Hi Brian

It is great that the two of you have had such a mature and reasoned, calm debate. Truly enjoyed it.

Well I like it you read this too and others.So these are only views between 2 guys living on both sides of the ocean.Why should we have furious debates?I like to discuss with people all around.Don't like to spend my time looking to soap series and other stupid programs on tv.

Yes Rebels I can say I belong more to the right side but I'm not on the extreme part of it.Let say a little bit of the center to the right.

But how is this in US or Canadian politics.Because we have so many parties here and almost all in double because of our bilangual country it probably easier to pick up the best group.Here the Liberals belong to the freedom of speach,not religious inspired and mostly supporting the people with "the man who made it" attitude but with some social view too.

I think that Obama is more some Liberal minded in European views and not the Socialist like you are thinking.

Bush was not a glorious president but he benefits the rich .I will not say he was a bad man and sometimes I also found him a guy with a good sence of humor but if you see the impact of all the fake bubbles made in the stock markets by manipulation and other wrong behavior of CEO's only chacing the big money ,many of the rich are now broke.

But the impact from the crisis is more visible in the US then over here with our more social system.I guess many US citizins would be happy to live over here with no job then there.Here you don't see people living in their cars are in tent camps.

The differance between rich and poor is less visible here .Life is softer to survive when you have a low loan because doctors,dentist ,hospital ,medicine is cheap.Also for elder people they can benefit from cheap or free bus rides and other things.But that means also the rich can benefit from this system.

For example.A visist to the house doctor cost 23 € but you recieve from social house a return around 17 € .So it cost only 6 € for a visit.Same for a dentist or if you must have artificial dents and you're over 50 it's almost 1/4 of the full price etc..

We pay very high tax for that depending on your wages.They earn the most on cars and fuels.That's why we have so many like you calles "luch box cars" over here.Heavy engine cars are very high taxed.My BMW M 3 cost me 920 € and the Mercedes 230 CE 450 € only for driving tax.If you consider 1,15 €/ liter for gas today prices you see a car is very good for our country on taxes.

But though we pay high tax it's still good living over here.In our area's they try to divide the cost of the system in a "fair "matter .So the higher you earn the higher your tax but I must say the richest have some more benefit specially the entrepreneurs.Is this a bad system?

Another example .

My neighbour across my home has a small candy company with around 8 workers.

He owns some houses ,has a big Mercedes ,Audi,some small cars ,a BMW bike and a Ferrari GTO the one Magnum had in the detective series some years ago.

I 'm only working by Shell company and my wife has worked for 35 years but now is since 4 years at home cause the company she was working is bankrupt.We can asked here for working on 4/5 basis.So I do that for almost 6 years now and will do until I'm retired.So I had a lot of free time (more then a half year I'm free)

So I do a lot what I like in life.Go fishing on my boat in autumn and spring time ,riding my Harley are convertible in summer or playing music or doing sports.

My neighbour has far more money then me and his cars are brand new except the Ferrari but mine are second hand at cheap prices bought on which I can loose not much money.So who has the best life?He has almost no time to enjoy life ,ride his bike or the Ferrari'Sometimes he asked me to ride once)So having much money does not mean you will be happy.If the worlds money was better divided more people would have a better life and also should be good for economy.So if the rich would give up some of their money they wouldn't feel it but could benefit others.

So if Obama would improve social life in the US why should that be bad ?If you're very rich and you had to give up some of your money I don't think they would feel it.And remember if you die with millions are with nothing we all end the same way.It's better you do what you like and enjoy life while you can then chacing the money and forget to live.

For me I will not regret .The nice days I've enjoyed so far they can't steel away anymore and I hope there are a lot to come too.If you're smart you can live a nice life depending what you buy and at what price.It's not only in stocks there is value.