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This is not the best picture of Lake Bled in Slovenia. I took this off a tourist web page...but I think it will do the trick.
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Now look closely at the shore...actually the entire shore line of Lake Bled....okay?.....Now look closely at the Lake....and the interesting island....and although it's a bit foggy of a picture...the surrounding area......pretty isn't it?
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And that's my point.....this is an accurate representation of Lake Bled....at least the Lake Bled I saw....and what's amazing about it ....is that it is pretty....and natural...and inspiring....which is why its so odd....and totally unAmerican.
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Can you imagine what Lake Bled would look like if it existed in America? Do you think the shoreline would be natural like that....or would it be filled with zillion dollar homes and condos? Would the occasional stray gondola or sail boat be out there? or would the place be buzzing with boat rentals, wave runner rentals, para sailings...and sail boat moorings? Would the surrounding countryside by quiet....or would it be filled with McDonalds and Wendys, thousands of chalets for rent along with the obligatory go cart/miniature golf courses?
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Tonight I went to see "Sicko" and whether you like Moore or not.......the point of the movie basically is that the emphasis on profits....keeps Americans from access to universal health care coverage. The denial of claims, the withholding of treatments and benefits....exist to increase the bottom line for insurers and health care organizations. Bottom lines are like bottomless pits....because once you reach a certain marker.....the only way your organization can judge it se;f more successful the next year is by increasing the bottom line and hence the profits.
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The more I thought about it on the way home the more I felt I had finally put a finger on what was so disturbing about Lake Bled and Zurich.....these were tourist destinations....and yet they were beautiful ...they had not sold their souls at every turn at every opportunity to make a buck....or a franc or a euro.
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In Zurich...in the old section of the city....which they consider touristy....I had to hunt for a souvenir shop....I had to hunt to find a place where I could find a t-shirt for the boys that said Swiss something or other. Yes there were a few shops....but the amount of shops was considerably small in comparison to say San Fransisco's wharf area. Set Yankees lose on the place and all the charming cafes and street shops would be turned into tourist joints....of the cheapest variety.
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It was the same way in grocery stores. I love foreign grocery stores and in every country I visit I find myself poking around in them....to see what real people eat....to see what they showcase and sell. Chocolate? of course. Cakes? Yes and beautiful ones.....Chips? Processed food? Everything covered in sugar or candy? No much. Standing in line at the "Coop" in Swiss, I studied people's baskets. Fruit, Vegetables, wine, meat, yogurt, cheese, bread. Basic foods. Chocolate covered cereals? No....Tons of chips/pork rinds....no. Cheese Yes. Cheeze whiz no. The amount of junky processed foods we sell in our grocery stores in comparison is overwhelming. Yet junk equals profits.....and just like a pristine lake would not be left alone....why leave cheese alone when you can put a bit of it in a can with lots of fats and some artificial flavor and sell it?
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Billboards...advertising......Zurich and Lake Bled had some...but nothing overwhelming. Everything was rather discreet....understated....even frugal.
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In the grocery store, I was chastised by the clerk for not bringing my own plastic bag. When I looked around, both men and women, business suits and casual clothes folks, were whipping out their sturdy little plastic bags to carry their groceries home or to the train. Here, we'd be given 25 plastic bags with two items in each bag. Of course we would be heading off to cars.... these folks were walking to trains or trams or were riding bicycles or just plain walking.
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We keep telling ourselves and our government keeps telling us...that Americans are so lucky...and we should be so proud to have so much stuff......carry away foods, take out coffee....cocoa puffs.....busy busy .....hurry hurry ....lots o' t-shirts..and .rent those condos as the lake.
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But you know...not everyone lives like that....around the world......and sacrilege of sacrilege.....its prettier....cleaner.....more serene......and even more sociable.
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