example of how and where commuter and passenger rail works well. That concept does not work here, and never will. Too much empty space. Passenger rail died here around 1970, and will stay dead, probably forever, despite the tax-money-burning Amtrak.

Quote from: european101 on December 20, 2014, 12:04:13 PM
Haha are you from the South? How many degrees do you have?

I am not sure I understand your question. I do have one college degree.

Quote from: TboneAgain on December 20, 2014, 12:30:53 PM
We have always favored big cars because Americans just do big stuff. We built big roads to accommodate big cars and big trucks and lots of traffic.

On the other hand, most European situations involve cart paths or pedestrian walkways between rows of buildings. The only country in Europe that has seriously embraced the concept of free individual travel on modern highways is Germany, and that was in the 1930s.

On the third hand (I have three), Europe is a pretty good example of how and where commuter and passenger rail works well. That concept does not work here, and never will. Too much empty space. Passenger rail died here around 1970, and will stay dead, probably forever, despite the tax-money-burning Amtrak.

Hahaha I have three 

Yes yes I know you like big cars. For my taste you've been doing wonderful cars back in the 60's. They are just beautiful. Ah leave that rail cars are more comfortable. But the fuel here is very expensive. 0,3 Gallon / 2$