Post #512283 by Tom Slick on Sun, Feb 21, 2010 1:16 AM

Fuck it, I'll dare say it. Its our dumb corporate mentality that "Everything is for sale to anyone", has ruined the whole United States. The ignorant douchebag, first generation Israeli Jewish guy who bought the Beverly Hilton doesn't have a clue about "American Culture"-anything, and really doesn't care.

I blame everyone who sells chunks of America to "Foreign investments". I can assure all of you, I'm not a racist, and I'm not naive to how this country was founded. My problem lies with the people who cheat and abuse the system for nothing more than self gain. Having no respect for anything, Do you think that Beny Algerem went through the whole process of immigration and got sworn in at Dodger Stadium, or did he flash some cash and sneak under the ropes?

The truth of the matter is that at one time, people used to trade in their past country ways and made an effort to learn to live as an "American" and learned to understand what it stood for. This can include paying respect to our past, as well as looking towards our future...They used to leave behind most, if not all of their political stances and tried to co-exist and blend with the Ideals of being American.
Now people move here with dual citizenships, visas, resident alien cards, and take advantage of our Government funded educational system that enable foreign students to qualify for grants and zero percent interest loans. Then themselves or others are allowed to buy businesses with zero percent loans from the Government, and the rest is downhill. If you don't think it's true, just take a ride to downtown L.A., or cruise by MacArthur park someday, and see who bought up what, and who owns things...Nothing says America nowadays like the words "For Sale to anyone with money(including non-citizens)" and "Hip Hop".

Yea, I'm in a bit of a pissy mood, but these things bother me. Yet, I digress, I'm just as upset at Trader Vic's and the BH City Council for allowing this atrocity to happen instead of fighting to keep TVBH, just as much as I want to kick Benny Algerem in the nuts for buying a historically rich and complex hotel like the Hilton, just to plan to renovate it into some Dubai styled Tower/ultra lounge/ultra "sheik" oasis. I wish people would check credentials, BEFORE checking the wallets of potential buyers!
Trader Vic's was dessimated because of an owners lack of understanding of American Culture, Iconic Landmark, and ignorance of a Historically rich location.
It is a definate shame that money is the only thing that counts anymore.