When I was young; as an English kid I thought that all Americans were rich.
They drove huge cars,where we mostly didn’t even own small second hand cars,they ate huge steaks where we had only just got over rationing,petrol was dirt cheap for them where we were taxed to death to pay for it.
I like Americans ,I deeply respect Americans,and I,along with many other Brits totally thank the U.S. for what they’ve done for the free world in both world wars and the cold war.
But while you get cheap gas and food if you get sick you’re in major trouble.
Your crime is extreme and if you lose your job its pretty devastating.
When I was young I dreamed about emigrating to the U.S. but now I think that it would be a majorily backward step.
In England we have some very obviously dirty,shabby areas but in the U.S. it seems to be the norm.
I have travelled extensively around the U.S.almost certainly much more then most U.S. citizens so I’m not talking horse shit here.
What is the take from Americans and people who have visited the U.S.?
I hope that this doesn’t develop into defensive abuse,theres a lot of shit things about the U.K. but I think with Americans its a case of what you’ve never had you never miss.
Americans genuinnly think that they have the best standard of living on Earth.
So what do YOU think?
It’s hard to tell what your question is, but if you’re asking what kind of standard of living do I think is enjoyed by most Americans, my answer is “a damn good one.” I’m proud of my country and I’m fortunate to have been born here.
I think that your typical Brit (or German or Frenchman or Spaniard or Australian, or any other first-world-inhabitant) probably could afford big cars and lots of meat and the like, just like Americans, if you so chose. It’s just that, for whatever reason, you have different priorities than we do.
And while I understand what you’re getting at with the analogy in your topic line, some of us consider it a good thing when a woman’s not wearing any panties.
But watch what happens now that the UK has effectively outlawed corporal punishment and the next few generations of kids realize, “They can’t touch me!”, just like American hooligans have.
Every country has shabby, dirty areas. It seems you’ve been visiting them almost exclusively when you visit America. Try going to a nicer location next time? Other than that I’m not too sure what the debate is here…
You’re preaching to the saved here on the SDMB. Compare the number of “WAAAH everything in Europe is better than anything in the US” posts here to those on any other message board.
In England we have some very obviously dirty,shabby areas but in the U.S. it seems to be the norm.
I have travelled extensively around the U.S.almost certainly much more then most U.S. citizens so I’m not talking horse shit here.
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Where in the U.S. have you been travelling? I’ve travelled to 44 states, and with a few exceptions, (New Orleans, Billings, Montana) I’ve never noticed many dirty shabby places. Are you just hanging out in ghettos, or trailer parks?
I agree that our health system and the current economy (job situation) is not the best, but dirty? I don’t see where you got that. I don’t think we’re any filthier than anyone else. And yes I’ve been to Europe.
And would you guys shut up about the panties? Geez!
You haven’t seen as much of America as you think you have. You admitted in a thread earlier last month that you haven’t any idea about suburban America. It’s obvious.
IF, and I emphasize IF, you’ve travelled extensively around the US, you’ve been exposed mainly to the bad parts. And, I think you’d be surprised how many Americans have travelled extensively around these parts.
Most Americans get good (of not great) health insurance through their employer. But I agree, Health Care is a major issue in America, and always a point of contention. Especially for those who work with no benefits, are unemployed, or self-employed (like me), it can be difficult, or expensive, to get good insurance.
Crime, I don’t know about and can’t form a comparison. Losing one’s job, I imagine can be pretty devastating no matter who you are, or what country you’re in. It depends on your particular circumstances.
The US is a much bigger place than the UK, with different infrastructure. Most suburban areas are clean, or at least pretty tolerable. Some areas are downright spotless. I’ve been all over the US, and have only traveled into the really nasty places a few times, and very rarely at that. I live not very far from one of the worst areas in the country, and even within the same city, one can find areas of reckless decay and crime, as well as areas of bustling culture and modern establishments to enjoy.
Living in the States can be great. Or it can suck balls. It all depends, just like anywhere else in the first-world I imagine.
And please don’t think that the prosperity in the US comes because of the lack of a safety net. The sorry lot of poor people here comes from our morality, or rather, the holes in our morality.
Not really. The only two crimes that are definitely greater per capita in the U.S. than in the U.K. are murder and rape. Assault, robbery, etc. are about the same.
The overall crime rate in England is much higher than in the U.S. overall with the exception of murder and forcible, stranger rape. Granted, those are terrible crimes but they don’t effect most people. Drunken brawls for sport, petty theft, and house break-ins (sometimes with the occupants still inside :eek:) simply are not tolerated here and will land you in jail or prison.
Most suburbs and country areas are perfectly safe as well as many major city centers. NYC is very safe for a city its size these days for example.
Economic- We screwed that up pretty good in the last decade. Growing unemployment and dropping wages tells a story . The financial corps almost sunk the world economy and we are blowing trillions in tax money to save them from themselves
Environmental-We are in a mess there. There are places that are worse but it is an endless battle against powers that don’t want to waste profits on clean air and water
Physical wellness- We have about 60 million people with no health coverage. We are far from the top on medical quality . Sixty percent of our bankruptcies are due to illness.
Mental health-we blew that off long ago
Workplace - Nothing like waiting on pins and needles waiting for layoffs and closing businesses. Then wages dropping and .less and less worker rights are making it very stressful
Social- The differences between rich and poor is getting bigger and bigger. Our rights are being taken away and privacy is being killed .
Political- we have been in wars and skirmishes for generations. Peace does not make profits.
Most Americans believe the mythology that they are force-fed from childhood; that the U.S. is the best goddamn place in the known universe, the strongest economy, the best educational system, the best infastructure, the most super-badass John Wayne-esque military, the highest standard of living…a place where a poor immigrant with a nickle and a dream can—with a lot of hard work—become a millionaire. The reason there is so much suffering in the world is because these poor souls didn’t have the good fortune, or the divine blessing of God, to be born in America.
Some of us realized, eventually, that it’s all a load of bullshit. America is a place; just like any other place.
I’ve travelled a wee bit since my humble beginnings in Fort Worth, TX lo those many years ago, and the only thing America seems to have in abundance is lots of terribly unhappy people who feel that they were gypped by life because they don’t drive a Cadillac or own a mansion. Hell, I’ve met people in Mexico who were some of the friendliest, happiest, most satisfied folk on Earth and didn’t have two pesos to rub together.
Measuring crime is not easy matter, and stating an ‘overall crime rate’ is simply misleading. Take into account the likelihood of reporting a crime, which can vary depending on the location. Add in differences in definitions of crimes, meaning that you aren’t necessarily comparing like with like. And when one person robs three, is that one crime or three? Not everywhere agrees.
Or, to put it another way, where’s the comparable statistics for ‘forcible stranger rape’ for both countries?
Probably the best way to describe the United States is to look at it as the land of opportunity. By that I mean you have more lattitude in the ability to achieve your goals. Due to the sheer size of the country you can move to places that support your life style. On a modest salary I was able to buy a house and pay it off in 10 years… I have a partnership in a plane because flying is cheaper here (there are small airports everywhere). My sister has a sail boat and a power boat because it’s cheap to own and store them in this area. There are lakes everywhere so it’s nothing to tow a boat nearby for a day of sailing or skiing. My BIL just built a canoe rack so he can pull 8 canoes. They just went on a multi-family weekend trip with the kids.
Most of what I have is because of the ability to leverage my time against what the area I live in will support.
